坂本龍馬 sakamoto ryouma (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
kaientai) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
jigokulogs2022-07-18 09:38 am
kaientai) wrote in jigokulogs2022-07-18 09:38 am
Entry tags:
[ closed ] 別道 「 another way 」
Who ⬤ Sakamoto Ryouma + the Stars
What ⬤ Ryouma holds a meeting for ranked Sutoku Lost Souls (finally)
When ⬤ the beginning of July, after the mingle
Where ⬤ Konoha
Content Warnings ⬤ none that I can think of!
[ weird how things come full circle. the first meeting ryouma ever put together in jigokucho had been here at konoha under similarly dire — if you want to focus on the negative — circumstances. ryouma thinks they're doing great!
ryouma is also still wearing his bird wounds for the optics.
doing. great.
in any case, there is no time to lose, and so the call goes out to all the Sutoku Lost Souls who command any bit of influence. proper time to plan and a bit more clout to his name this time enables ryouma to do better than just renting out one of the VIP rooms for a few hours like last time — borrowing a room much more suited to the purpose. ryouma has no love for the nightclub or the boardroom atmosphere, but it is the faction's central hub, and as much as he might have preferred to do this at a more intimate location that's more his speed, he feels like it's important to make the gesture.
plus, he's invited the boss. ]
I'm sure you all know why we're here, so now it's time to fill you all in on what's been going on! This is gonna be a lot that I gotta say, so it'll save us all a lotta time if ya let me get to the end before ya ask questions, okay?
[ if anyone was expecting him to look sorry... he does not. he doesn't look worried either, even if some people think he ought to, but unflappable confidence in times like these is just ryouma's thing. it's worth noting that ryouma also looks slightly different and now carries two swords in addition to his gun, which… might be interesting? ]
Ever since what happened at the Night Parade, I've been working real hard to find a way to restore the peace around here. Nobody told me to do that, mind, but forgin' unlikely alliances is sorta what I'm known for where I come from.
[ and you really don't want to know how much things here have followed the trajectory of his former life, considering how it ended, but at least he succeeded at the time? ]
It was only a little plan at first, just a small thing to try and prove it could work out, but then it started takin' shape over time, especially when I caught wind that we were gonna end up negotiatin' with whoever won the turf war anyway. Problem was, Shuten and Tamamo were pretty evenly matched there so things were at an impasse, which ain't real great for them but the perfect opportunity for us.
[ as he keeps talking, ryouma starts to pace, and his accent slips more and more over time as he finds a flow. he's excited about all this and is eager to finally have people to collaborate with. now more than ever, he's picking up on the same feeling he used to have back when he was alive, instead of how it's been while he's been a counter guardian. for better or worse, everyone's getting ryouma in his element. ]
I met with—… well, a lot of people, but most importantly, I met with Majima and Musashi — lieutenants from Shuten and Tamamo, respectively. A couple of folks who were working with me on it aren't here anymore, but one of them gave me the clue that'd be the key to the whole thing, which is lucky because the Shuten Clan was the hardest sell on this whole thing.
[ here ryouma takes a momentary pause. he has a sip of water and looks around at everyone he's addressing right now, sure that he's at least interested or annoyed everyone into having their attention. that's how it usually goes, in his experience. he also lights a cigarette because he finds it relaxing, and everyone else will just have to deal. ]
So, what did I sell them on, right? I'm gonna tell ya.
[ he actually has something prepared to show them, so he starts by unrolling a map and flattening it out on the table before he pushes it forward.he's old-fashioned; he doesn't know about powerpoint. this map is the same one used at the negotiation meeting, meaning everyone's respective aggressive scribbles are exactly where they left them. ]
This is how things in the Underground will be divvied up, more or less. As you can see, this location'll be jointly controlled by all three factions. Givin' a little ground keeps the peace down below, which is good because we don't want the Department steppin' in, but not everybody's happy with that. It's understandable, what with it bein' a loss, but I consider any time we can settle something without bloodshed a win. In any case, the Alliance's most important asset down below — in my opinion — is the waterways and how we can use them.
We need those 'cause we're takin' over the black market.
