[locked to sutoku alliance] video, un: levirage

[fibrillate]

Hello, everyone!

[on the screen is a polite-looking person with messy green hair and purple eyes. they give a wave and smile with their whole face from behind their white-rimmed glasses.]

My name is Leviathan Astrape—Levi, if you'd all like—and let me be the first to welcome you to the Sutoku Alliance! What we do here is a little more up in the air than other factions, but I think that just gives us the freedom to be who we are. If you're not sure what to do next, just keep your ear to the ground and get to know as many people as possible! It really can't hurt in the long term, and it's always better to know more than to know less.

[they don't sound stiff as they're saying it, like they have some practice with public presentations like this, but anyone watching the tracking of their eyes could probably tell that they're reading off cue cards.]

And on that note, we have a few names to know. They'll spend some time introducing themselves, I'm sure, but please keep an eye out for Artemy, Kim, Xingqiu, Yuri, Ydris, Marie, and Cloud. [a pleasant smile as they get to the end of the list.] Please also look out for Emily Dyer, especially if you need any kind of medical assistance or you're interested in helping out there. And our lieutenants within the alliance are Matoba Seiji and, of course, the death-defying Sakamoto Ryouma.

[they gesture in front of them with an open palm towards the person behind the camera.]

You're coming in during exciting times, everyone. We just had a bit of a shake-up at the Tanabata festival. The daughter of an important financial magnate has been kidnapped by an enemy of Toraguma, and though we haven't heard any orders from the Daitengu quite yet, I think we all know how things like this play out.

[and bringing both their hands in front of them, at waist level, they smile and give a polite little bow.]

So please, take this time to get to know your fellow alliance members. [they look towards the camera, then glance at their lapel, where they have a pin with the kanji for sutoku. they laugh like they knew they were forgetting something, and look back up towards everyone else.] And don't forget to pick up your official faction pin from most places within our area if you're interested.

[they wave goodbye, then stand there for a couple seconds. without the feed cutting, they walk forward towards the camera and start talking much more casually.]

Was that okay? Getting those names right was harder than I expected, and I even cut out a lot of the last names. I don't know how you did it the first time.

Hehe, y' know, I wondered about that "death defyin'" part on paper, but hearin' ya say it like that makes it sound pretty heroic! And honestly, I'm pretty sure ya did way better with those names, now that I'm thinkin' about it...

[ anyone who isn't new here will recognise the voice that responds to them from behind the camera, especially with that accent. ryouma is pretty sure he botched a couple names last time, mostly for that same reason. he might be able to fake it and cover it when he's speaking his own language, but when it comes to foreign-sounding words all bets are off. ]

So that was perfect! I think ya gotta real knack for this sorta thing!

[ which... hmmm, take that with a grain of salt because this man long predated show business, but still!! judging by his tone, ryouma is very pleased since all his coaching and cheerleading and cue card holding paid off, in his opinion! sure the rest of the faction will agree... right? ]

((this is a mingle post! feel free to threadjack and get to know everyone within the faction. and thank you again to min for contributing ryouma here!))

Comments

[beenwaitinglong]

Appreciate it.

I'm still getting my bearings, but I suppose we're meant to be one big happy family. I go by Godot. Formerly a prosecutor, currently general legal counsel. If you happen to need such expertise, feel free to ask.

text; un: matoba

[worldbent]

Well done, Leviathan-san. Perhaps we should entrust gathering everyone for these sorts of announcements and get-togethers to you and give Sakamoto-san's wallet a break for once, hm? I hear he has quite the debt racked up that we should give him some relief from.

Haha, just kidding, Sakamoto-san. 😸

To our new recruits, welcome. I am Matoba Seiji, one of your Lieutenants. As mentioned by Leviathan, we are currently focusing our efforts on the safe retrieval of the daughter of one of our sponsors from a group of Wasteland pirates led by an individual called the Iron Bear.

