[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

video; un: tifa lockhart

[starshower]

[Well, this was a nice little welcome among all of the other things going on. Tifa isn't quite sure what to say, and she looks a little nervous on video (she really should have stuck to texts like some of the others), but as they say, or as she's said many times in the past: it's all about making connections.

So here she is with a crooked but friendly smile and a little wave of her fingers to match.]

Um, hi everyone.

[She's so good at this. Former bartender and she can't even get up and speak in front of all these people over a smartphone. Please bear with her a moment.]

Thanks for the welcome. I'm Tifa, from Midgar. [Her face lights up a moment.] A friend of Cloud's, and Aerith! ... If you know them. Anyway. [ ... ] Currently looking for work, so if you know anyone looking for a bartender, or even to anyone wanting to learn some martial arts, I'd appreciate any recommendations you've got. Or, if anyone needs help with just about anything. Just something to keep busy, you know?

It's nice to meet you all.

voice \ un: bootyyyshaker9000

[semilethal]

[congrats tifa u get the question because u give off a mom/big sis vibe] Inquiry. There are...a lot of offers from people here to teach various skills associated with indiscriminate butt kicking. Do you know if that needs to happen with ummm, regularity? Here?

-have you heard of the Battle Nexus?

voice;

[starshower]

[And so it goes...! She tends to give off that impression.]

From what I've heard, it can. Might be helpful to know regardless, you never know when you might need it.

[It's certainly come in quite handy for her in the recent weeks, both here and at home.]

But no, I've never heard of it. What is it?

voice;

[semilethal]

Just this arena where sometimes-kidnapped, sometimes-not individuals of martial prowess are forced to battle to their crowd-pleasingly timely demise. But it's probably not here. No worries. [no like, still some worries donnie]

Just that there seems to be a real emphasis in learning how to fight with uh, y'know. Weapons. Specifically swords and things. Usually if someone wanted to just defend themselves they'd get a gun.

[starshower]

[No, definitely lots of worries there, bud.]

Well, there's nothing wrong with wanting to know how. Weapons could come in handy, but that's not really my style. More of a hand-to-hand kind, myself.

But in a place like this, you never know, you know?

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.

text

[starshower]

[Ah, a fellow friend of Cloud's! :D]

It's nice to meet you too, Matoba. I'll be sure to take a look at Konoha later.

[But first...]

Me? Merc? No, but I did get him around when he was looking for work back in Midgar. We turned him into the talk of the town.

[worldbent]

[Friend.. yeah... that...]

Oh? That sounds like a very interesting story indeed. And just what was the gossip about Strife-san, if I may ask?

[starshower]

If I tell you, you have to promise to keep it a secret. He might come for me if he ever found out.

[Nah. He wouldn't, but she will spare him the embarrassment of finding out she told everyone about how he won the hearts of Sector Seven.]

video; un: peter

[maturedecisions]

[ there's something about her kind aura that sort of attracts peter to her — he's a teen and one that's always thrived on having those important mentor-like connections. it's kind of soothing? in a subconscious sort of way.

the martial arts mention absolutely seals the deal that he'd like to get to know her, but he can't just up and ask about that, either, so he instead files it in the back of his mind for later. he's still not entirely sure the extent to which his powers have been debuffed here (though he's sure it's quite a bit), but he'd still rather not blow his cover as 'normal nerdy teenage boy' so easily.

so, his video pops on in response, smiling back at her and waving, albeit a little awkwardly as one normally does when meeting someone new. ]

Uh, hey, Tifa! I'm Peter. From Queens. [ if that... means anything to her.

though he didn't quite think through what he'd say next and he literally has nothing to offer her oh no. ]

Sorry, I'm new here myself, so there's probably not much I can help you with. [ he scratches behind his neck a little awkwardly with his free hand, taking the moment to stall before he suddenly has an idea. ] —Wait! I guess I could help you look for a bar to work at? I mean, I'm not old enough to drink so I couldn't really go in, probably, but that doesn't mean I can't figure out what a bar looks like, right? [ he waves his hand in some kinda explanatory way. ] Could use it as a way to get to know what else the place has to offer too, so... I mean... That's only if you wanted to! So, uh... yeah.

[ awkward child. ]

[starshower]

[It's okay. They can wave awkwardly together.

She's patient as she lets him work through his (very) long greeting. He reminds her Cloud, a little, though a bit more on the nervous, chatty side than just nervous. If Cloud were the talkative type, she thinks this might be it, so there's something warm about her smile that's bloomed by the time he's finished, and at first, all she can do is giggle.

This is so sweet?!]

I wouldn't be much of a chaperone if I let you walk right into bars, but I wouldn't say no to some company. I don't quite know my way around Sutoku just yet, but two heads are better than one. You could watch my back, make sure I'm not getting into anything shady.

[Though she doubts that she will, but this seems like the kind of place where "you never know" is something that will always linger in the back of her mind.]

