#razor master

[modernwizard]

Why I love the Spymaster #74: The Russian obsession deepens...

Find my full series under the HELP I WUVS HIM tag.

#74: The Russian obsession deepens...

The Master has a persistent fascination with Russian/Slavic culture. We have the first indication of this in their childhood nickname Koschei. The name comes from a character of the same name in Russian folklore with a few similarities to the Master:

First, Koschei is an exceptionally powerful magician associated with death and destruction in the same way that the Master is characterized as an evil science wizard.

Second, Koschei is essentially immortal, like the endlessly regenerating Master. [He achieves immortality by separating his death from himself and hiding it in a series of nested objects.

Third, Koschei often appears as a thin, skeletal figure who looks unattractive and semi-dead. To me, that seems analogous to the Pratt/Beevers' Master's corpse-like appearance [pic below].

The Master's affiliation with the Russian region manifests again in the season 10 finale with Simm Master's Razor persona [pic below]. Nothing in particular identifies this character as Russian. However, his syntax is similar to that of people who speak Eastern European languages as first languages and English as a second. His accent also sounds like parody of a Russian accent. That's why I think of Razor as "Russian" or, more accurately, pseudo-Russian.

Most recently, of course, we have the Spymaster as Ra-Ra-Rasputin [#65] in The Power of the Doctor, which I've already analyzed at length. It makes me wonder if the choice of identity is part of the Spymaster's self-professed going "old school." Is he hearkening back to his schoolday nickname and then an earlier role in which he befriended and betrayed people?

@natalunasans @sclfmastery @timeladyjamie @rowanthestrange

[modernwizard]

Two days left to buy Master Works! And one more spotlight!

theinYou’ve only got today and tomorrow left to purchase my first Doctor Who charity anthology Master Works! And we’ve only got one more story to spotlight.

Story: “Lesser Evil”

Author: me

Master: S10 Simm [as Razor]

Companion[s]: Bill, Clara

Plot: Disabled Razor Master and partly robotic Bill survive in Dystopiaville on the edge of a black hole, trying to maintain hope. Then Clara appears, offering Bill a chance of escape.

Why you should read it: All of the goofy, snarky Bill + Razor camaraderie, but with none of the torture, betrayal, and death!

Part that I love: Somehow Razor manages to argue that obeying the Master = disability rights.

Bonus: “Lesser Evil” is actually a prequel to a novel called Where There’s Life, There’s Hope, which you can read on my AO3.

So what are you waiting for? Buy your own copy, either in ebook or paper. Support your fellow DW fans while raising money for Migrant Justice! Act now, though, ’cause Master Works is only available till July 17th!

@voidgremlin @sonjalikestodraw @natalunasans @spoonietimelordy @aevios @justinvisiblesouls @wykart @liria10 @sclfmastery @thejinxmaster @this-must-be-my-tardis @ineternity-ao3 @just-trash66 @marysaxon @wish-i-was-on-the-tardis @madfanboyinablueblog @imthedoctorlove @being-of-rain @thetransgirlwhoneverwas @wanderingdreamshadow @thegreatfatnerd @queen-of-meows

[modernwizard]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Trapped in a scuzzy Cyber dystopia, partially Cyber-converted Bill runs the anti-Cyber resistance with her ally Razor. [Yeah, she knows who he is.] While they're overthrowing a totalitarian regime, she's also sending out distress signals for some sexy woman to rescue her. Then Clara shows up...

[modernwizard]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

New chapters of a Scream of the Shalka/Doctor Who S10 fixit fic, –And Fear Me Not, are up at AO3. In this one, Alison Cheney marshals the love and loyalty of her Dork fam – including Shalka Master, Shalka Doctor, and Bill Potts – to combat mental illness and this really irritating guy named Harry who won’t stay the fuck away.

In this chapter, Alison learns more about Bill’s history with Simm Master, including him being surprisingly gentle to Bill.

[modernwizard]

Operation Save Bill Potts continues! This time: Alison and Bill are totally in WUVS

More chapters of [[ Scream of the Shalka / S10 finale fixit fic, ]] Where There’s Life, There’s Hope, are up at AO3. It’s about Alison Cheney, her robot [the Master], and the Doctor bouncing over from the Shalkaverse to save Bill from the terrifying Twelfth Doctor. Things become slightly complicated as they realize that Bill is working with another version of the Master [Razor] to de-Cyber people and overthrow Dystopiaville’s totalitarian regime.

In this excerpt, Alison and Bill give each other some compliments:

 “But you’re wonderful, Bill.” Alison’s tears make her eyes feel hot. “You’re so good and sweet and smart and funny. You’re full of wonder and curiosity. You’re made of love, and your imagination just...encompasses the stars. You’re so clear, so honest, so brilliant, that all of those qualities just shine out of you. You remind me of the Doctor,      your    Doctor,      this     Doctor, because you’re gentle, but...like...resolute at the same time. And anyone that you like, anyone that you love, should realize what a privilege it is to have you like them. If they don’t, then they’re complete and utter dolts who don’t deserve you.”

