jigokulogs | July 2022 Mini Event

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July 2022 Mini Event

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Tanabata is on the horizon, and the city seems to be recovering well from last month. But there's work to be done, and it's time to get to it...

1. SHUTEN CLAN - THE HOUSE ALWAYS WINS

With construction wrapping up, the new Shuten Clan casino will be opening soon. The casino has a number of new staff positions opening. It is a golden opportunity for anyone looking for a cash rich position. The money promised upon assignment to the underground casino is bound to be life-changing. Given the potentials in clientele, Toraguma is expecting the very best. Shutens are to report to the above ground Celestial Phoenix casino for their training.

They will be taught all the traditional casino fare, both Japanese and abroad. This includes being taught how to cheat at these games as well. For example:
Blackjack dealers will learn card count, and how to catch others doing the same.
Roulette attendants will learn both how and when to discreetly adjust the wheel.
Craps and Cee-lo dealers will learn how to feel for loaded dice and how to switch in the house's dice without notice.
Cee-lo dealers are also taught a specific way to line the dice tray to cause more lost throws.
Cho-Han dealers will learn how to distract players as they adjust the dice.
That's not all the Shutens will be learning. The clan needs skilled bouncers as well: people who can handle rowdy customers or haughty celestials. The more tenured Shutens will take up the roles of rude customers and challenge the trainees in how to handle them.

While not everyone will receive employment in the casino, they are all expected to participate in training. Shuten officers are expected to guide and oversee their juniors.

2. TAMAMO CLAN - CHARM SCHOOL

The Tamamo Clan also has preparations to make in anticipation of the underground's opening. The clan is opening their own brothel and cabaret, as well as providing food and drink services to the new Shuten casino.

All Tamamo Clan members must report for training at Mizukume. The lesson of the day is to use one's charisma to secure a huge payout. For example:
Hosts and hostesses will learn the art of schmoozing away clients' money.
Performers will learn more provocative means of soliciting large tips.
Oiran are taught the erotic arts; the perfect balance to both please a client, and how to leave them begging (and paying) for more. There's no technique Tenkohime finds too shameful. Money is power, and power is freedom.
Food service workers are provided master classes in mixology, plating, and how to serve high-profile clients without breaking a sweat.
Each role comes with its own set of pressures, but also the promise of great reward. Everyone is going to get rich, if everyone plays their part well.

Tenured Tamamo are asked to roleplay as clients for the benefit of those Lost Souls new to the work. While not everyone will be selected to work in the Underground, everyone is expected to train for it.

3. SUTOKU ALLIANCE - BLACK MARKETS AND BACK ALLEYS

After months of meetings, it's finally time for some real action. Sutoku Lieutenant Ryouma Sakamoto has made some pretty big commitments on the Alliance's behalf. His temerity comes from his earnest belief in the other Sutoku Lost Souls! No pressure, though!

To succeed, the Alliance must determine who is behind the current black market operation. Ryouma is relying on the Alliance's extensive information network and the hard work of the Lost Souls to make it happen.

This is the work that Ryouma mentioned when he welcomed the new arrivals recently.

This assignment is all about what you know. The Sutoku need to learn more about the competition, through any means necessary. The Alliance wants to know everything about what goods are moving around the city and who is moving it. Time to follow the money. You might even discover an unfulfilled niche in the market through your investigations.

The current influx of Stardust in the city is a great opportunity to investigate the existing dealers and supply lines. The Alliance is gathering Stardust just like everyone else, but it is becoming increasingly scarce as the factions vie for it. The value of this commodity is shooting up every day. Take some cash or other compelling bartering tools with you to grease the palms of a few shady dealers. Try to convince them to be more honest about their supply lines, beyond just the sparkly stuff. Stick the landing, and you might just be closing in on the heart of those shipping loopholes.

This is no easy undertaking. Creativity and tenacity will determine just how far you can go. Be careful not to be too obvious, the threat of unwanted attention will cause your sources to clam up.

4. DEPARTMENT OF THE ENMA - CRACK DOWNS

The Stardust's street presence has shifted naturally over the past few weeks: from an easy resource to simply scoop up in garbage bags overnight to a hot commodity. The street value of the material has increased considerably, and that means that the unaffiliated street gangs are greedy to get in on the action.

