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jigokufever2022-06-24 11:00 am
jigokumods) wrote in jigokufever2022-06-24 11:00 am
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June 2022 Test Drive
MAIN NAVIGATION
1. CLEAN UP
The curse has broken, finally banishing the oppressive air around the city and the many sightless eyes of the accursed haniwa. Life will have to return to normal now but first there is lingering clean-up that must be attended to:SHUTEN CLAN
The Shuten Clan is out in force to rebuild damaged storefronts. Eager oni appear in their festival happi, singing oni working tunes. You can pick up the words easily enough, join in and help out. The mood starts bright, but after a number of unlucky accidents there is less singing and more grumbling. The cursed energy left behind has made all of you much more prone to workplace accidents but the storefronts need to be scrubbed, broken glass needs sweeping, new furniture needs construction. There are any number of thumbs smashed by hammers, hands cut on saws, heads hit with falling debris or that board of wood you didn’t see someone carrying towards you. It’s a cursed day to be out on the job.
Rewards will come in the form of free drinks for a week from specific bars and a generous amount of chips for the casinos. If you aren’t of age to drink or gamble? Well… they’ll look the other way this time. Have fun.
It should be noted that the uniform -- a happi, a hachimaki, and fundoshi -- is required. The Shuten Clan is very traditional, after all.TAMAMO CLAN
The bathhouses in Tamamo clan territory remain full of bloodied water. They need to be drained and scrubbed to make them new again. However, reaching the drains is a tricky business. You can’t simply reach in to pull out the plug, you will have to wade into the water to twist it free. Easy enough, right?
Unfortunately, residual curse energy has made this a very dangerous task. Phantasmal hands will reach out and try to drag you under as you get too close to the drain. The phantasms can be distracted, so you’ll need some teamwork to succeed. Your reward is a significant amount of free bath coupons. Some of the advertised baths even have “special” properties. Take the chance to relax, you probably need it.
Those that are rejuvenated in the newly purified baths will find themselves with seemingly limitless vigor. That vigor may sometimes manifest in the form of desperately needing to fuck the first thing willing to do so. Which might turn out somewhat embarrassing...SUTOKU CLAN
The residual cursed energy in the Sutoku Alliance territory has congregated in their many arcades. The prizes in the UFO catcher machines seem off and they keep shifting around. If you happen to win a prize, the prize slot snaps shut on your hand with amazing force: the machine out for blood. To clear the curse, the prizes need to be removed from the machines and purified with the help of a local shrine maiden. Unfortunately, the key ring to open the machines has been stolen by some of the unruly prizes. You will need to use your UFO catcher skills to fish it back out.
Try not to lose any fingers.
Other machines are shooting tokens out of their coin slots at astonishingly painful speeds. A strange phenomenon, as even the machines that take swipe cards are doing it. Where are those tokens even coming from? You will have to get the machines open and give them a deep cleaning to get all the residual blood off the coins and mechanisms. You need the same keys that are stuck inside the UFO catcher…. Better hope you can fish out the one you need.
For your troubles, you will be given unlimited free plays for a month. Perfect for winning a totally-not-cursed prize for your sweetie.ENMA DEPARTMENT
It’s the Department of the Enma’s turn to go begging for good will. They are considered to be mostly responsible for the way the cursed haniwa were handled in the first place. Enma souls should get out on the streets and see what the people need: Food, clean water, housing repairs and maintenance, as well as exorcisms. They’re all high on people’s priority lists and most people want it done pronto. Try not to get snappy with the angry people, the department’s reputation is on the line.
The Enma is slated to give a press conference at some point. It's up to the rest of the Department to assure that there will be reception to his words. They are likely to be of grave importance to the rest of the city.
A hard day’s work is its own reward, but you’ll also get a day pass to a theme park on the edge of the city – in the name of community outreach, of course.
2. GHOST SHARKS
The very streets themselves are treacherous with residual curses. The isonades may have been intimidated out of town for the moment but the anger of their ancestors lingers in the bloody puddles that still glisten in the streets. Come too close to these puddles and spectral sharks will lunge from beneath the surface: Blood for blood! Lives for lives!
While spectral in nature, the teeth on these sharks can still do real harm to anyone they lash out at. They don’t seem to take damage in kind, but will pop and disperse for a moment when struck. The ghostly sharks are being populated by a magic totem that has been partially buried in the dirt of a local park. Destroy it and the sharks will disappear.
