jigokufever | February 2022 Test Drive

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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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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.]]

Edited 2022-02-23 00:58 (UTC)

[ 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.

[The lady in front of him telling him about oh but how immersive the experience will be had been getting an unimpressed staredown towards her face until then.

Quickly, even before other words were spoken, Mamoru's eyes stray forward to a spot above her head. It's an empty gaze that betrays very little emotion. It's not like he needs his eyes when he's casting his hearing around him, the focus narrowing down on the acoustics and the air shifting of the person behind him.

That twitching eyebrow? Steady.

A mental rolodex of who this guy could possibly be opens and flips over and over. Instinctively his fingers twitch towards a cane that isn't there.

It's why he had been in a rush before he got stopped anyway.

Guess he'll have to make do.

This guy doesn't move much aside from the steadiness of his shoulders and the slight look over his shoulder.] Y'usually make decisions for random people or am I just special?

Of course. I'm such a charitable guy, ain't I?

[ His voice drips with sarcasm as he rolls his eyes. He doesn't want to see a hard-working woman getting yelled at just for doing her job. Hidetoshi often told him that it was his job to make sure that a woman isn't upset on his watch. He's just following orders even if the older man hadn't made it into Hell with him.

Thank goodness for that.

Hinata turns on his heel and begins to walk forward towards the strip club, expecting the man to follow. But then he pauses. He heard the man mention that he was blind earlier. Hinata looks back at him with an eyebrow slightly raised. ]

Ah. You can't see shit, can you?

[ It's a blunt question but an important one. Hinata isn't sure if he just said that to get the woman to go away or if he had been genuine. ]

You need help, old man? You ain't got your... seeing stick.

[The sarcasm translates into nothingness - it had been more of a rhetorical question than anything, considering who he is and what he looks like (a normie, despite the scarring, especially considering the dashes of the spectacular that hell seems to offer and the predilection for larger than life figures).

The man doesn't take any other steps, merely slips one hand in his jacket's pocket. For someone who just claimed to be blind, his red sunglasses seem to be aiming straight at this meddlesome guy's face.]

Right. Was startin' to think you were actually deaf.

[A huff of a breath that's not really a sigh, not really a groan. A little bit of both.] I'm good. Was just interrupted as I was ['headed home'? Wrong. The 'housing sector' seems a little off, and it's not even where he was really going] walking.

[ it almost felt like the waiting was never going to end, but one way or another, six manages to get out of that particular room with another paper in hand. he hasn't looked at what it says if only because something (someone) else catches his eye. there's someone standing in the middle of the road as though there's a problem.

his ears perk up — magnify, the guy says, and that's enough to make his head tilt. magnify what? ]

... Do you need something?

[The first thing he captures is the scent of lavender.

The second thing: the weird cadence of feet as they approach and stop in their tracks. Intriguing as it is --stride, stride, a soft stutter-step while they move around something, stride, stop-- he grabs that particular bit of information and shoves it into this figurative back pocket.

Well. It's not like he expected hell of all places to be lacking interesting people.

The desk workers', the whole environment. While the city streets cast themselves familiar and welcoming (welcoming? In this economy? Welcome to Mamoru's life) even through the wire-grid frame projected into his sight, it's like the air feels thicker here. Wave a hand and the fog will dissipate, show you its true colors.

He's also trying to not get too distracted by the set of ears on the top of this guy's head. Dirt lickers and blobs with too many eyes are fine.

Yet this looks like shitty cosplay.

He's not the biggest fan of sharing details about himself, but he flicks the paper in his hand with an address within the Administrative sector towards the line of the cosplayer's sight.]

I can't see what's in this. [The shades don't capture writing unless there's some sort of dent to its letters. As is, the paper in his hands may just as well have a recipe for a cheeseburger.] What does it say?

[ that moment when you're already seen as a shitty cosplayer when this is just who you are.

not that six would have any idea this is the perspective others have of him, or at least when it comes to this guy with harsh opinions. his head tilts to the side; what the man tells him is a curious thing, enough of a glimpse for the erune to make the connection. if he can't read it, then it probably only means one thing.

maybe. ]

It's an address. Shall I lead you towards where it's telling you to go?

