video; un: TIGER-STRIPED

[jigokumods]

[ The scene is familiar to most of the Shuten Clan at this point. It's Toraguma's office at the Arena, the wall behind his desk covered in ornate and fancy looking weapons, as well as a giant sake gourd kept in a glass case right behind his chair. It was the symbol of the clan's namesake, the legendary magic gourd of his former master.

Toraguma himself looks... sweaty. Like he's just come from a workout. Or was just eating himself into a sweat, again, as he likes to do. ]

Listen up, you dogs!

[ Oh, and he's yelling, that's familiar, too. ]

The Night Parade is gonna be happening at the beginning of next month!

As you've seen from all the work you've been doing so far, it's a pretty big fuckin' deal! And I want MY guys to show our pride out there when the celebrations start!

We're gonna have a sumo ring set up, and I want all of you guys to muscle up and show this city your mettle! Prizes to those who win, obviously, but if any one with Shuten Clan credentials loses a match, I'm gonna dock your fuckin' pay!

[ Yeah, that sounds about right. ]

And remember to have fun, damnit!

Comments

un: sr

[nemuru]

whats the prize

( , he's too lazy to video sorry )

[jigokumods]

[ Toraguma squints at first before grabbing his readers. Yes he has reading glasses. ]

Oh, uh, it's a sake gourd. A proper Oni-style one!

text / un: NYANYANYA

[nya]

wats sumo
looks gross

( all... sweaty and stuff... )

[jigokumods]

[ These damn kids and their texting. He still has his readers on when responding to this ]

The hell do you mean "what's sumo"?!

Do we have to teach you newbies everything?!

un: majima | video

[no_kyouken]

[ He's been fighting, as directed. It feels good. It's what he's good at. ]

Are ya comin' in th'ring? Sir.

[#The Rabid Puppy Has Never Met A Terrible Idea He Hasn't Grasped With Both Paws]

[jigokumods]

[ Oh good, he can take his readers off. Though he looks a little less... enthused about this one, letting out a huff. ]

Unfortunately, no. My lieutenants have said it's against the rules for a judge to also be a competitor. Bastards...

Audio; un: sharkconcept

[starshepard]

Does that mean anyone can participate?

[ She has no idea what Sumo is but it sounds like fighting and she's been itching for a fight. ]

[jigokumods]

You can try your best, kid, but the Shuten Clan won't be giving ground to anyone!

[ Which means "yes", probably ]

ᴜɴ: ᴛᴇʀᴍɪɴᴜs.

[wray]

No consequences if we refuse?

[ just wondering. ]

[jigokumods]

[ Damnit, just when he thought he could leave his readers off. At least this person writes well enough... ]

Eh? What are you, a coward?!

un: rk; voice

[trueorder]

Well, that helps me decide who I am going to be putting my bets on. But it is not like there was any competition even without this added incentive.

[ Rule No. 1, always try to get along with other leaders. ]

[jigokumods]

Hmph. Well, they say it's against the spirit of sumo to gamble on it, but, uh...

[ He chuckles slightly, rubbing at his cheek. ]

Don't let that keep you from making some cash, newbie.

un: felix

[littleshield]

[ This loud man doesn't scare him. ]

nice to know that you have such little faith in us that youre considering an outcome where we would lose a match

[ He...has no idea what sumo is, rip. ]

[jigokumods]

[ Again, annoyed that he has to put his reading glasses on, but this? Eyyy, he likes this, grinning wide. ]

Ha ha ha! That's the spirit! Show them what we're made of, newbie!

Video / un; Berserker

[bananaoni]

To.ra.gu.ma! You damned dog!

When I get my hands on you I'm going to tear you to shreds!

[Huffs and puffs like an angry kitten!

That's familiar.]

[jigokumods]

[ Oh. Right.

Her.

There's a notable change in his tone, how it drops. There's still that fire, but there's also... something else there. Something that seems to burn a little deeper, behind his eyes. A flame that is both recognition and... possibly remorse. But it only last for a moment, despite the drop in his voice. ]


If you were the Ibaraki I knew, you'd already have managed that.

[ And it almost sounds like that truth is... depressing to him. ]

un: gohan (voice)

[harimaya]

(Just





a very long and tired sigh.)

Fun.

(How exciting.)

[jigokumods]

Damn right it is! Listen, skinny, sumo isn't just about size. One of the best at it in the old tribe was a guy about your weight!

Well... maybe a little bigger...

[ A lot bigger, but who's counting? ]

video; un: UEHARA

[metafictions]

[Who's 5 foot something with all the bulk of a soaking wet alleycat-- BUT is very, very good at following his orders?]

Yes, sir. I'll do my best for our clan.

[jigokumods]

[ Right, this guy. Toraguma hums, leaning back in his chair and rubbing at his chin before... ]

Well. You don't have to participate. You can show your pride in other ways.

[ A guy like this stepping into the ring might make the clan look bad... ]

un: riptide; voice

[narbrawl]

Looking forward to it!

[Okay, he cares () much about prizes but if he gets a chance to throw down against some of the fighters he's only managed to catch glimpses of up until now...]

Can I trade in my prize for a round against you, boss? [Then, remembering this is public, he adds-] Oh right, and to anyone else who's listening... what is sumo exactly?

