AUGUST 2022 TEST DRIVE

[jigokumods]

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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

[worldbent]

[Could the magic answer be both... A soft snort escapes Matoba.] Coldness and directness are different. I prefer to do away with pretenses when unnecessary, to avoid any misunderstandings. [He's really not trying to earn anything back on the 'cold' accusation, there, is he. He takes a step after the man as he goes sauntering off.]

But, the pleasure is mine, Gojo-san. [He inclines his head, a polite half-bow. There. There's your precious manners! They may be bloodless and business-like, but at least he can't complain anymore.]

[Attitude aside, the confidence isn't offputting. Matoba allows Gojo to take the lead on this case, since he seems to already know where he's looking. Matoba knew many of the hiding places of these bakeneko, thanks to his tireless efforts to seek them out... But it was a different matter from when they were skulking about casually to when they were on the lamb. He was expecting them to actually put up a fight, this time.]

I see, it's this alleyway as usual... It's a good thing I thought to bring some treats along. I hope they will like them. [...] Do you like cats, Gojo-san?

[oversize]

( it's not like he's entirely knowledgeable on the subject--he's just gotten here, after all, and the sensory feedback from the six eyes is strange, here, as though dampened down from interference; it means he has to rely on other senses instead, including common sense. if the cat escaped back into the alley, surely there are more of them: real ones, and ones trying to hide amongst the real ones, or so he figures.

for now, though, he slings his hands into his pockets, a soft, low whistle as they move further into the dark of the alley. even with this person next to him, someone he figures he immediately can't really trust, he isn't too worried. )

They're fine. Cute enough when you pet them. I have more experiences with dogs, though~

( there's a bright smile--he gestures out with one palm, open, as they reach the dead end of the alley. there's a sea of cats here, of course, scrounging around in the trash cans and empty boxes scattered around the ground. )

You seem pretty fond of them. I'll let you do the honors.

[worldbent]

Hoh? Dogs, hmm.. [Wow. His expression dulls immediately upon Gojo admitting that he's more of a dog guy..... Or so he reads it as; he has had a lot of experiences with dog people lately. Sorry that you are all objectively wrong.]

[But, arms folded into his kimono sleeves, Matoba doesn't mind taking the lead on approaching the colony of cats they come upon at the end of the alleyway. No surprise they would be found here; the dumpsters collected in this area were right behind a number of Tamamo's luxury sushi and steak restaurants. As they approach, a few fuzzy heads perk up, appraising the men warily from afar.]

Oh, you don't mind? I am maybe a little bit familiar with them, after all. [Matoba squints at the scene, and points across the field of cats--] Why, there's Tomomitsu, and Niikichi...

"Oi, it's that Sutoku weirdo again..."

"Think he's got any snyacks this time~~?"

[Amongst the mangy meows passed around the circle are some clipped words they can understand; one of the cats raises his nose in their direction and eventually saunters over, pecking and hunting as he goes.]

Oya, Goromaru-chan... So you remember me? [Matoba positively beams, leaning over as a plump white and black-spotted cat toddles forth, meowing expectantly at the two men. Coy as it might be playing, it was sniffing the air around the men- for treats, or for danger?]

[oversize]

Wa~h, if you know them by name, you're more than just a little familiar...

( is there a dig hidden there? is he disgusted? amused? hard to tell, when he's grinning and standing back, watching matoba get closer to the cats with some measure of comfort and knowledge. it looks like not all of them are troublemakers, at least: some of them are definitely the kind to go snatching coins out of pockets, though.

his gaze swings down to the plump cat that seems most interested in getting close, sniffing around expectantly--that's right, matoba has treats, doesn't he?

with a nod of his chin, vague, he tilts his head in the direction of the other cats. )

Are we not going to go after the thieves, Matoba-san~? I feel like you'd rather lay yourself in a sea of little kitty paws instead....

[worldbent]

A sea of kitty paws... That does sound very tempting. [Matoba crouches down and crooks his hand out for the fat cat, who circles him warily. Its attention catches on his covered eye; cats were fairly sensitive to the supernatural, after all, whether or not they were spirits themselves.]

