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.
• If you have any questions about the TDM content, please ask them here!
• If you have questions about the game itself, please check out the premise, FAQ, and rules pages.
• Reserves are open until March 5th.

Comments

[horrifictie]

[ INLAND EMPIRE - This is *not* a conjured creature from the depths of your mind. It is real and it is talking to you.
CONCEPTUALIZATION - It's... ok, no, it's grotesque but in the sort of way a little monster would be. Could this be one of the demons you've seen roaming the streets? A resident of Hell. ]

Oh. Yeah, sure. [ He blinks out of his stupor with the agreement. Fair is fair. With hesitation, he brings his index and thumb together to grasp at the raised little paw to give a careful shake. ] I'm Harry by the way. I'm going to lift you now.

[ And, unless she fights it, he slowly lifts her up by the paw and then scoops her bottom into his other palm. He's very concerned he might crush her at any moment if he isn't as intentional as can be. ]

[twofactor]

[So polite. Aiba always appreciates a bit of respect tossed her way.]

A pleasure, Harry.

[She shakes his hand back, unfazed by the difference in their size: it's not so different from interactions with her usual coworkers, after all. Aiba readily hops into his open palm for the ride. She's not any heavier than a normal creature her size might be, but her outer insulating layer does seem to be substantial enough, in spite of how translucent the material appears.]

My assigned lodgings shouldn't be very far away, perhaps a few more blocks if you continue down this road. I will direct you as we go.

[She peers up at the man's scuffed-up face. Wow, Harry... you look terrible.]

Now, how did you wind up in a trash can?

[horrifictie]

*Well*--

[ RHETORIC - Wait! Before you go into this, I urge you to not go into all the details. In fact: pick number two. Trust me on this.

1. Ok so I was walking down the street and came across these two guys in an argument with each other. I wasn't going to get involved but I decided to listen in because I was curious. They were arguing about who would win in a fight between someone with a knife and someone with a bat. Apparently they both felt incredibly passionate about this debate! So I interjected "couldn't you solve this all with guns?" This was the wrong move, they got really pissed that I would interject with this perfectly logical argument! They told me I needed to pick one of the two sides and I countered that only having two sides will always keep them trapped in the cycle of political stagnation. One thing led to another and I punched one of them in the face. This was definitely a dick move on my part and I see that now but also I'm right! Am I right? I am, tell me I am.

2. It's not important. ]

--It's actually not important. Let's just get you where you need to go. [ And he'll begin walking in the immediate direction ahead! ] So, what exactly are you?