paradisa | backdated to the twentieth

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second master

backdated to the twentieth

[The Master had woken up to something tugging on his beard in an irritating matter. He had sat up abruptly, instantly wide awake. A small huff and childish babble had greeted his movements, as something fell from his chest to his lap. The Master found himself staring down at a very small child, around the equivalent of eighteen Earth months...a toddler.

"Da da," the child had mumbled, gazing up at the Master with wide, blue eyes.

Now the Master is sitting outside, under a tree. The child is playing with some hastily improvised toys, while the Master addresses the rest of the castle via journal. He recalls someone mentioning children appearing before and there are enough other children running around that he knows this is some event the castle is inflicting on them. Still, he wants more information. He always wants more information.

What he really wants is the Doctor to come rushing out in indignation at the idea of the Master taking care of a child and relieve him of her. She's cute enough, no doubt, but the Master's plans do not include being a single parent.]

All right, my dear captives, the castle has decided I need a toddler in my life. I woke up this morning to find in my keeping a small girl, who persists in calling me "da da." I prefer danger to absurdity. Could someone give me an explanation of this event and what I can expect? I'm calling the child Helen.

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[And here is South pushing a double-wide stroller with a pair of blonde-haired, blue-eyed twins. The boy's looking around curiously, the girl looks like she's on the verge of crying, South looks disheveled but at least she's gotten some sleep.]

You too, huh?

[The Master glances up, his lip twitching in amusement at the sight of her twins. He shrugs.]

Apparently, yes. Though, fortunately, I only have the one.

Yeah you'd better count yourself lucky; this has been a nightmare. [Besides dealing with double babies and no partner, it was like having a constant reminder of her life growing up with North Dakota.]

[It'd be a lie to say she didn't feel his absence every day, but she sure as hell wasn't about to mention it to anyone.]

[She parks her stroller and settles down in the grass next to it.]

I imagine so, though I doubt we'll be fortunate enough to simply wake up and find it hasn't happened. Fortunately, children are easily distracted.

Are they? Took me about forty minutes to get Piper to stop screaming this morning; nothing worked. [From her seat on the ground, South starts taking the girl out of the stroller, who's making grabby hands and a sour face that South is guessing means she wants attention.]

[The Master arches an eyebrow at her, smirking.]

She's quite impressive, then. Persistence is to be admired. What finally calmed her down?

[The girl practically tumbles into South's arms as she pulls her from the stroller, reaching a tiny hand to grab a fistful of hair and hold on for dear life with a shrill giggle. South winces and tries to continue like nothing is happening.]

I have no idea. I was trying everything and she just kept going and then just when I was running out of options she stopped. [Or it could be that she'd given up at that point and set her next to her twin, but that thought hadn't crossed South's mind.]

[The Master shook his head.]

You should have paid more attention, for next time. Sadly, crying is one of children's main pass times.

Yeah, well ... it was sort of hard to concentrate with the massive headache she was giving me. OW. [Piper's yanking on South's hair now, and she's making a concerted effort to work her fingers into the tiny fist to try and loose her grip.]

Tsk. Honestly, my dear, it will do you no good to allow the child to believe she is in charge.

[He considered getting up to help, but, well...if the children became permanent, South would need to learn to cope. It would be unkind to undermine her authority.]

You make it sound so easy. [South mutters through gritted teeth, finally able to free herself and quickly grab a bright rattle for the girl to hold onto and shake instead. South glances over at his daughter with a bit of envy. Why couldn't her kid be that well behaved. :| At least South's boy had fallen asleep for the moment.]

Children are simple creatures. They need only food, drink, sleep, and distraction. Well and to be kept clean, naturally. A firm hand can easily guide them.

[It helps his child has the intellect and curiosity of a Time Lord.]

Simple things they seem to need every waking moment of the day.

[She sets Piper on the grass and sits back, letting the child commune with nature for the moment.] You get a partner in all this?

Well, yes, there is that. [He admits this cheerfully, wondering if she's had to change a diaper yet.] No, as far as I can tell I am a single parent. And yourself?

[There have been many diapers :| ]

Ditto. [She says with a tired sigh. Looking at Piper and then glancing up at Peyton, who's still asleep.] I bet the castle is loving this.

Mm. I'm not sure why. Many of the residents seem to be taking the matter in stride. I do wonder what benefit it's receiving. Children are...a rather odd move on it's part.

Eh, most people tend to like kids, for some reason. [Not that South hates them, just not something she ever thought would happen for her own life.]

Naturally. Your minds, the minds of most sentient beings, are programmed to like children, to feel warm and protective of them. Given the care and attention they demand, no species would survive, if this wasn't true.

Yeah. I guess I'm not even immune to it. [She looks down at Piper, who is determinedly crawling her way across the grass to The Master's daughter.]

[The Master watches as Helen walks over to Piper and tries to help her stand up. Helen doesn't really understand why the younger child isn't walking.]

Few people are. Even I have felt the tuggings of basic instinct.

Even you, Old Man? [She smirks up at him, before reaching up to the stroller to free Peyton, who's started to wake up and is fussing for attention.]

Certainly. Emotionally, Humans are very similar to Time Lords. We care for our very young in much the way Humans do.

[He shrugs and chuckles, watching Helen struggle with Piper.]

No, Helen. Come here.

[South gives a bitter snort. She didn't think she'd been doing too badly, but of course she was trying to prove something against how she had been raised.] That's not always a compliment, you know.

[She shifts Peyton in her arms and leans over to scoop up Piper, who'd been intrigued at first by Helen's attempts but was now getting ready to wail.]

[Helen totters over to her father, but is still entranced by Piper and Peyton. She babbles at them, in the language of very small children.]

That is true of both our cultures, as well.

[The Master doesn't think his father was a good parent. He's seen all sorts of parents in his travels and found much better ones than his.]

Why Helen?

Why not? It's a good, feminine name that is easily remembered and is frequently associated with royalty.

Given that Helen of Troy sprung instantly to mind when you said that name, I can see your logic behind it.

Thank you; that is a good example.

[he's not going to relieve him of her. he knows full well that that matter will resolve itself soon enough]

Happens every year.

The castle doesn't communicate as directly as you'd like, does it?

Does abandoning a young child to my care qualify as communication, my dear Doctor?

I've always said one should be careful what one wishes for, especially here. And yes, in Paradisa? It's one of the more constant, reliable sort of messages.

I truly hope this child is not a response to my threats. What message is she supposed to convey? That I should settle down, perhaps?

More that you should remember you can't always shape the sort of response you get to a request.

Perhaps not always. There are few true constants in the universe, after all. Still, I maintain there must be a way to establish true communication with the castle and my efforts keep me occupied...for which you should be grateful.

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backdated to the twentieth

Aaaaction?

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/didn't forget you I swear

Re: /didn't forget you I swear

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