xviii | video

[onblackwings]

[ wow, look, another post from a bar! someone check this dragon into rehab, seriously. But this time she's just sort of staring expressionlessly into a drink, and not looking particular drunk at all. ]

I can't reach Dick Grayson. I don't suppose anyone's been kidnapped lately? [ A flick of a glance at the screen, not very hopeful. ] If the Porter's idea of a gift is to bring people in from the distant past and uninteresting future of my world, at the expense of people I like, I'd rather she keep it to herself.

You people, the ones he actually liked— have any of you seen him?

[ A pause, while she sips at the drink and eyes the bar. ]

And the rest of you... what have you done to be remembered?

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[onblackwings]

Are you a criminal, or something of that sort?

[undeadsidekick]

Yeah, but it's a little more personal than that.

How did you know him?

[onblackwings]

I killed him once.

[undeadsidekick]

[Well, that's a conversation starter right there.]

Cheerful. And here I had you pegged as a jilted ex.

[onblackwings]

Hardly. That's a human thing.

[undeadsidekick]

And you're not human. This just gets better and better.

[onblackwings]

[ flatly: ] I'm a dragon. This particular shape is only occasionally convenient.

[undeadsidekick]

It probably helps you keep a low profile. Most places. Although maybe not in a bar.

[onblackwings]

And what would I need a low profile for? This is purely convenience.

[undeadsidekick]

Low profiles are convenient. The point of changing your shape is so that you can avoid being harassed, right?

[onblackwings]

The point of changing my shape is to more easily fit into a bar. Anyone who would harass a dragon isn't likely to survive long.

[undeadsidekick]

Point.

But you still probably wouldn't want the attention of walking around in talons and scales.

[onblackwings]

Respect and fear are never unwelcome. [ She looks a little uncomfortable as she says it, though. damn, she's making herself a really convincing argument for not staying in this shape anymore. ]

[undeadsidekick]

I didn't know dragons read Machiavelli.

[onblackwings]

Read what?

[undeadsidekick]

Machiavelli. He was a human author who talked a lot about ruling through fear and respect more than devotion. It was a joke.

You should check him out. Seems about your speed.

[onblackwings]

[ a thoughtful pause! ]

I might. Do you have his book?

[undeadsidekick]

[Unexpected!]

Nope. But you should be able to find it at any self-respecting book store. I recommend The Prince. That's the one she told me to read.

[onblackwings]

Who is she?

[undeadsidekick]

An old friend. She isn't here.

[onblackwings]

You must have valued her taste.

[undeadsidekick]

I do. She helped me out a lot.

[onblackwings]

With what?

[undeadsidekick]

Survival. I owe her for that.

[onblackwings]

That seems more useful than the lessons humans usually give one another.