[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

[windfalling]

Is this your way of asking me for money?

[ He's joking, really. ]

[beariot]

N-not at all. [ A joke, but still enough to throw her off her groove. ]

More that I think our pursuits compliment one another.

[windfalling]

Don't let me get to you like that, I might keep teasing you.

[ He smiles. It's a little hard to get a read on him. ]

And you're right. I wouldn't mind teaming up. Supporting each other's ventures is a better way to ensure success.

[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.

[windfalling]

[ Sometimes an easy target is fun, okay? ]

I guess that's where I come in then, huh? This place isn't much different from where I'm from, so I can get you the tips you need. Or is that cheating?

[beariot]

Well, I can get you the astral readings, but you'll probably need to actually interpret what they mean, as far as finances go.

[windfalling]

Well, here's the problem with that: I don't do astral readings. Wouldn't know where to start. Either you're going to have to teach me or we're going to have to take some creative liberties with this.

[beariot]

Well it's not as if I'd leave you on your own, there, Mr. Akiyama. I'm still a teacher, after all.

[windfalling]

That's a relief. I'm a little out of my element with some of this, you can probably tell. Which...is exactly why you made this offer. [ He chuckles. ] I think we'll make a good team, Ursula-chan.

[ She has to deal with that now. ]

[beariot]

[ The way she flinches at that... ]

J-just... Ursula, is fine, actually. Mr. Akiyama.

[windfalling]

[ He has to choke back a laugh at that reaction. ]

That bad?

[beariot]

I don't think anyone has ever called me that, even when I was briefly in Japan for work...

[ At least not that she knew of. Her agent tended to be respectful of her. She got way more "-san" than anything else. ]