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.
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• If you have questions about the game itself, please check out the premise, FAQ, and rules pages.
• Reserves are open until March 5th.

Comments

ii

[ryototsukai]

[ Curry was not her usual choice for stuffing her face, but even in the absence of hot noodles, the glint of challenge in the shine of the night couldn't be ignored. Sure, she could just place a bet like some of the other spectators are doing, but she's been pretty content to ignore money up to this point, and instead announced herself with a bit more... flair.

Or more accurately, literally jumping out from the crowd and slamming a hand on the table. ]

I'll take on this demoness next! I've never met a dish I couldn't leave clean, bring it on!

[ Stop. Please. ]

[expiera]

[Munch, munch, gulp.

The bold new arrival is met with another uproar among the crowd, it also sounds like some spectators are finding it quite curious/interesting/insulting/amazing/etc. that it's another human woman standing up to the challenge over any other race. It may hurt the pride of some, but others are treating like a zoo show that it rightfully is, to be completely honest. More coins are exchanging appendages, which the organizers clearly don't mind, and as for the "Demoness"...

...She's just happy with her curry, evidently. She DOES have manners though, so she makes sure to swallow properly before she talks.]

Please just call me Ciel. [She's lowkey had enough of this 'Demoness' nonsense tbh, but stuffing her face with curry IS keeping her placated.] But um, before you join us, have you made sure to go over the rules, miss?

[They're not handing food out for free, after all, so just in case...]

[ryototsukai]

Eh, rules are whatever. [ Musashi dismissively waved her hand, something she was probably going to regret later, but the steam in her engine was still to hot to consider any other path. ]

You can call me Musashi, Demoness Ciel! And whether it's eating or fighting, I'm ready for any challenge you've got for me! You ready to do this?

[ She called over to the cook, though her eyes were locked on Ciel. ] Make that curry as hot as you can! Let's heat this up!

[expiera]

Just Ciel, please and thank you, Musashi-san. [Is this lady hankering to make it personal...] I was going to ask if you made sure you had money on you just in case, but maybe I was worrying for nothing after all. [If her new challenger is anywhere near as hot-blooded and pugilistic as she's looking and sounding, and it's barely been a hot minute since they met, then the Shuten clan will probably have no trouble finding Musashi labor to pay back with in case once she loses. Curry is the one thing Ciel wouldn't concede to anyone or anything, after all.]

Do as you like, just keep in mind that you have -this- much to catch up with on top of however many other plates I clear away while you do. [She briefly gestures towards the tower of plates, there must be at least... twenty? Thirty? More?? Stacked there. Goodness...

The restaurant however seems all too happy to oblige, and it doesn't take more than another minute for Musashi to be served while Ciel leisurely goes back to her own plate. The crowd has grown even larger, in the meanwhile.]

THE CHALLENGER, MUSASHI, CRASHES IN LIKE A METEOR AND BRINGS WITH HER MORE HELLFIRE! ARE Y'ALL READY TO TAKE IT UP A NOTCH FURTHER???

[Ciel's shoulders slump ever-so-slightly, but she motors right on along with her meal. This announcer, geez...]

[ryototsukai]

Itadakimaaaaaaasu!

[ Oh she could feel the heat radiating from that plate. It made her cheeks tingle. Win or lose, she was at least going to enjoy her meal! And as soon as she had her spoon ready, she dove in with an enthusiasm that matched how she'd laid the challenge in the first place. Scoop after scoop, she barely even seemed to be taking the time to breath, only to sip from the water she was provided when needed. ]

Man, Hell curry is even better than I imagined!

[ Was this... really just a chance to get more of the local cuisine? ]

[expiera]

It is very good, yes, Asian countries don't disappoint with spice. I'm very thankful that if Hell truly exists, it ended up being Japanese flavored~!

[Her "competitor" chimes in happily, still treating her food like a leisurely walk instead of a break-neck race. She certainly can't fault the other girl for stuffing her face, in fact her appreciation of curry has elevated her image a little after that somewhat rude introduction. Good food should absolutely be enjoyed, and the reason why the other competitors lost is clearly because they didn't love curry enough.

...

They'll be at it for a while, won't they?]

[ryototsukai]

[ Musashi's appreciation of food and flavor and live in general was ever exuberant, even in a strange "hell" that was both familiar and alien to her. Plus, she figured, if she won, she wouldn't have to pay for anything, so she may as well give it her all! Plate after plate after plate, she eventually did catch up to Ciel, with the crowd absolutely losing their minds. ]

I've had a chance to taste all kinds of food, and technically I'm from a time before Japan got curry of its own, but one's tongue learns as they go, right?

[expiera]

[Some kind of traveller? ...No, from how Musashi's putting it, it sounds to be more than that. Time, world, dimension? Wouldn't be surprising, not when this "Hell" isn't the first world Ciel's seen outside of her own.]

I'm a little envious when you put it that way... [But at the same time, she definitely has her preferences, and the verdict is SPICY. It's a little strange to think about how food quality's been improving for her from one world to the next, and makes her feel strangely hungry again thinking about it.

Ah, but seems like her challenger CAN work the spoon as well as she talked the talk, so it's about time she comes off her little "break" too. With a small puff of her chest, she follows suit in picking up the pace, back at buffering her own stack of empty plates as if she's never ran out of fuel to begin with.

In the background beyond their notice, the staffers at the shop are starting to whisper. These two women are going to demolish their entire supply stock for the month, at this rate. What are they going to do if that happens? They may find out sooner than they'd like if this keeps up, and from the looks of it, it absolutely will...]

[ryototsukai]

[ Musashi flashed a grin, quickly taking another drink before hitting back to her own plate. It was getting close, probably way closer than anyone expected, but the staff had right to worry.

Sure, lots of people were ordering drinks, but they still needed stock to sell the next day, didn't they? The curry pot was getting awfully thin... Well. Time to make sure the context ended, one way or another. The manager gave a nod to the chef, who gave a nod right back. The next two plates were sprinkled with... something. Who knew what. But hopefully it would discourage these crazy women from eating any further. ]

[expiera]

[As if it would stop these monsters girls... But some top brass are whispering among themselves, too. A lot of coin has changed appendages during this entire process on who the winner may be, BUT.

...If it's a tie, then the house has no obligation to honor any bet that singled any of the participants out, don't they? So that would actually be an outcome the showrunners wouldn't mind, quite the opposite, and as much as the audience may bemoan and complain, the rules were clear. This may go beyond just the Shuten clan too, but who cares, given the size of the profits involved? There's definitely more going on beneath the surface than just an eating contest that also allows for betting for "fun", but as far as the contestants are concerned?

Good food is good food, and waste not want not. The next plates are getting cleared the same way every single other one before it had been; what's the worst that could happen in Hell, anyway?]

[ryototsukai]

[ Turns out the worst they could manage was pretty damn bad.

Musashi had certainly asked for hers to be spicy, but she wasn't expecting the heat to suddenly skyrocket, lighting her sinuses on fire and causing her to drop the plate and immediately fall from her seat, clutching at her face and yelling in possibly exaggerated agony. Also a coughing fit.

That felt like some kind of pure extract of some kind of root spice. Wasabi? Horseradish? Some hellish variety of ginger? She had no idea, as it was too intense to distinguish any kind of flavor. ]