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

Huh. It sounds like you are going through something challenging, huh?

[He knew what it had meant to be between things in life, to not fit in any one place or another. But at least he had a clue as to what he was, as messy and convoluted as it may have been.

He couldn't imagine what it felt like not even to know that much.

Taking the mask back, he wrapped it over his forehead, allowing it to rest above his brow. The oddly growing comfort of its presence reassured him in his thoughts.]

Well, you said it yourself. You're you. And, yeah, maybe there is some comfort that comes with knowing the details about yourself-- But in the end, I think whatever odd combo came together to bring you here today is pretty awesome in itself, yeah?

[He slumped forward in his chair, digging into the folds of his hakama to pull out a pack of cigarettes. If they were going to make him wait this long in an office forcefully, they could deal with his smoking.]

We mix-breed weirdos have some complicated shit to deal with, but what's the fun in living everyday life any other way? If anything, it's people like us who know how to have fun, right?

[Hell, he'll even toss another playful wink her way in an attempt to accentuate the point.]

... You aren't wrong. [Her hand moves away from her neck and she smiles to herself.]

I might have calmed down over time, but I know a thing or two about fun.

[This wasn't how Monts envisioned her first day in another world to be like. Here she was, essentially trapped in bureaucratic limbo which was its own type of hell talking to a redheaded man whom she inferred had his own past and his own demons. That last part wasn't bad at least. It helped settle the fear of not going home to her grandparents or seeing the cafe for an indefinite amount of time.

Whatever was outside these doors, whether she understood herself or not, at least the company is good. She isn't necessarily alone.]

Hey, Gojyo? How do you like your coffee?

[She seems to have cheered up a little.]

I could use a cup right now, but it'll be a while until we all figure out how we're going to settle down here.

Mmm. Coffee huh?

[He leaned back in his chair once more, not dropping his grin in the slightest as he began pulling out his Zippo lighter. He gladly used it to light the cancer stick up before taking a slow inhale, enjoying the sensation of the smoke filling his lungs.

Yeah, there was no way he was dead.]

Usually, I take mine black.

[He liked things that had a bitter flavor. Fresh coffee, dark chocolate, a lingering kiss goodbye. All the things that were hard to gulp down but easy to savor.]

Why? Did you see a coffee in the machine here?

[Probably a good idea to drink something. The last thing Gojyo wanted was to get distracted from the numbers again.]

Don't I wish? I bet they're keeping the coffee machines elsewhere out of sight.

[Because hell would be inconvenient like that.]

... No, I was just thinking... We don't have a full picture of what it's like out there, but if we can get settled with little trouble, I'd like to make some coffee.

[Monts beams at him.]

And I'd like to share with someone.

Huh, a time for coffee?

[He tilted his head slightly with that, his eyes softening as he watched her beam out. Dang, how could he not find himself endeared by it all?]

Sounds pretty nice. Considering how you do it for a living, I bet you'd make a pretty good cup.

[He scooted in closer with that. Far more comfortable with their conversation now that they were starting to warm up to each other some. His knees were only centimeters from hers, leaning his chin into his hand as he sat forward. ]

I wouldn't mind tasting it some time~ Hopefully soon?

Edited (GRAMMAR) 2022-03-12 05:56 (UTC)

... Hm.

[Marianna is someone who is more than aware when others look at her and due to various reasons (she can't feel pain, warmth, touch, vicinity, she depends on those to read the room, to understand because her own self can barely register), she hopes that she's gotten a hold of reading body language.

Not that Gojyo was being subtle, but in a way, that was a relief. Fun even. Guys like him were fun because they definitely weren't going to get an immediate read on her.]

I have, in fact, improved in my coffee and teamaking skills.

[She also knows how to play along. So leaning forward, just letting her knee brush against his, so briefly, it could be mistaken for just nothing at all.]

So maybe you'll be lucky and get a taste...

[She angles her head in such a way that even the dull office lights make her eyes glint mischeiviously...]

... But I need some good equipment, decent coffee beans, and oh, I don't know. A place to make it.

[And then she just pokes Gojyo's forehead before drawing back. Yes. Just like that.]

So don't get too excited, okay? Look forward to it! It'll make the wait here that much better.

[That smooth tone? That look in her eyes? Monts is very good at transitioning it to casual, cute, and yeah, it's nothing, don't think about it, silly.]

[Oh.

OH!

So she was the type who's flirt back, was she? He had to admit; he was surprised, and, for a moment, he even allowed that to play upon his expression as she teased and hovered far closer than any initial meeting would allow. The way she lured him in was more than enough to get him so scoot closer still--

All the way until that moment he found her index finger placed square against his forehead. The action caused him to go cross-eyed as she cheerfully returned her all too casual distance.

So that was the game she wanted to play, huh? It was a game he missed. One he didn't have time to play for years due to circumstances far beyond his control. It was almost refreshing.

So hell yeah, he was willing to keep playing.

He offered up his best playful dopey grin as he sat back up and ruffled at his long crimson hair, richly chuckling out as he continued the conversation as if absolutely nothing happened.]

Word it like that, and you make waiting sound like it'll be tough. It makes me all the more excited to tase this high-quality coffee of yours. But--

[He flopped back in his seat with that, stretching his legs out and resting his head back against his arms. Taking a small puff of his cigarette and watching the smoke disperse as he thought it over.]

I think I'm okay with being patient. Things aren't good until a pro has all the best tools at their disposal, yeah? But, well, if you ever need any help, know you got a pair of solid arms here who will be happy to help you carry it all back home~

February 2022 Test Drive

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