[After a bit of skittish sniffing about, it cold-shoulders Matoba to toddle closer to Gojo and sniff at his foot instead. While the man takes a short few seconds to sulk at the rejection, it fades away quickly enough so that Matoba could turn a smile back up at Gojo, instead.]

...Gojo-san, do you by any chance have anything valuable on you? [Goromaru stiffens up, then sits at Gojo's feet and gives an innocent, deep-voiced mrow.]

[Just a very innocent and curious cat, here.]

[oversize]

( well, he hadn't been lying, at least: he's not really a dog or a cat person, but he's definitely had more experience with dogs, specifically the kind that don't really get in anyone's way; this cat seems intent on rubbing itself up against the leg of his pants, circling around his shoe, which makes his lips pinch slightly as though troubled. he's going to have to get all the fur off, somehow.

it all changes, though, right when he thinks the cat is going to wind itself up around his ankles--anything valuable, matoba says, and the cat stiffens, plopping itself down right at his own feet to stare up at him.

oh, he doesn't like that. he looks down at it with a bright grin. )

Anything valuable, hm... ( of course he's going to play along, lifting one hand up to hold his chin in a dubious thinking sort of pose. ) Oh, I've got it!

( his fingers snap together--with a bright little laugh, he holds his hand out to matoba, almost like he wants him to take it and kiss the back of it. )

My watch, isn't it pretty~? Ve~ry very expensive, you know. Do you like it?

[worldbent]

[That's what you get for wearing black, jujutsushi!! Matoba doesn't seem to mind, though- even though there's fur everywhere, he just keeps beaming at the cat as it stares up at Gojo, watching him ponder, and then stick his hand out towards Matoba.]

Fwip

[Hook, line, sinker. In a smooth movement, the cat that had been sitting between them snatches the watch right from Gojo's wrist, holding it in its mouth as it makes a mad dash towards the mouth of the alleyway.]

Follow it.

[At Matoba's command, two towering, shadow-like humanoid beings spring from the ground and rush forward after the bakeneko, limbs stretching and slipping through the narrow gaps in the alley. The man doesn't seem particularly bothered by the fact that Gojo just got mugged, turning to him with a smile.]

Good work. That should do nicely. Shall we let that greedy one lead us to the rest of their stash?

[oversize]

( it's hard to know whether his dismay is about the watch being swiped so easily, or whether it's the fact that it's hard for him to tell if he allowed it or not--there's a strange faltering of his mouth, almost like it wants to frown, but he tries not to focus on it. being in a strange place has likely just messed with his ability to recycle his energy; infinity should have stopped the cat before it had a chance to even get the watch at all.

no matter. surely he just allowed it to do that. surely he just did it automatically.

the fact that matoba seems quite content--and the fact that he has those strange, shadow-like creatures working for him--earns a quirk of a brow, but he lifts his hand anyway, pointing down the alley where they, and the bakeneko, disappeared into the narrow gaps. )

Shall we let you buy me a new watch~? ( he's smiling now again, all perked up and pleased. ) Wah, Matoba-san, you're too kind~ Do they have anywhere nice in this dump?

[worldbent]

[A minor risk successfully taken by his new compatriot, Matoba notes Gojo's hesitation (or.. surprise?) with an unfaltering smile and gestures for the man to accompany as he begins to follow the trail.]

Sure. I would bet they have collected much nicer watches where they've brought yours. Get yourself two, or three- the bounty money will more than pay for it.

And, I suppose, that dinner...

[Does he intend to keep that promise? Perhaps. Matoba can sense where his shiki have rushed off to, and as they get closer, it becomes much clearer where the location will be- the front of a fairly nondescript multi-floor building, with a sushi bar on the first floor, a clerk on the second, and on the third.......]

Oh? So it was this place after all. [Matoba seems very pleased as he looks up at the sign for the Purrfect Paws cat café. Opening the door for the building, he turns to Gojo.] How many cats do you think you can take at once? Out of curiosity.