 “Um, thanks, but you’re really describing yourself, aren’t you?” says Bill. She pauses for a minute. “You’re brilliant and wonderful and full of passion, and you’re so good, so thoughtful, so sympathetic. You’re quick and clever; you understand people, and you analyze everything. But you’re different than me. You’re a fighter too, and you’re not afraid to burn down people who abuse their power. And you think I’m the one who’s wonderful? There’s a reason you’re      Alisonshine,    you know: Alison, full of sun....sunshine, the one who gave me sunflowers.” Her voice skips a little bit, and Alison knows that Bill is crying too.

 “Awwwww, thank you,” Alison says. ...But if only you could see yourself from my perspective, she thinks to Bill. Maybe then you’d realize that everything I said was true. Maybe you’d love yourself as much as -- Catching herself, she remembers that she cannot love Bill at the moment. They’ve known each other only long enough to plan a revolting revolution, not long enough to love each other.

[modernwizard]

Operation Save Bill Potts continues! This time, Bill tells Razor to lay off

More chapters of [[ Scream of the Shalka / S10 finale fixit fic, ]] Where There’s Life, There’s Hope, are up at AO3. It’s about Alison Cheney, her robot [the Master], and the Doctor bouncing over from the Shalkaverse to save Bill from the terrifying Twelfth Doctor. Things become slightly complicated as they realize that Bill is working with another version of the Master [Razor] to de-Cyber people and overthrow Dystopiaville’s totalitarian regime.

In this excerpt, Bill stands up to Razor.

“Could use  your  help,” he continues to Bill, “with RR.”

“Yeah...well...that’s your war, not mine.” Bill, her voice soft and level, meets his eyes. “And like you said, I don’t want anything to do with the -- what did you call the fighting?  The fun part?  Yeah, not for me.”

“You and me, hearts and minds...of the revolution.” He points between the two of them with small indications of his chin.

Bill shakes her head. “No, it’s all been your revolution. I’m just your assistant.”

“I thought you were...my friend.” It’s hard to interpret his tone when his voice is so chipped with pain, but that’s not a regretful sigh at all. It’s more of a test to see how she’ll respond.

“No. The Doctor --  this  Doctor -- is my friend. Alison is my -- “

“--Inevitable spouse,” Razor finishes drily.

“--Friend,” says Bill, talking over him. “The Prof is my friend. You… You just needed me for a while, and I needed you.”

“Make me sound like the Doctor...using you for an audience!”

“No, you used me for your assistant, and I needed someplace safe, so I stayed. Now…” Bill pauses, slipping her hand into Alison’s. “Now I have someplace safe and people who don’t need me  for  anything. They just want me to be...well, me.”

“Yeah,” says Alison, holding Bill’s hand tightly. “Bill of my heart…”

“Should’ve given you...dead bugs,” Razor mutters, referring to the Doctor’s gifts from their garden. “Charm didn’t work?” A wry smile folds up half of his mouth. “Didn’t work,” he answers himself. “You, Miss Potts, are good. Very...very good. Well done.”

“What does that even mean?” Bill grimaces. “‘Cause it certainly doesn’t mean  nice.”

“I...admire you.” Razor coughs, flinching. “Water, please.” Alison, much less intimidated this time, supplies him with more. “Thank you.” He directs his words to Bill again: “You see what you want; you do...whatever it takes...to get it. Ambitious. Focused. Manipulative. Calculating. I like it.”

“No! What? No! I’m not… No!” Bill, her eyes widening, actually steps back.

“Hey…” Finally speaking up, Alison squeezes Bill’s hand. “I don’t know if this helps, but my robot said pretty much the same thing to me once. He said I was an  artifex,  which means  artist,  but also  clever, tricky person. I thought it was an insult, but then I realized that he meant it more like I was practical enough to do what I had to do to survive, smart enough to make a deal with a villain that gave me an advantage. Maybe think of it that way.”

Bill’s wonderful eyebrows are practically doing loop-de-loops of dubiousness. “Like a compliment then?”

“Yes!” A true smile flashes across Razor’s face. “Anyone who sees through...the Doctor’s bullshit  and  mine...I admire.”

[modernwizard]

Operation Save Bill Potts continues! This time: Bad reactions to nasty TV shows

More chapters of [[ Scream of the Shalka / S10 finale fixit fic, ]] Where There’s Life, There’s Hope, are up at AO3. It’s about Alison Cheney, her robot [the Master], and the Doctor bouncing over from the Shalkaverse to save Bill from the terrifying Twelfth Doctor. Things become slightly complicated as they realize that Bill is working with another version of the Master [Razor] to de-Cyber people and overthrow Dystopiaville’s totalitarian regime.

In this excerpt, everyone is upset when Defenders of Earth character Deedee is medically raped.

