RP for endlessdrums 'A year on the Valiant.'

[quitehomoerotic]

It was cold when Jack woke up. There was no blood on his chest, no wound other than a deep pain in his chest. That Lazer screwdriver had been the weapon, and it was a sharp pain, second only to that of the Dalek's extermination. The death had faded but the sting remained.

It had taken him a while to reorientate himself, to recognise the room around him as a section of the underside of the Valiant. He felt the metal around his wrists before he saw it, so cold it seemed damp against his skin. The corners of the shackles were sharp and bit harshly into his skin. But then, he didn't suppose they were built to be comfortable.

He tugged on the chains a little, to test their strength, but they were secured fast to the wall. He'd been put here to stay.

It was amusing at this stage. He didn't intend to be kept. Not when the Doctor might need his help. If he ever had motivation then that was it. He wouldn't let him down, not now.

He had expected that someone would come, that they might try and get information out of him (information that he of course wouldn't give), but nobody did. Nobody came that day and nobody came the day after. The only way he knew night or day was an LCD clock in the corner of the room. No light reached him, everything seemed to fade into one.

It became his focus though, that clock. Because someone would come, that much he knew, and when they did, he'd have something to say.

Comments

[endlessdrums.livejournal.com]

That is what he loved, seeing people, strong people, reduced to the most basic, primal, volatile emotions. "Dear Captain, I have nothing but time, that is something the two of us have in common."

He placed a hand on his shoulder when he turned away again, in mock concern. "I'll leave you to your thoughts." he said, though he couldn't resist a final barb. "He talks about you in there. Quite often in fact. I wonder if he thinks it was something he did to make you leave."

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

The touch of the hand made Jack stiffen. He didn't want him near him, and all his muscles reacted the same. Get him away. Utter contempt for the man. He glanced, briefly down at the diary but didn't respond to the Master. He wouldn't give him the satisfaction.

He waited until he'd gone, and then, and only then, did he pick up the book from the floor and clutch it to his chest.

---

Two months had passed and Jack had seen little more than the four walls of his cell. They'd tried to get free, near the beginning, but that was pointless, and achieved nothing other than putting them on tighter security. Jack's meals were cut down, he'd be lucky if he got one daily. It didn't always happen. He'd been killed of course, and taken to the edge of death, and left there to suffer (that was always worse), but he promised himself he wouldn't break. He wouldn't let it happen.

He sat there in his cell, throwing balled up pieces of paper at the wall, mainly as a distraction to the pain in his wrists and ankles where the shackles relentlessly dug in.

[endlessdrums.livejournal.com]

The Master would like to think he was anything but predictable. Since their first attempted escape, he'd tightened security even if the incident had thoroughly amused him. Hate and hope can only get you so far and he was curious as to how long his guests would last.

The doors opened and he stepped inside, carrying a tray of food. "The service has been atrocious lately, don't you think? So, being such a gracious host, I decided that you and I could dine together tonight." He was practically beaming.

"Isn't that fantastic?"

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

Whenever the door opened, Jack never knew what to expect. Sometimes it was a soldier, often one of the Joneses in their servants attire. But the worst times, the worst of all, they were when it was the Master. He was unpredictable, and Jack never knew what to expect with him. He had to be on guard, and it took a lot of energy, energy he didn't have.

As the Master stepped in Jack lolled his head to the side and looked up at him.

"Oh if it isn't our lord and Master," he hissed sarcastically before going back to throwing the paper balls at the wall, paying him no attention.

"Oh yeah, just peachy."

[endlessdrums.livejournal.com]

"Don't look so thrilled, you might break something." He goes over to just where the chains would stop Jack's forward movement and sits, something he rarely ever did considering the state of the cell.

"I won't tolerate rudeness, Jackie boy." he said, a hint of ice to his tone. We're sure Jack has grown accustomed to hearing it but the Master is back to that jolly act again. "I thought we would have a sort of picnic."

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

Jack turned his head and flicked his eyes up towards the Master. There were dark circles beneath his eyes, from lack of sleep and lack of food. He was tired, and he hated that it showed on his face and there was nothing he could do about it.

