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

[deadtective]

[that's...uh..........

Hazel and the demon lock eyes over Nanaki's bobbing head, both trapped in a situation of their own making which had spiraled far out of control. they bond over their mutual helplessness for several moments, hesitant to act further lest they be dragged down deeper into their pit of absurdity.

at last she decides to break through the ice, consequences be damned. just kinda gonna...pat Nanaki on the back a few times, less a comforting gesture and more to kind of subtly cajole him into shuffling off into whatever direction his little heart desires so long as it's not here.]

It happens a lot, place is a fucking shithole like that. Just don't do it again, yeah?

[please, just. just walk away from this. you're making both of them mildly uncomfortable somehow, Nanaki, which is impressive but also probably something you should stop doing.]

[truequail]

[As Hazel pats his back, Nanaki seems to be pushed with each pat. If it were a windy day, he'd likely just be blown away. Just a shaky leaf of a human.]

Oh, uh, yes! [he's trying to get his brain to catch up to where he's at. If he couldn't keep sitting in the chair, then- then-]

[Then, what?]

[The awkwardness of his apologies stops and instead leaves the awkwardness of silence. He blinks rapidly, a few of those tears threatening to spill over. The long-neck youkai blinks slowly.]

[Then the inhuman droning of the speaker goes off, stating a number: 77477. Nanaki starts, looking down at the strip of paper he was weakly clutching, and the number matches. He doesn't start moving on his own, then, instead sort of hopelessly looking over at Hazel.]

[deadtective]

[oh, oh, it's actually working! come on, you sad gelatin of a man, just nudge yourself a few more feet-!

but alas, it's not meant to be. not only does Nanaki stall out so close to the finish line, the universe itself conspires against Hazel and her demon brethren-in-awkwardness in the form of a DMV number finally being called. seriously? now? why couldn't this have happened like five minutes earlier??

she tries extremely hard to keep her eyes anywhere but on the watery gaze she can just feel searching out her own, inspecting everything from the fluorescents above them to the fascinatingly diluted shade of gray on the walls. amazing. awe-inspiring. truly a marvel that any species could appre-oh godammit she looked at him.]

...fucking fine, alright? But I'm not fucking talking for you if they ask questions.

[she hates this, so much, but then again they are supposed to be in hell. this seems just about right up her alley for a purgatorial experience. with a sigh and a grumble that's not nearly as irritated as she'd like others to believe, the hand patting Nanaki's back becomes a bit more directional in its pushing. this way, you big baby. she'll walk you up to the counter.

god, someone kill her again.]