jigokulogs | [ open ] all hands on deck

Entry tags:

[ open ] all hands on deck

Who ⬤ sakamoto ryouma (rider) + other sutoku alliance lost souls
What ⬤ post-event emergency meeting
When ⬤ several hours after the assassination
Where ⬤ konoha — vip area
Content Warnings ⬤ none right now but will update as needed!

[ once the dust (steam?) has settled, an sms goes out to fellow sutoku alliance contacts. some might recognise the username rider more than others and know the man it's attached to but in any case, everyone who shows up will know him soon enough anyway. ]

Hello!

There's a lot of confusion right now, but what's important is to stay calm and not do anything hasty. I'll be organising a meeting tonight at Konoha. Let's exchange what we know and discuss next steps. You're going to have to pay for your own refreshments though, sorry! Space is on me though! (*_ _)人

Don't be discouraged! We're only getting started. (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

If you think there are any other Sutoku who haven't gotten this, pass the message along, ok?

— Rider

[ ~~someone has to keep the spirit of the daitengu alive, okay??~~ the message also comes attached with a calendar invite. ]

[ later, anyone arriving for the meeting will be directed to the club's VIP area and encouraged to place food and drink orders as desired. this has definitely set ryouma back, but under the present circumstances, there's no better time than this to spare no expense, right? ]

☆ ooc; this is a mingle in addition to a general sort of information sharing prompt so feel free to throw your own top levels up and thread amongst yourselves! i give everyone free rein to threadjack as you see fit — just check with other individual players if you have any questions!
☆ i left the exact time of the meeting sort of open, but assume it's sometime within the next half-day or so after the assassination to account for people needing to finish up investigations, potentially heal up a little after fighting, time for him to book the club, etc. feel free to have characters wander in late too!
☆ i also provided the option for characters to phone in (since it was mentioned to me on the ooc post), so if they can't make it in person they can still be in the loop!
☆ any non-Sutoku tag-a-longs are assumed to be showing up late so as not to be sitting in on private discussions earlier in the night.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Maybe so. A sweet madame is a full roast chicken slathered with honey and other herbs. You're guaranteed to feel great after eating the whole thing. Golden fried chicken might be closer...

[ Ah, but, really. This isn't the time or place to be salivating over a sweet madame! Though now he really wants one. It does hit the spot when you kinda feel like shit. ]

—yes, you're right. It might not be a bad idea to convene altogether at some point. I imagine there could be a good exchange of information as well.

[ ... Though he isn't so naive to think that they all won't be on guard around each other. Too much has happened, and trust had been thin to begin with. Once the clan leaders snap their fingers—it's likely they won't be able to be so friendly.

It's too bad. If he had the time, he'd make Ryouma a sweet madame. ]

Ohhhh, that sounds really good! [ it's times like these when he almost, almost catches on to the fact that he should do things like stop and eat something. ] There's a certain dish where I'm from that I haven't had in a long time, so I might have to go looking for some, but hotpot is one of those things you should always eat with other people.

[ in his personal opinion, this is just the thing to do. ]

It makes me wonder how others would respond to the idea. I have a feeling the other Lost Souls might be receptive, but the faction leaders less so. Can't really blame them, all things considered — everyone has their own interests to protect in this — but I'm sure Toraguma and Tenkohime have to realise that it can happen to anyone so long as we don't know who was behind this.

[ he doesn't mention the enma, but that's on purpose. the enma is undoubtedly a much harder target, for one, and secondly... he's not entirely sure the enma isn't the problem here but he's not volunteering all that right away, at least. ]

[ Chongyun notices the exclusion but doesn't feel any particular way about it—the Enma strikes him more as a military leader or a political figure or some such, while Tenkohime and Toraguma feel less ... official? Which may not necessarily be the case, but considering how most of the Department feels very much like public servants in Liyue, it just ended up that way. The neglect to mention makes sense, in that view.

