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

Oh, of course!

[it's the easiest thing in the world to dispense care to people who asked for it - right now she's been used to people acting like drenched cats, trying to get them to accept a little help. turning to the young man, she evaluates his condition, and gets to work. the blood needs to be cleaned up first, and the cuts given a treatment to avoid infection. careful, so careful with his lip - there's no bandage that can cover that, but at the least it will heal quickly.]

You're going to have to be a touch careful when talking - if it hurts to move your mouth in a certain way, don't do it. This should self resolve if you do.

Mnnkkay, ( he says with her fingers near his mouth, being careful.

...mind the very sharp, slightly larger-than-normal incisors, miss nurse. that's one of his vampire-style charm points!!! yes they're real.

it's really hard not to mess with his lip though, he'll have to do his best not to tongue it too much... though he can't help flinch away whenever she presses too hard or makes it sting. he's a baby take pity on him-- )

Ow.

[she's being as careful as she can! don't be an utter baby about this...]

Sorry. It'll feel better soon, I promise.

[Emily doesn't blink at the teeth - look, she's a woman walking around with wings - and more importantly, she can apply certain things to at least reduce the pain from the bruises. only time will truly fix them, but he'll do better with painkillers.]

As much as possible, I'd advise you staying out of this side of town until your injuries heal - in terms of medicines, you'll want something anti-inflammatory to keep the swelling down, so I'd advise ibuprofen over aspirin, to assist in calming your body. For the cuts, if you keep them clean and covered for at least the next two days, you should recover well, such that there won't even be a scar if you take care to leave it alone as it seals.

Yes, even if it itches.

( "don't be an utter baby about this" sorry he's physically incapable of Not being a baby, he's a spoiled brat )

...Sure. ( she's a better nurse than sagami, that's for sure. ) 'cept it'll be kinda hard stayin' away from here. My place is...

( ....................... )

Somewhere around here, I guess. ( shuten clan 4 life... he'll find it later. ) Which office did they toss you to?

They told me to go to-

[what answer she gives is perfectly audible to Ritsu, but completely drowned out by some youkai howling about having lost a bet to anyone else.]

Well, if you can't stay away from here, at least try to not get into fights so quickly?

( ahhh, there... okay. )

Can't duck out of 'em all, but I'll see if I can't find someplace to bunker down. ( yeah... yeah. an idea springs to mind though, and ritsu's smile turns a little sweeter. ) ...Or I could stay with you, Miss Nurse. I'd feel sooo much better if I could, 'specially with how roughed I am right now.

[she'd be within her rights to call him a scoundrel for that. even when she was monitoring patients closely, she kept her own living quarters - the only one who evaded that had been on the verge of death, and was still kept in the living room. but, instead of saying all that, she keeps her calm, collected demeanor.]

Are you worried about being alone? You needn't be, there's nothing at risk. But if you're truly fretting, I do make house calls, and I can come and see you tomorrow to reassess things.

[so no, he doesn't get a full free ride.]

( ...

damn, you'd think a nurse would be more fussy, but he guesses there's all types...? well, he guesses sagami's not fussy either, but he also basically doesn't do anything but give them painkillers or stomach medicine and sends them to sleep it off in one of the cots. best school nurse tho never asks questions. )

Guess that'll do. ( ugh... maybe he'll find some way to be out of the house then though, since he wants to be fussed over and spoiled and poor baby'd...... his secret desires. ) You sure you're gonna be okay walkin' around here? S'not like they discriminate too much on who they drag into fights.

Well...

[and here, her expression falls a bit, before she sighs.]

All I can really do is my best, currently, to stay out of trouble. If I get hurt, then that sets me quite a ways back. Besides...combat isn't my forte at all.

...Me neither, ( he says, but he still gets into fights--

but it's true. he's an idol, a layabout, a spoiled kid who just wants to get more spoiled. and someone who says he'll murder for his friends without flinching but not really the point here,

ritsu glances at her wings, thinking, then motions over her shoulder. ) Can you fly with those?

[his injuries didn't quite match up to that statement, but Emily wisely says nothing. after all, anyone when cornered might be able to lash out passably, and she doesn't know where he comes from. instead, she blinks at the question, before remembering that oh yes, they might not be so common anymore.]

My wings? Yes, I can fly with them, provided I have enough energy to do so - much the same as someone running.

Didja have those before you got here? They're cool.

( slowly........ guiding the conversation away from injuries and fights............. )

I did, but not always. They were...something of a gift, from a friend.

[labelling them as a friend always won a bit of favor, and makes the trade as evenly balanced as it was.]

They're helpful, but also sometimes a hindrance. Don't go seeking friends of your own to bestow them unless you're willing to accommodate.

( willing to accommodate, huh...? )

I'm no good at sharing, so I guess I'll have to pass. ( he actually accommodates pretty well depending on what it is, though. anyway, ) Your friend here now?

Y..es, actually, they are.

[and in her heart, she begs them not to make an appearance just yet.]

Should they be amiable, one day, you might meet them. But right now they're still settling in.

( ...... )

Lookin' forward to it then. ( ♪ ) Guess it's just you and me 'til then...

( . . . oh, right. )

Name's Ritsu.

February 2022 Test Drive

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