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jigokufever2022-06-24 11:00 am
jigokumods) wrote in 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!
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no subject
I admit, I quit keeping up with things after a point, so I'm afraid not. You would've been in Kyoto 'til the end, right?
[ whether he means the end of the shogunate or the end of sannan's life is unclear. many people died before the former, after all. ]
Once I got into things in Nagasaki, Kyoto was way too stuffy for me! But things more or less happened the same way in different worlds, it seems like. I finished my work and that was that! I didn't become a Servant until after I died.
no subject
He takes a seat where directed, relaxing against the back of the seat with his arms crossed.]
Who could blame you? You were a busy man.
[Sannan is Aware of some of Ryouma's dealings, at least. And the fact that he was assassinated by former Shinsengumi affiliates and it was pinned on the Shinsengumi.]
We left Kyoto, but I parted ways with the main body of the Shinsengumi on less-than-amicable terms a few months after we relocated to Edo.
[In other words, he didn't die in Kyoto. Curious, isn't it?]
no subject
[ because at this point, there is no reason to act like he isn't proud of doing exactly what everyone suspected he was up to. ]
Is that so? Didja get a sense of the way the winds were blowin', or was it something else?
[ an ideological dispute or a personal one. that would certainly give him some insight into things. someone comes over to take their order, and ryouma orders sake for the table — because current financial constraints aside, he can afford this much — but of course, sannan is free to add whatever else he might like too. ]
Can't blame me for askin', right?
no subject
[He smiles, because you know, there's something to be said for taking pride in your work.]
A little of each, in a sense. I didn't approve of the way Kondou was grasping for power prior to his death, nor the way Hijikata directed things. And, considering some other variables, my time with them was hindering me from progressing in both research and personal goals. So I left, and took my men with me.
[Look, if he already knows the Shinsengumi had some shit going on, who's Sannan to avoid the unpleasant topic? He deals in unpleasant, and even in tactless on rare occasions. Despite time having passed and Toudou's reassurances, Hijikata and Sannan never really saw eye to eye on anything. And Kondou had spent too much time trying to kiss ass, and not enough time investing in the value of the men under him.]
The shogunate's fight was no longer my fight, you see. So why should I bother being loyal to those who have no such similar feelings about me?
no subject
[ ryouma hadn't done any of it for anyone's approval, of course, but for the people — which is why he laughs. ]
That Hijikata's really somethin'. [ an understatement considering the man is a berserker. ] Can't imagine it was easy dealin' with him back then either, but I respect ya gettin' out when ya did. Not 'cause'a what y' believed in, but 'cause ya knew it was time t' go. Too much went to waste all for nothin' back then.
[ he fills two cups when the sake arrives and slides one across to him. ]
... So a bit'a caution then, knowin' that. The Shuten Clan loves the whole honour business.
[ so don't step in it like he did. ]
no subject
[Just a little joke. He is a bit of a kidder, when he's relaxed enough.]
I may have left too late, when I look back on things. They strayed too much from our shared ideals, and refused to let me contribute... That was part of the initial disillusionment.
[He perhaps left a little later than one might think, but who's he to correct that when it's not relevant? And who is he to get into the whole... rumors of death greatly exaggerated thing? Or the Furies? Not yet. It'll happen. And then he'll get to see what Sakamoto thinks of the Shinsengumi's ambition all over again. Somehow, it's kind of... fun? It's fun. It's hilarious, because of course no one would know about it from the outside. Certainly the Sakamoto in Sannan's timeline didn't know.
Or... did he?]The final straw was Hijikata branding me a traitor when I was simply doing what needed to be done to protect others. So which of us had honor? I'd have to leave that up to an outside observer to determine, I suppose.
[He accepts the sake with a gracious bow of his head, and takes a sip.]
I'll be cautious, however. I don't plan to run afoul of anyone I don't absolutely need to.
no subject
[ that's it. he's just going to get worse. ]
It's all so clear in hindsight, ain't it? It's like... if I'd done one thing different, so much would've changed.
[ ryouma doesn't need a third party review to know where he stands on that. his whole complicated relationship with izō informs him just fine. ]
Tryin' t' protect people was what the whole Shinsengumi deal was to begin with, wasn't it? Or, that's what I figure. That's what had everybody all fired up back then.
