Underground Turf War Catch-all! [OTA! Come toplevel!!!]

[baofeng]

Who ⬤ Open to all!
What ⬤ Catch-all log for the Underground Turf War
When ⬤ Throughout April: Dates within
Where ⬤ The Underground
Content Warnings ⬤ Please tag any cws in individual toplevels / threads!




This is a post to facilitate shenanigans regarding the Underground turf war! Feel free to park your toplevels below and tag around!

Summary of what’s going on:
The Underground is the network of subterranean utility / sewer tunnels under the city, previously held by the Kappa tribe. After the April 2022 Event, the Underground has been cleared out by the Department of the Enma and is now mostly unattended.

The Tamamo Clan and Shuten Clan have received orders from their leaders to take over the Underground. Unfortunately, there's two of them and only one Underground, so the two clans are fighting over it. (Tamamo Meeting Log) (Shuten Meeting Log)

The Sutoku Alliance is not willing to fight for the territory, but are intending to work out a deal with whoever wins the turf war to get the kappa back to work. The Department of the Enma is also more interested in investigating the Daitengu’s assassination than the turf war, but that means their Lost Souls can bring popcorn and watch the show. (more info here.)

Comments

[apathie]

[really? really. somehow nehan doesn't believe that. he waves his hand over chongyun's face, before pointing at his own eyes, a darker, greyer shade of blue than the human's.]

And I'm here to make sure you do not wear yourself out.

You listen to me, all right? This is gang warfare, something which I'm uniquely familiar with. And in this mission, there may be some things you learn, just from my example.

[cutcloud]

[ No faith!! Chongyun blinks again, but this time not at the affront—no, he’s moved on from Nehan’s (valid) lack of trust to instead needle in on a much more interesting point. ]

You’re familiar with this? [ curiosity gleams in the young exorcist’s eyes as he sits up, ] In that case, there’s a lot I can learn. Were you in a clan before you came to the city?

[ All he really knows about Nehan is that he’s a medic, familiar with vital energy, and that he’s a dapper dresser. Right now, while they’re waiting for a fly to get caught in the web, is a good opportunity to find out more. ]

[apathie]

You could say that. [two clans, really. a clan and a family, and... this is his life, he is a career criminal. and no matter how much six would like to be an eternal, he's just the same.]

I am a medic and a murderer, Chongyun. Those are the roles I played for la famiglia.

[then he cricks his neck.]

Why, are you actually looking for instruction now that you know I'm experienced?

[cutcloud]

If I'm going to do this, I want to do this right. [ he rests back against the wall, but keeps his eyes on Nehan. ] I'm not unfamiliar with clans in general. I have one back home, but we're exorcists. It isn't exactly the same.

[ Dispatching evil spirits is second nature. Crime? That's... new. Maybe it sounds ridiculous to say "I would like to do crime right" but it seems callous to not take the proper steps. Especially after their last meeting of the newer Tamamo recruits; it doesn't seem that they're all on the same page, which can lead to problems later. ]

So, yes. I am. I decided I wasn't going to do this half-hearted.

[apathie]

[nehan eyes chongyun for several seconds, quiet. he's deliberating in his head if he should entertain this... before deciding that if someone actually wants to listen to him in this forsaken, weakling clan, then he'll teach them.]

The secret is to not care about what you're doing, and who you're affecting. Emotions are your worst enemy-- sympathy will only stay your hand.

The opposite? If you start to enjoy what you do, then that's also a weakness, because that's all you think about doing, and you'll make mistakes eventually.

[cutcloud]

[ … interestingly, this is not the first time he has received this kind of advice. The second, with the first being from someone who, on a moment of consideration, he notes isn’t very different from Nehan.

It makes sense. They’re both good at what they do. Detachment on both sides… well, at least he’s familiar with restraining himself, even if that ends with varied results most of the time.

He nods, understanding. ]

How do you … do that? Not care?

[ It’s a genuine question. Sometimes, he really can’t help but to get emotional, and that’s not taking his condition into account. ]

[apathie]

My ability is mine alone. [meaning, it's not something chongyun can have or replicate. not that anyone could do it, or else they would have to regress to being ten again.] But for you, I have something else in mind.

It's just a job. [then he sighs and clarifies.]