[ he could also just recite it but this feels like it would be less trouble later on... (well, it's a hassle regardless, since six can just leave the guy to fend for himself, but he can't really back out of what he offered now.) ]

[After some time living with a 12-year-old and an otaku, one starts to think things in a certain perspective.

That perspective is relatively intrigued that those ears, while moving, don't seem to elicit any mechanical sound aside from the rustling of fabric. This guy tilts his head, pushes his shades upwards.

He had taken in weirdly shaped folk back in the office but this close, it seems so farfetched--

--yet. He's in hell, right?

The address will take him to the place he's supposed to go, to get the tools he's supposed to use. As is Mamoru is empty-handed, no cane.

(No sword. He feels like he should consider this some sort of addiction, and his mind can't help but jab that he looks like a petulant child with a craving.)

Revisiting the 'while he doesn't like this idea's, applied to the fact that he really doesn't need a guide, that lack actually makes him consider.] Sure, if y'er headed that way.

[ this is hell, and now both a shitty cosplayer and a man who can't read are stuck with each other.

six doesn't really mind helping the guy out. after all, it's better for other newcomers to stick together rather than leave this sort of thing to fate— he's learned that the hard way. not that he would ever bring it up, since it isn't really relevant, not anymore, so he takes one look at the address once again and tries to reorient himself with where they are right now.

he isn't too familiar with the lay of the land just yet, but living in hakagemachi at least helped him get used to modern cities. still, the most he's got is just a guess.

taking two steps forward, he casts his gaze towards the direction he thinks they should go and gestures for the man to follow. ]

It's along the way. Come.

[ he won't assume the guy needs his hand to be held, considering he managed to get out of that poor excuse for a DMV just fine. ]

[A shitty cosplayer and a man that can't read walk into hell...

Pretty sure there's a joke there somewhere.

The streets are familiar - strangely so - save for the weird energy that keeps Mamoru's hairs standing on end, they weave like the underbelly of a Japanese city that doesn't pay their cops enough.

He never thought that hell of all places had a predilection for what seemed like neon signs.

Tilting his head slightly at those steps again, an eyebrow arches hidden away by the mass of black hair on his forehead. Mamoru can't help the slight twitch to his lip, however.] How are ya findin' this place?

[ the joke is that neither one has any idea of where they're headed.

regardless of that, six heads down the direction he chose and follows the street. the landmarks aren't very familiar to him, but it's fine. soon enough, he guesses, they'll see a street sign that will say they're headed at the right direction. (they won't, but it's not bad to make him hold onto that belief.) ]

Hm?

[ the question strikes him as odd. what's there to think about a place like hell? ]

Seeing youkai is nothing new, so it hardly bothers me. Of course, others might find it disturbing given how strange they can be... Why do you ask?

[ it doesn't really answer mamoru's question. six is bad at that. ]

[ so here's the thing. badou ain't no thief, but he's also no chump either, and when put in a room full of other chumps made to wait the rest of their young years in a seemingly unmoving line, sometimes you just gotta do what's necessary. which, right now, apparently means trying to dig through some sleeping guy's jacket, trying to pilfer his ticket in the hopes that the number on it is better than badou's own. ]

—uh.

[ well shit. not exactly the best position to be caught in, so what does badou do? use his noggin, that's what. ]

OoOooOOooOo... Go back to sleeEEeeeEEEEep... you're dreaming...!

[ dunno why he thinks the best way to convince someone they're dreaming is to mimic ghost sounds, but there you go. ]

[His walking cane is lacking, but it is not the first time, nor he thinks will be the last, that some chump will look at his -surprisingly discrete- form, at the scars across his face peeking from under the sunglasses, and decides to take advantage of an impairment for their own sake.

While it's not the first time that he snapped a few fingers from pickpockets and kids (yes, he's not above that), a large hand and wide fingers slap against Badou's wrist hard, grip tight enough to make bones send alert signals through synapses.

Those crossed ankles uncross, unhurried. One of them snaps, and he rolls his foot. It's not quite like cracking knuckles, but it gets the point across.

For a blind man, he sure is looking straight at Badou through red-colored lenses. He allows his voice to grate.] You're lookin' pretty tired yourself. Y'sure you don't need help falling asleep?

