[ LOCKED TO SUTOKU ALLIANCE ] video; un: rider

[kaientai]

[ it takes ryouma a little bit to get around to this, but eventually(!!) he appears, filming a video from what appears to be... outside a fancy-looking starbucks? well, they're everywhere, after all! even in hell! maybe they're also paying him for the product placement? in any case, it's a nice day, and he's outside with his iced coffee and with sunglasses on you can't tell how tired he might be! coffee and a cigarette is the meal of champions when you have a lot of stress in your life. ]

Hello, everyone! I thought it'd be a good time to welcome in all our newest Alliance Lost Souls!

[ yes, he's waving! ]

I'm Sakamoto Ryouma — but just Ryouma is fine! — and a lot of people around here know I'm a Lieutenant and a main point of contact for any business with the Alliance. If you need anything, you can always come to me, and I'll at least try and help you find what you're looking for.

That being said, you've got plenty of good people around here you can look to also! The rest of you aren't off the hook~!

My newest co-Lieutenant is Matoba Seiji. [ so feel free to bother him now too, haha! ] Emily Dyer will be acting as my second, and if you don't already know where the clinic is, you should familiarise yourself and help out a little!

You can also find your other seniors — Kim Kitsuragi, Yuri Leclerc, Xingqiu, Artemy Burakh, Cloud Strife, and Ydris — if you need anything!

[ enjoy the new responsibility?? this is also live video and not text, so there is a strong possibility that ryouma has butchered several of these names in his accent. the good news is that he also holds up a list of the names written out because he knows himself.

now that that's out of the way, he can move along to some useful information before he wraps this thing up. his coffee's melting, and he's sitting when he probably has three other places he could be... ]

You represent the Sutoku Alliance now, so keep that in mind! We don't really have much of a dress code or anything, but you should still get one of these pins, so people know what crew you're with.

[ he taps the pin on his jacket with the kanji for sutoku. aren't you relieved that the naval uniform isn't standard-issue attire? now everyone knows why he's rated four stars for COOLER HAT on EMBER. ]

We have 'em at Konoha and at plenty of other places, too, so just ask!

We're gonna have a get-together officially soon enough, but this is a good opportunity to get to know each other ahead of time! My advice to all of you is to learn as much as possible about this place and the people who live here, your fellow Lost Souls in the other factions included! Find something that interests you and dig right in! Always be paying attention because it's all in what you know.

[ so go be nosy and get the good gossip!! ]

I'm excited to say there will be a lotta interesting things going on around here soon enough, so I'll be counting on you all to do your best! You have a week to settle in and get comfortable before we'll be putting you to work, so don't hesitate to reach out if you need something in the meantime, got it?

I think that should do it for now. Have fun!

[ ooc: this is an open post for sutoku so FEEL FREE TO THREADJACK TO YOUR HEART'S CONTENT! ]

Comments

[pathofsacrifice]

You are welcome.

I am sorry that your world was deprived of miracles. They are wonderful and terrible entities to live with; their cruelty is scarring and their kindness can be a salvation to some. I am happy to give a perspective that is helpful to others to learn to live with miracles now.

[softshoes]

I've experienced the cruelties of a curse firsthand already. It... makes one grateful for the kindness of strangers.

[sorry to everybody who saw him, tormented by visions, 5 seconds from a breakdown on the street corner last week WHOOPS]

Mr. Burakh, do you have any advice for a newcomer like myself? I want to learn the customs of a place like this as soon as I can.

[pathofsacrifice]

It does. I will say despite the cruelty of a miracle's curse that something is attempted to be given back to the tormented. Kindness given by others. Affirmation that you are not alone and that there will always be someone who will help you.

Of course, that may not be what they wanted in the first place. What they want may be something completely esoteric to our thinking, but so long as some light is given in those times, I believe even a curse can be a gift.

[ ANYWAY! ]

The best advice I can give is to keep your heart open to everything here. Our cultures and way of life will always blind us a little of how things are, but this world is not our own. Learning the ways of any place takes time and there will be some mistakes, but so long as you're willing to listen to the yokai, to the city, then you will find your way.

[softshoes]

["Even a curse can be a gift," says the man. In spite of how mortifying it'd been to be followed by those cursed illusions-- reminded of his failures as a friend, a father-- they'd been a valuable first reality check. Or unreality check, rather. Jigoku-cho, he now knows, is dangerous: a world that plays one's mind against itself.]

Yet more wise words, sir. I shall do everything in my power; if anything, I welcome Jigoku-cho's challenges.

As we're to be colleagues, please do let me know if I can be of aid to you in any way, as well. I'll have to repay your advice somehow.

[pathofsacrifice]

Of course.

I keep forgetting myself, or rather I am allowing myself to forget.

[ Which is to say that Artemy is aware of how weird it is that he calls people 'brother' and 'sister' or 'cousin' in some cases. He misses his connection to the Kin, and attempts to forge something like it in this world.

But it is just an act. It is just playing a role and playing pretend. The connection of the Kin will be far stronger and more stable than that of the Sutoku. He knows this to be an unfortunate truth, and yet he holds onto the belief that among the Lost Souls, he can find something like his Kin.

Still... he will keep doing as he does, because he is not very smart. ]

What I mean is that this is where I would say we are as family and so there is no debt to repay. But ignore that. I will instead say that I am willing to barter and share with you. An equal trade to ensure our connection deepens properly.

[softshoes]

[Maybe Sutoku really was a faction suitable for him after all: Artemy's manner may be strange, but he can't really argue with the practicality of a good trade. Mikotoba, himself, will always hold up his end of a bargain.]

Such an arrangement sounds perfect.

I look forward to working with you, Mr. Burakh.