[ so there. because… that's what he wants to do. so he'll do it. this is definitely not the time to sound wishy-washy. ]
We know there have been leaks and it's eatin' into everyone's cash flow. It's just not been a solvable problem before, so naturally… we're gonna solve the unsolvable problem.
[ as one does??? ]
That is, I'm confident that with a combined effort, we'll succeed. That's the advantage we have now that we didn't have before!
But, there is a catch…
[ and he offers an apologetic smile for the trouble that is the rollercoaster of this explanation. ]
We have two months to do that, or Toraguma will personally come and collect my head. And go to war on everyone else. Tenkohime, of course, will not be interfering, and I'd assume they'll clean up what's left and go back to tryin' to kill each other when the time comes. In which case, this place is finished. You all lived through that curse, same as me. If somethin' like that happens again and everybody's all too busy fightin' each other, that's the end of the road.
[ considering the pressure ryouma lives with, he's not trying to shovel it on now to stress anyone out, but he has also never been one to downplay things in the interest of sugarcoating them. they need to be realistic, or it's not going to work. ]
I'm not gonna let that happen. I didn't a long time ago when I was weaker and dumber, so why let it happen now? I have complete faith in all of us. That bein' said, I have more detailed plans for what I intend to do about it, but the first thing we need to do is start investigatin'. Second, I'm lookin' for volunteers to come in on this and take ownership on the side of what's happenin' in the Underground. I don't have the time and, honestly, no interest in managin' all that, but I won't just drop it on somebody an' cut ya loose. If ya wanna work with me too, lemme know.
I know that's a lot, so I'm gonna shut up and yield. I'll answer your questions now, too. Otherwise, I'm happy to hear your ideas. Plans can always stand to be improved, right?
Welcome to the meeting log! Yay!
What ⬤ Ryouma holds a meeting for ranked Sutoku Lost Souls (finally)
When ⬤ the beginning of July, after the mingle
Where ⬤ Konoha
Content Warnings ⬤ none that I can think of!
[ weird how things come full circle. the first meeting ryouma ever put together in jigokucho had been here at konoha under similarly dire — if you want to focus on the negative — circumstances. ryouma thinks they're doing great!
ryouma is also still wearing his bird wounds for the optics.
in any case, there is no time to lose, and so the call goes out to all the Sutoku Lost Souls who command any bit of influence. proper time to plan and a bit more clout to his name this time enables ryouma to do better than just renting out one of the VIP rooms for a few hours like last time — borrowing a room much more suited to the purpose. ryouma has no love for the nightclub or the boardroom atmosphere, but it is the faction's central hub, and as much as he might have preferred to do this at a more intimate location that's more his speed, he feels like it's important to make the gesture.
plus, he's invited the boss. ]
I'm sure you all know why we're here, so now it's time to fill you all in on what's been going on! This is gonna be a lot that I gotta say, so it'll save us all a lotta time if ya let me get to the end before ya ask questions, okay?
[ if anyone was expecting him to look sorry... he does not. he doesn't look worried either, even if some people think he ought to, but unflappable confidence in times like these is just ryouma's thing. it's worth noting that ryouma also looks slightly different and now carries two swords in addition to his gun, which… might be interesting? ]
Ever since what happened at the Night Parade, I've been working real hard to find a way to restore the peace around here. Nobody told me to do that, mind, but forgin' unlikely alliances is sorta what I'm known for where I come from.
[ and you really don't want to know how much things here have followed the trajectory of his former life, considering how it ended, but at least he succeeded at the time? ]
It was only a little plan at first, just a small thing to try and prove it could work out, but then it started takin' shape over time, especially when I caught wind that we were gonna end up negotiatin' with whoever won the turf war anyway. Problem was, Shuten and Tamamo were pretty evenly matched there so things were at an impasse, which ain't real great for them but the perfect opportunity for us.
[ as he keeps talking, ryouma starts to pace, and his accent slips more and more over time as he finds a flow. he's excited about all this and is eager to finally have people to collaborate with. now more than ever, he's picking up on the same feeling he used to have back when he was alive, instead of how it's been while he's been a counter guardian. for better or worse, everyone's getting ryouma in his element. ]
I met with—… well, a lot of people, but most importantly, I met with Majima and Musashi — lieutenants from Shuten and Tamamo, respectively. A couple of folks who were working with me on it aren't here anymore, but one of them gave me the clue that'd be the key to the whole thing, which is lucky because the Shuten Clan was the hardest sell on this whole thing.