Enma officers are called upon to round up any black market dealers of Stardust and confiscate as much of their supply as they can find. This might just bring them into some direct conflict with the Sutoku Alliance members hoping to connect with market insiders. That's just how things boil out sometimes, though.

It is more important to the Department to get Stardust out of the hands of the black marketeers… and into their own lockers.

Officers are given permission to use any amount of force against individual actors, and members of the Law and Records Department are expected to draft up warrants (no matter how doctored) to obtain access to buildings they otherwise would never be allowed into; even Mizukume and the Arena. The Department's orders are clear: if it's not an approved market, shut it down.

This is in the name of maintaining Order, so get out there. Move at least in pairs, or you're likely to meet some serious resistance, and keep an eye out for the newbies.

5. ALL FACTIONS - LUNAR RABBIT RETURNS

It isn't just the factions, dealers, and petty gangs who are interested in the Stardust now that it's a premium item.

A familiar face has resurfaced: the mysterious gyokuto medicine woman and her army of white rabbits. While her little kin have managed to gather a healthy amount of Stardust for her "research", she still needs more. She is willing to pay a huge premium to those who retrieve more materials for her.

She understands that this will require you to either pilfer from one of the factions, or potentially someone even more dangerous. She will be providing samples of one of her drugs, which can grant temporary invisibility in moonlight. Use it for whatever hijinks you want, but she really would prefer if you brought her the goods in the end.

If invisibility doesn't cut if for you, she can provide another sample that provides 10 times your normal strength. While you can KO anyone who gets in your way, it wears off within 5 to 10 seconds. She is very clear that you should not take more than 3 doses of this, or you will very possibly die. Probably. Maybe? It will be unpleasant. So use it only when you need to.

The reward for getting her some Stardust, depending on the amount, can easily pay all a character's expenses for a month, if not longer. The temptation is great, but do you trust this strange rabbit woman?

Welcome to the mini event!

If you have any questions about event content, please ask them here!
Looking for a partner for your prompt? Post here!
FOR THE PURPOSES OF REWARDS, since all of these prompts tie into the main plot in some way, we will count all qualified threads in this post as 2 point threads!
If you have questions about the game itself, please check out the premise, FAQ, and rules pages.

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[ to be honest, the words she speaks only make complete sense to mort. he supposed everyone had their "weaknesses"— though, perhaps he would argue in her case they sounded more like desires than anything else. the more someone had something they desired in front of them, the more susceptible they were to forgoing everything else around them. he would consider it a rather simple equation.

still, he finds himself attracted to the words she says. his own life was relatively devoid of those who were free feeling. ] If I may, I'd like to say that I also prefer it that way. [ he looks into her eyes, as if trying to see some of that spark in them. ]

It is a beautiful way to live. [ it's a genuine compliment. mort rarely thought highly of others, and when he did... it was mostly in thirst for their abilities or in the single-minded thought of what excitement they could bring him. ... while he doesn't doubt that there's some inkling of that mixed in with his words, he also doesn't lie.

at that, he does move his hand from hers, if just to procure her drink. ]

Monika smiled somewhat sheepishly and nodded. Don't be nervous... It wasn't so bad right now she was just practicing. But that would be very different with actual clients. Well, she had to believe she could do it. For the sake of her contract. Becoming real... No longer being bound by the shackles of her limited simulated reality. That was the dream.

But... Maybe she could turn that initial apprehension and anxiety into an advantage.

"My apologies. I am still new to this, ahaha!" She replied as she would to a client who noticed her anxiety, with a bright smile. Who didn't feel sympathy for a newbie? And sometimes clients might even feel more confident knowing their host is someone who benefits from the learning experience. "But you can be assure your stay here won't be any less pleasant for it."

I dunno about meant to be... but I've also never put much thought to that kind of thing.

[ Determinism didn't jive with Musashi. ]

If you'd asked my dad, I was meant to be a good daughter, married off to another Fujiwara branch, honor a husband and home, have kids, that kind of thing.

At least, he would have preferred I learn the jitte over the sword.

[ But she also understood, on some level. Because any time she wound up in a new world, her first question was "what am I meant to be doing here?" but the answer was almost always "help Ritsuka, any way I can", and, well... ]

My Master isn't here... neither is yours... neither is any force you could use for guidance. So it's gonna be tough. But I think the first hump is getting over this idea that you're "meant" to be anything. We may be Heroic Spirits, but we still have free will.

