jigokucho | [locked to sutoku alliance] video, un: levirage

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!))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[they look confused for a moment, then scroll to the end of the video that got posted before their face softens into a smile.]

Ah, I didn't realize my conversation with Ryouma made it on the end of this. Well, thank you for the vote of confidence, Heizou! I appreciate it. I've actually done some PR work in the past, but it hasn't been very... introductory in nature, we'll say. And I want to make sure to leave a good impression.

[they can only imagine what the other factions' posts might look like.]

[Heizou gives another easy smile to the reply, sinking down a little in the seat he's currently occupying.]

If you're looking for constructive criticism for the next time, you could be a mite less vague about us poor newbies knowing how these kidnapping situations play out. [He makes a vague gesture with one hand.] I know how situations like this tend to go, but not everyone has the benefit of my experience.

[The young man pauses a moment, then sits up straight with the phone held in both hands.]

Speaking of which... of that list of names you mentioned, who might be the one to benefit by being introduced to a renowned detective?

Ah, okay, okay. That does make sense.

[they reach down off camera and jot something down on a notepad that they have just to the side. perhaps some people aren't interested in taking suggestions seriously, but they're not one of them.]

Let's see... if I'm honest, I only know a handful of them personally. I only arrived here two months ago and I'm not a ranking member yet myself. The members I know—Cloud, Marie, Ydris, and now Ryouma—certainly wouldn't turn down a renowned detective such as yourself, I'm sure. But I would also reach out to the others to see if you can learn more. Marie and Cloud are more interested in the combat side of things, Ryouma does dealings, and Ydris is...

[they tap their chin.] Ydris is a lot, but in a good way.

[Look at him, helping to make a difference in the Alliance already. It's enough to make him feel all fuzzy inside. He listens to Levi speaking with a faint half-smile still on his face, curious and keen-eyed.

Combat isn't his wheelhouse. Though Cloud and Marie might be very interested in having him on-side once they saw his capabilities in a fight, they'd likely be sadly disappointed in his response should they ask.]

Tell me more about Ryouma and Ydris. If you'd be so kind.

[Levi is being vague, still... but Heizou is quickly getting the impression that this is just how they are. It's not always a bad thing, and he doesn't really mind needing to tease out the information that he wants. It gives him something to do with himself for the moment.]

I dislike sitting idle, so the sooner I can find something worthwhile to put my mind to here the better.

[ah, yes, they sort of anticipated this. if they're talking to a detective, naturally he's going to hone in on the ones that have the least amount of detail. they brace themself, trying to think of the best way to talk about two people who may very well be watching this conversation happening.]

Well, I've really only spent a lot of one-on-one time with Ryouma recently, to work on this announcement. But he has... I've learned he has sort of a history of deliberate antagonism. [shit-stirring, as someone else might say.] It's in service of the Alliance, certainly, but he doesn't seem like he takes his own health or safety into account with the gambits he makes. If he weren't actually coming through, I'd be much more concerned.

[they pause for a moment, considering the best way to discuss ydris.]

If you've used the Ember app, on the other hand, that's Ydris' creation. They use it to help bring all of us together, especially when it comes to any new Lost Souls. [they also use it, levi thinks, to gather as much information as possible, which is why they've opted out of anything that their dragon acquaintance might be requesting.] They're also a dragon, so please take care that you don't accidentally offend them like I'm pretty sure I've almost done on a couple occasions.

[With his own awareness that this is an open conversation, perhaps Levi would be grateful to know that Heizou does not intend to press them too much about the people he's asking about. He simply needs... a little more detail than he has, so he knows which of them he might be interested in approaching independently.

'Deliberate antagonism', though? That's a funny way to put it... and it gives Heizou another clue about the kind of person he's dealing with when it comes to Ryouma. That man just keeps getting more interesting all the time.]

A... dragon, was that? [So the idea of dragons existing is not strange to Heizou. They have, and do exist in Teyvat after all, but...] Is there a specific way of speaking to Ydris that I should keep in mind?

Well, Ydris has described the dragons to me as "gods of their world", so that might be a good place to start. I don't know if they consider themself a god of this world, but...

[they haven't really had too many conversations with ydris, all told. so they don't know what level of reverence, if any, is actually... appropriate.]

I'm not sure. I don't think they're seeking any sort of, ah, obsequiousness. But they likely wouldn't object to some more respectful tones when you approach them.

'Gods', huh.

[He does sound curious about that. When it comes to gods he really only has experience with one, and despite his tendency to be flippant and bold about most things he would certainly not cut back on his good manners if he found himself standing before the Raiden Shogun.]

I think I have a good idea of how to behave. We have gods where I come from, too.

[And if all else fails... Heizou is bold enough to simply ask.]

Thanks for the warning. I'd hate to be on the wrong side of a dragon so soon.

Ah, then you have me at an advantage. [they might as well be honest about that.] The only things we have that are similar to gods where I'm from are... well, corporations. Not to say that people really do worship them as gods, but they certainly have all the powers of one.

And if I'm honest, Ydris has been much kinder and more understanding than someone of their stature might suggest. I don't think you'll have much to worry about. Just—[they stop themself, and they think several things all at once. and they redirect.]

Just be careful about reading Ember's EULA. [pronounced as one word.]

[locked to sutoku alliance] video, un: levirage

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject