Second loss

[traken_master]

[The Master is stumbling around the castle--literally stumbling. You might not think the past and future of a floor would be so different from the present, but it can be. The Master is used to seeing the past, present, and future, all at once. Now, the present is...missing. He's lost one third of his vision and is disoriented. He's trying to get to the clinic, though he has little hope that they will be able to help him. He does, however, have his journal open and it seems to be functioning normally.]

Doctor? South? I require some assistance, if either of you are in the castle.

Comments

[inafadingcrown]

[Well, he may not have been able to quite get to the clinic, but he has managed to stumble across someone who works in the clinic every now and again. And she's looking at him with some concern.]

You are not well. [It's not a question.]

[traken_master]

[The Master looks at her and it probably looks like he's scowling. He is a bit, but mainly he's concentrating, trying to bring his sight as close to the present as possible. He sees Galadriel, but he sees her in a forest, with warriors and three little men in front of her. He sees her in battle over ships. Shaking his head, he concentrates on the web of time, bringing his focus to a few minutes before and after the now.]

No, my vision is impaired. I can see only the past and the future.

[He'd lie, but there seemed to be little point.]

[inafadingcrown]

[It's subtle, but her expressions shifts from concerned to intrigued. It's not a very common ailment, certainly.]

I see how that would cause you difficulty. You ordinary see past, present, and future? [That sounds...terribly confusing, even to an elf who regularly sees all three. Just not all three at once.]

[traken_master]

[The Master nods, shrugging lightly.]

It is the way of the Time Lords. We perceive the entirety of the web of time, though usually we can focus on certain threads, tuning out the past and future.

[inafadingcrown]

You are the Master, then.

[There's only one other Time Lord currently in the castle and she knows him quite well. She's heard enough to be cautious here, but she's not entirely without compassion.]

I would imagine the Doctor could aid you far better than I could hope to, in that case. [But not very helpful either.]

[traken_master]

I am and you are the Lady Galadriel. It's a pleasure to meet you, finally, though the circumstances could be better. I haven't seen or heard for the dear Doctor in quite a while, actually.

[inafadingcrown]

I am. [That's right. They had spoken once, though long ago.]I am honored you remember.

I fear there is little I can do to help you, though, as a healer, I dislike leaving any in distress.

[traken_master]

[The Mastger bows, smiling charmingly.] Oh, not in distress, dear Lady, only rather inconvenienced. If you can help me to the clinic, that will be aid enough.

[inafadingcrown]

Of course. [And she'll offer her hand readily enough.] That would be no trouble at all.

[traken_master]

[The Master looks at her, trying to focus as close to the present as he can. He gives a frustrated sigh, since he's having trouble seeing anything more or less than ten minutes away.]

[inafadingcrown]

[Then she will just take the initiative of taking his arm and guiding him.]

Come.

[traken_master]

[The Master accepts her arm, holding on in a way that suggests friends strolling together, rather than a helper with an invalid.]

So, how have you been, my dear? Have you had any luck deciphering the castle's mysteries?

[inafadingcrown]

[A small, rueful smile.]

Had I done so, you would have heard something of it before now.

[traken_master]

I take your point. It is a very stubborn entity.

[inafadingcrown]

Something it and I have in common, then.

[traken_master]

I'm not unfamiliar with it either. Oddly, I think it may be a common commodity amongst the residents.

[inafadingcrown]

It would not surprise me. I believe we may all share more than is immediately apparent.

[traken_master]

We seem quite widely varied, but I would not be surprised to find a common thread.

[inafadingcrown]

It seems logical, does it not? We have all been chosen, for one reason or another, by the same force. It stands to reason we all meet its tastes.

[traken_master]

True, my dear, but its tastes may be varied and complex.

[inafadingcrown]

True enough.

[traken_master]

I appreciate your assistance, my dear. I'm sure the loss is temporary, but...well, it is affecting my abilities.

[It's a hard confession to make and he hopes he doesn't regret doing so, though he sees nothing in the web to make him worry.]

[inafadingcrown]

[While she's not above using that sort of knowledge against people, she's not going to do it without reason. He won't regret it unless he brings it on himself.]

Such things are sadly common here.

[traken_master]

"Yes, I've seen the journal entries. I do wonder if the castle chooses certain pranks for certain people or if it is mostly random. Perhaps random energies abound and people closest are affected.

[inafadingcrown]

There does oft seem to be some meaning to them- something that holds significance for the individual afflicted.

[traken_master]

Indeed, my first loss was the inability to use any form of tools and now this. I would say they tailored for me.

[inafadingcrown]

The only loss I have yet experienced, I was regressed to my childhood. [A little smile] It was more difficult than it sounds; I went by another name entirely then. I daresay there were some who never learned who the young elfling truly was.

[traken_master]

Yes. Gallifreyans gain new names, upon adulthood. I should not like to be a child again.