February 2022 Test Drive

[jigokumods]

MAIN NAVIGATION

1. ENTRY

It feels like a dream as you wake up in what appears to be a government office. It is remarkably mundane: white walls, small screens with the number that is being served and at what desk, chairs along the perimeter of the room, and pleasant music playing from unseen speakers. There's nothing out of the ordinary, right?

Then you take a look at the inhabitants in the office: Lost Souls and youkai alike make up the ranks of a never-ending line in front of a desk manned by an akaname in a suit. However, another youkai, a hyakume, is your first contact in this world. You're instructed to take a number and stand in the queue. Take a seat if you want– but you're reminded to be quick when your number is called or you'll be passed by.

Congratulations: you're in Hell.

If you're lucky, you're in line behind a fellow Lost Soul. If you're less lucky, you're stuck behind any number of youkai that may be disturbing to look at or ones that may actively try to harm you. The ones with long arms may even try to steal your ticket from further back in the line.

Make small talk, try not to freak out, and keep your ticket safe (or maybe try to steal a better one) as you make your way up in the line.

2. THE CITY

Once you've been processed through the line, you're given your assignment to one of the four possible clans with directions to their respective clan offices. The city itself looks remarkably similar to a modern Japanese city, complete with narrow alleyways connecting wider streets. Glaring neon signs advertising various businesses compete for your attention, even the most mundane businesses.

Once you tear your attention away from the myriad distractions, your task is to find your way to the office. The akaname didn't exactly give you clear directions, just a piece of paper with an address printed on it. You’re on your own to find your way there.

• Those assigned to the Shuten Clan are directed to the gambling district.
  
• The Tamamo Clan members are directed to the red light district.
  
• New members of the Sutoku Alliance are pointed to the entertainment district.
  
• Those assigned to The Department of the Enma are sent to the administrative district.

Ask your fellow Lost Souls for directions or stubbornly find your way to the office all on your own. No matter how you get there, once you've made your way to the office you're given your lodgings (for rookies, it’s always the cheapest inn or apartment block in the area) and told to go out and get a feel for the city.

3. STREET FIGHT - SHUTEN TERRITORY

Scuffles break out all the time in Jigokucho, especially in the district dominated by the Shuten Clan. Whether it's a rival clan posturing over someone being on the wrong turf, shakedowns of all sorts, or just someone with a chip on their shoulder picking a fight: it always draws a crowd of onlookers.

No matter what street you're going down or what you're on your way to do, there always seems to be a fight to block the way. Take a look, take bets, or maybe you're the one caught in the brawl. Maybe someone decided they didn't like the way you looked at them or maybe they're trying to catch you in a petty scam. You may also feel the need to step in when fights are looking particularly one-sided.

Get used to this happening.

4. STICKY PAWS - SUTOKU TERRITORY

One of the more adorable features in the city is a cat cafe. Located within Sutoku territory, it always draws a steady crowd. If you're lured in by the adorable cats in the window, you're welcomed into a pleasant, cat-friendly environment with cats of every shape, color, and size lounging on various surfaces while being doted on by patrons. Of course not everything is as it seems: these are no ordinary cats. They're bakeneko in disguise and this cafe is a clever way to spirit away a few more coins for the Sutoku Alliance's coffers.

You may notice your wallet is a few (thousand) bills lighter at some point during your visit or your wallet may be missing entirely. Maybe it was one of your fellow patrons helping themselves while you were playing with a cat or maybe it was one of the cats. Who's to say? You quickly realize this place is not on the up and up; you have to do something about it.

Chase down one of the cats, confront your fellow patrons, or maybe try to shake down the owner for information. The latter won't get you very far, but maybe it'll make you feel better about losing your cash to a cute scam.

5. HELP WANTED - TAMAMO TERRITORY

CW: potentially NSFW, optional aphro

If you find yourself in the red light district, you might find yourself pulled into something else entirely. A scout in front of one of the numerous clubs drags you in off the street, assuming you're from the Tamamo Clan. It doesn't matter if you are or not, the scout is not listening to your protests. They say something about staffing shortages as you're shoved into the employee area of the club. The club manager then pushes some clothes at you and tells you to get out onto the floor once you're dressed. It might be a host club, it might be a bikini or banana bar, or maybe something even more salacious – whatever it is, you're working there for the night.

There are also barkers aggressively recruiting clients for these clubs, promising a good time for anyone who wants it. Whether it be the company of a pretty host or hostess, the lurid appeal of a strip show, or perhaps even other pleasures of the flesh: there's plenty to tempt even the most resistant.

Work at a club for the night or partake in the pleasures. Drinks flow like water, some with a little something extra to help things along. Everything is transactional here. As you have the money, you're bound to find something that tickles your fancy.

Welcome to the test drive meme!

• Threads here can be considered game canon.
• If you have any questions about the TDM content, please ask them here!
• If you have questions about the game itself, please check out the premise, FAQ, and rules pages.
• Reserves are open until March 5th.

Comments

QUESTIONS!

[jigokumods]

If you have any OOC questions about any of these prompts, feel free to ask them here!

[osake]

Hi mods! Character specific question. It was mentioned that characters based off major youkai in the game would get interesting reactions to play off of — is there anything I should know regarding Shuten here on arrival? Will they sense something off her presence alone, will she have to give her name, or will all that come later? Thanks!

daylight vis lornlit. | original. | faction: the department of the enma.

[sunborne]

i;; hopefully making my way downtown- (the city.)

[ administrative district... administrative district... you would think there would be a more thorough directions when it comes to shooing the greenhorns to their jobs but maybe that's the point? daylight wonders if this is a secret sort of test to see how they would handle being thrown into the thick of it.

and daylight thinks he's doing well enough- being ten feet in height allows him to poke through the crowd with ease, able to see where he's going, and he's quick to get the attention of anyone when he decides to stop and ask for directions. it's made getting to the the department of the enma a lot faster even if he had to deal with some surliness and jeering along the way. ]

Hey- Do you need help in getting somewhere? [ daylight is sure he's close to his destination and while he could make a beeline for it, he can't help but notice someone in the crowd. does he recognize them from the office? does he pick up on the way they're also looking for something?

who knows, really, but it's enough to have daylight want to help out, making his way to the person's side as he puts on a bright and cheery smile that he hopes screams, 'please do not panic, i come in peace.' ] Um... I got some directions to other places while I was asking around myself. Maybe one of them is the place you need to go to.

ii;; and everybody was- (street fight - shuten territory.)

And what do you mean I started this! I was passing by!

[ and so beings the start of what daylight hopes isn't a bad first shift on the job. he had briefly wondered what the looks and snickers were when he was assigned to check out the district that belongs to the shuten clan earlier that day and he knows why now: there seems to be a fight breaking out every other hour and, somehow, he ends up getting blamed for it when he wads in and tries to break it up to keep the peace.

first few times has him his usual cheery self, able to talk them down or weather the rants and threats with ease, but this is the third time he's had to keep others from tearing others' throats out, the second time he's had something tossed at his head, and this is the first time he feels like he's losing his cool - demonstrated with how faint purple electricity is crackling under the panels of his armor, like a physical representation of his emotions getting the better of him ]

I'm just saying if you want to start something then you should be doing it that isn't the middle of the road. You're blocking the way and holding up the crowd.

[ arguments and insults fly and daylight winces but stands firm despite finding himself by very angry individuals. though larger in size and losing patience, daylight looks very reluctant to start getting physical with them - the most he does is keeps them at armslength and do his best to keep another fight from spilling out.

he makes eye contact with his partner, tilting his helm beseechingly at them to see if they can intervene. ] A little help here?

iii;; this isn't what i meant by wanting a banana bar- (help wanted - tamamo territory.)

[ how the heck did he end up here? he was just trying to ask directions for the local market to pick something up for someone.

daylight stares long and hard at the drink in his servo, comically small in his hand, as he wonders if he can even drink this and if the person who has been practically thrown at him is doing alright. he doesn't know what their thoughts are but since the moment he stepped into the bar just to ask directions, daylight has been feeling pretty awkward on his end after finding himself practically dragged to a table and shoved this drink and his 'companion' for his visit.

he sighs and sets the glass down on the table, looking over at his, er, friend(?) and gives them a crooked grin, trying to look friendly as possible. ]

You doing alright? Sorry if this is uncomfortable or anything thanks to my end. [ he gets that, he really does. he's not a conventional client by any means and can only imagine how awkward this has to be. ] If you just want to, like, chat and stuff I'm fine with that. I'll still buy drinks so don't worry about that bit.

[ it'll make a dent in his wallet but the last thing he wants is someone feeling pressured or uncomfortable around him. ]

iv;;; wildcard!!

[ want to do something else? feel free to do it here! also, you’re welcome to hit me up/plot with me via my plurk prognostic if there’s something specific you want. ]

i; my canon has mechas so i had to tag in haha

[baofeng]

…oh, my-!

[The long-haired young man in the flowing white robes takes one look at Daylight and covers his mouth with both hands. Not quite in terror, thankfully. If one looks carefully, the light in his wide eyes is … something like ‘intrigue’, on the road to but not exactly ‘awe’.

That’s the smallest Chrysalis he’s ever seen!

He’s not even sure one pilot can fit in there, let alone the requisite two. What is this, a Chrysalis for hamsters?]

-oh, where are my manners! I’m so sorry. [He clasps his hands together and offers a polite bow.]


It’s very kind of you to offer. I’m looking for the… [Yizhi checks the slip of paper in his hand.] …Sutoku Alliance offices. Would you happen to be heading there as well?

[There’s really no polite way to ask the Chrysalis how it works, so Yizhi shelves the thought for later. Whatever may be inside- hamsters, very small humans, or an actual electronic brain- this construct is clearly sentient enough to deserve respect.]

Majima Goro | Yakuza 0 (Slumscape CRAU) | Sutoku Alliance

[no_kyouken]

1. ENTRY

[ Well, is this more or less traumatizing than his last entry into a yokai hellscape? Unclear, but that shitty music is starting to get on his nerves.

Majima himself looks a little bit like a yokai by this point. He's fused deeply with an Uwabami -- a giant snake -- that fused with him once upon a time. His skin shows with a thin layer of translucent white scale, a thick tail that extends out the back of his shirt and pants, the tell-tale slit eyes and forked tongue. He crosses his arms and doesn't seem all that bothered by what's going on, only sometimes muttering to himself (to the snake),]

Shut up, Joku, we'll get somethin' to eat when we're done with this.

[ He fiddles out a cigarette just long enough to get barked at by an akaname not to smoke in here. Majima makes a face, tongue briefly exposed in a sullen little hiss. He puts it back and goes back to staring at the ceiling until he catches some commotion behind him.