[ here ryouma takes a momentary pause. he has a sip of water and looks around at everyone he's addressing right now, sure that he's at least interested or annoyed everyone into having their attention. that's how it usually goes, in his experience. he also lights a cigarette because he finds it relaxing, and everyone else will just have to deal. ]
So, what did I sell them on, right? I'm gonna tell ya.
[ he actually has something prepared to show them, so he starts by unrolling a map and flattening it out on the table before he pushes it forward.
This is how things in the Underground will be divvied up, more or less. As you can see, this location'll be jointly controlled by all three factions. Givin' a little ground keeps the peace down below, which is good because we don't want the Department steppin' in, but not everybody's happy with that. It's understandable, what with it bein' a loss, but I consider any time we can settle something without bloodshed a win. In any case, the Alliance's most important asset down below — in my opinion — is the waterways and how we can use them.
We need those 'cause we're takin' over the black market.
[ so there. because… that's what he wants to do. so he'll do it. this is definitely not the time to sound wishy-washy. ]
We know there have been leaks and it's eatin' into everyone's cash flow. It's just not been a solvable problem before, so naturally… we're gonna solve the unsolvable problem.
[ as one does??? ]
That is, I'm confident that with a combined effort, we'll succeed. That's the advantage we have now that we didn't have before!
But, there is a catch…
[ and he offers an apologetic smile for the trouble that is the rollercoaster of this explanation. ]
We have two months to do that, or Toraguma will personally come and collect my head. And go to war on everyone else. Tenkohime, of course, will not be interfering, and I'd assume they'll clean up what's left and go back to tryin' to kill each other when the time comes. In which case, this place is finished. You all lived through that curse, same as me. If somethin' like that happens again and everybody's all too busy fightin' each other, that's the end of the road.
[ considering the pressure ryouma lives with, he's not trying to shovel it on now to stress anyone out, but he has also never been one to downplay things in the interest of sugarcoating them. they need to be realistic, or it's not going to work. ]
I'm not gonna let that happen. I didn't a long time ago when I was weaker and dumber, so why let it happen now? I have complete faith in all of us. That bein' said, I have more detailed plans for what I intend to do about it, but the first thing we need to do is start investigatin'. Second, I'm lookin' for volunteers to come in on this and take ownership on the side of what's happenin' in the Underground. I don't have the time and, honestly, no interest in managin' all that, but I won't just drop it on somebody an' cut ya loose. If ya wanna work with me too, lemme know.
I know that's a lot, so I'm gonna shut up and yield. I'll answer your questions now, too. Otherwise, I'm happy to hear your ideas. Plans can always stand to be improved, right?
- This is a meeting for all Sutoku Alliance members who have any number of stars.
- Since there will be many people involved in this (at least ten, I think??), I've decided to organise this a little weirdly given time constraints and mod responses and the like.
- I've laid everything out as far as everything Ryouma has to say. Then after that, everyone is free to respond/react/threadjack each other, etc. This way, everyone ICly has all the pertinent information going forward, and no one will have to rush and wonder what was or wasn't explicitly stated, and threads can progress at their own speed after that. I usually don't do "infodump" style posts, but I didn't want to lock anyone into long tag orders to get the info out.
- Finally, there is an OOC interest check for the parts of all this that deal with developing the Underground itself. Since Ryouma is gonna be deep diving into his black market business, I wanted to hand off the rest of this to other people. I have plenty I want to do, and other people should have the opportunity to take over and carry on! Since it will require a bit of coordination and communication with the mods, I'm doing this because I don't want to assume that someone's character having IC responsibility means you wanna take that on OOC. SO! Please only respond here if that's something you would be interested in!
no subject
[...He thinks of the many teenagers that have been gathered in the last few Alliance meet-and-greets that he's seen, especially the ones that were not accustomed to this world of ayakashi and shady dealings. Nervousness and unsure footing, even beyond the usual; that was not his wheelhouse, and he was happy to wash his hands of it. He makes a note to himself to ask the ones he was acquainted with, just how those ones were faring.]
