jigokulogs | APRIL 2022 EVENT

APRIL 2022 EVENT

1. HANAMI

The week of the Night Parade is marked by the traditional symbols of Spring in Japan. Somehow, several city blocks have been turned into cherry blossom groves as a show of goodwill by the Sutoku Alliance. These cherry trees don't feel normal. They are more like spectral manifestations. Rumor has it they grew so quickly because they're planted on top of a graveyard. That's just a rumor, though. Don't pay it any mind! Don't listen to any whispers you might hear if you walk through the rows of trees alone and certainly don't dig under them for proof of their provenance.

Accompanying the hanami are copious amounts of food and drink. Such as dango, specialized bento, sake, and festive drinks. They are all available to purchase from stalls near the spectral grove. The refreshments may have a little something special added to them:
Ingredients that promote peace (calming any angry or upset feelings)
Ingredients that promote romance (gives soft, warm feelings towards the first person you see).
These effects are mild and only last as long as you're in the boundary of the grove. Eat, drink, and be merry with your fellow lost souls.

2. KANAMARA MATSURI (NSFW IMAGERY)

In addition to the simple joys of flower viewing and the cherry blossoms blooming, new festivals pop everywhere. They are inspired by various regional festivals from all over Japan. Some of these are benign and feature your normal festival fair. Others are a little more unusual, such as the Kanamara matsuri-inspired treats. You can thank the Tamamo Clan for this. Don't mind the giant phallus being carried down the street or the wooden phalluses you can ride on or the interesting mascots walking down the sidewalk, or the suggestive vegetable carvings.

Surprisingly, none of these foods are spiked, at least not more than the experimental recipes had been during the parade preparations. The spirit of the thing is more just the amusement of genital-based foods rather than anything meant to entice a sexy sort of good time. That will come as the parade rounds out onto the bath district...

3. HADAKA MATSURI

cw: nonsexual nudity

If that cheeky festival isn't your kind of fun, maybe the hadaka matsuri is more your speed. The Department of the Enma are probably the most stressed out faction in the entire city, so the Enma has allowed them to put on a festival to blow off some steam! It's a bit different from the traditional celebration: it's not contained to just men and it's not contained to a shrine.

This event is a mobile mob of nearly naked people and youkai running after a cart with a masked person throwing out small sticks. They represent good luck for the people who manage to nab them. There are far fewer sticks than there are people present and everyone will do a lot to get one of the coveted prizes. Try not to get in their way!

Or you can get caught up in it all and try to snag one yourself to see what your fortune holds. (No, the Enma isn't participating. Too dirty, for his tastes.)

4. FESTIVE FUN

A. SUMO
Some other festivities you might come across are miniature sumo tournaments put on by the Shuten Clan. Raised dirt circles with chalk rings on the outer perimeter pop up seemingly everywhere. Two people are allowed in the ring at one time and there are strict rules to be followed. If you disobey the rules, you may find yourself suddenly ejected from the ring with magical or physical means, and at the mercy of a Shuten enforcer.

Play by the rules to beat your opponent and victors will find themselves rewarded with a strong bottle of booze. The winners of each bout are handed out a commendation by Toraguma himself, which comes in the form of a commemorative sake gourd. This is probably the kind of prize you'd expect from an Oni at a festival like this.

B. FOOD RUNNERS WANTED
If you're in the mood to pad your pockets, maybe you want to help the Tamamo Clan out by running food delivery. This opportunity is available to anyone regardless of affiliation. Runners will be fitted with a contraption to carry the food orders on their person and may proceed either on foot or on a small motorbike. Be careful and make sure not to drop anything! Any ruined or undelivered orders will come directly out of your pay.

It's harder than it looks not to drop the food with all the excitement going on and your delivery recipient may be similarly hard to locate.

C. HOT BATHS (NSFW + cw: optional aphro)
The Tamamo Clan has set up a sanctioned orgy in one of their larger brothels. Rooms are available for whatever your heart desires, including one with exposed windows if you like being watched or if you want to watch in kind. Baths and pools are available for all your indulgent fantasies. Everything you could need is at your disposal: toys, restraints, costumes, lubricants, condoms, aphrodisiacs in many forms. It's a proper bacchanal celebration!

All that matters is your consent and enthusiasm.

5. NIGHT PARADE

One of the primary highlights of the Night Parade are the fantastical floats depicting scenes of legendary events. Keen-eyed observers may note that the humans are portrayed as the bad guys in most of them. While a few of these are mounted on motorized vehicles, most of them are carried by people. That means you'll probably be called on to help carry one along the parade route. It's a fun job, if exhausting.

