[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...!

[I mean, with him, close enough amirite]

I wouldn't pull you away from anything urgent. I'm still in the process of getting my bearings. [Read: first coffee machine up and running.] I was simply curious.

What sort of afflictions tend to happen upon these Lost Souls? One would think being in Hell would spare us the physiological concerns of a mortal body.

[softshoes]

Then, my good man, you'll just have to say hello whenever you're able to drop by. It is a most curious world we've found ourselves in; there's quite a lot to catch up on in your first month.

[speaking of--] As for afflictions, it is much the same usual illnesses and aches and pains. So far as I'm aware, our bodies are as mortal as they were before we arrived, Hell and our current state of being notwithstanding.

[beenwaitinglong]

[Oh. Neat.]

How convenient. [There is just the slightest trace of bitter edge to that deadpan remark.

Then, lest the man think he's copping an attitude with him, he changes the subject.]

I'm a prosecutor, myself. Or I was, anyway. It would seem I've been recruited for more general legal counsel by the Daitengu, before the Enma could get their paws on me.

[softshoes]

[If he's offended, he doesn't show it. This at least gives him a reason to use his skills while he's here-- not to mention that it's another bit of proof towards the idea that they aren't actually dead here. But that's all speculation, of course, and Godot's already moved along; so will he.]

You aren't alone. Although a prosecutor from my own world is an employee of the Enma, it seems as if far more attorneys and members of law enforcement weren't hired. Yourself, Mr. Kitsuragi, Mr. Goodman... I know of others in Tamamo and Shuten as well.

[Very important others, to boot.]

It's curious. Almost so egregious to be intentional.

[beenwaitinglong]

Perhaps someone saw fit to level the playing field. Though I wouldn't have guessed the infernal battles of demons to take place in a courtroom.

[Well... It's not all that outrageous an idea, actually. Plenty of people might say it's what cops and lawyers deserve.]

It's all the same to me. I don't find myself particularly stirred by the power struggles in Hell. So long as the coffee keeps flowing.

[softshoes]

You would be rather surprised at how busy they keep Prosecutor van Zieks.

[Mikotoba's intentionally keeping his distance and even he can see that poor guy is ready to start tearing his hair out, what with. well. everything, of late. So sorry, Barry.]

But, yes. We are merely contracted in their service, small fry to the larger politics, really. Not that I shan't be doing my job, [hi daitengu, he's so sure you're stalking these posts] but I'd prefer to fulfill my contract and return home sooner rather than later.

[beenwaitinglong]

I think I met him. Tall, pale, looks like a Global Studios Dracula movie extra?

[Well... that was probably uncalled for.]

Perhaps this isn't the venue to ask such a question, so tell me if I'm out of line. But the contract thing... you think it's legitimate?

> private

[softshoes]

A Dracula movie, you say? [He's figured out modern films by now, too, but it's still pretty novel. Maybe there's a Herlock Sholmes movie out there too. haha yujin you have no idea] I'm a bit behind the times, to say the least, but yes, that would be the man. [Sorry Barok. Again.

His answer to the second question comes... carefully blithe.]

As for the contracts, as another Sutoku colleague said to me the other day, our leaders cannot afford to not fulfill them. I see no reason why they should not be granted.

[But a few moments later, he sends Godot a private message with the address of a coffee shop, just a few blocks from the clinic.]

If you'd like to discuss at a less visible venue.

Private

[beenwaitinglong]

[Just wait 'til he sees the one where Sholmes and his partner and friends are all hamsters.]

Love to. Name the time.

private and then ACTION...!!!

[softshoes]

One hour.
I look forward to speaking with you soon, Mr. Godot.

[True to his texts, Mikotoba's right where and when he should be-- seated at a table on the cafe's patio, actually, a cup of hot coffee already in front of him.]

Ah, there you are. I'll leave you to order your drink, but... I do think my real answer to your question's rather obvious by now, isn't it?

ACTION MENS

[beenwaitinglong]

[He hasn't hit this particular cafe yet. We all know what that means.]

Afternoon, Prof. Or Doc? Which would you prefer? [Gotta be courteous about our slightly too-familiar nicknames, after all.

He slides into the seat across from Mikotoba and pulls a few notes out of his wallet. Godot may be an absolute maniac about coffee, but he'd never expect someone else to foot the bill for it. Once the worker has come and gone with his order, then he addresses the matter at hand.]

It's a big mystery, isn't it? Nobody knows if it's true or not, and nobody's really got a choice either way.

[softshoes]

Professor, if you like.

[Technically, both are applicable, though he does happen to be hearing the latter a lot more with the work he's been doing lately. Might be nice for a change.]

Indeed. [He takes a pensive sip of his own drink, mulling it over, before he replies.] On one hand, the stakes for reneging on the contracts of well over a hundred souls would be dire. There are Lost Souls with abilities I can hardly comprehend. It would be simple to mutiny against our clan leaders. In theory.

Yet... they have no obligation to us while we are in their world, and on their terms. Should it be necessary we can always be pushed back down to our knees by our leaders. And the alternative is the wastes outside the city, with no way to return home. We've essentially been press-ganged, have we not?

[beenwaitinglong]

It certainly looks that way, doesn't it?

[He honestly didn't consider the notion that the Lost Souls could ever prove a threat to the head honchos around here. Mostly because he knows he certainly couldn't, but also because others have spoken to him about losing their powers. How does anyone fight back in a place where somebody seems to have absolute, supernatural control over all the inhabitants?]

The contracts are the carrot on the end of an ever-lengthening stick. And nobody knows anyone who can directly confirm they got even a nibble. [He smiles.] Just as I suspected.

Awfully convenient if you need people to fight for you. Under contracts they've never laid eyes on, too.

[softshoes]

Aptly put, Mr. Godot.

[His fingers wrap around the warm cup of coffee as his brows knit together: it's all so troubling, he scarcely knows where to begin. At least they hadn't offered him anything more sophisticated than a trip back home, and Susato's safety-- the idea of anything else in such a deal feels... awfully familiar, and very wrong, to him.]

It's as I said. I will be doing what is asked of me, within reason, but my object is to return home above all else. I will not be fighting any battles here that are not my own.

[A beat. Wryly:] Figuratively. I highly doubt I could win many literal battles against the beings who live here.

[beenwaitinglong]

[If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. That's the oldest rule in the book, and certainly one Godot adheres to. Particularly when the promise made in his contract is so terribly enticing. How disappointing.

(But he won't yet say it's impossible. He can't. This place itself should be impossible, but here it is. And as Ms. Wexler said- if there's no hope, then what's the point of it all?

A question he's become intimately familiar with.)

All the cynical musings don't make their way onto his face, which remains in a calm smile.]

Neither could I, amigo. Nor am I planning to try. So the next natural question is, "what happens if we don't?" Follow orders. Play along for the contract.