Whatever you have to do for the clan, remind yourself that it's just a job. Whatever it is, however you feel about it, it's just a job and you must do it because Tenkohime will not accept any other outcome.

[cutcloud]

[ While extremely curious about Nehan’s supposed method, Chongyun doesn’t ask. If the man wanted to share he would have—and they don’t know each other nearly well enough for Chongyun to even gently encourage more. Maybe… another day, sometime in the future.

Again, it makes sense. Just like being an exorcist is a job. Of course, this isn’t exactly the same … purging evil spirits is one thing. Being in direct opposition to people in a similar situation is another.

That’s something he’ll have to settle within himself. It is indeed just a job, and nothing personal. ]

I’ll remember it.

[apathie]

Do more than just keep it in mind, Chongyun. [nehan has to shake his head. dear chongyun, not realizing he has to start immediately. but this is why nehan is here-- he's the guiding hand.] You have to practice it, starting now.

This is a turf war. You may have to injure or even kill people from other clans.

If you cant do that, then I will do it for you, but soon enough you will have solo missions and I will not be on hand to execute the ones you don't want to.

[cutcloud]

[ Killing innocent people on Tenkohime’s orders strikes him as absurd.

That instant reaction is also how he knows that Nehan is right.

It may become an inevitability, or a hard choice he must make … and if he decides to follow his heart there will undoubtedly be consequences. Purging evil spirits is something he has never balked at, but other people? Who were perfectly good and only ended up in another clan?

He is quiet as it soaks in. He had known it would be a challenge … it’s difficult to go against your personal beliefs, even for a job. Not to mention that other people may have already find their resolve, and hesitating will put himself and others at risk. ]

Someone told me that I must protect my heart, and that emotional entanglements will only make this more difficult. [ he sighs. ] It really is different, understanding and putting something into practice.

[apathie]

[protecting his heart? really? he doubts that chongyun will actually consider that framing to be legitimate, when he clearly feels more for others than himself.]

If that's what motivates you to detach yourself, then go ahead. But I don't believe it will work well for you-- you don't value yourself as much as you do others.

It's just a job. Your duty. This thought would work better for you.

[cutcloud]

[ He blinks, and looks to Nehan again. What the man said is true—he does indeed value others more than himself—but it's surprising to actually hear someone say it.

Nehan ... is very considerate. Should he say so? Somehow, Chongyun suspects that might be the wrong move. Still—he can't help feel a prickle of warmth in his chest toward the other man.

Someone's already failing on that detachment thing. ]

Yes... I think you're right about that. Normally it does work well.

[ He smiles, just a little bit. Not because the prospect of killing people he's grown fond of across the factions, but because all'a that meta above. He won't say it, but he feels oddly satisfied in Nehan's company. ]

[apathie]

Then start now. [nehan leans in and places one hand on chongyun's shoulder. then he points at the wall of ice.]

We have enemies coming, and I will be watching your performance. [and backing him up, really. because he's here to fight too, even if he seems unarmed-- he's best without weapons, especially in such small confines.]

But I will also be assisting. You're stronger than me, but I am here.

[cutcloud]

[ Chongyun opens his mouth, having more to say, more to ask, but Nehan is once again correct. The sound of footsteps echo, a slow thud, and the tin of voices follow soon after. How it’s mostly curses makes it pretty easy to guess what group they belong to.

Sliding forward, Chongyun crouches quietly with his blade at rest but guard raised as the Shuten goons lumber forward. They grunt, confused, but quickly decide that the ice must have happened because it’s colder underground than above and some pipes broke or some shit.

But it’s not that cold? one squat fellow wonders, and the other two shoot him a glare. Shaddup, Karl. No one asked you.

Thonk thonk thonk. They start pounding away at the ice with their meaty fists. Chongyun glances over at Nehan to confirm the older man’s position, prepared to strike from his own once he sees an opening. ]

[apathie]

[nehan has already accepted that he has to be chongyun's mentor-- perhaps in all things, really. he suppresses a sigh, and leans in, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder to murmur in his ear:]

Remember, this is nothing personal-- this is your job, because they are Shuten, and we are Tamamo. We are at war.

Breathe in, breathe out, and strike through the holes they make, once they've made them.

[and, as a rare bit of encouragement that he may or may not repeat...] You can do this.