No, instead his focus is definitely more on hotpot now that it's been brought up ... it's something he has to take a lot of care to eat. It has to be a non-spicy broth, and then he has to dip whatever he's boiled into ice water before eating it. A method he's thought much about, tested and tried with various outcomes, and now he's thinking about how delicious that is. ]

You're right. Do you think ... we could, perhaps, have an exchange of information over hotpot? [ priorities. ] It would put everyone in a good mood, wouldn't it?

[ What's more important here, the info or the food? It's probably obvious which with how his eyes brighten, ]

With ice cream as dessert ... ice cream and cake.

What an idea!

[ this kid is really going places. ]

It's worth floating, maybe asking around on the network. Wouldn't even need to say that's what it's for. We've had some time to get to know each other and we all worked on getting ready for the Parade, but all of us Lost Souls have more in common with each other than we necessarily do with any of the respective factions. There's strength in that kind of unity, at least in helping to open up the channels of communication and it would be irresponsible not to maintain those connections since loyalties to everyone's individual factions are likely to deepen anyway.

[ it's a very good idea. and a good opportunity to patronise local businesses other than konoha, which is obviously doing well for itself. something a little more traditional might be nice, compared to their present atmosphere...

needless to say, ryouma's mind is working. ]

Do you have friends in the other factions, too? The leaders might be even more receptive to the idea if we generate some profits for everyone for all of this. Money talks in ways words alone can't in this world like any other.

I do. [ a nod, ] Many of us got to know each other before officially getting sorted into clans, didn't we? On that fifteen hour line during processing. Those first few days...

[ He isn't actually sure if it had ended up being fifteen hours in the end, or even just a few days until he got himself on his feet, but it had certainly felt like it. How many times had his ticket been stolen? How many people had cut the line? It's all a blur now, time spent in that building marked mostly by the people he had met while waiting to meet with one of the processing workers. A camaraderie had been born through similar circumstances.

They're fledgling relationships that Chongyun's reluctant to let go of. He's never been the best at being social—though, in his heart, he wants to get along with everyone ... both his condition and single-minded focus on his job have made it difficult. The opportunity to spend time with everyone he's gotten to know over the past few weeks—the thought alone makes his chest fuzzy. In a good way. ]

I don't know about profits, but ... I would like that very much. [ he smiles, a small uptick at the corners of his mouth—he feels a little shy admitting this, but, ] If possible... I would like to hold on to our relationship as fellow Lost Souls. I've liked spending time with everyone. [ but that smile fades, softening into a sigh instead, ] Of course, I understand it's becoming more complicated—but even so...

( me also walking into this meeting late with starbucks,

but Ritsu's been just listening the whole time, not as battered as some other people in the Alliance because his first instinct when shit hits the fan is to find a safe place—fallback and regroup as it were, though all that is going to go out the window in the following days. Nevertheless, he really can't help but speak up at this, he loves teasing people— )

Aw, Chokkun~... I didn't think you liked me that much ♪ ( a little wave, hii~ii. ) I'm thinkin' you two are on the right track though, with all that loyalty talk... but you've gotta think about one real important thing, too.

( Ritsu stretches from one of the couches, face screwing up with a yawn before he settles back down. )

Our contracts. Someone might not like their faction all that much, but dependin' on what they're getting in return... ( He props his cheek up in his palm. ) ...They might consider whatever loyalty they might breed with other people to be less than what they're being promised.

Ha?

[ WOW... showed up exactly in time for Chongyun's soft boy moment to tease him about it, he's embarrassed!! Which is why his face turns red, flustering a little. Where did you come from, Ritsu?? To attack him personally???? And yet this seems right on track for everything he knows about the other boy. Can't he use his powers for good, and not evil?

And he comes in with ... a pretty valid point. Ignoring the red that still blots his cheeks, Chongyun blinks, and quiets for a moment. It's true; they each have their own contracts, and despite all of the rumors and information exchanged, he's never once heard the details of someone's contract. If there's something everyone protects, it seems to be that. Even his own—it is something he wants. He'd be willing to do a lot for it. ]

... You're right. [ he rubs the back of his head, ] I didn't think about that.

