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Audio Broadcast | A Reverein First!

[There's a hiss and a pop from speakers across Reverein that have newly-arrived with the shift in technology. Get ready, Reverein, for your first ever live audio broadcast!]

--frequency. Testing...Testing! Ah, there we go!

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen! Pardon the technical difficulties at the start! Took a bit of modulation to get the frequency just right! Must be all that dreamotion energy in the air!

Thank you all for tuning in to 66.6 AM, the Radio Demon! Not that you had much choice! Ha!

[Yup, that's Alastor's voice coming from the speakers.]

I'm not sure how long this delightful little change in scenery will last, but I must say I'm absolutely thrilled to be back in the proverbial booth! It'll be good to dust off the old format!

For those of you unfamiliar with the radio, welcome, first-time listeners! What a treat this must be for you!

For those of you who are familiar with this esteemed format, welcome back!

Let's get to the nitty gritty, shall we? For the uninitiated, the radio is a useful little tool to spread news in more or less real time across distances. The radio host -- that's me -- relays it all to you in the comfort of your own homes or perhaps in some charming little cafe you've decided to settle down in for a snack.

Now our little Reverein isn't all that large, so it isn't as if we'll be covering crooked politicians or the like on this program. No no no no! This broadcast will be more a mix of music and local chatter. I have my journal open and ready to read off any tidbits of news from around town whether it be the latest menus from the Wild Harvest -- Not an official advertisement but I feel the need to note that their curry is exquisite! Hope you like it spicy like I do! -- to the latest noctaere sightings!

I'd also be quite thrilled if anyone wished to stop by to discuss things live on-air for all our listeners to hear! For example, the upcoming Flower King and Queen election! If you believe you or someone else deserves to win and wish to make your case before everyone, send me a note via the journal to set up a time!

And do make sure to schedule ahead of time. As a radio host, I hate it when someone attempts to hijack my microphone. I'd rather not have this lovely new experience for Reverein turn sour.

With all that out of the way, let's start off a little music break with Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington performing "It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)"!

[And with that, the song begins to play. And nothing is stopping you from shutting off the speaker if you don't want to keep tuning in.]

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[ Well, consider Susato startled. She has been busy the past couple days since finding out about the upcoming flower festival, sprucing up the Wild Harvest with the appropriate floral arrangements, and also perfecting her new recipe for Glowing Dawn butter cookies, since she decided to change it last minute.

Even with all the changes that she's still adjusting to, she hadn't expected the speakers to suddenly turn on. There may have been some flowers that suddenly popped up in her surprise, but it's fine. ]

Alastor? Was that you?

[ If he introduced himself, she missed it. She didn't miss the shout-out to the Wild Harvest though, or her cooking. She has to at least thank him for that. ]

You mean that highly-successful first broadcast? Why, yes! It was me!

[And he's pleased as punch about it!]

Edited 2022-04-04 02:23 (UTC)

[ She can tell! ]

How wonderful! I've never heard anything like it! And thank you, for mentioning the Wild Harvest.

[ She will definitely leave the speakers on for the music. ]

This new Reverein sure has its perks.

It was my pleasure, sweetheart! If you all get more customers, that means you stay open which means I get to sample more such intriguing dishes! Everybody wins!

I do hope that this change sticks but one never knows with a dream world, I suppose.

Oh, yes. I can't speak to that, but you should certainly enjoy it while it lasts. When will you do it again? Will you have a name for your broadcasts? [ Is that a thing? Do radio shows have names? ] ...Do you have your heart set on anyone, for Flower King and Queen?

Considering I don't have the team the station I worked for had when I was alive to help chase down stories and Reverein itself isn't exactly bustling with major events, I'm planning an initial weekly broadcast to give myself time to plan a properly entertaining and informative program, adjusting the timing of the broadcasts as necessary to find the right balance.

As for a name, well, I hadn't really thought about it! When I was alive, I worked for a station and I always introduced the station first. In this case, my "station" is my personal frequency: 66.6 AM. Then I'd introduce myself (though I decided to use my unofficial title this time). When it was time for me to sign off, I'd announce the next presenter and remind my listeners of my own timeslot. I had quite a program back then, running from mid-morning to late-afternoon -- eight hours...or more if I needed to fill in time for another host -- though I don't imagine these broadcasts will run that long. Still, I'd be open to suggestions for an official name!

