backdated to the twentieth

[traken_master]

[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.

Comments

[i_got_this]

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.]

[traken_master]

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.]

[i_got_this]

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?

[traken_master]

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?

[i_got_this]

[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.

[traken_master]

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.

[i_got_this]

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.]

[traken_master]

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.

[i_got_this]

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.]

[traken_master]

[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.

[i_got_this]

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.]

[traken_master]

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.

[i_got_this]

[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.]

[traken_master]

[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.]