jigokumods: (Default)
jigokumods ([personal profile] jigokumods) wrote in [community profile] jigokufever2022-06-24 11:00 am
Entry tags:

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.
  • Characters can be recruited to do work for any faction until they're given their official assignment.
  • New characters can link their toplevels here!
  • If you have any questions about the TDM content, please ask them here! You can find information on the story so far here!
  • If you have questions about the game itself, please check out the premise, FAQ, and rules pages.
  • Reserves are open until July 5th
  • NEWBIE TOP LEVELS


apshot: (93)

1 - >)

[personal profile] apshot 2022-06-29 01:23 am (UTC)(link)
[ There's quite a bit that Bakugou has come to regret. How he's treated Izuku in the past. Refusing the other's hand when they had been nothing but brats. But one of the biggest things... His motivation for agreeing to the contract in the first place.

That's what happens all around him Another reminder of how he wasn't strong enough and forced All Might to act. It had taken the last of All Might's remaining power in that fight. Bakugou had been the reason that the Symbol of Peace couldn't be a hero.

It's something that still eats at him, even if there's no visible sigh of Bakugou being bothered. Save for the twitching of fingers.

Still, he slaps at whoever thinks to touch him. Just a kneejerk reaction. ]


I don't need your help.
peninhand: (gab 005)

https://c.tenor.com/cJRcMyUAiMcAAAAC/ah-shit-here-we-go-again-ah-shit.gif

[personal profile] peninhand 2022-06-29 03:36 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Well then. She's trying to help and she gets her hand slapped away. What an incredibly rude and overly emotional boy!

And why does she have such an overwhelming sense of déja-vu? It's as if in another life, something not unlike this situation had happened... As if across time and space, an alternate self of hers was sighing loudly. Nah, that couldn't be right. Probably just the shock from being treated so poorly. ]


Um... [He didn't look like he didn't need help, but she wasn't going to get into an argument.] Well... Regardless, we probably should get away from here.

[ She's not sure she understands what this vision is all about. Looks like something taken straight from Natsuki's mangas. But she knows a lot of people are watching them and are recording this. ]
apshot: (34)

i swear every time i went to punch this, something just distracted me

[personal profile] apshot 2022-07-08 08:38 pm (UTC)(link)
[ If he runs from this then it's as good as admitting that the assholes behind it have one. That they've managed to scare him off. Spook him and get under his skin. ]

So you go already. Never said I was moving.

[ Let them watch. The whole world had been watching before, back then, as well. He's just being needlessly stubborn. ]
peninhand: official art (edited by the MAS mod) (can 004)

that's the monika effect

[personal profile] peninhand 2022-07-09 05:07 pm (UTC)(link)
[ ... Oh come the heck on! Was he being serious with that? Gosh, he was Natsuki 2.0. Why did this have to happen to her? ]

Mhm... [She lingered on for a moment, not sure what to say.] You do realize this makes it look like you're easily baited and manipulated?

[ Just saying. If he's trying to look like whoever did this has no control over him, he's actually achieving the opposite effect. ]
apshot: (46)

[personal profile] apshot 2022-07-16 07:26 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Well the comment does get his attention. Doesn't change his posture or how tense he actually is. However, the blonde does turn so that he can look at Monika properly. ]

Same argument can be made for turning tail, Hairbow. If I run, then that means that they got under my skin. If I say then you say it looks like I got baited. So which is it?
peninhand: artist unknown (gaa 203)

[personal profile] peninhand 2022-07-17 04:17 pm (UTC)(link)
My name is Monika.

[ What kind of name is "Hairbow?" And why does she have such a strong sense of déja vu? No matter. She sighs and takes a pause as she ponders about the best way to word this. ]

I'd argue staying also proves they got under your skin. [She paused again... He seemed proud and practical. What's the best way to get the point across?] Imagine if someone wanted to keep you away from a certain thing. Like a burglar robbing your house. That'd be the perfect distraction, right? [She tried to smile.] It'd be one thing if staying helped anyone... But as it is, it helps no one.
apshot: (54)

[personal profile] apshot 2022-07-21 04:04 am (UTC)(link)
[ Yeah he's not going to be calling her Monika any time soon. Definitely not upon first meeting. Good luck with that one.

He is trying to think about her analogy. It doesn't really fit though. ]


Just what would it be distracting me from, hah? I ain't doing anything in the area. Ain't got shit for them to want to keep me stuck here instead of moving on.
peninhand: (aaa 003)

[personal profile] peninhand 2022-07-21 09:57 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Oh gosh. It was just a silly example, not something to be argued over...! For a moment, Monika just stared at him with a blank face. Why had she even tried? She didn't know what else to say and she really didn't want to confront him when all she'd wanted was to help...

So after a moment, she forced a smile. Back in her shell and putting on a facade smile to avoid an argument it is. ]


... ... ... I guess you may be right. Maybe I'm overthinking things, ahaha! [Cue awkward laugh.] Well, I'll leave you to it then, just... Um, be careful.

[ She didn't show it, but that was really disheartening. ]
apshot: (66)

[personal profile] apshot 2022-07-24 12:26 am (UTC)(link)
So what? That's it? Gonna butt into my business and then slide out just because you can't answer a question.

[ Just going to stand there on his hips and look agitated. Really? Are you fucking serious? ]
peninhand: official art (aad 004)

[personal profile] peninhand 2022-07-24 12:53 pm (UTC)(link)
[ ... Alright, it all falls into place now.

He's a tsundere. An extremely bad case, at that. There was enough tsun in him that even Natsuki would find herself outclassed. Gosh, how was she supposed to deal with that? ]


Um, well... I don't really want to argue, you know? And you're being really rude whenever you speak. [Good job, that's sure to win him over.] I wanted to help and I don't want to leave until I have, but... If you're going to be like that, I don't see any other options.
apshot: (80)

[personal profile] apshot 2022-08-06 09:50 pm (UTC)(link)
Why should I be polite to someone butting into my business.

[ Since that's more or less what's happened here. He hadn't asked for her aid. Hadn't sought it out. But then she comes in there and then says that he is the one that's being rude?

Wow. ]


Whatever. Do what you want.
peninhand: official art (edited by the MAS mod) (cab 003)

[personal profile] peninhand 2022-08-07 12:53 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Holy heck. He couldn't stop being douchey just for a second, could he? He'd clearly been in trouble and needed help! But arguing the point was just going to cause her a bunch of headaches.

So... Monika isn't saying another word and just. Ollies out. Silently and awkwardly so. See ya. ]