(no subject)

[birdsbirdsbirds]

Who: Robin!
Broadcast: Video!
Action: Not unless it gets weird!
When: About a day after his supposed murder.

[the feed crackles on to show Robin, looking very much alive and in a shirt that doesn't have a big hole in it, thank you. he's crouched somewhere on one of those Floot Loop stations, probably. he's got his back to one of those big LED displays, which means... unless you want to check every single bright, animated ad in every station within range, he's going to be kind of tricky to find.

he... waves, though he doesn't look like he's very happy to see you either, to be honest.]

Hello. I'm not dead, since I assume that rumor has spread far and wide by now.

And I would love to have a calm, rational conversation about all of this before someone tries to kill me again. What have I missed? Catch me up.

Comments

video;

[birdsbirdsbirds]

I'm full of those. [a shrug.] Keeps people on their toes.

[got_it_memorized]

It's always useful to have a few things up your sleeves, I'll admit. It's good to see you in one piece, though. I would have been a little disappointed if you'd died so soon after we were just starting to get to know one another.

[birdsbirdsbirds]

So would I, Axel. Being publicly almost-murdered is not something I make a habit of, I promise.

[got_it_memorized]

Well, I should hope not.

I gotta admit, though, it came as a bit of a surprise to hear about your... relationship with Nel. [He squints a little.] Far be it from me to find fault with the way someone chooses to live their life or make sure their chores get done, but I admit I have to wonder how long you thought you'd get away with something like that before somebody got upset about it.

[birdsbirdsbirds]

[tersely:] Whatever you've heard about my relationship with Nel has likely been exaggerated. I have my reasons for doing what I did.

[got_it_memorized]

[He lifts his eyebrows, but doesn't raise his voice.]

Then, by all means, enlighten me. I just find myself wondering if those reasons were worth it.

[birdsbirdsbirds]

[he... sighs. it probably comes off as very petulant of him, though he doesn't mean it as such. he's just tired.]

It's just a title. "Master and servant." A contract that he and I took for mutual monetary benefit, a whole nexus back. He's not obligated to do anything for me, nor is there anything I'd ask him to do that I wouldn't just as soon ask a friend.

That contract was commonplace, there. There were others who sought out the weak and forced them into it, twisting the conditions for personal gain--neither of us wanted that to happen, so it only made sense that I took that place for him first.

[got_it_memorized]

[Axel frowns, but looks more puzzled than anything.]

Wait, that's it? [He scratches his head.] That... is not what I was expecting, based on what Fenris was saying. Not that I figured you were some kind of hardass slave driver, you don't seem like the type, in my opinion.

[birdsbirdsbirds]

[something about that at least lightens his mood, a little. he can manage an apathetic smile.]

I believe Fenris is an ex-slave himself, so his opinion is a little biased. I fully understand why he's upset, but I can promise that I'm not keeping people chained up on my ship or... forcing them into manual labor, or whatever you'd do with a slave around here.

[got_it_memorized]

Yeah, that's what Varric was saying.

I'm still not convinced it's a good reason to kill somebody, especially since you're not chaining him up and forcing him into manual labor, but... [He scratches his head.] Well, so long as you're not actually dead, I guess no harm no foul.

[Axel narrows his eyes a little.]

How'd you manage that, anyway? From where I was standing, you looked pretty dead. [He ventures a hint of a grin.] You didn't make a deal with a demon, didja? 'Cuz I hear those don't work out too well.

[birdsbirdsbirds]

Oh, don't worry. They don't even have demons where I'm from.

[but he's not about to explain that he's immortal, unkillable, fueled by magic--so he manages a charming wink and a bit of a smirk.]

But it's a trade secret, you see. Good magicians don't explain their tricks.

[got_it_memorized]

[Axel knows that look; he's given it numerous times. Very well, he won't press the issue. He can't deny he's awfully curious now, though.]

Fair enough. Let's just hope you don't have to use that trick again anytime soon.

[birdsbirdsbirds]

I'll agree to that, yeah.

[he could sure stand to get "killed" a little less around here.]