[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

[beenwaitinglong]

Ha...! [On the bright side, maybe he's used to it.] Worth a try.

Let's skip the rest of the wrong guesses, and I'll let you fill me in.

[semilethal]

[the need to correct someone wrong wars with his desire to blow off someone wasting his time..........correcting someone else wins as it usually does]

Mutant turtle-man, if you truly are that curious. Are you part cyborg?

[beenwaitinglong]

Yeah, see. Never would have guessed that. [Another very casual sip.]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but does "cyborg" not imply one is part flesh and part machine? Is there truly a way for anyone to be "full cyborg?" [He's just getting off on the best foot ever here, isn't he?]

[semilethal]

[STOP BEING WRONG AND/OR ANNOYING] Is that a detachable cosmetic feature on your face, is it detachable but functional, or is it permanently affixed?

[beenwaitinglong]

[NO]

Technically, all facial features are detachable. But that's a bit gruesome, don't you think? [As though he's not the one who brought it up.]

If you must know, all men wear masks... whether on their faces or over their hearts.

[semilethal]

Mhm I see. [SO HE'S JUST STUPID THEN. donnie is going to go back to scrolling thru his phone. he has to get rid of his bad selfies, which is going to be most of them since he doesn't have his selfie stick here]

[beenwaitinglong]

[Seemingly unprompted, a while later:]

So you're a mechanic, are you? What do you work on?

[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.

[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?

[semilethal]

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

[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?

[semilethal]

[look, as one dramatic effect guy to another...............he hates u]

Oh. An appliance.

[SIGHS, but still opens up his project spreadsheet to start blocking off some time.] Save your tears. That's a gradeschool repair. I can have it done by Friday. [but is he allowed to modify it to double as a weaponized robot assistant]

[beenwaitinglong]

[And as an insufferable troll..... he loves you, Donnie.]

Good to hear, good to hear... but what about her four pretty sisters?

[Next picture: four other coffee machines of various shapes and sizes, all antiques, all busted. One the size of a small child.]

[semilethal]

[............HM] If you're doing resale, I want a cut.

[beenwaitinglong]

Are you kidding? I wouldn't let five such beautiful ladies walk away on another's arm. I'm keeping them.

Of course I'll pay for parts and labor. And, if you're so inclined, a little sample of my own black magic.

[semilethal]

[this dude seems like enough of a freak to actually mean that he does want five fkn espresso machines in his house so ok, hell yeah if he's gonna pay for it]

Alright, deal. I'll send you my rate sheet and options for pickup and delivery. You will have your darlings in two weeks' time.

[beenwaitinglong]

[Buddy, you have no idea...]

You take good care of my little babies, now. I've grown quite attached to them already. [Also spent literally his entire first paycheck on them. What he didn't already budget out for daily coffee, of course. what's food]

You staying at the Sutoku housing? I'm probably just down the hall.

1/2

[semilethal]

Please. I'm a professional.

One sec.

[semilethal]

[there, deets delivered]

Text me back your addy and I'll come get them later.

[beenwaitinglong]

Done and done, amigo.

A pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Donatello. [Not actually sorry about the prodding though.]

[semilethal]

Ditto. [the business part. ONLY the business part was a pleasure, you pain in the ass]