Someone's stolen your ticket? Sigh. He listens with a tired expression before he hands over his own ticket and heads back into the line to punch a couple dodomeki. ]

2. THE CITY (SUTOKU)

[ Finally out on the street, he puts his cigarette to his mouth and lights it, looking up and around. Huh. Looks like home. That makes him feel... not that great, actually. Emotions twist and fire off uncomfortably in his chest. He looks at the address for a long moment before deciding it's pretty much pointless just wandering around and hoping he finds it.

He carefully assesses the yokai on the street before he approaches any of them. He has a general sense for which ones are mean and which ones are treacherous after Hakagemachi. He finally settles on another uwabami like himself and starts by asking what's good to eat around here. They chat it up easily for a little bit, Majima trades one of his cigarettes over, and then waves goodbye before heading out.

He glances his shoulder when asked, ]

Huh? Oh, Sutoku Alliance office. Yeah, ya can tag along with me.

5. HELP WANTED - TAMAMO TERRITORY

[ Oh for fuck's sake. Majima stares down a tearful hostess begging for help in her club for the night. Doesn't anybody know how to run one of these damn these? After rubbing the bridge of his nose for a moment, he points her impatiently inside, glancing at you who has been recruited for the evening, ]

Are ya comin' or what? Get everybody rounded up in the back.

[ He meets with all the hostesses and waitstaff in the back, a measely lot, with his arms crossed as he looks them over. ]

This is a sad crew, but we're gonna work our asses off an' make it work tonight, ya hear me?

[ He has a few immediate tasks that he can be helped with: Cuteing up any of the underdressed hosts and hostesses, determining the strengths of the hosts and hostesses, recruiting in more off the street, reviewing the menu to make sure anything understocked gets taken off the menu now, and reviewing the sections for the wait staff to make sure there's no confusion.

Majima apparently knows what he's doing, even if no one else does. He has one request for himself, ]

Find me somethin' t'wear that ain't a sight...

[ And with that he turns away to work on someone's makeup. ]

WILDCARD

[ At the tail end of the night, Majima can be found happily enconsed in a small food cart eating an absolutely ghastly amount of food. The snake gets hungry, what can he say. If you want to drink with someone who can surely drink you under the table with that yokai in his gut, he's the guy for you. Overall, he seems to be in a decent mood despite it all. At least he had something to do that was relatively normal for a night.

It will make him more heartsick later, when he's drunker. He'll turn morose close to closing time, reluctant to head back to his lodging. ]

wildcard

[heretic_blade]

[ After the night Izō's had, some food will do him good. He's already pretty drunk from his stint as the city's worst okayest host. Izō doesn't even look before he takes a seat next to Majima, more interested in food than whoever's sitting with him. ]

Ya can pack away a lot for a scrawny fella.

[ Has Izō quite realized the face seated next to him is one he grew very fond of back in Hakagemachi? No. If he were less drunk, he would've been a little more alert. His food takes precedence tonight. ]

Okada Izō (CRAU) | Fate/Grand Order | OTA (potential Shuten Clan)

[heretic_blade]

[ 1. Entry ]

[ After what he dealt with in Hakagemachi, a waiting room can't be the worst thing, right? He must be dreaming -- or drunk. The youkai milling around and staffing the place don't bother him, though he does give dirty looks. To the average person, he looks for all the world like a karasu tengu, but upon further inspection, it's clear he's not. Izō has just been influenced by one so much that his physical appearance has been altered: wings, lengthened ear tips, fangs, claws, and even crow feet poking out of the bottom of his hakama.

A problem arises when he feels someone brush past him. He may not be a tengu, but he sure has the temper of one. ]

Oi, ya tryin' t' steal my ticket or somethin'? Well, fuck off. This one's mine and I ain't gonna let ya have it.

[ Nevermind you may not have been trying to do that. The truth doesn't matter when Izō's fuse is so short. ]

[ 2. The City ]

[ Sometime later, the same tengu-looking man is in the streets, holding a mask in his hand. Izō's appearance is not the important part. The important part is the fact he's screaming at the mask in his hand in a voice full of righteous fury. ]

I dunno who's fault this is, but I'm pretty sure that y' had somethin' t' fuckin' do with it!! Didn't ya?! Ya think this is some kinda joke, think this is funny?! Havin' a good laugh at my expense?!

[ He sure doesn't care that his voice is carrying over the din of the city and that everyone on the block can see and hear him. ]

[ 3. Street Fight ]

[ Surly as he is, it was only a matter of time before Izō got into a fight. This is a little more serious than the (perceived) slight of trying to steal his ticket. He pulls out his katana and slinks down into a stance. ]

Don't think I'm gonna let ya get away with pickin' a fight with me...Ain't no one gonna get away with that.

[ Once again, the truth doesn't matter to him, only his perception. ]

[ 4. Help Wanted ]

[ Izō, despite yelling and threatening the scout that dragged him inside, is now serving as a host. This is a bad idea all around because he's already drunk; giving him access to more alcohol is just going to make him worse. The unfortunate soul that's assigned to him has to put up with this. ]

Oi, hurry up 'n order already. I'm ain't drunk enough for this yet.

[ Charming. ]

[ 5. Wildcard ]

[ These prompts not doing it for you? Got an idea? Drop me a starter or PM me here or on discord glitzkrieg#0673 and we can work something out! ]

1. touches gently...

[wray]

[ six can barely remember the last thing that happened before he found himself in this long, winding line. the other youkai don't really bother him, especially not after where he's been, but he does understand the importance of keeping a close eye on his belongings. he was instructed to hold onto his ticket and that's exactly what he plans on doing.

he hyperfixates on this singular focus so much that he barely realizes that he brushes past someone when the line begins to move (one step, two steps, not really enough to make a dent in how long of a wait this is going to be), not quite hitting the point of recognition just yet. ]

I wasn't—

[ any apologies die before they ever make it out of his lips. while the mask he wears now completely hides the shocked expression that is slowly colouring the rest of his features, the way he hesitates in what he says next basically gives away his uncertainty. is he seeing things? or is this feeling much closer to wishful thinking?

the oni mask clipped to a belt by his side suddenly feels so much heavier. ]

Izō...?

Junpei Yoshino | Jujutsu Kaisen

[moondregs]

1. ENTRY

[ This reminds him so much of the afterlife waiting room in Beetlejuice.

Internally Junpei scolds himself for still thinking of movie scenes at a time like this, eyeing the ticket in his hand with quiet disbelief. Tickets. Are there movies in hell? If there are, are they just bad ones? Or all horror?

He shakes his head and groans, again trying to focus on the bizarre circumstance he finds himself in. It doesn’t help he feels like he’s been waiting for his number to be called forever. Maybe he should have taken a seat after all? He looks behind himself to check if there are any available where he’ll have at least a few empty spaces between himself and anyone else.

Unfortunately for the socially avoidant boy, he ends up just looking the person behind him right in the eye. Oh no, quick! Say something! Make it not awkward! ]

... s-sorry, I’m new here.

STREET FIGHT - SHUTEN TERRITORY

I’m telling you, I wasn’t making a face at—- urk!

[ In a flash, he’s gasping for breath as a meaty hand is crushing his windpipe. Even as panic is rushing through him, there’s a thought of: “Of course. This is hell, after all. Why would I be free from this here?”

Just like the guys who would kick the crap out of him regularly in high school, he knows this thug is just using an excuse to justify his sadistic thrill. Junpei didn’t have to actually do anything, and no protest would help. As such, he’s helpless to do anything but fall into his usual routine. To let the bully whale on him until he’s satisfied or bored and hope whatever damage is done doesn’t prevent him from getting up after.

At least there’s some familiarity in this strange world, he thinks joylessly. ]

HELP WANTED

[ Things had happened in such a blur his head is still spinning as he’s pushed onto the floor of the bizarre establishment he’d been absconded into while miring in self pity on the street.

The sight of tables and a bar filled with rowdy patrons makes him freeze up as he swears he can feel a cold breeze blow through the room.

Or maybe he just feels like he might as well be naked in the incredibly degrading (and cliche) bunny waitress outfit they made him get into.

He’d been promised money, right? All of a sudden he can’t remember. He looks desperately towards the exit and tries to decide if he wants to risk being out on the street looking like this. Before he can work up the nerve to bolt the manager is barking behind him to get to table 8 and take their order while pressing a pad and paper into his hands.

With a deer in the headlights look Junpei approaches the table, flushed pink from embarrassment and trying to avoid twisting his ankle walking in the black high heels they’d insisted were necessary to wear. The lights seem way too bright and the music much too loud as he tries to remember the humiliating script he’s supposed to follow: ]

W-welcome to Heads and Tails — I’ll be your ... bunny tonight ...

( prompt: street fight. )

[sunborne]

Hey! Knock it off, asshole.

[ daylight is coming in hot, looming and large and grateful more than ever he's still towering over most of the citizens in the city. there's some perks to struggling through doorways, it seems.

he makes no effort to be gentle with the guy roughing up some poor dude for the crime of just being there, roughly yanking them away with only one servo, giving a good shake for emphasis to show he means business here. ] If you want to fight, pick it up with me and we'll see how tough you are.

[ while keeping the guy distracted with his own bluster, daylight looks over to see if the poor person is alright. his expression softens, clearly worried. ]

Hey- Are you okay? Do you need medical attention?

mamoru hijikata / until death do us part

[prizeneck]

1. [ENTRY] I'll sleep when I'm dead

[Ankles crossed and long legs stretched, there seems to be a man wearing sunglasses with his head leaned back on the wall behind his seat.

Maybe you sit down next to him and realize that this quiet, unmoving man is, probably, most likely (hopefully?) sleeping, and not some Lost Soul who somehow hasn't been revived quite right yet.

Is that even a thing? Do you really know? How can you be sure, anyway? Aren't you a newbie?

Or, perhaps, you peer a little too close, only to find that head tilting towards you questioningly. Wait, wasn't this man asleep?

Or, neither of the above.

What would you do? ]

2. [CITY] I'm being dead serious here

[Interestingly enough, the man is ridiculously spry when his number is called. With not much of a sound aside from the crinkle of paper of the ticket clenched in his fingers and the taptap of his fingers to push his shades a bit higher on the bridge of his nose, he doesn't even look like he had been sleeping at all, only a determined stride when it's his turn and sits unceremoniously.

After stepping out of the office, however, he stops in the middle of the street, another paper in hand, groans. His thumb brushes over the surface of the paper and maybe if you're close enough you can hear a grumble of 'Magnify' from the man.

There seems to be a problem here.]

3. [FIGHT] Death and Taxes are Inevitable, Mr. Anderson-- wait, that's not how the saying goes at all

[Ah, he's starting to understand why he's here of all places.

A fight breaks out, and of course, a ruckus. Mamoru here feels that refreshing - usually the fight usually starts because of him.

Maybe you feel like stopping the fight, or getting into it, or even helping someone who seems to be taking a beating in an unfair fight.

You may find yourself with your wrist grabbed.]

Careful, there's a blade in that jacket.