[ that's how it had been in ryouma's experience. that's why it made it difficult to really take issue with any of them, even if he might also find them irritating. ryouma has always managed to hold those paradoxical views at once. ]
I guess that depends on what happened. But like ya mentioned before, it's sorta ancient history now. This is a different world in every way. Take advantage of it, I say.
[ ryouma finds it a lot easier giving this advice than he does actually living it himself. ]
no subject
It's nearly crystal clear. I spent a good deal of time trying to rectify someone else's sins that conveniently became my own.
[Vague, but true.]
It was exhausting. Call it a bad habit, taking certain lost causes on. But that's just the Shinsengumi in your eyes, right?
[He sips his sake again, and looks mildly almost wistful.]
While there are people I'll miss, this opportunity can't be looked down on at all. I plan to take full advantage of it, once I find my foothold. Somehow, for your sake, I hope you're making the most of it.
no subject
[ he can be completely petty occasionally and will own this. ]
But really there were lost causes on both sides if it makes ya feel any better. People always lumped me in with the Imperial Loyalists, but it was more complicated than that. In the end, it felt like the whole thing was balancin' on the edge of a blade; fall either way and it'd be a matter'a war, jus' who was fightin' who would be different. Keepin' the foreigners out, fightin' the shogunate, fightin' each other. In the end, it was all just a waste. A waste of good people an' good ideas.
[ maybe that's a particularly blunt take on the whole thing, but when it comes to the political landscape of those days he tends not to look back on them fondly. ]
But I'm doin' alright for myself around here, I suppose. I never wanted t' be in politics, but it figures if I'm gonna end up in politics, it'd be here.
no subject
[And he does, polishing off his sake and setting the cup down politely. But then he moves to pour for them both this time.]
So much of it was needless, though it was complicated in my world by... outside actors. [Demons.] While the difficult choice I made was mine alone, many good men had their hands forced.
[Not to say he's self-pitying whatsoever; he definitely doesn't sound it. But he wants to save those men more than he wants to save himself, even now.]
A shame that you've been dragged into it, after all the efforts you went to.
no subject
[ what else can you do here but laugh? it's dark, sure, and he's seen some shit. it's a perfect time to empty that second cup of sake too. ]
My whole purpose in comin' into the world is to accomplish somethin'. That's what I've always believed, past an' present. This place gives me more room to do my own thing than my last job though, so I can't complain too much.
buckle up
[He's down with the multiverse. And all its oddities.]
In my world, the Shinsengumi became involved with a doctor of Western medicine under the orders of the shogunate. This man had a serum of unknown origin that turned men who ingested it into... creatures, of a sort. Hollow imitations of humanity, who drink blood and lose control of themselves at the mere scent and sight of it. He disappeared from our midst, and soon thereafter his daughter came to Kyoto searching for him.
[This is a long story, but he'll try to be concise.]
Around that time, I was injured and lost the use of my left arm. Then, for my part, I lost sight of my purpose and buried myself in research. Ultimately I became one of those creatures, called Furies, of my own accord. The story of my death and defection was a cover for my joining the Fury Corps, and becoming their commander.
[He smiles, and sips the sake.]
To complicate things further, a group of demons began meddling in our affairs, as they were trying to take custody of the doctor's daughter. What followed was a many-sided, ugly war, with the Shinsengumi essentially becoming puppets of the shogunate, and with my men being used as elite soldiers and cannon fodder in equal measure. Certain actions on the part of the aforementioned doctor necessitated me allying in small part with the demons to eradicate rogue Fury soldiers from opposing forces who were killing civilians indiscriminately, and this is what led to me leaving the Shinsengumi.
no subject
[ ryouma is quiet after that and lets sannan tell his story, emptying his cup at least once more throughout. it keeps him quiet as long as he needs to be. ]
"Furies", huh? Ahh, I sure got lucky, didn't I?! I sure don't envy the me that had to deal with that on top of the country bein' in danger too! 'Course, the shogunate usin' ya as puppets ain't much of a surprise. They were gonna let all the western countries cut us up like they did to China and India if it meant livin' a little longer, so they wouldn't think twice about steppin' on you or I. Sorry ya had t' find out that way... doesn't gimme any joy in seein' it no matter what side anybody's on.