"Great," Jack grinned with sarcastic enthusiasm. "Hey if I'd have known, I'd have brought my teddy bear. And oh, maybe we can sing some songs."

The smell of the food was wafting in Jack's direction, and his needy stomach responded with a light growl and a stitch. He was hungry, and having food so close was practically torture.

[endlessdrums.livejournal.com]

"Wouldn't we need a campfire for that? I can work that sort of magic but I didn't bring any marshmallows." he shot back. Two could play at that.

Harold pretended not to notice that sound but took his time as he set everything out. He looked to Jack expectantly after he was done. "Well? It's going to get cold." he said, picking up a biscuit and taking a bite.

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

Jack didn't want to give him the satisfaction. He didn't want the Master to have the enjoyment of Jack giving in, even if it was giving in to food.

But the food did smell so good, and what could it really hurt?

So with a deep breath out he reached over and grabbed hold of one of the sandwiches, eating it as quickly as his body craved. It was nothing special, but it was sustenance, and sustenance was something he well and truly needed.

[endlessdrums.livejournal.com]

He continued eating, slowly, he did have his manners, least at the table. "I made that, I've found I actually enjoy cooking. Odd little things I've picked up on since I've been here." he muses aloud, not caring if he was acknowledged.

He'd have that satisfaction soon enough, even if it were in the form of threats and obscenities.

"Also, I've tried, I mean really, to get down here to see you but I just don't have the time that I used to. I hope you're not cross with me over it."

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

Jack was taking a bite out of his second sandwich when the Master's words hit his ears. The over familiarity, the niceties, it all made him feel sick.

Jack worried about the Doctor. More than anything he wanted to know that he was okay, that he wasn't being hurt like he was. He'd willingly take twice as much if it meant the Doctor was being kept free of it.

"Oh sure," he scoffed, "busy work isn't it, being an asshole."

[endlessdrums.livejournal.com]

Harold chuckled at that, always with a quip this one, at least he still had fire. The others were just boring, overly so.

Unfortunately that wasn't something he'd give him and he didn't allow any of the Jones family to speak with the Captain. "Oh," He took a sip of his own drink before opening his jacket to pull out a small picture. "I nearly forgot."

He offered him the small picture, something what you'd find under the slide of a microscope, only blown up to view with the naked eye. "Another thing that's been occupying all of my time lately. I made it. Beautiful, that is." He waited a moment. "Quite deadly as well."

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

Jack didn't take the picture, but he saw it. He paused, halfway through eating a sandwich and spat it out.

"You bastard," he hissed, gruffly, "you said you made it -the food, you poisoned the food?"

He reached a hand up and snatched the picture from the Master's hand, the chains clattered against the floor as he moved.

"What is it?"

[endlessdrums.livejournal.com]

The Master laughed gleefully, part of him was still surprised the other man had actually fallen for it!

"I did say that and yet you still walked right into it."

He regarded him coolly, amusement glittering in his eyes as he watched him look over the picture. "I told you, made it myself. No antidote, very, very slow acting but considering your already weakened state it should be kicking in relatively shortly."

He looked at his watch as if to double check the accuracy of his previous statement. "You are the second person I've tried this on and I believe the words used to describe the feeling was likened to being eviscerated." he commented. "Of course it was very hard to keep him lucid through the excruciating pain, so I could be wrong."

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

"You disgust me, you know that?" He wondered just how many times over the last two months he'd told him that.

If he had his strength, Jack would stand and fight, attempt to at least, as little good it would do. But his energy for that was too low, and he had nothing for it. Nothing to barely even stand.

"What do you hope to achieve from this?" He spat, "Sure, you'll kill me, and then what? You're wasting your time. All of this, it's all a waste of time."

He wondered when the effects would kick in. Not yet, not yet, but oh, oh there was a feeling right in the pit of his stomach. A tightening and a stab and something was beginning.

[endlessdrums.livejournal.com]

"No new words? Glib remarks? Come on, don't get boring cause then I'll have to get really creative with things."

