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.
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• If you have questions about the game itself, please check out the premise, FAQ, and rules pages.
• Reserves are open until March 5th.

Comments

[luxter]

[ Hinata didn't understand how his totally legit and definitely not fishy offer sounded... fishy. You'd think someone would be grateful moving forward in the line even if it is just by a little bit. The sooner, the better and all that jazz. Hinata crosses his arms. He is definitely not pouting slightly. ]

I'm not desperate...

[ He just doesn't want to deal with bad luck. And he's just being nice. ...But mostly because he doesn't want to deal with bad luck. ]

I'm not suspicious or anything. [ That's totally something someone who isn't suspicious would say! ] I just wanna help someone out. Is that so bad? Moving forward in the line is a blessing, ain't it?

[deadtective]

[was he sulking over not getting her ticket? that...dude. you have to at least try and sell her on this, otherwise you just look pathetic. which...she guesses is also a strategy in and of itself, but come on. you're being potentially damned for all eternity, have a little dignity!]

Moving forward in the line to hell?

[not that what she was dealing with before was mucj better, but those are petty details. shaking her head now.]

You gotta try and switch places with someone who's already crying. They eat that shit up way better, especially if somebody already fucked off with their last ticket.

[luxter]

To hell? Don't be dramatic. Whatever's at the end of the line ain't that bad.

[ Probably.

Truthfully, Hinata has manage to miss the memo that he is currently in Hell's waiting room. He's still under the impression that he's just in a new location entirely in his own district. Or maybe somewhere out the district? He didn't get to leave Nakawacho all that much.

Mostly due to his own preference. And his fear of ending up totally lost and out of his element.

Though this also was out of his own element. He's arguing with a woman in line about if she should skip him or not. How crazy can his life get? ]

I don't care about switching places. I could be dead last for all I care. I just don't want this number.

[ He points at the ticket, doing his best to advertise it. ]

Look. Triple numbers. Americans like the lottery too, don't they? It's luck.

[ At least he's assuming she's American. She's sure as shit speaking some fluent Japanese though... ]

[deadtective]

[has...no one told him...........

Hazel considers it - she has to, given how much joy she gets from ruining things for people on the regular - but in the end decides that maybe this is one of those things you keep to yourself. she's giving the guy a hard time about trying to shill his lackluster queue spot, not gunning to watching him have a psychological breakdown.

hopefully the universe is as kind to her on the linguistics front, because guess who has nooo idea she's not speaking English to some people?]

Yeah, you know what makes us go apeshit over repeating numbers like that? A dollar sign in front of it. Wrap four hundred fucking forty-four bucks around that ticket and I'll trade you mine and the dude behind me's too.

[do they even take US currency here? fuck if she knows. it's better to rely on what you know until you can get a lay of the land.]

[luxter]

[ She definitely drives a tough bargain. All over a ticket too. Hinata lets out a soft sigh as he reaches into his pocket, already planning on paying her. It's not like he didn't have the money to do so. But once he reaches into his pocket, he comes to a very startling conclusion. ]

Ah. My wallet...

[ It's gone. ...Shit. How else is going to buy cheap boxed lunches from mini marts? ]

Tsk. Never mind then.

[ Just his luck that he'd end up with someone as stubborn as this lady. ]

You always try to extort people you just meet in a line or am I just that special?

[deadtective]

[well, you know what they say: make hay while the sun shines. if her ticket's got value to this guy, who not try and maximize that? worst that happens is she stays exactly as she was before this conversation.

even so, it kind of surprises Hazel that he's willing to pay an exorbitant price when it comes down to it. just how superstitious was this dude? ...but then the moment evaporates as quickly as it comes and she can't help but wonder if he'd never intended to cough up the cash to begin with. lame.]

Taking advantage of the situation's basic entrepreneurship, man. Shit's tough out in the world for a girl on her own.

[buuuut also...]

Didn't hurt that you seemed like the kind of guy who gets hustled a lot anyway.