So I watched Scream of the Shalka, the 1999 now-AU Dr. Who flash series, today in between housework, and OH MY GOD.

The story's rubbish and the animation's occasionally painful, but that may have just unseated Boston Legal as the most unambigiously and deliberately slashly series ever committed to video. The Master isn't even on screen for very much, so you'd think there couldn't be *that* much subtext, except that apparently the Master's sole narrative *purpose* is to be the Doctor's domestic partner. Yes - for reasons that don't need exploring at this juncture, the Doctor and the Master are doing domestic. And apparently have been for an unspecified-but-long time, angst and snark and trust and silliness and plotting and all.

So, yeah, you say, that's no more than what Ten wanted anyway. But - the first actual interaction we get between the two of them? Is the Doctor leaving a message on the their answering machine while the Master's trying to get to the phone. (I said they were doing domestic...) The video interface is crap, so here's a transcript:

Doctor (on recording): *giggle* - You have reached the good ship TARDIS. *giggle* We're rather - *giggle* - busy at the moment, *giggle* *giggle*so leave a message after the beep and we'll try to get back to you before you called. *giggle*-- Stop that! *giggle* *giggle*

Master (smirking): We really should change that message.

...yes, okay, I think the UST is officially not U in this universe...

I'm not even going to mention the Master's continual cattiness about his "dearest companion"'s weakness for human wimmens. Or the Doctor's quoting the emcee from Cabaret at climactic moments. Or "That's it! Take me home, big boy! Yee-Haa!" -- see, here's me being strong and not mentioning any of that!

All through Shalka, though, you can totally see parallels and precursors of what came out in New Who later, and I really, really, really want to see Tennant!Ten having to deal with Shalka-verse Nine and Jacobi!Master. Really, really want to. And Allie and Joe meeting Rose and Mickey and Martha and Tom, for that matter. So, real quick,

( Five ways that Ten never learned about the Shalka!verse. )