Continuing the theme of eluding death

Okay, hypothetical question.

You are going to be executed by beheading.
What would you prefer:
One, getting away because of some freak accident - or
Two, waking up somewhere you've never been, where no-one knows you one way or the other, with a hell of a crick in your neck and without any way to go back?

Look, I know exactly where I'd end up if I died. Although granted, it might get boring in the Emerald Courts.

I guess.

The Emerald Courts being Lady Lucks Realm?

And you're sure she wouldn't pull another trick on you?

Apart from that, I said, it's a hypothetical question...

Of course she would.

Nico, has either of those happened to - ok, hypothetical question, I know, I know. (Was it addressed to me too? If not, ignore the rest)

It all depends if I was supposed to die. If I was supposed to, despite either of those escape options happening I'd still die, so I suppose I'd rather behave myself and let them get on with it.

If my employer wanted me to save myself, the executioners had better be restraining and guarding me very carefully indeed or I would leave a lot of corpses. So assuming they were, I'd prefer the escaping by random chance so I could trot along home. If I woke up somewhere with no way of getting home, I'd be a dead man anyway.

"Supposed to die" by whose decision?

And why would you be dead if you couldn't get home?

(Regarding your first question, eh, well, since this is OOC I might as well... If you replace "beheaded" with "killed", the second considrably more often than the first. But, please, no-one ask for details!)

Supposed to die by my employer's decision, since they own me. Since this is OOC and all, they're also, um, practically-but-not-officially above the law.

If I was stranded somewhere with definitely no way home, I'd be no more use. I'd hate to be useless. More than that, I'd also be a liability: I could give away some information by mistake or under torture to harm my employers and I'd hate that. So them killing me in that situation would be the only sensible thing to do.

You can see why I'm anxious to find a way off the island and get a ship back home. It's not just the thought of being stuck with Jillis.

No permanent island holiday with the gorgeous Sebbie? That's awful.

*points to the board* Get back to the village soon! I need to talk to you.

How could they kill you if there was no link between that new place you are and the one you came from?

Just by wanting me dead would be enough. *OOC or not, is obviously uncomfortable with saying anything further...*

Do I want to ask, Yil? Probably not.

*sighs and gives Weft a sympathetic pat on the shoulder*


Well, if Snog doesn't mind me saying, I'll be glad when he'll have the time to get things moving again; Xan is getting, hm, restless.

Suitov: [after making sure Weft's out of earshot] To revive the evading-death topic...

Small hint for the more vocal characters among us, should you ever need it: the way to proceed with Weft in this sort of mood is to distract his attention. Contradicting him directly is a good move if you can react fast enough to keep him confused. Complimenting him always puts him on edge, but that's not a good approach in this case. It's - well, you'll have to trust me on that one. Insult only if you have the force of personality to back it up. Seeing fear will make him happy, but not any more or less likely to kill you. Don't get into protracted attempts to reason with him. That's never worked in the entirety of my experience with the man.

All things told, I hope none of you will end up needing this advice. [glance in Nico and Sylvie's direction, and Jaina's]

Nico: How about hitting him with a rolled-up newspaper?

Suitov: Most people would get stabbed. Sebastian would be allowed to succeed and would meet a puzzled look in response. You, Nico, I'm not sure about; perhaps he'd dodge.

Nico: I'll try if I get the impression he's going to kill me and I have a newspaper on hand, and inform you of the result, if possible.

Though I suspect I will not have a newspaper at hand.

Suitov: I can't but admire such a dedication to the advancement of knowledge. Nevertheless, do at least get into his good graces first, won't you? (I won't help you there, but it shouldn't be impossible.)

Nico: Since I neither said nor meant that I was going to actively try to make him want to kill me, I get the impression we are talking past each other.

Suitov: No, I was joking, as I suspected you were when you started talking about newspapers.

But the attempt at advice I offered initially was entirely in earnest.

Nico: I wasn't joking; I consider "hitting with a rolled-up newspaper" a tactic for distraction.

Suitov: You'd hit a serial killer with a tube of paper. [looks impressed]

[Mentally, however, draws large question mark next to "Nico: sanity".]