Fic: Womanly Wiles.

[elisi]

Because I've had this sat in a folder since forever. A continuation of The Master Returns Again and Don't Mess With River Song.

Length: Just under 800 words.
Setting: Sometime post-TWoRS. (Immediately after 'Don't Mess With River Song')
Characters: Master (unspecified), River Song, Eleven.
Rating: PG. (Some violence, but not more than the show.)

Womanly Wiles
The shot hit him squarely in the right shoulder.

He crashed against the wall and then onto the floor, but as he tried to get up again he realised that River was already beside him, twisting his hands behind his back, causing him to cry out in pain.

“Stop being a baby,” she said dismissively, “it’s only pain. And I’m sure you’ve had worse.”

Then there was a metallic ‘clack’ and he felt the far too familiar coldness of handcuffs around his wrists.

“Hey!” he choked out, “where’d you get handcuffs from?”

“Oh wouldn’t you just love to know?” she purred, and he clamped down on what he was about to say, studying her properly - the dancing eyes, the smug smile, the confident curls.

Something different than the usual companion. The Doctor’s wife (apparently), yet she carried a gun...

He opened his mouth, but she put a finger across his lips.

“Before you start, know that the only reason you’re still alive is because the Doctor has some lingering affection for you. But give me an excuse - just one - and I will kill you.”

The smile deepened, as she absently stroked his cheek, and he marvelled, even as her condescending attitude grated... Who the hell was she?

“Oh killing you could shave centuries off my sentence. If you tempt me, I refuse to take responsibility for my actions.”

Mysteriouser and mysteriouser.

“Your sentence?” he asked lightly as she stood up and walked towards his big doomsday machine, but she ignored him, and instead started to inspect the big countdown clock, muttering to herself.

He smiled. Even the Doctor would have problems getting his head around this one, and there was no way for them to stop it.

River tried tapping in a code, and swore as the machine zapped her in response.

Then the door opened, and the Doctor entered. Taking in the situation, he sighed.

“Oh River... Did you have to?”

His voice carried no surprise, and River shrugged.

“Only shot him in the shoulder. Wouldn’t want him all full of regeneration energy...”

The Doctor shot her a smile - one of those infuriating, private smiles that had the Master gritting his teeth in... not jealousy, of course not... frustration at their smugness. Frustration, yes, that was it.

“Any consideration for the man who’s been shot?” he asked, as he tried, and mostly failed, to block out the pain.

The Doctor frowned, but then seemed to notice the big machine which was still counting down, and only afforded him an irritated look.

“I don’t suppose you’re going to try to help us stop this at all, are you?”

The Master only sneered in response.

He spent the next few minutes watching in quiet satisfaction as the Doctor and River tried and failed to stop the countdown. Oh the devastation ready to be unleashed... He might be wounded and tied up, but he’d still win.

“OK, this is getting us nowhere,” River stated, an irritated finger tapping on the control panel. Eyes narrowing she walked over to the Master and crouched down in front of him.

“Listen. This thing has a shut down facility. And you will tell me what it is.”

He smiled.

“No.”

“Or...” she brought out her gun, “I kill you. Properly. For good. Trust me, I know how.”

He held her eyes, smile widening.

“No.”

He liked this game. He could see the Doctor watching out of the corner of his eye, easily sensing his frustration. River’s eyes narrowed.

“Very well. You leave me no choice!”

Before he could work out what she meant, she leaned forward... and kissed him!

Instinctively he leaned into it, before pulling back so sharply that he hit his head against the wall.

“What the hell woman?”

She laughed then, and suddenly it seemed as if her hair was made of butterflies, floating around her head...

“Huh?” he said, frowning, and then felt cool fingertips against his temples.

“There now Precious,” she said gently, “let’s see where you put those override codes...”

And then she was in his mind, rummaging around where she had no right to be, but he felt as if his thoughts were made of syrup and he was sure that... that... women. He didn't like them.

As if from far away he could hear the River woman reciting the codes out loud and the Doctor seemed to be dancing about tapping them in and then he could hear the unit shutting down, knowing that he ought to be unhappy but not quite remembering why.

“Butterflies...” he said, wanting to catch them, but then there was a round thing coming at him very very fast - and suddenly everything went black.

(tbc)

Comments

[betawho.livejournal.com]

Hah! Excellent.

Oh yeah, don't mess with the Song, she KNOWS how to deal with Time Lords.

I would love to have seen this filmed.

[elisi]

Hah! Excellent.
*beams*

Oh yeah, don't mess with the Song, she KNOWS how to deal with Time Lords.
Just wait until I manage to finish the next part... He ain't seen anything yet.

I would love to have seen this filmed.
I would give my right arm to see River & the Master meet. *DEEP SIGH*

[kikimay]

Awwwww, this is so good! I love your take on River and I love how outraged seems the Master! XD

[elisi]

*grins*

It started out as just hitting my own kinks, but it... develops.

[a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com]

OMG. WANT. GIMME. WANTWANTWANT.

*Tackles you*

[elisi]

Oh there's more. It's just that there are so many possibilities that narrowing them down is pretty much impossible...

[promethia_tenk]

*heeheehee* <3

[elisi]

Writes itself...

Mind you, the next part has about 10 different Maybes, which is why I never posted before.

[promethia_tenk]

It's a very fun series.

*pets your brain*

[adoxerella.livejournal.com]

Heee! Very nice. I love watching River manage ornery Time Lords. She's so good at it.

