May 2022 IC Mingle

[jigokumods]

MAIN NAVIGATION

1. WELCOMING COMMITTEE

The influx of fresh Lost Souls means the factions need to have a little welcoming party for them. The leaders realize things have been chaotic in the city. So some recreational activities are in order. All Lost Souls will receive a message from their respective faction leaders with orders to go have some fun.

The Shuten Clan are given an advance on their first paycheck and told to go to the Celestial Phoenix Casino. A big sign on the half boarded up door proudly proclaims UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT. What happened to the old management? It doesn't matter and stop asking questions! The important part is that all games and machines are half-price and there are special prizes available in exchange for your chips and tokens. Games range from the traditional Western style (poker, roulette, slots) to Japanese favorites (cee-lo, koi koi, cho-han).

As for prizes, they have a selection of designer goods, including some particularly nice bracelets, necklaces, and watches!

The Tamamo Clan are given a considerable number of drink vouchers for Crimson Moon Karaoke, where they can sing their hearts out and while absolutely smashed. Private rooms are cheap to rent and they even offer a special discount for groups of two or more. The karaoke machines have any songs you could possibly want, which is a little suspicious, but don't question it! Just get drunk and have fun. By all means, extend your time as you wish and drink up to get in the proper mood. This is an important bonding opportunity.

Oh yeah, as an important note: the rooms are soundproof. You can get as loud as you like, be it with singing or... something else. Don’t do anything Tenko-hime wouldn’t do!

Members of The Sutoku Alliance are given tickets to Fiance of the Funeral Procession at the Pluto Theatre and Cafe. The tickets include free food at the cafe, including beer. Sure, the star may not be a Sutoku member but that doesn't matter too much: getting butts into seats at Sutoku-owned theaters is what’s important. The Daitengu rented the theater out for the day, so there is plenty of time to mill around both before and after the show.

Make a day, or night, of it!

A funeral-based romantic comedy melodrama as the viewing fare is probably a tasteless joke on the Daitengu's part. But hey, y'all aren't still mad that they crashed their own funeral and then took off laughing, right?

Right?

The Department of the Enma members are told that they're going to be doing a team-building exercise. What exactly does that mean? That's right, it's community cleanup time! You get to clean up cans and trash in the street! You get the honor of using a department-issued bike with an attached cart to wheel around the city and pick up trash! How exciting! Teamwork is encouraged, of course. Teams that collect enough garbage will get one (1) voucher for mini-golf.

Please be aware of the local homeless population as you work, they won’t be happy to see you. They normally collect the cans in the mornings as a meager source of income that you’ll be dipping into. They're probably just not happy with Enma officials in general though. Sorry!

2. IT'S RAINING, IT'S POURING...

By the time you're done with your faction-sponsored fun, the sky has decided to open up. Hope you brought your umbrella! The rain is bad enough that walking home might not be an option right now. So take refuge in one of the many nearby nightlife spots.

Not in your faction's home territory? Doesn't matter! Make some friends outside your group or maybe get into a fight and cause some trouble. There's always the third option of ignoring everyone and drinking yourself silly instead! The rain has to let up eventually… right?

Hopefully you aren't caught near one of the cursed Haniwa figures that have been popping up around town. Their aura really dampens the mood and may even start to cause some dramatic and frightening hallucinations if you and your rain-stranded friends stay near them for too long. But remember! Do not break the figurine. Just try to move it somewhere else? And hopefully not get drenched in the process.

Welcome to the IC mingle!

• If you have any questions about the mingle content, please ask them here!
• If you have questions about the game itself, please check out the premise, FAQ, and rules pages.
• For Rewards, threads in the Mingle log count for One (1) point!

Comments

[pitfight]

[ Nishitani tosses his cigarette to the side, stepping close to Childe, hands in his pockets but no less imposing, looming, a dangerous glint to his eyes. He stops in front of the other, just a touch too close to be comfortable, forcing himself close, knowing Childe won't give up ground when trying to seem strong. ]

[ Nishitani grins, but there's no humor there. He's baring his teeth, a threat if there ever was one. ] Then prove it, kid.

[narbrawl]

[A number of pathways open up before them. Walking away isn't an option; even if his pride would allow for it, he's far too intrigued by Nishitani to simply leave. Attempting to win what even he recognises as a dick swinging contest with words also feels like a dead end given that the older man seems set on pushing him regardless. As for throwing a punch? Well, it's true that it would be playing into his hands but he's been itching for a brawl ever since he got here.

Fuck it.]

To you? [Slowly, deliberately, Childe runs his tongue over his teeth. With those pointed canines and red-brown locks, he looks almost vulpine.] Not interested. But a good fight-

[This city might have robbed him of some of the fullest extent of his abilities but he still moves with alarming speed. The Harbinger closes the gap between them in an instant and slams his forearm against Nishitani's throat to try and pin him to the wall.]

That's more like it!

[pitfight]

[ Nishitani expected the fight, wanted it, even-- and so when Childe comes at him, quick, Nishitani manages to take a step back and give himself just enough time to force his hand up against Childe's forearm. His airways unblocked with this action, Nishitani brings his knee up sharply, aiming for the inside of Childe's thigh to cause a charlie horse. ]

[ Throat hits are dirty, Nishitani is just repaying the favour, and this is what their close combat allows. ]

[narbrawl]

[Of course it wouldn't be that easy- he'd have been disappointed if it was- but with the added haze of an evening of drinking, it forces him into his first mistake. Though Childe reacts quickly to Nishitani's counter attack, he miscalculates what it actually is, assuming that he's going for the even dirtier below the belt blow. It means that when it connects, he's already tensed and bringing his thighs together to stop him- and hits with more force than it would have.

