jigokufever | June 2022 Test Drive

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June 2022 Test Drive

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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[And he has some sort of special senses as well? She'd be fascinated if she wasn't a little concerned about the implications. How powerful were some of these people? And how much had they had to do to regain that power?

Well. Questions for later. For now, she's mostly just curious. Her priority thus far has been learning her way around, both literally and figuratively, and seeing this sense in action might show her something useful.

Also she didn't have anything better to do, other than keep avoiding haunted puddles. And that hadn't been working out terribly well for her. She gives him her a well-practiced disaffected smirk.]

I suppose I may as well come with you and make myself useful.

[ He does note that tine of a haughty attitude, but well, people come in all flavours of personality. Whether or not he likes someone, he judges by their actions and the kindness they show to other people. ]

Just so you know, I don't know how safe it'll be. [ While 'Hell' isn't quite as bad as the land of the living as far as he's seen so far, it's still got its dangers, especially with the residual effects of the Haniwa. Megumi's the honest sort (most of the time), so he puts that out there.

With his sharp memory, he more or less knows the way to the park from here. He starts to walk. They should probably have something to call each other? He isn't too great with introductions, but it's useful for if they have any need to draw the other's attention. ]

Your name ...?

[The comment rankles her. At first, her frustration is aimed at him, but without her bending, he's not wrong. She admitted as much before. Still, she doesn't let the irritation show in her face as she follows him.]

I'll be careful, I'm not planning on losing any parts I care about over this.

[An understatement. Heroic martyrdom was a foolish weakness, and she'd seen more than one person brought low by it. No, thank you.]

You may call me Azula. What should I call you?

[ Why can he sense a bit of tension, like she's annoyed? Still, he knows it's a frustrating situation for anyone, especially since she's likely been stripped of her power like he was upon first arriving. ]

Fushiguro Megumi. [ He has a girl's name, but she would only know that if there are similar names where she comes from. Megumi keeps his eyes forward as he navigates, a bit of silence settling in as he ponders if he should keep the conversation going or not. He's not an extroverted person, but he's also naturally curious about other people. ]

It looked there like you have some fighting skills. What were you doing before this? [ Before she might have ... died and entered Hell? He does wonder if she knows about that too, and if he needs to give a brief. ]

[The name isn't remarkable to her- just one more foreign thing in a city that's full of them. She commits it to memory as useful knowledge, but makes no other mention of it. The silence also suits her just fine, so she certainly has no awkwardness about the gap in the conversation.

Where she does find awkwardness, however, is in his question. The first part is slightly frustrating- another reminder of the loss of her bending- but the second question-

Her mother, hidden behind the face of an ugly peasant, looks up at her with fear. 'I'm sorry,' she lies, 'that I didn't love you enough.' Her brother hides his contempt with a mask of false compassion as he chases her. 'I can help you. I want to help you.' Lies again. As always.

She grits her teeth and specifically looks ahead, hoping the dim lighting and indirect angle masks the cracks in her composure, but at least she can keep her voice under control.]

Oh, just dealing with dull family drama. I won't bore you with the details.

[ The tension in the air that settles after he had posed his question is not missed, given Megumi's general sensitivity to the ones around him. It was a casual question, and he was just curious about the sorts of things she would do back home. Then again, any young girl with the capacity for fighting likely has a story. He shoots her a quick glance, but out of consideration doesn't draw any attention to the slight changes in her countenance, where he might have struck a nerve unintentionally.

Family drama. Never a fun thing, he imagines, even if he can't exactly relate (having not much of a family himself). ]

It's like that, huh ... [ Awkward. He doesn't know what to say to that. He's a bit caught off guard, actually. ]

I'll listen if you want to talk about it? [ Is this what he's supposed to say in response to this? So awkward. ] Are you okay?

Well, I don't want to talk about it.

[...And just like that, she's off-balance, broadcasting her weaknesses like the emotional child he was treating her as. Ugh. Sloppy. She recomposes herself, and her next sentence is a lot less cold and venomous and a lot more conversational and polite again.]

Anyway, it's not important as long as I'm in this place.

[There. Civil. Controlled. That was better. The last thing she needed, powerless and isolated as she was, was to alienate potentially useful people.

Especially potentially useful people who could also be a threat, which he clearly could.]

[ That's not exactly a reaction that would alienate him. It's a fair response, honestly, to someone probing about your personal issues. He accepts the admonishing and leaves it like that, no longer feeling like he has to say something to try and comfort her in some way. Honestly, he wouldn't have been too great at that.