[And as if on cue, the person that you'd be assisting or blocking draws a switchblade and lunges. This guy probably avoided you getting stabbed, either by accident or vexation. Aren't you glad?]

4. [HELP] ????????

[The guy was not recruited, not yet, anyway.

But someone is trying to get him to join in on the fun.

A tilt of his head, a bland look at the barker.

Never mind the twitch at his brow as if he doesn't really know how to handle it.]

Are ya really that desperate to get a blind man to see a strip show? Get lost.

[[ooc: Throw me a wildcard at will if nothing hits your fancy or you want any of these prompts with a twist.]]

4

[luxter]

[ Hinata has a strange fondness for strip clubs. Well, not in the way that most people visiting do. It's technically the first place he met Otome so he associated it with that same, positive feeling. It's the same way he felt about bars with Hidetoshi having taken him to one after saving him. Hinata is standing in front of the place, looking at it with a slight sense of fondness, but has attention drawn away from it when hearing a man raise his voice.

It seems this guy is tired of being pestered. Hinata learned long ago to stop trying to fight against very persistent employees. It's a mutually beneficial interaction anyway. Hinata approached the man from behind. ]

You're gonna make the lady cry talkin' like that. Let her do her job.

[ Hinata understands how business works at a strip club thanks to Otome. Though maybe things were different here than it was in his world. ]

We'll go in. Drinks are on me.

Banba Zenji | Hakata Tonkotsu Ramens

[battingcages]

entry

[ He never thought death would be so... bureaucratic.

If Banba had to die - which he was very sure he would much sooner than most people his age - he was hoping it would be interesting. Someone like him would not be going anywhere good, he supposed, but this is enough to put him to sleep. The sights are interesting, but his feelings are more annoyed than disturbed. Maybe it's because he expected hell. Maybe it's because there's an air of disappointment hanging over his head, knowing he's died before completing the one thing he was hoping to accomplish before dying.

Maybe because he won't see his friends again. Maybe because he knows he left Lin alone in that apartment.

Damn it.

He lets out a sigh and rubs the ticket he's 'earned' between his thumb and finger, tapping his foot on the floor. ]

D'ya think the line is our actual punishment and damnation here? Look at that thing...

city

[ Banba, for better or worse, has found himself gainfully employed. Or something. He's never liked working with organizations, though he's always had to walk alongside them in his line of work. You can't be what he is and not know the names of all the criminal factions in your city. Whether for PI work or assassin work... well...

He has never been good at navigating places that aren't Hakata. He is a Hakata boy, born and raised, and isn't much into traveling outside of the area. This place isn't unfamiliar in its layout and aesthetic, but it's confusing and he's lost all sight of where he's going.

Banba is a little old-fashioned and definitely stubborn, but once his dogs start barking, he's ready to throw in the towel of manly pride and approach someone who seems at least somewhat respectable. Respectable by his skewed measure, at least. ]

Any idea where the entertainment district is? I've totally lost track of my feet here.

help wanted

Hey, hey, listen! I'm too old for this kinda thing. I graduated already. Seriously!

[ Banba doesn't particularly miss being a host and he certainly wouldn't volunteer for the work, so why is he getting roped into this again? He's got a uniform in his hands that brings up bad memories and his usually jolly face has turned frustrated.

He is definitely not in the mood for this and, well, he's IN hell already, right? He's dead, so he's not afraid to raise a fuss. He'd already been long past that fear in his own world.

So, instead of getting dressed, he has decided to fuss at the door, complaining loudly about not being fit for this kind of thing anymore and get back here and let me outta this place. This is his actual punishment in hell, isn't it? Back to this kind of thing? He's not about to accept it easily.

Perhaps calming him down so he doesn't get his ass in literal hot water might be best... unless that's your kind of thing. ]

Entry~

[pervy_kappa]

Eh?

[Gojyo had just been chilling and minding his own business one step ahead of the line when he heard Banba mutter out his complaint. Head tilting back curiously, tiny red antenna-like strands of hair bobbing in the process as he looked his neighbor in line over.Well, yeah, this line was boring as shit. And hell yeah, it was long. But it was far from all-out torture, in Gojyo's opinion.]

I don't know about that. In my opinion, it feels more like we're thrown into another one of those random 'ah you're the chosen one here's this world-saving task' jobs as any other. Stand in line, talk to the youkai, get the job done. In and out with a little bit of foreplay in between, you know?

Nah, torture would be if they were playing lousy elevator music while we waited.

harrier du bois | disco elysium

[horrifictie]

Entry

[ Getting his ticket nearly snatched by a strange beast out of his worst (or maybe best) nightmares is enough to decide on a counter-measure. With a touch of madness in his voice, he loudly announces: ]

You want my number?! [ Then, he unzips his pants and makes a grand display of shoving the ticket into his briefs. Nothing pops out of there at the least. ] Come and get it!

[ He rezips the pants and beams a prideful grin. Then he turns his head to *you*, watching the show - ] Got a problem?

Street Fight

[ The brawl is over. Whether you got into the thick of it or cowered away or even watched from the sidelines, for now there is a momentary peace. However, in the aftermath there are casualties. Take, for example, the large man in the wacky disco clothes who has found himself lodged inside a trash can. Only he doesn't fit all the way through. His legs hang from the front, his head hanging down the back, and if you check on him his eyes are dazed and far away. His face is bruised and though he's not bleeding there's a sure sign of damage.

Then again, that may just be how his face always looked judging by his general appearance.

Either way he's still alive, muttering something under his breath unintelligibly. And if you're close by he may take notice and with a pained mutter- ]

Help a man... out of the trash?

Sticky Paws

Let's be straight with each other: one of you took my wallet. And I can't go losing my ID *again*, especially not when I'm apparently in Hell. So... I'm going to give you a chance here. Give me back what you took and we'll part ways like it never happened.

[ The detective gives his terms to the three cats that congregate before him. A black cat with moons for eyes, a light brown/cream colored cat that yawns at his presence, and a rather fat orange tabby cat that sits with its tail lazily swishing over its seat. The officer grumbles- ]

What are you even going to *do* with that wallet? I'm broker in death than I was in life! Give it back... please?

[ The creatures are unmoved by his plea. Could you make a better appeal to their reason? ]

wildcard

[ for anything that doesn't match the prompts. feel free to pm to plan something out. for the tdm I'm playing as if he was taken by the Sutoku Alliance! ]

street fight

[pushpin]

[ ever a purveyor of casual violence, the crowd commotion and sounds of packing meat, snapping bone have drawn the redhead's attention like a moth to flame. the man he wanted to win doesn't, and although his naturally grimacing face wears disappointment well, he can't be too dissatisfied when all he'd come for in the first place was the smell of blood in the air. ]

[ the noxious plume of request from the garbage appeals not to his sense of camaraderie, but rather his innate sadism towards the everyman. he looks at bent appendages and punchdrunk eyes with a curl of his nose and a resolute stuffing of his hand in his pocket. from over his shoulder, he calls out to one such demon he's had an exchange with before — ]

Yo, over here.

[ and with some dutiful steering, the bedsore of a creature warbles and chitters in its journey to Harry's garbage can, slimy and slobbering open mouth beginning to slurp the refuse and detritus from off of his arm. helping! ]

nia | xenoblade chronicles 2

[nya]

   ENTRY.
( this... is not a familiar sight. if anything, it reminds her more of the cold inside of the world tree, or the ruins of morytha — the technology, the cold distance, the white lights. when she glances over herself, she notices she's in her blade form — and with no way to change back into the comfortable guise of a human. then again, a lot of the people here seem... odd. disfigured, like monsters she'd fought back home, leering at the lost souls from every corner.

at the very least, she doesn't stand out. it's a small comfort.

dromarch, her companion, seems nowhere to be found, either. that's worrisome — but she figures she'll deal with the current situation first and look for him later. spending any more time than necessary here seems... counterproductive, somehow. so she takes a number, and heads back over towards the seats, glancing around attentively. long, catlike ears twitch in hopeless attempts at locating the voice of her tiger, but instead what she notices is an unnaturally extended arm trying to snatch someone's ticket. smack, goes her hand, fangs bared in a hiss as she watches the arm retreat, then turning to the unfortunate victim: )

Look out for yourself better, yeah? There's no telling what they might do to you in this place!

   STREET FIGHT.
( the city is even more overwhelming. she lived in gormott, a relatively low-developed city on the back of a large titan, with lush greenery and lacking technology. she's seen places like mor ardain, sure, where technology and metal flourished — but none of that was nearly this... strange. once again, the world tree comes to mind, and yet... it's not this kind of modern technology, either. flashy. bright. loud. overwhelming.

her ears flatten against her head, displeased with the ruckus. if dromarch were here, she could simply... hop on his back and run around, seeking the right address, but since he's not... she just ends up wandering into a completely random territory, suddenly surrounded by the sounds of brawls and connecting punches. she's never been a fan of violence, but she is a weapon — and though she feels rather... naked without her sword or her rings on her, she's not afraid to scratch the face of anyone who comes at her. a guy grabs her forearm — scratched, someone pushes her to the side — scratched and bit.

she's on high alert and looking worse for wear by the time she's almost out of shuten territory, so... when she sees someone approaching her, or passing her by, or reaching for her, her first instinct is to reach up and scratch the unfortunate victim's face like an angry cat. maybe even bite their arm, even if they meant well. and if that happens to be you... sorry. )

   HELP WANTED.
( she's always been easy to rope into things, despite verbal protests — being on stage is scary, when it's not just in front of her friends, but they promise she can tend the tables instead, so... that's what she opts for. her outfit might or might not have been mistaken for a get-up — it's not something she dwells on, instead taking this job probably entirely too seriously.

this kind of debauchery... not something she's ever seen happen this freely. coming from a place ridden by war and other pressing issues made it hard to focus on anything but — but similarly, she can't say she doesn't enjoy the atmosphere of relaxation that seems prominent here. watching humans and non-humans in this state — living beings, different from a weapon like her — is almost... calming.

she might've gotten a little distracted watching, though. she's definitely pouring the drink all over the table and now the person who'd ordered it. )

... ah! Oops! ( a cuss, as she yanks the bottle away and lets it fly out of her hand and down on the floor. was that a champagne you paid for? ) ... slippery little shits, huh?

street fight

[luxter]

[ Hinata has been through plenty of fights and the Shuten Territory managed to act as some kind of release for him to let go of the anger he felt at being trapped here. Fight after fight, punch after punch. It felt great. But the inhabitants of the place punched back a lot harder than others did in Nakawacho. He really got a run for his money, even though he felt it had been worth it.

Now on his way out of the district, Hinata looked a little worse for wear himself. His clothing had been ripped by a couple of blades, and he had a few bruises already blossoming on his face. Hopefully some rest would allow his body to heal up. As he walks, mostly minding his own business, he notices an oddly dressed woman looking quite wary. A cosplayer? It wouldn't be the first time he's seen one in public. ]

Oi, lady.