The Magister, who has been utterly silent, utterly still, for the past few minutes, rises. “Anima -- please -- stop the film.” His voice cuts through the air with that peculiar weaponized precision into which he falls when he’s trying to restrain himself.

Razor glares at the Magister. “The plot was just thickening!”

“I know,” says the Magister as the screen goes dark. “That’s why I stopped it.”

Suddenly Alison knows why he stopped it too. “Shit,” she says, feeling a sink of cold air fall into the pit of her stomach.

“Domina.” He slips into the seat next to her, and she seizes his hand, hanging onto it hard enough to crush it.

“Alisonshine! What’s wrong?” Reaching over Alison’s white-dotted armrest, Bill holds her other hand. “You’re all clammy.”

“I just remembered,” Alison says, as sharp icy tingles go through her. “I’ve never seen it because I couldn’t bear it, but I’ve read all about it, but I guess I just forgot about it till now.”

Bill pauses. “Wait…” she whispers. “Is this the one you were telling me about? The one where Panjandrum goes all robotic and deranged and kills Deedee?”

“Hey! Spoilers!” barks Razor. “Wait… He kills Deedee? Why?”

“No!” says Charlie. “She’s my favorite! --And she’s the only one of my color.”

“Oh. You’re right.” The Doctor, finger to chin, thinks for a moment. “Yes, this is the series five finale in which Deedee dies. I didn’t even think, but… Oh no, that really isn’t escapism at all, isn’t it? Oh dear. I’m so sorry. I’m so...”

“Remove it from the queue,” the Magister cuts in, directing the Doctor with a nod.

Bill sits up straight in her chair. “Wait! Doctor, don’t. I… I, um, wanna see.”

“Really?” the Doctor asks. “But that… I can’t let you… You shouldn’t… That’s horrible...especially since you’ve...well...you’ve already died yourself.”

Bill sighs. “I know...but that’s kind of the point, yeah? That up there on the screen is fictional death. I can walk away from it without any consequences except for crying. I don’t have to deal with all the real-life pain and suffering and betrayal and bullshit; I can just shut off the TV and leave. Better than real life that way,” she concludes with a slanted, rueful smile.

“But...you’ll be sad.” The Doctor wrings their hands. “I don’t want to make you or Alison or Charlie -- or anyone -- sad! I don’t think I should play it.”

“I want to see it, though,” Bill says. “I need to see.”

Putting his hands on his hips, Razor sniffs with laughter. “Haven’t you figured out yet, my dear Doctor, that it’s impossible to countermand Miss Potts? Like the Dominatrix, she cares nothing for the prohibitions of Time Lords. She uses her own judgment and does what she will. In fact, once she moves in with your Dominatrix, the two of them will be co-ruling your universe, so you may as well get used to the new management starting now.”

[modernwizard]

Operation Bill Potts continues: This time: Bill rallies the troops

More chapters of [[ Scream of the Shalka / S10 finale fixit fic, ]] Where There’s Life, There’s Hope, are up at AO3. It’s about Alison Cheney, her robot [the Master], and the Doctor bouncing over from the Shalkaverse to save Bill from the terrifying Twelfth Doctor. Things become slightly complicated as they realize that Bill is working with another version of the Master [Razor] to de-Cyber people and overthrow Dystopiaville’s totalitarian regime.

In this excerpt, Bill talks to the rally attendees about Alison:

 “Charlie was talking about rage and hope.” Bill’s eyes shine in the spotlights, like spotlights of their own. She’s about to cry. “The more that’s been taken from you, the angrier you’ve become and the more you’ve imagined how things could be different. Inside each and every one of you -- and inside all the people who feel the same -- there’s something that has survived everything Irons has done, some invincible kernel of rage and love. That’s the heart of the resistance. It was always you, all of you.

 “I don’t want to co-opt your revolution or stand in your way, so that’s why this isn’t just a welcome speech. It’s also a goodbye speech. You all know that I’ve wanted to go home ever since I got here. And now I have the chance to.”

 “Awwww…” A sigh goes through the audience. As much as there’s disappointment in it, it’s also warm; they’re happy for her.

 “This is...Alison, Alison Cheney,” says Bill, sniffling and putting her arm around Alison. “She’s… She’s my…”

     Friend? Girlfriend? Inevitable spouse?     Alison wonders what she’s going to say.

 “She’s...Alison,” Bill, now crying, says simply, as if words can’t do justice to everything that Alison is. “She’s...my...Alison.”

 “Squeeeeee!” Alison jumps like an audience member. She’s never been so happy to be someone’s Alison.

 “She answered my distress call; she’s taking me home. I’m finally going to be safe...safe and whole and happy.” Bill turns away from the microphones, which yet pick up the sounds of her sniffling and wiping her eyes. “And… And so are you, all of you,” she says to the Dystopiaville citizens, “as long as...you hang onto...the wonder and the hope and the love. Goodb -- “ A sob leaps out of her, and she never finishes the word, plunking back down in her chair again to cry.