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

[ All three cats perks their ears up, understanding her words in a manner that utterly impresses Harry. So these demons *did* understand him this whole time! The black cat looks at the orange cat, who then looks to the cream colored cat. However, the cream colored cat looks directly to Musashi and gives a polite little meow.

INLAND EMPIRE - "How *much* fish?" That's what it's trying to say. ]

It wants to know how much fish you'll give it.

[ Ah, that was the problem, wasn't it? It had to be a sufficient amount of fish, and good quality, too, but...

She was pretty sure she was already in debt to her faction at this point. Would she dig herself deeper for the sake of another? ]

Two whole orders, from the sushi joint down the block. Tuna.

[ Absolutely. ]

[ VISUAL CALCULUS - The cream colored cat smiles, unnaturally. A cat should not be able to contort its face to such a pleased grin with fang showing. With that it turns its head to the orange tabby. Two against one.
HALF LIGHT - The orange cat immediately hisses and smacks its paw directly into the cream cat's grin. It retaliates with a swipe, which the orange tabby can't dodge fast enough to not get claws. The black cat immediately jumps and sprints away, a coward at heart. ]

Whoa, cat fight! [ Too much? He couldn't resist. ] Ok you fat cat, give up the wallet!

[ The orange tabby looks at him, then Musashi, a sharp predatory glare directed their way.

INLAND EMPIRE - You'll be sorry for this. Not today, but someday.

Then it lifts up and jumps, no longer amused or willing to fight. Underneath its seat is a worn out and tattered wallet. ]

Hey, a thief's got no right to judge anyone for playing dirty, yanno! [ She shouted after the orange tabby as it skittered away in defeat. What an ordeal. ]

Whew, that takes care of that... Guess our fair furred friend here has earned that tuna, huh?

[ She gives the sell out a small smile. Sure, it was foul play, but she never pretended to care much for operating under "fairness". A duel begins the moment a conflict appears, after all, and all that mattered was "winning", whether it came to swords or getting back stolen property. ]

Let's hope there's anything left in it.

[ The cream color cat gives a loud mewl at the promise of fresh tuna, more than ready to make sure she delivers on it. If not, well, there are worse things to lose than a wallet.

Harry is quick to pull the wallet's flaps apart, revealing the inner contents. A few bills and coins, not much but it looks like everything is there. But then he double checks the slots fit for cards and grumbles. ]

Dammit - my ID! [ He sighs. ] Why does this keep happening to me.

[ This is his curse, his eternal punishment and suffering in Hell. He shrugs all the same, not too broken up about the situation. It may require some additional sleuthing around this damn café. For now he tucks it into his back pocket and looks back to Musashi. ]

Thanks a lot for your help. I don't remember if I was a cat person or not, so this helped me figure that out. Although now you're on the hook for some tuna... I can pay you back for it.

[ Would what he has now help out? He could be sure to follow up with her later too. ]

Eh, don't worry about it. I'm the kinda person who just likes to help out those in need, you know?

[ She said it so earnestly, it was damn near impossible to not take it at face value. And it was probably true, with everything she'd done so far, even if she'd used a dirty trick to figure out the culprit.

Though in truth, she was also pretty sure covering the sushi would bankrupt him. ]

This is on me. I'll treat our happy little sell out to some shashimi. You can work on finding where your ID card got to.

February 2022 Test Drive

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