Déjà vu all over again.

[markoftherani]

((Closed to the Rani, the Master, and T-Rex.))

It was another irritatingly pleasant afternoon, and the Rani was going from place to place in the park to scavenge what parts she felt had even a vague chance of doing her any good in her repair work.

The Rani was going to go absolutely mad with frustration dealing with the primitive technology available in this place. Not a proper reverse induction circuit to be found anywhere, for one thing. And it didn't help that mechanics had never been her strongest point. Not that she was bad at it, but her gifts had always been more inclined towards the manipulation of living things.

Those Two had always been better with machines, but she was damned if she was going to ask for their help. She hadn't seen them since she'd arrived, and that was fine by her.

She had no plans to seek either of them out. She also had no intention of going anywhere near the Tyrannosaurus, which she'd heard and seen on Valentine's Day, and which made her really wonder how the Master could have possibly missed it.

She should have known better than to expect anything to go according to plan for very long.

Comments

[hear-the-drums.livejournal.com]

It was rather fine by the Master that he hadn't seen the Rani either.

Of course, since the Doctor wasn't hounding him today, it stood to reason that he would run into the only other person he had a mind to avoid.

It didn't help matters that when he came upon her, she was scavenging for parts. It begged his interference; he couldn't stop himself from sticking his nose where it really didn't belong. This was mainly due to the fact that, "That piece is only going to be good for so much scrap metal. The rest of it might help if you're having problems temperature regulators in your lab, or if you need replacement paneling for your console room." The jelly babies were left alone for now, as he gnawed on a red licorice rope.

[markoftherani]

–Omega's left te–

She lowered the piece of sheet metal (about thirty centimetres square) she'd been eyeing and scowled at him. "Haven't you got someone to corrupt or torture instead?" –that girl, for example– Not that he needed to know that she knew about that. Or about the frequency with which he'd been letting himself into the Doctor's TARDIS.

[hear-the-drums.livejournal.com]

The Master grinned. "Nope." He took a few steps toward her, still careful to keep himself out of arms reach. –or, more importantly, kneeing distance– "All those who could be tortured and/or corrupted do require a rest every so often. Otherwise how could I maintain such vigorous levels of disorder?"

[markoftherani]

"Mm. And I suppose even you need time every now and then to calculate your newest baroque and twisted plan." She tapped the piece of sheet metal and flexed it slightly. –might do to replace that panel in the hydroponics lab, assuming the conductivity is what it needs to be–

[hear-the-drums.livejournal.com]

He tugged on the candy rope a little with his teeth before snapping off the end of it. "As someone who spends most of her time in a lab, I would think you of all people could appreciate how much time twisted plans can take." –that sheet metal isn't going to do her any good if she doesn't properly ionize it–

[markoftherani]

"Oh, naturally. Good to see you've learned to pace yourself, if nothing else." –need an ionizer, yours has a short circuit, but you're not going to ask, oh no–

"And how is our softhearted friend these days? Seen much of him, have you?" As if she didn't have a fair idea.

[hear-the-drums.livejournal.com]

–and if the conductivity is wonky then she's well and truly hanged anyway, so really– "Don't forget, I am benefiting from more experience than you now. You'd do well to be wary; no telling what I've picked up in your absence these days," he said smugly. As far as softhearted went—

"Well, you know, if I don't keep an eye on the puppy he piddles on people's carpets and chews up their shoes, and then everyone comes crying to me about it, so I find it's best to keep an eye on him."

[markoftherani]

"You built a Paradox Machine. That tells me much of what I need to know." Well, it's not as if she's going to agree with him outright, is it? She shrugged and put the sheet metal in the hand cart she'd been pulling around. –run a few tests on it first, try and patch that short circuit–

She snorted, almost a laugh. "Hasn't changed much, has he? Never could stay out of other people's things. Suprised, though, that he hasn't found some shrieking ninny to keep him company."

[hear-the-drums.livejournal.com]

He looked puzzled for a moment. "Oh, that's right, you only ever met the shrieking ninnies. Unfortunate, really. It would have been very... interesting to see you handle some of his other associates." He had a few names in his head, ones that had caused him trouble as well.

He was curious as to how much she'd pressure for information on companions, in fact. She could glean some very important pieces of information if she asked the right questions, but he had the feeling that she wouldn't realise that.

[markoftherani]

She was intrigued despite herself. "Interesting how? Do you mean the others were actually competent and not hanging on his every syllable?" She smirked. "It was rather funny, really. Proof that certain traits never change across regenerations; in this case, the pathological desire to be liked and admired."

[philosopher-rex.livejournal.com]

It was then that T-Rex came stomping toward them, talking, as usual, loudly and to himself: "So, okay, let me tell you all! I am SO TIRED of the 'Batman and Robin are gay!' jokes. It's not that I have a problem with Batman being gay, it's just that HE'S LIKE ROBIN'S ADOPTED FATHER, GUYS. The idea of them making out is REALLY KIND OF FREAKING CREEPY WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT. I mean, would you want to make out with your adopted father? I'm thinking no!"

[hear-the-drums.livejournal.com]

He was about to laugh –because it really always has one of the other's most pathetic traits, that needy– when a great booming voice sounded in their general vicinity. He was already getting that tingly sensation at the back of his skull, the one that told him he really didn't want to know.

There was a something coming toward them. Stomping.

Really. The person running this place clearly had the sickest sense of humour. He would admire it, were it not so often turned on him.

"Erm...."

[markoftherani]

It was one thing to see the blasted creature from a distance and hear it yammering. It was another entirely to have it closing in and babbling about Rassilon and Omega only knew what—

The Rani shot a hard glare at the Master. "And you missed this creature how, exactly?"

