standsonhigh | There's nothing here but what here's mine.

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psl: barty

There's nothing here but what here's mine.

This wasn't, exactly, how he had planned his return. He had expected to be on home turf, a place he understood and wanted to be. Surrounded by worshippers and already plotting. Not here with some strange man using the power he gave specifically to his followers to bring him back. The books of Saxon weren't meant to be public knowledge, they were his private notes, and yet this man decided to drag him into a world he didn't want to be in.

The Master always had a funny feeling that magic wasn't something he should of ever tried to toy with because as it stood, he didn't like where this was going. It defied the logic he knew.

Voldemort was a strange creature, a very unpleasant one at that. He looked sickly and his eyes were red like an albino. Still, he didn't say much on it, he'd looked worse himself and damages were just a sign of ambition and desire. It always took everything out of you, especially with humans.

The drums were raging in his head as he followed Voldemort into this meeting he'd decided to attend. He'd only been back a few days and already he seemed to of captured the imagination of this tiny little creature who was all but eager to introduce him.

An ancient ruler from another reality must of been interesting.

He didn't walk behind Voldemort, he kept in step, not willing to seem a lesser. Hey, the dark lord brought him here. If he was going to play with this merry band of psychopaths, he wanted to seem equal.

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Oh, interesting. There was a definite change in Barty, too, at the strong reaction. He didn't quite let it show, didn't quite smile, but he did keep his eyes on the Master, even as he let himself fall back on the bed. "I'll try."

He kept watching him, now the one on his back, now the one leaning on his elbows, consciously or unconsciously mimicking the Master's position from before. He spread his legs, but it was a subtle enough thing, mostly just getting more comfortable. It was his bed, after all.

"And you won't tell me who I look like, either." A statement, not a question. "But you gave me a chance to get rid of my father. I won't forget that." His lips twitched in a smile. "Master."

The Master sat upright on the bed, back against the headboard as he watched the other man sprawl in front of him. It was like an invitation and if he wasn't so determined to keep his head on his shoulders, he might of tried to take some advantage of the situation. He used to do that with Lucy, whenever she gave so much as a slight hint, he took it. Time Lords were always so funny about such things, it always felt so delightfully rebellious.

With a sigh, he shook his head in disbelief. He could throw the guy a bone, he supposed. "You look like an old friend and a great enemy. "

With a smirk, he tilted his head back, willing to pass over the mental intrusion this time. But he may not be so happy in the future. Letting out a bark of laughter, he looked Barty directly in the eyes, unable to help himself. Oh he did love that title. "Just remember that it's your show, Barty. You do the deed, I just watch. And help, if you feel like sharing."

"ah," he only made, but perhaps he understood better than the master would think. He didn't comment beyond that though, figuring that perhaps with time he'd know. He imagined he could still hear the drum's beat, so who knew. One day he could look into that mind again.

"Share?" Barty shook his head, simply because he couldn't remember wanting any help with this. He wanted to end it. He would end it. He should probably get rid of Winky before then, but he supposed he could just order her out of the room. Should be easy enough. She'd always liked him. He reckoned that after his mother had died from a broken heart, that attachment would only have deepened. "I'm an only child."

"I was a child of thirteen or more. Though I don't think I saw them much and I hardly know their names," they were less brothers and sisters though, more cousins. People in a house that studied nearby. He didn't really tolerate any of them and barely saw them so he was happy enough to pretend he didn't know them. Fortunately, it wasn't an issue now, the Doctor had fixed his family issues for him. "They're all dead now, it's refreshing."

Pulling the spell book back into his lap, he continued to leaf through it in interest. He was still learning magic and it was a shaky road. He was good at potions because he wasn't a stranger to them but wands and magic? Nonsense.

"You certainly love your mother, don't you? Or loved, anyway," the Master remarked, looking at Barty with a bright smile. "I heard you cry out for her while I was stalling outside."

"I didn't know that happened outside bunnies." It was a harmless dig, more of a pureblood sentiment since it was typically lower families that had more children in wizarding circles, but it wasn't as if he cared a lot. Dead. Refreshing. Yes, he could imagine that.

He watched the Master silently, worrying his lower lip because his thoughts were, already, on his father's death. On his father's screams. The mention of his mother however made him frown and he considered for a moment before replying. "She loved me." And it felt strange to talk of her in the past tense, it did. He wasn't sure what he still felt for her, what he had felt for her before, but he didn't yet quite think of her as 'gone'. "She'd have kept me out of there if she could. But she was weak."

"Maybe that's what I am, part bunny? Bet you didn't consider that," the Master teased playfully, unable to help himself. Where he came from, it was mostly standard. Every house had thirteen children loomed and they all went out into the world to live their lives without family nonsense. Unless they wanted to play that game, then they could.

"I believe most human men cry for their mothers when in pain. It's funny, that's all I could here in Azkaban. Desires for their mommy to come and save them," the Master mused without much thought. He did, however, halt for a moment, looking at Barty with a curious expression. Then held up the book to display it to his new best friend. "I'm having this, by the way. Take it as a fee for saving your arse. I really should learn more about this stuff."