[elisi]

Isn't she just? I had WAY too much with it all. *g*

[honeynoir.livejournal.com]

Haha! Dysfunctional dream team! Loving confused!Master and Eleven just... "must you, dear? *sigh*"

[elisi]

I swear, it appeared without me doing a thing! And oh, the Doctor knows his wife... *g*

[honeynoir.livejournal.com]

Yay! That tbc is promising, too! *tries to decide which Master fits best*

[promethia_tenk]

and Eleven just... "must you, dear? *sigh*"
Yeah, that was the line that made the whole section.

Poor Master

[maggietimelord.livejournal.com]

He would be all upside down and sideways after running into River and Eleven!
Throw in Jack and we could have a real party.

Re: Poor Master

[elisi]

He would be all upside down and sideways after running into River and Eleven!
Indeed! You seemed to have captured the essence perfectly! :)

Throw in Jack and we could have a real party.
I.. hadn't considered that. Don't think I will, but you never know - I might just branch out to another story...

[flowsoffire.livejournal.com]

AH I just love this to bits ♥♥♥
It was just wonderfully… wonderful :D River's attitude was flawless. I loved how cool and ruthless she acted with the Master, how clear she made it that she wouldn't hesitate to kill him if he pushed her buttons. She told him to STOP BEING A BABY :D The handcuffs bit made me laugh, of course, and his description of her was delightful, I was grinning at his trying to figure out who the hell she was and what made her so special. He could sense it, but not really put his finger on it… Loved his wondering about her sentence, and his annoyance at watching the Doctor and River interact—watching him have a partner like this, such balance—and the Doctor and the Master are often in their own little bubble, there's such intensity whenever they interact, but here he was outside the River/Eleven bubble and hah, it KILLED him and I love it :D Not jealousy, of course not. Never. Pshh.
The lipstick of course :D Haha. I loved River calling him "Precious", and "women. He didn't like them." Hahaha, oh sunshine, this one is terrible isn't she? *grinning* Of course, I loved the way you described the state of lipsticked confusion the Master was in. Delightful :D *hugs you tight* It's just full of loveliness! :D

[elisi]

AH I just love this to bits ♥♥♥
♥♥♥

It was just wonderfully… wonderful :D River's attitude was flawless. I loved how cool and ruthless she acted with the Master, how clear she made it that she wouldn't hesitate to kill him if he pushed her buttons.
Well, she IS cool and ruthless. And very, very protective of the Doctor...

She told him to STOP BEING A BABY :D
Someone needed to!

The handcuffs bit made me laugh, of course, and his description of her was delightful, I was grinning at his trying to figure out who the hell she was and what made her so special. He could sense it, but not really put his finger on it…
He is so dismissive of ordinary humans, but she just flies straight past that. Plus, she knows how to be enticingly mysterious... It's like second nature.

Loved his wondering about her sentence, and his annoyance at watching the Doctor and River interact—watching him have a partner like this, such balance—and the Doctor and the Master are often in their own little bubble, there's such intensity whenever they interact, but here he was outside the River/Eleven bubble and hah, it KILLED him and I love it :D Not jealousy, of course not. Never. Pshh.
I think my main reason for the whole thing might have been this. Just because it's something he wouldn't know how to deal with. He's used to being the SPESHUL one. And River happily tramples ALL OVER IT!

The lipstick of course :D Haha.
It works! And is - for him - unexpected. ;)

I loved River calling him "Precious", and "women. He didn't like them." Hahaha, oh sunshine, this one is terrible isn't she? *grinning*
Always the women... (Too much fun, this little 'verse. Far too much fun.)

Of course, I loved the way you described the state of lipsticked confusion the Master was in. Delightful :D *hugs you tight* It's just full of loveliness! :D
Awwww, thank you. *draws heart* It was pure delight to write, glad you enjoyed it.

[arwen-elen.livejournal.com]

you can feel the tension in every word between river and the master, the unspoken war between them.

i thought this was a very well executed set piece with the physical conflict balanced with the verbal combat :)

[elisi]

you can feel the tension in every word between river and the master, the unspoken war between them.
Ooooh, thank you. That's pretty much what I was aiming for - he's generally very dismissive of companions, but River is a pro at intriguing Time Lords with mysterious hints. Plus, she is not at all what the Master expects... The Doctor ought to tell her off, not give her secret smiles.

i thought this was a very well executed set piece with the physical conflict balanced with the verbal combat :)
*beams* That's high praise indeed. From here on, the fights will be all verbal & psychological...

back to the story .... because the thread ran off the page

[maggietimelord.livejournal.com]

I have noticed that female Time Lord's are always more ruthless. In all the 'canon' Romana stories, she became a hardened politician with in time.

Re: back to the story .... because the thread ran off the page

[elisi]

Hmmm. Mind you, if you want to take a character to different places, there's not that many to go.

And the Doctor has gotten darker too, over the years.

[perfiction.livejournal.com]

LOL. The Master definitely would not know how to deal with her. Meanwhile, they might've gotten along if he could stop being so conniving for just a moment. :)
Also, I liked the bit about the Master not saving his life again just for him to throw it away immediately after, from the earlier one. :]

[elisi]

LOL. The Master definitely would not know how to deal with her.
Oh no. There's more to come, once I get it sorted...

Meanwhile, they might've gotten along if he could stop being so conniving for just a moment. :)
Hmm, I don't know. They'd be each other's only rivals for the Doctor's affection. The Master would see River as a usurper, River would see him as the ex who couldn't let go... Plus, the Master is always trying to hurt him. River wouldn't stand for it!

Also, I liked the bit about the Master not saving his life again just for him to throw it away immediately after, from the earlier one. :]
It seems rather a waste when looked at in that light, doesn't it?