Unfortunately, a pack of snotty local children have taken a shine to this magic totem. They are not keen to let you take it from them, nor break it. It’s theirs. It’s special. If you’re feeling brutish or cruel, you can fight the children or deceive them, but your boss would probably suggest you try to bargain with them for appearance’s sake. They’re entirely unreasonable though, as children can be, and it will be quite a chore to get them to agree to your terms.
3. CURSED CORNERS
There are certain corners and alleyways which are simply predisposed to gather cursed energy. These areas are still haunted enough to affect the reality around you. You may experience hallucinations or visions of lost loved ones, past regrets, personal failings. These visions are played out in the area for all to see. You will remain frozen in place until your moment is done, or someone brave comes to pull you out.
Now that the worst of it is over, some of the more morbid and voyeuristic members of the public may be lurking around these haunted areas, waiting to see what horrors will be unveiled. They have out their phones and their cameras to record the show.
The cruelest of the spectators provide commentary to their social media followings as they observe. Anything for that monetization!
The biggest of the streams is a kerakera onna who goes by her channel name: Lipsticki. She leans in over the rooftops to cackle loudly at people’s misfortunes and give petty, scathing commentary about their misdeeds and failings.
4. THE ENMA SPEAKS (PLOT RELEVANT)
Outside the hospital where the Enma was being treated, there is a huge press gathering. The judge arbiter has been deemed fit enough to release. Hungry for word, journalists from every publication swarm the area. Most press-outlets in the city are controlled by the Sutoku Alliance, who have a vested interested in interrogating the Enma.
A number of other onlookers have tacked on as well, including Lost Souls both old and new. Lost Souls may even find themselves ordered to attend the statement by their faction.
It is assumed that the Enma must have something of grave importance to say, after all.
The Enma approaches the podium. He is dressed in his usual suit, his crown, and his stern expression; it puts a hush over the crowd through its tremendous pressure alone. No questions have been asked, yet, but a statement has been prepared. He clears his throat:
"The cause of the curse, the enemy of Jigokucho, is... Haniyasu. The Department's focus will be shifting to determining our next action in regards to this entity. That is all."
Just like, the Enma's secretary and a retinue of armored shinigami move to flank the Enma and guide them to a waiting limo down the steps. The press yells their questions over one another, but are pushed back. The Enma doesn't even seem to perceive them, simply focusing on getting into the car.
Unfortunately, if you're a representative for one of the factions -- especially the Department of the Enma -- that makes you fair game to hound for questioning too. Do you stand your ground or try to run away?
[[banner art by s-tokimura]]
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no subject
Yeah, you can have all of them if you want. [ he's serious, it's now more important than ever to get this bath cleaned as quickly as possible. or at least, drain it so they can take care of whatever might be lurking below. even though it's not particularly deep, it's not easy to see through it, not clear at all. ]
... guess you're strugglin' too, huh?
[ said as he tries to keep her behind him. just in case it goes for her again--- it'll have to go through him. itto bends over, reaches and feels the bottom of the bath, but not finding the stopper--- ]
I think I can feel it. Yeah, this is it. I'm pretty sure.
[ --- and instead, pulls up a ghostly looking hand with wicked claws. itto issues a statement: ]
This is... this ain't it.
[ letting go, he falls back onto his ass. ]
no subject
[ It doesn't help that she can't see anything beneath the water or that her powers are somehow sealed up and inaccessible. Anemo would've been useful in parting the waters for them and revealing the drain stopper and everything else that's underwater, but as it stands, they're not even granted that boon in this situation.
In any case, she peers from behind his back, ready to jump into action if he gets dragged down under like she was. Instead: ]
... No. That's, that's not it, I don't think.
[ At the very least, he's not screaming like a little girl?? A part of her, not gonna lie, expected him to somehow at the sight of that terrifying arm, but this is a good thing, right? Yup, this is a good thing. They're both calm and composed despite the horror that surrounds them. ]
Do you need me to go— [ She pauses to grab a hand that's starting to crawl up his hair, tossing it back into the water. ] Underwater again to check?
no subject
... nah, I'll try. Just uh.
[ right. there's a certain kind of tactic one might need to use here, and he trusts lumine to handle it properly. ]
Hold my hair back, okay?