So far he knew a few spells, those which most first years would of mastered in their first weeks.

"That must be why you're so adorable." The wry tone was obvious, but the smile was quite amused. Perhaps in some way or other, there was an adorable streak to the master. Right next to the unsettling one and the obvious cruelty. He could deal with that.

"Instincts, I suppose." Barty shrugged. He'd rather not have the Master have seen him brought down so low, but... Alright. It was over. He could deal. At the declaration of ownership of the book he just snorted, taking a look at it and arching his eyebrows.

"This one? Sure. Though if you told me what it is you want to learn, I could probably point you to better ones."

"Darn, you read me so well," the Master shot back, flicking towards the index of the books to look over the duelling spells. He could use being able to fight with magic, that was the one thing he had to worry over. He had a plan to stop Voldemort but science could only lead him so far. Magic was beyond the laws he knew and understood, he didn't have a firm grasp on it.

He needed to know everything he could but he only had so long to prepare a defence. And he was about to piss off legions of Death Eaters.

"Defence. Attacks. Just general counter spells would be useful, I suppose. I have a feeling that people won't tolerate me very long should I make the wrong move and I have a disadvantage," Though he doesn't seem that bothered over it. Instead, he smirked, and gave Barty a challenging look. "Fortunately, there are much stronger and worse means than magic."

"It's easier taught in person than read in books, but I have books on that, of course." Barty met the challenging look and, after a tense moment, he just smiled and inclined his head in that vaguely polite way that could mean anything, from denial to agreement. "Whatever you say. But magic is what I know."

He smiled and pushed himself up so he sat across from the Master, holding his gaze still. "So I can teach you. You're in this world now."

See, now, this is why he liked Barty. So eager to help, so oddly endearing. The Master set the book aside and sat up straight, motivated and interested. He was all up for learning and he was very interested in the idea of having this sort of power. So far he could make things float and explode. Minor explosions too, like water splurting out. Nothing really that good. And all with a borrowed wand that didn't overly work, he needed to improve his skills.

"I need a wand. And some lessons. After we dispose of daddy, you can show me," the Master insisted, wanting something out of this. He didn't save the man out of goodness, he wanted to profit. Barty had experience, he needed a little of it. "I'm sure you can share?"

"We can buy a wand. Well. I can tell you where you should buy it, anyway." Barty frowned for a moment. "Although I really should get a new one, too. I doubt the one I took will do much good." He bit his lower lip, once more made aware of how much his father had screwed up his life. Taken his freedom. He smiled though and gave a nod.

"I can show you. I may not be my Lord's equal in magic..." Somehow he managed to have a 'yet' be implied. "...but I know enough to make sharing worthwhile. Now you know what you need me for. Aside from company."

"Write me down an address and directions, tomorrow is my day off and I have to get one before this weekend," the Master insisted, he needed to get a hold of one for his grand plan. The finale wasn't far away and if his science failed him, he was going to need a wand. Not that it would do him much good against someone like Voldemort, he seemed to be very good at the magic side of things.

Hopefully, because the Master was being very secretive over it, he wouldn't grasp that the Master planned to use science against him. "If you have skills, do share them. Like you say, that might be your great use to me after all."

"You've not been to Diagon Alley yet? There's really no better wandmaker in Great Britain than Ollivander. Probably not even in the world." He hadn't studied wand lore all that extensively yet, but since he knew that his Lord was interested in it, he had implored it further himself.

"You may watch and learn," Barty permitted graciously, a secretive smile on his lips. "My father should be home soon." He took out the wand he had stolen before and experimentally cast a few sparks. Good enough, he supposed, but if he ever could, he'd definitely get a wand that belonged to him again. One that wanted him.

"I brief visited but I had to leave," the place was giving him a headache, he understood none of it. Hopefully he could get someone to explain this stuff to him so he'd know what to do. After all, he had to get a wand and he seriously didn't like the idea of going in and getting conned. He wanted the best he could physically get. He had to be ready.

"Magic to torture? Now I know all about that one," the Master remarked, a gleeful smile on his face. He'd learned all about it when a crowd of death eaters filled him in on why the Doctor lookalike was no longer about. Seemed there were strict laws on it. "Naughty Barty played with darker forces than he should of."

Barty let out a surprised laugh at that, shaking his head with a smile and a shrug. "I always do." That much was true, at least. Dark magic had always been the one that fascinated him. The one that touched on the very essence of the user, that needed willpower and strength and that left its mark. Of course, it helped that his father wanted to outlaw it and end any and all affiliation.

"You don't sound as if you mind. Good. I like that in a man." He laughed again, tongue flicking out to lick his lips. "It's the true strength of magic."

"I've been torturing since before you great great great great granddaddy was born. And then some. It's hardly even an issue for me these days, as normal as making yourself some toast in the morning," the Master pointed out as he lay back on the bed once more, eagerly listening out for any signs of Crouch Sr. He couldn't wait to lay waste to that moron.