[ Hinata approaches her, his hand out to touch her shoulder to offer support, but that seems to be a mistake. Especially when she actually bites him like a damn cat that's she's dressed as. Hinata quickly pulls his hand back, doing his best to flick away the pain. ]

The hell? Cosplayers are fuckin' insane nowadays! Gettin' too much in character, ya damn kitty.

emily dyer | identity v (crau) | ota

[medicative]

arrival.

[the woman sitting on the chair has her head in her hands, bowed and with a set of black wings folded tight against her back. her brow is pinched in the way that certain intense headaches bring - or it's just the other soul in there, causing a fuss because they don't love the new circumstances. it's loud, it feels like her head is stuffed full of emotions that aren't hers, and when someone sits near, words come from her mouth automatically - almost a snap.]

I'm not trading numbers.

[a pause, before Emily exhales, clears her throat, and continues in a much kinder tone.]

...My apologies. It's just been a long day.

street fight.

[it's in the aftermath of one of these fights that Emily makes herself known, approaching whoever looks badly off with a quiet offer to help. but there's no magic at hand, only her pulling first aid supplies out of her bag, letting them know she's a physician. whether they shake her off due to pride or accept the bit of mending, her air is patient, easy - clearly, not her first time dealing with a brawl.

maybe you're the one she's approaching, having come off badly enough in the fight. maybe you just witness it, how she sends them off, only asking for their names and noting it down later. she'll work on favors for now - it's the most reliable transaction she can hold, with a youkai's memory holding them tight. there are always people who need her form of assistance, and she doesn't want to waste too much time.]

help wanted.

[with half swallowed protests, Emily's dragged into the cabaret club, a dress in her arms and her trying futile pleas to get out. at this point, she looks like she's torn between embarrassment and resignation, unfolding the outfit and promptly folding it back up once she sees the cut and design. there's too much that would be showing in this, and she couldn't possibly wear it on stage.

catching someone's eye, her expression is a pure cry for help, unsure of how to proceed.]

Are there any other vacancies apart from going on, you think? Or at least...other costumes to choose from?

[she'll sing if she really has to, but she needs a better dress than that one.]

wildcard.

[for anything and everything that doesn't match the prompts - got an idea? let's go for it! if you're unsure, PM me to hash things out.

for ooc reference, Emily is coming in as an AU from slumscape, and is partially fused with a daitengu spirit.]

( prompt: arrival. )

[sunborne]

No biggie. You're right that it's been a long day with how this feels like it's been taking forever.

[ daylight raises his servos up, showing he has no hard feelings on the matter. having been accosted by others before a bit of zapping got them to back off, day understands what she meant by that.

it's why he looks sympathetic, looking concerned as he does his best to sit daintily on the chair next to her without causing it to collapse under his height and weight. ]

Are, um, you still being bothered? I can tell them to shoo if you want. [ he grins, trying to be sunny, adding, ] They usually begin to listen after I do the whole fee-fi-foo-fum thing so I'll be happy to do that for you if you want, miss.

robin laffite | visual prison | sutoku alliance

[sweetsong]

i.) entry

[ well. this is certainly a place! as plain and boring as it is, at least there's some really good music playing through the speakers. after taking a number, he's quick to go take a seat and then look at whatever place he has in line--- of course it's going to be insanely high, but the fact they could fit 5 digits on this tiny piece of paper is incredible!

forty-two thousand, sixty-nine...

if he's going to be here for a while, he might as well try to make friends. right? whoever's fortunate (or unfortunate) enough to sit next to him will receive a gentle poke to the shoulder and a big smile, followed by a casual wave. ]

Hi! Where are you in line? [ a beat, then: ] Wanna trade?

[ of course, he doesn't actually think about doing that. his number is impossibly high! no one would trade with him!!! right?... ]

ii.) street fight

[ his destination is not this particular territory, but robin's not exactly great with directions when he can't find it on his phone. either way, he does his best to tiptoe around the various arguments and fights that are being started or ended, trying to look as innocuous as possible as he maneuvers through. people in suits, people holding bottles doing more swaying than walking, and a combination of both... all standing around watching and waiting. betting. the last thing robin wants to do is get caught in anything and--- ]

A-ah!

[ a quiet gasp as he runs into someone; someone that's much bigger than he is, which doesn't take MUCH but... he's greeted with angry eyes and a look of disgust. it's followed by a fist coming from the side, and robin moves just in time to keep himself from feeling what appears to be knuckles adorned in a metal striking him in the side.

but this dodge comes at a price. the price is bumping into someone else. hopefully someone more friendly than this enraged drunkard. ]

iii.) sticky paws

[ guess who's not paying attention to the state of his wallet? or his money?? you guessed it--- it's robin! he's too busy playing with the bakeneko. these cats are way too cute, even with their incredibly long tails and the fire that they seem to spit out once in a while. but these things don't bother robin, who doesn't mind the strange behavior of these not-quite-cats. ]

You're so cute! [ said as he pets two different bakeneko at the same time. ] I wish Pannya was here... I bet you'd get along with him.

[ or not, because pannya is incredibly discerning.

anyway. as he idly rubs the tummy of one scheming youkai, another slips some bills into the waist of the robin's pants. that money? stolen. from who?

well, it's not his. that's for sure. ]

iii

[heretic_blade]

Oi, what th' hell are ya doin' with my cash?!

[ Well, the owner has been discovered. He looks to be one pissed off tengu, wings puffed up and everything; he was definitely not just enjoying petting one of the cats, not at all. ]

ciel | tsukihime (2000)

[expiera]

I. Entry
[...Again. How many times has it been, now? She feels like she should keep track for her own personal reference, but with a soul like hers, isn't it poetically fitting that it just seems to get dragged around from one place to the next at random, left to the whims of who even knows anymore to do what's expected of her and/or whatever she can?

So of course, Ciel takes it in strides as she always does. At least she's kept her glasses and arrived in civilian clothes, wearing a gray coat and black dress that goes to her ankles.]

Just because we're here doesn't necessarily mean we're dead, I think.

[Talking to herself, or commenting to the person close by waiting in line with her? Either is possible. In the spirit of "people die live (even) if they are killed in Hell, something like that?]

II. Street (???) Fight – Shuten Territory
[Good booze and good parties may go hand in hand, but good food can’t be remiss, either. While partying and drinking out in the open street isn’t a common occurrence (or at least, not for long before the Enma faction catches wind and breaks it up – for the sake of order), delicious food that anyone can eat is not subject to such scrutiny. It is so that eating contests is a “sport” one may come across while passing by Shuten clan territory: not only does the food bill stimulate the local economy, it’s also a (relatively) tame and boisterous activity that may attract members of other factions into (relatively) friendly and (most importantly, generally) non-violent competition. Not all fights have to be about throwing hands, after all.

And today in particular, the stand set up near a local restaurant seems to be the stage to a curry eating competition. It sounds extra rowdy today, or may that just be a passerby’s imagination? Regardless, if they choose to investigate, one may find the currently reigning champion a… human woman with short blue hair, who looks to be of average height with a figure that’s decidedly more “slim” than “rounded.” Yet to her left is a stack of plates whose count doesn’t seem anywhere remotely human, and to her right, an oni, a kyubi, and a tengu are groaning and/or slumped over the table looking to be quite done with theirs. The oni’s managed to stack up a plate count that looks somewhat close to hers, but he certainly appears to be struggling with his next spoonful… While the woman doesn’t look particularly worse for wear, looking quite delighted as she polishes off the plate she’s currently working on.]

WHAT AN UPSET! THE SURPRISE NEWCOMER HAS DEFEATED THE REIGNING CHAMPION, AND SHE LOOKS READY FOR ANOTHER ROUND! CAN THE CURRY DEMONESS BE STOPPED? IS THIS ITTT???

[The announcer is milking this for everything it’s worth, though there does seem to be a twitch at the woman’s temple at the title of “Curry Demoness”. The end of the contest does seem imminent, and the spectating crowd appears quite eager to witness the outcome. Stick around to watch the end, ponder how someone who looks perfectly human could be out there doing something that is anything but, move on with your day pretending you haven’t come across something too ridiculous to process? All equally valid, or...?]

III. Sticky Paws – Sutoku District
[Ciel is NOT going inside, simply watching from outside the store while being mindful of standing somewhere out of the way of foot traffic with a frown on her face. She is judging, and not being subtle about it.]

Why is it always cat cafés, not dogs or some other animal? Dogs do take a lot more energy and space to care for properly, but surely it can be done, with extra effort?

IV. Help Wanted - Tamamo District
[Isn't this a little... Well. Ciel's honestly not sure how she'd describe it, but thinking on it logically, there are far worse establishments to get dragged into than a tea house - or at least, what appeared to be one. Besides, what she's made to wear DOES look quite nice, and she IS experienced with brewing and pouring traditional Japanese tea thanks to her time in Japan. To think that the time she passed pretending to run a tea ceremony club would pay off this way… She never would’ve imagined it. But the effort she spent genuinely practising the craft as a hobby was real, and she can make full use of it now. Besides, a Geisha’s work doesn’t necessarily have to be sexual, simply being able to pour a good drink, lend a patient ear, and carry on a conversation in a pleasant manner should be enough. Let's give it her best shot, then; she's not someone who did anything half-way, anyhow.

IVa: Thus she only offers her warmest and most welcoming smile to the visitors of this Tamamo-owned tea house, whether one's trip is for business, pleasure, or maybe just like how hers began, accidental?]

Good evening. What will it be tonight?

[IVb: Unless you're another newbie "coworker" trying to find your way through this whole mess, after having had the same misfortune of being accosted for 'help'? She'll offer an encouraging smile in that case, after having maybe passed by you once or twice already while both of you were busy scrambling around.]

Are you okay? This was rather sudden for me too, but it's not too bad once you get used to it!

((OOC: Technically a CRAU of two other games but details are negligible, no change to her canon abilities or personality as the choice is purely made for thematic reasons tied to the character's mindset. She'll treat anyone as a stranger unless she's called out first.))

IVa

[horrifictie]

[ ELECTROCHEMISTRY- This is a new low for you. You are dead, in Hell, with access to all your carnal desires and no limits. And instead of *any* of that, you're *here*, getting *tea*.
VOLITION - Just because we might be in Hell (and that's still up for debate) doesn't mean we have to act like it. This is a good choice.

After the night he's been having - between getting beaten into a trash can and having to pry his wallet out of the claws of mean cats - this seems like the most normal place he could hope for. He doesn't think he's a tea man, but why restrict himself to what he thinks he is? He can be anything! He can even be a tea man with enough time to internalize it. First he has to actually have some tea, but there's definitely way more options than he assumed hot water with leaves would have.

He tilts his head away from the menu when who he assumes is a waitress comes up to him. The way she's dressed reminds him of that dragon robe the smoker's Sunday friend owned, only far classier. His lips twitch up into a smile. ]

Actually, I don't really know miss. What would be a good cup of tea to start with for someone whose never had any?

