013. 💥 VIDEO; ANONYMOUS ⏩ FAST-FOWARD TO A DAY AFTER THE EVENT

[opheliac]

[ the video is out of focus when it starts, and whoever is holding the phone from the other side is trying to adjust its settings. but in time, the feed sharpens, and it displays an ominous graffitied exclusive room. leaning on each side of a wall are two masked mysterious figures. one on the left in a male build and wearing a gas mask, and a female figure on the right wearing an interesting (familiar to no one but a very selective few) designed disguise. the female one, with her arms cross over her chest, turns her head to the camera when a voice from behind the webcam (robotic and disjointed) says: ]

It's ready for you, Boss.

[ she shoves herself off the wall and stalks closer to view, saying nothing even after her body stills in position. and like the camera person, whenever this mystery individual chooses to speak, her voice is also filtered in a mechanical pitch. ]


Chosen of Aldrip, we are the Inx.


In simple terms, we are just a small group of thieves from the docks. And I'm sure many of you think our thievery around this city is cruel. Wrong. And unethical. Some of you may even call us criminals.

[ the speaker stops briefly, cocking her head to one side to mimic a crow's curiosity. ]

But who are the real criminals of Aldrip? Is it us, or is it the ones who are stopping us from tearing down this corrupted city?

[ she paces steadily from one direction and back again, the cameraman following along carefully and doing a pretty good job at it for being an amateur with devices. ]

Time and time again, the Council have used us as lab rats for their entertainment, promising us freedom if we just did our time and our sentences.

We do good for them, and what do we get in return? Mazes where the dead and the past haunts us, pinning ourselves against the people we love and care for, warped memories, bringing deadly infections, heartache, loneliness, and death. Jerry told me once we must go through these trials to be better ourselves. To learn how to behave.

[ the spokeswoman halts to face the camera again and yet in spite of wearing a mask to shield her identity, the fury is raging and tensing on her shoulders — her hands balling tight into boulders. ]

But this is not improving our spirits...! It's breaking us down, and ripping our minds apart to their satisfaction, to be in their image! Tell me, Chosen, do you feel in charge of your own life? Do you feel... independent?

You might be asking me now, so what we do about it? How do we break free when fighting and starting a war is not an option? When we can't see our enemy? ... I....

[ she stops for a moment as she fishes out for her next robust words, but can only hang her head in defeat, and says the truth of their dire circumstances: ]

I can't... give you that answer.

[ the entire room goes eerily quiet after that, but the male figure who had been in the background during this whole speech steps forward. he approaches the small chest behind her, and then drums his fists in a rhythm flow.

the feed wavers slightly, too, the cameraperson stomping their foot to beat along with their comrade. this brings the spokeswoman out of her beaten stance, and her head shifts to the associate behind her and then to the camera. feeling powerful again, her spine straightens, and she raises her chin to help her speak in clear volume: ]

But what I, the Inx and the eye of Zaun, can give you is a nation, support, care, and loyalty. You may see us as thieves who rob from the Councils' system, but we are a family. And family sticks together.... even if families say things that they don't mean out of hurt, frustration, and make mistakes because they are scared of change, loss, or being abandoned.

[ ... ]

But together, we will power through every hardship that the Council will throw at us, because we don't swim, or sink, we float.

Be my Zaunite, be my people, and you'll be protected. We will be there through your hard times, hand in hand, and wipe away any tear that were caused by them. We will feed the hunger, heal the sick, and when you can move again, you'll be like an earthquake rumble. You will never ever fall alone, or stand alone. You'll break down walls, just like when the City Hall crumbled.

[ quietly, her comrades chant while continuously beating their fists and feet in rhythm: ]

City Hall, City Hall,
Walls come down.
City Hall, City Hall,
Walls come down.

Walls come down, like City Hall.
Walls come down, like City Hall.

[ she gives her people a moment to shine with their carol, then adds to her final statement: ]

You're stronger than you think, and what makes you different makes you strong. Don't let the Council's betrayal break you, but let it forge you into something greater. And if they want this to be our home, then let's make it our home. No longer Aldrip, but the Nation of Zaun.

Comments

[howyouseit]

[Ekko analyzes the clip sent to him quizzically trying to ascertain any clues but coming up short given the lack of information. At the very least he had confirmed the voices of those within the Council which was as good a start as any. Nodding a bit to himself in understanding listening to it a few more times before he finally speaks up again.]

Doesn't tell us much but at least we know what they sound like if we ever somehow cross paths. For now our aim should be focused on proving our worth to the Chosen as he figure out how to snuff out the Council from hiding.

[opheliac]

That and some of our crimes are bull and some of us are here just to make things fun for them.

[ the video feed wavers as she hops off the chest she was lying on, then it continues to quake around — looks like she's on the move. ]

I'm one of their "favorites", so if you really wanna get them to come out of hiding, you'll have to use me somehow.

[howyouseit]

I'll say. They labelled me as a terrorist when I first arrived which makes absolutely no sense. Maybe they got their information from your dad or something.

[After all it was Silco who had the Firelights branded as such by the Enforcers as well which was just another reason he loathed the man.]

They have favorites? And what exactly did you do to make them 'like' you so much?

[opheliac]

Oh, y'know!! Blowing up stuff, blowing up buildings, robbing people, stabbing them after they denied me service, tied them up and left them for dead 'cause they looked at me funny, or name-calling me. The usual junk I do!