"Perhaps you could teach me a few of these banned spells of yours."

"Oh? I like to have a bit more drive with it. Unless you're passionate about toast, I suppose." Barty wasn't sure what to make of the Master claiming to be that old. He might be. But it wasn't the time to wrap his mind around that. He leaned back against the wall, one hand rather casually on the Master's leg as he talked.

"Do you know the three Unforgivable Curses? Cruciatus, that's the one I used. What I was imprisoned for." He turned to look at the door, a glint in his eyes already. "My father used one on me before. He won't go to jail for it, but he'll suffer. Imperius. That's the one."

Barty was quick and easy to get in with, funnily enough. Saving him was one thing but listening to him was another. Showing interest and giving him this kind of chance to take control and be his own man seemed to have him almost relaxed and pleased. They were sharing more personal space than he usually allowed but hey, he could blame it on that face. He didn't know why, he was just always so drawn to it.

"He used one on you? Well, I think it'd only be fair to use one back," the Master remarked, a dark glint in his eyes. He wanted to see this, to study it. He needed things like that at hand. "Can you show me how cruciatus works? When daddy arrives, anyway."

"He did. I was an unruly child, you see. Too bad no one would believe me if I accused him." Barty took note of that glint and, well, it excited him in turn. He nodded, of course he nodded, eager as he was, hand clasping his wand just a little bit tighter. "I will. I'll see him writhe and hear him scream. I'll make him beg for his death and then I'll just make him scream longer still before finally granting it."

He had dreamed about this moment, way too often. The thought was exciting, almost arousing. His hatred was the strongest he'd ever felt. "And then he'll be gone."

He could feel Barty tremble next to him and the Master had to laugh. It was obvious that his father was the big source of his mental trauma, he was entirely unhinged because of the controlling brute and it was delightful. The things humans did to their kids, it was quite the sight to behold, he had met so few humans who were as damaged as Barty.

And letting him loose, it could only end well. "The longer he screams, the happier you'll be. Trust me, there's nothing better than that sensation of actually winning. Of knowing they can't come back."

"You've done it?" He almost asked further, if he had done it to the enemy with his face, but in the end he didn't, just watched the Master's face and smiled. Oh, he was ready. He was so ready.

Barty rolled to the side suddenly, halfway on top of the Master as he kissed him again, just as forcefully, his fingers sliding into the man's hair this time. He couldn't remember ever feeling so giddy. This was intoxicating. As quickly as he had started it, Barty broke the kiss, got up. He held a hand out for the Master.

"Come on. I have to tell the house elf to stay out of the way."

Barty was such an amusing little creature, he had a level of playful immaturity that didn't take away from his intelligence and that dopey grin reminded him so much of the Doctor. Maybe it was wrong of him to compare those two endlessly in his head but the similarities were entirely uncanny.

With an amused smile, he decided to humour the boy and take his hand, using it to haul himself up. Hey, if he could play along with Lucy then he could assume some unhinged human.

"House elf? You have one of those? Oh, how novel!"

"Not really, they've been with my family for generations. Winky's the only one now." Barty shrugged as he headed for the door. "She isn't supposed to listen to my orders any longer, of course, but she's always liked me and she's loyal to a fault, like all house elves."

He stepped out onto the hallway, calling out for the house elf and not surprised when she appeared immediately. "Master Barty!" She actually did sound happy to see him. "Winky has missed you. Your mother, your dear mother, she has too. She wanted to go see you at the horrible place, but Master Crouch..." Her little face darkened and she bit her lip very harshly. "Are you out of that place now? Winky never believed it. You're so good, so kind."

"Yes, I'm an unsung hero." It was only slightly embarrassing. "Will you listen to my orders?"

She hesitated, but only for a moment before nodding. "Of course, Master Barty."

"Then stay in the kitchen until I tell you to come out. No matter what happens before then."

"They sound rather useful. I toyed with the idea of getting one myself. Mostly because I really hate laundry," he loved creatures that adored him for no other reason than him being their Master. A mild power-trip to keep his head in the clouds during the quieter moments. On first sight, he couldn't help but notice that Barty's little elf sort of looked like a kind of alien he'd known once. And purged the universe of. They were much more aggressive and deadly, anyway, no big loss.

"Master Barty, that's adorable," the Maser commented, grinning towards the elf. She seemed very unsure of him but that was probably natural, most people found him unnerving. The Master didn't exactly scream good company, despite his charm he always had a darker edge to it. Perhaps it's because the smile he wore never quite reached his eyes.

Well, she'd best hide and stay there. If she became a problem, he had no issues killing her.

"Maybe one day you can have your very own army of these elves. Conquer magic land with them."

"If you don't listen to my order, Winky, I'm going to give you clothes."

"No! Please, no. I will listen. Don't send away your Winky, Master Barty. I'll be in the kitchen like you said." But still, after that speech, she glanced at the Master, definitely not sure of it. "Shall I go now?"

"Yes. Just lave us alone, it's fine." Barty shrugged dismissively and turned to the Master. "Sounds particularly useless, a whole army of that."

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