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

[moondregs]

[ While the sharp reprimand makes him flinch, he doesn’t get long to settle on fear before he finds the strange being ... grooming him? ]

You really don’t have to ... I can take care of myself ...

[ His tone is mostly confused, but there’s the tiniest pinch of irritation mixed in if the other is really listening closely. ]

[enterthe]

Of course you can, the trouble is you didn't try. [That was why they had to step in! What an annoyance, did this human have no self preservation instinct? Not the strangest thing Ydris had ever heard of, but irritating to them all the same.

Yet, for some reason, Ydris' tone turned less harsh and more quiet]

Why didn't you put up more of a fight?

[moondregs]

... there’s no point.

[ It’s said somewhat defensively as he averts his gaze. He knows it sounds pathetic. ]

I learned quickly it’ll only prolong things. It’s not as if I could beat him. If I tried to fight back it’d just make him even angrier and draw things out. You just ... let them get it out. It’s the easiest way. Don’t talk back. Don’t try and fight.

[enterthe]

[Ydris stands and listens, their expression largely unchanged until suddenly snapping into place. Irritated concern was where they land, lip scrunched up in nearly a pout before going off-]

You're foolish. [their prior confidence sounds shaky on that assertion, like they aren't quite sure they believe that, but it was the idea that came to them first so it must be the solution]

Like all humans! Which is precisely why you'll need more of my protection. I can tell you're not of Myddvai, but I was made for just such a purpose.

[moondregs]

[ Even if the declaration is ultimately well-intentioned, it’s the ‘foolish’ that Junpei’s mind latches onto.

A scene replays in his mind. A stairwell. His heart racing.

“You’re almost as foolish as those people you call fools yourself.”

Suddenly he’s panicking, swiftly putting space between himself and Ydris as his eyes go wide. ]

... I don’t need any protection! J-just stay away!

[enterthe]

[While Ydris may not balk much at violence, seeing someone recoil from them gave them pause. They don't have the best read on facial expressions, so Junpei's panic doesn't go fully recognized. If their powers had any range, they would have clocked his sudden jump in heart rate and body heat, but it escaped Ydris then.

Rather, they were just left confused by the sudden shift. How offended in stance and tone they get, though they don't move any closer out of something like caution]

You just needed rescuing! If you're a masochist that wants to get kick around then fine. I won't step in next time! [a lie; they still would. Ydris simply cannot really help the impulse to, such was built into them]

[moondregs]

I don’t need anyone!

[ In spite of his words he’s paralyzed by the memory he’d just relived and doesn’t make a move to leave. It feels as if no direction is safe, to step away will be just result in some new peril overwhelming him.

Instead, he starts to crouch down, hands gripping the sides of his head as he tries not to hyperventilate. To find that place he was in where he could convince himself he didn’t care about anyone. That ideal of indifference. ]

... nobody ... don’t ... need anyone ...

[enterthe]

[Oh no. Distressed human! Alert, alert- sound the alarms-! Ydris seized up right as Junpei started to crumple. They don't have the best sense of calm, being a literal fire.]

Cease! I mean- Do not panic! Chill out- [Ydris practically yelps, not having much bravado left to show for themself in such a scenario. They frantically looked about, felt about them really, and spied a nearby convenience stand of sorts. Rushing over to that, they grab a water bottle, get yelled at by the owner, hastily toss some random bills at him without care to how much... and float back to the same distance they had been from Junpei.

Not quite knowing what to do, they crouch down and just... gentle roll the bottle in front of Junpei. Water. For Human Bean.

This was they best they got,]

[moondregs]

[ The pure absurdity of the act at least manages to distract Junpei from his descent. He notices the water bottle, blinking in confusion as he registers what is going on. Slowly, he looks up at Ydris. ]

... what are you?

[ The other doesn’t look like any youkai he knows of, although he doesn’t rule out there may be more obscure ones he’s not familiar with. There were hundreds of them, after all, some of which were more popular than others. Not everything got town mascots based on them or kitschy souvenir figures. Maybe they were a tsukumogami? A 100 year old candle come to life? ]

[enterthe]

[Alas, if only Ydris was 100 years old, maybe they would have had a better handle on all this... their inexperience really showed when it mattered, embarrassing so...

They could look plenty uneasy and regretful at the least]

I am Ydris... a god dragon created by humans to serve and protect them.

[They just aren't any good at it, yet!]

Are you okay? Drink the water. [human need water]

[moondregs]

You don’t look like any dragon I’ve ever seen ...

[ There’s an asterisk to that of ‘in fictional media’ he doesn’t think to add. The only supernatural beings he’d seen in his world were curses.

He’s susceptible to the command in his chaotic state, and finds himself unscrewing the cap and bringing it to his lips. The idea hell water may be unsafe to consume only comes to him after he’s had a few sips. But can he even get sick here? Or die? It’s all too much.

Once he’s quenched the bottle is placed back down, but he remains crouching. ]

And how could humans create a dragon?

[enterthe]

I had a second body that was more of a dragon. It was destroyed coming here... [it was mostly useless to them, so good riddance? No more Springtide holding vault where part of their consciousness sat abandoned day in and out, at least.

Still, they don't look it. That's fair. They don't look like much of anything, not fully. Not without a glamour to be somewhat recognizable, like they're maintaining now]

What does the how matter-? I'm how they made me, like it or not.

[moondregs]

Because where I come from, dragons aren’t real. The idea one could be made is ...

[ Wait, why is he going off on this topic? Is it really where his mind should be?

He finally moves from the crouched position, slowly standing up and trying to remain calm. There are still reverberations of anxiety beneath his skin. He gets the feeling he won’t be able to truly calm down again until he can get out of the noisy bustle of the street.

He’d been given a key and told to look for a specific apartment, but had been stopped by the Oni before finding it. ]

... anyway, I ... need to get out of here.

[enterthe]

It's a long story. Leave it be. [One Ydris doesn't particularly want to share. Not when they just got here, at the least. Why share and feel furthered shackled to that past? They already cannot help the instinct build into them.

Ydris likewise straightened up, a puff of smoke leaving their mouth. The most dragon-ish thing they'd done yet, perhaps.]

Stay out of trouble.

[moondregs]

[ The order just makes Junpei grimace as he turns to walk away. Being a teenager who thinks he’s worlds more mature than his peers, being spoken to like a child is highly offensive.

Trying to return his focus to his original goal he looks at the signs on businesses as he passes, trying to get some idea of where he is. The scuffle had made him even more uneasy than he already was, and the desire to hide was rampant now.

Plip. Plop. Droplets fall onto his cheeks.

Eyes turn to the sky in confusion - there’s weather here?

As if to answer his question there’s a roaring boom in the sky, followed seconds later by a heavy downpour that leaves him scrambling for cover. He quickly dips into a shallow alley that seems to be protected by awnings, wrapping his arms around himself and looking at the intense weather in bewilderment. ]

[enterthe]

[Ydris watched as Junpei skulked off, fighting a compulsion to follow after and make sure he got somewhere safe. Despite such instincts being strong, they don't absolutely control Ydris, they can avoid stalking after him.

That is, until they realize Junpei left a key behind, fallen out of his clothing when he got shaken down. Ydris picked it up and sighed out smoke again, following swiftly, not bothering to pretend to walk, just floating by.

Plip. Plop. Droplets sizzling as they hit Ydris' outer layer of illusion.

Considering how much weaker they were here, would they even survive a downpour? Back home it was no trouble, but getting snuffed out in this place does sound hellish. That is to say, very possible. They quickly ducked into the precise same alley]

You! You left your key behind, human.