Please see my second in command Cloud Strife if you are interested in training for this mission or any other. I will be contributing with some exercises intended to help you learn to defend yourself in Hell.

Hell is populated by inhuman beings that some of you may be familiar with, and some of you may not. They are called youkai. In my home, they are known largely as folklore creatures, but you could say I am a specialist in dealing with them. It would be a mistake to think that you can handle them the same as you would defend against a human opponent; I would not want any of our recruits to be caught unawares.

text; un: matoba

[worldbent]

Welcome, Steinbeck-san. Magic experience is quite useful in Hell, which may or may not surprise you. I have some experience, myself.

The Daitengu is certainly an interesting individual. Very flippant and easygoing in dealing with us. [At least on the surface, you know.] You will find that unlike some other clan leaders, they do not give us direct orders very often, but rather seem to wish for each individual to use their talents in a way that suits them, to drive their own curiosities.

This is a clan for those who are able to take control of their own fates.

Therefore, if there is something that interests you right away, one of your seniors can point you in the right direction.

[nightcalled]

Half-vampire! It's complicated.

text; un: matoba

[worldbent]

The first is coming along. The second is a trait belonging to the Shuten clan. And you can pick up your badge at the Sutoku offices in Konoha.

Any other questions, godot-san?

[Welcome to the clan of smartasses, Godot, you're gonna like it here(?)]

[beenwaitinglong]

[BUT THE PINEWOOD DERBY?!]

The day a man runs out of questions is the day he ceases to grow. That's a rule to live by.

Where's the nearest coffee shop to the residence?

text; un: matoba

[worldbent]

[Disaster Tosans, what are you going to do. Look, not all of us backwater southerners are like them, Kumamoto is normal and wholesome--]

I'm impressed you were able to pick Sakamoto-san out so easily, skewer-san. You must be familiar with that unique way of speaking.

We are just now turning the leaf on fall, actually. The mont blanc and candied sweet potatoes are just starting to fill the windows of the cafes. I can hardly wait, myself.

It seems that Hell uses the old lunar calendar. Not a surprise for a place inhabited by youkai, hm?

[worldbent]

[He doesn't know what that is :(]

Our boss would like that saying, I think.

I am more of a tea drinker, but if you are fine with anything, the 7-11 is on the corner facing the main street out towards the Tengu Temple.

As for my recommendation, there is a café called La Sonnerie in the backstreets heading towards Tamamo's territory that I must recommend. They often have seasonal specials, as well.

Text | un: Pantsonpyre

[localweirdo]

Are you suggesting we start a fundraiser to aid him? Now, who would be bold enough to volunteer?

/private/

[medicative]

Please refrain from such jokes. It's quite distasteful and illmannered to see you spreading Mr. Sakamoto's personal affairs so publicly.

text | un: ruimune

[hyperfix]

It's a pleasure to be here, all things considered.

I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for the following? It would be very helpful and might streamline my creative process a little!

1. the best place to source modelling balloons, juggling pins, and free electronics scrap
2. the best candy store in the city
3. any sort of scrap, actually! Cloth, metal, cardboard. Anything that's easily salvaged and repurposed.

And on that note, if anyone wants to perform small plays or musical numbers with me, or requires a stage technician or director, please let me know. Street performances are my forte, but I can also work on small stages and the like.

Thank you for your time :}

[worldbent]

Now, if we had some kindhearted souls in this clan willing to donate, I wonder if that wouldn't be a bad idea.

I bet we could make a big splash with an ice cream social.

/private/

[worldbent]

They are spreading easily enough on their own. Otherwise I certainly could not have known myself, hm?

text | un: ruimune

[hyperfix]

What sort of traffic does the Cloudy Wolf see during opening hours? Do they have a specific sort of genre for performances?



It's very reassuring to know that we can train physically, should we be so inclined. However, I doubt that I'd be an asset in that area, so you'll have to forgive me for focusing on that which I excel at.

