jigokufever | AUGUST 2022 TEST DRIVE

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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!
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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I'm not into the whole "taking a servant" thing, so... No vampire babies. Cross my heart.

[ well. he might not be the best listener, but he seems like a good enough kind of guy. and he's getting her her first meal in the city, so, you know what? as far as she's concerned, this devilman's not so bad after all.

and then, suddenly, his top half is human. well. she's not gonna complain - makes her job easier. she steps forward, resting one hand on his chest- ]

Thanks for the meal.

[ -and stretches up, onto her tiptoes.

and cranes her neck.

and then tilts her head up to try and get a little closer. yeah, she's having a bit of an issue here. she gives up after about five seconds of that, clearing her throat and flushing a bright pink. ]

Can you, uh. [ she is trying so hard to pretend she wasn't just acting like an idiot. ] Crouch down, maybe?

... Can you cross your heart?

_{[ math lady meme.. can vampires do anything involving crosses? He's thinking about this until he feels a tender hand on one of his well rounded pecs and he looks down at her, trying to figure out what she is trying to do.. and ah.. she's.. too short.

Instead, Akira actually shifts to sit down on his haunches, thinking this whole thing may be good for him to take a seat. After all, it may make him feel faint or dizzy; he's not sure. ]}

... This better?

Perrrrfect.

[ like this, akira doesn't tower over her. like this, she can move as she pleases - closing what little distance remains between them, kneeling down and straddling his leg to sidle up against him. it's invasive, and it's close, and it's surprisingly intense: her body flattens against his as she leans in, burying her face into the crook of his neck.

her breath is warm, tickling at his skin. her flesh is cool, not even quite as warm as another human. she inhales, exhales-

and in a single clean pierce, she bites down and into him.

it's not as romantic as fiction would make it out to be. the pain's manageable, but there's no chemical to dull it; it stings,, flesh splitting open under those wicked fangs. blood wells up almost immediately; she sucks at the wound, her tongue lapping up any sweet red she might have missed otherwise. she lingers there, drinking down the taste of akira fudou with relish for longer than it seems like should be necessary- ]

Edited 2022-08-28 05:10 (UTC)

[ -before finally popping off with an audible- ]

Pwaaah! [ she is refreshed. her skin is clear. her crops have been watered. today is a good day in hell. ] Dude, your blood tastes freaking spicy! I feel like I need a beer, gwahaha!

[ well, someone's in a good mood. she pushes herself up, using his shoulders as leverage before stepping back away from him. just like that, there's a respectable distance between them once again. she didn't take too much. she's always careful. but, well... he might still feel a little woozy after that little snack. ]

_{[ Oh. Well. This is a little more seductive than he has imagined it, but he supposes he doesn’t mind. He can feel a lot more of Nazuna than he had anticipated— both on his bare and furred leg and against his bare chest. Akira makes a small noise as if he about to say something, but then it happens— the intense and sharp pain and blood drawing out of his vein has him feeling slightly woozy; a little buzzed and light headed. He doesn’t find Nazuna conventionally attractive, but neither does he find her ugly either. She will notice he feels sad, worried, and a complete failure beneath that stronger exterior he puts up.

When it’s over, Akira remains on the floor so he can recover, glancing up at her with a flushed face and blood seeping out of his puncture wounds she left. His eyes look half lidded and dazed, partially from exhaustion but also partially from finding that experience… enthralling. ]}

That’s it? Do you feel better now?

Huh? Oh, yeah, totes. Thanks for the grub, my guy.

[ even as the taste fades away - it's blood, sure enough, nothing great or sour about it past the oddly demonic spice - bits and pieces of his emotional state drift off her tongue and into her mind's eye. sure, he's a bit spaced out after the bite. makes sense. kou gets that way too. but the rest is the interesting part, you know? sad, worried, feeling like a disappointment... she gets that. honestly, she kind of feels for him. he seems like a good enough guy, and being a devilman doesn't sound like it comes easy.

that said...

he's interested in the sensation but not in her, huh? well, hey, that's fine. ideal, even. as long as it doesn't come anywhere near love, she's safe asking him for meals in the future. but it does also mean she's contractually obligated to give him shit about it. ]

Dang, though... Most guys would be falling over themselves to have a cute girl suck on their neck, you know? [ she pops a squat, grinning at him now that they're eye-to-eye again. ] I'm definitely not getting that vibe from you. Are you just picky, or are you... You know?

