[ 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

[windfalling]

Money lending for people who have been turned down everywhere else.

[ Which sounds predatory, but it's not. ]

[kaientai]

Hoh? And you make a profit doing this?

[ he's curious. he also knows how money lending can turn nasty, but the daitengu chose this guy, so ryouma likes to think there's more to it than all that. ]

[windfalling]

No, not at all. I offer no interest, no collateral loans.

[kaientai]

Really? So... you're just doing it because... it's a nice thing to do?

[ THAT SEEMS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE BUT STILL. ]

[windfalling]

Oh, no. [ He laughs. ] I'm a nice guy, but not that nice.

Everyone that comes to me looking for money has to pass my tests to prove they're really in need and truly see the money as an opportunity. I'm not going to waste my time or money if they're just looking for a quick way out.

[kaientai]

Oh. I think I'm seeing it now. If it's a good idea, you give them the money without any strings attached because whatever you invested in pays you back and then some, is that it?

[ whether he gets it entirely or not, he likes it. ]

I owe it to a few people who were willing to do that sort of thing for me when I needed it a long time ago. I guess I'm surprised because that was just a couple of deals. I didn't think anyone would figure out how to keep doing it.

[windfalling]

Something like that. I want to see those who truly have the drive to succeed do just that. Sometimes all they need is a hand up.

[ He could keep doing it because of the truly obscene amount of money he had. A fortune built from a literal windfall when he had nothing. ]

It's not an easy business, but I have my ways. I'd like to build it again here, I just need to raise the capital.

[kaientai]

Aha~! Lucky! You sound like just the sort of person I want to work with!

[ really, the boss is too good to him. it's like they knew exactly the sort of people he might need right now. ]

I think we should discuss this more in person. I have a few ideas you might be interested in.

[windfalling]

Is that so? Give me a time and place and I'll be there.

[ Probably like an hour late, but eh. Ryouma will learn that Akiyama is reliable, not punctual. ]

[kaientai]

[ it's a good thing then that ryouma sends him the address to his favourite spot because it means he passes the extra time without notice.

the girl downstairs sends akiyama upstairs when he arrives and it's easy to find his way to the right room himself because the door is open and it sounds like there are people inside.

the woman who owns the place is just leaving, actually, and gives akiyama the once over like she's trying to decide what to make of him. or decide if she'd consider eating him. ]

Go on. [ he can stay. ] You drink? I'll send something up.

[windfalling]

[ He's still not used to dealing with youkai. There is definitely an adjustment period here...Whatever, he's not getting eaten today, so he can relax. ]

Uh, whiskey is fine.

[ He takes a seat, pulling out a cigarette. ]

Mind if I smoke?

[kaientai]

Nope!

[ ryouma is in between cigarettes at the moment, but there's evidence in the ashtray beside his elbow, which he slides out into the middle of the table. he fishes his lighter out of his pocket and offers akiyama a light. ]

Hope it wasn't hard findin' the place. I normally don't talk business here, but if I had t' go back into the office right now, I'd start climbin' the walls.

[windfalling]

[ His accent...Akiyamam lets it slide for the moment as he lights his cigarette with a grateful nod. ]

No, it wasn't hard to find. [ He just can't be on time unless someone is literally going to die if he's late. ] I do have a question...Your name. Were your parents big history buffs or something?

[ It's not like Sakamoto is an uncommon family name. ]

[kaientai]

Why? Don't look like the photos?

[ because that's what he's been told a few times by a few different people. ]

[windfalling]

Can't say that you do.

[ The Hero of the Meiji Restoration is certainly a little bit different than he expected. ]

So you really are him, then? The Sakamoto Ryouma?

[kaientai]

More or less. Probably not the same one from your world, but the story's pretty much the same where it counts.

[ because, by the way, the multiverse is real. ]

[windfalling]

[ Akiyama has experienced a lot of very, very strange things since arriving here. This is definitely the strangest by a long shot, even if you include the spectral sharks.

He ashes his cigarette in the ashtray and shakes his head. ]

Well, the Alliance is in capable hands if you're here. [ A beat. ] Anyway, we had business to discuss, isn't that right?

[kaientai]

Well, I try! And the boss seems t' think so anyway. But you're right, so... just ignore the rest!

[ to an extent he's gotten this far on who he is and he's ready to change that. what toraguma had said had stuck with him beyond the obvious threat of losing his head. ]

I liked your idea and I know who has a lot of money around here. Both of us need capital t' get things we want off the ground, and while I have a couple ideas, it'd be foolish not t' bring ya in on this when ya sound like ya have some experience.

[windfalling]

I have a lot of experience, I'm just not sure how valuable it'll be in Hell. I worked in finance and know my way around that world pretty well. I don't know the laws here...but they can't be that different, right?

[ He's trying to cope here. ]

I also know how to get information from people who know more than most. [ The homeless population. He used to be homeless and kept up his contacts when he got off the streets. There's no reason he can't build that network here again. ] Might take me awhile to build up my network again because I have to build their trust, but that'd be a valuable asset for the Alliance.

[kaientai]

Oho! Finance, huh?

[ he leans forward like he might climb over the table. thankfully, he does not, but once again personal space is an optional concept. think he's excited that akiyama properly knows his way around something like this business? ]

It'll be good t' have somebody t' bounce ideas off of! "Finance" wasn't really a business yet when I was around, so it's lucky some things haven't changed. Hehe, I'm sure Emily and Matoba would appreciate it too!

[ sparing them the business chats. ]

Laws work the same here as far as I can tell, only keep in mind that y' ain't dealin' with humans. Morality an' such might not be what you're used to. Everybody's got their own ways and it's gonna take time t' learn, so it happens when it happens.

[ ryouma can sympathise because he's still doing the legwork to try and learn his way around here. missteps like pissing off toraguma are proof of that. ]

If y' know anythin' 'bout dealin' with yakuza, that'll help too. That's the real tirin' part, 'cause it's how the Shuten operate. Tamamo's a lot easier.

[ in his opinion. also, he's just noticed what he's doing, so only now does he remember to sit back down. ]

[windfalling]

[ Sitting here with one Sakamoto Ryouma is getting more surreal by the moment. Nothing could have prepared Akiyama for the reality of how ... interesting ... he is. He leans back, his eyebrow quirked. ]

I'm always here to talk business if you need it. I usually need some help running the kind of projects I do. [ Read: he cannot be arsed to do anything unless he's literally forced to do it. ] And as far as the yakuza go, I'm familiar.

[ He shrugs. ]

I live and work around them all the time. Not a part of them, but I know how to make peace with them and work on their terms. If you don't work on their terms, you should be ready for a nasty end...Can't imagine that's different here.