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

[it helps some, but not entirely. she supposes it could be worse - it could have indecent cutouts or something, but for a woman whose entire dress sense screams modesty...something that tight definitely raised a few flags.]

I suppose you could employ such tactics, but that's...not the only problem, unless you have some scissors handy.

[there's no way she's going to be able to fasten this without cutting slits for her wings. it hardly was a thought usually, since she'd already done it to all her clothes, but now...]

[ Well, I got my swords. She tapped the two she had strapped to her hip. ]

Would that help?

[ Doing some emergency tailoring with a katana? Probably the least zany part of the night, so far. ]

If you can pull it off, I'll both be impressed and owe you quite the favor.

[she's already seen a few strange things, but someone accurately tailoring with a katana would certainly be a story to tell. and frankly, if the establishment gets mad about it, then they only have themselves to blame for not offering a proper outfit in the first place.]

[ Musashi couldn't help a somewhat boastful little grin, rubbing her finger beneath her nose and chuckling lightly. ]

Well yeah, I can definitely pull it off, especially for the sake of a lovely songbird, yanno?

[ Okay she couldn't quite real in the flirting, BUT she did keep in mind her primary goal here was to help this lady! ]

Alright, let's get it back on the hanger and I'll let my sword wet your wings free!

[ At least she had the sense to not attempt her little trick while Emily was wearing the thing. ]

[she resists the urge to tell her to save her compliments for after the performance, to truly decide if her singing was worth it. heaven above, she's probably rusty - it's only ever for her own amusement. instead, there's a twist in her expression that says she's flattered as she hangs the dress back up, putting it up on a little hook so Musashi can have some room.

stepping back, she can't hide the shine of curiosity in her eyes to see what's going to happen.]

[ Musashi nodded once Emily was clear enough that she didn't have to worry about hitting her in the admittedly small dressing area. Thankfully, there wasn't anyone else around, either, with all the other girls working the floor. Still, she was careful when she drew one of her swords, holding it out at various lengths of her arm to check the distance. ]

Okay... This is a cut that reaches for the void. Emptiness in which the essence of Zero exists.

[ Oddly philosophical. Still, it steadies her, and she lets her breath settle, focusing on the dress before...

Two cuts, swift as a blink, and she was already sheathing her sword. Two slits, perfectly aligned with the shoulder cut of the dress, left behind. ]

[words that sound almost like poetry to her, but far be it for her to question someone's method. and then it happens, faster than she can see, and she can only blink in astonishment before going over to examine the cuts.

perfectly placed and cleanly done, as if someone took new sewing shears to it. she sounds as amazed as she feels when she looks back at Musashi.]

That was incredible...

[it speaks volumes to self control and skill. as long as it's not turned on her, Emily can fully admire good swordsmanship.]

Thank you, I truly mean it. I'll most certainly owe you a favor for this!

Eh, well, it wasn't much, really... [ Less a humble brag and more genuine humility, Musashi rubbing at the back of her head and giving a bashful grin. She didn't normally use her skills for tailoring, after all, but that seemed to right the fit for Emily.

But as for a favor... ]

H-how... about you let me take you out sometime? I-in thanks, I mean!

[ Then again, she recalled how helpless Emily looked when she first approached... ] Not that you have to! Ah, forget I said anything, just... good luck out there, okay?

[ah...while she should say something about having her time spoken for, it's hard to deny the slight flutter in her chest after all this. thankfully the backstage manager chooses that moment to wander in and bark at them - they would have to go up soon, and she's not even dressed. chastised, Emily takes the dress and ducks away to change. it's easier than it was before, with the room for her wings, and while she still doesn't approve fully of it...

at least all the suggestion comes from the fit, and not baring herself to the elements. she'll live, just with less decorum. it's the perfect size, though, and Musashi can see that her alterations did exactly what they needed to, as Emily folds her wings back again and fixes any stray feathers the way other women might smooth flyaways.]

[ Musashi couldn't, and honestly never would bother to, hide the immediate reaction she had to seeing Emily in the dress. She looked like a beauty queen, in Musashi's eyes, elegant and sexy in a way that she could probably never pull off herself, given how ill-suited her personality was for anything resembling that sort of grace. Her blush was vibrant, ear to ear, and she gave two big thumbs up to Emily. ]

You look... amazing! You're gonna do great out there!

[ Oh right... the woman's nerves. ]

And uh... remember what I said about the naked thing! It actually does help, I'm told...

[the answering blush that colors Emily's cheeks can't be missed, but the smile she gives is sincere.]

I'll do my best-

[is what she gets out, before the kitsune who's working as the backstage manager comes up and takes her by the arm, practically yanking her into the wings. she's on in five, she's told, and Musashi is given a look that means get to work or get out from backstage. oops.]

[ Right, right, Musashi assures them she'll get back out to the floor. Getting her into a bodycon dress of her own was quick enough, but she was generally hesitant to go to any client tables once she was out there.