I also need to find a more permanent place to broadcast from. My reach isn't what I'm used to, so I need to find the right spot for the most coverage. I imagine my own treehouse didn't receive the signal or it was faint due to being on the outer edges of the town.

[He pauses to chuckle even if she can't hear it.]

Now, now, that would be telling! Besides, I'd hate to use my broadcast to force the outcome of an election! I need to be at least publicly impartial!

[ . . . Wow, that's a lot to unpack. He might be happy to know that she chuckles a bit too, at the very tail end of his message, but she does take a moment to go back through and read everything. He took the time to write it all out, after all. ]

That is so much work! I admit, I was not prepared with my own suggestion for a name, but perhaps I can help in other ways... If you are only planning on one explosive broadcast per week, I'm sure I could spend some time after work, making a transcript of your show. I think eight hours would be a bit much for me, however. Clearly Reverein doesn't have the material to fill such a hefty time slot, but what you've managed today should be doable for me. I think. That way you are able to keep a record, and share it, if need be.

Oh dear! I hadn't meant to imply that I was trying to recruit you to my little broadcast, sweetheart! Honestly, I'm not planning on much in the way of staff to begin with since Reverein is such a small town.

The only reason my old broadcasts went on for so long was due to living in a city during a time period when news could be gathered from around the world, not just the local area. There was always something to talk about that my listeners were interested in along with ads and music breaks! No, I imagine that the average broadcast in Reverein will take about two hours, maybe three, depending on the number of topics, advertisements, and guests. Something I can more than handle on my own unless suddenly Reverein becomes a bustling metropolis overnight. Which, given the sudden shift we're currently seeing, perhaps I should brace myself for!

[ ...It's for the best. Susato might have realized then that she is already rather overextended, between the Wild Harvest and compiling Mr Sholmes' notes. ]

I understand. Well, you can always call on my assistance if you find it is needed, Alastor. Given Reverein's nature, it is best if we are able to adapt quickly to changing conditions. If I may ask, what time period are you from, exactly?

[Don't overwork yourself, Susato. Alastor would hate to see a young woman collapse from exhaustion.]

I appreciate the offer and will certainly keep it in mind!

The early 1900s. I died in 1933.

[ Yujin would probably agree with him...

...... ]

You died? But how did you die? [ Is that a thing, to die and live to tell about it? Here, she might not question it as much, but Alastor is from New Orleans...! ]

Nothing terribly exciting: I was mistaken for a deer by a hunter.

[Which partially explains his current look.]

[ Insert Bambi joke here? ]

That is rather sad, actually. When you mentioned that you and my father spoke of the afterlife, I suppose I did not realize you meant it so...literally.

[Bring on the Bambi jokes. He just won't understand a single one.]

I didn't think to mention it. It's old news for me: almost ninety years old to be frank. Any lingering trauma from the event has long since faded.

[And been replaced by new trauma because, y'know, Hell.]

[ That's okay. Susato is before Bambi's time anyway... but ninety...

Wow, and she already thought 76 and Reaper's partnership was a lifetime, and they only worked together for half as long, as she was told. ]

So you are stuck this way? Unaging, unchanging? Suddenly I understand what you meant. When you mentioned getting bored, and what a horror it is. [ No, Susato, he specifically said that he was a horror-- ]

That's the thing nobody stops to consider about eternity: It takes forever.

[Honestly, Alastor could easily see himself getting bored in Heaven, too. Not that he was getting a set of wings any time soon.]

...Then what do you do in that other realm, besides learn more instruments? Were you able to keep your radio show going somehow? Clearly you still have an affinity for it. Even without Reverein's new... [ She doesn't know the word 'speakers.' ] technology.

[ She still recalls the music he played at the Wild Harvest. ]

I do a lot of travel, and I've been fortunate enough to keep my radio show going, yes. The format changed with my change in location, of course, but one adapts to one's surroundings!

[Kinda hard to explain the fact that his first broadcast in Hell was him slaughtering overlords live on air and forcing all of Hell to listen...]

I see...

