HANDYSPLOSION [open to multiple]

[bluesuit_handy]

Andrew is snooping, but he's not getting very far with it. The trouble with absurdly powerful, government-sanctioned entities is that getting inside the base of such an organization tends to be a bit more complicated than showing up with a forged Health and Safety ID card. Of course, he could probably get inside very easily if he simply went up to the front doors and announced himself, but somehow he doubts he'd be likely to come back out without making a grand production of escaping, and he doesn't want to be too late coming home and make James worry.

The other trouble with Romac is that they're too smart to have anything interesting going on outside. After quite a bit of loitering -- more loitering than is probably wise -- all Andrew's seen is fairly ordinary people going in and out of the building. Disgruntled at their failure to be even the least bit interesting, Andrew finally gives up in disgust and decides to walk to the rebel base in order to say hello to a few people and use their private library.

He makes it less than halfway to the park before disaster strikes. Later, Handrew will be mortally embarrassed that the crisis didn't come about because some Romac agent spotted him and decided to make trouble, or because he had to run to intercept an alien, or even because someone got it in their head to mug him. No, this disaster occurs simply because neither Andrew nor a certain speeding taxi driver happens to be looking in the right direction at the right time. As the meta-crisis steps out into the intersection of Lexington and 59th (against right of way, if he'd bothered to notice), there's a deafening screech, an impact, and Andrew quite unexpectedly shatters.

The reflex to use his power when surprised likely saves his life. Twelve tiny Andrews are scattered across the road a moment later, all of them stunned to one degree or another. As they recover and realize what's happened -- and hear the yells of a few people who saw -- they all take the same course of action:

Run.

Unfortunately, very few of them run in the same direction. There's no plan or pattern to it, and very quickly the Andrews scatter to the four winds -- or at least to the four corners of the intersection. There are a few shouts (even New Yorkers tend to notice when someone explodes next to them) and one person even stoops and tries to grab one of the four-inch-tall Andrews, but he has quite a bit of experience in running for cover.


[OOC: Let me know where you want to encounter one or more Andrews, and I will write up an explanation of how he got there. The accident occurred at E. 59th St. and Lexington Ave. (the game map might help you here), and the Andrews have gone in every direction. Some Andrews will take advantage of the nearby subway entrances; depending where he enters he could do as he intends and go northwest, or he could get on the wrong train and go northeast, which would take him past Romac housing. Really, anything is possible -- though he's trying to get to either the Rebels or the TARDIS, he could get lost in any direction, or stay stranded near the intersection. Just write a tag indicating where your character encounters an Andrew and I'll work it out (or you can PM me or ping me on AIM if you want to hammer it out together). He'll be staying in twelfths, since merging into sixths would make him a foot and a half high, meaning he'd be still too small to get around without trouble but too big to go unnoticed. There might be multiple Andrews traveling together, so let me know if you want two of them.]

UPDATE, November 14: Nine Andrews are accounted for so far. One Andrew each currently reserved for Lucy, Spike, and Topher, meaning no more Andrews are available.

Comments

[bluesuit_handy]

Andrew yelps and squirms, trying too late to wriggle out of the Master's hands. The sudden change in altitude makes him dizzy. "Don't," he gasps. "Just -- just put me down. Please."

Part of him wants to tell the Master that he's mistaken -- as a mere copy, he might be deemed worthless and tossed aside. Then again, he might be literally tossed aside. Or, as the TARDIS feared, the Master might take his existence as a challenge to find a way to use him against the Doctor. For now, he holds his tongue.

[traken_master]

"Oh, I think not, my dear Doctor. This is far too marvelous an opportunity for me to pass up. But, I do think a bit of privacy is in order."

The Master leaves the path, heading into the woods.

[bluesuit_handy]

"Not good," mutters Andrew under his breath. "Really, very, extremely, primo not good."

He stills after a moment, though his breathing is coming on fast whether he likes it or not. He has to be smart about this, has to think his way out, because obviously it isn't happening any other way.

"What is it you're after?" he asks aloud, trying to sound brash and dismissive. "Don't you think it's a bit petty to pass up an opportunity to help one another for revenge? Hmm? We both want to circumvent the rift, and since you're still here I'm assuming your TARDIS is feeling under the weather, am I right?"

[traken_master]

"I excel at being petty, Doctor, you know this. It is interesting that you bring up the issue of revenge," the Master chortled. "It's as if you read my mind!"

The Master found a secluded spot and sat down beneath a large tree, in some shadows.

[bluesuit_handy]

They...aren't going to the Master's TARDIS. Andrew isn't sure whether or not to be relieved about that; at least if he can get loose he's outdoors where he can hopefully find cover. On the other hand, there's nothing out here to use against the Master.

Really, though, all it would take would be for the Master to squeeze. At that thought, Andrew starts squirming again, grunting with his efforts to extricate himself.

