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

[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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

oh no oh no oh no oh no...

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

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!

[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.]

Trust me, dear, I am thinking about it -- I've thought about it before, but so help me...!

[She turns partway around, craning her neck, eyeing what of the fence is in view...] I've never jumped so high before - and the last thing that I want is to get myself caught on the top! They're bound to hear me inside if I call ooooor rather neigh for help, but, oh - what then? Whatever then? [Flicks her head. The glasses stay in place.] My masters wouldn't let me out of their sight for the rest of the evening at the least and where will I be?

Wait. No! That's wrong! The last thing that I want is to not be there for those of my community -- I will jump! -- I've seen humans climb it before; it can't be impossible! [Again she tosses her head. The glasses bounce lower just a tad, and her forelock falls into her eye. She snorts, grumbles, shakes her head again, squinting along her muzzle, sees a hint of red on both sides but nothing more.

She leans into the trough.]

What in the world do I have on my face?!

...Oh. [Helpful contributions to moral dilemmas? How's she supposed to do that?]

Um, it looks like a pair of glasses. [Didn't she already know about them? why would she be wearing glasses without knowing they were there?]

[Cinderella tries, one last time, to cross her eyes on the thing.]

A - pair of glasses.

[They're too wide-set. She certainly sees the very edges of red frames around the sides of her muzzle and squints, and gives her head one more hard toss. They dislodge this time - and take a flipping arc briefly up and - she "eep!"s - into the water trough.

She dives her nose on in to fish them out and pulls back sneezing water and tossing drops off her snout, drops them and her head ducks down again as she straightens them out.

She pops back into view - still looking down.] Well!

So they are!

And I assure you with perfect well that they are not mine! I've never seen these before in my life! Why, whatever am I supposed to do with a pair of glasses?

[What, really? Someone snuck them on her? Who would do that kind of thing... and why?

Sarah's tone reflects her surprise.] Oh!

Um, does that mean that maybe someone... put them on you? For a joke, maybe?

Nonsense -- I would have noticed! Why, I've been all alone all day ever since breakfast and I can see my reflection clearly in here [Pokes a hoof just above the surface.] every time I - [Little gasp. Blinks wide.] - oh. Oh, my.

Well, then! That explains things.

...You know what I mean.

[Sarah's face, though Cinderella can't see it, bears a perplexed expression.]

Um... Do I?

[As it happens, Sarah hasn't learned - or, at least, internalized - that Echoes can grant objects.

Also she's not at all sure why Cinderella went quieter, though she's willing to follow her lead.]

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

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