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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2013 21:31:31 GMT -5
The Archivist watched the woman, an odd look on the 'Prime' line Archivist's face. Something that seemed like a mixture of haunted and confused for a moment. Then The Master grabbed her hand and she stared up at him, through the connection he could feel the odd darkness that the woman was burying. Sometimes, a time lord could be twisted by the things that surrounded them during regeneration.
Perhaps something darker, had entered the once loving and caring Time Lady. There was something twisting inside of her, something that was the result of the pains she had faced. She turned her hand to press her palm to his, and just stared up at him.
"It would be a learning experience. They are now part of the Time Line, you do realize... that as soon as the Dalek's realize Gallifrey has returned... they will come." She whispered in a low and harsh voice. "They will come, to destroy the planet, they will come and they will kill... It will happen all over again." She said, her voice seeming to get a little lost and distant.
She shook her head then and stepped away from the younger woman. "I apologize, that was rude of me. I humbly ask you to forgive me." She said in a soft tone. But for The Master, who still held her hand, he would realize that she was simply dealing with formalities... her words... didn't echo inside her mind or body... they were empty words.
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Koschei
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Posts: 306
"My Doctor" is: a naive fool.
My favorite villain is: the Doctor.
My favorite monster is: the darkness that lurks within every human heart.
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Post by Koschei on Mar 23, 2013 9:24:20 GMT -5
The Master's hand closed around the Archivist's wrist. "Now, now, my dear," he said, drawing her hand away with an unyielding grip, "the War is past. What would we gain, inflicting such horror on our gracious host?" He noted with some interest - and, possibly, a touch of concern - the darkness in her mind. Darkness, and nihilism, and... The echoes of Drums. "It would be a learning experience. They are now part of the Time Line, you do realize... that as soon as the Dalek's realize Gallifrey has returned... they will come." She whispered in a low and harsh voice. "They will come, to destroy the planet, they will come and they will kill... It will happen all over again.""And what concern is that of ours?" Verinathalinthia gasped, wide-eyed at the low warning in the Archivist's voice and the callous unconcern in the Masters. " This Gallifrey seems better equipped to prosecute a war," he continued. "And if they are not, then perhaps it will go the way of our Gallifrey. And, perhaps, if we choose to remain here..?" A shrug. "Perhaps it will not." She shook her head then and stepped away from the younger woman. "I apologize, that was rude of me. I humbly ask you to forgive me." She said in a soft tone.He didn't miss the utter lack of empathy in her voice. She was, he realized, simply mouthing empty platitudes because it was what the situation called for. Quick study. But then, she always had been. Verinathalinthia simply nodded, shaken but rallying. "Of course, my lady. I cannot imagine what you must have experienced." Then she brightened, fractionally. "But, I cannot believe it would happen again. In our line, Gallifrey has brought peace and order to over half the Spiral Politic. I cannot but believe that we shall do so again."
Clothing, it seemed, was first on the agenda. Which made perfect sense, from the persepctive of a Time Lord, although Verinathalinthia was too well-bred to say anything as she'd conducted them to the Wardrobe of the Aesculum. The Archivist's clothing was ragged and ill-fitting after the trauma of her injuries and Regeneration, and both of them - again, from the perspective of a Time Lord - were dressed like barbarians. They were barely decent, let alone dressed for dinner with the Lord President. The Master stood alone in a fitting room, amusing himself by singing as exotic sensors played over him. The engines had already dissolved his original clothing into quantum foam, and now the godmind was busy. Whatever he ended up wearing, he knew, would be tailored not only to fit well but to keep him comfortable in all circumstances. "Your life burns faster," he sang, smiling as block transfer protocols engaged and clothing tailored to fit his taste as well as his comfort began to swirl and coalesce around him, "Obey your master. Master. Master of puppets, I'm pulling your strings..." The fabric settled into place against his skin. Smiling now, he altered the harmonics of his voice as he sang. "Twisting your mind and smashing your dreams." The godmind of the Wardrobe, a subset of the Aesculum's godmind, blinked. Then new block transfer protocols engaged, and small objects began to take shape on a table at his left hand. "Blinded by me, you can't see a thing." He examined each in turn, tucking them into various pockets. "Just call my name 'cause I'll hear you scream." Finally, pushed the door open. Verinathalinthia, although well bred and well trained, still started slightly at the sight. Outwardly, at least, his clothing hadn't changed at all. "Think nothing of it, my dear," he said, turning to show off the grey suit and royal blue shirt. "I am a barbarian, after all."
