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

[ the last thing six remembers — even though it's faint, even though it's barely the complete picture — is attacking someone important to him. he remembers... being made to drink something, and then there's nothing, but he remembers what happened back in hakagemachi too. bits and pieces of the city as it relived its past, and then— ]

Here? [ he glances around. there's nothing ordinary about the waiting room. there's nothing particularly extraordinary about it either. ] Where is this supposed to be?

[ sounds like someone didn't pay attention to the explanation. too lost in his own world. ]

Perhaps I was brought here for the same reason.

It's Hell. Ain't no reason for ya t' be here...

[ Nevermind that they're both assassins. Izō pulls up his scarf with a huff, as if that'll make it less obvious he cares that Six is here. ]

Somethin' 'bout assignin' us to clans an' workin' for 'em. Makin' an offer we can refuse an' all that shit.

Oh.

[ anyone else would have likely reacted more violently towards being told such things, but with six, it almost comes across as acceptance. he stares down at the piece of paper in his hands with his number written on it, wondering if it holds more answers.

(it doesn't, of course, he's just being stupid.) ]

Then, Hakagemachi is... [ he shakes his head. maybe it's not important. ] If you're here, [ and you remember ] then does that mean there are more of us here too?

Might be. Dunno...Ain't seen no one else yet.

[ Doesn't mean they aren't here. If Six is here and Izō is here, why not others? ]

Maybe that place finally collapsed an' this is where we all ended up.

[ Out of figurative hell and into literal hell. ]

[ somehow it's confusing to him why the first emotion that bubbles up within him is disappointment. of course it makes sense that izō wouldn't know. after all, didn't the two of them just arrive here? that's why they're stuck waiting in this line, right? of course there wouldn't be a chance to see anyone else yet.

he has nothing to say for the longest time — maybe a silent prayer, a quiet plea that simply wants others to be safe, no matter where they all wound up. ]

Maybe.

[ a beat. ]

... Regardless of that, and our current circumstance, I'm glad to see a familiar face.

...Yeah. I guess ya weren't lyin' when ya said ya wouldn't abandon me.

[ It's kind of a joke, but also kind of not. It gets Izō to smile just a little bit.

And completely change the subject. Too many feelings here!! ]

How long we gonna be stuck in this line?

[ there's a split-second where the entirety of six's body goes completely still. it's almost as if the whole world is zeroing in on him right there and then, leaving him with no room to breathe. he remembers the promise he made to the manslayer, a promise he had full intentions of keeping, no matter what happened, but he wonders what izō would say if he were ever to find out just how willing he was to give up before he found himself here.

still, his heart aches in all the right places. at least for the time being, staying by izō's side wouldn't be a difficult thing to do. ]

... Ah. A promise is a promise, after all.

[ murmured words, almost too quietly. he's thankful for the switch in topic because he wouldn't know how to explain himself if the other man pried. he stares at the line ahead of them, counting just how many are in front. ]

I'm not certain. Has the line moved at all since you arrived here?

[ it almost feels like they barely moved an inch. ]

[ Suffering brought them together and forged a bond not even the collapse of the city could break, it seems. Izō tries not to dwell on it too much and instead focuses on the immediate existential crisis of the line. They're in the middle of it and more and more people shuffle in all the time but the line never seems to move. ]

Nah. Or at least I ain't noticed. Been a few fights, that's kinda funny, at least.

[ He should ask... ]

...Ya still got it, don't ya?

[ maybe it should be more worrisome that izō hadn't notice the line move at all, since he got here, but the erune's focus shifts towards the question asked of him. he doesn't need the other assassin to clarify what he meant to know what he's talking about, especially when six is ever so aware of the mask's presence that hangs quietly at the hip. ]

I do. [ it's both a blessing and a curse, at this point. familiarity can't be something bad in the face of something new and uncertain. ] However, I've yet to hear anything from Kurome... It makes me wonder if he has fallen asleep.

[ it's all he has to say about that matter. plus, one look at izō told him everything he needs to know too. ]

I wonder what it could, for you and I to still have them in our possessions.

It means we're in hell. It'd be too fuckin' nice if we got free'a them, ya know? Prolly hell for them, too, gettin' stuck in our bodies for all eternity. [ He snorts. ] Not that I feel sorry for 'em one bit.

[ The good news is the line's moving! The bad news is it's because someone got dragged out by their shirt collar. ]

...We're gonna be stuck here 'til we die again.

[ there was something six wanted to say. he never got along with kurome, but he probably wouldn't wish to be stuck with him for all eternity — even if they now share the same hellish fate. however, watching someone get dragged by the shirt collar is just enough to distract him so.

maybe getting stuck in this line is the worst thing to ever happen. ]

You might be right. I— [ just before he manages to finish his sentence, he notices a long, sinewy hand reach over to where izō is keeping his ticket. his eyes narrow before catching the would-be thief by the wrist. ] What are you doing?

[ somehow the erune doesn't appear to realize it's a tag-team attack. there's another hand now trying to reach for his ticket while he is unfocused. ]

[ Good thing Izō is keeping an eye on Six. The other offending hand gets grabbed by Izō. ]

Tryin' take our fuckin' spots in line!! Not today, ya shit.

[ Is that a third hand? How many hands are they dealing with there?? ]

[ luckily, six's other hand is still free but now he's unable to go anywhere unless these would-be thieves back off. it's a ridiculous situation. if a fourth hand appears, he wouldn't even be surprised that this is happening.

it might as well, at this point. ]

... Do you think it's worth it to fight them off?

[ as much as six would prefer to end this peacefully, he wonders if they'll even be given the chance to. ]

[ And it does! Izō uses his free hand to grab the other hand. This is getting ridiculous. ]

...Ya think we got a choice?

[ no more hands join in this time around. and while six hates to admit it, he knows the other assassin is right. ]

If you don't mind losing our spot in line, then...

[ excuse him while he knocks one of the youkai off its feet by kicking it in the chest, following it up by elbowing the other one. it's not supposed to be a clean break. it was bound to get messy given their positions and how many they're dealing with but at least that's one down. the others might be rethinking their options.

(in the back of his mind, he notes the lack of his usual strength. hm. almost status quo, it seems.) ]

[ Well, that's all the motivation Izō needs to act. He deals with the other one by sort of tossing them to the side with their own momentum. At least their combined force should be enough to keep them from trying it again?

The torn bits of Izō's number flutter to the ground and he sighs. ]

...I'm gonna fight someone for their number and get th' fuck outta here as soon as I can.

[ the chaos is over before it can even get any worse. it's almost anti-climactic, but six isn't complaining.

his own number isn't doing much better either. at least it doesn't look like any of the other youkai are going to bother them after the stunt they just pulled. six looks over at where izō stands. ]

I'll come with you. I'm sure some can be persuaded to part with their numbers.

[ scary... but even his patience has a limit. tough luck for the ones whose numbers they're about to take. ]

( ooc. can probs end this thread real soon... then i grabby-hand at you for another thread. 😤 )

[ Well, at least he's not going to be doing this alone. Does Izō ruffle Six's hair in an overly familiar way? Yes. ]

Let's start makin' some deals then an' be on our way.

[ Time will tell if they're successful. They'll eventually get out of this place one way or another and at least they aren't alone! ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

February 2022 Test Drive

i missed them 🥺

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puts a little bow on this