Imaginary Worlds

"He didn't like a situation and he removed himself from it. It's as I said. I was gong to resign anyway. It happened to fall when I had enough for the down payment on a near by warehouse. Better house and more interesting line of work." the Doctor stated simply.

It wasn't much. It was actually somewhat alright. "Odd as this will sound, would you like to stay a bit longer for dinner? I roasted chicken. I'm just use to cooking for more than one." the Doctor offered in a sheepish manner.

"Don't care what he was doing, there's no excuse. I hate most situations I'm in and I deal. Koschei has to deal, its just how it is," the Master dismissed, removing yourself wasn't always an option in life and neither was removing the other person.

"Oh erm, sure. We have no dinner plans, I can't actually cook well-- no, well I make toast and pasta very well," which was unfortunately his best work. He was not the best cook, he'd admit.

"What? No!" Koschei protested, shooting the Master a wide eyed look. That wasn't fair. "I said sorry! Why are we staying? I don't like him!" he said pointedly. Why did he have to put up with the man further? He'd apologized! That was the deal.

Sighing softly, the Doctor gave a small shrug. "Well. It would seem your father would like to eat. By all means, you don't need to eat anything at all, but it's not courteous to disregard others. Especially when one of those people happens to be the one getting your friend out of trouble." he chided.

"Koschei, we're staying. You don't have to eat if you hate it that much but this is dinner, I have nothing at home," the Master informed him before giving him a stern look. He'd done enough damage, he could suck it up and behave.

"Now, shh. I'm not really in the mood to argue with you," the Master dismissed as he got to his feet and headed across the room to have a look at what was for dinner. Koschei didn't get a vote what with everything that had happened.

Koschei scowled and followed along, sitting at the table with a scoff. Would seem his former teacher was a better cook, having made a full chicken dinner. If this was how people normall ate, then he was seriously going to rethink things.

"It's not much. I'm just...Not accustomed to cooking for less people. That's all." the Doctor murmured, serving up the plates calmly as he sat down. The Master had definitely won out in this one. Decent set of books and a hot meal, not to mention cooperation.

Course the Master was not used to this insane amount of niceness. First assumption? Smith was either insane, out to get him-- or he was just very odd. But this was very baffling to a man who usually ignored people and they ignored him in return.

And chicken dinner? Blimey. He and Koschei had never eaten anything as nice in... well, forever. He and Koschei usually got take out and put up with how horrible the Masters cooking actually was.

Funny thing was? He was honestly just lonely. He didn't have many people around to spend time with and it did have a profound effect upon him. Because when another showed an interest, he was willing to take it before the person changed their mind. That was just him.

He was very much like Marnal in that aspect. The Doctor had a small child and that was basically it. Especially with moving there not all that long ago. Company was something that he could get use to. Unfortunately.

The Master didn't make many friends for obvious reason. He was mentally unstable, smug and a show off and Koschei was pretty much the same only worse because he was younger and doing all of that. They were not the most social family.

There was an odd sort of loneliness to beings stuck with his son but he did thank his lucky stars that he had Verica, sure she was a boss but they worked together with their kids so it was much easier to function. The Master finished his dinner and turned his head, just to make sure Koschei was still eating.

Koschei was, in fact, still eating. He even had a second helping. Eh. Why not? It was good. Better than anything he got at home with his dad. Not to say he didn't appreciate his father and the cooking. It was just...Not as good.

"Here. I'll just get these later." the Doctor murmured softly as he cleared up a bit once everyone had finished. He'd wash the dishes when he was alone. "So. Might actually have a book that interests you. It's just various theories related to space." he offered softly.

"Thanks for dinner, Koschei loved it," the Master remarked with a playful smile. He couldn't help it, he found the boy amusing when he was like this. Maybe he could have dinner with Mr Smith more often, get some socialising going on.

"Oh really? I always do appreciate a new book," the Master spent a lot of his time reading, even at work he did. He didn't exactly have anyone to talk to and he didn't really want anyone. "Thanks for all of this."

The Doctor looked genuinely surprised to be thanked for this. He wasn't going out of his way or anything. Just offering dinner to a couple of people who came by at the right time. The books he needed to clear out one way or another.

"Don't mention it. Here. I'll walk you down." he murmured, pulling out the book he'd mentioned for the other before lifting up one of three boxes. The Doctor wasn't joking about needing to get rid of them all.

The Master handled the other two and packed them into the boot, making sure Koschei got into the car safety before nodding in the direction of Smith. He was an all right guy, actually. It was nice to have someone to help them out a bit.

"Sorry about Marnal and the whole being blamed but I'll see you around, I suppose," he didn't have any reason to run into the man again... did he? Well, of course, to check on Koschei's progress!

He honestly didn't think that he would see the Master again. He would like to. It was nice making friends. But there was no longer a need to deal with one another from that point. "Again. Don't worry about it. I'll see you around." he agreed with a small nod before heading back up inside.