( No, he's a mean wittle vampire, he can ONLY use his powers of coming out of nowhere for evil... Ritsu smiles, de light ed at the red, but he knows this is a meeting and we should be productive and yada yada, he's not keen on getting scolded by anyone he doesn't like; he doesn't even like that from the people he does like. )

No shame in it, Chokkun. It's easy to forget about it when every day is... ( ...he makes a gesture with his free hand, they're in hell, you know how it is in hell. ) I'm sure there's some level of information people'll be willing to give up despite their contract, but if it's somethin' that might get them kicked out of their faction, or put it at stake... They're not gonna spill it, even if it's to their best friend in the entire world.

( He glances momentarily at Xinqiu—him and Chongyun seem close, after all, though they've been dumped into different factions—but his gaze doesn't linger. )

Unless their friend's goal is the same as their's, but there's no way to verify that without asking~... ( ... ) Sorry to bring the mood down, though.

( Even if it was important to point out. )

[ Sorry, but he kind of left the conversation a little while ago, sure he has no means by which to physically escape this realm but mentally... At some point or another, the notepad on his lap was replaced by a book in which he seems to be completely invested. Anyway, it seems Chokkun (whoever that was) had gone about to get himself plenty acquainted with people within the Sutoku Alliance. That wasn't what he expected, but, maybe he shouldn't be surprised?

In any case, he isn't going to look up from the page his eyes are scanning, even if he feels for a brief instant he was being watched.

Chongyun, you're on your own here. There is much enjoyment to be had contained within the text before him, the loss of nature and desire, now what could that lead to. Of course, duty is important and that should not waver, but the lady within the pages is a whole different person as opposed to the creature of myth she was before. But he will take a pause before the adventurers are led by the clues of a cat. ]

You're bringing the mood down? No, please don't mind me, continue. [ Bye then, he has to follow the heroes as they delve further into the villain's lair, to find the beastly apparition leashed by the tyrant king to do his bidding. ]

[ Wow... dragging him here to be arm candy and then abandoning him when other people start chewing on him. We see how it is!! Chongyun just sends his friend a look—like, really?—but Xingqiu does seem invested in his book. Honestly, that tracks.

Whatever. Chongyun sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. ]

Even so ... that doesn't mean we can't still have a decent relationship, right? And a hotpot dinner never hurt anyone. [ look, he really wants to eat hotpot with people he's friendly with, why must his dream be killed? ] Even if it's mostly business, as fellow lost souls, I don't think it's a bad idea to try to stay on good terms.

[ Ritsu is absolutely right, of course. Who knows when someone will decide to go feral and sell someone else out for what is, objectively, important to them? This will involve finding some sense of balance‐Hell or not, isn't that how business works anyway? ]

As for the matter of the contracts ... there's really nothing we can do about that.

Fifteen hours? Ah—... right! Something like that, give or take.

[ if only. ryouma had traded in his ticket quite voluntarily a few times in the interest of waiting on someone. eventually, he'd figured out that that might not happen or at the very least that time down here doesn't necessarily work like he expects it to so he might as well do the waiting in the city. ]

The contracts really don't matter at all. [ so there's that. ] It's no different than saying anyone can act on their own interests whenever they feel like it. I don't intend to appeal to anyone's goodwill. Like I said, it comes down to money. Politics don't even matter when there's money to be made. Anything you want to do around here, I bet if you have the cash you can make it happen.

[ maybe it sounds greedy, but he isn't in it for himself. it's just a vehicle for the real work and he's figured that out by now. ]

The best thing we can do is remain on good terms as Lost Souls. We're all going to have work to do around here one way or another. Some people are going to gain favour with the leadership and that's a good thing. You'll need those kinds of connections. When I was trying to get things moving a long time ago the best thing I had was a lot of people with many different talents.

I will have to disagree with that notion regarding the matter of contracts

[ A raised hand is even offered, but he is not taking his eyes off the page. Nope, there is no way he will do that even if he is interjecting himself into this part of the conversation. Look there is a dark passageway, with no light to guide the merry band as they make their way through, and here in this moment, a revelation is the only guide that presses a prince forward.

