[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

[softshoes]

A forensic pathologist, to be precise, Mr. Godot. I've been operating as more of a traditional physician while in town, but the bulk of my experience tends towards patients who are a touch less lively.

[haha get it because the morgue.]

If you're available at the moment, I'd be happy to show you there myself, sir.

text; un: matoba

[worldbent]

Tifa-san. A friend of Cloud Strife? It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.

[Hi, Cloud. He's doing this out in the open so you can see it :) What a trustworthy guy your boss is, huh? Huh??]

My name is Matoba Seiji, a Lieutenant. Just Matoba is fine. Strife-san is acting as my second in command, so I suppose that we may get to know one another in the future. Have you also worked as a mercenary like Strife-san?

By the way, there are a number of bars in the city that are always looking for hands. Some within Sutoku, such as the karaoke bars. You may try the clan's flagship club 'Konoha' and see if they need any hires.

[semilethal]

[IMMEDIATE return of attention.] To put it simply, everything. Simpler mechanics -vehicles, heavy equipment, small and large engine, that's easy enough to pick up even if I'm unfamiliar with the build. Invention is my true passion, but alas. I'm limited by my environment.

[passthrough]

I mean, the rest kind of speaks for itself, doesn't it?

[Weird, maybe, to see a walking talking turtle... but there's weirder stuff in this place (like the giant robot), so it's a little easier to just accept it and move on.]

Sorry, sorry. I mostly focus on combat myself, so I guess it just felt the most interesting. I'm pretty sure most people put their old weapons down when technology started up. [Or, you know, threw them into the ocean. Japanese history. Hope Splinter's been on top of your lessons, guys.] It's kind of nice to see that's not the case.

[beenwaitinglong]

The law is my path, and coffee is my craft. My own particular brand of bitter black magic, you might say. [No, buddy... nobody but you would ever say that.]

Speaking of magic, humor me and let's say they didn't put a damper on yours. What, exactly, can you do with it?

[vivens]

Hello Mona, it's a pleasure to hear your voice.

[ he's say a pleasure to meet her but you know. voices verses video and etc. though that said he'll have a soft hum for a moment. ]

And, well, to put things in the simplest way—I can turn myself into fire. Under my current constraints, it's only parts of myself at a time.

[semilethal]

Of course not! It wouldn't accurately portray the scope of my expertise! [...] I suppose just 'scientist,' if we must limit ourselves.

So then, what kind of...artificing do you do? [that sounds like magic. please dont be magic, please...]

[beenwaitinglong]

Aren't we all, my reptilian amigo... aren't we all. [A sip of his coffee and a shake of his head.]

So would you say you're the type who can take something apart, figure out how it works, and put it back together?

[beariot]

There certainly is, but I think there's a certain draw to us being Lost Souls. Plus we're the only one around Konoha, our headquarters, so it wasn't like we had to compete for a customer base.

[psionicmolotov]

[ It's a logical next step to ask for more. He can't argue with that! ]

Here is the relevant information

The victim was taken during a festival
The culprit calls himself the Iron Bear and the victim's father allegedly angered him hence the kidnapping
They fled to the wastes outside the city
There has been no way to properly pursue the culprits that I know of

I do not doubt we will receive some orders along those lines in time
Possibly to investigate outside the city
But for now that is the state of things

Is that sufficient

[semilethal]

[do not think donnie missed that giant robot, he almost proposed then and there]

Oh. [LMAO DONNIE DID...EXACTLY THAT.] Well. I mean. The basics do make for a good foundation, I guess. [he did get better at fighting in general when he wasn't able to rely on his tech, but...damn he is still so much better at it when he can make big huge fuck you guns and just use those instead.] Tools are tools, right? In or out of combat.

[beariot]

[ She's so easy to tease, Akiyama, surely you'd prefer someone with more challenge. ]

Exactly. For the good of the Alliance, at any rate. Though I'll admit, financial broadcasts aren't exactly my strong end, but it's obvious this world turns on money a lot more heavily than the one I came from.

[beenwaitinglong]

Ha...!

[I mean, with him, close enough amirite]

I wouldn't pull you away from anything urgent. I'm still in the process of getting my bearings. [Read: first coffee machine up and running.] I was simply curious.

What sort of afflictions tend to happen upon these Lost Souls? One would think being in Hell would spare us the physiological concerns of a mortal body.

[semilethal]

No doubt. -with consideration to the tools I have on hand. Whatcha got for me?

[psionicmolotov]

Usually I create devices with a wide variety of effects for combat

Occasionally I duplicate existing ones for further use or study

Or modify items that already exist so they can serve extra purpose

I am not exactly an inventor but I do find it pleasantly challenging work

things that will be REALLY sad later in hindsight for 800, Alec

[passthrough]

[donnie did you throw your bo into the ocean]

Mn, that's right. Treat them well and they'll treat you well in return.

You sound pretty confident in being a scientist, though. I heard you mentioned repairs too, so... What kind of things do you work on?

private; text

[worldbent]

How is that coming along, by the way?

Anything that we will be able to use to our advantage out in the Wastelands? I will have my eye on our current black market intake for ingredients.

[semilethal]

[now
we
are
TALKING]

For combat, as in weapons? Do you have any designs on you? I have a few but I would love to trade notes, especially if you're familiar at all with overcoming the limitations of material acquisition here.

voice;

[softshoes]

As ever, we are in your capable hands, Doctor.

[afflatusexarch]

'Tis a start, if nothing else.

"Allegedly" means that there has not been confirmation either way, thus there is either insufficient evidence to the claim or nothing has been done to seek clarification. That, theoretically, would be a good first step forward as far as information gathering is concerned.

[ He's a scholar. G'raha is going to be... Approaching this like one as well. ]

Knowing what set these actions into motion could potentially create more leads. No matter what our "orders" may end up being, understanding motive is always beneficial. Attempting to understand what our opponent seeks to gain might also help our ability to resolve the situation with a variety of beneficial outcomes.

[beariot]

Well, a lot of things, but most of the time, it's to get some idea of what the future has in store for you, so you can prepare for it in some way.

Going back as far as ancient times, astral consultation was done for agriculture, for politics, economics, all sorts of things.

that UN I'm dying

[reresurrected]

Pizza?

[The name rings a bell... oh, that cheese and bread dish he's seen in restaurants before.]

I've never attempted it myself, but if I had a recipe and the proper ingredients I'm certain I could manage it. I can make potstickers if nothing else, so making a pizza version shouldn't be all that difficult.

[beenwaitinglong]

Well, as you're likely aware, our salaries as recruits don't leave much wiggle room. We find ourselves having to cut corners on certain things. But it takes pressure to make a diamond, and out of such restrictions rise moments of brilliance that would otherwise never come to be.

[He pauses, absolutely for dramatic effect.]

I happened upon a junk shop. And from within came the call of a captive beauty, imprisoned all alone in a forgotten corner.

[After all that drama and buildup, he clicks "send." The attachment is a picture of an antique espresso machine, with a few of the parts sitting alongside it, broken.]

Almost enough to make you cry, isn't it?

uh oh UH OH

[semilethal]

[no no no, just discarded it completely to make his own super fly military grade tech bo with 8 billion functions, he is p sure it was a stick and not a person.....probably]

Just about everything, though don't you dare ask me to delve too deep into geology. HAH. [god he's so funny]

[worldbent]

They are rather pricey, due to their perfection of the craft and the limited quantity. But I assure you it is well worth it.

The lines start fairly early in the morning, so don't delay.