If you're not the type to wear yourself out carrying a float, ride on one instead! There's plenty of things to toss out into the crowd along the street; candies and trinkets. Dress up in a fitting costume and walk around the float. Have fun scaring bystanders or just have fun hamming it up and celebrate the peaceful night.

5. FIREWORKS

The parade's central stop is the festival square in the heart of the city, just under the shadow of the Kaigo no Bou Tower. There is a stage set up here where the four faction leaders and their personal entourages have assembled. All of them are giving pretty typical speeches. The Enma has declined to give one, having no patience for unnecessary oration. Tenkohime gives praise to the unifying factors of love in the city, while Toraguma rallies the crowd like a sports hero; encouraging them to get stronger and do better in the coming year.

The Daitengu is the last to speak and they also seem to have the largest entourage. The entourage is quite conspicuous: White Wolf Tengu, each standing well-taller than the Daitengu themselves. They are carrying massive broadswords strapped to their backs and hunting about the area for anything suspicious with keen eyes that seem to see right through the crowd and the heat of night.

The Daitengu's speech is also pretty typical, although much more humble than their fellows. Mostly, they just wants to hurry up and get to the fireworks. Just as they finish speaking, the sky lights up.
There are a few peaceful moments beneath this spectacle as the crowd enjoys the display of unity and phantasmal wonder that this unique and strange world has created.

But the explosions aren't just in the sky. One particularly loud boom seems to rattle the very earth beneath the crowd. That is the only warning anyone gets before...

6. A NIGHT PARADE TO REMEMBER

Every manhole cover on the street bursts open, injuring anyone that was standing nearby. Far worse is the deluge of steam that rushes out from the underground. Pillars of hot, blinding steam spill into the air, quickly filling the streets. The luminescence of the festival lamps and city lights are diffused and blurred into singular blobs of color, obscuring all vision and making it impossible to see what's going on. The panicked cries of the crowd also make it impossible to hear. Everything happens so suddenly, so violently, that ascertaining what's going on takes time.

Too much time.

In the chaos, gunshots are heard. They seem to come from several directions. Fighting is breaking out. It's difficult to tell from where and who is in the brawl. Previously unseen figures in full-body black coverings appear from nowhere, rushing the stage. They zoom past any Lost Souls nearby, ignoring their presence. They are focused on a singular goal. The barking of the White Wolf Tengu further indicates the goal of the attack.

Struggle in the steam, help others get to safety, get caught up in fighting the other factions, try to protect the Faction leaders, or try to keep up with the black-suited youkai rushing the stage; do as much as you can.

When the steam finally begins to clear, however, there will at least be one thing that is certain: the Daitengu has been killed.

Welcome to the April event!

If you have any questions about event content, please ask them here!
We also have OOC top levels for Shuten Sumo Results, Tamamo Partner Cards, and Hadaka Luck Draws!
If you have questions about the game itself, please check out the premise, FAQ, and rules pages.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It sure sounded like it, [And that small, curling grin is plain on his mouth, unhidden thanks to the sake. Oh, well. He covers it with another sip, and lets out a soft breath from his nose as he swallows and savors it. At least his eyeroll is still hidden.]

I assure you, I did not donate any blood to this endeavor. Although they certainly tried. [Instead, he lowers his cup, and gestures out to all the other decorations- the streamers, the displays, the hanging mobiles and lanterns.] But you can thank me for the rest of the view. At least in part.

...Ah, but you've probably never made shimenawa, have you.

[Call it a youth experience- like going to summer camp, but for exorcist clan kids.]

[He lets the quiet fall over them once more. A nice breeze carries through the promenade, rustling petals past them and carrying the groaning voices of the dead. Romantic. After a little while the silence is too stifling again, so reaches into his sleeve and tugs out a paper bag that's been rolled up; straightening it out, he removes a takeaway tray of hanami dango.]

[Matoba Seiji was a little predictable. Shut up.]

Thanks for your concern, but I promise I can take care of a couple cherry trees. [Or rather, that if a bunch of cherry trees were bothering him that much, he would just leave, because he's a sensible adult with no access to his exorcism abilities. But he doesn't sound angry or defensive, just like he's joining in the quip. Similarly, Matoba shouldn't take him seriously when he says] So that's what I missed by being in the 'going home' club, huh.

[Natori didn't go to summer camp, either.

When Matoba takes out the dango, Natori snorts gently to himself before plucking up one of the skewers for himself.] I'm taking one of these.

Such confidence.