They can move on, which is agreeable to him. Everyone's got issues they've left behind back home. He has unfinished business of his own, but there's no point to fretting about it when there's nothing he can really do about having died and gone to Hell. ]

Do you know about 'Hell' yet?

[Well, he doesn't immediately react with hostility or suspicion- she'd managed not to make an enemy with her sloppiness, at least. She should have been better than that.

She does allow a hint of detached amusement to slip into her voice when she responds to her question, as if she finds the idea ridiculous.]

That we're all dead, and this is supposed to be the spirit world? Do you actually believe that?

[Her default reaction has been to treat everything she was told on arrival as, if not lies, at least selective truth to control them. She certainly doesn't remember dying, for one thing, and she wasn't prone to trust random beings that tried to control her. But...

Well. She tries not to think about it, not to talk about it, to proceed with the assumption that it's not true... but some part of her has decided that them `being dead` is the only thing about the entire story that she believes.]

[ That skepticism was his initial reaction too, but he's settled into a general nonchalance about the whole thing, the question that he might or might not be deceased not really making a difference in the grand scheme of things. ]

Some people remember dying, while some don't. This place is swarming with spiritual energy, however. To be honest, there's more evidence pointing to the fact that we might be dead.

[ Megumi was also in a fight before, so honestly, it's very possible he was killed in it without having any chance to process it. It's annoying, but the only thing they really can do is move on.

That's probably a downer for her to hear? He's sensitive to the feelings of others but not always sensitive with his words.

Also, the park appears to be coming into view. ]

[She last remembered running toward the Forgetful Valley.

It was a dangerous place. She hadn't thought of the danger- she wasn't exactly in a place of mental clarity, even for her- but she knew, logically, that it was possible.

Some people remember dying.

One of her footsteps falters, and she realizes that she stopped walking in midstride. She curses her own moment of weakness and keeps walking.

She'd had everything taken from her- her family, her friends, her accomplishments- and now she could never reclaim any of it. If she could still firebend, she'd probably lash out in a childish tantrum like Zuko would, but- lucky her- that had been taken from her too.

But she's not going to share that. She can't. Somehow, the feeling of finality, of irretrievability, makes the thought of showing weakness even more unacceptable. Suddenly it felt vitally important to preserve the mask of indifference, though she couldn't articulate to herself exactly why.]

I sort of thought there'd be more old people.

[ Anyone would be distressed or upset upon being given the knowledge that there is a high chance they are deceased, struggling to accept that fact. She seemed to take it all too coolly, even making something like a joke, and for that reason he does have a sense she's trying to mask her real feelings on the matter. He has this sense because he's the same, hiding his vulnerabilities underneath his stoic mask of a face.

The joke, if that can be considered one, does actually catch him off guard. ]

You're right ... [ Somehow, he never thought about that, even if he knows many people die young. It's something to consider. That statement somehow broke through that generally serious, know-it-all attitude he tends to put on.

The park is in view now, looking very much like a regular park in every sort of way (even with children of different demon races playing by the slides and swings). Instinctively, the wolf he has starts sniffing the ground, searching for the source of the energy that's been causing those shark manifestations. ]

You'll find I'm right about a lot of things.

[It was hard to tell with him, so far he'd been pretty inexpressive- she swallowed the immediate thoughts of Mai, and the flash of rage and pain that accompanied them- but nobody ever responded to her jokes. Except with horror. So getting a reaction from somebody this stoic...

Oddly gratifying.

She hangs back a bit as they reach the park and begin searching. First, to try and spot any tells or hints about hidden items from a different perspective. Second, to keep an eye on these irritating children- she wouldn't be surprised if one of the little rodents had gotten hold of what they were looking for. Third... she wants to see more of these senses and abilities of his in action. Not only were they a potential tool, or a potential threat, but they were also new to her.

And since it seemed she wasn't likely to return home, regardless of whatever lies she'd been promised when she arrived, she might as well start learning about interesting things where she can.]

[ A smug attitude. He's strangely used to that.

Now that they've arrived, it's time to get things done. The sooner they do, the sooner he can head off home. It's nothing much to see, really. He looks down for a second, focusing on where there seems to be a large collection of energy, that dreadful aura he's become too familiar with after a month of dealing with the effects. He follows that aura, finding himself standing in front of the playground, where the children are playing catch with what is clearly a totem. ]

There. They have it. [ But how will they get it from them? Well, first thing he's considering is to ask nicely? ]

[Oh, good, children. She's almost as good at dealing with children as she is at casual conversation. If she had her bending, this would already be over, but as it is-]

Well, can't you just have your shikigami take them out?

