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

Fair enough. [ He curls his fingers around the watch before tucking into a pocket. ]

No, I'm afraid that they don't. [ His smile becomes tight. ] I suppose something will have to be done about that... to ensure anything can get done. [ This is Hell, yes, but no reason it can't run a little smoother.

Soma lets out a single hum, looking at the man that had the knife. Absentmindedly, he asks: ] You didn't get cut, did you? [ And isn't that clever? The slippery man avoids the question by offering concern to the victor. ]

[Andrey raises an eyebrow, briefly; there's something off, for sure, about a man casually picking scraps off the bones of this street fight in the same moment that he insists Something Must Be Done. Andrey — well. Andrey doesn't believe in laws, necessarily; not ones that he has to follow, in any case, but he ignores those laws and indulges in his own nonsense knowingly. It makes a difference, he thinks.

He wonders if this man contradicts himself knowingly or not. It makes a difference.

But first, a quick survey of all the parts of him that are stinging — some of them singing — from the fight, to check for cuts.]

Not by a blade. [He's split a knuckle on somebody's teeth, it looks like, which he rubs at with his thumb in idle consideration.] And not in any way that matters. You didn't answer my question.

[Which. He's just pointing out, actually, just making sure everybody knows he noticed, as he continues:] This is an interesting city. Not to look at, nothing's up there, but closer to the ground. I wonder which way it's going to tip.

Still, if it's something that needs bandaging, I'll do what I can. [ His tone light -- despite having been the one to worry about the injury that the man might have suffered in the first place. ]

I didn't. [ Soma supposes it was stupid to have tried to avoid answering it in the first place. ] I don't love a lot of things. [ A slight pause follows. ] I love even less now that I am supposedly dead.

But what I do have enough love for is people. As a whole, I mean. Not every person. Obviously. [ The fallen man that's being robbed as he carries on about how much he cares about humanity is evidence of that, after all! ]

I'd like for it to never tip one way or the other, myself. [ He lightly shakes his head. ] Or if it must, not remain that way for too long. If there is too much justice in the world, the average man suffers without knowing why. Do you know why that is?

[Andrey considers the man, considers his split knuckles, considers the man again. The local vultures aren't exactly the people he trusts the most to have bandages and medical knowledge on hand, as it were, but fine — it does hurt. Wordlessly he holds his hand out, palm down, bleeding knuckles rather obvious. Part of him just wants to see if this guy really does carry bandages around so he can be added to Andrey's mental list of weird healers who don't act like healers (tm).

He makes a noise at "supposedly dead," a dull hum, which betrays that he doesn't believe in all that (not that he would have hidden it).]

I've never been average, so I don't, [he says, and it's not — like, alright, there is some ego in the statement, but it's a statement of fact: the average fella does not bust heads in the street, so already he's left that behind. He knows what suffering looks like and he's never known it to have anything to do with justice, so color him curious.]

You've got me hooked. Tell me why.

[ With little flourishing, he takes out a handkerchief to wrap it around the man's knuckles. Will this actually do anything to help? Who's to say? He did start by saying that he'd do what he could -- and this is all that he could think of doing. ]

Never been average, hm? [ Soma laughs a little at the idea and finishes tying the handkerchief with a double-knot. ]

Because every man sins in one way or the other. We all have a little bit of darkness in us that we act upon from time to time. [ He pats the top of the knuckles that he just bandaged. ] If justice rules, all those tiny shadows would be punished.

It feels right because justice is being done, but it increases the amount of struggling a person must do to stay in the light. It blinds and distorts their view in ways that are monstrous. [ Indeed, the Department of Justice did all they could to ruin the yakuza and drive out the shadows, and look at the mess they created. ]

[Well, is he going to want this handkerchief back, Andrey wonders... He's going to forget about it in mere hours, himself, but whatever; he'll deal with that later. His knuckles are not bleeding all over the place anymore, so that's nice.

He scoffs, though, at all of this justice talk. It's not that he particularly disagrees — on the contrary, he sees the point, but!]

My sins could stack as high as some of these buildings, [he says, with a gesture at said buildings.] Laws don't mean anything to me. What is there to worry about? The inquisition? Casting shadows and threatening us to stay in the light — I say let them.

[Who could have foreseen that a man spending his time getting into street fights would have this particular viewpoint. Shocker.]

Ah, but I've been called worse than a sinner. Don't listen to me.

Even if it might mean your death?

[ Of course, Soma has a bright, almost teasing tone to his question. His lips press together like he is threatening to laugh too early at a joke. ]

But, not to worry... I've also been called quite a few names. [ Another reassuring pat on the tied handkerchief. This brawler is a dangerous one and it's always nice to be friends with people that don't mind getting their hands dirty. ]

You're in good company.

[Andrey scoffs, rolling his eyes and utterly failing to answer the question. He won't die until his brother does, or some such, or they are allegedly already in Hell, or...

Regardless: sure, whatever. Death is for other people.]

What name do you like to be called, knuckler?

[Credit him this, he's asking. The pickpocket nickname is obligatory, but like, he's asking for a name instead of leaving it at that. Admitting to being a sinner is the key to positive vibes, here in the street fight arena...]

Soma.

[ He places a hand on his chest, bends forward in a short and curt bow. His shoulders shake a little in amusement, finally starting to laugh.

Clearing his throat, he straightens. A warmer smile is on his face, happy to be sharing some jokes and posturing with a new acquaintance. ]

And who are you, hm, brawler?

[Oh, are they bowing? Andrey bows with his hands on his hips, a jerky motion that belies the humor in it. Sure, sure.

Ah, and despite the actual meaning, brawler and knuckler sound like two kinds of the same sinner, which makes him grin a little... hah.]

Andrey. Let's see your spoils into the nearest bar.

[it is Drinks Time]

February 2022 Test Drive

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i'm tagging this with a handy bow to call it wrapped...shh it's late