[He'll let Natori bask in the sarcasm in that statement, sipping at his sake to hide his expression. He knows, don't worry- Natori was always the type to retreat quickly when he was outnumbered. Him and his silly parlor-trick smokebombs....]

[He doesn't comment on the reality of that quip, which was that they were both in that club, because they were both in club 'go do exorcism jobs after school'. (It was that or the kyūdo club, but he didn't really get a choice.)]

[Natori can most certainly sense the tiny glare he receives when Natori helps himself to the sweets, but only lets out a tiny snort out his nose and takes the other one for himself.] The sake was free. That one is going to cost you-- [The last word is muffled by him biting over his own stick in annoyance.]

[It took forever standing in line for these.]

And what are you up to today, besides arguing with the dead?

Right, right. I know the drill. [Natori waves his hand in an exaggerated yes, yes, favors, I'm in your debt gesture before taking a bite of his own. He knows Matoba means it completely seriously, so.] That's two now, right? Or did I somehow accrue more debts since we last spoke?

[It's still much closer to some playful ribbing than the lead-up to a fight that it could become in other circumstances. Maybe it's just the scenery around them, he muses once he swallows his first bite.]

Well, I know you saw my illustrious leader's announcement. I have a shift later in the day. Behind the scenes, before you worry about my honor.

You should really keep track of them on your own, [Matoba says dryly, scolding.] Or I really might add onto the list, since you won't notice.

[A perfectly serious threat. Matoba will always take advantage where he can.]

[Matoba chews on his dumpling with only a soft scoff of disgust at the mention of Tenkohime's announcement. Typical, foolish beasts. Natori correctly preempts the turn and covered glance Natori is getting when he mentioned working a shift, which then turns into a mean smirk.]

No? I'm sure your customers would love to see the work you're so known for.

[Romance acting, fucking, whatever, same thing?]

I know you haven't seen any of my movies, but really.

[Or rather, he assumes Matoba hasn't seen any of his movies, because the idea of Matoba Seiji going to view a romance film is as absurd as... as Matoba waving off one of the debts he's accrued.]

Instead, I'm doing runs to the convenience stores and picking up food from the festival so my clan members don't have to miss out. You can take that look off your face any time. [He doesn't even need to see it to know it's there.] Ah, but don't tell me you were thinking of stopping by to get a glimpse? I'm sorry to disappoint you.

Oh, is there a difference? [He says it idly, as if discussing differences in types of tea leaves.] If not what you're known for, then surely what it implies, no?

I'm not really the target audience.

[That's an understatement. Does not answer whether Matoba Seiji has seen any of his movies, though.]

[Instead, he snorts softly and rolls his eyes in lieu of having 'that look' on his face, and takes the second dumpling on his stick into his mouth, chewing.]

[...He has to consciously catch himself from replying that he doesn't need to, and frowns to himself momentarily. Hrm.]

Then.... Will you not be attending the parade and fireworks, later? [He has his head kept turned away from Natori's direction as he asks this.]

Edited 2022-04-04 05:14 (UTC)

Obviously, [he says wryly, leaning back on his free hand as he keeps working through his snack.] I could tell you something about wish fulfillment here, but there isn't really a point to getting into it.

[Because he knows Matoba isn't going to concede the point, and also because he knows as well as Matoba does that his newfound clan is ridiculous. No point in arguing for its honor just for the sake of making conversation.]

No, I'll be done by then. After all, your faction leader was so enthusiastic about the fireworks, I could hardly miss them.

[Wish-fulfillment. Hm. Sure, they could both sit there and pretend that he was unfamiliar with the concept. They both knew very well that they were.]

[Matoba will simply brush it off as unimportant, an out Natori gave him, which is the correct option to take.]

[He sits there in quiet for a few moments, sipping his sake and savoring the taste as he feels the alcohol slide down his throat, to prevent it from tightening.]

That tengu is certainly an interesting one. [His mouth twists into a mean smirk.] A shrewd creature masquerading as some idiot. It's still rather inconvenient, but there are worse things to be forcibly bound to. [Like, you know, a fox. Or an actual idiot ~~cough oni cough~~.]

Hmm, how do you even know it's really a tengu under there? [he asks teasingly.] All you have to go on is the name. Wouldn't be the first time we've seen some low-level ayakashi taking up the mantel of a larger legend.

["We," like they're colleagues. It's a lot easier to fall back into the us-against-them vibes out here, with the sakura in full bloom and the two of them sitting side by side in disguise surveying an entire field of ayakashi. (Maybe that's wish fulfillment too.)]