Sha Gojyo | Saiyuki | CRAU from Slumscape

[pervy_kappa]

I. Waiting In Line Is For Pleebs

[Gojyo felt like he had been getting used to the dreams at this point. If anything, he thought he had been falling in and out of them more than he had experienced any sort of reality these days. Hell, he didn't even question it when he found himself standing in the youkai-infested office. It was certainly more normal than most of what he had experienced so far.

Compared to most people's reactions, it was almost funny how casually he strolled up to the directed desk. Hands hooked into the belt of his obi as he tossed a playful smirk at the many-eyed hyakume before taking his ticket.

Of course, he couldn't help but wonder what he was getting himself into with this little event. Looking down at the ticket stub for a brief second, only for his smirk to turn into an outright grin.]

Whoo ya! Ticket 69, eh? Ain't I the best!!

[Ah yes. Gojyo was a man of true class. Cackling to himself in immature amusement as he plopped himself down upon one of the nearby chairs.]

II. Wait. This Isn't Hakagemachi.

[It was as Gojyo had left the office that he began to understand that things weren't quite what he had previously experienced. For one, although fitting a similar theme, this city looked absolutely nothing like the Hakagemachi he once remembered. It was all, well, modern looking and shit. A city like this was nothing like the dilapidated little youkai town he had gotten so used to living in.

Not that he had any complaints. The change of scenery was lovely. And he preferred bigger cities. It had been a damn long time since he found himself enjoying the bright lights and the hustle and bustle of a place like this.

It was just-- what happened to the town he was in not too long ago? Did this have something to do with the shrines again?

He reached into his pocket, popping a cigarette into his mouth before uncrumpling the piece of paper that the youkai in the office gave him. Eyebrows scrunching together in confusion as he realized just how incomprehensible the directions he was given were.]

The hell? ...That's the dumbest thing I have ever heard. How the hell do they expect you to understand this?

[Was this their way of fucking with him? Did everyone get instructions like this????]

III. Fight! Fight! Fight!

[It didn't take long for Gojyo to end up in trouble.

He practically ran head-first into it. A nearby street fight seemed to break out between two different groups of youkai. Gojyo, meanwhile, had just been minding his own business as he took his time exploring his way around the city.

It wasn't his fault that one of the guys in the fight tripped and slammed into him so suddenly. And what was he supposed to do? Just let the guy get away with it? Like hell, he was going to let that happen.

And so it was with a dramatic kick that he tossed the smaller youkai into the others. Cussing out under his breath as he rolled his neck and looked at the small group of assailants before charging in like a pro.

Gojyo was a man experienced in such skirmishes after all. And he quickly knocked back a few of the other punks with a grin on his face, lit cigarette dangling from his mouth all the while. A small chuckle erupted as a few other baffled clan members questioned who the hell he was and the clan he was with.]

Eeeh? Clan? Don't you know? ...I'm on nobody's side but my own.

[Not like he wasn't already making a nuance of himself by breaking a few of the regulations he was given.]

IV. Oh Gojyo's appreciating the cats all right~ ;)

[Gojyo had been to plenty of cafes before. Hell, cafes were impossible to avoid when you spent most of your life on the road—but being in a restaurant filled with cats like this? Well, it certainly didn't feel like his type of place—all cutesy and shit.

But regardless, he made himself comfortable. Leaning back in his seat with the elegance of a punk who gave absolutely no shits about manners as he ogled the many small cats and cute waitresses that traveled between the tables.

His eyes certainly seemed to be more on the waitresses than the cats.]

Whoa! Do you see that girl's skirt? Awesome!! Hey, toss me my drink, yeah?

V. Did someone say red light district?

[Damn. How long had it been since Gojyo had last found himself traversing a decent red light district? Years? It most certainly had been years. He had forgotten how much he missed the flashing lights and sweet girls' voices as they called out.

A serene, almost comfortable look was adorning his expression as he casually found himself browsing over the many neon signs that decorated the streets. Only to feel someone grab at his arm and begin to lead him into one of the nearby buildings.]

Eh? Wait, seriously?

[Well damn, was this shop desperate or something? Dragging people off as they were?

Ah, right.

Tilting his head back, he smiled out with a wave, beckoning over the fellow Lost Soul he had been exploring the city streets with.]

Oh, sorry. It looks like I've been chosen. Guess I've got no choice, yeah? Yeah?

[He was not putting up much of a struggle.]

Oh, sorry. You coming along? Or do I have a baby traveling along with me?

[Yeah, he's egging you on as an accomplice. So what do you say? Tag along with and save him from whatever trouble he seemed to have gotten in? Or are you going to help with said trouble? Regardless, he's peer pressuring you to join along.]

VI. WILDCARD

((OOC: Have an idea you want to play out? Feel free to place a starter here! Or if you wish to plot things, feel free to PM me, or contact me ad chohakkaifan -or- on Discord at ChoHakkaiFan#5971!))

I

[nerine]

34+35.

[Gojyo's victorious declaration is met with some quiet muttering from the young woman from one chair over. She's lost in thought as she looks at her ticket (it's not a special number, just No. 83, so she'll be waiting a while yet). The number he was able to get seems to have spurred her on a mathematical train of thought.]

1, 3, 23, and 69. 1x69, or 3x23, adds up the same. Now, what else is there...?

[One wouldn't think it, but Mariann "Monts" is decently skilled in math and puzzles. It's one of those odd features she's gained over the years because numbers and problem-solving is easy to focus on when everything else around her was completely off-balance, such as finding yourself in some Hell-equivalent of the DMV. Looking at the magic cafe's accounts would be better than this. She continues, muttering under her breath, pushing her bangs out of her eyes.]

6*9+6+9... [Her light-colored eyes glance over at Gojyo.]

Know any other ways to add it up? I might as well think of a few while I'm waiting for my turn.

Draz'ohv'inadax | SWTOR OC | Sutoku Alliance

[zohvin]

I. ENTRY
[Though Zohvin wakes with a start, after one look around the room he schooled his expression to one that looked more neutral, almost bored. It's his eyes that give away more of his panic, his faintly visible pupils roving between the various people standing in line or milling about as though he's expecting the illusion to be shattered at any moment.

Was this a dream? It didn't feel like one, and he didn't consider himself quite this creative. Zohvin had never cared to judge other aliens on their natural appearance, but the strange beings scattered around this place still managed to be the most unpleasant-looking ones he's ever encountered.

What else can he do but play along? Zohvin takes a number, nods to the attendant, and takes his place in line. It was training, not instinct, that had him making an attempt to blend in. Likewise, should anyone around him either try to make a scene or look visibly panicked themselves, he will make an attempt to grab at their arm and drag them over.]

Stop that! [he says in a low hiss.] Take a breath and settle down. This isn't the place.


II. THE CITY
[Zohvin isn't completely unfamiliar with cities like this, though this place looks far more like some district in Nar Shaddaa than the relatively cleaner, more subdued areas he'd grown accustomed to. The sheer variety of beings was its own surprise, but so were the lack of droids and hovercars. It was clear enough that he was on some other planet, but the where was the question that nagged at him. Even if he'd been dumped on the Outer Rim, there should be something that resembled the more populated planets he knew. A familiar alien species, or galaxy-wide technology...

Then Zohvin happens upon a vending machine. It's a fancy news kiosk selling newspapers and magazines, but it's the touch screen interface that's caught his attention. Zohvin steps over and prods at the screen for a time, but when he finds it impossible to do more than flip through the same menus over and over again, his frustration only grows. Finally, Zohvin loses his cool and slams a fist against the machine, hard enough for the BANG to be heard down the street.]

Why can't this thing connect to the Holonet?!


III. STICKY PAWS - SUTOKU TERRITORY
['It's only for a few days,' they had told him. 'It's just until we can find you some real work.' And who was he to argue with his new benefactors? The fact that they'd omitted telling him key details upfront should've been a sure sign that whatever they had in mind for him wasn't pleasant.

That was how Zohvin found himself stationed at the cat cafe, wearing an apron covered with paw prints that marked himself as one of the employees. What they had told him after he arrived was that despite the usual harmony of the place, certain cat-hating patrons liked to make trouble. Unofficially, they wanted Zohvin there to protect their animals, which left him sweeping the floor and cleaning tables as an excuse to keep an eye on the place.

In the meantime, he was struggling to make nice with the felines themselves. Not once had Zohvin ever met an animal that was fond of him, and the cats here were equally unimpressed. Sometimes, he'd find one of the felines staring at him for entirely too long, and that never failed to make him feel uncomfortable.

Should anything unusual happen in the cafe while Zohvin is there, you can expect him to walk up with a somewhat strained smile plastered onto his face.]
Is something the matter?


IV. WILDCARD
[Zohvin won't be keen on the red light district but he can be encountered anywhere else! Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.]

I.

[demonrebel]

[Dante was just mere seconds away from giving the demon behind him a taste of Ebony & Ivory until some blue dude grabs his arm. The demon in question deserves to get shot in the muzzle, especially since it was getting a bit too close for Dante's comfort. It's one thing to be attacked by demons but getting robbed by one is crossing the line.

He stares at the blue guy for a long while in surprise before rudely jerking his arm out of their grasp. Truth be told, Dante never met a bonafide alien before. So he thinks Mr. Blue Man here is just another demon like the rest of them. That is until he notices the odd uniform.

Demons don't wear uniforms...]

Who the fuck are you? The welcome committee?

[All sarcasm aside, Dante is a little grateful. He has an itchy trigger finger right now and for a good reason.]

You do realize what's happening here, right?

[This isn't the line to Disney World, buddy.]

hinata tatsugami ( original )

[luxter]

(1) entry into hell

[ What the hell?

After falling asleep, Hinata hardly expected to wake up in a place like this. He didn't remember being drugged. And he sure as hell would have realized it if he had gotten kidnapped somehow. So, how did he end up in a place like this? It kind of reminded him of the Deli Market in Nakawacho. That place always had a long waiting period with people having their ticket numbers being from either one to two hundred. Hinata got a good look at the inhabitants, not feeling particularly thrown off by them.

He's seen odder, that's for sure. But it is odd that there's a large concentration of them in one place. Bestiamancers were here and there, sure, but only few of them chose to fuse themselves with their animal companions. Hinata closed his eyes for a second and let out a small sigh, doing his best to gather himself so he can be prepared to wait. It shouldn't be that long, right?

Hinata looked down at his number.

444. ]

Tsk. What a pain.

[ Triple fours? How unlucky. He turns to the person behind him. ]

Trade with me.

(2) shuten territory

[ Shuten's territory feels a lot like home, even if it seems that he's very far away from it. He didn't understand how he ended up in HELL of all places but maybe it's deserved. He has done some serious misdeeds in his life. He's even killed, even if it was for the sake of survival. Though he doesn't remember dying, Hidetoshi had been right about one thing. All Yakuza end up going straight to Hell some point in their lives. Even when they didn't even die, apparently. It was seriously a pain in the ass. He instructed Otome to seek out Hidetoshi if things went south for him so hopefully the woman followed his instructions.