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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2013 15:22:53 GMT -5
The Archivist gave The Master a sideways look, as she squeezed his hand for a moment. But it was there, the rising darkness. The woman was twisting in her own mind, parts of her seemed to even frighten her. But she didn't seem to make any notion of it. This was only her what...Third Regeneration? Fourth life... She was still behind by Time Lord standards. She rolled her shoulders back, and followed after the woman. ~~~~~~~~~~~ She had been in tatters and the Medical gown, and the machine and sensors whirred over her. The objects vanished, as the fabric wove itself based on her mind. She wanted to put on a good show, a good front. Her eyes closed as she hummed softly to herself. She wasn't even sure of the song that was flowing from her. Her breath rushing from her as she felt the music rising through her. She even found herself softly singing. At first, it seemed like the song was something that was sweet, but it seemed that it had a darker meaning. Like the woman herself. For those who paid attention, it was rather fitting. Though her love was unrequited now, and the thing she had never told him was the full truth. He didn't know everything that had happened with the council. No one did, they didn't understand what she had faced... just to keep him safe. The fabric slowly formed around the woman, and finally formed into the garment she would wear. The dress fully formed, and she stepped down from the Dais. It was strange, how much red she was wearing, it was as if the woman had dipped herself in blood. But it was a more earth spin, on traditional Time Lord clothing. The machine had even twisted up her red hair, and she just turned her head to look at The Master. "Well, I do suppose we are more prepared for meeting with The Lord President." She said in a calm and clear voice.
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Koschei
16+ Members
Posts: 306
"My Doctor" is: a naive fool.
My favorite villain is: the Doctor.
My favorite monster is: the darkness that lurks within every human heart.
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Post by Koschei on Mar 23, 2013 22:14:44 GMT -5
Chinese clothing, the Master noted. Or... maybe Japanese. Something Asian - and, given just how much he tended to pay attention to that planet when he didn't have to, he felt pretty good for hitting the correct continent.
Still barbarian clothing, but closer to Gallifreyan fashion. And it suited her.
"Well, I do suppose we are more prepared for meeting with The Lord President." She said in a calm and clear voice.
"Indeed. And may I say that you look lovely, my lady?"
"You do," Verinathalinthia added, clearly scandalized and clearly trying hard not to show it. But, the Master noted, she was clearly intrigued as well.
He took the Archivist's hand, then turned to look at their escort. "Before our meeting, though, my lady requires sustenance. She has Regenerated, not many hours previously."
"The healing room has taken care of some of her requirements," Verinathalinthia said, sounding more comfortable now that she was back on familiar ground. "But I had planned for nourishment to be provided next. If you are ready?"
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2013 16:17:40 GMT -5
"Indeed. And may I say that you look lovely, my lady?
Her head turned ever so slightly, as she smiled at him gently. "You may, my love." She said lightly, pulling on the things from her years with Theta. Trying to make herself appear as smitten with The Master - as she possibly could. She felt strange doing it, but it was an oddly twisted way of revenge. She didn't know why she had this darkness twisting through her, but she was tired... tired of always being the one to be left behind. Always tired of being the one with no true happiness. Of finding it, only to have it snatched away.
"Before our meeting, though, my lady requires sustenance. She has Regenerated, not many hours previously."
A smile played across her lips again, as she bowed her head lightly. The woman spoke that they could get her food, and she nodded just a bit. "Wonderful, It has been long since I tasted the delicacies of my home." She said lightly as she held The Masters hand. Her grip was tight, and there seemed to be a pulsing through her. She was confused, and complicated. More so than a normal woman. But she was changed, she had been changed completely.
"To food it is, and then the meeting with The Lord President." She said smoothly as she followed after the female. Through her connection with The Master, she slowly spoke to him - privately. I don't have any intention of working with them, but the saying 'know thine enemies, like you know thine self'... definitely applies here. I will destroy planets, to keep him safe. She said simply.
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Koschei
16+ Members
Posts: 306
"My Doctor" is: a naive fool.
My favorite villain is: the Doctor.
My favorite monster is: the darkness that lurks within every human heart.
