AUGUST 2022 TEST DRIVE

[jigokumods]

MAIN NAVIGATION

1. SHUTEN TERRITORY - Muscling In

art by tohdraws

In the aftermath of the curse crisis, the Shuten Clan forgave a bunch of protection payments in the region, and helped cover the costs for rebuilding. Unfortunately, some of the street gangs in the area are much less civically minded. They have used the Shuten's relaxed policies as an opportunity to turn their own screws on the local business owners. These unaffiliated youth gangs have been much rougher with the locals, and have been asking for even larger collection fees. This has pissed off the folks who are just trying to get their lives and businesses back on track!

Unfortunately, the opening of Sai no Kawara in the underground drew so much of the clan's focus and manpower, that the issues up top just slipped through the cracks. Until now! Toraguma is in a bad mood and is looking for people to take it out on: the youth gangs will do just fine.

Volunteers are being solicited to join the regular Shuten enforcers in driving these interlopers out of Shuten territory. The gangs are wise to the usual Shuten tactics, though, and they're prepared for a fight. They are also appealing to the influx of Lost Souls: they act as though they're the victims of the factions' power struggles! They propose that taking up arms against the Shuten Clan will win them favor with the other groups in the city. (It will look less good with the Shuten Clan, should you be assigned to them.)

Fight with the Shutens, or with the gangs. Either way, a fight is coming.

2. TAMAMO TERRITORY - Throat Goat (NSFW)

at by akai riot

This prompt is overtly sexual in nature. Please use the proper NSFW labelling in your top levels and threads.

While the Palace of Sai in the underground is doing well, that doesn't mean the other businesses in the Tamamo Clan's collection have been slacking. One of the least "classy" soaplands has decided they're going to hold a contest to drive up business for themselves! They are partnering with some of the other sex clubs in the area for the sleaziest of events.

The Hyottoko Cup is looking for volunteer participants! The competition is pretty straightforward: a ruler is drawn on the throat of each participant and an array of members is presented to swallow. Whichever contestant can take the guests deepest and longest will take home the "coveted" Hyottoko Cup! Ok, there's a little judge favoritism involved too, so put on a show.

The guests have likewise been pulled in as volunteers, with instructions that they don't have to make this easy on the participants. Guests are provided with special seals that they can use for the length of the competition to enhance their natural assets. For those lacking the equipment entirely, there's a seal for that too.

Have fun and play nice.

3. TAMAMO TERRITORY - Strike a Poise (GEN)

Other businesses looking to jump start this month's earnings are also getting in on the spirit of competition! Businesses less oriented towards sexual service have come together as a means to draw in the high dollar clients, and one local club has proposed something old school.

Sign up for the Poise Contest, where contestants are placed into more and more ridiculous geta while tasked with serving drinks to the guest. Spills are expected, and the guests are cheerfully kitted out with cheap club-branded ponchos to protect their clothes. (Marketing, am I right?) While spills are expected, the contestant will lose points for each of the spilled drinks. Try to keep your balance as you attend to increasingly absurd drink orders. The intensity of the traditional footwear will only make your job that much harder.

Do you have what it takes to pour a champagne fountain while wearing teetering tengu geta? Prove your balance and dexterity is the best and the take home prize is some sweet cash. For Lost Souls freshly in the city, the chance to win some extra money can't really be passed up, huh…

4. SUTOKU TERRITORY - Jigokucho's Got Talent

Ever since Moonday's beloved singer – Ringo-chan – was kidnapped at the Tanabata festival, the band has had to cancel all of their scheduled gigs. Unfortunately, they were a hugely popular act, booked solid in most of the Sutoku Alliance's various nightclubs. This has left a ton of empty spots that need to be filled quickly, before the crowds get upset and demand… refunds.

That's where you come in, Lost Souls! Desperate promoters and talent bookers are literally grabbing Lost Souls off the street and begging, pleading, with them to perform a set for the night. They just need to have something to fill the space Moonday would have otherwise occupied. At least give the crowd something to see!

Acts do not need to be of the musical variety. Any performing talent is accepted, no matter how esoteric or bizarre! If it can fill out a 15-30 minute set, the club owners will be happy and the customers will at least see something interesting; even if it's a bad kind of interesting. So get on stage and show this city what you've got!

( Help us fill our time slots, please! We're desperate! 😩)

5. DEPARTMENT OF THE ENMA - Sticky Paws II: Outta the Bag

The Enma Department is busy: they have a kidnapping to investigate, a primordial god to pin down, and the crisis of their ever-shifting public image to manage. However, crime never sleeps and is always there to add to the troubled Department's workload. Worse still, we thought this little crime spree was over six months ago! But here it is again, much to the Enma's chagrin.

