jigokufever | AUGUST 2022 TEST DRIVE

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!
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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[This definitely isn't going to make it onto the Spirits and Such blog. Just how he ended up here is a long and convoluted story that even Reigen can't fully pick apart in the aftermath but the short of it is that he's not one to back down from a challenge. Most of the ti- no, at least fifty percent of the time. Anyway, he's pretty sure he did something like this in college and won so no biggie.

Speaking of which, Reigen assumes that their hosts took one look at his five foot something ass and decided to take it easy on him. Sure the guy in front of him is tall- he's more legs than man- but some of the others here are literal monsters and he's fairly confident that whatever he's packing can't be that intimidating. At least he's not bad looking, even if his tone of voice instantly speaks to someone with an ego.]

Well, I think an introduction is in order before anything. [Aaand before Gojo can do anything of the sort himself, he's reaching into his blazer and pulling out a business card. But not like a normal person might. Oh, no, Reigen manages to add several extraneous movements to the process, flourishing his flourishes as he draws it out before finally presenting it to Gojo to take.] Reigen Arataka, the greatest psychic of the 21st century. You can follow me on Mobtter too.

[the self-promotion never ends!]

( there are two types of salary men: the kind like nanami, hardened and cold and dead inside--at least to the outward eye--and this kind, the ones that are so manic about their manners and their keigo and their bowing that it almost gives him a headache to watch.

this guy is like that and more, with his extravagant gestures, like he's doing some kind of weird business card mating dance--satoru's brows lift, but he doesn't say a word, stretching out the arm that had been draped casually across his lap to take the business card between his index and middle finger, turning it playfully back around towards himself to read it. well, he sort of reads it, anyway; he's not the type to carry around a case to put it in, so almost playfully, he stuffs the card onto the chair beneath his thigh for safe keeping. )

A psychic? ( there's humor in his voice, very bright and very put-upon. ) In that case, we don't need introductions, do we~? You should be able to read my name out of my head.

( he's not being unkind, but--his smile has sloped into something of a grin, as though he has his doubts about reigen arataka's real ability. he'd like to see it in action first, anyway. )

Well~? Impress me, Reigen-san.

[The other man's gaze pierces him like a sniper shot, sharp and knowing even with dark lenses dulling them, and his smile is just as dangerous. Anyone else might be cowed by it- but not Reigen. Oh no. He's heard this question- though, frankly, it's more of an accusation in sheep's clothing- more times than he can count and he has an entire arsenal of comebacks to pick from. You don't get as far as he has without covering your bases.

So, he doesn't even hesitated. With a put-upon sigh, Reigen waves his hand.]

I'm not that kind of psychic- my speciality is spiritual activity. Curses, exorcisms, hauntings... I don't waste my powers on parlour tricks. [Nailed it. Time for the pièce de résistance.] Besides, something about this place has really messed with my energies.

[Refuge in half-truths. Though he hasn't experienced it himself, he's heard people talking about how they feel different or weaker since they arrived; apparently it's a fairly common thing.

Your move, beanpole.]

( well, isn't this a happy surprise?

it makes him laugh, almost immediately: curses, exorcisms, hauntings? so he's that kind of person, someone close enough to cursed energy to be able to feel it, perhaps, but not really recognize what it's truly about; with a grin, he shakes his head a little, as though he can't really believe it.

put-upon, he lets his legs uncross, knees spread apart so that he can lean forward in his chair, one hand reaching for reigen's tie to give it a casual little pull with his fingertips. he slides down the length of it, flicking his thumb over the thickened fabric at the bottom, before he lets it go; there, he settles back in his seat again. )

Sounds absolutely terrifying to deal with. ( there's that warm humor in his voice again. ) I'm so scared of ghosts. You don't feel any now, do you? Nothing at all?

( he doesn't, either. )

Guess that earned you a name. Gojo Satoru. You'll want to remember it for later.

[For a few moments, Reigen seems pinned in place by the gesture, as if tugging on his tie was his secret "off" button all along and he's trying to reboot. The reality isn't too far off; he can't decide if he's more flustered or annoyed, whether to read it as playful or mocking because he'd sooner believe that this guy is some kind of bad vibe curse wizard than afraid of ghosts.

And that would just be silly???

Regardless, the fact that he also found the whole thing kind of hot is proof that he really needs to get out more.]

Gojo-san... right, got it. [Reigen clears his throat to try and compose himself. It mostly works but he can't make himself look Gojo in the eye just yet.] But, uh, no. No ghosts.

( the reaction is interesting--this guy feels like the type that loves the sound of his own voice, or at the very least, loves to talk, and yet suddenly it's like he's clammed up, stumbling slightly, and unable to lift his chin to meet their gazes. he doesn't really blame him: it's strange to stare back at someone in sunglasses and not know where they're looking, but even so, maybe he's ruffled the guy's feathers a bit with his teasing.

there's a point to this whole thing, anyway--he's making some progress here, then.

with another little laugh, he readjusts in his chair, slouching against the back of it--his knees remain open, a casual, comfortable sort of stance, though his eyes are narrowing slightly behind his lenses. )

No ghosts? Then what do you feel, here? ( his lips twist into something of a pout. ) Nothing at all? You're going to break my heart, Reigen-san. Am I not your type?

AUGUST 2022 TEST DRIVE

throat goat i'm so sorry

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