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jigokumods ([personal profile] jigokumods) wrote in [community profile] 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]]


Welcome to the test drive meme!
  • Threads here can be considered game canon.
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mindthebass: (16)

[personal profile] mindthebass 2022-06-28 09:50 pm (UTC)(link)
I find that so hard to believe, Aerith-san!

(oh, but he's laughing for a second, until he isn't. what she asked isn't easy.)

... Ah. You heard it, didn't you...?
everblooms: (he crafts each one with love;)

[personal profile] everblooms 2022-06-28 10:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Yep. [ She'll settle in a little closer, dodging a passerby on the street. Then, with a little shrug, she takes to sitting next to him on the cement, taking care to choose the side where the cherry-scent smoke from his cigarette isn't billowing off in big, pretty clouds. ]

I'd say sorry, but... You got off pretty light, Shin. I don't think anyone recorded it.
mindthebass: (60)

[personal profile] mindthebass 2022-06-28 10:03 pm (UTC)(link)
I don't care if they did. I... I just care whether the real person... Really feels that way.

(ominous and vague, this is a very bad explanation, but it's what he's willing to give right now. it doesn't matter.)
everblooms: (damn the light;)

[personal profile] everblooms 2022-06-28 10:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Then you know she's not real.

[ It's not very ominous to her. If anything, it's a good sign! ]
mindthebass: (Default)

[personal profile] mindthebass 2022-06-28 10:11 pm (UTC)(link)
The real one wouldn't do that... At least, not like this.

(hachi is too kind to say half that to him, and it makes no sense for her to not follow him and just disappear once he isn't in that corner.)
everblooms: (if i let the water take me;)

[personal profile] everblooms 2022-06-28 10:16 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Folding her arms, she nods. ]

Right, so you don't need me to tell you not to worry about it.
mindthebass: (5)

[personal profile] mindthebass 2022-06-28 10:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Just because she wouldn't say it doesn't make it less true.

(his cigarette is even half-forgotten, the ash just accumulating on the tip as he rests his forehead against his knees.)
everblooms: (and time goes quicker;)

[personal profile] everblooms 2022-06-28 10:40 pm (UTC)(link)
[ It isn't lost on her, that his vice remains forgotten in his hand as he talks about this. It must be causing him a lot of grief. The truth is, Aerith has no idea how true it is. So she holds her tongue for a moment, watching people walk past a pair of perfect strangers. They don't seem to care much. It's a little bit like deja vu, to her. ]

What did you do? [ She tilts her head again, expression neutral. She'll tell it like it is, even if he doesn't want to hear it. After all, this is Hell. ]
mindthebass: (Default)

cw underage drug use/underage sex with an adult mention

[personal profile] mindthebass 2022-06-28 11:20 pm (UTC)(link)
... I'm in a band. We're still growing, and we're getting big, but... I got frustrated with a break-up... And I ended up going to see a woman. We were having a good time, but the police raided us... Caught us, and we were doing drugs on top of that. So, now... I'm in jail, and my country isn't exactly the forgiving type when it comes to reputation.

(if she could see him, she would be able to tell - he looks miserable. downright depressed, with reason.)

That doesn't apply just to me. My band's name is going to go to the mud if this comes out.
Edited 2022-06-29 02:22 (UTC)
everblooms: (i can still hear you saying;)

[personal profile] everblooms 2022-06-29 03:09 am (UTC)(link)
[ She smooths her skirt down, places her hands in her lap and listens to him. When Shin finishes his tale, there is a moment of silence that falls between them. It's a blanket of discomfort, as she ruminates on what he says. It's worrisome, for sure, and she finds herself wondering who, exactly, takes care of him. ]

That would be a bit of a problem if you were in jail right now...

[ Airily, she comments with that. ]

But you're here now. So, what do you want to do?

[ There's a whole world walking past them right now, ready for him to join it— to make amends, or perhaps commit to his path. It seems to her that's what he needs; actual direction for what he wants. ]
mindthebass: (89)

[personal profile] mindthebass 2022-06-29 01:28 pm (UTC)(link)
(he hasn't had this conversation with her yet, but nana is right in what she thinks of shin. that he acts like he's cool with everything because he doesn't have the determination to challenge the odds. it's absolutely true - and the question the other brings him makes him halt any thoughts that were looming in his brain.

guilty. mostly guilt.)


... I don't know. I never really wanted anything.
everblooms: (i never knew my killer would be;)

[personal profile] everblooms 2022-06-29 06:48 pm (UTC)(link)
[ She can't lie to him about his chances, really, but she can shrug and tell him to keep going. She knows, in some way, what that feels like. It's true, he doesn't know, but he does want. He'll figure it out. ]

You'll figure it out, some day. Just gotta keep on truckin' and get there. In the mean time, you can work on your contract and debt.
mindthebass: (7)

[personal profile] mindthebass 2022-06-29 06:56 pm (UTC)(link)
... Yeah. What are you getting out of your contract?

(very subtle change of subject, look at him go. it's better than to tell her that he doesn't know if he really has the capacity to work through anything right now. he couldn't even keep himself off of trouble for too long.)
everblooms: (that when each one's been made;)

[personal profile] everblooms 2022-06-29 07:03 pm (UTC)(link)
[ A sly little smile slips across her lips. She knows what he's doing, she lets him have it. ]

Employer-employee confidentiality! No can do, Shin.

[ At least she has a sense of humor about it. In truth, it's hard to explain to someone that you're scrubbing bloodied bath tubs so that your employer will guarantee your journey to stop the end of the world will be successful. ]

Black Stones is your band, right? So... what are you? Lead... singer?
mindthebass: (Default)

[personal profile] mindthebass 2022-06-29 07:23 pm (UTC)(link)
(he's managed to fix his face, since he was still hidden so far. it's actually easy to put up a front that everything's fine, even if it isn't, once the shock is gone.

so, he laughs, coming out of the shelter he's made on his knees.)


Almost caught ya, though. ♥

(and for a second there, he can imagine himself in nana's outfit and hairstyle, and his expression becomes mortified. cursed thought!!!!! cursed!!!!!!)

No! Our singer is a mean woman! I'm bass.