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

[adversus]

Then let's get you settled in. For the time being, you can stay at my apartment until you get snatched up by one of the factions. They'll put you in a small apartment, but, if you don't like being alone, you can just stay in my apartment. I don't think the Sutoku Alliance will care if I have a kid living with me.

[Her mother mode has certainly activated. She didn't want to leave Shou defenseless, and out on the streets. Especially if she had an apartment he could temporarily stay in.

She unconsciously smiles at his words, and reaches out to pat his head affectionately.]

Of course. I'll protect you until you can protect yourself. That's only natural, isn't it? We all need a little help, so... Let's get you all settled in before we find you a weapon to swing around.

[A pause.]

What do you usually use?

[dissimilar]

[ part of him thinks he ought to decline. being divested of his gear and weapons is one thing, but what about his abilities? there's no easy way to test it here without drawing attention to it and having to explain when it's something he would rather keep close to his chest for now.

if his ability is gone, will it return? will it just result in another cycle of disgust and rejection?

he opens his mouth to resist, but the hand on his head whites his thoughts out and instead he finds himself lowering himself into a polite and overly formal bow. ]

Thank you very much. I'm capable of cooking and doing household chores as repayment.

[ though of course, he has to think about what's in front of him now... ]

Swords, typically. I prefer two.

[adversus]

[She's well aware that this might be a bit... Odd, to say the least, but she does want to help him. Get him situated and all of that. He seems to have a chip on his shoulder, and being the kind of person she is, she wanted to help alleviate some of the stress that might come with being somewhere new and without. Well. One's power.]

Don't worry about that, kid. There's no reason for you to do that for little old me. I just want you to get situated before we do any of that, honestly. You can do that for me, yeah? Try to relax...?

[She nods, familiar with that sword of weaponry and style.]

Similar to my older brother... But don't you worry. We'll get that once you get settled in and have some food in you. Do you prefer a home cooked meal, or something from the convenient store? I have some money, and stardust so don't be shy.

[Oh man. Her mother mode is really activated here.]

[dissimilar]

[ a brief moment of conflict passes across his expression, but for what it is and the current situation, it's muted. in truth, feels like he ought to stay and suss out this area for himself, but with marie so forthcoming, he knows he ought to back down for now.

he nods, signaling that yes, he will try to relax. ]

I'm fine with anything. [ that much seems to be genuine at least. ] But if you don't mind me asking — stardust? Is that related to the Tanabata I heard about?

[ mostly in relation to the current bounty, but who's counting. ]

[adversus]

[Good, she's content with that, for now. If only because there would be plenty of time for him to explore. Plus, with all the muddled information, there's no way they'd get anything concrete. At least, for now, anyway. So with that, she gives him a gentle pat forward -- guiding him to Sutoku territory, where he could get his bearings, before doing anything else.]

Sort of. Stardust is what you should be collecting for your faction, but... Some people keep it for themselves, because you can use it as monetary payment if you don't have any yen. A little goes a long way.

[That being said, she pauses, and reaches for a small baggy that she keeps with her. Only for said baggy to be placed within his pocket for safe keeping. Marie curving her lips into another smile again, as she places a finger to her lips.]

I have more at home for emergency usage in case I run out of yen, but that's for you. Keep it safe.

[She reaches out for his head, and pats it softly.]

Now c'mon.

[dissimilar]

That —

[ is so much. too much. diversion successful. the bounty (and the wastelands) will have to capture his attention another time. a hand rises to his pocket to pat over the baggy she'd slipped into it, finding this an incredibly generous gift on top of everything else. part of him is desperate to know, why him?, but maybe the answer would be no clearer, even if he asked. ]

Very well. I'll follow you.

[ so, he does as instructed and follows, humbled into silence for a long moment, mannerisms demure and suggesting that yes, he will keep it very safe. after a while: ]

You said you're affiliated with the Sutoku Alliance, correct?

[ he has harbored some curiosity about the factions. ]

What is it like?

[adversus]

[With that, she begins to guide him where they need to go. Unfortunately, they would have to go on foot, but it wasn't too far from where they were. It would give him plenty of time to take in the sights, at least.]

I am, yup.

[She pauses, and wonders how to go about this. They... Were an interesting bunch, that was certain.]

Well... We're all a bunch of misfits placed into one faction. It makes for interesting time, but it's a lot more relaxed in our faction, I think. The Daitengu is an interesting man... He's a very relaxed leader, and is a pretty playful person. Fun to be around... It reminds me of home, honestly. The atmosphere... Reminds me of when I was back in the war with my war buds.

[She smiles, before stopping in the middle of the street. Marie pointing to the convenient store, where they could stop by and get some snacks.]

Hey, let's go in there and stock up on some snacks. You're pretty famished, right?

[dissimilar]

[ keeping pace, he listens attentively even though his gaze is somewhat downcast as they walk, mostly in contemplation. with how she handled the scythe and her other abilities, it doesn't surprise him to hear that she took part in a war.

her calling attention to the convenience store makes his gaze flick up to it. he's learned quickly there's little point in trying to rebuff her.

so he's got that going for him, at least. ]

I suppose I am. [ he is. there's a cosmic singularity where his stomach should be. ] Typically, I'm better with my schedule.

[ but you know, busy day being fished from the river. ]

[adversus]

Good. Pick out whatever you need and want; hopefully there will be something familiar in there.

[She takes a step into the store, and upon closer inspection, there are familiar things from back home. There are several snacks, and conbini food that he'll recognize at the front register, and the several aisles in the store. Not only that, but the store itself is rather large and stocked to the brim with food.

Which prompts Marie to reach for a basket, inching it toward him so he'll take it.]

Here. Go crazy.