How old is the Master?

[unfeathered]

Do we have any idea, in canon? From the way he and the Doctor always seem to be on the same timeline, and the fact they were children together, it seems to be a reasonable assumption that he's the same age as the Doctor - but I can't find anything that says anything about his age!

(And no, this thought was not inspired by me trying to put together a profile of the Master so I can join in Becky's RP game. Not at all. I DON'T HAVE THE TIME!

Yeah. Tell that to the Master. *g*)

Comments

[smithy161.livejournal.com]

That line from the Five Doctors, "We were at the Academy together" suggests they were in the same school year. I suppose. I think it's safe to assume they're the same age.

I'm both enticed and repelled by the idea of RP. I'm almost tempted to sign up, but I'd be crap at it.

[unfeathered]

Yeah, that's the conclusion I've come to. It's pretty certain that they started off the same age - I'd just never thought about whether they'd both lived the same amount of time, if that makes any sense. But the fact that their encounters seem to take place in the same order for both of them suggests that they are.

As for the RP, I have no idea if I'll be any good at it. I'm very, very nervous. Especially about playing someone as clever and manipulative as the Master. Couldn't really go for more of a challenge, eh? But he keeps writing stuff in my head anyway, so I might as well go for it. When I have time and get up some nerve! *g*

ETA: Have to go and get ready for work now. It's our team Christmas lunch today so I have to go a bit early. Back later, if only briefly! :-)

[smithy161.livejournal.com]

Thinking too much about Time Lords and their timelines hurts my brain. They do seem to meet each other in some kind of order, though. I just watched 'The King's Demons' where the first thing the Doctor says to the Master is 'so, you escaped?' referring to their last adventure together... he doesn't even question whether this is a past or future version of the Master, he instinctively knows they're on the same timeline. But... since the Time War, the Master has only lived the length of one human life. The Doctor could be a lot older than that, since we don't know how long he's been Nine when we meet him. And we don't know how long Ten was hanging around the universe moping before he met Martha.

...*Brain falls out*

I'll probably give up and join in the game eventually. Tempted to play Martha or Rose. But I have RP issues.

Have fun at work!

[unfeathered]

he doesn't even question whether this is a past or future version of the Master, he instinctively knows they're on the same timeline.

I was wondering if this is what is meant by Gallifrey being 'outside time' or whatever the phrase is - that even while they're hopping about through time, all the Time Lords live the same timeline, so when they go back to Gallifrey or meet another Time Lord, the same amount of time will have passed for them.

That's complicated, but it seems to make sense to me.