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Post by Koschei on Apr 24, 2013 13:56:11 GMT -5
::I don't have any intention of working with them,:: the Archivist said, ::but the saying 'know thine enemies, like you know thine self'... definitely applies here. I will destroy planets, to keep him safe.::The Master smiled indulgently. ::I have destroyed worlds to keep myself safe,:: he answered. ::I will not tell you how to live your life, but I have found that - personally - living one's life for the benefit of others simply leads to disappointment.:: He laughed, a mirthless bark that brought a startled look from Verinathalinthia. ::Nevertheless,:: he continued, ::your point is well taken. Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.:: "Tell me," he asked, directing his words to the unsettled-looking Verinathalinthia, "are we to have the dreadfully ubiquitous food concentrates?" "Hmm?" Their guide looked baffled for a second, then rallied. "If you wish. The cornucopias will provide what you request, although it will still be tailored for optimal nourishment." The Master nodded. "Of course." ((And... drawing a blank. Feel free to get us to the food. ))
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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2013 17:56:18 GMT -5
The Archivist gathered herself completely, a sort of haughty look on her face for a moment. Newly regenerated Time Lords tended to be a bit strange. It would probably be a little bit before she fully balanced out. Her hand came up as she patting her red hair, making sure that every hair was in place. She stepped forward, following the woman who was leading them to food.
Tap Tap Tap Tap, Tap Tap Tap Tap
The sound echoed in the far recesses of her mind, coming from the damaged part of her mind. The part of her mind from her childhood before the Time War. The memories of her friends, the love she held. The memories she had locked away, for fear of the pain they brought. Her face was impassive as they entered the food area. She quietly approached what was there, not caring what she was eating - at least at this moment. There was a shadowed look on her eyes as she picked up a glass and started to take a few sips.
Tap Tap Tap Tap, Tap Tap Tap Tap
The sound echoed closer and then she found. "Stop it." She hissed aloud, almost viciously. Since her contact with the 'Ebony' Master was broken, the 'Main Line' Archivist could hide her mind for a bit. But there seemed to be moments where inside voice because outside voice. She realized that the tapping seemed to recess back after that, and seemed to fade away into nothing. Like the ghost of a memory, which is what it was.
Something was driving her, changing her... and she seemed to not care a bit at that moment. It was probably because she was caring too much.
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Koschei
16+ Members
Posts: 306
"My Doctor" is: a naive fool.
My favorite villain is: the Doctor.
My favorite monster is: the darkness that lurks within every human heart.
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Post by Koschei on Jun 14, 2013 22:14:58 GMT -5
Clearly, the Aesculum's views on pleasant surroundings being an aid to the healing process had not extended as far as the food.
The Master stirred a pint of greyish stuff with a spoon. The consistency was somewhere between yoghurt and tofu. "I am certain," he said, "that I requested a steak."
Verinathalinthia looked mildly distressed. "But, I can assure you, the flavors have been matched exactly to your request."
Tap Tap Tap Tap.
Looking up without raising his head, the Master gave her a long, hard look. "It is not merely a question of flavor," he said, finally. "One must consider texture. Presentation. Did Florian teach you nothing?"
Tap Tap Tap Tap.
The Aesculite shook her head. "Lord Florian uses animal muscle," she said, sounding horrified. "And... and... vegetable matter!"
Tap Tap Tap Tap.
The Master stared at her for a moment. "Do you know," he began, spooning up a mouthfull of putty. Disconcertingly, but not unexpectedly, it did taste like steak. "I once ate human flesh?"
Verinathalinthia gasped, horrified.
Tap Tap Tap Tap.
"It was... Earth. 1883? No, 1882, by their anno domini reckoning. I'd miscalculated on the timing of an errand I'd been attending to in that era, and found myself trapped in Manitoba." He ate another spoonful of the steak-putty, watching the Aesculite's stunned reaction.
"There were four of us in a one room cabin. Three humans, and myself. With a dozen feet of snow, bitter cold, and whiteout conditions. The... they call what drove them mad 'cabin fever'. I was forced to kill them all."
More putty.
"Sadly, supplies ran out during what proved to be a brutally cold winter. Fortunatly..."
"Stop it," the Archivist hissed.
He put the spoon down, then reached out to touch her hand. "I am... sorry," he said. "I had not intended to disturb you." Then, glancing at Verinathalinthia, he lifted her hand. "Blame my hunger for my thoughtlessness."
With a wicked smile, he gently nipped at the Archivist's hand. Verinathalinthia made a gagging sound and, hand over mouth, fled the room. The Master's laughter trailed after her.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2013 23:52:15 GMT -5
The conversation that Koschei was having with the woman was at the back of The Archivist's mind. She had to resist the urge to gag at the syrup she had been presented. It was like someone took c4 and made it more viscous. It was absolutely disgusting, texture wise. She was a little startled when Koschei apologized, and picked up her hand. She was startled by the nip, her face paling a little in reaction.