[ and naturally, she sounds extremely perky over her devious acts. jinx lifts her phone so he can get a good look at her again, and she wears a pensive expression. ]

— The last thing they did to me was turned off my shimmer stuff, and controlled me. Whenever I thought about violence, saw it, or talked about it, I would vomit or get a lotta pain in my stomach. I thought I was going to throw up blood back there...! Totally felt like it.

[ jinx puckers her lips, thinking harder. ]

I think they wanted to kill me, but jokes on them, 'cause I just stayed at home all month and build stuff. So!! I beat THAT punishment.

[howyouseit]

[Cue the blank stare towards the feed until finally sighing as he slicks a hand through his twisted locks and shakes his head.]

We really need to find you a better outlet to take out your pent up aggression on instead of killing people all the time.

[The last bit causes him to blink wide in bewilderment, Ekko certainly not expecting that sort of explanation.]

That is...pretty messed up. You mean to tell me that is the kind of thing they do to you at these 'sentencings' I've heard about?

[opheliac]

That is if you choose to ignore what they tell you to do. [ she corrects him. ] — If your sentence is about holding hands and plant flowers with your worst enemy and you don't wanna do that? You'll get punished for not listening.

It really blows, and not the fun kind.

[howyouseit]

[Why does it not surprise him that she would rather defy the Council and make things more difficult for herself rather than subject herself to their penance? A solemn sigh escaping his parted as a hand rubs the back of his neck frustratedly, a bit of hushed laughter following as the tip of his lips curl into an amused smirk.]

You always did like to do things the hard way so I shouldn't be too surprised you would defy the Council at every turn.

[opheliac]

I don't like easy games, they bore me to tears and then I die.

[ they obviously do not cause her any deaths, but she enjoys to exaggerate her points sometimes. ]

SO, dork! Got any other questions for me? Need to know any dummies to rob from? I got all the answers.

[howyouseit]

They could kill have killed you in that sentencing by the sounds of it you need to be less reckless, Jinx. But that is kind of like telling water not to be wet.

[Chuckling unabashedly as he grins wide with a shake of his head, leave it to her go straight back into causing trouble after just trying to talk her down from stirring the pot.]

I don't think robbing someone is in our best interest when we are trying to prove our worth to the Chosen whether they know its us or not. If anything I might need to figure out an alternative power source for my hoverboard unless you got a guy who deals in chemical compounds?

[opheliac]

Alright, fiiiiiiiine. No stealing for two months or something.

[ she thinks that's a reasonable amount of time to not do something hasty, and enough time for everyone to be on their side. ]

Have you peeked in the caves yet? They got sparkly crystals in there. Some might have some heebie-jeebie magic glitters in them.

[howyouseit]

Probably for the best.

[At the mention of the caves Ekko tilts his head a bit curiously with a shake of his head. If these crystals do happen to have magical capabilities perhaps their power could be harnessed into a source of energy for the hoverboards which would solve both their energy crisis. He doesn't really think the gemstone from back home is a safe means of functionality for her own, for they didn't know how unstable it could be or how much damage it could do if it malfunctioned.]

Never heard of any caves yet...Where can I find them?

[opheliac]

How you find them depends on where you are right now.

[ she states, while using their video call as a mirror by using her pinky fingernail to pick a booger out of her nose. this is the girl you're crushing on, ekko. are you having second thoughts? ]

If you're buzzing near the Inn, it'll be on the West north side of town. You head West first and then keep going North 'till you come across it.

[ as she successfully gathers the snot out of her left nostril, she flicks it off to the world of unknown. ]

You'd be a reeeeal dummy if you miss it with my foolproof directions. And if you get lost, I'm not coming to save you.

[howyouseit]

[He does scrunch up his nose a bit with a purse of his lips at the spectacle but they were never raised to be prim and proper so despite how unseemly it may have been was mostly unfazed. So long as she didn't eat it or something nasty now that would have caused some concern.

Ekko mentally writes the directions down and stows them away in the back of his mind with a nod in affirmation.]

Got it.

[An amused grin quickly forms over Jinx’s lack of concern for his well being, rolling shoulders back as he stands up from his posted up position.]

And here I thought you might want to tag along and help. Guess I'll just have to snag enough for the both of us. Using the gemstone from home doesn't seem like the safest means of an alternate power source, Jinx.

[Playing coy at his own unease in turn.]

[opheliac]

Well, if you're that useless and pathetic without me, I guess I could squeeze you in my schedule. You're lucky I'm such a charitable person.

[ the ego is practically swelling with each given syllable that passes through her lips. ]

Relaaax, the gemstone is fine...! Sure, it hiccups, but I've got it completely under control.

[howyouseit]

[Her particular brand of sentimental kindness garners a roll of his eyes sarcastically but cannot help the subtle grin which graced the tip of his lips. It was a good excuse for them to talk more and better solidify their partnership in this endeavor, surely having no ulterior motives of wanting to spend time with her after their intimate moment shared in the treehouse and not seeing her since.]

That’s so like you being extremely generous, best be careful or others might think you're some sort of good willed person and take advantage.

[Teasing her just a little bit before his smirk turns into a look of worry as she dismisses his concerns towards the use of the gemstone.]

I'm serious, Jinx. That thing could be unstable in the environment since I never designed its usage to be compatible with such a power source. I don't know what it's truly capable of given the lack of time I had to study it.

🎀

[opheliac]

You're a little late to the party, Boy Savior! That warning is waaaay overdue after what happened months ago.

Anyway, see ya at the cave, buh-bye!

[ and click! have fun with that information. ]