Sorry about the wait, here. Procrastination plus distractions…well, you get the idea.

oOoOoOoOo

The Doctor walked just behind the Master, watching as the other Time Lord practically leaped around, his energy quite apparent. Music and voices sounded in the distance, and that was obviously where he was leading.

Abruptly the Master turned, and the Doctor stopped, his hands in his pockets. Frowning, his companion walked back to him.

"See, I know it must be a bit…hmm…troubling…traveling with someone who wouldn't be overly against creating an organized chaos, here. But you're so dull right now!" He turned again, walking away a few steps, then moved back just as quickly. "D'you hear that over there?" he asked, gesturing behind him. "That sounds like a party. You can't go to a party looking like this," the Master's features fell into an exaggerated expression of boredom. "Come on, Doctor. If you're going to be like this with me from now on, you're never going to have any fun."

The corner of the Doctor's mouth turned up, and his companion's grin returned. "See? Isn't that so much better? You don't need to be so serious."

Allowing himself to smile, the Doctor replied that it was.

"Now, the party?" The Master half-turned, eager to get going.

"One condition."

With a dramatic sigh (though really, what did the Master do that wasn't dramatic?) the Master raised his eyebrows.

"Don't give me a reason to have to be serious while we're here."

"Doctor-"

"No, I mean it. Or we're not going." With effort, the Doctor managed to keep a straight face. The Master looked like a child torn between two equally thrilling options as he gave his rather reluctant agreement.

oOo

It certainly was a party. Torches lit the square, with flames ranging from the usual golden-yellow to crimson and sky blue. And everywhere there were people. Dancing, talking, eating, singing. Sometimes a combination of two or three. Everyone was dressed in vibrant colours; their fabrics shimmering in the firelight. The Doctor looked down at his own garb, then looked over to the Master.

"I think we're a bit underdressed."

The Master shrugged, grinning. "It just makes it that much easier to draw a curious attention to yourself. It's the best kind. Not hostile, but not too invasive, either. I wonder what this is all about…" The Time Lord strode forwards, heading, of course, for the centre of the crowd.

"Master, wait-"

The Doctor could practically hear the Master rolling his eyes as he replied. "I'll be fine, Doctor. I won't stir up too much trouble. I did promise, after all."

For a moment, the Doctor considered going after him, really he should, that way he could keep him out of trouble. Staring after his companion, he ran a hand through his hair, then sighed. "Oh, I'm going to regret this." He thrust his hands into his pockets and walked into the square himself, keeping mostly to the side of the party. It would drive both of them up the wall if he were constantly hovering over the Master's shoulder. As it was, the Doctor could tell that he was going to be worrying over what the other Time Lord was up to until he saw him again. And even then, it was unlikely that the Master would actually tell him what he had done.

Shaking his head slightly, the Doctor turned to the stall he was passing. Most of the stalls he had seen were closed, with nothing on display. This one was lit with dozens of candles, with beaded jewelry hanging from the little roof, and a tall blond woman sitting behind it, looking as if she'd rather be anywhere else.

At first glance she appeared human. Well, more or less. Well, to most people. The Doctor saw it immediately: the eyes that were just too large and too round, the strange texture of the skin. Of course there was also the tiny, iridescent scales that curled into patterns across one side of her face. Though the Doctor supposed that to most people it would just look like a tattoo. She was a child of a human and a Stryxx.

"Hello, I'm the Doctor," he said happily, offering his hand. The woman rolled her eyes.

"If you're part of the communications group, I'm not talking to you, I'm not here by choice. And I really don't care about my attitude. If you've been drinking, I'm not going anywhere with you, so don't even ask."

"And what if I'm not either?"

"Did my parents send you over here?"

"Nope. No one sent me. I just wandered over here, saw the stall, figured I'd stop for a chat." The Doctor wiggled his fingers, his hand still outstretched.

The woman regarded him slightly suspiciously for a moment, then shook his hand. "I'm Kaylee."

OOoOoOoOo

Ye-e-eah, I know, that kind of just…ended. Sorry. My brain started to give out a little, and I couldn't really think of a way to end it…. Aha, I'm sure loads of you know what I mean, anyway.

Mmkay, well, reviews are awesome. Seriously. They kind of make my day. 'Cause opening my email and seeing emails telling me I've got reviews make me really happy. Aha, 'cause I'm that lonely over here. XD

OH. And if you could tell me how I'm doing with keeping the Doctor/the Master in character? Sil vous plait.

Yours till death,

..