Tap Tap Tap Tap, Tap Tap Tap Tap
She was in contact with him, and it seemed to agitate the drums echoing in her mind. She resisted the urge to yank her hand away. She stared straight across at him, her eyes seemed to harden as she let him feel what was pounding through her. The combination of feelings that was building to a level where logic would fully rule. A point where she was going to shut down her emotions, simply to get some peace.
Tap Tap Tap Tap, Tap Tap Tap Tap
"Make them stop... " She whispered, there seemed to be a quiver in her voice. Her eyes seemed to mist for a moment, but she blinked the pain away. She felt the quiver of her mind, and she felt the echo solidifying into something more substantial. This was not going to be good.
Tap Tap Tap Tap, Tap Tap Tap Tap
The Archivist slapped the side of her head, hoping that stimulation via pain might distract her mind. It served to satisfy her mind with a 'soft' reset, and she gave a shaking voice. "It's been doing that... since... I woke up."
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Koschei
16+ Members
Posts: 306
"My Doctor" is: a naive fool.
My favorite villain is: the Doctor.
My favorite monster is: the darkness that lurks within every human heart.
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Post by Koschei on Jun 17, 2013 19:54:32 GMT -5
With a wicked smile, he gently nipped at the Archivist's hand. Verinathalinthia made a gagging sound and, hand over mouth, fled the room. The Master's laughter trailed after her.
The laughter died away at the Archivist's expression. She'd gone pale, and her eyes were cold and dead. And, through the thoughts leaking off her skin, he could hear them. The drums. The damnable Drums that had haunted him for centuries.
"Make them stop... " She whispered, there seemed to be a quiver in her voice.
"They don't stop, Archivist," he said. "If Rassilon is using you the..." A pause, as he reassessed the question he'd been about to ask. "How long have you been hearing them?"
The Archivist slapped the side of her head, and she gave a shaking voice. "It's been doing that... since... I woke up."
"Not long, then," the Master mused. "If Rassilon was using you as a second anchor, the signs of madness would have been there for much longer." He thought, and then his eyes opened in sudden thought. "Tell me, Archivist: is it true that you never forget anything?"
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2013 20:02:05 GMT -5
The Archivist heard his words, she focused on his words. She was not happy to hear they wouldn't stop. But made her less happy was the fact that they didn't stop for very long. She twitched a little, and then slammed her head into the side of her head again. Releasing a long breath as the pain seemed to focus her. Her hand clutched his, holding it tightly in an almost crushing way. Her breathing became ragged for a moment, till she could focus completely.
"Never forget anything. All of the information is here, just need references... like... tags... tabs... file names... that pulls up the information. Some files get corrupted over time, but it's not hard to fix them using the files around them... look at me... don't even call them 'memories' I call them files... makes it easier... but all of it's here... everything knowledge based that Gallifrey had to offer - shoved into my brain. All of the memories from when I was young... everything... is here." She said this as she set the food down, looking a bit green at it.
"I don't want to be here anymore... I want out of here... something here is making them worse... or perhaps it's my own body breaking. I don't know... I just want to make sure that... I ... I don't even know anymore."
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Koschei
16+ Members
Posts: 306
"My Doctor" is: a naive fool.
My favorite villain is: the Doctor.
My favorite monster is: the darkness that lurks within every human heart.
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Post by Koschei on Jun 18, 2013 21:02:42 GMT -5
He thought, and then his eyes opened in sudden thought. "Tell me, Archivist: is it true that you never forget anything?"
"Never forget anything," she confirmed. "All of the information is here, just need references... like... tags... tabs... file names... that pulls up the information."
So far, that didn't sound too different from standard Academy memory techniques. Still, from a few instances in their childhood, he knew there was something different about the Archivist's mind. So he listened, because knowledge is always power.
"Some files get corrupted over time, but it's not hard to fix them using the files around them... look at me... don't even call them 'memories' I call them files... makes it easier... but all of it's here... everything knowledge based that Gallifrey had to offer - shoved into my brain. All of the memories from when I was young... everything... is here." She said this as she set the food down, looking a bit green at it.
He mulled that over. "Everything? The full contents of the Great Library... is in your mind?"
Normally, the Master wasn't one to be flabbergasted. But this... this was amazing. If that knowledge could be syncretized...
"I don't want to be here anymore... I want out of here... something here is making them worse... or perhaps it's my own body breaking. I don't know... I just want to make sure that... I ... I don't even know anymore."
"The Drums," he said, the idea forming as he spoke, "are not something you hear. They are the memories of my mind, accessed for some reason since your latest Regeneration."
A part of his mind wondered why he cared. What difference did it make, whether she suffered or not? But, for some reason, he continued.