Cat cafés are a popular tourist attraction all across Jigokucho. About six months ago, a gang of bakeneko infiltrated several of the cafés to rob customers occupied with kitty bliss. Wallets, jewelry, and anything else those sticky paws could snatch away were being picked in droves. The cat capers are afoot once more!

Are you a hapless victim of these furry thieves, or are you helping the Department of the Enma track down these cat burglars? Unfortunately, the bakeneko are exceptionally clever and are using a seal to disguise their secondary tails. This makes them look just about like any normal cat. Better make sure your lead is good, or you'll be chasing down an ordinary Felis Catus. Soft to pet, but not going to return your pilfered cash.

Of course, the café staff might be in on this caper too… It's never easy to tell who's getting a cut of the profits. Be careful who you trust out there.

6. ALL OVER - The 100 Billion Yen Man (PLOT RELEVANT)

The local TV news has been announcing that Kaberou Kannazaki – the legendary finance wolf and the father of kidnapping victim, Ringo-chan – will be making an announcement this week. People have flocked to television sets throughout the city; at the squares, around TVs in bars, electronic stores, each other's phones, and any other venue with a connection. The kidnapping has been a highly public ordeal and the talk of the town. Many of the locals were present at the festival and witnessed the crime. They want to hear what the word is!

The public doesn't have to wait long. Wolf-eared Kaberou sits at a press desk, surrounded by microphones, and dazzled with flashbulbs. He clears his throat and, as he begins to speak, he is direct and to the point; not unlike a wolf lunging for the throat.

"As of today, I am issuing a bounty on the man known as the Iron Bear, who has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of my daughter, Ringo Kannazaki. The payout to the party responsible for bringing me Iron Bear, dead or alive, is 100 Billion Yen. Individuals or groups, I don't care. Just bring my daughter back to me, and the money is yours."

Well! The Department of the Enma's hopes of an orderly investigation have been dashed, but this is certainly an opportunity for anyone brave enough – or, more accurately, stupid enough – to traverse the Wasteland. Maybe one of you out there will find the legendary Iron Bear and bring him to some form of justice.

Local businesses are quick to leap at this opportunity, too. They begin to aggressively push sponsorships at would-be bounty hunters. Weapons? Armor? Survival gear? All at discount prices! Each faction has their interest in collecting the massive bounty as well. They will all be putting a lot of pressure on recruits to get ready to head out to the Wastes.

If you just got here? Well, it would definitely be in your interest to start finding gear, and finding people willing to collect that bounty with you. It could mean a big step forward toward your eventual contract, after all.

Welcome to the test drive meme!

• First of all, big thanks to our discord chat for the "Throat Goat" prompt idea. Stay golden, gang.
• IF YOU'RE TOP-LEVELING A NEW CHARACTER, post it here!
• Characters already in the game can top level as well.
• Threads here can be considered game canon.
• Characters can be recruited to do work for any faction until they're given their official assignment.
• 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 September 5th.

Comments

Akira Kurusu | Persona 5

[sacrilegiousact]

1. Muscling In

[Akira's not sure whether to be bewildered or flattered that someone took a look at him, a 5'9" tall seventeen year old and decided he makes good muscle. Still, they gave him not just one dagger but two so he's satisfied with the situation.

He looks at some of the other people in this little hunting party that he, perhaps unwisely, agreed to. And then he looks at someone who appears to be new like him, and inclines his head slightly.]

Your thoughts? [On this whole situation that is.]

2. Strike A Poise

[Now, the service industry. This he's familiar with. He can't say he's ever had to do it on these ridiculous clacking shoes, but hey, who's he to say no to a challenge.

It just so happens to be a drag bar. Go figure.

And when he glides along to pour drinks for everyone sitting up at the bar, he's dressed in a rather eye-catching outfit.

It's only when he gets to your table that he fumbles, losing his footing as he goes to pour it and smacking his head against the table.]

Ow. [There's probably a lesson here about being a showoff.]

3. Sticky Paws

[He's sitting at a cat cafe, as is his right, when he realizes that the money he got from the poise job has mysteriously gone missing. His instincts as a thief immediately points him to the calico cat that was suspiciously cuddly with him.

Of course. Damn talking cats. You never can trust 'em. (He assumes it was talking, Morgana can apparently talk to cats, which doesn't help his case regarding being a cat.) He just sighs, staring daggers at the cat in question, who appears to be yawning.]

...Is nothing sacred?

4. The 100 Billion Man

[Well.

He stares at the TV that he just so happened to be walking past, something immediately sharpening in his eyes to indicate that his interest has certainly been caught by whatever this is. Still, it's not the money that makes Akira curious.

