[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

voice; un: skewer

[passthrough]

[Oh NO the accent on that man in the back. With what he knows from Hizen, what he recently knows from Ember, and what he knows about Ryouma's sword who draws out the Tosa accent like the rent is due, he feels confident taking a guess.]

I take it one of our lieutenants is with you, huh? Sakamoto-san, maybe?

Ah, still-- thanks, Levi. [Rip Ryouma getting slapped with an honorific.... it's fine, don't worry about it.] If Tanabata just happened, that means we're still in the heat of summer, right? Or, uh... does time not work quite the same?

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?

voice;

[passthrough]

[Skewer-san? Oh. Oh, that's right, he didn't give a name, did he.]

Nothing too impressive, sorry to say. I heard of Sakamoto-san from another member of the city -- [Outside of, you know, History Really Liking Him but that's not his place to say.] -- and saw out on the machinery earlier that he was in Sutoku with the rest of us. A teammate of mine back home is from Tosa, so the accent sounded similar. I just took a guess from there.

Ahh, autumn then. Alright, I think I've got it. Can't really blame anyone for feeling disoriented around here, but at least some parts are a little familiar.

[A beat. This feels so wrong, really, given their normal state of affairs, but Hizen HAD said that some people knew what they were here. Maybe he should just get used to having to spill with his name.]

Sorry, ah.... guess I should have introduced myself, though, right? Hahah.

Skewer-san is fine if you really want, but you can call me Otegine otherwise.

[worldbent]

A teammate from Tosa, hm? [Well that certainly makes it obvious. Yeah how 'bout that history--] Sakamoto-san has been quite busy with securing our clan's interests in the face of an inter-clan scuffle, so I am not surprised by that. As the history books say, he is a master negotiator. Even I learned of him, growing up.

The pleasure is mine, Otegine. I am Matoba, one of your other Lieutenants.

Since you are familiar with Tosa and Sakamoto-san, I will guess that you are from Japan as well? It would be appreciated if you could assist with helping any of your fellow new arrivals in acclimating to any questions they may have about the city or its youkai, as many are not accustomed.

Do you have any particular talents which you would like to contribute to the clan, Otegine-san?

[passthrough]

Mn. They're not here, unfortunately, but I guess it's an interesting reminder. [Though at least this guy seems to be more than willing to drop Ryouma's status of a historical figure, so maybe Ryouma's more open about this than he thought. Hm. Gonna have to save that for later.

There's a pause as he finished reading through the wall of text. An audible hesitation passes over the voice recording, his laugh quiet and uncomfortable, but he shakes it off rather fast.]

I am, though I can't say I've had as much experience with youkai as most people. I can chime in with what I know, sure, but I mainly work in combat.

[worldbent]

[Yeah he talks a lot.......]

I see. In that case, I would encourage you to attend the training sessions that my second Cloud Strife will be holding this month. If nothing else, you may be able to help teach your fellow Alliance recruits whose combat abilities are not as strong.

Shoring each other's weaknesses up is a large part of our clan's ideology.

[It's interesting that he notes the teammate is not here. Not Hizen? ... Perhaps not as simple as he thought. If Otegine shows up at that training, he'll have to ask in more detail.]

[passthrough]

[That, at least, gets him to puff up his chest a bit. YEAH! SPARRING! TRAINING! HE CAN DO THAT!]

Can do. I might not be the best teacher for anything like swordplay. But if there's anything I can't be beat at, it's my aim with a spear. If I can help, I'll do my best.

[His one and only talent, really.]

Ah... say, Matoba-san, you're from Japan too, right? Would you say this is place is similar to home? [Like. Outside the obvious hell part.]

[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?

[passthrough]

Ahahah, well... if I can be a sparring partner at the absolute least, I hope it's of use.

Archery has its place, for sure. Though, I do think you're being modest about it. I would have had plenty of comrades lost to stray blades if archers hadn't peppered down numbers.

[A modern Tokyo... is this what modern Tokyo really looked like? With so many buildings and colors and people... well, he supposes it depends what "modern" means for Matoba. But prying is out of the question - no need to open that can of worms.]

Well, plenty of spirits are based off of the legends and emotions that the living pass along, right? At least for me, it makes sense that the world those spirits would shape would be a reflection of the living Japan they most remember... Maybe even the Japan that most remembers them?

But who's to say.

[worldbent]

[Oh? So this one is familiar with combat on an actual battlefield. There were a number of... time-displaced individuals in this city, so he couldn't be sure whether it was a case of that, or some long-lived ayakashi (or both?). But interesting to note.]

[Equally interesting as to this fellow's observation.]

Yes, that seems to make the most sense, doesn't it?

And yet, in the modern age, spirits are dying out so rapidly and are hardly seen in the urban centers. At least where I am from, they don't seem to like human modernity. That is why it was so surprising.

But I suppose, given time, perhaps they too could adapt to our new, neon shadows.

[passthrough]

Who knows. It's not like we're short on ability to ask them, in a place like this. Though, ah, not sure how productive that would be upfront.

[No need to encourage some poor stranger to go ask a random youkai on the street about why they built their city like this and to end up offending someone on accident.]

Do you deal with the spiritual very often, Matoba-san?

[worldbent]

[...Who's got two thumbs and no tact.... Well, Matoba could just ask but it'll just devolve into negging, as presumed, so--]

Yes. You could say I am quite familiar.

I am an exorcist by trade.

[Haraeya is the word he uses; a practitioner of Shinto purification.]

[passthrough]

Exorcist?

[MILD... MOMENT OF CONCERN... but those that practiced Shinto were normally pretty respectful of them in their space. Normally. Please don't let this be another Sadachika situation he might cry.]

A...a-ah, right. That makes sense! If spirits are really dying out, it would take somebody like that to be able to stay attuned to the changes, right?

Man, though... A place like this must be a weird way to look at your work.

[worldbent]

[Normally :)]

That's right. As time goes on and the people forget, it causes all sorts of problems. Stray spirits mad with hunger as offerings dry up. Gods lost to madness, corruption, or simply taking their leave.

Of course, the upside is that most people do not take notice of this. I suppose you could say that it is our role to ensure it stays that way, but it isn't as if the decline has not affected our bloodlines, as well.

The land of the dead, or the city of ayakashi? Yes, you could certainly say that for both.

[passthrough]

Well... at least for the moment, I imagine it must be to your benefit in a way. You are lieutenant, after all. [Whether that's through good or bad means is impossible to guess, but he's rather err on optimistic.] And I'm sure plenty would be lost without the kind of insight someone like you would have, right?

Even if it might be a rough reminder, I hope you've found a niche in it that works for you.

[worldbent]

[Matoba can't help but give a low chuckle behind his screen.]

Our boss certainly seems to think so, anyway. And calling that into question would be to question their wisdom and insight, now wouldn't it?

Thank you for your thoughtful words, Otegine-san.

[passthrough]

Ahahah... N-no, ah, no need for the thanks. Really, I'm just glad there's all different sorts around to help take care of those of us just getting used to everything.

Speaking of, though... do you hear from the Daitengu often? What kind of a leader are they?

[Because surely the opinion of an exorcist won't be biased in this regard.]

[worldbent]

Oh, you will see their messages now and again. They are a rather casual and easygoing sort, so don't feel shy about greeting them or popping in to Konoha from time to time.

Of course, as with any mask, there is sure to be much more hidden beneath. It wouldn't be fun any other way, would it?

[There really is no good way to describe the Daitengu. You just have to experience them for yourself (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧ ]