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

[ now, what's wrong with that dress? not going to lie, shylock would scoop up the dress from the poor woman if he's not assigned somewhere else, but alas.

he does note the discomfort in her eyes, and moves in at her side to the rescue. ]

Pardon me for interjecting, but may I recommend someone who has a tad more dancing experience this time around? Furthermore, I need someone to help me take inventory of the bar tonight.

[ it's not a glamorous job, but it'll at least get her out of the spotlight -- at least for tonight ]

[the backstage manager looks distracted enough to simply shrug and move onto the next thing that demands their focus, but Emily exhales in relief, turning to the stranger with gratitude in her eyes. unglamorous as inventory might be, it's better than being a in a revealing outfit having to show off and sing when you aren't even sure your voice is up to scratch at the moment.]

I can't thank you enough for this. Tell me what needs doing, and I'll do my best.

[ he smiles. ] You're quite welcome. But I do recommend brushing up on your dancing and singing the next time they seek you out. We lost souls can't afford to be picky while we're all still finding our footing.

[ nonetheless, he leads her towards the front of the bar, where it's half-stocked with not just bottles of liquor and cider, but various ingredients that may or may not be good for most human consumption such as fermented fish guts and fish heads. they're a popular add-on in some youkai circles so someone as experienced as shylock isn't one to turn up his nose on them, but... ]

Now, then. [ he hands the woman a pen and paper on a clipboard. ] Take note of how many bottles in the liquor shelf we have so far, along with how much there is left in them. I'll be doing the same with the fruits and other ingredients we have on hand. All right?

[Emily nods, having recovered enough to be able to give him a friendly smile for his troubles.]

It'll be handled, sir.

[and it's straightforward enough work. note down what the bottle is, and the level - the exact number of ounces, for the ones that are obvious enough as well. her work's neat and exacting, even for the volume of what's there and the amount of things that she's never seen before. some have strange colors, others have near indecipherable labels, but Emily works with a steady hand.

glancing behind her when the show starts, she's triply glad she's not up there. something with feathers and exposed chests and a song that definitely is getting people to start making comments...she'd almost rather go back in that arrival line.]

[ at least she only has the bottles to worry about. oh well. shylock has always liked complicating things for himself, as weird as that sounds, so he settles down and gets to work. some of the berries in this realm look different from where he's from, so that's something new, and not to mention the various ingredients in this bar that he's never dreamed of using in his lifetime. it's only too bad he doesn't have enough magic in him to even let the inventory do its own job for him...

but hold that thought, the show has just started. shylock looks up from his pen and paper and watches the showgirls strut their stuff onstage, humming along to the bombastic beat of the song accompanying their wild dance. ]

Aren't they talented? [ he pipes up. ] They should have gone with a different number tonight, however.

A different number? What would you have chosen, then?

[it's no song she knows, which makes it easier to focus less on it, and the dancers, and turn her head back to the liquors. as soon as she can, she knows, she has to find steady employment elsewhere. somewhere she can save up and then find a space to make into a clinic. all that has to be done is quietly pleasing the higher ups, and then keeping to herself.]

Something much less upbeat, in my opinion. The energy they bring to the table is sufficient, but most of the cast they'd brought in tonight are still wet behind the ears. One wrong step due to exhaustion, and they'll all fall apart.

[ still, he can't deny that the music's a bop, even as he doesn't look up from the task on hand. ]

Would you have preferred it to be slower, if you didn't have a choice?

Yes - it might be more familiar that way. Though I've never worked in such an environment before, only danced for pleasure.

[and in more formal settings. there were some upbeat dances she knew, but they were all far cries from this style.]

More grace and less...gyrating.

Waltzes and other ballroom dancing, I take it. Although, dances that are this titillating do have their own charms as well.

[ shylock wouldn't say that he's used to seeing such debauchery back in western country, but he's been to the bird restaurant before and it's hardly the weirdest thing in that eccentric country. it's fine.

he's done with his own side of the bar a few moments later, setting his pen and paper aside. ]

That's done. Would you like to join me for a drink while we're still here?

Is it proper, if we're still on the clock?

[says the doctor who wouldn't dare touch anything stronger than coffee when she's on call.]

Simply think of it as a reward for a job well done. Furthermore...

[ he puts a finger on his lips, along with a wink. shh. ]

I don't think one less bottle missing from inventory would make a big difference with how lively the place is becoming, wouldn't it?

...I suppose not.

[it's true, if they're keeping the lists, they could adjust it as they please.]

Though I must warn you, I don't think I have the stomach for some of these more...exotic types.

[something boasting "real tsuchigumo venom!" in the label was probably ill advised, she thinks, as she finishes noting down her side of things.]

February 2022 Test Drive

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