[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

[kaientai]

[ please don't unleash the robotpocalyse on hell, donatello, he has enough stress even if it would be cool. ]

Antiques?

[ 2010 is technically still the future to him in his mind, despite the time travel meaning he's seen past that before. you can take the man out of 1865... ]

Why, what year is it where you're from? I also know it's possible t' get just about anything, even from outside this world, so if ya can't find local, ya still got options. Could get a little pricey though, maybe, but that's the sorta thing I'm workin' on!

[worldbent]

Oh, a spear wielder? That certainly explains the username. We are gathering quite the variety of skillsets under our roof this month. Strife-san can handle the swordplay, but I do know a polearm user or two that I am sure you will be able to spar with.

As for myself, I am an archer. Kyūdo is not suited to the front lines of field combat, but I will be taking note of everyone's abilities so that I may contribute to aiding your abilities as best I can.

[The rest of it- the magic- can wait until they are all gathered in person. The less openly said, the better.]

Yes, it is as if the youkai were fascinated by modern Tokyo and sought to recreate a city in its image. Isn't it cute? I am aware of tales of youkai villages that are older fashioned, as in the days when they roamed the human world freely, but it was quite a surprise to see when I arrived.

They even use yen and have a conbini on every corner. Quite convenient, wouldn't you say?

[recluserose]

I'm a witch, so I know of all types of spells and I can cast many on myself.

Magic to fix eyesight is more effective on one's self than on someone else, however. Funny, that.

[worldbent]

Haha, "esteem" is not a word I would use for the sentiments given towards our Lieutenants in other territories. But certainly, no bottom-rung thug is going to chance picking a fight with another clan's Lieutenant.

What you speak of is also a sort of "power". Offensive strength is, of course, not the end-all. We aren't the Shuten.

Unfortunately, survival is always a balancing act. And if you are too low ranked to know it, that can be its own sort of mercy. It isn't as if living a normal and peaceful life is a bad thing.

[sacrilegiousact]

Sounds good. Guess I'll see you there.

[shikanoinheizou]

[Never forget!]

I'm right here.

[Heizou sends his current location - the street, which building he's outside of, and a photograph of said building for easier locating.]

I'll just wait, shall I?

[beariot]

They match up, for the most part, with what you'd expect to find over the skies of Japan in my world. I only had to make minor adjustments to my mapping of the visible heavens, here.

[beariot]

Well I haven't had any complaints so far.

[ He probably didn't mean her clients, but she was just going to move right along, regardless. ]

That being said, with the financial situation, my lack of economic knowledge catches up to me. I'm trying to improve myself, there.

[ It was certainly easier to get educated in that world than to improve her disastrous love life... ]

[beariot]

Of course. I'm always here to help...

[ It was the clearest road to healing that they had, for now... ]

[roombamastermind]

You know you can ask me for the same, yes?

[medicative]

You are one of them, professor.

[medicative]

You can message me to make an appointment, or walk in if the day is calm enough. Tuesdays tend to be fine.

[beariot]

[ ... In an ideal situation, she did know that. But the actual asking of it... if she really needed it, could she actually do that? Feel like she could reach for Croix again? That... she had less certainty about. But she could at least still answer with. ]

I know.

[ Knowing she could do so, and being able to do so, were two different things. Croix didn't need to be burdened with her hangups over it. Not right now. ]

[medicative]

When you know your own schedule, you can contact me and we'll put you on the books. You'll also be able to get to know the clinic itself, though we hope you won't see too much of us in the professional capacity.

[kaientai]

Yeah? Ya think so, huh?

[ the smirk, the emphasis in her words... clearly this is someone who intends to make her own fun. takes one to know one.

ryouma offers her a reassuring smile and a wave of his hand, dismissive as always about things you shouldn't be dismissive about. ]

Can't say I'm used t' havin' so much attention, but I don't mind it too much. This sorta thing comes with the territory; shakin' things up always makes waves. Truth be told, I wanted Iron Bear to make a move. Now we know whoever they are, they're the real deal.

[windfalling]

Well, here's the problem with that: I don't do astral readings. Wouldn't know where to start. Either you're going to have to teach me or we're going to have to take some creative liberties with this.

[beariot]

Well it's not as if I'd leave you on your own, there, Mr. Akiyama. I'm still a teacher, after all.

[softshoes]

...I'm honored to call you a friend, as well. The work at the clinic, how you have welcomed me as a colleague-- it's made all the difference in the short time I've been here. Thank you.

[rainswords]

[ He isn't delving into that side of the internet — now perhaps if he was a therapist there may be something they could do here. Alas, he is not. Nor am I. Actually what the heck am I typing... ]

It seems you've already cast me into the role of a strict tutor. Therefore it may be unavoidable. Well, let us see the results.

[windfalling]

That's a relief. I'm a little out of my element with some of this, you can probably tell. Which...is exactly why you made this offer. [ He chuckles. ] I think we'll make a good team, Ursula-chan.

[ She has to deal with that now. ]

[beariot]

[ The way she flinches at that... ]

J-just... Ursula, is fine, actually. Mr. Akiyama.

[fibrillate]

All right, here goes nothing.

[there's a brief period as they realize oh, no, they don't know which reading xingqiu uses. so they just, uh, try to wing it, with as much help as they can get from what is definitely a real dictionary app and not just frantic hell googling. when they come back, they have an image of two shakily-written characters. the stroke order is halfway off and the calligraphy is, uh, lacking. but they gave it their best shot.]

星球

How's that?

[roombamastermind]

[If nothing else, Croix seems to get the sense that she's being a bit too forward about this sort of thing. So she'll leave it there, for now, lest she appear to be trying too hard.]

[rainswords]

[ It's a good thing that Heizou didn't need prompting in swiftly sending over his location after that first text otherwise Xingqiu would have left him alone to figure that part out. Some people are strange, and not too quick on the uptake. He'll soon figure out just what kind of person he is dealing with, for now, Xingqiu slips some shoes on before heading out.

Right, maybe he should tell the guy he'll be seeing him soon. The question is there. He lets it sit a moment. Okay. ]

That'll do. It shouldn't be long before I arrived. Give me a minute. Or two.

Actually how about ten, that would be more accurate.

video; un: totokochan

[socute]

Oh! One of Cloud's friends, huh?

[ She does like her some Cloud. Granted, she knows it's completely superficial, but he's still been kind of a sweetheart. So the best she could do is get to know these friends of his. ]

We have quite a few bars around here. My friend could always find you a place at one, but I can never remember which one she works at.

I'm Totoko. Good to meet you, Tifa.