jigokulogs | July 2022 IC Mingle

July 2022 IC Mingle

1. ITADAKIMASU!

After the harrowing incidents involving the curse last month, unity is the theme for welcoming the new influx of Lost Souls. The factions are still busy with cleanup efforts and making sure their personnel are in fighting shape. What’s more, most of the usual spots that would play host to the factions’ parties are either closed until they’re repaired, or in no state to be hosting parties that big.

Thus, an agreement has been reached. All of the factions will hold their mingles together and host a food truck/yatai festival in the blocks surrounding Theater Square, in the Sutoku Alliance’s territory. This gets money into the hands of the local vendors, and allows the community to spend time together in relative peace. It’s still Jigokucho, there are punks prowling to start fights and steal wallets, like they always are, but it’s a breath of fresh air after everything that’s been happening lately. Just keep your wits about you and enjoy the food. Takoyaki is one of the most popular items and competition between the carts motivates chefs to make them flair and style!

Kushiten, yakitori, dango, croquettes, senbei, onigiri, yakisoba, taiyaki, you name it, it’s probably represented here in some form. There are even any number of your favorite treats from home, even if your home isn’t Earth. It might take a little poking around to find them, but isn’t that part of the delight of exploring a city’s food?

The falling Stardust has made its way into the food as well. You may notice that some vendors are grinding up the glowing stellar fragments and putting them into the food itself as a spice. Are… you supposed to eat that?! Oh well! When it’s time to party, you can’t go wrong with a little Stardust.

2. MUSIC GOT ME FEELIN SO FREE

In the center of Theater Square, surrounded on all sides by the many colorful food stalls, they’ve set up a stage for local artists to perform on. There are a great variety of acts who come and go to play a few songs. The music reaches all throughout the square and may be little more than background noise, until just the right tune catches your ear.

Jenny⁣ – This all-girls story of hidden love should be hitting all the ladies in the crowd a certain kind of way. Have you been admiring a friend or coworker and just never taken the plunge? Now’s the time for that kiss, the music is playing.
KONNANじゃないっ⁣⁣ – This sweet idol bop about striding bravely towards your best future fills you with inspiration and hope for the future. You may feel compelled to bring your hopes and dreams into every conversation. The future is bright!
Running Up That Hill⁣⁣ – As the singer performs some kind of interpretive dance, she sings about her frustrations with never truly being able to see from another person’s perspective. What would you do to show your true self? Maybe it’s time to iron out that ongoing misunderstanding you’ve been circling.
Love Warriors⁣⁣ – A simple act with a guitarist and singer, she sings a mellow piece about the true value of love. What a beautiful message. Your heart might begin to overflow with feelings of care and affection. Will you finally spill those all-important three words? I-love-you.
One More Time⁣⁣ – The last act of the evening is lively, colored lights flashing out across the square. They begin to play an impossibly catchy beat that no one can resist dancing too. Dance like no one is watching and enjoy the sweet catharsis of a good dance session. You’ll feel better for it tomorrow.

(Players are more than welcome to use their own song and effect. 💖)

3. BIRD BOMBS

At some point during the festivities, the Daitengu takes the stage. They’re in exceptionally high spirits. They give a shout-out to Toraguma and Tenkohime for helping to make this happen. As usual, The Enma is not present. However, the Daitengu forgoes any snide remarks, although they do seem a bit let down. Hope springs eternal, one supposes.

Next they would like to announce that they have even more reasons to celebrate: a truce has been declared between the Shuten and Tamamo clans. The war for the Underground is over (for now) and new construction has started on a new casino and adult entertainment complex in the once-contested territory. They hope that this will lead to an ongoing era of financial cooperation between the three factions.

They thank Sakamoto Ryouma for making all of this happen and give him a shoutout in the crowd. Word has spread all over the Alliance about their deeds, and what they managed to pull off; a blessing and a curse. It becomes obvious that not every tribe within the Sutoku Alliance was okay with putting the Alliance itself up as collateral to make this happen. The Kasasagi Tengu Tribe, in particular, has decided to let their protest be known by storming the party in a flood of aggressive magpies. They vulture the food, they pick at jewelry, they’re an absolute menace.

Good luck shooing them away. The vibes are counting on you to deal with these feathered buzzkills.

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, given both the Stardust and Turf War prompts are involved in all three, threads in the Mingle log count for TWO (2) points!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Nero looks like he might actually kill this bird over his fork. ]

Not this one! It's special!

[ Sometimes your magical artifact is a set of extremely fancy cutlery and you'll fight anybody and anything that might try to take it from you. ]

[ For a second, he wants to argue, but he sees the look the young man is giving the bird. ]

All right.

[ He crosses the short distance to grab onto the waist of the harassed man so that he could pull him back; it's like trying to pull the fork out of the bird's mouth but giving the win to Nero.

Or well, that's what he's trying to do -- Artemy didn't think this through as much as he should've. ]

[If his plan was to pull Nero, perhaps he should have informed Nero about this plan. His arms go around his waist, and he pulls- which means Nero is toppling to the ground after him.

Though he does, at least, still have his death grip on his fork, even as he lets out an undignified yelp.]

[ Ah, he should have said he was trying to help him pull the fork back -- but it seems like it worked out for the most part.

Well, in the sense that they were able to pull it out of the bird's mouth, only to have another magpie fly down to try to pull it out of their hands. But at least it is a new bird? ]

... I've punched more birds today than I think is all right, but it seems I might be punching some more.

