[This time, Loki addresses the network from perched on a bit of the wall around the castle plaza. He's as relaxed as always, though he looks just a tad irritated as well this time. People near the gate between the castle plaza and Loki district should be able to interact in person, but first he has something to say.]

You know guys, I like you. I really do. But sometimes I think you're all a little dumb.

See, we set this network up. We know what's said. For that matter, we can easily find out anything you're up to if we decide to take the time to check on you. But we don't even have to do much ferreting. You're really obvious with your displeasure, and I'm sure if I looked a little deeper I might find out some of you are making plans to do something about it.

Now the boss man, he's not too interested in whatever you're doing. I, on the other hand, thought I'd run through a few things to get you up to speed. If you're going to rebel, you're going to want to do it smart. So here we go.

[He holds up a finger, clearly intending to count visually all the way through.]

One. We're gods. You don't know how to kill gods, do you? So before you start any plans, you might want to be sure you'll actually be able to do anything other than irritate us.

Two. Say you did take us out. You've all been really hostile against the idea of governments. If you're all determined to never have anyone tell you what to do, you're going to have anarchy. What do you expect will happen then? No regulations, no network, no bracelets to keep you from getting sick, no barriers to keep the monsters out, no one to keep up alliances and trade agreements. You'll have a bunch of armies on your doorstep in weeks and no organization to help you deal with them.

Three. Say you beat us and find a way to get sent home. You're all happy - 'cept the ones who're going home to being dead -- and you can forget all about our crap. And then every world in existence gets wiped out and remade and everyone you love dies along with you. You can take a bet that we're lying about this whole thing, but do you really want that kind of risk?

Four. If you can't beat us, no one's stopping you from running off and joining someone else. But out there in the world you're either going to our allies, who'll send you back, or our enemies, who'll either kill you or take you in and let you fight for them. And they're going to let everyone you love die too. That or you end up with my brother, and he doesn't care what you do as long as you entertain him. He'll make you a lord one day and a slave the next, just to see you get angry.

So here's the conclusion. You'd better be thinking of how to deal with all of those things before you start. After that, who knows. Maybe you'll get to take over a whole city and all its naive, loyal subjects...

In the meantime, how about you guys tell me what you'd want us to do if we decided to follow your orders. I'm pretty sure number one is quit messing with you, but if that's it how about you propose some plans for how you'll generate your own emotional energy? What will you guys do yourselves to make sure things get fixed as soon as possible? I'm sure you could get that bleeding heart Freyr to argue for you... but who says the big guy's going to favor the opinion of Hostage #1?

Oh well. Might as well try, hey?

Ugh.

Come on, you're not that hard to find.

Okay, Dante, any time now. It's really not cool to disappear on me when people are exploding. You can knock it off now. I'm not going to spend more time looking for you! Of course, you're going to get lost easily aren't you?

[Why, she's not concerned, at all. Never.]

You're an idiot! You stick out like a sore thumb with that mop of white hair you never comb and your obnoxious red coats. So stop it, Dante! Get your ass over here or I promise I won't be as kind as the last time!

Funny, this place is lacking a rainbow bridge, but...

[She gives a quick huff, silence falls; she's simply scanning the area to see what she's looking at.]

I don't really recall lions being mentioned in the domain of the Norse gods. Maybe the Field of Reeds. This shit is ridiculous.

What the hell am I supposed to do here? Start hopping around the rooftops to get to this "Thor" district?

If I ever find Dante-

[ There's a fzzzzt at the feed comes on, hologram screen taking a moment to adjust and focuses on a light-haired man prodding at the bracelet. ]

Well, what've we got here? [ He raises a brow, poking through the hologram, distorting the image, with what appears to be the end of a pistol. A pretty big one, at that. ] Hm.

[ With that, he plops down casually into a chair, rocking it immediately back on its hind two legs. ] As much as I love the thought of having an audience, it just isn't the same when we're separated by technology. [ He twirls the pistol back and forth on his forefinger, not seeming to be bothered at all by the fact it's nearly the size of his head. ] So, let's make this dance easy, shall we?

[ He stops playing with the gun, propping his feet up on a nearby end table console. ]

I'm not buyin' into all of this fairytale bull. Not gonna say this place couldn't do with a few good coats of paint, but I distinctly turn down offers of construction and interior design--way too boring. So let's talk money and maybe I'll reconsider.