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

I think you're afraid, naayze.

[ Why not say it plainly? ]

However, having the sharpest teeth, I don't think that will save you.

[that causes nehan to raise one eyebrow, though other than that, his expression doesn't change-- because he knows it's wrong, and he cant even find it in himself to rearrange his face.]

What strange leaps of logic you make.

Perhaps.

[ He pauses again to glance down at the blood spit on the floor. ]

You bark loudly and bear your fangs. If you don't seem like a cornered dog, then I suppose we are seeing different things. [ His shoulders drop; some of the fight leaves him. ] We are still ourselves. We may belong here... but, well, you're right.

[ A sigh. ] I don't know what you did to earn your place here. [ There may be no point to hold onto who he is, but he does. His hand clenches into a fist before relaxing. I am here, but I am myself. I am still Artemy Burakh. That is enough for him. ]

[nehan snorts.]

You really assume many things. [and any other person would be insulted, but nehan cant bring himself to care. he'll just be... like this.] I'll let you assume what I've done to have this place fated for me, then.

[it's not like the human asked in a proper way. it's like he assumes nehan will tell him just because he mentioned it... but nehan doesn't play that kind of game unless he sees the need to. and right now? he doesn't.]

I'm merely tell you how you look, mutt.

[ Whilst he had praise before that the youkai bit instead of killed, he finds himself souring more and more with the interaction. He can't say the reason why -- no, it is that there are unfortunate truths to be had, and he refuses to accept any one of them.

That is not necessarily the youkai's fault, but they are not close enough to be trading hearts with one another. ]

There's no need to assume. You're here. What more is there to know?

[ah, now he seems irritated. perhaps it's because nehan has clearly shot him down enough on his false assumptions that he's feeling a sting.

at least, nehan hopes so.]

There's no longer reason for you to bring any of it up, is there. [he's not asking. he's making a statement of fact.] If you actually want to know, it's best to ask outright.

Of that, we're agreed.

[ He clicks his tongue as his head gives a firm shake no at the needling. ]

You have an ego on you, dog. I've already said I don't desire to know your sins, so stop dancing with them like they're something to be proud of. [ Just as he is here and is going to suffer for his own. There is no pride in what he has done; he doesn't want to give up his morals or himself just because he is in hell. Foolish, yes, but he has always been an idiot. ]

I don't care what you've done. You believe you belong here. That is enough for us both.

[there is an idiot here, and it's not the erune. he really has to wonder if the human is actually listening to what he's saying, or if his ears need some cleaning. or if he's trying so hard to be intelligent and read between the lines that he comes up with something else entirely.

one of nehan's eyebrows raises, but other than that, his expression doesn't change. it's just as dead as the look in his eyes.]

So is there a reason you're continuing to circle back to that sort of conversation? Because you want to end it, and yet your words mean something else entirely.

None I wish to share with you.

[ Even if he circles back to it, he will let clever people think as to why it is. He could snip and snarl about the reasons why; he could argue his point but he feels an old exhaustion hit him.

Little to do with the barking dog and more to do with feeling the weight of his own sins. He pauses to glance around the room; it is filled with people. Filled and filling. He doesn't see a familiar face and feels a cool sense of relief that eases the painful fire burning up his insides. ]

How about we both be quiet for awhile, then?

Hmmm. [that's the sound of an erune thinking.

sizing up the human before him and wondering what his entire deal is, and if nehan can actually muster the ability to give a damn about finding out.

then, eventually he simply shrugs and tucks his arms further into his coat to protect his ticket from any would-be thieves. he has no more to say.]

February 2022 Test Drive

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