Hinata continued to walk the streets with his hands stuffed in his pockets as he silently longed for a cigarette. He usually carried them in his pocket but who knew where they were now? He'd have to buy more here. Eventually.

As he continued to walk, he paused at the sight of a commotion in the street. It seems a lot of fights happen in this place, something that he didn't mind. He stared ahead as five guys surrounded one person, cracking their knuckles as they prepared for a fight. Hinata huffed. That's hardly fair, isn't it? Rolling up his sleeves, Hinata pushed his way through the group of men and stopped at the other person's side. He raised his fists as he glared at the other men. ]

Five against one is hardly fair.

[ Hinata didn't even waste any time before he immediately threw the first punch. ]

(3) tamamo territory

A. [ Being dragged into ridiculous situations is something that Hinata is used to. But becoming a host at a host club is the last thing that he expected to happen to him. Mostly because he hardly looks like "host club" material. Most people looked at him and saw a scary-looking man with an urge to kill, not someone with a kissable face that they'd want to spend money on. Hinata is practically forced into a uniform with his hair being tied into a neat bun so he looks a little more approachable.

His job? Convincing people to come inside for the night and to be ready on standby in case someone requests him. With the promise of being paid handsomely, Hinata can hardly refuse. But they're pretty foolish wanting him of all people to recruit others inside. Because Hinata Tatsugami is not a people person.

Once on the street, Hinata shoves one of the papers they gave him to hand out in the face of the closest person who crosses him. ]

Oi. Come in and pay for some company. Don't be stingy with your money. You're cute so they'll probably give you a discount.

[ That's how it worked back in Nakawacho, anyway. Whether that's true or not, Hinata isn't sure. ]

B. [ Or maybe you're already inside. And since the place is busy, they stick you with one of their newest recruits. His name is apparently Hinata Tatsugami and he has a little charm. But only a little bit.

When you find yourself seated, the man will be sitting next to you with a leg crossed and an arm thrown over your shoulder. He doesn't directly look you in the eye. While it may look like disinterest, it's actually because he feels very awkward about the whole thing. This is not his kind of scene. ]

Welcome, I guess.

(4) wildcard

[ Hit me with anything! ]

1

[deadtective]

Pay me.

[Hazel doesn't even look up from the phone in her hands (which is dead, by the way. she is staring down at a completely black screen in mild befuddlement and she is not taking questions about how this is more interesting than anything else happening here, thank you) before she answers, the response coming automatically when confronted with such a command. that the man making it is in front of her and presumably holding a lower number does nothing to coax her into retracting her terms; if anything she feels it's an even wiser move to hold fast to them because of that fact. who willingly gives up any sort of privilege if there isn't something wrong with it, after all?

she does pocket the bricked device after a moment at least, eyes flicking upwards to rest expectantly on Hinata's face. is she really serious about wanting compensation for something this stupid? it's hard to tell.]

Shinobu Jacobs | No More Heroes 3

[rippedoff]

1) Entry
[Having been inside a video game console's world, somehow waiting in line with fellow humans like her alongside more odd looking yokai didn't even faze her. Hell, if another, she was just a little relieved that the other beings lacked the telltale polygonal look the bugs from the Death Drive had.

With her little paper tucked away in her pocket, Shinobu patiently waits in line, intending to just quietly wait until her turn. However, as she sees an arm snake past her, she's put in high alert. Quickly, one of her robotic hands grabs onto the wrist of someone behind her as their hand carefully snaked their way into the pocket of whoever was in front of her.]

Hey. Is this yours?

[With a literal iron grip on the offender's wrist, Shinobu displays the elongated arm's fist with just a bit of the ticket's paper on display. However, probably just as soon as your character gets a good look at the ticket, the long armed creature draws their arm back, unceremoniously tossing Shinobu on the floor and drawing the stolen piece of paper back toward it.]

Don't let it escape!

[She'll get back up in a moment and try to help out, but you better get a move on to catch visual of the thief in question! Or, you know, you could be a dick and just steal her ticket instead if that's too much effort.]


2) Street Fight
[Even if thugs loudly declaring challenges on others on the street was another thing that was strangely not foreign to her in the least, Shinobu was still dead set on just getting through the area, not making eye contact with anyone. However, with the katana on her back and the bright yellow clothes she was wearing in general, it was something that caught a lot of eyes on those she passed by. Nevertheless, Shinobu just straight up ignores the taunts and insults thrown at her and attempts to go along in her way.

There's still part of her that hungers for a fight and to just show them all up. However, as she grew older, Shinobu also had enough sense to know that getting into a tussle with guys like these was hardly ever satisfying in the end. Even if Shinobu did her best to pretend they weren't even there, though, the thugs just got more pissed off and got more aggressive in their pursuit.

Before Shinobu can escape in some flashy fashion, though, she looks maybe a bit exasperated as someone steps in, whether they were here to help, here to take on one hell of a fight, or even just drunkenly stumbled in.]

I know how this looks, but I don't need help. Get out.

[The irritation is evident in her tone, as she really just wanted to avoid a stupid fight. However, whoever stepped in had since also gained the attention of the group of thugs. Letting out a long sigh, Shinobu takes a glance over at the other person before getting in position to fight - she didn't need her blade to kick someone's ass.]

Hope you know how to fight. Otherwise? Stand back and see how a real fighter works.


3) STICKY PAWS
[Being new to the area, Shinobu had originally just wanted to find a place to get a chai tea, but as the cat cafe was the first thing she could find, she decided to settle for that. Being indifferent to cats, Shinobu mostly sat at her table and slowly sipped at her drink.

At some point, one of the cats jumped up on the table and cozied itself to Shinobu. Not being completely heartless, Shinobu reaches out with one of her prosthetic hands and gives it a little pet the best she can as she finishes off her drink. However, as she reaches for her wallet, Shinobu realizes that her wallet was gone.

Being quick on the uptake, she takes a sharp glance at the ginger cat that was just at her table, barely catching a glimpse of her wallet before it started escaping. Seeing that it was headed directly in the path of someone incoming, Shinobu yells ahead to them.]

Stop that cat! [God, it sounded so ridiculous just saying it, but she wasn't going to let it just take off like that! Scowling, she mutters under her breath as she attempts to catch the cat.] This is why I was always a dog person...

[Yeah, because things like this totally happen all the time...]


4) WILDCARD
[Shinobu will absolutely refuse to go in any of the host clubs, but maybe she gets strong-armed into one? At the very least, she's actually pretty decent at conversation, even if she will still be stubborn about drinking any alcohol.

Or just run into her at a boba shop, some noodle stand, or sushi place. I'm always up for chill times too!]

3

[baecon]

[Fortunately for Shinobu, the someone in front of the cat had pretty fast reflexes. He also happened to be a ghost, though that hardly stopped him from snatching the cat in between a set of claws and hoisting the animal into the air. Despite the animal's(?) best efforts to break free, it couldn't snack out of The Snatcher's grasp. A fact that delighted the shadowy specter to no end.]

And just what do we have here?

[The voice that bellowed out from the shadowy specter was equal parts loud as it was mirthful. At least someone was enjoying the situation.]

izumo kamiki | ao no exorcist | sutoku alliance

[polkabrows]

entry

[ izumo wouldn't consider herself particularly impatient, but after standing in line for what feels like hours, for something that's supposed to very well decide the rest of her fate in this stupid "hell"... well. a girl's got places to be, things to do, alright?

she huffs out an exasperated breath, deciding to act. ]

Hey. [ it doesn't matter who you are, what you look like. (a) if you happen to the the person in front of her, she's going to tap your shoulder till she has your attention. ] Trade tickets with me.

[ or maybe as she's in the middle of considering her options here, some movement in front of her happens to catch her attention. though she normally minds her own business, it's been so dull standing in this line that she winds up (b) speaking up before she can stop herself: ]

That guy's about to steal from you, by the way.

[ did she just save you some trouble here? or maybe she just blew up your spot. hell, she might even be full of shit. who knows, who cares. maybe now something interesting will finally happen. ]

the city

[ she is not lost, thankyouverymuch. if you (c) happen to see her round the same corner for the third time or cross back and forth over the same crosswalk again and again — no you didn't, mind your business, and WHY'S EVERYTHING LOOK SO SIMILAR ANYWAY, HUH??? ]

sutoku territory

[ if there's one thing izumo is absolutely, 1000%, without-a-doubt, weak-in-the-knees-to? it's cute shit. and what's cuter than a cat cafe filled to the brim with fluffy kitties all begging for her love and attention? maybe you're used to seeing her wandering around the city with a perpetual scowl on her face, or you happen to witness that miraculous moment her resting bitch face instantaneously melted into a look of utter adoration the second her eyes landed on a pair of toebeans pressed up against the glass—

either way, izumo will likely be (d) caught in the very compromising position of being curled up on one of the shag rugs, fawning and cooing over a large maincoon-looking cat purring up a storm on her lap. her left leg's gone numb and her hips are killing her, but it's fine, it's all good, she's fully prepared to die here thanks.

eventually, though, the rug will be pulled out from under her (not literally, though) when the cat deigns to leave her and she gets herself up on wobbly legs to (e) find her wallet missing, and a stern-looking cafe worker insisting she owes them money for all the time she'd spent oohing and ahhing. flustered, izumo does what she does best when confronted with an uncomfortable situation: she starts yelling. ]

What the hell?! I already told you — my wallet's gone missing! What do you want me to do about that?!

cyoa

( if none of these prompts catch your fancy, feel free to wildcard it up! )

entry (b)

[worldbent]

Yes. It can certainly try.

[The man, robed in dark kimono and dark hair, looks like he might as well fit in with the more humanoid of the youkai in the place. When he turns his face to look at Izumo, half of it is concealed under a flimsy-looking paper sheath, covered in esoteric writing.]

[Looking at it for too long may produce a somewhat disquieting feeling.]

What number have you drawn, by the way? [Whatever aura his appearance may give off, his face immediately plasters into a smile, as if he's unaware of it. Even as the long-armed youkai draws nearer to reaching towards his kimono sleeve, he continues to act as though it may as well not exist.]

Nanaki Kazuaki | Hatoful Boyfriend

[truequail]

[ooc: Hey, it's me, advertising for spoilers to a game that's (checks notes) 10+ years old! Nanaki Kazuaki contains spoilers for the main game and Holiday Star storylines and he's one of those characters that is kind of a "walking spoiler." He's also a quail but, well, we're going to fix that for ease-of-play reasons.]

[this character also deals with content warning: themes of depression and suicide so please be aware!]