[maturedecisions]

[ oh thank goodness the reception is warm. he may have been slightly worried for a moment there. he's not the best at these things. he's either going to go the awkward or the trying to be cool route. speaking of which. ]

Oh! Oh, yeah, I could do that! Totally! [ his eagerness to help others is palpable. ] You walk into a dark alley and I'll be right there to turn you back around! [ heheh... ] You're not... prone to doing that, are you?

[ look he has a tiny baby fraction of his spidey powers and he really wants to be able to protect her but part of him is also kind of worried. trying to be cool and reliable but he's never really able to 100% project that. ]

[starshower]

Me? No. I'm not much of a magnet for trouble.

[She's usually the one who has to diffuse it. Though, she's not sure how well she'll do avoiding it in a place like this.]

The city I'm from had its fair share, so I think I'll be okay.

Video | un: Tsukuyomi

[blackabyss]

[Hello Tifa, don't mind the very bird-ike face looking back at you from the screen.]

You are a friend of Cloud's? I see. It is nice to meet you, Tifa-san. I am Fumikage Tokoyami. While I may not be formally trained in martial arts, I know my way around combat and would be happy to spar with you, should you need.

[starshower]

[Well, a talking bird??? certainly isn't the strangest thing she's ever seen—hello Red XIII—but it's definitely a start when she first sees him. It doesn't last very long, of course, and she offers a warm smile in greeting.]

Cloud's really been making his way around, hasn't he?

[She's so proud of him...]

But I wouldn't say no to a few sparring partners when the time comes. I'm guessing there's no shortage of places to go for this around here. Seems like there's a lot of us.

[blackabyss]

[Honestly, her reaction is on the tamer side. She's not the first to be surprised by his appearance.]

He is well known in the Alliance. That's what happens when one becomes as high-ranked as he is.

[Still, it's nice to meet a friend of Cloud's! He offers a nod.]

That is true, though Cloud has recently set up a dedicated training area for Alliance members. If you are looking for a training ground close to home, that is your best bet.

video;

[adversus]

Oh! A friend of that soldier boy, are you? It's so nice to meet a friend of his!

[She notes Tifa's name, but hones in on the bartender bit, but also the martial arts bit as well.]

Just so you know, I'll keep note of your bartender skills if I ever need a drink, but I would love to spar, or exercise with you sometime. Especially with Cloud opening up his new place here.

[starshower]

Likewise.

[Don't mind the surprise on her face. It's nice to know that Cloud's managed to find and make plenty of friends around here on his own...]

I heard about that. Cloudy Wolf, right? [The name still makes her giggle.] Was thinking of finding a place there for myself too, so if you ever need a buddy on the mat, I can be there.

[Her head tips, curious.]

What kind of exercises are you looking for?

[adversus]

That's right! You wouldn't happen to know why it's named that, would you? It's kind of funny, coming from that soldier boy.

[She just wants more ammunition to tease Cloud, honestly.]

Perfect. It looks like we'll all get... What do the kids say these days? "Swole"? Together.

[There's a pause in between, and she hums to herself in thought. Quietly noting that Tifa could possibly be a good sparring partner, or someone to do weight training with. Everything just sounded good, but she would have to just choose one for now.]

Was thinking about some weight training to start with. I don't have my usual magic with me, so I gotta practice with the weights again. Gotta build my muscle, and keep my normal strength up.

video | un: kitsuragi

[aceslow]

[ Kim looks, perhaps, a little less stoic and a little more pleased than he would be ordinarily. ]

Nice to meet you, Tifa. My name is Kim Kitsuragi, from Revachol -- not that I expect you've ever heard of it. It's good to see another one of Cloud and Aerith's friends here. [ Maybe she can help them keep out of trouble... but probably the opposite. ]

I think you'll have some good luck in finding a bartending job. Bars here are a dime a dozen. It just depends on what sort of bar you're looking to work at.

[starshower]

[She will try her best, but it's a tall order when it comes to those two. At any rate, she's lighting up again at the mention of them.

But she does laugh, not at him, but more at herself.]

Well, the dream would be a bar of my own. Nothing like being your own boss... but I figured I'd have to start somewhere.

[aceslow]

Give yourself a few months for that. Though that's something you and Aerith have in common as well, I suppose -- she just opened up her own shop too. [ It took a while. And some magical flower powers, which probably helped matters some. ]

But you're in the right clan for it. Our higher-ups tend to be receptive to clever enough business ideas, though they'll probably ask that you fill some niche that's gone largely unmet. Is that what you did back home? Run a bar?

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.

[starshower]

There seems to be a lot of those around here. I've got a few recs, but I'm always looking to keep my options open, so if you find out from your friend, let me know.

[Never, ever just give yourself the one option! Lesson number three... or something.]

You know Cloud too, huh? ... Seems he's made quite a few friends around here. How do you know him?

[socute]

Oh, I met him on EMBER. And we had drinks later. Oh, and I watched him perform!

[ All of these statements, just true enough! Even if nothing saucy happened. ]