Don't own anything except my nightmares. They scared off my dreams.
Hey- a day early! Aren't you lucky!
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"I like your hat Miss Wright!" Saying this the Time Lady springs up and swipes it off of Florence's head, placing it on her own momentarily not-so-carefully coiffured hair. She strikes a pose.
"How do I look." Her companion huffs a little.
"Like a mad-woman." The Mistress pretends to remove a tear from her eye.
"Oh, thank you darling! That means ever-so-much to me!" She drops the hat back onto Florence's head and pours herself a cup of tea. Automatically the companion removes it, swipes her hair flat again and replaces it.
"How is that machine coming along anyway?" The Mistress smiles,
"Why- I thought you would never ask! It's coming along very well- if I do say so myself- I do." Her face drops into disinterest as she sips at her tea, perched in a chair most likely supplied by the T.A.R.D.I.S when nobody was paying attention. With a indifferent manner she gestures towards the tea tray.
"Aren't you going to have some tea, Miss Wright. It's still hot." Florence arches an eyebrow at the Time Lady who remains unruffled. Her expression switches to one almost charming if it weren't for the irritation made clear by forced calm and the deliberately soft smile gracing her lips.
"I am afraid I am currently uninterested, Miss Mistress." Said Mistress's interest is momentarily piqued by the human. The T.A.R.D.I.S finds amusement in the girl's word play and the echoes of her laughter ring in Missy's head as the corners of her lips lift again. Amusedly the Time Lady matches the saccharine politeness.
"Then maybe a biscuit, Miss Wright? We absolutely cannot have you going to waste my dear."
"Oh! I could never impose on you so much!" The girl acts flustered, refusing to lose to the Mistress.
"But it would be nothing at all, Miss Wright! Please, I do insist." Upon this Florence realises that the Time Lady has defeated her. If she accepts in good grace then Missy would have managed to 'tempt' her. On the other hand if she refuses then Missy will have made her behave impolitely (never mind that it was a farce in the first place).
The Mistress has won but she maintains composure, waiting for the girl to admit defeat.
Wearily the girl stands, corrects her posture and curtsies, skirt held out delicately, head bowed in respect, hat held over her heart with her right hand.
"If it would please you, my Lady Mistress, I would be ecstatic to partake of chai and its accompaniments with you at a later date. Unfortunately at this very moment I am rather busy- the Lord Master has asked that I ensure that rooms are prepared for our guests whom will be received by yourselves presently and I must perform my duties. I thank you for the offer, my kind Lady Mistress." The girl remains in that position, facing the floor, arm outstretched until Missy speaks.
"I knew there was a reason why the Doctor almost always chose the British as companions. You are invariably funny." The girl breathes a sigh of relief and settles herself against the wall again with the gentle smile that comes from winning when it is thought impossible. Missy continues.
"And of course it was rather improved by a happy coincidence-" The Mistress grins beguilingly at the tired girl who looks up in interest, "I used to be called the Master." Aside from the background hum of the T.A.R.D.I.S the room falls silent.
Florence fails to grasp the gravitas of the revelation.
"Why?"
"I used to be male- rather sexist- not an enjoyable person to be around. I'm much nicer now. Don't you think, Miss Wright?" The girl seems confused.
"Why would being male make you sexist. Not all men are sexist- that's actually-"
"Why aren't you shocked or surprised? You're meant to be afraid- or worried- or- something!" The Mistress's eyebrows knit together and she springs from her seat, feet propelled across the floor as she observes her companion from various angles,
"Why aren't you reacting!" The girl blinks uncertainly before realisation dawns on her face.
"Oh, you expected- Well, no. That doesn't shock me- many are undergoing operations to change their gender now. I wouldn't consider it myself but-"
"I didn't undergo an operation you primitive ape! I regenerated. I was a man- then I died and now I'm not." The humans lips form a soft o-shape and the room falls near-silent again…
"First- I'm going to need more information on regeneration. Secondly- I still don't understand why being a man would change your personality as you clearly remember it and you don't seem to still be in childhood. Surely most of the events which affect personality have already occurred?" Disgruntled, the Mistress finishes the last of the tea, requests that Florence return the tea-trolley and suggests that she visits the library before asking her any further questions.
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British humour- best described as sarcasm, dry wit and self-degradation. I mean there isn't much else us British are good for! :p
Hope you enjoy, should be travelling in another two or so chapters but I won't make a promise that I probably can't keep! Review if you like~