A. Entry (or Lack Thereof)

[A lot of things had very recently gone very poorly and Nanaki was, understandably, not handling it very well. To some people, the mundane reality of an underworld bureaucracy would soften the blow. For Nanaki, though, such a place is terrifying on top of his own emotional turmoil. He's doing his best not to cry. Crying would only draw attention to himself and lead to questions he couldn't answer like 'why is that grown man crying at a DMV.' In trying very hard not to cry, though, he's wrapped himself up into a metaphorical cocoon that means he's an absolutely easy mark.]

[So, his first ticket gets stolen.]

[That's probably fine, it gives him more time to think of what to say when his throat feels swollen up with restrained tears.]

[Then, his second ticket gets stolen.]

[That's probably fine, this is all scary but waiting is less scary than going up to the desk.]

[It starts to become clear, though, that this Lost Soul might just become a resident of the waiting room. Every now and then he musters up the courage to grab another ticket only to lose it. The normal bureaucracy means that people could spend hours waiting. Nanaki is starting to spend hours upon hours. He's becoming a permanent fixture of the chairs, out of the way enough to not get in someone's way and just visible enough to make himself a target for theft. It doesn't seem like the time heals him much, either, still looking as freshly about-to-cry as minute one.]

B. A Victim of Sticky Paws

[The shop was selling atmosphere. To someone who was stressed out of their mind, the cutesy cafe layout and the enticing paw pads were a salve for the soul.]

Hehe... it's like that phone game...

[Except instead of an idyllic backyard it was a store in, literally, hell. Nanaki does check his wallet at the beginning. After all, finances were going to be important if he was going to survive in this situation. More than being swindled, though, a good amount of Nanaki's lost money came from his own impulsive, joy-chasing decisions. It was like a game, where you pay a little extra to get the cutest cat's favorite toy. You get a photo taken with the chubbiest cat. In trying to soothe his soul, he injures his wallet.]

[Then, to add insult to injury, the last couple of bills get swiped away by a two-tailed cat when his eyes are averted.]

[It leads to a rude awakening when he next checks his wallet to try and convince himself that maybe, just maybe he can afford to spend a bit more... and there's nothing.]

... Ah. [THE DREAD SETS IN.]

C. Not Much Help

[Nanaki, when he keeps his mouth shut, can cut a fairly attractive figure. There was a delicate look to his face, his plumage- sorry, hair- and there were certainly worse-looking folks out there. The person who grabbed him off the street must have assumed he'd be a good find.]

[The problem is everything else about him.]

[CRASH!]

I- I- I- I'm sorry!

[Nanaki managed to get himself into a server role. It was a lot better for his heart than if he were thrust directly into erotic entertainment. It should be easy enough to just pour the demonic, alcoholic beverages for people enjoying a show. Except he keeps stumbling, dropping things, and generally being more trouble than anything else.]

I'm very sorry, f- forgive me!

[He's in full, hardcore apology-mode. Inside his head is a storm of self-deprecating thoughts. Even in hell, even in another world, you're still like this. What happens if you die in hell? Do you go to some sort of super hell? Or was it simply nothingness? The nothingness was just as scary, he realizes.]

D. Wildcard

[hit me up here or via PM if you have any questions, ideas, or concerns! if necessary I'm going to assume Sutoku Alliance for Nanaki, but otherwise just kind of blank-slating it]

a (learning hb is 10+ years old already caused me to wither into a husk, ty)

[deadtective]

[there's a lot of shit going on in this waiting room (building?) that could attract a person's attention, and yet...try as she might, Hazel's gaze just keeps wandering back to that weird dude who seemed perpetually about to turn on the waterworks. it wasn't so much that latecomers kept waltzing in and swiping his ticket with no real reprisal so much as how long this guy had remained in the same exact spot. he wasn't a demon if he was nominally trying to get in line, and yet something about him just kept feeling more and more permanent the longer her own wait time stretched out. the fuck was his deal?

it was just asking for trouble, she knew, but she couldn't help herself. the shithead part of Hazel's mind wondered facetiously if he'd merged with the chair he was on - or maybe he was afraid of getting that stolen too? ...it was tempting, she had to admit.

it wouldn't do to make too big of a ruckus on her first day here, though, so she kept her opening move a bit more restrained once she finally approached Nanaki. just silent, wordless...and reaching out to try and lightly tug on that weird cowlick of his. maybe that'd prompt a more substantial reaction...or turn him off like a child's pull toy.]

Kaine Parker | Marvel Comics | Sutoku Alliance

[rodeno]

[Entry]

[Apparently hell is the line at the department of motor vehicles! Who knew? Definitely not Kaine who's looking at his number, gaze occasionally darting to the side in case of an attempt to grab it. Already had that happen once today, so he's really really not looking for a repeat occurrence.]

Hey, I'm watching you! Wouldn't go for it if you want to keep that hand.

[Grumbling and...not really making any friends in line here, but that's fine. He's not here to make friends, not really his thing outside of...well the several he's picked up back home. But definitely not here to make friends!]

[City]

All right, so that's uh...maybe, this way?

[Mostly mumbling to himself, looking at the paper. Asking for directions isn't entirely the first thing on Kaine's mind, he's not great at that honestly. Though in theory someone who's traveled all over the place and been an assassin for hire would be better at this, but there's also the whole “leave me alone, I don't make friends, I don't deserve friends” bullshit he tries to project which runs directly at odds with socializing or admitting he needs help unless he really needs to.

Assuming he doesn't run into people while he's trying to make his way there, there's a good chance of finding him after her gets his apartment, out and trying to get a feel for this place. Grumbling once more though since he can't say he cares for it, kind of a trade down. He gets how it works, but still!]

...I miss the hotel.

[Street Fight – Shuten Territory]

[It's not like he's a stranger to this kind of thing, hard not to be given the fact that he's been on both sides of the fighting crime thing. And he knows there's probably a better way to handle things, but he hasn't been in the best mood lately (ever), so when someone tells Kaine that he's in the wrong place and there could be trouble...]

Yeah, sure could be.

[And with that, he's throwing a punch and soon enough there's a mess going on. Doesn't matter if he's on the wrong turf or possibly causing a bigger problem, this is a good way to blow off steam. Though he's probably going to have some regrets later.]

[Wildcard]

[Feel free to message me at opticblast if you want to do something different!]

johnny silverhand | cyberpunk 2077 (crau)

[engrams]

ENTRY.

[There’s a hell of a lot Johnny hates more than standing in line, but standing in line is the offense of the moment, and that’s all it really takes to rankle him. He isn’t patient on the best of days, shifting his weight from one foot to another while standing in queue, grumbling now and again about it the whole process taking too fucking long. Sometimes, though, his irate boredom masquerades as generosity, when the reality’s simpler: he doesn’t mind stirring the pot to kick up some entertainment. To feel a little less braindead, about as useful as a lump on a log.]

Hey. Might wanna turn around, you got someone reachin’ for your ass.

[Got a long-armed youkai reaching for the ticket in your pocket, or pocket-vicinity, stranger.

Or, later, Johnny’s fishing out a pack of cigarettes, nearly crushed in his back pocket, holding it up between forefinger and thumb like a bargaining chip — but only if you’ve got a ticket with a number that’d get him outta here faster.]

Look, I’ll trade you — this is how desperate I am.

STREET FIGHT.

[Surely it’s a small miracle that Johnny isn’t the one roped into the hurricane of a fight playing out on the street, but sometimes miracles happen. Sometimes, he’s just an observer — though he’s doing more than observing, shuffling out of the way when the fight hovers too close—]

Watch it, asshole!

[Or egging it on, just a little bit, mild amusement hidden behind the tint of dark shades, but definitely not his tone.]

You call that a punch? Seen lil’ old ladies hit harder than that.

HELP WANTED.

[Sometimes miracles happen, sure. And sometimes something so impossible takes place that reality itself must’ve broken to allow it. That something is Johnny getting his metal arm twisted into playing employee at the local host club, a lurid place drenched in neon and overflowing with drinks. His kind of place when he’s not working it; the fun’s all wrung out of it when he’s supposed to be tending to his clients, not the other way around. Either way, Johnny makes for an interesting host.

If “terrible” is another word for “interesting”, at least.]

What? Pour your own drink.

[Seated in his booth, practically sprawled out, you’ll have to really fight to get anything like amicability out of Johnny. Though those that can weather through the rough edges may be able to get the drinks flowing with enough cajoling. Maybe even some karaoke.]

WILCARD.

(( hit me with whatever! i’m easy. ))

entry

[sefirot]

[Sephiroth looks over at the man and his offer with much the same regard one might give an insect. Though it's more neutral than aggressive. More of one of those: why is this person talking to me stare. Unfortunately he can't do a whole lot about this situation or this person.

Other than be annoyed about it. Though at least he doesn't look like he is. He's rather good at pretending he has no emotions these days. Gods are above such things after all.

But he, really, really is annoyed right now. Less at the people. More at everyone else. Okay, probably the people too.]

If you're going to make some sort of offer, at least make it something of worth.

[Not that he'd accept an offer anyway. But that? No. It'd have to be something really good and/or Cloud for him to even care. ]

Though you do not look like you'd hold anything I'd desire.

Ichimonji Norimune | Touken Ranbu | OTA

[kikuichi]

► Entry
[There's a swordsman in sitting down at one of the seats. He hold his ticket in one hand, with his folded fan in his other one. He taps the tip of his fan to his chin, thinking deeply. This is a rather unusual situation, and one that seems rather unexpected and surprising. Unless it turns out to be boring, which would be the worst thing ever for this retired old soul.

There's a long arm slowly reaching over from the row of seats behind him, slowly and steadily. Until he suddenly smack it with his fan, causing it to retreat from the shock and temporary pain. He turns around and gives a wide smile.]

Naughty, naughty! You wouldn't want to steal from an old man, would you? Why, I would wonder why you think it's a good idea!

[Oh, he knows. Even among spirits, selfishness is normal.]

I believe there's a phrase for this, isn't there? "Patience is a virtue"?

► The City - Shopping Distraction
[One would think you should find their way towards their destination and quickly get this over with. However, one is not Ichimonji Norimune, who seems delighted by the myriad of distractions. He does try to ask for aid... whenever he's not marvelling at whatever obnoxiously bright displays and offers the stores are showing. Whether he's alone or team up with someone to find their way to the office, he's going to be wonderfully distracted and derailed.]

Amazing, I would love to shop around here! Unfortunately, I'm quite new here, madam, so I would still need to find my way over to the office.

[Yes, he have no problem saying that out loud. Once he got his fill, that's when he'll properly focus on their task: actually finding the office.]

► Street Fight - Unwanted Advice
[This swordsman is just watching from the sidelines, applauding whenever he see a particular good move or counterattack. Sometimes, he would casually dodge anything that thrown in his direction.]

Good job, son! Good job!

[After a point, he might approach some of the fighters who got injured enough or otherwise knocked out of the fight. Despite how close he might be to the continued brawl, Norimune is... giving advice to the poor, defeated fighter?]

