Chapter Thirty Three

This chapter has been giving me a headache for about a week. There were several ways it could have played out, but in the end the handcuffs needed to come off. For one reason, the Doctor would never have allowed the Master any closer while he was tied up, staring out at the destruction of Japan (to let it happen would be out of character, no matter what influence the Master has); and for another, the Master knows bloody well that this is true. As much of a monster as he can be, as I've said before - there's just too much history and a twisted sense of respect there for anything darker to happen.

 There's been a lot of talking. An awful lot of talking and calmness from the Master recently. In the end, his emotions towards the Doctor are convoluted and confusing (I would explain more, but in a way I'd like to leave the reader to form their own opinions). The decision the Master makes this chapter pretty much speaks for itself, but have no doubt that the Doctor's risky comment about Lucy will come back to bite him in the none-too-distant future.

 I know I spend a lot of time on facial expressions. This is due to the fact that when it comes to the Doctor and the Master, a lot of their emotions are shown purely through their faces, tone, or body language. What they say doesn't always meet up with how they say it, and with these two there's always more to the words than meet the eye.

 As for further chapters, we are extremely close to the end of this phase of memories. Either next chapter or the one after will bring us to the more... ahem... intimate side of their relationship. (Although I should warn you -  we're about to enter a semi- dark and twisty stage in it. Nothing awful (I refuse to degrade either character that way - for reasons that the Doctor will finally be explaining in the next interlude), but we are leaving fluff-ville for a little while. As much as I long to write these two fluffy as hell, I have too much respect for the Doctor and the Master to make them out of character. This is, after all, written as canon, and there are some parts of this very very odd relationship that need addressing...)

 Thanks so much for reading. Until next chapter.