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

[Luckily for Kazuaki, the body he crashes into is that of another server and not a customer. Unluckily for Kazuaki, the server he runs into is Duval, who is glaring down at the alcohol spilled down both their uniforms and the fallen glasses. Sure, the glare isn't directed at him but... woof. If looks could kill.

But as Kazuaki apologizes, Duval only reaches down to retrieve the fallen bottle and glasses. Thankfully none of them broke. And it's only when he has them all securely in hand that he finally looks at Kazuaki and - ]

Oh, be quiet, would you? This isn't the end of the world! [So he says, but he grabs Kazuaki's wrist in attempts to drag him somewhere.]

Come with me.

[He's dragging him to the employees changing room (or whatever equivalent) but could he sound a little less menacing about it...?]

[In a practical sense, it's much better to bump into a fellow employee than a customer. This was the kind of town where a customer could probably destroy a wayward soul without protection. In Nanaki's current state, though, bumping into an employee was just as bad. His mind is already playing through the pattern of "inconvenience a coworker" > "rumors of incompetence spread" > "back at square one, rotting in an apartment with rent due."]

[But his coworker's sharp tone does at least quiet him down.]

[His brain is still fogged with negative thoughts as they get away from the serving floor and into an employee's-only area.]

I, [is it better to make excuses or just fall on mercy?]

I'm sorry... for spilling...

[he says it quietly, with his eyes down on the floor. He could say things like "I'm new at this" or "I've only had arms for like a day now?" but ultimately he still messed up. He probably would have messed up even if everything was going in his favor. So, it's better to just apologize and hope they're not mad.]

Tsk. [If you asked Duval, he'd say he hates these simpering, pathetic sorts. Yet he's always drawn to them and can't seem to leave them alone.

Hence why he continues acting without much regard for Kazuaki's apology. He grabs a clean cloth and begins tamping down where his uniform is wet and then does the same for the other server.] I just said it's not the end of the world, didn't I?

You know, you could play up the clumsy act in a cute way if you weren't so..... [Actually sad???]

[There was definitely a part of Nanaki that was scared. People with a strict sense of how things were supposed to work, that didn't spare fools, those people were his natural predators, weren't they? At the same time, it wasn't like he was being eaten or torn apart. This stranger, who he had caused trouble for, was still taking the time to clean him up.]

[That's enough to be marked as kind, in Nanaki's book. At very least, when you value yourself so lowly, even the barest convenience makes someone into a shining angel.]

[The man sniffles,]

A cute way?... ah, [he can translate that into a game-sense] I- I mean, somebirdie who does that, it's cute in theory but- that kind of useless birdie would definitely end up being hated eventually!

[And he doesn't think he's anybirdie cute enough to get away with it!]

[What is with this "birdie" business? So he's pathetic and has a few screws loose.] That's why I said "act."

[He pokes his finger to Kazuaki's chest.] You can't be totally useless.

February 2022 Test Drive

omggg kazuaki 🥺 (c)

he doesn't deserve this but here we are

i wish i had someone kinder for him lol

i wholly accept revenge tsun

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