jigokufever | February 2022 Test Drive

Entry tags:

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.

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Six...

[she doesn't catch up as fast as him, her eyes gone wide and the offending dress far from her thoughts. it's him - if he recognizes her, then she does him. another soul lost in the collapse, drifted down to hell in the aftermath. and as strange as it sounds, she's glad for it. glad, if this hell is only another form, and not the damnation she would have thought.

ah, outfits. she's brought from her thoughts by the sharp call of one of the crew, telling people to move. looking down to the dress in her hands, she looks back up to what he has.]

I'm not sure. Something that's appropriate for the establishment but still suits me...and hopefully has room for the wings.

[ his ears dip low upon hearing his own name uttered by her voice. she remembers him, knows who he is and likely everything else that happened in between. he doesn't know why that brings about a sense of relief in him, not when it isn't necessarily a good thing that someone as kind as emily is stuck in hell with someone like him.

there must be time somewhere else to unpack all that. right now, he has to help her find something else to wear. ]

No, I... I don't think any of these will have room for the wings. [ he glances at them from where they lie folded behind her back, quietly observing. ] I can always adjust it if there is a dress that you like from this pile.

[ after all, it wasn't that long ago (or has it been forever ago?) when he asked for help with adjusting his shirts. it would only be right to return the favour. ]

Oh, could you? I'd be very grateful for it - then I wouldn't embarrass myself in front of everyone.

[and she smiles brightly, stepping closer to him to help take some of the garments and find a place to put them.]

That said, if you see one you think I should look at, do say so.

[she's not expecting him to be an expert on women's clothes, but surely if there's something that's not obnoxious, he can tell.]

[ that smile of hers is probably going to kill him one day, if only because of how often it catches him offguard. he murmurs something that is almost inaudible, but it sounds closer to agreement rather than anything negative. this is something that is proven easily by the fact that he is now looking at the pile of outfits he has on hand before beginning to lay them out on the nearest flat surface. it's a small drawer, but it will have to do.

he first looks at something way too gaudy, all sequins and sparkle. emily doesn't strike him as the type who wants to stand out way too much so he discards this one almost immediately. the next few don't have anything noteworthy so his ears dip as he considers what he'll do if he doesn't find something that works. thankfully, he doesn't have to worry about it when he finds one that is almost a royal shade of blue with modest ruffles at the bottom.

not that he has any idea why he was drawn to it, but he presents it to emily for consideration. ]

... This one?

[ it already dips low in the back, so he wouldn't have to adjust it too much to make it fit. ]

[looking from where she had been perusing dresses, Emily's eyes brighten when she sees the dress. not too flashy, not too exposing, but still a color that might catch the eye and a cut that's appropriate. oh, she's enamored with it, and quickly takes it in her hands.]

It's beautiful.

[said admiringly, running her hand over the fabric. yes. she can live with this one.]

Will this one be alright to modify? I think you'll only have to cut a little more room, and I can hold them in the right way.

Edited 2022-02-24 00:57 (UTC)

[ given the way emily reacts to what he's picked, six can safely assume that he chose the right one. he does his best not to visibly show his relief because there are more important matters at hand, such as checking to see if the pile of clothes that was given to him also meant they gave him something to adjust them if needed. a sewing kit, or even just scissors would do. ]

It's fine.

[ nevermind he can't find anything that will help him in the pile so he has to resort to his own things. from somewhere hidden, he pulls out a sharp dagger, one that glints even under the low light of this area. deft hands take care not to ruin the dress while he cuts it accordingly, allowing for the wings to fit in quite nicely. it's not long before he hands the dress over to emily. ]

... Try this. If it's not enough, I can always adjust it.

Thank you!

[taking the dress, she darts off to change, pulling the blue dress on. it fits well, and the expression like a glove comes to mind as she fusses with her wings. it's...rather nice, actually. she'd not had many opportunities to dress up in her recent past - even on her few days off. so it feels different, and a little more bracing, even as she has to face her fears and try to sing. coming back out though, she is wearing a smile with it.]

It fits as perfectly as I hoped it might. Now I actually look like I suit this place.

[ there's a moment where six stops himself before he says the wrong thing. he doesn't think it feels right that emily should need to suit this place, because this is the furthest thing away from where she truly belonged, but maybe he doesn't have the right to say such a thing.

so he keeps his mouth shut, looks at her from top to bottom to make sure nothing is out of place. ]

Mm. It looks good on you. [ short and sweet. ] Do you need anything else...?

