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

Oi, what th' hell are ya doin' with my cash?!

[ Well, the owner has been discovered. He looks to be one pissed off tengu, wings puffed up and everything; he was definitely not just enjoying petting one of the cats, not at all. ]

Eh?

[ turning around while still crouching, he's quick to recognize the man and his voice. his wings are so poofy! robin, still unaware, of the money stuffed in his pants... ]

Oh, hello! [ a laugh as he takes a seat, squishing the cash underneath him. ] I didn't know this cat was yours.

[ obviously he must be talking about the cats. not cash. what cash? ]

Don't fuckin' play coy with me, kid. Yer sittin' on my cash an' I want it back. [ Just as pleasant as ever this one. ] Or do I gotta force th' issue?

[ robin blinks slowly. whatever coy is, it doesn't sound like a game--- nor is he this stupid, but it's the lack of thought that counts? he idly shifts around for a moment and realizes that what his butt is resting on is not a stray blanket.

as he reaches under to grab izō's money... ]

What kind of forcing would you do?

[ His eyes lock on Robin's hand and he dives for it.

Does it end up with him probably grabbing Robin's ass? Yes. Does Izō have the sense to look embarrassed about it because they're in a cafe? Not at all. ]

Give it 'ere!

[ he squeaks. frankly, he doesn't expect the hand but does expect izō to have no shame, if that makes any sense at all... and robin quickly scoots off to the side. ]

H-hey! How dare you, don't touch me there!

[ and then he smacks the top of the man's clawed hand, fuming at the grab. ]

I ain't tryin' t' cop a feel! I'm tryin' t' get that cash ya took from me!

[ Or the cash the cats took. This incident is drawing a lot of attention to the both of them, mostly to Izō. He's not going to back down, though. ]

[ and neither is robin? what does he look like??? ]

If that's how you treat everyone, with those dirty paws of yours...

[ another smack or two before he stands up. ]

... you ought to be punished for your behavior.

[ He grabs Robin's shirt and points to the pile of cash that used to be underneath him...

That one of the cats is now making off with. ]

Hey!! Stop that fuckin' cat!

[ wow! look at that cat go with izō's money. robin's quick to get to his feet and immediately chase after, only to find that he's not quite as fast as a cat.

huh. what are the odds? ]

It's trying to leave the cafe!

[ They're drawing an awful lot of attention between Izō's yelling and the fact they're chasing one of the cats around.

It's probably fine.

Izō uses his wings to his advantage to rush forward and grabs for the cat's back legs, only to grab air and smash his face on the floor. ]

Shit! [ Ow. It takes him a moment to get to his feet after that. ] Stop that fuckin' cat!!

[ he won't be told again to not touch those wings! the last time was a little too scary for him...

but he'll certainly leap over and make his own tackle--- except instead of grabbing the youkai? he lands on top of it. ]

H-ha! Got you!

[ and then robin yelps. ]

O-ow! Claws! Stop stop stop!

[ It gives Izō the chance to snatch his cash away from the cat.

And the chance for the cat to squirm out of Robin's grip and onto Izō's face. ]

H-hey!! Fuck off! This is mine an' yer not stealin' it from me!!

[ He at least had the sense to tuck his cash away again before trying to pry the cat off his face. ]

No, no... bad kitty...!

[ he quickly gets his fingers around the bakeneko's body, only to receive a suddenly lashing with its unusually strong tails? despite it, he does his best to pry the thing off before letting go, avoiding the claws as it falls down onto the floor and scampers off. ]

... are you okay?

[ don't worry, robin keeps his hands away this time. no random touching. ]

I'm fine! [ He snaps right away. Nevermind the bloody scratches on his face. ] I got my cash back an' that's all that matters...

[ It's about then the manager notices the commotion and starts heading their way. Izō immediately starts to push Robin out the door. ]

Fuckin' go!

A-ah! But there are still a bunch of cats I haven't gotten to pet yet...!

[ either way and despite his protest, he's not going to push back against izō, especially when some of the cats look so angry they might spit fire--- literally and figuratively.

as he stumbles out of the café, robin is finally able to catch his breath. what a burst of action. ]

[ Izō huffs. ]

Yer nothin' but trouble, ya know that?

[ Like this had been Robin's fault at all. ]

Eh? I was innocent!

[ and still is, as far as he's concerned. still--- he's going to go back to izō's scratched face and immediately raise a hand to the other's cheek. ]

... they're pretty shallow. I think. Still bleeding, though.

[ he swallows, before pulling back that slightly trembling hand. ]

[ Izō raises an eyebrow at that reaction. ]

...What's that look for? Don't tell me th' sight'a blood upsets ya or somethin'. Ain't gonna last long, if that's th' case.

No. Not at all.

[ robin's voice softens. he can't... well, he never really had a taste for blood before. even as a vampire, he's still more cream puff and cotton candy than mosquito.

still. it does look kind of nice against izō's face. ]

Do you need me to clean it off?

[ he has a few spare handkerchiefs on him. ]

What? No.

[ He wipes the blood off on his sleeve, which mostly just ends up smearing it. ]

That all of it?

... not at all.

[ a soft laugh as he does pull a white cloth from his pocket, immediately pressing his tongue against it to dampen it. ]

But you look kinda cool! Just not clean.

[ wipe, wipe. ]

Hey, don't wipe my face with yer spit!

[ Yes, he's leaning back like a cat and swatting at Robin's hand. ]

February 2022 Test Drive

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