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

[breweries]

[ listening to other people's life stories is all he's about! though this time he's seated in a plush couch and mobbed with thieving cat youkai instead of being bugged by his catboy behind the counter, but the idea is still the same.

two tails and angry eyebrows, though... >:o ]

Reminds me of certain people, come to think of it. They're rather apprehensive towards humans as well.

[ easterners, some northerners. honestly, most wizards are kind of like that at some degree? what with how humans treat them over the centuries and all. ]

But in time, they'll come to warm up to humans if they're treated well. Humanfolk can be rather fickle at times, if I have to be honest.

[sweetsong]

Eh?

[ he cues on that pretty quickly. robin tilts his head to one side, then the other, before leaning in and staring at shylock with big wide eyes. ]

So you're not human either? [ a relief, sort of... yeah there are plenty of youkai around but it's a little different when someone looks as 'normal' as shylock. ] I feel a little relieved, then.

[ because technically the rule is that humans can't know about the existence of vampires. not non-vampires. ]

I've only been a vampire for a month or so, so I can't really say anything. But I would choose a cat over a human if I had to, I guess!

[ at this time, a bakeneko leaps up onto robin's shoulder and bats at his ear. ]

[breweries]

[ now it's shylock's turn to tilt his head. has he even heard of "vampires" before? the previous sage might've mentioned it at some point like the otaku that he is, but even now, there are still countless creatures he might not have known about in his world. ]

I cannot say that I've met a person like you, but there's always a first time for everything even for my age.

[ he's old as balls okay ]

But yes, I too am not human. A wizard, to be precise. Cats are certainly much friendlier than humans, but I would say that the latter are very fun to rile up every now and then. I suggest doing so sometime.

[sweetsong]

Oh! But you look like... you're probably Guil's age.

[ then again, guil's actual age is much higher than what he appears to be. vampires as ageless as ever, except for when carmilla used magic to make everyone appear their age? this apparently made a lot of them very, very angry.

imagine suddenly looking 300. yikes. ]

Are wizards not human? [ a beat: ] Can cats be wizards? [ another beat: ] Why would you be mean to humans?

[breweries]

Am I, now? But are they as beautiful as I is the question of the hour.

[ there's a bit of smugness in shylock's smile as he says it. please, he's sexy and he knows it. although it's a good thing that wizards stop aging at the peak of their magical power, so that makes shylock uh... um........

well! let's not worry about ages right now. he's got more questions to entertain! ]

Let's count them down, shall we? First, while most of us are born from humans, humans cannot become wizards and vice versa. Second... They can be if you try hard enough. [ hehe. ] And third, their reactions to our shenanigans are an absolute delight to watch.

Furthermore, you were hiding your heritage from humans as well, were you not?

[sweetsong]

[ stupid sexy shylock.

well. he's been very transparent with his answers! is that a sign of mutual trust, or a sign of one side knowing that the other isn't a particular threat? or perhaps it's kindness in general, which is what robin hopes for at all hours of the day. it's obvious this man isn't a youkai or some kind of malevolent force in general, too. or maybe... he's very good at concealing all of that.

and then robin feels like he's been caught red-handed. ]

Eh?! [ no way he can hide the shock or the surprise, and he immediately presses his index fingers together, hands in front of his chest all balled up. ] Oh... um. Yeah. But it's because I have to.

Don't you have to worry about it too?