[ a very classic strategy that is mostly used in certain cases, but this time? sort of worth doing without what might accompany the activities before and certainly not the ones after. he's had to do it for others before, and others have had to do it for him. itto isn't a lightweight but he always assumes he's better at holding his drink than---
and he plunges headfirst in. eyes closed, because he's pretty sure there's nothing worth looking to see. fingers fumble around, hands slap the bottom of the bath to make sure he's not touching anything not solid or willing to grab him back.
when he grasps onto something that feels like the short chain of a plug, he tries to pull. to no avail, it's snug. must be swollen. so itto does his best to try to pull as hard as he can, beginning to stir up the water from below, yanking with his entire body to get the dang thing free...! ]
no subject
[ Lumine gives him a nod before she literally gathers his hair into her hands and holds it above the water—almost like a leash, really, or a rope to drag him back up to the surface. It's pointless, considering it's already been soaked and dirtied by the muck and blood, but hey, whatever helps him.
She can't really see what he's doing underwater, but the fact that she can see ripples on the surface and she can sense movement from his hair alone is enough to reassure her that he's fine. For now. A full minute passes, however, and she can feel concern rising up her throat like bile. It doesn't help that everything in this bath stinks to high heaven.
Is he okay, though? Or did those hands grab him? He's not thrashing and he's still moving around, so that might be a good thing? But still, he seems like he's struggling.
Lumine tugs at his hair, a little harder than she's supposed to, trying to get him to come back up for now. If he can't pull the drain stopper just yet, they can try again. ]
... Itto, you need air to breathe.
no subject
and so he relents. nothing endangering him quite yet means he can take this time. bursting out of the water, he almost forgot what it was like to breathe and only regrets it slightly that they're in this enclosed space where fresh air doesn't really exist. ]
Gah! [ an exclamation as he takes a few big and deep breaths. ] Whew. Yeah, uh... sorry 'bout that.
[ he turns around just enough so that she can see his smile--- a little weary, but held without issue. ]
It's definitely stuck. I put all I could into it, and I still couldn't get it out. Maybe if...
[ itto grimaces. he lets out a somewhat ragged sigh. ]
... if you go, I can pull you by the waist. I think my fingers might be a little too... uh. Too big. I guess.
[ big hands... big horns. big lack of fine motor skills. he has it all. ]
no subject
lumine takes a step back when he finally breaks through the surface of the water, raising her arms to shield herself from the splash he's just made. it's enough that she's been dragged underwater just a few minutes ago; she doesn't need another round of dousing in horrible-smelling water, thanks. but good, he's okay. ]
I'm just glad you're okay.
[ you know what they say about rocks and water ...
anyway, she listens to him ramble about his challenges in trying to pull the drain, bringing her hand to her chin in thought as she considers his plan through. it's a little risky (and honestly ridiculous) but it might just work. it won't be the first time she's tried to do something stupid.
a moment later, lumine gives him a determined nod. anything to get this over and be done with. ]
Okay, but if I start thrashing, you have to pull me out. There are things underwater that are not very friendly.
no subject
he's happy that she is amenable to his suggestion; this allows him to do the bravest thing ever--- switch positions by moving around and nudging her to where he was just standing. closer to where the plug is, where she should possibly have an easier time trying to unstuck the stuck. get that thing out so they can go on with their lives, and no one would have to carry any corpses out of a bathhouse. bathhouses are for bathing. this isn't a makeshift funeral home!
itto carefully places his hands around her waist. she has to have some strong core muscles; he's a little jealous, his balance isn't exactly the greatest, so. maybe he'll just marvel at that for a while before he shakes himself out of the stupor, hopefully before she realizes it. ]
I gotcha. Don't worry, you think Arataki "No Oni's Going to Drown Here" Itto is gonna let you go?
[ new name. ]
no subject
lumine steels herself for the inevitable dive back into the murky, dangerous bathwater (something she never thought she would ever combine in a sentence, but okay) and reminds herself that she's not a stranger to stupid ideas. nope. this is definitely a stupid idea, but it's a stupid idea that could save them both from the hassle of staying here longer.
also, that voucher—she really wants that voucher to take a proper bath, archons. ]
If you eat ten sweet madames every day, you can have a waist like this, too.
[ yes, she's noticed that he's momentarily distracted by touching her. itto, are you twelve? ]
Okay, let's do this before I change my mind.
[ she takes a deep breath and sinks into the water, ignoring the freezing cold fingers that wrap around her arm as she tries to find the plug.
it takes her several seconds to finally find it, tugging it as hard as she could. when it won't budge, she tries to wrap the metal chain around her fingers and taps itto's hand on her waist.
time to pull. ]