[ Is really all he can say about the situation they find themselves in. ]

[He smacks the bird closest to him with a fist. Nero has no loyalty to the birds. The fork gets slipped into an inner pocket where no birds are ever going to touch it. Or at least, it'll take until he's dead before they get to steal it off of him.]

Didn't think this was how we were gonna spend the night.

[Smacks the next closest bird away.]

I honestly was hoping for more merriment.

[ Artemy can't help but agree with the young man as he swings his fist out to whiff just over a bird's head. It seems like that was enough to scare it to fly up. ]

Really... I understand this is an inconvenience to show displeasure with the Daitengu's decision, but they really should have thought of the birds' feelings on the matter.

Was there a time limit we didn't get told about?

[He sure didn't get the memo about that! He would've had a perfectly fine time if they'd just been able to eat and enjoy the night. But no. Instead they have birds flying at them.

Another one swoops down and when Nero throws some chopsticks at it, it just seems to dissolve into smoke.]

Are these even birds?!

Ah, no. [ But yes, someone who has just come to this place does not understand how chaotic Hell can truly be. ] Something is always happening in this place and it tends to ruin the peace that we're all attempting to have.

[ He can't help but laugh; it's a harsh sound, but he is amused about the idea of finding peace and community in a place for the so-called damned and miracles. ]

They look like it? So, let's call them birds.

[He knows what chaos looks like, but at least at home, the chaos is well contained. Nero got here, stood in line for hours to get any assignment, and then got shunted off to a party. It's all disorienting.]

Sure. Familiars. Birds.

[He smacks the nearest birds with another pair of chopsticks.]

Should we get outta the open?

[There's shops around, aren't there? He'll start heading towards the closest.]

Yes, we should.

[ It looks like the birds are going to be terror for quite awhile longer.

He holds his arms over his head and heads toward the nearest open shop to take refuge.

As he runs, he introduces himself: ]

Artemy Burakh.

Nero Turner.

[Nero books it into the shop and yanks the door closed.

Since they're already inside, he'll look around at what they've got to work with. There's just vases. Everywhere he looks there's more ceramic.]

Well.

[ It is what he says as he stands next to the window and looks out at the chaos that the birds are causing. ]

At least, I don't think anyone will end up dead.

[ His tone is sardonic, at best, as he attempts to make some joke at the situation that they find themselves in. He leans slightly to the side, talking out of the corner of his mouth: ]

We should attempt to buy something whilst here. Find a vase you like, and that shall be your memento for this strange meeting.

[Stares out into the chaos and hopes people are smart enough to abandon their carts and stalls.]

Seems unlikely.

[They might be in hell, but he's not really sure if they're actually dead or not.]

Dunno if I've got that much cash to burn.

I can handle it.

[ Artemy willingly offers. ]

The least I can do for almost losing your precious item.

If you're sure... I'll make ya some food later. How's that?

'm still in the starter apartments so I don't have a great kitchen to use.

Food is always good currency with me.

[ A small laugh. It sounds harsh to the ears. ]

I am, too. I was given the chance to move up, but... well, I don't like the idea of it. It's where I first decided to call home, and if anyone needs a healer without having to go to the clinic, at least it is right there, eh?

Figure it's good currency with most people.

[What an interesting guy.]

Yeah, definitely when it comes to doctors. Bet there's a lotta people who need your help, huh?

Only a few.

[ He's willing to admit that much.

Artemy looks quite the intimidating person and his hands always are stained with something. He doesn't look the most "hygienic" of doctors and so most would choose to be with someone who seems much more together. ]

I still practice the old ways of home, and that can be troubling to people.

[The very funny thing here is to Nero, that's kind of a handful of Northern wizards look. He doesn't know if he means "doctor" in the scientific research sense of healing or in the wizard way. However, with the context clues he has Nero is fully assuming Artemy is a wizard healer.

Especially when he says it's troubling to people.]

People are like that with the unknown.

[Nero also fails to offer up any information about his nature.]

That they are.

[ He gives a small nod; it seems like this one will be someone who will listen to the culture of the world, as well. It seems like most do not desire to fight against understanding where they are now.

That honestly makes him feel quite relieved. ]

But I don't fault them for their ignorance. [ He jokes: ] I am ignorant about many things myself.

[Very honestly:]

That's what it's like to be alive. No matter how long you live, there's always gonna be stuff you don't know about.

[Sometimes you're better for not knowing.]

You are quite wise.

[ It is said as a joke at first, but some honesty slips in: ]

There are perspectives and lives that we will never see. We will never know and never touch; our opinions of others will be colored by just one facet that we happened to see of them.

There is something sad about that, but also fair. [ A beat. ] We can only ever know what we know. We can only ever come to know what we want to know. And even then, it is only a small part and it will always be colored by what we've seen and lived before.

You'd drive yourself insane if you tried to see everybody's perspective and everybody's lives all at the same time. There's only so much life one person can live.

[Sometimes even trying to understand one other person is impossible, depending on who you both are.]

What's yours is yours.

A good philosophy.

[ But -- ]

I hope that doesn't mean that you won't ever try to see someone else's perspective.

It depends on the people.

[It's said with the feeling of somebody who has tried before. It hasn't worked out well for him.]

July 2022 IC Mingle

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