Video | UN: jalbarea

[noblerise]

WHO: Jusis and all o' y'all!
WHERE: Network
WHEN: January 8th
WHAT: Someone new has arrived on the Libra app, but this time by, uh, some definition of choice.
WARNINGS: None so far, but headers will have them if needed!

[There's a new face gracing Libra's network. He's wearing a nice, green suit and a solid, darker green tie. Jusis is a man who looks professional and rather severe, especially with his resting bitch face. When he speaks, there's a subtle German accent that can be heard if you're looking for it.]

My name is Jusis Albarea, Esquire, a prosecuting attorney attached to Kaisou's police force. Though I'm new to the Libra app, I'm afraid that Kaisou has gained a certain... reputation lately.

[His face doesn't really betray any emotion as he says that.]

In the spirit of cooperation, and because I see more downsides to keeping it a secret than being open about it, I'll tell you this: I'm a member of The Black Order. I'm here to investigate what has been happening in Kaisou.

[Jusis sighs in what sounds a little like tiredness.]

Whether you help me or not is entirely up to you. I'm not going to force it. That being said, if anything dangerous comes up, you can count on my skills to help protect Kaisou and its people.

Comments

[thavnairian]

[Good, then he'll fit right in!]

A Guardian? Is that what you're called in the Black Order?

[He pauses. This definitely brings up some unpleasant memories of which he was not entirely a part of, but finding out afterward still sucked.]

Yes and no. There are definitely some things on the app that children can't see. After the tragedy early last year, only teenagers of a certain age can enter the more dangerous spirit realms by themselves—otherwise they need an escort to get inside, which is something I think we can all agree on... We don't need another death match.

The adults here, which I am shockingly a part of, do their level best to keep an eye on the younger ones. Unfortunately most of us are ill-equipped to be the parents of multiple children, so we can miss things.

[So it's fucked up, but maybe not so obviously fucked up that they have to worry about Zodiac indoctrinating them.]

Not really. But I do trust that they really like money, which is more sincere of a motivation than some people I've dealt with.

[noblerise]

In The Black Order, operatives working in the field are known as Guardians.

['Tragedy,' huh.... Jusis can imagine what that might've been, given Amal followed that up with the words 'death match.']

I see. I'm afraid the best I can do to support them is if they brush up against the wrong side of the law. I can cover for them to an extent, especially their lack of having a legal guardian.

[There's a faint look of displeasure that flickers across his face for a split second, but he does reluctantly agree.]

That's one way to look at it, I suppose. A company as big as Zodiac will do everything in its power to continue making money and protect their assets.

[thavnairian]

Ah, got it!

[Yeah, it was bad. So bad, in fact, that it's a good thing Amal slept through it because otherwise he would have gotten himself killed.]

That's not nothing. [Despite being a lawyer and a Black Order member, Amal has a pretty good feeling about Jusis.] If one of them falls through the cracks, no one is going to pull them out. It's up to us.

[He caught that, but the meaning of it? Not his business.]

Exactly. In that way, they're familiar to me, and predictable to an extent.

I still haven't completely forgiven them for not telling us the whole truth about why we can't go home, though. We only found out after someone stumbled into disaster.

[That's a nicer way of saying "Varian did it", but he's not going to slander a kid on the network unless he's verbally sparring them or something. It's unseemly otherwise.]

[noblerise]

[Jusis nods at that. He can certainly appreciate that he and Amal seem to be on the same page regarding this issue.]

This is true. If you hear anything before I do about one of them getting into legal trouble, let me know. I'll see what I can do for them.

[Cases involving kids has always been hard on him. Whether it's because the kid is being charged or because the kid was the victim, it still hurts his heart.

There's a hint of scorn in his eyes at that, though most definitely not directed at Amal. He's definitely read the report on the portal incident, but having that information to provide context for it is exactly what he's been looking for. It also validates him for always making sure to follow up with people involved to fully understand it.]

Hmph, despicable. I won't defend a single one of my colleagues for misleading or making promises that we can't keep, but that is gross negligence on Zodiac's part.

[thavnairian]

I will. [His tone is light, but he gives the impression that it's a promise.]

I can't say the Black Order has ever treated me badly, but I've barely dealt with them, which is more than I can say about Zodiac. If there's one thing I despise it's being lied to. The truth is a little hard to swallow, sure, but that's no excuse for giving us all some kind of false hope.

Our worlds are dead or dying and we're all to be reborn if we haven't been already. Some of us are a little behind... but we all go the same.

A twist of fate could have put me in your position. I won't forget that.

[noblerise]

[Well... that actually gets some respect from Jusis. He can certainly appreciate Amal's perspective on it.]

Just as a twist of fate could've had me in your position instead.

[It's not a comfortable thought, but just because it's uncomfortable doesn't mean he can't consider it as a possibility. Hell, there's a distinct possibility that his past life's friends from that world may come here someday.]

Thank you for being so candid with me. I'm not one to shy from the truth, no matter how dire.

[thavnairian]

[That's what happens when the mask comes off. Unfortunately, he's insufferable the other 70% of the time.]

I'm glad you understand.

[He smiles a little.]

We need more of that around here. Too many people are happy to accept appearances as they are, never bothering to scratch at the gold paint to see what's underneath.

[noblerise]

[Jusis has known more insufferable than Amal, to be fair. At least, so far as he knows right now.]

If it's not apathy, it's fear of whatever ugliness is underneath the gold filigree.

[Definitely experience talking there.]