You did pretty well, son. I do say, there's something about your moves that jump out to me...

[They didn't even ask for this?!]

► Wild Card
[Bring your own scenario here! Feel free to hit me up over PM or Sonica if you want to hash out something. slumscape folks are free to recognise him, he'll be fresh slate here instead of CRAU.]

street fight

[harimaya]

-- The hell are you doing here?!

(Hizen curses, holding back one youkai with his blade as it tries to pin him down. Look, he's doing fine. He's managing fine! HE just has a size disadvantage here. No matter how skilled or fast a wakizashi may be, it's still lacking in terms of pure strength which is what his current opponent has plenty of.

He kicks at his opponent's stomach hard which sends him pulling back just enough for Hizen to make some ground. He slashes and charges forward,)

No one asked for your opinion! (He doesn't need encouragement?) Stay out of this!

(He! Can! Handle! This!)

soma | lost judgement

[trueorder]

entry;

[ It all fades to black.

He opens his eyes in what appears to be a government office. His shoulders give a little roll as he adjusts his posture. Inadvertedly, he rubs his neck as he fully takes in his surroundings.

Soma drops his hand down as he notes the youkai around him. A smile glosses his lips briefly before he goes to take his number. It is nice to see that things are orderly here. There is no preferential treatment; everyone has to wait together.

Or do they? Is there really order here?

Shall he test it? ]

Hey, what number did you get? [ He sighs. ] My number is getting close to being called and I'm not yet ready to go.

[ Holding his hand out, he asks with an easy smile: ] Can I see yours?

fight, fight, fight;

[ This feels familiar.

The chaos of the streets feels very much like Kamurocho. Yet somehow, he doesn't feel comforted by it. That's because there is still so much unknown about the balance of this world. Where does it tip?

It feels too much like the old Kamurocho, which held some things in balance and some things not.

All the same, he steps forward as soon as a brawl is done. He kneels down to the person that is injured and immediately starts to take what goods and valuables that the victor did not steal for themselves.

Feeling someone coming up to him, he tosses what coin he took to them. ]

What's the saying? Share the wealth? [ The image that he's building for himself is different than who he is, but he feels that is needed. If there is one person who plays his cards a little too close to his chest; it's Soma. ]

wildcard;

[ feel free to throw anything. if you wanna plot some, you can pm me! ]

fight!

[worldbent]

[Someone else had caught the aftermath of the fight as well, and as Matoba steps out into the street proper, he finds a coin flinging towards him--]

[Ah. It clips the edge of his right hand, but he misses it by an inch or two. It goes clinking onto the cobbles behind him instead, forgotten. He frowns momentarily, as if to think it's a shame, before he sets his attention on the man who had flicked it.]

Is sharing what doesn't belong to you still considered generosity, I wonder? [He says it with a smile that says nothing about what he thinks about that saying either way.] Did you happen to catch which way the winner went?

Imogen Greene | OC | Tamamo | Will match style

[greenevoices]

[ooc: I tend to default to prose tagging, but can match style.]

arrival

Can immortals even die?

Imogen is a bit new to the whole idea, but she is fairly certain that it’s not exactly typical for a demigod to die in their sleep and wind up in some nightmarish bureaucratic version of hell. At first she thought it was just that—a nightmare—but two hours and multiple surreptitious arm pinches into her stay, she’s beginning to realize that she’s not about to wake up and leave this depressingly beige hellscape any time soon. So…she died. Somehow. Even though she And now she’s in the DMV of the afterlife. A number is called. She instinctively looks down at the one clutched in her fist even though she’s got it memorized and knows it isn’t the same. The line doesn’t seem to have moved in the entire time she’s been here. The only change is that her ass has gotten progressively number as she’s been stuck in the hard plastic chair.

“What number are you?” she asks a reasonably friendly face nearby, hoping to at least pass the time. And maybe she can Compel them to trade.

help wanted

Honestly, how hard can it be? This isn’t too different from working in the cocktail bar that she’d gotten fired from last year. Sure, the cocktail bar had been a bit classier—Imogen is not entirely a fan of the vinyl go-go boots and barely-there mini dress they’ve stuck her in—but it’s the same idea. Keep the clients drunk, happy, and spending money. Avoid hands on your thigh or lower back. Smile until your face hurts. Walk in impractical shoes until your feet bleed. Sneak a drink or a joint to make it tolerable.

She’s doing just that, tossing back a shot of something she doesn’t recognize that burns all the way down, when she hears someone (or something) approach.

“I’m on break,” she snaps, very different from the charming, coquettish waitress she’d been just minutes before. “So fuck off.”

Why couldn’t she have wound up in a club with a stage? Or even a karaoke machine? It would be so much easier if she could just turn on the Charm.

wildcard

[Feel free to throw anything you want at her! Imogen is a siren—a demigod whose voice has the power to seduce or, when used improperly, drive her victims mad with desire. Since she only recently learned about her powers, she isn’t exactly good at controlling them. Have fun.]

Arrival

[sleepinglyra]

Sheliak wasn't sure he believed that they were dead. He had been in a dangerous situation before he woke up here but in his vision he saw Arrakis's death, not his own. He should have survived. Not to mention this place didn't look anything like the few stories he knew about the afterlife and he didn't feel his goddess's presence anywhere. Then again where would the souls from a world that no longer exists even go? He would prefer not to think about it and just rest instead. Everything was too confusing and he didn't want to deal with it yet. Just let him sleep a little.

Or not. He hid his irritation and casually opened one eye at Imogen's question.

"My number doesn't concern you."

shylock bennett / mahoutsukai no yakusoku

[breweries]

ENTRY

For being a vital place in hell, this place is rather drab, don't you think?

[ don't mind this tall man in his dark hair up in a bun, he's just making small talk in this humdrum of a line. the boring interiors make him sob, as a man who's all about the aesthetic, but at least the variety of people and creatures who are also in the lines make up for it.

the fact that he's probably dead hasn't sink in yet, but he'll unpack that much later. king of compartmentalization right here. he could really use a smoke right now, though.

at some point, he notices that the youkai minding their business has pocketed their ticket at the back of their jeans pocket (some of them wear humanoid clothing! who knew). shylock spots it, glances a shifty gaze at the fellow lost soul standing beside him, and brings up a finger to his lips together with a mischievous wink.

shhhh. once a western wizard, always a western wizard -- even if he's lost some access to his powers. ]

STICKY PAWS

[ it's always the cats, huh. adorable they may be, but their curiosity knows no bounds. shylock would know most of all.

as he busies himself with patting a well-behaved black cat, he can feel something brush against his pants: someone's hand, it seems like. whether the other party just accidentally brushed their hand on him or had more money-grubbing intents, shylock will turn around and take their hand with some considerable strength, as if to snap their wrist--

but nope! he's going to place your hand onto the black cat he's been giving lavish attention to. ]

Now, enough about that. Do you feel how soft its fur is? It almost makes me want to take it home, fufu.

[ his smile is unreadable, whether the other person has ulterior motives or not, but it's a smile nonetheless. ]

HELP WANTED

[ this area of hell felt like the more lavish parts of western country already, so in a way shylock felt like he's come back home. while he prefers running his own bar, working for someone is better than nothing; he's just lucky that he's been tasked behind the counter to serve drinks in a more upscale bar.

so here he is, donned in a playboy outfit despite the lack of a distinct chest; he'd have readily transformed completely into a more feminine form if this world didn't take all his abilities away, alas. unlike some of his fellow workmates, he doesn't seem to be bothered with this uniform at all, what with his inherently sensual looks and easygoing personality as he serves drinks with relative ease. ]

Tired already? The party's only beginning.

[ he tells anyone approaching the counter, whether they be a fellow bunnyperson or a mere customer. he sets aside the glass he'd just polished and brings up another one, ready to be filled. ]

Let me mix something up for you, help you loosen up. Any requests?

help wanted-ish

[himbosupreme]

[Cain truly could be an observant person and make smart decisions on the battlefield and when it came to tactics. However this was neither of those times, and thus has already been robbed of all of his money by what was bakeneko in disguise.

Navigating a city full of people was hard enough when you couldn't see anyone, and when a stranger practically dragged him off the street and into a bar, he couldn't really fight it.

He had no money, he tried to say, but it didn't matter as he was jostled let and right by people suddenly appearing in his vision. Eventually the guy had mercy on him by the time he reached the bar, and he quickly grabbed a seat before he could accidentally start a fight.

However, unless his mind was playing tricks on him, that was absolutely Shylock's voice. He leaned up on the counter, trying to peer into the empty air.]

Shylock? Is that you?

nehan | granblue fantasy

[apathie]

a: arrival

[be careful, nehan bites. no, seriously, he bites. those long, long arms constantly reach for the ticket in his hand every time the line moves along, and he's batted them away so far. but every time, his ears have been standing straighter and straighter, tension rising in him, until...

he snaps his jaw and bites the next hand that reaches for his ticket, eliciting a scream from several (really, several) rows behind, the pupils of the eyes dotting the arm all pinpricks of pain.

nehan lets the hand go, deep teeth marks in the meat of the palm and in the thumb, and there's blood on his lips. and, of course, he's noticed the staring. how could this display not draw spectators? the erune meets the gaze of one of the people sitting in the chairs next to him (maybe even you...) with his flat eyes and heavy shadows, and, still keeping that stare, spits out dark youkai blood onto the floor, making sure to show off his bloodied fangs. a warning, not just to the person he's looking at, but everyone else.]

b: street fight

[the problem with a street fight is that people tend to look at that, and not at their pockets. and nehan? he takes advantage of that.

being a pickpocket isn't something he doesn't do often, but needs must, when rupies are useless in this world. he draws close to some people who look rich, their suits sporting particularly high thread counts, quiet as a shadow and swipes their wallets. hold his breath, reach for the leather in their pocket, then tug. then move away and breathe again, casual, like he's just passing by. but once he's spotted doing such a thing... nehan raises an eyebrow, ears pointed outwards, listening to make sure no one else is sounding the alarm over missing currency.

then he places a finger over his lips as if to say shush, then beckons to his head towards an alley. once there, he tucks his arms into his coat, all his lifted wallets in inner pockets to keep them safe.]

Hm. You've caught me. What, then, will you do?

wildcard
[[ bring your own prompt! feel free to pm me. nehan is tentatively shutoku for this tdm but i can be flexible. if you're a slumscape CRAU with CR with six, let's talk first please!

i also have info and permissions on his journal if you want to read up on him first. please read the permissions especially, since nehan comes with a lot of warnings. ]]

Street Fight

[baecon]

[If there's one thing Snatcher hates about this place, it's the fact that he's way less intimidating than he used to be. The whole scare factor thing he has going for him? Gone once you see him slithering around like a snake. It looks ridiculous and he hates it, but he's going to play it off as he makes his way into the alleyway, dusting himself off and straightening out his...back?]

That is the million dollar question, isn't it? Tell you what, how's about you and I make a deal?