[recluserose]

[Oh, how nice for one of the lieutenants to acknowledge her. The answer was detailed though a frown appears on her features as Matoba describes their leader as "flippant and easygoing." With those two traits, you never know what you're going to get at least in her experience.

... And a clan for those who are able to take control of their own fates? Amelia can't help but feel cynical about that, but it's neither here nor there.]

That's a decent explanation, thank you.
I will keep my eyes and ears out for their directives then.

For those of you with rank, I assume it means you've been here the longest or at least worked your way up over a period of time?

[beenwaitinglong]

[Oh, boy. If the Daitengu is interested in improvised incoherent witticisms, there's more where that came from for sure.]

Beggars can't be choosers, I suppose. I'm already lagging behind for the day. But I'll remember the name of that shop. [And become their new biggest customer.]

As for the rest, I wouldn't know where to begin my queries. Live and learn. Or die and learn, whichever applies to this particular purgatory.

Your name?

[medicative]

And they needn't spread with your aid. Do the newcomers really need to have you damage faith in their representatives so quickly?

[worldbent]

Their network name is 'ten-no-yachimata', should you wish to set a notification.

Yes, that's more or less the case. But don't let that deter you. Valuable contributions will be recognized, no matter how long you have been present. Merit is highly regarded in our clan.

By my estimation, it has been about 7 months since the first of us arrived.

video; un: daenthelm

[adversus]

So, soldier boy, you wouldn't mind if this old woman came to help you at Cloudy Wolf, would you? I'm working at the shelter right now, but I have enough spare time to volunteer my services to our good cause.

[worldbent]

Goodness, it is just a bit of humor at his expense, Dryer-san. Is our esteemed Sakamoto really that down on his luck? He didn't mention anything to me about it the last time we met.

Well. We were a little busy, I suppose. But if he is having so much trouble, all he need do is ask his fellows. EMBER is turning quite a profit these days, I hear.

[As if any of these morons would ever ask for help about anything but LOOK,]

[worldbent]

[.............Yeah, they're that kinda guy.]

The majority of us, it appears, are not dead. So you are correct on the first front, I hope.

I am one of your new Lieutenants, Matoba Seiji. Please, just Matoba is fine.

On the note of inquiries, we are in the process of producing a pamphlet with useful information for new recruits, but it is still in production. Apologies for that. Should you need assistance with other sources of food and drink, or with anything else, please feel free to reach out directly, or ask any of your fellows.

[beenwaitinglong]

[New best friend Daitengu.

Also there's a moment of internal chuckling at the mere idea he'd call this kid "Lieutenant" anything.]

Naturally.

Godot. Legendary prosecutor. Now generic legal counsel, from the sounds of it. Apparently, the Daitengu thought this ragtag little jamboree needed a lawyer.

Now then, what's the quickest route to getting paid? That coffee's not going to buy itself.

[recluserose]

Alright. Duly noted.
7 months is a long time away from home, isn't it?

[For her, time is not the issue necessarily. She wonders if it'll pass her by like before. But there are other people to take notice of and to look after now. It's different, not the same.]

[worldbent]

Legendary. Oh, my.

Your accounts, set up by the clan, will receive a regular deposit according to your newly recruited rank. That is to say, enough to get by. Should you desire additional income, you may of course take on additional employment.

I'm afraid prosecution positions would be held by the Department of Enma, so you are correct in assuming that you will be seeing the other side of the bench, if anything. But there are quite a few law offices under Sutoku's purview, although I would guess many focus in either real estate or business law. It may behoove you to get on your feet under one of those, and open your own practice when you have the finances to establish an independent practice.

I would not be able to point you towards the legal side of things. You may want to inquire with the Department at the Kaigou no Bou, but be prepared for quite a lot of paperwork. Although, as a lawyer, you are likely quite used to that already, right Godot-san?

un: godot

[beenwaitinglong]

It may be Hell, but it's no worse than the traffic in L.A., right?

Magic and psychics and yokai. Quite a bit to absorb, isn't it?