Seven ★ Video

[wasthemaster]

[It's assumed that Draco is around somewhere despite not being on camera immediately, judging by the fact that when the feed starts travelers are greeted with a nice view of a bedroom wall absolutely covered in diagrams, charts, graphs, drawings and notes. Literally every square inch of the wall above the bed is covered in paper marked with random colored pens. It's assumed the rest of the room is set the same way. In the background, anyone listening can hear a coffee maker brewing a new pot.

War's never been one of Draco's favorite things, but the battles in Asgard have made him think of his home world and the situation he's in. He hates thinking about it, but he's started dissecting everything he knows…hence some of the charts that are overlaying some older charts. When Draco begins to speak, he's still out of the line of vision, if only because he can't exactly face the city just yet.]

…I know this man at home who's trying to, more or less, recreate the entire world. A perfect world where everyone's exactly the same and everyone who's considered less than worthy is punished severely if they're not outright killed immediately. [This is bad. This is a bad idea to be bringing this up, but Draco's full of bad ideas and bad decisions lately.] Actually, his favorite method is to torture them severely before sparing them and then murdering them with a flick of the wrist.

But the thing is, despite the fact he's more or less a slit-nosed homicidal freak, he has a large following. Many follow him out of fear, but there are just as many who follow out of loyalty. There are many people who actually, genuinely believe our world will be better if we follow his plan for destruction and reconstruction. It's messy and violent, and yet they go along with it anyway. Funny how that works, isn't it? One has to wonder why. [It's probably for the best that Voldemort's not around to hear that one of his servants is basically disregarding everything he's been taught. But after his last conversation with Jade? Maybe he really doesn't have to be constantly fearing for his life...maybe just every other day.

Let's get to the point, shall we? His hand appears in the frame of video and he's pinning a fresh piece of paper to the wall above the bed. He soon takes out a pen and in a neat, elegant scrawl writes something on the top of the page.

The art of persuasion and manipulation

His hand hovers in midair for a moment before he withdraws it.]

What is the fine line between persuading people and manipulating them? And, as a bonus question, what is the fine line between safety and fear? Sometimes I have to wonder if the rulers of this world aren't any different, what with having to do their bidding without even asking us. And yet we do it anyway because we're told it's better this way. [He knows it's a stretch, but it's still a valid point in his opinion.] As you can see, I've plenty of room on the paper so give me something worth writing.

Comments

[wasthemaster]

Then I'll get someone to make you cupcakes. Green with silver sprinkles.

[He lifts an eyebrow.] That's not going to happen, so don't push your luck.

[nukeoleptic]

You don't know.

[ She flashes him a smile. ]

Anything's possible here, right? -- and why silver sprinkles?

[wasthemaster]

Believe me, that is something I'm fairly certain won't be happening anytime soon. And because silver and green go together, that's why. Silver's also a wintery color.

[nukeoleptic]

What do I win if it happens?

[wasthemaster]

I don't know. What would you want?

[nukeoleptic]

A puppy?

[wasthemaster]

...a puppy. Just a puppy would make you happy? [Don't give him any ideas, Jade...]

[nukeoleptic]

My dog was my best friend growing up. I don't think any other dog would ever be as clever as him.

[wasthemaster]

I know, I know, you've told me. [Walking in silence for a moment. The gears in his head. They be turning.] You're sure Bec was a normal dog?

[nukeoleptic]

Nope! I'm actually a hundred percent sure he wasn't. That's where I got a lot of my powers from, back when I merged with Jadesprite-- he was, oh, what did Dave call him? An omnipoterrier.

[wasthemaster]

Like a Familiar. That makes a lot more sense.

[nukeoleptic]

I think I would've been his familiar more than the other way around.

[wasthemaster]

Well unfortunately any dog you get here in Asgard isn't going to be able to use powers. It'll just be a regular, stupid dog. That barks. And slobbers.

[nukeoleptic]

And cuddles. And is warm. And sleeps with me.

[ SHE SEEMS wistful and fond. ]

[wasthemaster]

...well what the hell, I do that already. [Draco it is not a good idea to insinuate that you are the same as a dog.]

[nukeoleptic]

You don't always cuddle me to sleep. Just on very rare, rare occasions. [ She's stifling laughter. ]

[wasthemaster]

Well you're the one who wanders off and sleeps in other people's beds. I'm not following you to other people's beds. [On the bright side he's joking. Or trying to. Sometimes Draco's ideas of jokes are weird.

[nukeoleptic]

Excuse me! I only wander off and sleep in your bed. And I didn't even do that until the first time I was drunk!

[ She really hopes no one overhears this conversation and gets the wrong idea.. ]

Besides, you're only a so-so cuddler.

[wasthemaster]

[He hopes the same. Seriously. And a mock-offended look later...]

Excuse you, indeed. I happen to be a perfect cuddler. You just happened to catch me off guard. Besides, your senses were off because you were drunk.

[nukeoleptic]

We've cuddled other times on the couch, Draco Malfoy! I'm perfectly aware of your middling-to-average cuddling ability. I just happen to look past it.

[wasthemaster]

I refuse to believe my cuddling is subpar. I'm a Malfoy, Jade. Malfoys are rarely subpar at anything.

[nukeoleptic]

[ And Jade, ears drooped, simply fixes him with the most pitying expression she can muster. ]

[wasthemaster]

[...he just gives her a look that clearly says he believes she's off her rocker before gently shoving her shoulder.] Oh shut up.

[nukeoleptic]

[ She laughs again, visibly delighted and stumbling dramatically. ]

Oh, come on, the shop I'm talking about is up here.

[wasthemaster]

About time. [Hand going back into his pocket then.] I've grown used to flying everywhere that walking's sort of strange.