And that would be that. Koschei sighed softly when the Master got into the vehicle. "Why did we stay? You could say no." he pointed out slowly. Why did the Master decide to humor that man? It wasn't the least bit fair.

(I'll vanish soon for the bus.)

"It was polite, Koschei. You need to learn manners, sometimes you have to humour people. Especially when that person almost lost his son because of your bratty son thinking he can do anything," the Master snarked in return because he still wasn't happy.

"Koschei you have caused a lot of damage so you don't have a say in what we do right now. Understand?" the Master asked with an annoyed look, the kid was probably going to get his job taken from him so he was allowed to be annoyed.

Koschei just glowered and shook his head slowly. It wasn't fair. "You said to say sorry. I said sorry. He's gonna talk to the school. An' he's gonna get the brat. Why am I still in trouble?" he asked slowly. Because he really didn't understand this.

He'd done what he'd agreed to and things were getting fixed. So what was the issue now? Because he'd screwed up? He was fixing it! "This isn't fair." he mumbled softly. At least he would never see that man again. He had one positive.

"You really don't get it. You put everyone through hassle, wasted everyone time, jeopardised a lot of peoples livelihoods... I'm surprised Epsilon didn't punch you again... I would of," the Master mocked adamantly because he really wasn't very happy, was he? He was a little bit stressed out that his son wasn't getting this.

"... Sorry, I didn't mean tat I would-- look, you just frustrated me. I thought we were making progress! Why can't you understand what you've done? you've hurt a lot of people and you don't even feel bad," the Master cursed, he really was trying to fix the boy as well.

"Epsilon doesn't want me around anymore." Koschei said softly after a pause. He'd have rather the kid hit him again. Instead, his friend had officially cut ties with him and it hurt. How could that not hurt? Even if he sort of deserved it.

"'M saying sorry. 'M trying to help fix it. I don't care. 'M fine." Koschei snapped pointedly. He couldn't be anything but. Not this time. Because he had nothing else to cling to but the idea that everythig was alright. Epsilon would come around.

The Master sighed and drove them home in silence. It was hard to deal with, he wanted to be mad but Koschei basically made all the mistakes he made and suffered exactly the same as he had ... the only difference was that he always understood what was happening.

Koschei didn't seem to get morality at all. As they pulled up, he led Koschei inside and kicked the door shut behind him, greeting Sigma with a stroke to the head. "Koschei... just try to not complain over this stuff. I know its boring but its needed to put things right. You just need to show that you understand and can fix what you did wrong."

Koschei was more upset at losing Epsilon than anything. It hurt. He knew it was his fault, but still. And now he wasn't allowed to complain? Because, in his mind, he assumed that included over losing his friend. Great.

"Fine. 'M going to bed." Koschei mumbled, shrugging as he headed to his room. He didn't feel like being with his dad at the moment. He just wanted to sleep and end the day already.

The Master hadn't meant it that way, he just meant not complaining when they had to spend the night with Mr Smith because his son screwed the man over. It was not complaining that they had to go out of their way to be nice. All seemed fair to him.

"Koschei! You're stay at home this week so don't get up tomorrow," the Master called, he was going to sort things out before he decided what to do with the boy and what school he'd go to. And if his savings could take the hit to withdraw Koschei.

The Master wasn't going to be happy. Because the following day included a few interesting messages left on the machine. Mainly Koschei being suspended for the week. It wasn't exactly a pleasant thing.

The main kicker was in the message from Verica. Mainly just an assurance that was everything was taken care of. She didn't get into it any more than that. She saw no reason to.

Well, it seemed like Koschei was thrown under the bus for a week but that was fair, he did conspire to do this but he was seven and he would make mistakes. The Master would back the lad till it was all sorted. He had an odd sort of fondness for the psycho.

The Master waited a good hour before heading upstairs to find his son, though judging by the early morning, he doubted Koschei would be up. All he had to do was wake Kosch up and then return Verica's call. "Koschei?"

The Master waking him was not appreciated. At all. Particularly because he was stuck dealing with the fact that he wasn't meant to be going to school. Whining, he burrowed beneath the blankets in a rather pointed manner. He wasn't a morning person.

"I don't wanna get up. You said I could sleep in." Koschei reminded firmly. Seriously! How was that even fair? Mind, he didn't know what was going on. That might change a few things for him.

"You've been suspended for a week starting from today," the Master informed the boy before shrugging his shoulders. He was just giving the kid a heads up so he didn't try to run off to school or anything if the Master was considered harsh.

"Sorry kid, I guess you're stuck with me for a week but I'll give you a hand with your studies and we'll approach it from there," he was making no snap decisions yet, he didn't think it was fair on the boy.

That has his attention. Koschei sat up and stared to the Master. Seriously? First his friend and now his school. He opened his mouth to comment, only to snap it shut once more. Right. Not allowed to complain. That really wasn't fair.

"Fine. I can...Study and stuff." Koschei dismissed rather bluntly. He didn't want to be bothered now. He wasn't exactly pleased at the moment. Particularly with the latest news.