Mostly because she wanted to keep her eyes on the stage, and on Emily, and hear if this songbird really could pull it off. She hoped Emily felt Musashi's cheers for her! ]

[help me, she pleaded to the other soul in her heart. do something, give her some words or a tune - remind her of something she'd heard in Hakagemachi to make this work. and as irritated as they were with the entirety of Hell at the moment, she knew they'd help - she could hear it in Hibiki's annoyed sigh, in how they muttered that this was one time only, and afterwards, she'd have to figure herself out.

going on the stage, she thinks it's a bit of a blessing that the lights are bright, because it means she can barely see anyone, let alone imagine them without clothes.

relax. a bird's talons gripping her shoulder, and she breathes. the song that comes is older, true, but she remembers where it was, and hopefully the audience won't mind something slower. the more it goes, the easier it is to relax into, and she can get embarrassed over it later.]

[ The accompanist picked up on the song from the first few notes, so the song didn't seem to be completely alien to this world... which if Musashi thought about it, made at least a little sense. With all sorts of people from all sorts of places, that kind of knowledge was bound to find a place to flower. And as for the mood it created, mellow and romantic, the room seemed to appreciate it...

... But Musashi? Musashi couldn't take her eyes off the stage. Was this really the same girl she'd just been speaking to? Every note carried with it something special, something... intangible. Something that made her heart beat just a little faster in her chest when she could have sworn she caught Emily's eye up there, even if the stage lights made it impossible... ]

[for as much fuss as she had put on it for her actually getting on stage, when she relaxes that one touch into their guidance, singing actually suits her more than she wants to left on. even if the song isn't explicitly happy, one can tell she's into it, going along with the words and melody until it draws away.

the applause seems to startle her a touch afterwards, but she smiles and bows her head before she hurries off to let the next act set up - if she lingers, she's afraid she'll run into someone or another.

later, though, she'll have temporarily escaped from backstage to quietly end up at the bar for water, carefully explaining to one of the other performers that this job is only temporary. no sense in learning a whole set when she intends on ducking out.]

You did amazing out there, song bird.

[ Musashi cut into the conversation, maybe a bit recklessly, approaching and settling in relatively close, her own drink a single bottle of beer in her hand. She hadn't seen to a single table that whole time. How could she? Her focus had been entirely stolen away... ]

Did my advice help?

[ You know. The one about the nudity. ]

[it's clear from how Emily immediately shifts her focus that the conversation with the other worker isn't really intriguing her, and she sips from her water. the smile's modest, but she hasn't quite lost the glow of being on stage yet.]

You're too kind, really...I tried to keep the image in my head, but I'm afraid I must have lost it somewhere in the first verse.

[which made it all the easier to sing, when she could pretend the room was empty from how bright the lights were.]

By that time, you hardly needed it, right? You're a natural!

[ Musashi took a long swig of her beer, giggling brightly. ]

I was totally starstruck! And don't say that's being too kind, I'm being completely sincere here!

...Thank you, then. I truly mean that.

[she knows when to stop protesting and simply take a compliment, even as she could continue on to protest that so many people were simply better. Musashi's being honest, and the best thing she can do is to let her know it's appreciated.]

Though this is a world of difference from my day job, if my nerves didn't give it away.

Even so, I'd love to hear you sing again, whenever you feel up for it. And it doesn't have to be a big deal like this. It can be in a situation where you're relaxed and feel more at home.

[ Musashi's tone softened, as did her smile. ]

This place... it's pretty scary, right? But you found your song, regardless... that's really amazing, you know?

[ The tenderness of her words, the way she managed to make then quiet yet clear, despite the noise of the club... it spoke that there was more to this than just Emily singing on stage for a temp gig. ]

Whatever your day job is, I'm sure it takes a lot of bravery, too. I can tell.

That depends on how brave you consider a physician's line of work.

[she says it without any pretension to it, no boastfulness - just a simple fact. that work is far harder than singing in front of a crowd, some would think, but to her it's the most natural course of action. it helps people in a tangible, honest way.]

That'd do it...

[ The least surprising thing about Emily thus far, really. Musashi hummed, taking another sip from her beer. ]

Do you run your own clinic, or did you work for a big hospital?

A city hospital for training, but then my own...it's easier to help the community in that setting.

[and, after a fashion, she'd been doing the same out of her own living quarters in that city. being on call was her solution to having nothing secured enough for a solid clinic standing, but it had kept all the supplies safe.]

Sounds like a lot of responsibility... [ Way more than Musashi could ever handle. Even the "proper" her never opened a school or dojo. Hell he wasn't much of a father to his adopted sons, from what she read. ]

But you seem like the kind of person who would take that responsibility seriously. Even take pride in it.

Pride, I'm not so sure about - but it's meant to be serious, when people entrust you with their lives and wellbeing. They give you so much in that, the least you can do is answer them with your best.

[with care and patience, with listening. no one is ideal, but trying your utmost is all that's ever asked for. trying, and if you can, returning their faith with results.]

February 2022 Test Drive

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