[jigokumods]

[ Another "what is sumo" question, he's gonna cry. Oh, but that other thing... ]

I'm... not being allowed to participate in the sumo. The advisors say it's against the rules for a judge to be in matches.

[ He sounds legitimately upset about this. ]

video; un: tengennohana

[ryototsukai]

[ She can't help it. Staring at him, she's just overcome.

His... his chest...

A-anyways, she shakes her head, getting her senses back. ]

Uh, so... you'll let women participate, too, right?

[jigokumods]

[ He's used to it. ]

You got arms to throw with, don'tcha? I don't give a shit what gender you are, just don't expect to beat any of my guys, got it!

video; un: tequila sunset

[horrifictie]

Dock our pay?! That's outrageous, you can't do that!

...Right?

[ Shit, are they union workers under the clan? ]

[jigokumods]

I can do whatever the hell I want, bwa ha ha! [ Toraguma slaps his desk. ]

But hey, you don't have to participate, if you're a coward...

[ And cowards tended to get a lot of hazing in the Shuten Clan. ]

un: autumn, text

[rainswords]

But what if I don't have fun?

[jigokumods]

[ Damnit, he'd just taken his readers off. He grumbles as he fishes them out again and... genuinely balks at the text. ]

Then that's not my problem! Do you think I give a shit? You're not even in my clan!

voice, un: lyra

[sleepinglyra]

[It takes Sheliak longer than he would like to figure out how to switch to voice, confounding machine, but after a few minutes of technical difficulties, he manages it.]

I will not disappoint you, my lord. Is there someplace where we can hone our skills before the Parade?

[That's a discreet way of saying he has no idea what sumo is.]

[jigokumods]

[ He doesn't... quite jive with the whole "my lord" thing. He much prefers "boss". But this isn't the time or place for that conversation. ]

Ask around at the Arena, some of the other guys there should be able to teach you the basics.

video. un: daiginjyo.

[osake]

Dock our pay? Fufu, such a softie.

I appreciate including our old favorite ... [ sumo, she means ] ... but you're being rather lenient, aren't you? Toraguma.

[jigokumods]

[ Just like with Ibaraki, his tone shifts with this one. ]

If you think this is soft, then take your shot at me. The weak aren't fit to lead, isn't that right?

[ But they both already know what the outcome would be, at this moment... a fact that doesn't seem to actually make him very happy. ]

un: anchun | voice

[illicitly]

[Nie Huaisang is still adapting to the more modern amenities of this place. Much of his time spent so far has been spent healing from an injury inflicted by a fellow similar to the one on screen. However, he's been using the downtime to re-learn his new physical limitations and adapt to these strange modern tools.

So far, he's only mastered the voice function so have a soft-spoken, masculine tenor pipe up over the line. His tone sounds thoughtful, almost nostalgic.]

That's an interesting way of inspiring your troops. Have you considered other incentives for individuals in your faction that might not share your enthusiasm for combat? Nice collection, by the way. Very artistic.

[jigokumods]

I don't take advice from cowards, least of all from Tenkohime's bitches.

[ Toraguma snorted, grumbling. ]

If you want to do things different, do it on your own time.

voice / un; ryomensukuna1

[thousand]

[ This is the meeting that everyone is going to regret ever happened. Sukuna's fond of yelling too (fortunately for him, he's not doing it now— no ability to slice anyone into lunchmeat-sized bits means he has to be amenable, awful).

He's also fond of sumo.

And saké.

And violence, generally.

At least Toraguma got a slightly more hip username than grandpa over here. ]

Those peasants will cower before us, Shuten will rule Jigoku once more. Their skulls will hold our saké.

[jigokumods]

Ha! I like your enthusiasm, newbie!

[ Oh, right, but uh... ]

But for the sake of this gathering, try not to pick any fights... but if they happen, be sure to finish them. That's all I'm saying.

[ He has to at least to pretend he buys into the idea of it being a peaceful gathering. ]

un: trickshot | text

[demonrebel]

Commanding people to have fun? That's the sign of a crappy party!

Don't be docking my pay, big guy. I bust my arse off in that casino!

[jigokumods]

[ Another texter. He grumbles as he reaches, again, for his readers. Aaaand... ]

Oh, yeah, you did impress back there.

But I can't tolerate any of my boys losing in a fight, whether it's on the streets or in a sport like sumo!

You gotta draw lines, newbie!

text; un: owl

[getting_better]

What's the order if we find someone rigging matches?

[jigokumods]

[ He's getting real sick of these texts. At least he left his readers on, this time. ]

You got somethin' in your ears, newbie? WE are running the sumo ring, dumbass!

video; un: rider

[kaientai]

Oh, sumo? Not something I have any experience with myself, but I know there's a lot more involved than just size and strength.

[ is he trying to feel out toraguma's appreciation for things that aren't just raw strength and violence? maybe. mostly he hangs out with enough shuten clan people that he has an interest. ]

Why not open the occasion with an exhibition match if you can't compete yourself? Otherwise, how else will the uninitiated know what real skill looks like?

[jigokumods]

Because judges aren't allowed to compete, whether it's an exhibition or not...

[ And none sound more annoyed by this truth than him, grumbling. ]

You're right that size and strength isn't everything. Sumo and Judo go hand in hand, there's an artform to it.