"I was never able to make them stop, only ignore them for a time. But you... you should be able to. How do you stop accessing one of your 'files'?"
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Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2013 15:53:37 GMT -5
The Archivist had a contemplative look on her face for a moment. As if she was trying to see exactly what she might knows. "Everything from the Great Library... and The Matrix of Time Lords. I know everything that they had, on every Time Lord - up until I fled the War." The Archivist said as she reached out, grabbing a different mixture. This one was more palatable, and she recognized the mixture as one perfect for a newly regenerated Time Lord. She took a giant gulp of this, as she focused herself. Trying to reorganize her own mind.
The Archivist was lost in her own thoughts and memories for a moment, sometimes this helped her reorganize things. She slipped back to the day she had first heard the drums, the day that Koschei had first opened his mind completely to her. "My mind was created to be more than a normal Time Lords. I was created to be a living, breathing Archive, a back up file of everything they had. I had even been told that no matter what, they would keep me alive. Even breaking their own laws, to create a living system that could forever be at their disposal." She whispered as she seemed to twitch at the memory.
"Sometimes I can shut off files, 'memories', but something happened in my regeneration... what... I am not sure. But something happened, I can't make them stop. Part of me doesn't want to. I said I was tired... Koschei... so very very tired. I'm tired of being the one left alone, I'm tired of being the one to make sacrifices and have no one to pick me up when I fall... I'm so very tired." She whispered as she downed the contents of the glass, grimacing just barely as she set the thing down.
"I'm tired of not having children, I'm tired of not having love. Some twisted part of me wants to take all those things for myself... but I can't... oh how much I wish... I don't think I can... " She whispered as she got another glass of whatever she had before, knowing she needed more sustenance. Green eyes seemed lost for a moment, staring off into the distance. She could feel the pulsing and twisting of her mind.
"I'm more than just an Archive, I am a living breathing memory database. Any Time Lord that has connected with my mind... I have everything they willingly offered... and some things they didn't. I was intended to be a weapon of knowledge. They intended to send me after The Daleks... back to when Davros caused problems... but my lack of initiative... of spirit and battle readiness... changed their minds. They didn't need someone not really bent on what was needed... but then again... they never gave me the right incentive."
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Koschei
16+ Members
Posts: 306
"My Doctor" is: a naive fool.
My favorite villain is: the Doctor.
My favorite monster is: the darkness that lurks within every human heart.
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Post by Koschei on Jun 21, 2013 12:23:11 GMT -5
The Master listened. Not with empathy - he didn't have empathy, not in the way it was commonly understood - but out of curiousity. And because his fate was currently bound up with the Archivist, so it was worth understanding her.
They didn't need someone not really bent on what was needed..." she whispered, "but then again... they never gave me the right incentive."
"They never gave you the right incentive?" he echoed, sneering. "Incentive, my dear Archivist, comes from within."
He leaned back, giving her a level stare. "You claim you can't take what you want. That, Archivist, is weakness. Nobody will ever give you anything. You get what you take, and you keep it by being stronger and smarter than those around you."
A short bark of laughter. "You want love? Fine, then take it - it isn't hard to make people love you. You want children? Find someone with good genes, and make them. You want your Doctor back..."
He grinned, without humor. "Take him. Make him come crawling back to you."
Darting a psychic command at the Cornucopia Engine, he reached over and picked up a tray. A ribeye, still sizzling, sat on the plate next to a lobster. Downing a mouthfull of the vodka and kumiss cocktail next to the plate, he cut into the steak.
"But spare me the claims that you're tired. That nobody gave you any incentive. That you have no one to pick you up." He chewed the mouthfull of steak, then cracked open the tail of the lobster. "Take what you want. Keep it as long as you can. Or accept that you are prey."
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Post by Deleted on Jul 4, 2013 17:34:09 GMT -5
"Oh you quite misunderstood, Koschei." Libby said as she found herself a seat. There seemed to be an odd change to the woman, colder and more distant. She also seemed to be pulling back far enough that physical contact could be had. "But understand you do, and usually that's the case. I don't need to explain myself to you, or anyone." Libby said as she picked at the fabric that covered her knees.
"Love cannot be taken, it is not something you can own and possess. True love, true affection of another is earned and cultivated. Like some fine and rare plant. You cannot force love to bloom, it is impossible. What forms from force is not really love." The Archivist said as she smoothed the fabric on her knee now, she stopped picking at it and looked up at him. A glimmer of something in those sharp bright eyes. She reached up to pull her hair free from it's confines.
"But that is something I do not expect you to understand anymore. It's been many a year since you cultivated anything healthy, hasn't it?"
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