But he knows he has to provide some form of explanation. He really doesn't want to stop reading now. ]

You cannot be indifferent to their bidding nature, along with the idea of dissolving or acting against said agreement. Usually, most contracts entail some form of repercussion if any one party involve were to go against the terms and agreements set. But I have no idea how legally bidding any of these things are. Maybe one of you should run along and attempt to break from your contract?

[ He'll look up then. ] I am not being serious, of course.

But see, aside from self-interest, there are people who are who rigidly follow law, or perhaps even customs of their homeland would entail they make no move to break off from their agreement. As remaining on good terms with other lost souls, all you can do is hope for the best. But I know none of you hold any ideals that every person you exchange words with will be agreeable.

Oh. I lost my place...

[ ryouma isn't bothered or put off by the fact that xingqiu seems to be splitting his attention. he's done worse ~~like put off a meeting that might determine the fate of the country so he could catch a bell cricket~~. it's a reasonable argument — and one he's heard before — so his answer comes easily. ]

That's true. So, I have a question for you — what makes you think you have to violate your contract for the sake of unity? Wars are expensive and I can't imagine anyone taking starting one lightly. Just because we're here doesn't mean we're destined to end up as enemies.

[ just given the personalities he's encountered so far — which is to say, more thinkers and people who like investigating as opposed to fighters — he's fairly certain they're here to do more than fight in the streets. ]

People usually take a narrow view. That's just natural. Overtaking your enemy means you have more of everything, which of course is a measure of success. It's harder to see the broader view where you can be even more successful if you pool your resources. To my understanding, we're under contract to serve our particular factions which as far as I can tell begins and ends at "make the boss happy". If everyone ends up richer and no one has to die, at the end of the day, what's so disagreeable about that?

[ What he is frantically doing now is attempting to find the spot he last left off at, almost towards the end of the novel, the chapter right before the last. And with a sigh, he finds his place once again. It won't be lost again, a bookmark is placed right between the pages of the book before it's closed tight. ]

The notion that people wouldn't engage in warfare due to expensive is... well, wars are also damaging, life-ending, and yet... I am not suggesting, nor wishing for any battles to take place but that's why I am attempting to infer the terms of our contract. We are bound to our factions, therefore we are under their service?

[ Whatever that could mean or lead to, it just depended on how people wished to act. It also leads him to wonder if going against the directives to steer people away from the Kappa's work before the festival meant he had gone against whatever was the agreement. In any case, he has to consider the people he has met and some were more on the carnivorous side. ]

You're working under the assumption every person is altruistic by nature. I'd be content with what you're suggesting but can you honestly say that everyone would agree? See there lies the problem, or perhaps it doesn't truly matter what we feel. If it's to make each faction leader content... then what would you do if there was animosity between them?

It's too many suppositions I suppose.

So I'll ask, from this point on what do you believe we should do as part of the alliance given our current position.

Oh, no. Quite the opposite. I'm always working under the assumption that people will choose greed and profit over everything else — potentially, friends and countrymen included. I can't change anyone's nature and I don't try to, I simply use it to do my proper work with the least amount of pain and death as I can accomplish.

[ he says this all matter-of-factly with that smile he gets that doesn't quite reach his eyes. ryouma is not especially proud of this, but as always, he is willing to do whatever he has to do. ]

Within the Alliance, we're in a unique position as Lost Souls. We're almost our own clan within the hierarchy and that will be good because I think our first order of business should be strengthening connections with the Kappa. Investigations will proceed one way or another but it's the unity of this thing that will determine the future. If the Alliance can't hold itself together and grow stronger as a result of this we can't really expect to accomplish even bigger goals. I suspect things will get worse before they get better.

Isn't that overly pessimistic now?

[ He doesn't mean to be finicky, but that's a large leap from what he is suggesting. Yes, not everyone will cooperate but if that's the view taken then can some level of trust be easily gained. In any case, he is only attempting to comprehend the dismissal of contracts and what they would truly mean in the end for everyone in the future. He is still young, he still has faith in people, of course, but he also knows he has to be somewhat realistic. He is trying to breach a gap, and find a safe middle ground, in his own perspective of the world.

