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

[ RIP Beatrix and all her funds, studiously saved up after so many days of odd jobs so she could go stuff her face at the nearest sweets cafe.

Not that she's noticed though, too busy cooing furiously over the nearest cat as it belches out yet another burst of flame. Is a fire-breathing cat a little weird? Sure, but it't not like she doesn't travel with weirder companions all the time. Or—had, before all this.

No point worrying about all that now though! She picks up the cat after the worst of the smoke has dissipated and holds it close to her chest, ignoring the way it tries to squirm out of her grasp. ]

They really are just sooo cute, aren't they? I wish we could just stay here forever and play with them all day.

[ Work? Who needs that stuff. ]

Is Pannya one of your cats? That's a really cute name!

[ sadly, even robin knows the value of a dollar, and services don't come cheap. especially when the 'cats' are more likely to take the money themselves because they know what they're doing costs something. a little frightening, but hey! easier than having to find someone, give them a credit card, hope the info doesn't get stolen... why not just give the 'animals' the money directly!

so doing this forever would be, well. impossible! the sentiment isn't lost on him, however. ]

Yes! Pannya is... well, he's not my cat. But he's a cat that I live with. We didn't initially get along, but he's gotten used to me pretty quickly!

[ a nice panda-cat. ]

Do you have any pets?

[ A nice panda-cat indeed....

After another minute of struggling - because how is it supposed to pilfer money while trapped in someone's arms? - the cat finally worms its way free and slinks off to another customer, freshly stepped through the doorway. Beatrix watches it go, not at all fussed about her immediate abandonment. ]

Me? No.....I'm not home enough to have a pet.

[ Curse the constant stream of missions Ilsa always gives her. Although.... The disappointment on her face evolves slowly into thoughtfulness. ]

I guess I could have one here though, since I'm not moving around as much anymore. [ Hm!! ] Was it hard living with Pannya? Did you have to play with him and watch him a lot?

That's very responsible of you.

[ good for you, beatrix. don't have pets if you're going to go traveling all the time. just find your nearest erune and go for the gold (the gold is their ears).

but robin now thinks about his time spent with that moody cat-panda of his, and he sort of drifts into thought as he idly reaches for another bakeneko and proceeds to give its tummy the most gentle of scratches and pets.

without the prospect of stealing robin's money? it could probably be less happy about the situation. ]

Pannya... sort of does what he wants. He has two tails and hates cat treats, but he'll eat cat food. I don't know why.

[ a beat, then robin giggles softly. ]

I think he would protect me with his life though, if it came down to it. I don't think normal cats would do that.

[ ok will do, time to go hunt down six and go for his ears

But later, after she finishes getting her fill of the cute kitties here. A cat with two tails probably should be a weird concept to her, but after Vyrn the not-dragon and too many other assorted members of the Grandcypher crew it sounds pretty normal by comparison. ]

Aw, that's really sweet of him. You must be really lucky to have him as a friend. [ This cat-not-cat. ] Is he here with you?

[ ........Hang on. ]

Do pets even go to hell?

[ yea get his ears!!! ]

Ah... no, sadly I don't think so. If Pannya was here, he probably would've found me by now. He's way smarter than the average cat!

[ but not smarter than the average bakeneko, probably. unless there's some lore drop in the second season about pannya's origin story and then i guess i'm living for that. ]

Um... if they do, they must've done something really mean. Like... a bunny who only bites other bunnies. Or a dog that steals other dog's bones!

[ those are probably reasonable. right? ]

[ Those are absolutely reasonable, Robin's logic is absolutely flawless and Beatrix solemnly nods along, accepting all these examples as fact. ]

You're right... There's no way they'd just send those poor animals all the way to hell.

[ Pets have never done anything wrong in their lives, ever. Though the longer she thinks about it, the more depressed she gets. ]

But I didn't think I would have been sent to hell either. I'm not a bad person! I mean, I kinda disobeyed orders more than once and I always eat too much dessert when I go out, but that doesn't make me a bad person, right?

[ She stares at Robin with wide, pleading eyes. Please validate her. ]

[ robin blinks. slowly. ]

Um... well... I hope they wouldn't either. Whoever 'they' are.

[ there's a fair amount of guilt starting to grow on robin's features, weighing on them heavily. thinking about the 'how' and 'why' makes his heart ache. especially when he considers the fact that neither of them are bad people, though he's probably in a completely different boat when he's no longer human. no longer singing for the church. and... ]

No. You're not a bad person, ma'am! [ he reaches out, placing her hands in between his. ] No one who enjoys dessert can be!

[ it's true. cake is good. if you only eat good things, then you can't be bad! you are what you eat!!! ]

I can't say anything about your orders. [ a beat: ] Are you a waitress?

February 2022 Test Drive

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