[ in badou's (weak, flimsy) defense, he hadn't been trying to take advantage of the guy because he's blind — it was entirely because badou thought he'd been asleep. he's indiscriminate in his shittiness, thanks!

anyway, ow, so much for walking away from this without any bruises or cuts. badou's pretty durable even on his off days, but that don't mean shit don't still hurt. he whimpers when he's gripped, because he's a fucking man about it okay. ]

Heh, nnnope, no, I'm good thanks. Get plentya sleep just fine. Ocean sounds, y'know? Real soothing.

[ he attempts to straighten, tugs a bit on his wrist to see how much give the guy's grip has. ]

[That give: none. This man has the grip strength of someone who has been holding onto heavy wooden Kendo swords (and then a wide plethora of other bladed weapons) since he was eight.

It's not just the grip, either. The hold turns, enough to make the chainsmoker's skin pull and burn.

A slight pause there. This guy has whimpered, but.

Something is not quite right.

Huh.] Really. Y' gonna sit tight and wait for your turn, Mr. ASMRtist?

Hahah, ASM-artist, ha. I see what you did there. [ his smile grows strained as he watches the skin of his wrist turn red. ] Clever.

[ his one good eye flicks back up to trail over the guy's face, unreserved and completely shameless. why bother? he'd been caught red-handed as it is; sure as hell can't worsen his situation by some additional blatant staring. ]

Yeah, wouldja lookit that — there's an empty seat right here. Guess I'll just... [ he attempts to pivot and dump his ass into the nearby seat, but there's still the matter of that caught hand... ] I mean if you still wanna hold my hand, that's fine, but can I switch it? This one's starting to go numb.

[The grip stays firm, still. The look, pointed, even through the one-eyed scrutiny that got him curious.

If this is really Hell then obviously it would bring in some interesting people to snap teeth at, but aside from the nicotine tacked onto those fingers he can't really put a finger (hah) on what's with this guy.

Not enough sleight of hand to be an actual professional thief, even if Mamoru was a difficult target overall.] didn't answer my question.

[He sounds like a tutor scolding a kid. Jeez.]

[ considering the colorful sort he hangs around with back home, it isn't often that badou finds himself the one garnering all the suspicion. half the time he's chalked up as a non-entity, nevermind an actual threat.

gotta say, both ends of the spectrum kinda suck. ]

Yeeeeah, what was the question again? Got a little distracted getting my circulation cut off.

[Meanwhile, Mamoru feels more comfortable in the darker part of the undefined scope.

Interestingly enough, the brattiness reminds him of someone.]

You're going to sit down and wait for your turn. Is that clear? [Tutor slips into the lilt of a guy in the military. Undefined range, or something that wads comfortably between a wide plethora of options]

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nichocolatine - 2022-02-25 16:47 (UTC) - Expand

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prizeneck - 2022-02-26 01:05 (UTC) - Expand

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nichocolatine - 2022-02-27 21:33 (UTC) - Expand

[Nill isn't wanting to be involved in a fight. It just seems she always manages to get caught up in the middle of them, no matter where she goes. She's used to it at this point. But that doesn't make this particular fight any less intimidating and alarming. She ducks and dodges, and tries running, but only manages to get her wrist grabbed in the process.

Panic swells in her chest, breath catching as she tips her head up to stare at the man that's just managed to help her dodge being stabbed. It doesn't take longer than two seconds before she decides that she'd much rather be near this guy in a fight than any of the other men who are fighting one another.

What is this fight over, anyway? And why did they have to start fighting right on top of her? Nill isn't sure she'll ever figure out the way men work. Particularly not violent men.

Unable to voice her intent of sticking close to him until things die down, she simple steps in close enough that she bumps against him.

Yeah, she's grateful he's here.]

[Mamoru doesn't exactly look welcoming or safe either. You practically don't need to look at him to realize that this is the kind of person you should give a wide berth to. Scars, hidden away eyes, wide-set shoulders, and an everpresent tension to him that irradiates 'Abort mission, do not engage' make most people stand back and sometimes even avoid looking at him.

Let's be honest: wisely so.

Still, eyes trained at the brawl, and a scowl at the way the blade-wielder seems to swing about at his opponent on the other side, it's almost as if he's used to shielding a smaller human with the positioning of his feet, half-covering her with his frame, half-allowing her to have a good line of sight.

After a while, it's like he lost his patience over something.

His voice carries surprisingly well despite its grittiness.] Don't move from here, no matter what happens.

