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

[He's out in the streets, observing the sights before him with a fan in his hand. It didn't take him very long to notice the young woman standing not far from him. It's merely out of curiosity that lead to him watching her from the corner of his eyes. Until she speaks up.

He blinks and laughs, moving his fan to feel the cool air.]

Indeed. This type of meeting feel rather cliche but quaint.

[Yet, humans find such cliche familiar and endearing.]

Are you waiting for someone?

[ "Are you waiting for someone?" The question sticks to her bones. All at once, she thinks of a small island in the middle of the ocean, a storm raging around it as it's trees sway, the plantlife that calls it home drowned by pellet-like rain. She thinks she might know a little what that island would feel like, in this moment. Alone, and drowning. ]

Waiting...? No... [ She pauses, smile falling a little as she shakes her head. ] Not really. [ It's just a gentle admission, something that could be whisked away by the sound of nightlife. She smells booze. ]

It's more like... so many choices! No idea where to go first, and they even gave me an allowance of some kind. [ Aerith turns her head to glance at a billboard— it advertises some kind of familiar looking combo meal. ] Where'd you come from?

[He notice that pause, and leave it be. It's merely just a question from him, for the sake of conversation. Norimune doesn't mind what her answer is, only how she answers it.]

Oh, yes! It's pretty difficult to choose which one to do first. [Norimune remember his early days, when he's starting to grasp the concept of "choice". He watches a particular lively group walk past, catching tidbits of their conversation before they disappear into the bustling crowd.] Hm, where I'm from?

[This place is beyond the government's jurisdiction. So technically, what he say doesn't matter at all. He looks back at the young woman.]

Japan, a humble little country. [It's not.] Have you heard of it?

[Hm, he wonders if that combo meal is good.]

[ She wonders for a moment, trying to pull knowledge of any sort of place that even sounds like Japan to the surface of her memory. Even the planet had not had something to say about it, she thinks. The concentrated silence is soon wiped away as Aerith shakes her head. ]

No, I haven't. It sounds a little like Jigoku-cho, though. [ A coincidence, she wonders? ]

Oooh, you're sharp.

[It seems like all sorts of people come here. From the look of her clothes, combined with her answer... hm, maybe he shouldn't commit to a conclusion so soon. Either she's from another realm, or different point in the timeline.]

In Japan, Jigoku-cho is a place you'd hear about in stories and legends. I was quite surprised when I heard its name here.

[ She almost thinks to say it's the "J", out loud, and had been a lucky guess, but Aerith thinks better of it. Somehow, she feels like she should just take the compliment. ]

It's new to me... [ In fact, her own equivalent is... completely different. She can hardly imagine something like this being part of your idea of the afterlife. ] But it's pretty unforgettable now.

[ To say the least. She spots an akaname in the alley, living it up in the garbage. She's almost envious at his wealth. ]

Was all the bureaucracy part of the... 'stories and legends'?

(OOC: Oops, meant "jigoku" not just "jigoku-cho". orz)

[He tap his fan to his chin, as he think over what he knows. Since what he's aware of is already different from what he's observing, the bustling and vibrant crowds of youkai.]

Hmm, well. I guess there would be. "Jigoku" is usually where sinners are condemned to, and they'd be sorted based on their sins.

[This place, though? No signs of condemnation anywhere. He chuckles.]

But humans do like to include elements of what they think in stories. Bureaucracy is usually a sign of society and order. And nobility too, in a sense.

[ ooc: consider it retconned on both our sides then! ]

So then, every sin you've ever committed is recorded on paper? [ Funny as it is, it reminds her of something else. ] Sounds like a lot of trouble! The planet tells you it's secrets, I thought...

[ Never mind that. In her own opinion, what he says is of more interest. Perhaps it's merely because it's not her own normal. ] Nobility? Really? Well, I guess that makes sense. Anyone who makes the rules gets to decide that kind of thing.

The planet?

[He raise a curious brow at her. The humans do believe there are kami in all things, that sound a lot more broader than he's familiar with. Well, maybe she'll elaborate. Or maybe she won't.]

That's right. Since they would want to keep track of everything for their power and order. If they're used to that way of life, it get reflected in the stories they share.

[For better or worse, as he would know.]

February 2022 Test Drive

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