[ Well. She can definitely sense that there are some things he is glossing over, but it doesn't bother her too terribly much. She doesn't know everything, but by now, she knows he'd certainly led an interesting life. ]

You've certainly adapted well. I'm sure the flower festival will give you much to talk about, so I can only wish you the best of luck from here! [ Keep up the good work? ]

Thank you, my dear! And I do hope you enjoy my little program going forward!

[Well, someone didn't waste time using those speakers. So radios aren't a thing yet in his time, but what he can gather from the explanation and what does exist, sounded like sending a telegram without the beeps. Broadcasting the news through audio instead of paper. Easy enough to comprehend. It was just background sound to him until the mention of the Wild Harvest comes up. Well, it may not be an official advertisement, but it's nice to hear his pub in a good light.]

You can always request the curry again, even if it's not the special for the month. Just as long as we have the ingredients.

[Are you kidding? The second he realized he had something to connect to, he was all over that like a gator on unsuspecting prey.]

I may have to take you all up on that offer!

Though I do intend to try your specials. Variety is the spice of life, after all!

I've certainly discovered some new dishes I wouldn't have gotten to enjoy back home thanks to the staff.

I take it you enjoy a bit of spice in your food, Mr. Alastor, was it?

Alastor, yes! A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Kazuma! Or should it be "Mr. Asogi"?

And if I didn't enjoy spicy food, I would've starved to death by the time I was two! Creole food is heavy on the spices!

Mr. Asogi is fine. Thank you for mentioning my pub.

This is the first time I've ever heard of Creole cuisine. Besides being spicy, what's the usual?

One of the two main local styles of good old New Orleans, Louisiana: Creole and Cajun. Both are heavily-spiced which can often translate into spicy to those not used to it. They typically use a roux as a base along with the Holy Trinity: onion, celery, and bell peppers. Plenty of garlic but also paprika, thyme, ground sassafras, parsley, green onions, seafood, and other ingredients, too. The main difference between the two styles is preparation: Creole tends to be more "dressed up" than Cajun like adding tomatoes and using butter in place of oil when making the roux. Cajun also tends to use more of the animal than Creole. Creole food is "city food" while Cajun is from the bayou and countryside.

Honestly, that curry I had at your establishment is very similar to jambalaya, a local dish. Perhaps sometime I could bring some for you all to sample the difference.

Honestly, more spice just means more flavorful to me. I have a feeling 76 would warm up to cooking this style of food easily.

[Maybe there could be a cajun style special meal for one month.] I think we'd all love to give some a try. Jambalaya, was it?

The Creator did give us so many spices. Why not use them?

[If you're planning that, you'd better ask Alastor to teach you otherwise he will be your harshest critic. You better not sully his culinary heritage.]

Wonderful! We'll have to arrange a time for it then! Perhaps if I get up early enough, I could also let you all taste a proper gumbo!

[Yes. "Get up early enough". Because this style of cooking isn't something you can just throw together real quick. Those flavors need time to build.]

Is gumbo time sensitive?

Perhaps once we work out what these sudden changes in Reverin mean and it's not a sign of danger, we could schedule in a day and time.

If you want a true gumbo, it needs to cook at a simmer for three to four hours minimum. I suppose you could take shortcuts by increasing the heat, but why would you ruin it like that? No, the proper flavor profile needs time to build.

[Somebody is a bit of a food snob. Can you tell?]

Sounds wonderful! I look forward to it!

Oh, I see. Like preparing tonkatsu broth.

[He can definitely understand that some dishes need a bit more time to taste amazing.]

Do what you're able. Gumbo can always be for another day.

Never heard of it but I do hope it's on your menu one day for me to try!

[ To say that the sudden broadcast startles Naminé would be something of an understatement, and the state of the drawing she's working on at the time is proof enough of that. (She'll figure out how to work in the line through the middle sooner or later, she's sure.) At first she's set scrambling to find the source of the noise, piping a confused, 'Alastor?!' along the way. Once she's managed to locate and adjust the control for the volume - the wrong direction first, to her ears' chagrin, then the right one - it takes a good few seconds for her to start processing the words beyond the voice.

But once she does, well-- she's fascinated the whole way through, slim fingers tucked against the table as she leans close and curiously toward the radio. Quietly she listens, motionless and focused, and only after the first song or two does she finally gather the presence of mind to go for her journal. ]

You did it!