[... Did she just suggest he have his giant wolf monster maul spirit children to get something from them? The answer may surprise you. ~~Yes. It's yes. The answer is yes.~~]

[ This ... could be a joke? Or it could not? He honestly cannot tell. Either way, he's a tough audience, and he regards her with a flat look, wholly unamused. ]

I can't tell if you're serious or not. [ He's hoping she is not serious. Megumi's unfazed, however, because he knows too many with a dark sense of humour - and a fair few who might be willing to destroy spirit children. ]

That's going to give him indigestion. [ Though he says that, he notes that it's a lie. Truthfully, Divine Dog would probably enjoy eating those children. At the end of the day, it is a spirit happy to rip apart and devour anything once permitted to.

Anyway, her plan has been REJECTED.

He walks over to those children, calling out to draw their attention. ]

The three of you -- That's dangerous to play with. Could you please hand it over?

[ The children obviously do not take him very seriously.

"Huh? Who're you, with the stupid hair? Make me! Make me!" ]

[Oh, right. She'd met him saving her, of course he'd be soft under all the stoicism.

Fine. Let him try it his way. She can play nice... ish. Well, she can maybe try to navigate the situation without hurting them, anyway. Azula's already hanging back, she can just-

Very quietly, she slips behind a tree and starts creeping through the foliage, trying to circle around behind the kids while they're distracted talking to Megumi. Well. Taunting Megumi, mostly. Irritating little brats.]

[ At the corner of his eye, he can see Azula slipping away, and he glances at her with curiousity, but doesn't draw any attention to it. He doesn't know what she intends to do, but he'll wait around to find out. He notices that the girl is quite light-footed, nimble and stealthy when she wants to be. She has definitely had some sort of training, and nothing typical.

His role in all this would be to distract the children then, as she carries out whatever he plan is. He understands that quickly and continues talking to them.

-- Or being the butt of their joke, anyway. ]

Sure, my hair looks like a sea urchin, whatever -- [ Big sigh. He didn't choose to be born with this hair texture. ] As I was saying before ...

[ "Stupid face! Sea Urchin Head! Stupid face! Sea Urchin Head! You gotta catch me if you want this!"

He briefly ... considers that it might be fine to hit children in some circumstances. ]

[She smirks a little at the children's taunting. If you'd just let the shikigami take care of this, they'd be a little less cocky, wouldn't they?

Well. The idle vindication passes as she moves around to flank the children, creeping up behind them as they taunt Megumi. When the one holding the totem mentions catching him, she spots her opportunity. As he holds up the totem, backing away- "you gotta catch me if you want this!"- she reaches out from behind him and grabs it.]

"Your terms are acceptable."

[But the kid doesn't let go.

"Hey! Get off!"

The little thing has a pretty solid grip. She tries to yank it from him, but she clearly wasn't expecting him to resist, and suddenly he clings to her wrist and bites her finger. She jerks her hand back in surprise, and he laughs as he pulls his prize back out of her reach.]

You little-

[She was going to kill it. She was going to kill it.]

[ There's a small flicker of hope when she manages to grab that totem, the light at the end of the tunnel visible for that short moment (finally, he can go home), but it's dashed too quickly when the children persist with greater reflexes than a child should really have. Then again, they are youkai.

Megumi watches the undignified display that follows. ]

What are you doing ... [ Hope Azula likes being slightly judged. ]

Let's try this instead. [ Truthfully, he's finding the situation quite draining and the children were annoying before. He would not like to prolong it any further. If it means he ends up bullying some children today, so be it.

The werewolf-creature he has melts away into black tar, returning to the shadow beneath it. In its place, a regular black wolf emerges, looking smaller and less menacing. This lesser version charges at the child, earning a terrified scream as it tackles him and ... sits on him, immobilizing him effectively.

Maybe she was right about just using the dog.

As expected, though, the child starts wailing. ]

[He was judging her? This was his fault! He was the one who inisted on not being violent-

Whatever. She shakes out her hand and gets ready to do things her way, bending or no.

...and apparently Megumi agrees, because he's sending in the shikigami. That's more like it.

She's a little disappointed, then, to see the massive ferocious-looking creature turn into a much smaller, less threatening animal. At least it's still fast enough to chase down the child and sit on him.

As the child wails and throws a tantrum, Azula stalks up to him, strongly contemplates kicking him, restrains the impulse, and instead snatches the totem out of his hand, much more sharply this time.]

This is what we're looking for, right?

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June 2022 Test Drive

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Nobody gets to emerge from this encounter with dignity

teens are allowed to be stupid... even traumatized teens who had to grow up too fast

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