[video] @runningfree [open]

[shookthesky]

[The message opens with a video. The audio is plagued with static and the picture stutters and fuzzes out occasionally, like the file's been corrupted in the upload, but it's still a video.

Pluto sits in her wheelchair in the foreground, and behind her is a large mess hall lit up with electric lighting. The cafeteria tables are packed with a few dozen people—a careful observer might be able to spot Alistair, Sypha, and the other Night Market vendors among their ranks. It seems most of the station has turned up to listen to whatever Pluto's got to say.]

Hey hey, fools. Miss me?

[She grins at the camera, flashing a peace sign.]

I hear the Wild Hunt paid y'all a visit, made their little plea, "oh, help us end the world!" What a crock of shit.

It ain't fair that they get to swoop in and play hero like it's gonna do their cause any good. You'll notice we never asked anyone to commit to shit. We were happy just helpin' out and working together! But now those cave-dwellers went and changed the game, so seems we gotta step up and make our own offer.

Here's the deal: why should we let the World Eaters decide our fate? You wanna deprive future lost souls of a second chance? Makes way more sense to fight back and build ourselves a new home than to, what, lay down and die? Fuck that!

The Wild Hunt wants you to be weak and they're all dressing it up like it's for the greater good, but who gives a shit? If you're that upset about this second chance being "unnatural" or whatev, g'head and off yourself. We don't got room for weaklings on my team.

And why's that, you ask? 'Cause we got a plan of our own to take down these World Eaters. I ain't broadcasting it until I know who I can trust, but catch me at the next Market visit. We'll talk. Hell, maybe you can figure it out already. You guys are lil smarty-pants, I've heard.

So! Seems to me like y'all got a choice to make, huh? You side with them, or you side with us. Feel free to play it safe and stick yourself in the middle if you seriously need more convincing, but if you sign up with the Hunt? Don't come crawling to the docks looking for our help. You made your choice, fam.

My signal's only gonna hold up for a minute or two here, but I'll be back in a couple weeks when the Market visits again. Hold your applause 'til then, yeah?

I'll see you soon, gang. Watch yourselves, in the meanwhile. Later.

[The crowd behind her erupts into whooping and cheering as Pluto signs off, and there's a brief moment where she starts to laugh and wheels on the Market to behave, jeez, I'm tryna send a professional message here!, and then the feed ends.

Pluto won't be able to respond to this message! You're all welcome to chatter amongst yourselves like on a bulletin post for now, and Pluto will be around at the next Night Market visit to answer all the questions you probably have.

Oh, and check out the mod announcement we've just put up to accompany this post!]

Comments

[reigniter]

We are not a large society here, there is barely over fifty people here. Not yet, at least. We should be working on stopping becoming one.

From the moment we stepped in Beacon, we were threatened with a reset if we do not work together.

Now what? "If you're not with me you're against me" - how does that fall under working together? I appreciate the help offered by both sides but this is ridiculous. Our job is to stop World Eaters, not to play gangs.

[legalcy]

It is a concern, but what we should first consider is a method in stopping the World Eaters. That is, if you believe we have a chance of fighting them off. Someone who believes we should all die for the sake of Beacon is bound to disagree on principle with one who believes we should thrive and develop networks.

Unfortunately, I was not involved in politics and can't explain how factions form. Speaking as someone who worked in law, this is an inevitable consequence of two powerful camps, the numbers of which we do know. There are fifty of us living in Beacon, but how many enemies will we make if we do not tread carefully?

[Disappointed, but not surprised is his feelings on all of this.]

We can still work together to find a solution before this breaks out into violence.

[reigniter]

A problem always has a solution. Just because we don't know it, it doesn't mean it's not out there. Which is what we should be focusing on, as I said. Not politics or factions or whatever else. [He's not touching the subject of sacrifice, however, since it hits homerun.]

We have plenty of things to worry about- from world eaters to random spirit attack- people got kidnapped and tortured for goodness sake- and now we have to worry about this too!? We have to sleep with one eye open to make sure our lanterns or fire isn't stolen on one side, and triple check the info and items Night market sells on the other.

[There's a pause and annoyed sigh.]

If the Keeper doesn't calm them down and call them to reason, I will not be held responsible if I maim or kill someone in defense. [He bows to no faction and follows only one King which he will protect regardless of the circumstance. He is a sensible man, but you do not wish to see him angry because he knows for no limits.]