[ she brings her hands up, pointing them at each other. lets both index fingers wilt, in as clear a metaphor as she can manage. and then, slowly, she stiffens them out - until there are two proud "swords," angled up a bit, facing each other.

nazuna is a mature individual. ]

_{[ Akira rests his head back against the wall of the konbini, his breath catching up with him soon enough. Something about that experience was enthralling, but maybe it's cause he's also a creature that like to indulge in blood now and then. As a treat, and always in his full demon form. It was just something that came with his instinct for violence.

His half lidded eyes bounce to her once she starts talking again and especially now that they are equal eye level. ]}

What.. am I supposed to just pop a boner from that?

_{[ .. Tbh, he's surprised he didn't. But he's a little confused how she can read his thoughts and feelings about all of this. The fuck? ]}

I don't know what you mean.

_{[ Gay people didn't exist in the 80's, what do you mean, lady. ]}

[ well... that wasn't what she was expecting. either part of it, really. ]

You know. Guy on guy? [ she makes the finger-swords fight. ] I mean, it's cool if you are. I'm down with it, you know?

[ and she really, really is. for all she jokes about this kind of thing, it's genuinely impossible to overstate how little she cares if someone is straight or not - herself included.

but more importantly- ]

I thought guys just sort of had a hair-trigger about that sort of thing. [ she crosses her arms, openly looking down at the fur over his crotch with a skeptical eye. ] Do demons not get touchy-feely or something?

_{[ defensively: ]}

I'm not a homosexual.

_{[ He is a bisexual. Thank you. His eyes follow her gaze and.. he suddenly feels a little shy? S..Stop looking don't there? His thighs roll together and what little bit of his tail curls around over his groin as if to further censor himself. ]}

... You're acting like you want me to get touchy-feely with you.

_{[ Which like ?????? ????? His life is so messed up anyway and he's someone who jumps into the fray quite often, but he didn't think that was any part of the arrangement here. ]}

Do we have a misunderstanding?

Huh? I mean, sure, that's cool. Doesn't mean you can't appreciate a few guys every now and then, right?

[ it's not said to mock and it's not said as a joke. vampire disaster nazuna nanakusa, who has no internal conception of heterosexuality whatsoever, is a terrible person to ask about this topic.

she snorts as he moves to cover himself, giving a leering grin his way when he asks that question- ]

What is there to misunderstand? Just a gorgeous girl and a devilishly handsome stud, swapping fluids in a seedy alleyway.

[ it's lewd. it's rude. it's got a 'tude. and most importantly, it doesn't even REMOTELY answer his question. ]

Stop that.

_{[ Even further confusion, Akira doesn't specify what he's telling her to stop. Mostly, he's just concerned about popping a red rocket out here in public, so it's a valid concern that he would much rather keep private. Don't dirty talk him, you wench. ]}

How can you just be okay with being here? Shouldn't you be having a meltdown somewhere instead of flirting with me?

_{[ Yeah, he's calling this flirting. It's gotta be. ]}

Oh, my... When you say it with such fervor, how can I say no?

[ it's strange. she's definitely flirting, on some level - that much is unavoidable. and it's not like she's lying when she calls him attractive, or anything like that. but the way she's going about it... it's like she's trying to push it into the realm of the comedic. like she doesn't actually want to succeed. ]

Huh? Why the hell would I do that? [ she raises her hands and shrugs, exaggerated and blunt. ] Is screaming in an alley gonna yank me out of Hell? Am I going to feel better if I start crying and punching the wall?

[ she shoves her hands in her pockets, grinning wide - wide enough to show those fangs off. and even if it's not a wholly truthful smile, it's not a lie, either. ]

I met an interesting guy. I got a free meal. And I got to find out what a demon's essence tastes like. The way I see it, Hell's not shaping up to be so bad.

_{[ Akira watches her for awhile. No, his reaction was absolutely justified. There was a lot of pressure on him to fight demons and protect humanity, and now he’s a failure. She wouldn’t understand, but she didn’t have that kind of pressure so of course she’s not freaking out.

However.. she does make a point. The only way to succeed is to do well in the faction he is categorized in. Akira lifts his hand, rubbing against the puncture wounds again and he exhales slowly, finally standing up to his feet. ]}

Listen, you’re really weird.. but I’m glad I met you. You’ve said some things to me that I think I needed to hear..