[hear-the-drums.livejournal.com]

He acknowledged the Rani's comment with a nod –just sit tight Ushas, I'll get us out of this–, then turned his attention back to their very large friend. "And if you have stomped on people just for existing, then I would say you are part of what started the stereotype in the first place. Setting that aside, it still is a mindless and beastly thing to do, when you get right down to it."

He spread his hands, palms up in a gesture of supplication. Which was just... wicked. And hilarious. On several levels. "So I suppose the real question is are you a reasonable, thinking being, or just a brute? The choice is yours to make in the end, but I doubt many people would think well of you for the latter."

[markoftherani]

The look the Rani gave him was a curious combination of admiration and annoyance (at not having thought of that very argument first). There was also more than a dash of amusement at his attempt to appear reasonable and placatory; she, more than anyone else in the place except the Doctor, could appreciate the humour in that.

[philosopher-rex.livejournal.com]

T-Rex swayed from side to side, stomping and giving the Master's words serious consideration. Of course, he wasn't entirely sure the Master could be trusted, what with aspirations of destroying the universe and all. On the other hand, the guy seemed reasonable enough right now ...

"Can't I be both?" T-Rex questioned finally. "What's wrong with being a reasonable, thinking brute?"

[hear-the-drums.livejournal.com]

"Nothing," the Master admitted, "but then we might as well shake hands and call ourselves brothers for all the difference there would be between us. Of course, if that doesn't bother you, I suppose it's unfortunate for us, but it does rather go against your argument for squashing us in the first place."

He sadly missed the Rani's look; it would have utterly tickled him to catch it.

[markoftherani]

At call ourselves brothers, the Rani made a noise that might have been either a cough or a badly stifled laugh. –playing it close to the edge as always, not as if I should have expected otherwise–

"Best watch yourself," she said out loud, addressing T-Rex. "You're dangerously close to hypocrisy. You do want to be consistent in your thinking, don't you?"

[philosopher-rex.livejournal.com]

T-Rex was about to reply, unsure if he should stomp them both now to shut them up or actually let them be. But then he realized something: This was the perfect time and place for a Moral Debate!

"Well, but the difference between you and me still is that I don't really want to go around enslaving or destroying the entire world," T-Rex told the Master. "I mean, there's a difference between stomping two people and enslaving an entire country. So really, even if we're the same kind of person" -- was that the right word? -- "there's still a huge difference in degree. And I think degree matters, at least to some extent.

Besides, I already have an evil twin who wears a goatee, so I can't be evil."

[markoftherani]

The Rani was tempted, at this point, to just leave the Master and the dinosaur to talk circles around each other –who'd have thought that the first thing to match his brain for its convolutions would be a sentient dinosaur– but, possibly unfortunately, she was also fascinated as to where this conversation would be going.

And then she couldn't resist. "I'm not sure I follow that last leap of logic," she interjected. "What, precisely, does evil have to do with facial hair, or lack thereof?"

She was pointedly not looking at the Master just then. To do so would have induced a fatal attack of laughter.

[philosopher-rex.livejournal.com]

"It just does," T-Rex explained. "Maybe the hair from your goatee reaches into your brain and pushes some kind of evil receptor button. Or maybe the evil comes first and goatees are just really appealing to evil people? Like, we've associated goatees with villains for so long, maybe now villains feel like they're not truly an evildoer if they don't have some kind of goatee to prove it. All I really know is, when Utahraptor went to the alternate dimension where everyone was evil, they all had goatees. Even the ladies!"

[hear-the-drums.livejournal.com]

The Master narrowed his eyes and frowned. "The logic astounds me," he deadpanned.

He was inclined to differ. When he had grown facial hair it had nothing to do with being evil. That he happened to have it while he had committed evil acts was entirely irrelevant. Besides, "That doesn't mean that you're not evil. I've never heard any rule that states that twins must have opposing natures. In fact, most cases would seem to indicate quite the opposite. Besides, plenty of villains have been without goatees. And alternate-dimension Spock was good, and he had a goatee."

The Master wasn't a fan of Star Trek. He just happened to think original Trek was hilarious.

"And anyway, I'd say that you don't know your own argument," he continued, bringing his nails into view so he could stare at their length for an appropriate amount of time. "Because degree isn't what you have a problem with. If I were going to enslave a world for the benefit of the rest of the galaxy, I doubt you'd have the same issues. You don't care about degree, you care about intent."

[markoftherani]

She wasn't even going to try and follow that discussion.

"May I suggest leaving it to ponder this fine point of philosophy while we get away?" she muttered in Gallifreyan. "Or are you really that invested in the matter?"

[hear-the-drums.livejournal.com]

"Do you honestly think it won't notice that?" he asked, rolling his eyes ever so slightly. "Unless you have some Teptraltian fog gas stuffed down that leather brassiere of yours, I'd say we're well and truly buggered on that count."

And on the subject of Gallifreyan, where was the Doctor anyway, hm? This would be a superb time for him to show his useless face, but noooo. Of course he never turned up when he could actually be of some use. He could have at least served as noble bait at this point.

[markoftherani]

"Surprised a Time Lord who can build a paradox machine doesn't have any tricks up his sleeve," she scoffed, ignoring the sting of the fact that she'd been so woefully underprepared herself. On which point she felt compelled to add (in the interests of scientific accuracy), "Furthermore, I used up my supply of Teptraltian gas on Lakertya, and haven't had a chance to replenish it. I was too busy cleaning up Tetrap dung."