[ The fact that his sincerity was so achingly apparent was what really sat with her. She'd heard such words before, but most of the time people still sort of wished she was a little more reserved, and even if it came from a well meaning place, it did wear on her after some time.

Affirmation was good... especially when it came from someone as cute as him. Ugh, despite the weird vibes she got off of him sometimes, Mort really had won her over... not that he'd have to try very hard, looking like he did. ]

Talk to your clients like that, you'll be a top earner in no time...

[ Kim absolutely gapes. He doesn't mean to, and he knows that he's doing it, but he's somehow lost control over all of his motor functions. He has seen incredible things, particularly in his time here: magical shields powerful enough to absorb bullets, people with the ability to read minds, creatures powerful enough to crush skulls in the palm of their hand, and this is nonetheless the most impressive thing he's ever seen.

He just wants to see it over, and over, and over again. For a moment he's as giddy as a child, sheer excitement taking over his body, and he only just manages to keep himself from asking to see it again. He could see it a hundred times without being content, just to see where all of the moving parts fit together. He stares up at him, raising his hand to cover his mouth.

It takes every molecule of will he has to comport himself as is befitting of a senior member of the Sutoku clan. ]

...I'm terribly sorry for staring, [ he manages. ] My name is Kim Kitsuragi, as you've put together, and I -- I was not expecting to see -- well. To be perfectly frank, I've never met anyone like you before. That was incredible!

[ It's probably rude to call someone else that by virtue of their composition alone - that much would likely get someone a talking-to about harassment, he thinks; it would be distasteful to call anyone's body incredible - but he couldn't quite help letting that slip. ]

Tenshi had a suspicion that the clients she was given would be the sort who appreciated someone who was a little nervous, rather than polished and precise. It might put a few at ease. At least, that's what she expected would happen. When she seemed to capitalize on that, Tenshi let a little roguish element form in her smirk and grinned back.

"We all have our first days. I used to be really nervous in my job in town too," she said, continuing to chat amicably as if she were a regular customer. "I trust you will do just fine. This place can be intimidating can't it?" Part of that was an act. She was always surrounded by youkai. It was hard to feel intimidated herself, but she knew a lot of people did.

[I haven't seen the bean-stroking hour long asmr video what am I missing out on what the fuck!!! that sounds amazing??

Admittedly, Mort's onto something; normally any sign of someone trying to pin him down or stop him from doing something would instantly raise Aster's hackles, but he's also been taken down a good many pegs just by having to play at being a host. ...That, and given that they're both just toying with each other for amusement and boundary-testing, it's hard for him not to swallow it as a challenge, instead of some thoughtless brute force attempt.

Which means that his smile, although sharper, rings a little more genuine.] Mm? So what you're really saying is...'Aster, Aster, you're so cute and I'm really enjoying your company, but you should fight just a little more before you're given the honour of the ultimate throne ♡'

Am I right? [Like he didn't just butt gently against Mort's hand like a cat, all sugar smoothing over any spice remaining in his expression. Like he

uh

isn't yanking his foot free, just to brace it on the back of Mort's chair

ok????]

..... no.

[ bold of bakugou to assume this is related to the mission and not the sorcerer's usual foolery. he could've lied and acted like this is a lead, but that's not in yuuji's nature.

the smile on his face is too innocent for this suggestion- ]

They have such scandalous form of entertainment! Aren't you curious to see what's going on there?

[Well it's not his fault his world is still stuck on monarchies deciding everything!!! But hmm. This thing with laws and back hand dealings was really more complicated than he could predict.]

I will admit, I've used some of my own money to pay back some of the people relinquishing their stardust. For most of them that is their main concern, even if they believe us on how dangerous it is. It's letting me stop some of the violence, but I don't really know any other way to convince them to hand it over peacefully.

They should not have invested into it in the first place.

[ All else aside, he just has to get that out here. ]

We can't buy it back at market value - that would essentially make the Department an active participant in the business. Customers who have bought some amount of Stardust would not be the only people profiting - we'd essentially be paying the dealers for their trade.

I understand your concern about ending violence, but we cannot lose sight of the big picture.

