II - [video] [Sage speech broadcast, backdated to the 15th]

[caosgo]

[the video is a small, grainy, vertical rectangle, and very unsteady. After this someone needs to convince Emmanuel to get himself a smartphone, since his old flip phone has terrible quality. The audio is garbled and tinny, though it sorts itself out after a moment into something decipherable at the very least. Maybe the network pulling some of the weight the phone can't. It's difficult to see anything but the dark outlines of the backs of people's heads, though as the camera pans across the group, glimpses of the Sage can be seen.]

[The others are talking amongst themselves, and nothing above the low chatter can really be made out until Emmanuel clears his throat. He's still off-camera.]

I, uh...if this is important, it's probably a good idea if everyone can see it, so--hopefully you can hear everything on the other side.

[the video then goes on to show not much of anything for about a few minutes, before the Sage decides to speak up. Everyone falls silent.]

[and then things go south.]

[the audio explodes with chaos, and the visual jerks wildly before a voice that sounds a lot like Julien's shouts:]

Look out--

[the phone clatters to the rocky ground, and there's a crunching sound before the connection cuts out.]



[ooc: I'm going to post two sub threads: one for before the Sage's speech, and one for after. The first is for general chatter for anyone still at home sitting it out, as well as anyone in the mine browsing the network for whatever reason. The second Emmanuel won't be replying to, and anyone wanting to arrange outside rescue attempts can do so there if they like! Also, this doesn't have to be the only broadcast.]

Comments

Before the speech

[caosgo]

text; iphone

[controlsdesire]

How many people are there?

It's a trap!!

[caosgo]

[Video]

[destinedforrock]

[Cinderella's ears are pressed flat back. Her head rises away from her trough at the noise.

When she leans back in with a high gasp on hearing at least one distinct, familiar scream, it is clear that she is wearing a pair of red cat's eye glasses.]

Mister Julien?!

Ohh good heavens -- ! Where is everybody?

[Her voice creeps up to the edge of a demanding, shouting neigh.] What's going on?!

audio, shitty cellphone

[stealinghats]

[oh dear god what]

What in god's name was that?! Is everyone there alright?

audio

[wastingtime]

[post his near heart attack-Elian's voice is only slightly shaky, but that shakiness is far outweighed with resolve]

Who can come with me to help?

audio

[enrages]

Oh, Jesus Christ, did we just watch people die? Oh fuck, I'm too young to see shit like this. This isn't even real life-- I. I mean, what the hell are we supposed to do? That was a mine, right? What the hell are we going about a fucking mine?

I. I can borrow my dad's car? If that'll help?

audio

[wastingtime]

This is real life.

[if he sounds harsh, it's only because he's trying his damndest to get this kid to focus. sounds like a kid, at least. then again, everyone is to him...]

It could. If you won't get in trouble for it. And we'll...I wonder if she has a shovel...

audio

[ursoreckless]

I can get a van and some supplies. Just tell me where to go.

audio

[wastingtime]

The mines. We'll - likely need to pick up those without transportation.

You can get medical supplies?

Re: audio

[playmisere]

[still reeling from the video and the echo she might or might not have just experienced]

This is... this is actually...

I'll be there. I don't have a lot of—of stuff, but—oh god, how many of them were down there?

audio

[wastingtime]

I don't know. We should prepare for the worst.

[beat, and then, hesitantly;]

I was - told. That the police are not to be trusted. But...are emergency services? Do you know?

audio

[15minuteslate]

I'll meet you outside the caves. You got a plan, mister?

audio

[wastingtime]

I thought I'd make it up as I go.

[dry, but- there's only so much /time/ for a plan.]

[audio]

[butterfly_kindnesses]

oh no oh no oh no oh no...

[audio]

[ursoreckless]

Don't panic. Take a couple deep breaths and think about what you can do to help.

[Video]

[destinedforrock]

Ohh, I know! Our poor dear fellows! Why, whatever can we do -- we don't even know what in heaven's name is being done to them in there and if I hear that even one of them can't come out...! Ah!

[The pony in red glasses ends that with an agitated huff. She sounds breathless; her hoof is scraping repeatedly in the dirt.] But alas I ha-a-ave to stay within a fence...

This is most aggrieving!

[audio]

[butterfly_kindnesses]

[What.

It appears to be a horse. With glasses. Who wants to - Sarah would probably giggle if she weren't so shocked - gallop to the rescue.

This is a very odd situation.]

Um, yes. [Agreement should be safe, yes? Throw her a bone here, conversation with a horse is wholly new.]

Um, can't you... jump over it? The fence, I mean. [Sarah trails off. She's seen videos of horses jumping over fences, but she really has no idea of the factors involved.]

[video]

[darkhourdear]

[...!!! oh no what just happened THIS ISN'T LIKE TV THIS IS REAL]

Are you ok? Is everybody-- [he doesn't know how to handle this.]

[Video]

[sacrifice_everything]

[And here she was listening with vague interest until suddenly everything's going crazy. She starts pawing at her food tray urgently, and in her panic it doesn't even register when an Echo settles in.]

What's going on? Have you been hurt? Where are you?

[video]

[15minuteslate]

What the fuck?!?

Shit -- is that my brother in there?!

text - smartphone

[entertainaplanb]

...What in the world was that? Is everyone all right?

[Becky doesn't even know where to start with the contents of the video before chaos broke out; that's going to take more time to process, and possibly watching that part of the video a few more times.]

[Action for Cinderella]

[italktofish]

[Who needs to waste time messaging people when there are RESCUES to be made?! At the first sign of trouble, Arthur's jumped into his school bus and is speeding towards the rescue.

...at least, he would be speeding to the rescue if the bus hadn't broken down on the side of a road somewhere between his house, the mines, and a certain farm.]

BLASTED MACHINE!

[Wham. He's thumped a fist on the side of the bus in frustration. The hood's up, and he's attempting to fix things himself.]

COME ON THERE, OLD GIRL, HOLD TOGETHER!

[There is another loud thump. MAYBE THIS ONE WILL FIX IT. The engine makes a promising noise, at least.]

[destinedforrock]

[Yes -- she's done it!

She has jumped the fence! And she clipped her hind legs in the process but that's not much more than an insult, a thing she can fuss over later - she's got to keep on running, she has friends to save, and she can't be caught...

And it is, needless to say, once she is far enough from her masters' home that it is equally far from her thoughts that she realizes that she has no means to find the mine.

She got ahead of herself. She told no one that she was jumping, apart from that one soft-voiced filly whose face she never saw, and she was now stranded.

Her heart pounds and hear ears swivel for activity, and eyes spot all around her field of vision, and she isn't sure whether she is looking to hide or seek help, pacing in the space outside the Bell farm, empty garden roads in a thankfully so-quiet - really lovely, a shame she couldn't be walking them under less dire circumstances - garden roads.

She hears a thump and tells herself to run. She huffs and rears.

But no - the shout!

She listens all around again, looks right, and left, and takes off at a quick stride.

There is a bus by the road at a turn, and one of them - one of them who she knows no less!]

Mister Arthur?

[She continues over - what luck this is, he must know where the mine is, and why he's got such an enormous machine out here...]

text

[darkremnant]

[On his lunch break at work, watching the speech with depleting interest.]

Kind long winded for a hobo...

[Van's about to turn it off, but the suddenly things go down hill and everyone in the video is running and screaming. Wait, is that his boss running in the crowd?]

What the fuck just happened...