jigokufever | 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

[ Mòrag, unfortunately, is practically a walking target in her uniform, with all its regalia flashing gold with red trim like a beacon screaming i'm rich and of some importance, come pick a fight and rob me.

unlike Nia, Mòrag chooses not to engage. to an extent, anyway. oh— she'd certainly welcome a challenge in any other circumstance, if Brighid were at her side to lend her firepower, but Mòrag knows when she's out of her element and when to lay low. she finds a heavy cloak to shroud herself in, unwilling to discard the epaulettes of her uniform, and that helps. somewhat. the hood fits awkwardly over her cap but it also helps. somewhat.

—surely the disguise is working as intended, since Mòrag finds herself being raked across the face by an ally not long after, as she's distracted by something or other on the other side of the street. too stunned to speak or move out of the way, she simply allows herself to get scratched before a hand shoots out of her cloak to grab Nia's wrist.

dryly, but not unkindly, she chides: ] I'm aware we've had our differences in the past, but surely those conflicts are water under the bridge by now.

[ "hello Nia, fancy meeting you here." ]

( in this state, she simply swipes at everything and everyone who comes close — especially tall, hooded figures with dubious intentions. or, well, that's how her brain tells her it is, anyway; after a fair share of slipping away from unnecessary fights, she's tired and frustrated and wanting nothing more but to find a place to rest. maybe find dromarch, if at all possible. find anyone familiar —

the relief on her face when she sees mòrag, then, is palpable. it takes actual willpower not to tackle the other with an obnoxious hug — instead, she scuttles in closer, expression brightening. )

Mòrag! ( ... and then darkening, realizing what she'd done. there's a red welt on the other's face, most definitely caused by her claws, and suddenly, she's embarrassed by how little control she has. ) ... what's with the get-up?

( it's probably prudent to keep a military uniform hidden, she thinks. still... mòrag is hardly recognizable like this. )

Haa... you say that, but I never took proper revenge for being thrown into solitary. ( from the hit series of 'nia complains about mòrag doing her job again.' ) ... sorry. Let me take care of that, would you?

Edited 2022-02-23 11:16 (UTC)

[ she's pleased, really. if Nia clawed her up then that means her disguise works! or she just gave Nia a convenient excuse for a little payback for those long-past bygones. either way— it doesn't particularly matter, now that she's found a familiar face.

Mòrag pulls her hood down and dutifully removes her cap. the scratch doesn't seem to be bleeding, but all the same. ]

Fair enough. I leave my wounds to your capable hands.

[ from anyone else it would sound utterly sarcastic, but Mòrag is being completely serious. as usual. she slightly crouches, to give Nia easier access to her face. ]

... I don't suppose you've arrived with anyone else. [ it's odd, seeing Nia without Dromarch at her side. ] Unfortunately, I'm unarmed.

[ no Brighid, she means. she could always pick up a metal pipe and use that as a bludgeon, but where would the dignity be in that? ]

( look, she promises she got over that already. sort of. mostly! enough to not attack mòrag on sight, at any rate. all's well that ends well and stuff.

at the very least, the scratch seems to be the only injury mòrag has sustained. she guesses the disguise is doing its' job — a military uniform would be a provocation at best, especially in these kinds of unruly parts of town. and... it's not bleeding, which is good, because with her powers so weak, a thin cut is about all she can fix up on the spot.

raising her hand, she hovers it over mòrag's cheek, allowing what scarce remnants of her power she can muster to close the sliced skin up. )

... no. Dromarch's nowhere to be seen, so I guess... he's not here. It wouldn't be like him to hide from me, and I... can't really feel his presence, either. ( should she be relieved? sad? of course, she feels like she'd lost an arm, without the tiger by her side — but considering people here insist they're dead, well... it's best for dromarch to not experience that. he's a blade — he shouldn't have to worry about this. ) Not having my sword is annoying, though. I have to resort to these instead.

( she flexes her fingers. the claws... like some sort of an animal. )

[ her eyes widen ever so slightly at that remark. ] You don't have your Blade weapon?

[ without even thinking, she touches the cut on her face as it's being healed. after so many battles, Mòrag would think she's familiar with Nia's healing touch (not that she had ever needed to be patched up as frequently as the others, she'd like to say), so it's not hard to notice how long it takes for that shallow wound to close— an imperceptible difference, but not one that would escape Mòrag's detection.

well, that's worrying! ]

How fitting, for a place they claim to be Hell.

[ for once, Mòrag is at a loss. if she's dead, then Brighid's returned to her Core Crystal. inconceivable. a part of her furiously denies it, that this is all a grand joke played at their expense, but Nia is right here in front of her with no scimitar and her healing arts weakened.

she frowns, her gaze moving down to Nia's claws. now isn't the time for mourning. ] Nia... I'd rather not see you fall to such drastic measures. It goes without saying, but we'd best stick together— but I had wondered, are you able to form an affinity link without your sword?

Nope, I've got nothin'.

( she shrugs, spreading her arms helplessly. it truly feels like missing a vital part of your body — especially for a blade, whose weapons are basically an extension of themselves.

the thought of losing dromarch... she doesn't want to consider it. all of this just seems like a bad dream — but she feels pain, and her wounds don't immediately heal, and mòrag is here, flesh and blood and bone, so convincing herself none of this actually happened is... difficult, to say the least. )

... yeah. ( she nods. sticking together seems like the best course of action — and with mòrag by her side, she immediately feels a thousand times better. safer, too. ) I haven't tried, but — I don't think so. This bloody thing — it's like it's dead. ( she raises her hand to tap the crystal on her chest.

it's dull; the red and the blue mesh together lazily, but it lacks the usual shine you'd recognize a core crystal by. )

Wanna find a better place to talk first? I was just on my way out of this area.

February 2022 Test Drive

street fight

MORAG... 🥺

niaaaaaaa 😭

CLINGS

HOLDS

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