jigokufever | February 2022 Test Drive

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.

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

He hates having to answer that particular question, but its not something be can fault anyone for. He understands that there's a type if cuisine for everyone, but Bishop thought and believed himself a master of more than one.

"Eastern and Western cuisine, along with baking and bartending." But he does have an answer. "I'm also quite good with coffee and teas."

Of course he wants to keep adding but, cooking has always been a show rather than tell skill.

Edited 2022-04-12 05:55 (UTC)

A shame you met such an overly social and friendly guy Bishop. Here he's just going to keep trying to get to know you now that his interest has been piqued.

"Ahh eastern and western, huh? So, like a culinary jack-of-all-trades then?" He was actually fairly impressed. But then again, he was the type of guy whose sole specialty was 'Everything in The Fridge Ramen'.

"Well, all right then Mr. 'Knows His Way Around Town', since you know what makes a good plate, why don't you pick the place that we'll eat?"

He prefers just being called a "chef" without any labels People can assume what he can and can't cook, and he'll surprise them.

That last bit he said gave Bishop some pause.

"Excuse me?" He said stopping in his tracks. "I thought you wanted to get to the Tamamo, not go chowing down?" More than that, he's not gonna lay for your food.

"Eh? But we spoke so much about the food around each district," And now he was hungry. You can't just string him along like that man.

The disappointment was clear on his face but, after a small sigh and drop of his shoulders he accepted that it as probably just going to be a no nonsense, straight-to-work situation. "But really you're the tour guide. So where you lead is where you lead~ I'm just your wide-eyed tourist."

He just stares at him blankly for a moment -

"You're going to the Tamamo district." With expedience. ASAP. Quick like. This instant even.

"I don't have that kind of cash even if I wanted to." He says walking with a bit more purpose. "And neither do you, I'm sure." Though Bishop is perfectly capable of pick-pocketing the money needed for such a lavish feast, he wouldn't want to share nor would be willing to even stir the interest of the flat foots.

".... Booooo," Thumbs down. Worst tour ever. He's going to leave a bad review.

"Man, you're just going to entice me with talk of different meals, tell me that you cook like a pro, and then up and dump me poor as shit and hungry in the red-light district? You're no fun," Well. Hold on a second. "Now that I think about it. Did you already end up checking in with them? This whole Tomamo thing? Or have you just been running around causing trouble and playing tour-master?"

He said he barely had any money. Did that mean he didn't check in yet himself?

"Oh no. I've seen the Tamamo and if you see how much they charge, you'll understand."

He swears if wasn't a trouble maker and criminal, he'd have reported them to the local authorities.

"And the money the Shuten clan gave me barely lets me feed myself so. No. No food trips." If there's anyone who's more disappointed by that, its Bishop. "Maybe the Tamamo will be nicer since I imagine they make more cash."

"...Shuten?" Huh. Hadn't he heard that word before? Not that long ago?

Wait a scone.

"Wait. Ain't those th' 'bumbling meatheads' we ran into before? The ones we just royally kick the shit out of? They're the ones who pay you!?"

Shit. That sounds messy.

"No, they don't pay me." He says getting another meatbun and chewing. "Their boss does. Though I suppose that makes him my boss too."

But that changes very little for him. Human, Yokai, Demon, they all die the same. Only difference is how painful he wants to make it for them.

"But that makes them your accomplices. Why did you start picking fights with them if you worked alongside them?" This situation was 100% messy. Did this guy care more about beating on youkai than about the repercussions such things could cause? "Ain't your boss gonna be pissed off at you if he catches word that you're beating his men down silly?"

"Because I felt like it." Which actually answers a lot of reasons why Bishop ever does anything.

"If he gets pissed over members being weak and being picked on by the FNG, then he's not much of a yakuza boss now, is he?" He says chewing on the meatbun until something occurs to him.

"Oh. FNG means 'fucking new guy'." Because knowing that is important.

Wow.

How scary~

Also, Gojyo was going to steal that slang. One hundred percent going to make it a thing.

"I mean, I guess you've got a point on that front," Better his guy beating the shit of out his men than someone else's guy? Gojyo still could see it getting Bishop into some trouble, though. Did the guy love stir shit up, perhaps? "A bold fucking move as a newbie, though. I mean, shouldn't you at least establish yourself a little before running in headfirst and kicking the shit out of your people?"

"Sounds like a way for the FNG to get his ass in trouble. You'd just get forced to face against the bigger, stronger guys in the ranks."

Not that it also didn't sound fun in a way. Gojyo wasn't one to start trouble unneeded, but it wasn't like said 'trouble' didn't have its unique way of finding him.

Should he start kicking the asses of these 'Tamamo' people he runs into once he gets all signed up?

Maybe he'll play it a little smarter than Bishop and try after he establishes himself a little first.

He understands what he's saying, it's definitely dangerous. Very dangerous, even. But Bishop is a demon slayer, possibly a dead demon slayer if he's in hell, and poking demons is literally what he does and current locale won't change that.

"Good. Maybe then I might actually get challenged." They may even earn a smidge of respect from him.

He leads him through a series of side streets and alley ways until they eventually come up to a district where the fragrance of purfume hangs in the air and the casino lights neon is traded for bright lights showin pretty faces of men and women yokai. Each picture revealing a good amount of skin, just enough to stir ones fantasies, even with traditional kimonos.

"Here were are. The Tamamo district. This is the part with the host and hostess clubs and brothels. Down there you'll find some fancy food places."

Gojyo was not unaccustomed to the atmosphere that came with a red light district. Truthfully, with the bright lights and celebrative air, this was one of the most glamorous and high-end red-light districts he had come to see.

And yet it wasn't quite the allure of the sights that had managed to hook his attention, more as it was that he slowly realized what he was getting himself signed up to do.

Shit.

He was set up to work in this place, was he? Not that he wasn't willing, but it has been some time.

"Damn, you can tell a city prospering when even their seedy underbelly looks nice," he whistled, quickly trying to shake away the thought of what his contract could inquire. "So this is where I'm gonna be, huh?"

Wow. Talk about a fucking flashback.

Emphasis on the 'fucking'?

February 2022 Test Drive

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