[ Her writing's a faster scribble than it usually is; evidently this whole radio business is an exciting development for her, too. ]

You caught my broadcast! Wonderful!

[His handwriting is still clearly legible but there's extra flourishes due to his own excitement. He's riding a post-performance high right now.]

Did you enjoy yourself, my dear?

Not on purpose, exactly, but I was glad that I did.
I didn't even realize that that thing that showed up was a radio.

[ Or that said radio was on ahead of the broadcast, so. ]

Of course! You're always entertaining, Alastor.
I liked the music a lot, but I think it might have been too exciting for me.
It was so fast that it almost made me nervous.

[ Poor thing's still learning to cope with new stimuli after so much of her earlier life was spent isolated. ]

I'm glad! My reach isn't as far as I'm used to, sadly. I set myself as central to the town as I could to maximize the number of listeners.

[He hums with thought even if she can't hear it.]

Not a fan of swing then! I'll make sure to blend in other styles for next time!

It must be a pretty long range if that was less than you usually have.
Can you tell how many people you're reaching?

[ Brighten though she does at the suggestion, she feels a bit torn about it. She has to admit, ]

If you do have something slower, that might be easier for me. That way my ears can rest for a little while.
Thank you for considering me.

But I wouldn't say that I'm not a fan, or that I am either. It was fun to listen to, just tiring.
There must be lots of different 'swing' songs, right? Are they all so energetic?

[ She can at least identify that he's talking about a type of music, even if she's a bit sketchy on the details. ]

It's more of a feeling than exact numbers. Like reaching your arm out for something: You don't know the exact distance but you have some inkling of just what's within your reach and what isn't.

My dear, there's no need to explain yourself! Sometimes a particular genre (or, in this case, subgenre) of music just doesn't hit the right notes with you! If nothing else, being able to broadcast means I can introduce others to some of the library I have stashed away in my head to find something they like they might not have ever heard before!

[He might judge you on your taste in music depending on what you prefer listening to but that's to be expected.]

I think I know what you mean.
A lot of magic seems to be that way.

[ Sort of intuitive, rather than clearly defined. ]

I'm glad that you understand.
And I'm really grateful that you're sharing it with all of us, too!
Music is so wonderful, but I've heard so few songs. There's a lot I know I'm missing out on.
It feels like I owe you a lot, since so many of the ones I have heard now came from you.

[ He's pretty much helping define her musical taste, here. ]

[Good. He's making sure you have taste.]

Well, I've got quite a library stored up in my head. If you'd like, perhaps we could sit down for tea sometime and we could see if there's anything stored away in there that's more to your liking!

That sounds like a lot of fun.
Maybe I'd learn some things about tea, too.

[ That's another of those experiences that have been limited for her.

There are an awful lot of them, aren't there? ]

But are you sure you wouldn't mind?
After all, you've heard the songs already.

[ So it'd just be for her benefit, right? Unless his love of radio applies even if he's only performing for one. ]

I wouldn't mind at all! What good is music if you don't share it?!

And why have recordings if you can't listen to your favorites whenever you like, hmm?

I'm sure one person could really enjoy it on their own!
Then again, you know more about it than I do. If it's meant be shared, maybe I've just been missing out.

But that's a good question. Aside from finding things I like, will you play me your very favorite songs, too?

Oh of course! Still, half of the fun of music is enjoying it with others!

And, dear, you seem to think I haven't been doing so already. I've got quite a long list of favorites.

I suppose that makes sense. People do really seem to like doing things that they find fun together, whether they need to or not.

[ Spoken like someone totally unused to socializing like a normal person-- ]

If that's the case, then which one do you like the most out of all of them? Assuming you're able to choose.

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Audio Broadcast | A Reverein First!

Sender: Susato Mikotoba

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Sender: Kazuma Asogi

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Crap. I typed "Creole" by mistake. I meant "Cajun". Oh well.

oh lol whoops

Yeah, I derped. XD It doesn't help that most people use them interchangeably.

Well it worked out and Kazuma got to learn about both ahah

...JUST AS PLANNED. /cough

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Sender: Naminé

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