The immediate interest shown by just about everyone around him is what catches him, some of the wording, the fact that he has this money to offer, and the fact that some stranger walking past just scoffed and said 'That's suicide. Good fucking luck.']

Notice how he says the reward's for bringing Iron Bear back instead of bringing his daughter back? [His usual flat expression is broken by a smirk that's just the slightest bit wicked.] Father of the year right there, huh.

5. Joker/Wildcard

[Got something else? Just PM me and we can work something out. Alternatively I'm at ectoplasmfear]

2

[empression]

[ Haru isn't here to participate; her feet are still recovering from wearing geta (suitably sized) before everything had gotten haywire during the Tanabata celebration. She's merely curious about the contest, stepping in to see how that's going, right as someone (a server? dressed as a sexy cop??) whacks their head on a table.

A little horrified, she instantly hurries forward. ]

Are you all right??

[sacrilegiousact]

[Akira stares at the ceiling for just a moment after her falls on his ass, the half empty champagne still in his hand. It's important to contemplate that this is his life, huh, and this is how he finds out one of his best friends in the whole world is apparently also in hell; Immediately after failing spectacularly.

He, of course, recognizes that voice very well Even if she doesn't see past his incredible disguise.]

Oh, I'm fine. Ego's a bit bruised, but otherwise... great, even. Hi, Haru.

[He reaches his hand out.]

Might need help standing up.

[empression]

[ At least you failed spectacularly in front of one of your best friends and not someone you were legitimately trying to impress?

Haru, for her part, was not keen enough to figure out who this was immediately, but as soon as he speaks, even before he says her name...

Her eyes widen in startled realization. A little bit of dismay, quite honestly, because she hadn't actually wanted anyone else from home to end up here, as good as it is to see him. ]

Akira-kun?! Why-- no, I suppose I know why, and the venue is... but... oh, hold on!

[ She takes his hand, backing up a step or two to carefully pull him up to the best of her ability. Slowly. ]

muscling in

[ryuguji]

[Draken looks beside him, at the guy speaking too him. He raises an eyebrow, and sighs.]

Too familiar for me, gangs and all that. Dumbasses, trying to take over someone else's territory, knowing full well it doesn't belong to them.

[sacrilegiousact]

[Akira for all intents and purposes just looks like a kind of scruffy pretty boy, but otherwise a completely normal teenager who just so happens to have not one but two knives.]

Guess they got greedy. [It's not like he's particularly sympathetic to the gangs here, but it does seem like Shuten presents a far better alternative to whoever these upstart assholes are. Picking on small businesses and extorting them even after the protection racket's been lifted temporarily is a kind of low that he really can't forgive.]

You with the local gangs, or do you mean back home?

[ryuguji]

Back home.

[He doesn't really want to tell everyone his life story but oh well. Draken looks Akira up and down then.]

Can you fight?

muscling in

[invinciblemikey]

(a lollipop swims in mikey's mouth as he walks alongside-- this nerd, he supposes. his hands are stuck in his pockets, and his jacket proudly announces to the world his position as a gang leader stitched on his arm.

what a question.)

Normal, though, honestly, shitty gang manners.

[sacrilegiousact]

[He nods in agreement, making note of the jacket and the general way he carries himself. Probably Yakuza, like Iwai was? He's not really inclined to judge until he sees more, though there is a certain amount of boldness he can respect in just wearing that jacket for all to see.] Sounds about right.

Stupid ones too from the sounds of it.

[Akira twirls one of the daggers around in his hand, it's very fancy, despite his deadpan expression.]

[invinciblemikey]

(except he's younger than akira, at fifteen years old with the utmost babyface, so it's more of a kiddie version of yakuza. a less criminal organization, more occasional accidental murder, and gang conflicts, much like this one.

little shrug of his shoulders.)

It would be more acceptable if they were fighting other gangs for territory, that makes sense. Shaking down locals is just slamming their own names through the mud.

4

[perfectdistance]

[ He looks up at the announcement and then back over to Akira. At the end he said he wanted his daughter back, but he supposes some people are big on getting revenge one way or another. ]

If they took her all the way out there, and they're living there, she should still be alive, right?

[sacrilegiousact]

[He considers that, humming.]

...Probably. Do we know for sure that he really brought her out there? The old man seems like he's prioritizing catching his rival over rescuing her. Which might mean she's already dead.

[perfectdistance]

That Iron Bear guy fled to the wastes, so I think that's where people think they went. If they were still around the city, we'd have heard more.

[ A soft, thoughtful hum. ]

"Just bring my daughter back to me," makes it sound like he thinks she's alive. But everything before that was about bringing that iron guy in. Maybe he doesn't think you can do one without the other.

muscling in, ready for akira-cest

[mrfuckwit]

Who, me?