[ ryouma had also witnessed the tosa loyalists be betrayed by the men and ideals they followed, to their deaths. he can sympathise, even if he might be ideologically opposed to what the shinsengumi believed in. ]
no subject
Being reduced to a puppet wasn't on my very short list of life's goals. When it comes to matters of honor, the most honorable thing to do was to take care of those who took care of me, so to speak. As I'm sure your counterpart did before his time was cut short.
[He disagreed with so many decisions, but he stayed. He stayed and stayed and hoped for better, and it was an exercise in futility, even if Hijikata didn't really hate him. The man was as short-sighted as he was short-tempered.]
There's also the matter of the fact that using the abilities granted by becoming a Fury shortens one's life severely. I was among those who used them the most, being their leader. I'd planned to travel to Europe to find the cure, alongside the aforementioned young lady in my care. However, I've been diverted.
[And he needs more sake, thinking about that loss.]
no subject
Weird thing t' consider dyin' bein' a fixed point in time. No matter the timeline, it happens. I mean, in everybody's life of course dyin' is a fixed point. But I mean more than that. In fact, there's a couple'a guys here whose job it is t' make sure it happens no matter what, so I'm sure that guy lived exactly as long as he needed to.
[ that guy meaning his counterpart in sannan's world. but speaking of lifespans... ]
That "cure" business still a problem around here too? The Alliance has quite a few talented people both on the medical and supernatural side of things, if so.
[ if it were possible to help him, they could have a mutually beneficial arrangement here... ]
no subject
Unfortunately, it's still a problem. Having an... episode, let's say. It's incredibly painful, and as good as incapacitates me for a time. Usually there's a medicine I can take to stave off the alternative treatment. I'll have to see if they have the components here for it, as I don't intend to go begging for blood.
[A sip.]
Quite understandably.
no subject
[ this sure is a conversation they're having??? ]
We're in a world where yokai are the majority, so naturally, with that comes dietary needs for some that'd be real strange in a human-centric society. Otherwise, I know a couple folks who are good at comin' up with special medicine like that.
no subject
[He wonders if he'll put enough of the information together to realize that he was subsisting on the blood of that doctor'a daughter. That... earns another emptying of his cup, and another pour for them both.]
I can only assume any blood that somewhat resembles that of a human may do fine. I'm certainly not entirely closed-minded about it. You have to understand, though... They're base urges. It's a unique experience.
no subject
[ he grins, clearly not at all bothered by any of this. ]
Servants need a supply of mana to remain in the world. Usually, when a Master summons one, that's part of the contract that binds 'em together; the Servant draws the mana they need from the mage who summoned 'em. Servants are sorta like familiars, in that way. I've never needed to, but I've encountered Servants who lost their Masters and didn't wanna leave. It can be excitin', bein' somethin' like alive in the world again. Some cling too hard. They'll resort t' anything to survive, includin' what energy there is to be found in blood, among other things. Found out there's some alternatives t' findin' someone t' tap a vein on the spot, anyway.
no subject
...That's more of a relief than you know. It's been unstable since I arrived, and I'm not interested in making anyone a victim of my episodes. Servants certainly have a difficult situation of their own.
no subject
[ it's a reasonable offer to make someone when the biggest inconvenience to him would be the time. "episodes" sound like the kind of thing that can't wait for things like the supply chain. ]
no subject
However.
He would be absolutely lying if he said that wasn't an appealing offer.]
It would be worth a try. For all I know, supernatural blood does more than human blood. I would be grateful for your assistance.
no subject
[ he has a weird feeling about this. not a bad one, just... weird.
exciting?he supposes that comes with the territory when you go from having a decent conversation with a guy to offering to give him your blood. ]That would make sense from what I know. Potency of the energy an' whatnot. But I guess that's one for the research, huh?
no subject
Who it is is kind of remarkable and strange. If Hijikata could see him now...]
You have my thanks, well in advance. As for the rest... time and experience will tell. I don't believe myself to be some kind of bloodthirsty monster, so I should be able to take a measured approach.
no subject
[ ryouma isn't underestimating sannan, but he's confident in what he is. he's not one to make assumptions based on appearance or demeanour, so he's willing to believe there may very well be the potential for something like a bloodthirsty monster, if sannan mentioned it in the first place. ]
(no subject)