_{[ And maybe things he didn’t want to hear, but that’s fine. ]}

We are both newcomers, so it wouldn’t hurt to look out for eachother.

[ touching the puncture wounds... hey, hold on, that's kind of sexy, isn't it? nazuna tries not to stare too openly, but she's definitely eyeing the motion as he stands up. with her arms crossed, her eyes still not quite meeting his gaze, she just says: ]

You think so? [ it's not flirtatious, for once. somehow. ] I'm a vampire, remember? And I'm in Hell, just like you. Aren't you worried I'm gonna prey on the people here?

[ she's not trying to scare akira off. not completely, at least. but it does feel like something she should at least ask. ]

You might. That's the assumption, isn't it? But you already proved me wrong by asking if you could prey on me instead of just acting on it.

_{[ There's some lingering blood on his fingers that he's pressing his thumb over, feeling of the consistency. It's not foreign; he felt his own blood on a near daily basis ever since Amon tried to possess him. ]}

I'm partially a human, and you've been really fucking weird, but you've also been really nice too. I can't judge all inhuman creatures will be malicious towards humans because.. well.

I'm technically an inhuman creature now and all I have is compassion for humans, so it isn't fair me to to assume you don't feel the same way.

_{[ He raises those fingers to his own lips and runs the flat of his tongue over his digits to clean himself before sliding any other residue against the pelt on his lower half before giving her a small grin. ]}

Guess I have no idea what to make of you unless I keep an eye on you.

_{[ And there it is— a look more akin to a demon. ]}

...heh.

[ it's not much a laugh - more of a sharp exhale, almost a sigh. the smile on her face is softer, more subdued than it's been throughout their conversation. but that doesn't mean it's fake, either. you know? ]

Pretty swell guy for a demon. I guess that's what the "devilman" thing is about, huh? [ she sighs, more vocal this time, shaking her head with that same soft smile. this time, when he licks at his fingers, she doesn't even try to hide where her eyes are going. ] Fine. Same to you, kid. Someone's gotta make sure you don't throw in the towel when it gets tough.

[ she pulls her hands out of her pockets, dusting them off on her coat. she takes a few steps forward, crossing that little distance between them. and then, in a single smooth motion, she grabs his shoulder - pulling herself up as if she were weightless only to press her lips against akira's.

it's a quiet kiss. there's no sensuality or passion behind it; her tongue stays firmly planted in her own mouth. but it's unmistakably, unavoidably a kiss nonetheless. a few seconds is all she can manage before gravity takes its hold on her once more, and she glides back onto her feet with that same grin. ]

There. Now you have an inhuman friend, too.

_{[ This is not how he expected his first day in Hell to go. Not at all. He wasn't sure what he expected-- burning sulfur and brimstone, eternal punishment, etc. Not being comforted by a vampire chick who feeds off of him and kisses him. The feeling of lips against his own certainly have him feeling some way, he like he wants to chase after her and pursue more, but.. by the time he decides to reciprocate, she's gone.

.. .. .... ]}

Do you always make friends like this?

Ah, not always. I didn't give any to my first friend, and she ended up shooting me in the head. I give 'em to my other friend whenever I feel like it, but he's not here.

[ she gives an utterly relaxed grin. like she didn't just kiss someone - like kissing your friends is a normal thing people do. ]

And now, you're my third. [ she gives a little golf clap, then slides her hands back into her coat pockets. ] Congrats.

Alright. I’ve never heard of that but okay.

_{[ Alright. He smacks his lips slightly and shifts his gaze, falling into some awkward silence. ]}

If I catch you hurting anyone innocent, though, there will be trouble. You got that?

_{[ He wags his finger at her. ]}

And no more snacks or kisses from me if that happens. Be good.

Kyaaah! Not that, mister, not that! I'll behave!

[ she's only barely holding herself back from laughing at their little exchange. instead, she grins wide, giving a thumbs up as she takes one more step back. ]

See you around... friend.

[ she crouches - and then she leaps, easily clearing a story up to the rooftops above. she lands on the building's edge-

-stops, gives a little wave-

-and hops away, out of sight once more. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

AUGUST 2022 TEST DRIVE

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1/2; cw: vampire bites??

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cw: vampirism

once again, i am apologizing for nazuna nanakusa

never

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1/2

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cw: giving an underage character a lil smooch

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