In fact, it could be a preteen girl, based on the kaomoji.

I do not. [He's totally willing to entertain that theory!! As you have seen from my insane shower scribblings.] But in order to maintain this level of power over the member clans, it must be something capable of wielding the title. Whether the power came before or after that.

[Something inherited, like a mantel? These were all possibilities he had considered. He did, after all, have quite a bit of experience with the situation....]

[He sighs deeply into his sake cup, and ignores Natori's stupid contribution.]

You know, I waited to see if any of our esteemed colleagues would dare to ask about the rumors going around. Of the sewers. Have you heard?

Mm. [He knows they're both thinking about the same thing when Matoba says that; there's no way not to. Natori finishes off his dango and moves past it.]

Just the basics. The kappa were building something down there and wouldn't let anyone see what it was, not even other members of the Alliance. [He pauses, looking out of the corner of his eye expectantly under the mask. If he knows Matoba Seiji, he's about to be told just how little he knew.]

Quite curious, isn't it?

[Matoba's mouth is busy taking another of the dango into his mouth, but he doesn't seem nearly amused enough for Natori to assume that he was hiding something, or dangling it over his head. He pauses for a short moment of chewing on it, before going on.] Something hidden without the use of magic wards or barriers. I wonder what they could be up to.

[And that is that. Matoba tugs the stick from the dango out of his mouth.]

I really don't remember the last time I viewed the cherry blossoms that I wasn't also on a job... [Or if he does, he's trying not to draw attention to it- for obvious reasons.] ...A shame they are so shamelessly noisy.

Really? [It's not said like he's doubting Matoba's assessment-- even sealed, he's sure Matoba would still be able to tell. More an academic curiosity about what they could be doing.] Going through lengths like that to keep it secret, huh... I guess every group has its politics.

[The various clans in the city, of course, but he'd be lying if he said he wasn't also thinking of the various maneuverings he's seen (and even participated in) amongst the exorcist community.]

Mm. It's nice, once you put the chatter aside. [It occurs to him only after he says it that it's... unlike him to be that open about the positive emotions he's feeling, at least when around Matoba. At the same time, he doesn't feel worried about it; just that he can't pay too much attention to it, or it'll be over.] And the fact that we're in hell, I suppose.

Mm, [Matoba muses on it, chewing on the end of the stick in thought, but he's intentionally deflecting from it for now. After all, Natori was not his ally unless he had information.]

[...But, for the moment at least, that was something he could put to the side. As some of the few humans here, at least there was some camaraderie in that which he could admit to himself freely, even if he couldn't admit the other reasons that he was feeling at ease for the moment. Self-consciousness wasn't like him, either, and he even for a moment feels a pang of regret at the active suppression of those memories.]

Yes. And that. [Wryness enters Matoba's voice as he watches a petal drift delicately downward and land into his sake dish. His lips curl upward slightly, taking it up to his lips again.] A shame that it will be over after today, isn't it.

Edited (wording weh) 2022-04-11 01:38 (UTC)

Mm. [It's a lazy hum of agreement as he watches the petal spiral into Matoba's sake with a smile. He holds out a hand to catch one of his own. After considering it for a moment, he turns his hand to the side to let it tumble out among the other fallen petals.] But I suppose that's the point, isn't it.

[If he unfocuses his ears, like tuning out the whispers, they sound like any breeze ruffling through the cherry blossoms. They could be any two people sitting under the sakura trees, in any city in the human world or outside of it. He savors it for a moment, then picks up his cup and drains the remainder.]

Edited 2022-04-20 22:41 (UTC)

...Yes, I suppose so.

[Matoba replies quietly, and trails off, watching the petal cling to the side of his nearly empty cup. Something felt very strange about this moment. It was... too comfortable. Too like a time that had already long passed.]

[He spares a glance to the bamboo dango stick, frowns at it disapprovingly, and flicks it away into the grass.]

Well, I must be moving along now. [Matoba drains his cup and gives it a gentle wipe with the edge of the blanket, tucking it back into his sleeve. After returning his mask into proper place over the lower half of his face, he does the same with Natori's empty one, and plucks the sake bottle up by the neck with his fingertips as he stands.] I would offer you the rest of this bottle, but that would be a bit too generous of me. I did put down coin for it.

[He turns as if to be on his way, but pauses after a step, and turns his masked face over his shoulder again.]

Enjoy the rest of the festival.... But do not attend the fireworks.

[Before Natori can ask for an explanation, Matoba is already sweeping himself away through the grove.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

APRIL 2022 EVENT

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