Childe hisses in shock as the muscle of his leg spasm hard and the pain is enough to make him back off. But even as he staggers backwards, the look on his face is pure hunger, his lips drawn into a smile that gives away just how pleased he is.

One step- two- then he's regained his balance. The stance he takes up is boxer-like: hands up, up on the balls of his feet and ready for any openings.

There's no need- no time for quips here.]

[pitfight]

[ While Childe may be focused, Nishitani gloats, laughing as Childe has to back off to regain balance, and Nishitani loves that he can see the physical pain the muscle spasm causes. ] That's right, kid! Thought I'd be an easy mark? [ Nishitani has his arms thrown out to the sides, consuming even more space than before, demanding attention. ]

Try again, buddy! Let's see how far you get this time!

[narbrawl]

[So this is how he's playing it? It's an obvious taunt and Childe toys with the idea of waiting it out to pressure him into making the next move. Patience in all things, after all. That is, until something more interesting catches his attention.

Yes, that will do nicely.]

Don't misunderstand me. [Just as easily as he'd adopted it, Childe abandons his more defensive stance. He's casual, arms lowered and head cocked to the side like he's listening to an amusing story rather than an opponent. He grins-] I respect power where I see it!

[- and makes his move.

Rather than darting forward, though, Childe ducks to the side. In one smooth series of motions, he snatches up his discarded umbrella, closes it and swings it into Nishitani's middle.]

[pitfight]

[ Bringing a weapon into the fight-- well, Nishitani doesn't have anything on him, but environmental there should be something nearby. A standing sign will have to do, as Nishitani dodges away from the umbrella, picking up the street sign and laughing. ] Bring it on, kid! I'll teach you some fucking respect!

[narbrawl]

[Childe twirls the umbrella like he's flourishing a sword, smile broadening as Nishitani turns the signboard on him. MIDORI MAHJONG PARLOUR. Hopefully with the driving rain muffling the sounds of their fight, the manager won't notice that his sign has been misappropriated until he clocks out.

This time, he waits for the older man to make the first move. With a heavier, more ungainly weapon to work with, he'll have more trouble with his timings and telegraphing his attacks. As he watches him, there's an almost manic look in his eyes, something feral to the curve of his lips that leaves no doubt as to how excited he is.]

[pitfight]

[ With the heavy sign in hand, with Childe waiting just outside the barrier of the awning, the haniwa blocking off his other side-- there's one thing Nishitani can think to do. ]

[ He hurls the sign at Childe, making it so a few choices will have to be made: step on the haniwa, step into the rain and unsure footing, or take the fucking thing in the gut. Regardless of what Childe picks, Nishitani is rushing forward as well, using the distraction of a thrown, glowing sign, to cover his approach. ]

[narbrawl]

[It's an easy decision. Without hesitation, Childe dodges out of the way of both the sign and haniwa and into the rain- where his footwork stays as confident and nimble as ever. Unfortunately for Nishitani, he's managed to pick a fight with someone who, by the very nature of their gift and the unavoidable watery shrapnel that comes with it, is used to moving across slick surfaces. It's a shame he's having trouble with actually using his Vision because that would add the perfect, spicy touch to the whole encounter.

It's the rain itself that proves more of a problem; it bends the neon all around them and is coming down hard enough to mist his vision but once he gets Nishitani out here, they'll be on equal footing. Chuckling, Childe pushes his soaked hair back out of his face.]

I knew it was worth seeking you out!

[His grip on the handle of the umbrella tightens and, adrenaline pumping, he charges forward to try and jab the sharp tip into Nishitani's shoulder.]

[pitfight]

[ Nishitani takes the hit of the umbrella in his shoulder, dipping his body at last second to give him a couple more inches of reach. Swinging out, Nishitani makes to grab Childe's collar, wanting to pull him in close and into a grapple. That umbrella is a fucking pain, so with his other arm, more indisposed, he moves to break it in half, snap it with the drop of his elbow. ] Got you blood running, baby? I'm already fucking hard!

[narbrawl]

[The umbrella snaps in a flower of spokes and plastic sheets- but with the metal tip still buried in Nishitani's shoulder, its job has well and truly been done. Childe allows himself to be yanked forward, if only so that he can meet his stare properly.]

Eyes on the prize, comrade! [Breathless, playful, hungry. Blood pounds in his ears and the urge to see it spilled- doesn't matter whose anymore- rises with every passing second.] Don't get too distracted now!

[And he headbutts him. Because of course he does. Even as his vision explodes into white, the sake currently in control of his common sense is pretty happy with his decision.]

[pitfight]

[ It's been a long fucking time since anyone dared headbutt him, and blood gushes from his nose where Childe's forehead makes impact. The gall of this brat means Nishitani does the first thing that comes to his mind-- Childe grinning, smiling, playing-- ]

[ Nishitani headbutts him right back, and with his experience, he hopes to land a broken nose, if not better. ]