Not particularly, but if you could spare a passing thought that I don't utterly botch my singing, it would be appreciated.

[after all, it was only ever for her enjoyment. not for a crowd, not for anyone else. even karaoke had seemed too distant a concept. but if Hibiki can help, and she can have fun with it...

it's not forever. already, she has a few ideas on what she wants to do, and if she can get resources, then she can put it all into action. this time hopefully not holding most of it on her own shoulders, but she will if there's no other choice.]

Truly, I owe you for this.

[ her words would have earned a smile back then, tiny as it may be and yet genuine all the same, but this time around, six can only huff quietly. he doesn't think there's ever a scenario in the world where emily would mess up in anything shse puts her mind to it — singing in front of a crowd included.

nevermind he hasn't heard her sing, but that hardly matters. ]

You'll be fine. And, I wouldn't worry about it. You owe me nothing. You've done the same for me when I needed it, so...

[ it's only fair, isn't it? ]

Is it your turn to sing soon?

I think after the next two songs, it's my turn - I have to choose something, though who knows what will come to mind. If I was better at this, I could ask you what you might request at least far as mood goes, but frankly I'm not sure what will really come out of my mouth.

[she's going to place it in her youkai's hands, and just pray.]

[ there's a moment where six falls silent, but then soon enough— ]

You'll be fine. [ he says it with utmost sincerity that it's almost hard to deny it. ] If it helps, focus on me and no one else. When you go out to sing.

[ sometimes he doesn't realize just how cringey he can be... he says that with a straight face and all. ]

...All right. But in exchange, you have to be watching. I can't sing for you if you're not looking my way.

[she said that with a straight face too so really, it's mutual cringe that they don't realize.]

[ excuse him while he tries to fight down a warm flush that takes over the rest of his face. he's thankful that the mask covers most of it, but there's no way emily wouldn't notice. she is way too perceptive and aware of him, after all. ]

... Of course. I won't look away.

[ he's sure emily is going to make it very hard for him to do so. ]

[she does, but she won't call attention to it - she's grateful the lowered lights of backstage half hide the expression she's making before the backstage manager barks at her that she needs to get ready in the wings. of course, she darts away for that, and sends a silent begging request to Hibiki to help her out tonight. they, curled up in a huffy pile of feathers, say they'll only do it if she commits.

which is how she ends up taking the stage with a smile, waiting for her cue and letting the tengu move through her just enough that when she starts singing, it doesn't betray her nerves. upbeat, even if the lyrics aren't, and she finds she's having fun with it the longer it does go on. somewhere, she knows, she has at least one attentive audience member, and she's doing her best for his sake. it's not fully polished, this isn't her work...but it's something to at least enjoy, for the moment.]

[ when emily is called away, six tries his best to be quick about putting the pile of leftover clothes where they're meant to be stored. he heads over to where the rest of the crowd is to watch the lights dim before they focus on emily alone. she is dazzling in that dress, he can't help but think, and yet what ultimately grabs his attention is—

the sound of her voice, the way she sings the lyrics. the way she catches his eye when she looks his way.

six is eternally grateful he'd gone back to wearing the full mask, or else emily would have caught sight of him turning bright red right where he stands. he coughs as he tries to regain his composure, remaining attentive until the song ends. the crowd seems to enjoy her performance if the applause and whistleblowing were anything to go by.

he wastes no time and leaves his spot, wanting to make sure no one tries to hassle her on her way backstage. ]

[no one does, thankfully, but he'll catch her at the point the confident facade slips, and she breathes out a sigh of relief. it's over, it's dealt with for now, and unless they're going to start talking to her about a decent paycheck, she's got no intention of coming back.

seeing Six come over, she's roused from her reverie, but she's smiling.]

That was mildly terrifying, but somehow everyone survived.

[if she was more the joking sort, she'd ask if she was so terrible that he had to escort her away.]

[ if she asked that, six would be quick to correct the misunderstanding and explain that it was because she did so well that he was worried someone might try and jump her out of jealousy. he can be stupid sometimes... ]

You seemed like a natural up on stage. [ he was mesmerized, after all. ] Do you think you'd try it again?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

February 2022 Test Drive

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject