Imaginary Worlds

Koschei sighed softly and shook his head. "You have work." he reminded with a small frown. Seven or not, he understood that point. The Master had to have a job. Otherwise they wouldn't be doing well in the least. It wasn't fair for the Master to escort him about.

"An'...An' I don't have to go. But I can. You don't need to do that." he assured. Koschei didn't even consider that it might partially be because the Master was curious about his teacher. What kid would even contemplate that sort of thing?

"You have to promise me you will," the Master asserted because he couldn't do with all of this annoyance. It was somewhat irksome, he admitted, that he had to mess around his work schedule for Koschei. "I need you to pass and do well because-- I am putting a lot in for you to have a good education."

And sometimes it felt like things were just a bit hopeless, he was trying to hard to give the boy a good life and he just didn't try. "Just keep on top of your studies and try to help me out here... just attend lessons."

"An' you don't escort me. I can do it." Koschei asserted. And he would. For most of the lessons. He was going to ease back out of them, but that was just him. He couldn't be trusted with this sort of thing.

And the Master obviously knew it. Otherwise the man wouldn't have showed up. How was he suppose to know? "'M hungry." Koschei said after a moment, frowning softly. What? He couldn't help that one.

"If I hear from anyone, and trust me I will check into it, that you are skipping any class then I'm removing you from that academy. Do you understand?" no more school with Epsilon and Theta, back to the school and the boring tedious pace that he'd hated so much before. The Master wasn't paying for something he wouldn't go to.

"You've been warned, I don't want you to let me down," the Master knew Koschei would but he could have hope that he might give enough incentive for him to at least try. "And fine, what do you feel like? We can pick something up."

"I don't wanna go. Can we make a better deal? Please?" Koschei asked hopefully. Maybe he could get the Doctor fired. A thought that drew a cold smirk to his features. Oh. Oh yes. He would get his teacher fired.

It was a brilliant plan already forming and it was perfect. "Pizza?" Koschei asked hopefully, offering a small grin. Yeah. The next day would be so much better. Of that he was sure.

"Just behave and you'll have nothing to fear, will you?" the Master pointed out before rubbing his eyes. Seriously. Did the boy have to be so awkward all the time? He was trying his hardest here and he never managed to make it work.

"Pizza? Sure," the Master agreed, he could go for some pizza. Pulling up outside the nearest joint he slipped out the car and headed inside the place with Koschei behind him. "Are we ordering out or do you want to stick around?"

"Order out." Koschei murmured with a small shrug. He would behave. Sort of. Because he wasn't fighting. He was...Playing. A teacher couldn't work there if they did certain things and Epsilon wasn't one to turn him away. A perfectly times black eye and a bit of acting?

He'd have a new teacher in no time. "Cheese." Koschei added lightly. What? He liked cheese pizza. He wasn't going to complain if he had to have a different kind though. Why? He was in a great mood now.

"Cheese? All right then," the Master made his order and sighed, it was a 20 minute wait if they wanted it freshly made and it was always better freshly made. Leaning against the wall by the counter, he gave Koschei a small shrug.

"Look, you behave yourself and don't do anything bad and I'll let you off your grounding early. But you have to be really good," the Master pointed out. Solely because he liked to get out of the house and he couldn't with Kosch grounded.

"I won't do anything bad." Koschei assured simply with a small shrug. "I'll even go to my less-" he cut off suddenly, bristling when the bell on the door chimed. Because of all the people to walk in and order a pizza, it had to be them.

How was that even fair? He was definitely going to get that man fired. If only because the Doctor was annoying him now. At least the man was kind enough to wait over there instead of approaching. One of the few good things. Unlike other teachers, the Doctor understood not all students wanted to deal with their professors outside of school.

The Master turned his head and raised an eyebrow. Hmm, this would be interesting. "Remember how you said you'd be good, Koschei? Well, let's give this a little bit of a try, huh? Say hello to Mr Smith and his son."

Waving playfully at Marnal, the excitable boy laughed and waved at the Master in return, obviously pleased to see the older man again. And he didn't hide it. "Hello Mr Saxon! Hello Koschei!"

That wasn't right. Or even fair. He sort of hoped that it was bordering on cruelty. "You didn't say outside school." he said slowly, even as he waved dully in turn. This wasn't fair. Koschei didn't want to spend any sort of time with those two.

Smiling softly, the Doctor shot the Master a smile, gently placing Marnal down on the floor and ruffling the kid's hair lightly. "Small world, huh?" he asked lightly. If only to try and seem personable. A trait greatly disliked given Koschei's glare.

"Really is, actually," the Master offered as he watched Marnal move clothes to Koschei with a bright smile. As long as the kid didn't touch Koschei then he should be able to avoid anything bad happening.

"Koschei fancied a pizza, I see Marnal did as well. They're on the same wave length, at least," the Master joked with a small shrug, keeping one eye on Koschei as Marnal seemed to inspect Koschei and deem if it was safe to approach and ask to play.

Koschei bristled and made a soft sound in warning when Marnal drew too close. The Doctor didn't even bat an eye, simply tugging the small child back and pulling a yo-yo from his pocket to hand over. That simple. He didn't want to have any trouble.

Especially when Marnal never really got on well with kids. "I can't complain. I mean, it means that I don't have to cook tonight." the Doctor said with a small shrug. He didn't mind it. But it was a bit late to be cooking.

Marnal took the yoyo and smiled, fiddling around with it and trying to get it to work like the Doctor always did. The Master raised an eyebrow before peering over the counter. They had a while till that pizza was cooked.

"Same reason why I'm here. Neither me nor Koschei likes the whole cooking things but its just the way. I don't have the homemakers touch," the Master remarked and it was obvious by how he held himself that he wasn't the 'motherish' sort or the kind caring dad. He was just a guy trying to muddle through with his son.

The Doctor just gave a small shrug. "Don't get me wrong, I enjoy cooking. But if Marnal prefers pizza, why shouldn't I take the easy way on occasion?" he asked lightly with a grin. This wasn't too bad. He didn't exactly do social situations often.

"I don't exactly have the choice to be a homemaker or not. Marnal is a bit...High maintenance." the Doctor admitted. Koschei at least seemed calmer and easier to handle. Nothing like his hyperactive son was. Speaking of..."Here." he murmured, taking the yo-yo and untangling the cord so that he could demonstrate how to do it again before handing it back.

Marnal tried hard but it didn't come back up and he was stuck with it hanging out again. And thus he turned to the one boy he could annoy just by speaking. "I can't do it! Koschei, can you do it? Can you show me? Do you have a yoyo?"

The Master smirked, this was definitely karma. "Hey, Koschei is not high maintenance but he is a pain in the arse, especially first thing when he won't get up for the life of him."

"Can't blame a kid for not wanting to be up." the Doctor said softly. Couldn't quite help himself with that one. "I'll admit it. I don't typically talk to parents and the like outside of the classroom." he admitted softly. It was odd to change that one around, actually.

Koschei glared, shaking his head curtly. "No. Go away." he said slowly, glancing up to the Master with a frown. "Is it done yet? 'Cause I don't wanna be here anymore." he said firmly. He wasn't too hungry any longer.

{Sorry for vanishing. I was working on a project.}

"Makes sense, no one wants to talk to teachers and I imagine visa-versa with you guys. If it helps, I prefer those who are somewhat intelligent. Science is one of my interests. Particularly cosmicalogicl science but I have to pay the bills so I went more practical," he gave up the idea of doing theoretical work on the cosmos in favour of doing something that would pay.

turning his head to Koschei, he sighed and grasped the boys hand, moving him safely from Marnal so he couldn't take a swipe. "Nope, sorry kiddo, we're waiting," the Master asserted, leaving a sad looking Marnal to wonder off with his yoyo.

(Its cool, good luck with it!)

The Doctor sighed softly, frowning lightly at Marnal. "Sorry. Marnal is a bit much." he murmured apologetically. Couldn't help that one. However. "Actually, I don't mind it much. I just don't get out. Ever. I'm too busy with Marnal and whatnot." he murmured, running a hand through his hair.

It wasn't exactly the best scenario. Because he was stuck dealing with the fact that he had no social life. "It's usually the kids that I avoid. I adore children, don't get me wrong, but they don't particularly like seeing their teachers outside of school." the Doctor said simply.

{Thanks. It's mainly just putting it together at this point.

"Marnals not that bad, he's just very enthusiastic. Kids like Koschei don't like that," it was sad really, if Marnal was on Earth, he'd social fine. But here... well, the Master made him too human and now look at him, he was probably doomed to be lonely for a while now.

"Lack of socialising is rubbish, I can't remember ever going out actually. Got no mates, my hobbies are work and I spend all my time chasing Kosch," the Master pointed out, rolling his eyes somewhat cause it was a little frustrating not to have a life. "I totally hear you though. Must be rather rubbish."

"Moved here six weeks ago to start working and Marnal scares away all sitters. Kid can't even make friends. So where I could go if I had a sitter or Marnal went away to a friend's place...Well, those aren't exactly options for me." the Doctor murmured, shaking his head slowly.

It wasn't exactly promising. "I do like sciences though. It's fun. A little tiring, but fun." he murmured, shrugging. "And Koschei isn't all that bad. He's a good kid. Just easily distracted." the Doctor informed, smiling softly when the other's name was called out for the pizza. "Was a pleasure."

"Tell you what, you're pushing my kid to get through science and you did me a favour tonight so if you ever really needed someone to watch Marnal for you, you can ring me," the Master offered, he wasn't being nice, he was just paying it forward. He needed this man get his son through class and anyway, he doubted he'd be called.

The Master snagged his pizza and nodded to the Doctor as he usher Koschei towards the door. "And if you ever want to talk science, we can but I should warn you, I'll put you and your theory's to shame," the Master declared as he made a swift exit.

The Doctor was honestly left wondering what the hell just happened. "Careful or I might take that as an honest offer." he murmured softly. He wasn't quite sure if it was simply making small talk. Or if that had been a legitimate offer. Alright. The Doctor was a bit awkward too.

Koschei glowered, already knowing that things weren't ending well for that man. Shaking his head as he got into the car, he scoffed, glancing to the Master. "I just wanna eat and sleep." he murmured softly. And that was that.

"Good because that's all you can do, you're grounded," the Master pointed out with an amused expression, driving them back as swiftly as they could. Parking outside their flat, he let Koschei carry the food inside before slicing it up and letting the boy take what he needed.

"When you're un-grounded this weekend, I was thinking we could do something," the Master suggested, mostly because he wanted out of the house, even if it was just for a little while!

(Off to bed)

{Night.}

"Kay." Koschei murmured simply, shrugging a bit as he ate his pizza. He wasn't betting on it. Shaking his head lightly, he looked to the Master and pushed his plate aside. "'M done." he murmured, standing and heading up in order to change for bed.

He was tired. Not to mention nervous. Because the Doctor wasn't going to be too happy come the next day and he doubted the Master would be too happy either. Particularly since it would be slightly more difficult to convince his father than it would be with the school officials.