_{[ Akira gestures to himself when another boy who seems to be around his same age addresses him. Akira settles his hands on his hips, notably not handling a weapon or anything. ]}

Well, I'm not one for senseless gang related violence, really. But..

_{[ He rolls his shoulders. Unlike Kurusu, Akira is a little shorter but pretty bulky with muscle. Still, he should have a weapon or a knife or something, right? ]}

I'm pretty excited, actually.

yes perfect

[sacrilegiousact]

Well, I'd hardly say it's senseless. [Small businesses being shaken down by local upstarts is pretty bad at least. He shrugs, twirling the daggers in his hands idly.] Especially not in earshot of those guys.

[Still, it is interesting, the lack of a weapon. He gets the feeling this guy probably sees a lot of combat, at least. Akira does too of course, but well, y'know.]

What's exciting about it?

100 billion man

[bratherine]

( That... is a good point, stranger. The events of earlier this month had made themselves known quite acutely on the night, but everyone else had to move on. Work to be done, lives to be led.

She hadn't forgotten Ryouma's assassination attempt, the missing girl, or the failed attempt to follow the men responsible for the job, but other things had to take precedent. Particularly when all clues about the parties involved led to the Wasteland. )

She's been gone for weeks. ( Her attention is turned to the TV, rather than the guy, as she speaks. The Wasteland is a place Kate only knows from rumours, and nothing about it sounds conducive to letting people live. ) ... Might not have survived.

( Not that it makes it any more logical for her father to not mention her, but maybe he doesn't want to see what became of her after she was taken. Preserve the memories rather than have her corpse be the last thing he sees of her. )

[sacrilegiousact]

Could be. [He hums in consideration. He's not been here long, can't really talk on anything that's happened with any strong authority, but still... something about that logic doesn't quite sit right with him.]

How would her father know that, though?

[It'd be really stupid of her kidnapper to call up the hostage's father and let him know that his daughter is dead. Just like how it's really stupid to respond to a hostage situation by throwing an absurd amount of money to a crowd of strangers.]

[bratherine]

( If you're a hell-native, you're probably a bit of a jackass at heart, so it could just be that he cares more for his pride than anything else. )

... Maybe he's behind it.

( A shrug. Or maybe there are less cynical options, like the Enma telling him where the kidnappers were seen heading. )

4

[peacewithouttyranny]

His wording does imply that he's prioritizing taking down his rival over bringing back his daughter. There's a possibility she might be dead...

[That's definitely a robotic-like voice coming from behind Akira. And that is definitely a ten foot tall mech with his arm crossed watching the TV. Soundwave had been keeping his optics and audial receptors open for information regarding the Wasteland, but with this development... Things might just get chaotic.]

But I think he also has reasons to believe that his daughter could still be alive.

1/2

[sacrilegiousact]

[That sure is a giant robot. Futaba would be losing her marbles (in a positive way).]

2/2

[sacrilegiousact]

[Akira, however, keeps his cool, and regards the giant robot like it's just a normal day in hell. Which, as far as he's concerned, it might as well be.]

What makes you say that?

[peacewithouttyranny]

[Soundwave respects that Akira kept his cool upon seeing him. Most people typically don't. You would think with the variety of demons walking around in hell people wouldn't be so weirded out by - Nah, probably still weird since he's literally the only giant mech person walking around here.]

"Just bring my daughter back to me," sounds to me as if he may still believes she's alive.

sticky paws

[foundheart]

[Sumi really never knows what she’s in for whenever she walks around. There’s always something new and strange going on, but this time the unusual sight is… actually kinda normal.

She slows, excited to see Akira, but too distracted by him taking to a Decidedly-Not-Morgana cat]

Uh… Senpai?

[sacrilegiousact]

Yoshizawa?

[Okay, that distracts him.

His eyes widen. Huh. Well, she definitely doesn't belong in Hell. But then again, neither do the cats...? Even if they're little thieving bastards?]

...The cat robbed me. [Does that explain it? Who knows. He's at a bit of a loss for words.]

100 billion yen man

[transcompilation]

I imagine he wants to make an example out of him. Or at least make it so that Iron Bear can't try anything funny again.

[ nothing to see here, just what appears to be a petite girl in a kimono passing through the crowd at the same time, though one of her eyes- the one hidden more by her fringe- stays firmly shut. ]

Bring back the girl alone, and, maybe if not Iron Bear himself, then other parties might try again, now that it's been done. Or maybe he thinks any would-be bounty hunters, even if suicidal enough to go out into the Wasteland- [ thank you, random commentor, your contributions are eternally necessary and requested ] -might cut a deal with Iron Bear somehow if he didn't specifically request to bring in the man himself.

It is a lot of money, after all. Splitting it still will give you plenty to work with. Though who knows with this crowd...