[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

[fullgauntlet]

You might be right.

[He frowns...]

Either way, as soon as there's an action that we can take I want to take it. In the meantime, I wonder if I can poke around the Enma office.

[fullgauntlet]

I think it's impressive! There's no need to discount any skills you have! Even creative ones! It's amazing, either way!

[He'll continue to be a cheerleader.]

You're welcome. And if you have any questions I can try to help. I hope we can work together soon!

[vivens]

[ there's a moment of silence before sabo just starts laughing. it's not one of mocking but more of shock that doesn't overstay its welcome and his voice is warm when he finally speaks. ]

I won't need any kind of compensation; we're both part of the Sutoku Alliance, aren't we? Not to mention, both new here in this city.

If you need someone to come sneaking around with or do some undercover work for you, then all you have to do is ask.

[dressedtothe]

[Oh.]

I see.

But if your work is good and practical, that shouldn't matter. It seems like a weird reason to hold up progress.

[recluserose]

It's a good thing this exchange is over audio because Amelia's cheeks flush at his laughter.

Hn.

I believe in paying people for their work, especially if it presents a clear and present danger to themselves.

But if you insist.

[She sniffs.]

I will call upon your services if need be.

[semilethal]

A bio-computer. [he chooses to believe this over...whatever else] That's not too far-fetched, I guess.

[vivens]

And I believe that sometimes there isn't a need for that when the end goal is mutually beneficial. For someone like me, the danger could be seen as a bonus.

[ another soft laugh. he just can't help himself when dealing with someone like this. ]

I'll look forward to your call, Amelia, but also don't think that this means you can't reach out for something more casual as well.

[heartsnatcher]

I kind of like that, honestly. It's not a bad philosophy.

But yes, the same goes for me! I don't have much yet, but if you ever need information or something, feel free to contact me too. I hope we get along, Ms. Steinbeck!

[lucky_e]

That might be a good description, yes.

[As opposed to some sort of weird energy source that bends probability and space-time. Among other things.]

I take it you like machines.

-> action

[psionicmolotov]

Those terms are entirely fair

I will deliver them to you at the temple then

[ True to his word, the next morning he shows up at the temple with a meticulously copied-out book of records and a few nondescript vials, tucked away discreetly within his clothing. Dressed as an inhabitant as he is, he looks more or less like just another yokai employee, here on business.

It takes him a little while to locate Matoba on the temple's grounds. When he does, he moves deliberately, letting his footsteps be heard, but doesn't call out. ]

[socute]

Huh? Normal. Like... you know. Normal. Common? Uh, usual?

[nightcalled]

Right, I know that. But... what does normal really mean? What's actually normal? Normal to you? Normal to me?

[kaientai]

Hehe, well, I try! Plenty of people would say you're the smart one for not trustin' everybody ya meet, but all I can do is work with whatever I'm given. Just gotta trust myself and make sure I'm prepared and the rest'll sort itself.

[ it also helps that he's honest and gives ground easily in a debate. unless he feels disrespected in which case he will be stubborn to a fault. ]

Kaberou's strategy doesn't make a whole lotta sense t' me, [ possibly because he's trying to look at it as a strategy in the first place... ] but I figured maybe that's 'cause I ain't a parent. Puttin' that kinda money on the line, stirrin' up every unsavoury character in the city? Either he's on t' something or he's desperate. Not sure which would be better...

[ it's obviously something he's been trying to puzzle out for a while, which is why he'll have another talk with the guy in the future to look forward to, at least. ]

I could definitely use the help shorin' everything up around here either way though. Even if nothing big happens there might still be trouble; can't blame anyone for seein' an opportunity and takin' it, but we already know we've got major enemies out there who're gunnin' for the city. Pretendin' like that ain't the case is askin' for it.

[ and he's sure there's plenty of people with tunnel vision who are doing exactly that and ryouma has experience being one of the few getting ready for a storm that's less of an if and more of a when. ]

The friend thing's the easy part!

[sacrilegiousact]

Why the Enma specifically? I didn't know they had any involvement with this whole thing.

[socute]

You know, like... just how something is! I don't drink blood or do magic, so that's normal.

[nightcalled]

Right, but there are people here who think magic is normal! And for vampires, drinking blood is totally normal, too. Something that's out of the ordinary becomes... routine, eventually.

[socute]

For vampires, nothing about them's normal. Drinking blood is gross!

...but, I know someone who thinks magic makes sense, so there's just a lot of you that think that way.

[nightcalled]

Right, they're not your normal. But the vampires find blood normal. And they think it's tasty. So... who's right?

Private;

[localweirdo]

Is that so? Then I wouldn't mind speaking to you about it for another time for I am curious to see how your skills are different from Chongyun. I am no stranger with disposing of dead bodies but it is something I would much rather not deal with.

I certainly hope you weren't planning on doing that any time soon.

[socute]

Probably the ones who don't think blood's tasty?!

[ kou what in the hell ]

[nightcalled]

We eat parts of other animals all the time, though. Some people even make something called... blood pudding? I think?

[ Look, he's just thinking here. Asking the important questions. ]

Is it that different?

[socute]

Yes it's different. You know--

[ ........

Don't lose an argument to a child, Totoko-chan. ]

It just is!

Private;

[worldbent]

Is that so? I certainly don’t mind another demonstration. Although you have already gotten a bit of a look at how my clan subjugates misbehaving spirits, haven’t you?

Of course, no one hopes to have need of that. But I don’t prefer to work based on hope, but preparedness.

[nightcalled]

I don't think it is. It's just weird to us because we're not used to being the ones being fed on!

[ He's too chipper about this. ]

Which is understandable, but I don't think that necessarily means it's... you know... not normal. Whatever normal ends up meaning.

[starshower]

Does it? I wouldn't have guessed.

So what about you? If Cloud's your second in command, what exactly does the first in command do?