jigokufever | February 2022 Test Drive

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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

Hm. [nehan takes note of the display, that the boy isn't a quivering little mouse. not bad.

it makes nehan stand back, out of the way, just to watch and see what this boy will do now. perhaps he wont step inn at all, unless someone is deliberately going for him, but the oni he's hit is down on the ground, clutching his knee.

a weakling, to have let a weakling like nehan do that to him. it's not even broken.]

[ once he's sure that he can get back up onto his feet, robin tries his best to calm his breathing. with one of the assailants unable to move with the metal pole in its foot and the other with a pretty messed up knee, robin feels comfortable to take a few steps back and then... almost bump back into nehan. ]

S-sorry... sorry...

[ apologizing to the youkai in front of them, robin bows quickly before turning around and does the same to nehan. ]

... we should get out of here...

[already? and here nehan thought the show was just getting started, especially when the scared little mouse actually showed that he could use those teeth of his. he showed little hesitation when he stabbed an actual pipe into someone's foot, and that doesn't take just determination-- that takes physical strength.

interesting.

nehan sighs.]

They're incapacitated. But surely, if you put a little more force into hitting them, they wont be able to do anything. [goading.]

[ despite being the youngest vampire... it doesn't mean he lacks strength. he certainly doesn't have the mental when it comes to hurting others, but it just... he had to. right? otherwise he would've been in pain. ]

If they're incapacitated, then they can't do anything to begin with. Who hurts people for fun?

[ a stupid question, because he knows vampire hunters do--- vampires that are hunters and people that hunt vampires. sometimes one and the same. ]

They do. [and for emphasis, nehan tilts his head towards the two youkai they just fought.] They're that sort of people.

And that sort of people will not stop until you give them a reason for them to stop targetting you.

[ he bends over once, hands on his knees, to take one last deep breath before returning to a more natural standing position. ]

But does it have to be violence?

[ his hands are still shaking. ]

That's the culture of this place. [and nehan is merciless in delivering that piece of knowledge.] You either sink or swim here, and being violent is part of swimming.

[then he looms over the boy, his coat making him look much large and bulkier than he actually is.]

Perhaps you could learn that in time.

[ whoa... why does nehan have to come so close? robin takes a small step back but doesn't budge an inch after that.

bend, don't but break. ]

I guess I won't be learning anything.

[ he puffs his cheeks out. ]

Besides! I'm tougher than I look, right?

You are. [accompanied by a nod-- nehan will concede to that.] But you're clearly hesitant to do anything with that strength.

[he crosses his arms over his chest, and tilts his head at the boy, one ear twitching.]

I wont ask why you don't use it, but if you don't, you'll be in this sort of situation again.

I'm stronger in other ways!

[ he rather not rely on brute force. it's not really his style? look at him. ]

It's... not a strength I want to have. Well, it wasn't one I expected to have.

[ scrunching up his face, robin looks to the side and sighs. ]

And it's not the kind of attention I want, either.

What you do with it is your prerogative. But now that at least three people know how strong you are, your plans may need to be changed a little.

What will you do to make me realize that keeping silent is in my best interest? [not that nehan cares to divulge this... but he's interested in seeing what this person will do to him.]

[ and now he frowns. what kind of person is nehan, exactly? why is he trying to test him?

robin hums and then shrugs, not making an effort to hide his pout. ]

Do you think being loud about it would be any better? You'll just get bothered by people, me included.

[ not really a threat??? ]

That's not compelling.

[disappointing, really. this person really is a child, isn't he...]

I could just drop a line in someone's ear and they'll be after you.

Then... then...

[ he purses his lips, closing his eyes. ]

... if I have to, I'd defend myself. I'm just a singer. That's all I am.

[is that really all he is-- nehan is unconvinced. not with that strength of his.]

That still doesn't answer my previous question, however. Unless you truly have nothing to do to me so I'd consider keeping my silence.

Make no mistake, I don't care. But I'm far more forgiving than many others, because they will force something out of you. That's how this place works.

Do you know any other way? I mean, to make people not do that. Force me to do things here as a last result?

[ because nehan sounds like he knows more than robin does. that's a fact and one he's more than willing to admit. ]

That makes you a pushover-- and weak. [nehan tilts his head, before deciding on a proper verdict:] Indecisive.

Which is also weak. You don't know what to do, meaning there's no strength or conviction in you.

You're incapable of deciding for yourself, and thus they will use you.

That's a little harsh, don't you think?

[ he really wants to give those ears a tug right about now... ]

It's not every day that you're sent to Hell. [ yeah so he's searching for a decent reason. ] And I'm not going to let anyone use me, but I'm not going to use anyone either.

You're just looking for all of the excuses as to why you're weak, and should stay weak, aren't you?

[how... disappointing. he turns to start walking away.]

I wont waste my time trying to cultivate you, then.

[ robin squeezes his eyes shut. he's... so angry right now, but he's not going to grovel at nehan's feet looking for acceptance. ]

I'm not weak!

[ it's a rare flash of anger and frustration, and as he opens his eyes they glow a defiant red and hang there for a moment or two before fading back to the green. ]

I traded my humanity for my brother and my friends. I chose death to keep my memories. What can you teach me?

[by all accounts, nehan is still unimpressed, and it's obvious when he looks over his shoulder at the boy.]

The shedding of innocence needed to survive in this place. [and he used vague words, a general terminology, because he can mean all sorts of things.]

But I don't waste my time on people with no conviction.

[ shedding of innocence... what does that mean? robin can only stare in confusion for a moment before shaking it off. ]

Then let me prove it in other ways.

[ especially if it means getting stronger so that he can survive this place, and somehow find his way back home. ]

[nehan turns away. that's not good enough, especially when the boy cant actually name anything to do.]

If you grow up some, then I will.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

February 2022 Test Drive

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