[For the ones he knew, it was the same story as usual. You didn't survive long in their world unless you learned quickly that sacrifices were necessary in order to stay alive. It formed twisted humans, by conventional society's standards, and that was why exorcists had long formed their own societies away from the eyes and morality of those that would shun them, even as their power kept the rest of humanity safe from that they couldn't see. Left to their own worlds, they were an inconvenient necessity that the rest of society did not want to engage with.]
[That was fine. Monsters should be left to do the monstrous things.]
[Matoba's eye drifts downward towards Ryouma's hip again, pondering that. He had noticed it at the top of the meeting, but in this moment several things rang with clarity- between this conversation, between his recent tea with Hizen. His expression doesn't shift much, but he seems somehow amused- like a natural truth laying itself bare again.]
Nor I.
[His smirk remains in his amusement, but he pulls his gaze back away from it and gestures towards outside of the VIP rooms, where tengu staff bustled here and there.]
Have things been smoothed over with the Kasasagi Tengu? I'm surprised you escaped that festival unscathed that night, with how irritated everyone was. [Given his expression, Matoba wasn't that happy either!! Thanks for blueballing him, Ryouma.]
no subject
[ this is a business meeting. and someone he doesn't like very much right now made sure to drive home the point that there isn't a lot of room for emotion in this. it boils down to the simple decision of if there are unused resources, they can allocate them somewhere they can be put to use. basic stuff.
ryouma also wonders if matoba is going to ask about things openly or if, besides the sword, he can sense that something's changed, enough that ryouma is almost a little startled when he's asked about something entirely different. maybe that was on purpose, but ryouma looking foolish isn't such an odd thing anyway. ]
Well, they didn't peck me t' death, if that's what y' mean! I suspect I have the boss t' thank for it not escalatin' further, but I've managed t' look a little chewed up for a few days, at least. That ain't scathed enough, huh?
[ he laughs, even if he shouldn't. he's got the scrapes and scratches, but he's already been failing at the not sorry part of this the whole time. ]
no subject
[And besides, he still had to ask Hizen.]
Ahaha, I thought the crowd would get to you before the crows, [Matoba grins, and finally picks up his tea to relax from the previously dire business discussions. Seems that's been more or less settled.] My apologies for not finding you and giving them a little taste of their own medicine; I got a little sidetracked after I checked in with the boss.
[With watching a forest heretic-god just straight up eat a crow. That was ...interesting.] I suppose that simply means that we will have to make internal appeals to soothe things over, once we have built ourselves up against the outside. What exactly did you give up that they were they so worked up over? Or was it simply useless pride.
no subject
[ because, truly, the amount of times he should have died before he did is a lot. ]
I imagine they thought it was totally unreasonable that we oughta be givin' any territory away period. The boss is alive so why are we even doin' this? But they're proud and I can't blame 'em for that. People didn't like how I did business once upon a time either, but it is what it is.
Even if we didn't need t' give 'em ground I would've 'cause I need the others t' have a real stake in this. If we were the only ones takin' risks it would be real easy for someone t' blow the whole thing an' take it for themselves. This way? They won't so easily sacrifice what they have and the way I worked it out, we make a percentage of their business. They pay rent on territory that was makin' us no money!
[ this could probably seem terribly greedy if he didn't sound so genuinely excited. ]
I'll be more than happy t' buy 'em an appropriate apology gift when the time comes. All our profits'll be used t' strengthen the Alliance collectively, after all! They'll see!
no subject
...Honestly, it's unreasonable to think we could get out of all that without doing so, but they ought to take their complaints to the Boss for causing all that ruckus in the first place, if I may be frank. [Matoba sips at his tea with a shake of his head.] The kappa clan have lost far more than their feathers have been so much as ruffled, and all the kappa I spoke to seem thrilled about the outcome of your negotiations.
Let their pride hurt, then.
[And anyway, he can understand what he means, by forcing the other clans to have a stake. It was sort of luring them in, in a way, so that they couldn't cut and run the next time something went wrong in the Underground.]
...Whatever is down there. [His voice softens, watching the drifting sediment in his cup.] You don't really think they've given up on it, do you?