[Excuse him, he's going to approach the man with the knife and clasp a heavy hand on his scruff, use the momentum of his stride, the weight of his body, to push forward and downwards and smash his head into the ground as he falls onto one knee.

It's enough of a show to put everyone involved in the fight scatter.

As he stands up he picks up that switchblade and pockets it neatly somewhere within his jacket.

Finally, he turns towards the girl.] What have we learned today?

[It's hard not to think of Heine when she watches him. There's physical differences between her Heine and this man. The fighting styles are different. But the ability to efficiently protect is a shared trait, and that's enough to have her not be entirely afraid of him.

Still, she's trembling when he leaves her in place, and she's rooted right to the spot. When he about faces and asks her his question, the trembling only increases. She can't speak, and he's expecting a response. There's an element of worry he might be angry with her for not saying something right away.

Her hand reaches up and out, fingers curling inward. She can't speak, can't sign all that well, but she has other means of communicating. Of course, that generally involves the other person being able to see her gestures.]

[Tilting his head while reacting to her tension, shoulders and arms tightening closer with the pressure of his question - and would you look at that, she reacts more towards that more than the violence around her. She had been good at running and dodging up until he made her swerve around the switchblade. But thinking and communicating fast was still not a priority.

Either way, that can be learned. He can list a number of people who had been his COs that lacked in that department as well.

For someone who looks and will outright say he's blind, his own body language is one of a person who has an impairment such as that. He's either very proficient and moving around and using his other senses, or being aided by something.

Or both, who knows.]

You want my hand? [So he does raise his hand towards her, mirroring the motion, eyes narrowing slightly beneath the red glass.]

Edited 2022-02-24 17:07 (UTC)

[Though Shinobu was really doing her best to try to avoid any unnecessary fights herself, she knows she can't just ignore the scene when she sees four guys against one who really didn't seem to be holding up at all. Shinobu knows the deal - it wasn't wise to get involved in other people's fights, but if she had to guess? The guy on the losing end could be a civilian with their apparent lack of any fighting ability at all. Perhaps she was going to regret this later, but her own code of ethics couldn't abide by this either.]

Seriously, guys? I can't even see how this kind of fight would even be fun at all.

[Which, truth be told, was one of the major reasons she was avoiding the fights in the first place - it just wasn't as enriching to her when she had seen several fights to the death at this point. A street brawl just felt unrefined in comparison.

Though part of her mind did register that the thugs seemed all too happy to turn their attention away from the other guy and onto her, Shinobu kept it tucked away in her mind as she got in a fighting position - fists out, in spite of the katana on her back. Bringing a sword to a fist fight was simply too dishonorable for her.

However, about the time when she's going to commit to the fight, it's when she hears a comment from what seemed to be a spectator nearby. Though she keeps her eyes trained on the fight, she eyes up the four offending men, raising a brow when she notes that all of them had their arms bare - they weren't wearing a jacket.]

What are you-

[She's about to berate the man, when she realizes that there was one person she hadn't looked at - the apparent victim kneeling near her, who had since gotten to his feet and was indeed digging for something in his jacket. Thankfully, though, her reflexes were sharp enough in that she's able to strafe to the side and quickly lunge out one of her robotic arms to just straight up wrap her fist around the blade.

As the black metal of her arms blended in with the night and weren't that far off her own skin tone anyway, the movement catches the entire group off-guard as they don't immediately recognize that her arms had long since been replaced. The confusion is enough for Shinobu to turn her head to the weirdly help spectator.]

These guys your friends or what?

[It's sort of a half-joke, but she still wonders how the hell this stranger even knew what was in his pockets. Knowing that she couldn't allow any more distractions, she then flips the offender on his back, twisting his arm in a painful position and dug the high heel of her shoe into his back while she waited for a response.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

February 2022 Test Drive

mamoru hijikata / until death do us part

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2. why is mams like this...

why are you pretending you don't like it

i can't believe mams is already insulting my boy

I mean six thinks Mams can't read now I think they're p even

they are both so stupid

That's not news for a character of ours....

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entry

I let out the ugliest cackle, thank you <3

everyone should laugh at badou, good

i love this jester of a man

he's just a little guy

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3

i apologize for this guy's roughness

it's fiiiine he reminds her of someone

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