He watched him, still highly tickled at the sharp turn in events. "Oh must I always hope to achieve something? Maybe I want to watch the show. Cause whether you like it or not, I'll get more than smart comments from you tonight."

Another glance at his watch. "Getting close now. Feel anything yet?"

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

Jack had hundreds of different insults and hateful remarks spinning through his head, all of them he wanted to use, but none of which he would. He wouldn't stoop to that.

He didn't want to show a reaction, not a reaction at all. But then it was starting to hit, a sharp and painful twist inside, a sickening tug on his insides. He let out a sharp painful noise, twisting a little on the floor.

"Screw you."

[endlessdrums.livejournal.com]

"Rather not hear about your personal fantasies, I'm a happily married man." he chided.

"Oh, hohoho, there it goes." he said, taking the time to move the plates and tray out of the way. They were Lucy's favorites and he didn't want them damaged.

"That is just the beginning. Took the other man two days to die. He was barely coherent within hours. Just babbling and crying and pleading and screaming.

Love the screaming."

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

"Yeah? Well I hate to disappoint," Jack gritted though his teeth, pain hitting him inside. "But you'll get no screaming from me. I'm afraid-" he paused, folded up a little in pain, "you're in for a pretty boring show."

[endlessdrums.livejournal.com]

"I doubt that, Captain. This is just the warm up, it's going to get a bit messy in here." He was half tempted to undo the cuffs holding the chains in place.

Perhaps he'd do that when the man could barely move, just to taunt him.

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

Jack used every ounce of strength he could muster to pull himself to his feet, and with a heavy almost growl, he hit out in the Master's direction. But it didn't hit, it didn't even fall close. He just found himself falling back to the ground and coughing, choking. He was spitting up blood.

[endlessdrums.livejournal.com]

The Master didn't even have to step back to avoid that. He laughed, head thrown back as he did before looking down at the man before him.

"Did poor Jack fall down and go boom?" he pursed his lips in mock concern. "Here, I'll make it easier for you."

He pulled out his laser screwdriver then, fiddling a moment before the cuffs holding the Captain at bay would come free with an audible click. He still hadn't stepped back though he would be keeping a closer eye on him from this point on. He wasn't stupid. "Come on then. Don't give up now, you were so close."

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

Jack hissed with every breath as he tried to take in air, he felt like he was suffocating.

He felt the shackles release and he, with effort, pushed them aside. He stared up at the Master with heat in his eyes, anger.

He was still coughing blood, deep chesty coughs that spurt it over the hard floor in front of him.

"No," he growled back, "Better- better look next time."

He rolled onto his back, doubled up in pain and his head fell back against the concrete. "You- you- you're worthless," he said, with some considerable effort.

[endlessdrums.livejournal.com]

He rolled his eyes at him. It was a rather pathetic display, he'd expected more.

"I'm sorry, what was that?" he asked, hand to his ear. "I can't hear you through the sounds of your dying slowly." He nudged the side of his head with his shoe.

"We haven't even gotten to the good stuff yet. I believe a fever, howling in agony and your organs shutting down one at a time are next on the menu. It's going to get rather messy in here."

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

Jack looked at him, and through it all, through the pain, he laughed. He laughed at him, as loud as he could.

"Do you think I care?" He said, clutching a hand to his stomach. "Do you think any of it matters to me?"

He shifted and pushed both hands against the concrete, pushed himself back up. "Thing is, you grin and you smile but truth is you're scared of me. You're scared that you can't kill me. Because I'll just keep coming back. And you just hate that, don't you?"

[endlessdrums.livejournal.com]

That was one of the reasons he kept coming back. He could always count on this one to fight, even if he repeated himself entirely too much. Maybe he should get him a thesaurus to read in his spare time.

"Oh, I think you're just saying that. Putting on a brave face." he said, moving to get a better look at him.

"Am I? I can't decide what you might want more, to get free and kill me with your bare hands and save your precious Doctor," he started, eyes him critically. "Or hoping that maybe, just maybe I'll actually kill you dead one of these times and it will be over for you. How selfish are you, Jack? Would you accept that offer? Would you abandon everyone who depends on you?"