But as always, he listens, attention set on Ryouma. Taking in the points made, whatever method he uses he cannot fault him for wanting minimal damage to be caused, it is very much the same route he would take. Although Xingqiu has the notion that he would attempt to anyone, everyone that may be in danger, it was all a part of being good, doing good. ]

How do you propose to do that when they seem to flee at the sight of anyone? I think we need more concrete goals, something we can actually achieve in the time being.

Not really!

[ ryouma can be paradoxical at times because he holds both points in mind at once and from there chooses the course that feels right. even if he is firmly set on one side or the other, he thinks it through anyway. there are always points to consider on all sides. ]

We're new here. No matter what we try to do right now we're nobody and the problems in this place are bigger and older than we've been around. It's not like I'm some kind of war strategist or anything, but when it comes to conflicts between very different people they rarely smooth themselves out on their own without a fuss.

[ as much as ryouma hates to admit it, that's just experience all the way down. ]

Consider how it is from their point of view: their leaders are missing, they think the Enma is going to come down on them hard and their biggest advocate is presumed dead. No one's going to put their life in the hands of a bunch of strangers scraping the bottom of the barrel. Trust, like respect, needs to be earned. In business, reputation is important!

I can also say plenty if you let me, but it's not a lecture — it's a discussion. You must have some goals in mind too, right?

[ There is a balance to everything. A balance. However, Xingqiu comprehends well that even when swayed towards one direction everything should be considered. Getting a full clear vision of what may lay ahead, that he wouldn't fault anyone for. It is the reason why he opts for silence, besides, interjecting while the gentleman is speaking would only be rude. A favor is being granted to him at this moment, a lesson is being reinforced.

He is here more as a guest and to learn of anything he may have overlooked, or rather completely missed out on due to him leaving the festival early along with coming into this meeting late. He comprehends they're meant to collaborate, however, he doesn't have a wide enough scope to consider his own contribution could be of service. ]

Unfortunately, I can only disappoint at present. Without at least a minimal level of understanding. Don't get me wrong, I'm not entirely clueless, but I cannot truly say what I have to offer is worth note. It's all very new to me in a sense, at least from the perspective you've come to mention in regards to hierarchy.

[ Of course, it's not just their recent arrival, they do have a lot to prove in this land. They're nothing. Nobodies, yet, there must be some value in them being here otherwise what would be the entire point in their presence. Then again, there is underlying chaos in all this.

As for reputation, does he ever know the value of it, but just the thought feels constraining. He has his role to play in Liyue Harbor, he has to live within certain social bounds. ]

There are many things I had learn here, especially considering that plenty of terms and figures are completely new to me. I lack certain prior knowledge, but I am doing my best to fill in the gaps needed. So your guiding hand is actually much appreciated.

Ah, hehe... well, I'm glad to help!

[ ryouma isn't one to expect recognition when he helps out, so when he does receive gratitude and compliments, he's automatically awkward about it. it feels nice, though!

he can also respect xingqiu's decision to hold off until he knows more. that's a smart, logical way of it and precisely the sort of thinking that ryouma is terrible at so he's glad someone else is more capable. it's more his style to pitch forward in a direction and then make small adjustments along the way. ]

This place is very similar to my home country in many ways. Obviously, everything isn't identical, but there are plenty of overlaps. I was even able to find a few restaurants done in a traditional style, and those really take me back! Cities didn't get to be like this in my world until about a hundred years or so after my time, so I have to learn quite a bit myself as I go along, but I don't mind telling you anything you end up being curious about if it's the same.

[ Sometimes on a deserted moonlit night...?

But that is the general sense, a man need not an audience to do good; gratitude and laud were not what was sought, but here he is and Xingqiu would express his thanks. Granted this opportunity then there was no helping it. Already he had been guided on the path of comprehending the basic notions of this city, it was steeped in another land's folklore. ]

Hm.

Japan? That seems to be the place often made allusions and comparisons to in regards to this place. Where we hail from, Liyue Harbor, it feels large but considering only manmade structures then it isn't as big as this city...? It almost feels endless, but it's not...

So for you too, then in some way, this is all new?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ open ] all hands on deck

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