[traken_master]

The Master tightens his fingers, but only slightly. He's rather grateful that he is wearing gloves. He knows the Doctor would not be above biting him.

"Now, none of that, my dear Doctor. I'm afraid this is an unavoidable conversation."

[bluesuit_handy]

Andrew would object vehemently if he knew the Master thinks he'd stoop to anything as crass as biting. Anyway, if he did it would only be because he was pushed to an extreme; it would be entirely the Master's fault.

Wait, conversation? Andrew pauses in his struggling to catch his breath. "What conversation would that be?" he asks, genuinely confused.

[traken_master]

"Oh, just a little reminiscing about old times," the Master explained, an angry edge appearing in his voice. "After all, there was a time, when our situations were reversed and I had been shrunk to about your current size. Do you remember the tender care I received at your hands?"

[bluesuit_handy]

...Is the Master planning to set him on fire? Andrew's breath catches, but he puts on a stern voice as best he can. "I do," he acknowledges unhappily. "But do you remember what you were trying to do at the time?

[traken_master]

"I was trying to restore myself to my normal height...a goal I think you can know sympathize with," the Master purred. "You know, I almost don't even have to do anything. Just seeing you in this state is somewhat satisfying."

[bluesuit_handy]

"You were trying to steal my TARDIS!" snaps Andrew. Really, it's so much easier to accuse than to dwell on how that whole saga ended. It's also surprisingly easy to slip back into the role of the Doctor, speaking as though he were the Time Lord himself.

[traken_master]

"Don't be ridiculous!" the Master snapped. "Why would I want your TARDIS, when I already have my magnificent vessel?"

[bluesuit_handy]

"Don't ask me -- you're the one who wanted her badly enough to threaten to kill me if I didn't give you her comparator," sulks Andrew.

[traken_master]

The Master rolls his eyes. "I needed to control your TARDIS only long enough to reach Sarn and as a means to keep you from interfering in my plans."

[bluesuit_handy]

"You don't see me interfering with your TARDIS," replied Andrew, who hadn't really remembered why the Master had wanted the TARDIS. He might be forgetting plenty of instances where the Doctor has interfered with the Master's TARDIS, too, but sulk mode is thoroughly engaged.

[traken_master]

"You couldn't cooperate, though, not even to see me healed," the Master purred menacingly. "Now, though, the shoe is, as they say, on the other foot. Tell me, my dear Doctor, what reason do I have to show you any more mercy than you showed to me?"

[bluesuit_handy]

Andrew draws in a breath and eyes the Master warily. In the back and forth he'd started to forget the precariousness of his situation. Not only could the Master literally squash him, but there isn't the slightest chance of a regeneration to follow.

"Because it would be too easy," he suggests, deciding vanity is a better bet than decency. "What's clever about an attack of opportunity?"

[traken_master]

The Master wavers, because that is true. Easy victories are unsatisfying victories, tasting of ash, instead of sweetness. They serve only to wet the appetite. Still, the Master feels no obligation to admit to any truth, that one included. He grins, a sharks smile.

"Easy, my dear Doctor? I've chased you for centuries. We both know we alone are each other's intellectual equals."

[bluesuit_handy]

"But it's not like you not to want to prove it," protests Andrew, concerned about where this is going. "You wouldn't want me to die thinking you only killed me now because you were afraid you wouldn't get another shot at it."

[traken_master]

"AFRAID?" the Master growls, his hand tightening just a bit, but still constricting threateningly. "Nothing about you or are games has ever made me afraid, you arrogant fool! Frankly, finishing you off would be in my best interests, for the sake of my own peace of mind. I've been a fool to be so gentle with you!"

[bluesuit_handy]

Clearly that was the wrong thing to say. Andrew lets out a fearful little noise before he can stifle it, and wriggles fruitlessly against the Master's too-tight grip. "Please!" he yelped, forgetting his efforts to be calm, collected, and in control.

[traken_master]

There is much about the Master that is perverse and his moods are never exactly stable. The slight show of fear and the word please act as a salve and the Master chuckles, his grip relaxing. There are few things sweeter than breaking through the Doctor's facade.

"My apologies, my dear Doctor," the Master gloats. "It would be a terrible shame to end our little chat too soon.

[bluesuit_handy]

Shaken, Handrew glares up at the Time Lord. "You're outside your timeline," he says hoarsely, trying a different tack. "You shouldn't have even met this me yet."

[traken_master]

The Master shrugs.

"You're correct, of course, my dear, but the nasty rift in this city makes keeping our timelines separate nearly impossible, you must admit," the Master argued. "Unless, of course, you wish to let me do as I wish. If you're willing to turn a blind eye to my schemes, I could accomplish quite a lot."

[bluesuit_handy]

"By all rights, you shouldn't be my problem," mutters Andrew, more to himself than to the Master. It's doubly true; even if he were the Doctor, it ought to be a past incarnation dealing with this Master. "You know I can't do that," he adds exasperatedly.