[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

[nightcalled]

Oh, Nazuna? She's... energetic. Kinda overwhelming. But I like her a lot.

[ Kou rubs the back of his head. ]

I don't think I can really say what all vampires are like, though. They're... people. Just like us.

[worldbent]

Not the exciting sort, I'm afraid.

[He could detail where all that money and managing goes to, buuuuut... she'll find out soon enough....]

Ahaha, please, if you ever need assistance with funding for a project, or resources, feel free to reach out to me. I am always willing to give a hand to a good idea.

[lucky_e]

Yes, them. Entirely mechanical, unlike me.

[At least she's rather certain they are. Given the way they had described themselves, she wasn't entirely certain of that. But then again, she's technically the personification of a machine herself and from another dimension as well.

The concept isn't that hard for her to wrap her head around.]

Perhaps in the future more will show up.

[semilethal]

More like them, or more like you? [waves a hand at his camera, not that he has video on so she can even see it] I'm just curious.

[lucky_e]

Both, and maybe some that might be different.

There are sorts of people here from different backgrounds, after all. There's bound to be other beings based around machinery that are either here, or will show up in the future.

[semilethal]

Why? Is your whole situation common where you're from?

[lucky_e]

It is, not every ship has been awakened like me. But there are plenty that have been back home.

[semilethal]

That's bizarre. Was it unusual before your awakening? A mass phenomenon that granted sentience to previously inanimate objects? [the whole 'if walls could talk' thing was sometimes cited as cause to investigate whether or not residual kinetic energy and neurological electricity could actually affect physical objects, but that was so far into the 'woo-woo' side of science that donnie didn't bother to touch it.

...that was before the hidden city and mystic powers and energy came into the picture, though. maybe he shouldn't be so quick to dismiss it.]

[hyperfix]

Right? Every scientist needs his own Igor, at least for a little while. And we'd learn more about each other, so it's beneficial in the end.

[That's a very good point, however. Rui taps his knuckle against his chin, lips twisting in thought.] True...Considering what's on the line, my initial thought of a simple secure space with workbenches and tools might be a little too basic. Include all of that, but definitely soldering and metallurgy equipment, since we have that in common. Perhaps at least the look of our own space, our own specialties? And balloons don't count for me, since they're far too easy to obtain. I'm thinking a roll of plotter paper, while we're at it.

Also, a mini-fridge.

Just in case we get thirsty on the job.

[sacrilegiousact]

[Another shady mentor to teach him skills needed to overthrow gods. Must be a day ending with Y. He's still carefully neutral but he does nod in the affirmative.]

I'd be interested in that, for both magic and combat and whatever else you teach. Training's always useful.

[Especially if he doesn't have access to his powers, he's going to want to compensate with other skills.]

[fibrillate]

[drifting autumn. it's a pleasant reading. they consider it, and they commit it to their memory for any future conversations with xingqiu. (if they plan to keep learning from their superior officers, they doubt this will be the only time they speak.) they smile once they've memorized it.]

Yes, I think we're all a little bit past wishing we'd paid better attention in school. [and if he wants to believe that they're talking about school, all the better.] The best lessons any of us can put into play now are the ones we learn here, within the Alliance and within Hell itself.

[the smile turns just a little conspiratorial.] And don't worry, I won't sit here and bear you any ill will for what was honestly a pretty good joke. But this does mean that I can now try to get you back.

[worldbent]

Hmm... yes. [Matoba tilts his head, thoughtful.] ... That ...thing inside Emily-san is not overly fond of me. [Understatement. Mutual.] Perhaps if you were to approach her to offer some of the ingredients and chat over their uses, she would take it with less suspicion. Of course, I think that she is aware I am working on a project of this nature, but she doesn't seem inclined to interfere for the time being.

I would like to keep it that way. [He doesn't want to hear any idealistic hand-wringing about morals getting in the way of this work. The Alliance could not defend itself with business leverage alone.]

[But that business settled, Matoba considers the topic of.. that door. It would be best not to let anyone hear them talking about it too much...] Yes, it is real. Deep in the bowels of the kappa's offices and pipeworks. It is a simple industrial door with no keypad, or lock, or a spell that I could perceive sealing it- nor anything else that would appear to be used to secure it. And yet, it is impossible to budge.

I hear that in the time shortly after the Enma relinquished the tunnels after their interrogations of the kappa clan, after the bodies of their Lieutenants were discovered and cleaned up, a small group investigated the premises and found evidence that there had been an attempt to get into the door, but it didn't seem any had managed to get inside. And so it remains a mystery...... just what that is.

...But, I did ask the boss about that...

[Matoba's eye glints, dangerously amused.]

[starshower]

If he has, then I have no idea. I've known Cloud since we were kids and he's always been a bit shy. Guess I just never imagined he'd do something so... um, bold.

[And it's a little awkward for her to think about, especially when she remembers how he'd been in Sector Seven when they first reunited again...]

[starshower]

Something like that. But if you think that just because you're a rookie that I'm going to go easy on you, then you've got another thing coming.

[A wink.]

Kidding. I promise. Just make sure you do some training on your own before then. And lots of stretches.

[starshower]

Good to know.

Was worried that once I got signed to a contract, I'd have to stay within Sutoku or someone might have my head for it.

[starshower]

I have a feeling you'll be hearing from me sooner than we both think. Or that's the hope, anyway.

Already thinking about some new business ventures around here, but I know it'll be a bit...

[worldbent]

Oh? Planning to attend Strife-san's training sessions, by any chance? I would be happy to see you there if you will join us.

My inbox is always open. If you can't find a bit of work, in bartending or otherwise, drop me a line.

[nightcalled]

Good enough for me.

[semilethal]

But of course. A mini-fridge is essential. [Donnie rubs his own chin briefly, which must be a sign of genius considering they both did it.] All right, I accept your terms! May the most resourceful man win.

[hyperfix]

A pleasure doing business with you, Donatello. Not that I intend on being a sore loser, but it certainly won't be a steamroll victory, fufu~

[socute]

You know, that one movie? Or, I guess it was a book first? A love story between a human girl that everybody loved and a gloomy vampire with a hot face... there's a shirtless werewolf too!

[ You know, that one! ]

[nightcalled]

Ah... no, sorry. I don't remember.

[ Look, the movie came out basically the year he was born. ]

[socute]

You don't?! But-- it was popular, I--

I'm not old, okay?!

[ HE DIDN'T SAY THAT?! ]

[nightcalled]

...eh? How old are you, Yowai-san?

[ There might be some time chicanery going on here, because he's also from like 2022. ]

[socute]

[ Long.

Long.

Pause. ]

S...seventeen.

[ Now she's lying?! ]