[ Van Zieks is silent for a moment, thinking this over. If this were London, he would think that the workers should just suck it up but... there are some scary youkai among the Enma's forces and the Lost Souls are also a mixed bag at best. He cannot in good conscience guarantee that no incidents will occur. ]

It seems I may have to volunteer some reliable officers to do overtime for the sake of maintaining good relations with your side.

[ Everyone in the Department who is on good terms with Barok should feel afraid. ]

I cannot guarantee that the flood of warrants will ease up, but I can personally vet the groups I send to conduct searches and make sure at least one direct contact of mine is there to take responsibility and ensure orderly conduct.

I guess this is as good a compromise as I can expect...

[ And she really REALLY didn't want to force anything else. She was terrible at being intimidating, and this guy didn't seem like it'd at all work on him, for that matter. ]

Still, if you guys aren't finding anything, what's the point of it?

[ "Aside from keeping up appearances", left unsaid but implied. ]

"Mhm!"

Always make the best of your situation, right? Weaknesses and flaws could be turned into strength sometimes, if you knew just how to do it. Not that she planned to remain nervous for all of her "career," however long it'd turn out to be. She was a perfectionist and hard-worker. It was just a matter of her practicing and getting enough experience.

"But I've always had a calling for helping people..." That was partly the truth, wasn't it? Though she wouldn't word it this way, nor admit it so openly normally. "So I hope my services will please you nonetheless."

With that said she "prepared" the tea. Well, there was no tea... But that was just practice. She had learned a few tricks for Yuri, they'd come in handy for the real thing.

[He's... not wrong, on either accounts. Owen goes looking for trouble far more often than he should, but there's more than one occasion where he's been killed for absolutely no reason at all. It's just the nature of things, when people know you'll just come back.]

They just like to throw their strength around. Nobody knows anything about moderation.

[Including himself? Obviously.]

I don't care about things that are just for show. I'm not a child, so why would I want to play pretend and get along with strangers?

[Tenkohime really made choices when she decided to get Owen's contract and drag him into Tamamo, because he's not keen on having to behave and get along with people. Still, maybe there's some hope he'll get to be Just Mort some day...]

If you want me to care about what you have to say, you'll have to actually show me something interesting.

"Uhhh, a bunch of the guys were telling me that there was a store that wouldn't sell to them and the owner was giving them a lot of lip. So they wanted to rough up the owner a bit, and I stepped in before anything happened. Turns out she only sells to people who know - and I mean know their drink."

He shrugs lets out an exasperated sigh.

"Most of the guys will drink about anything alcoholic so long as it's strong and there's a lot of it. Very quantity over quality, and she hates that." He holds up the sake box. "You noticed how her store isn't as big as the others? Just the way she likes it. She knows every spirit in her store and how it'll be before it's good, so if she says this is good as a gift - I believe her, no questions asked."

He hopes she does like him more than just a paying customer. Alcohol has, and always will be, his only vice and non-violent catharsis in this place and back home. Having a good source is a godsend.

"But enough about Fumiko-san. Let's mosey over to that bookstore and loosen that old tengu's beak."

[Well, he did have a point...but Cain unfortunately was invested in people who made mistakes. They should be given a chance to fix it-but no, Barok has given him more then to think about. First it had been all this deal with the politics and yakuza and how blatently violent these people could be and now...well, the Central kingdom had many issues but drugs was not one of them.]

Would it really look that bad? I mean I know the Lord Enma says image doesn't matter if the job gets done, but that's also not what I meant by it. Have I been making things worse?

[He seems genuinely upset by this, if his expression was any give away. He'd been trying really hard to do things his way, to built up trust and power and apparently-it was still all going to waste.]

This stardust...does it have more negative a reputation than I thought?

"Ah, so she's like that. No, that makes a certain amount of sense. More of a personality quirk than her nature, though I wouldn't be shocked if a snow maiden was a perfectionist just by nature. Like a snowflake." She shrugged to herself. "She probably would know exactly the kind of thing an oni would drink and actually pay attention to. It's different for them than for a normal person. They drink constantly. You have to have something really good for one to even notice."

She was already in motion while the two of them chatted, in no real hurry but glad to be at this. She wanted that stardust so she could get those potions... for reasons. No, she wasn't planning anything at all. "You're doing the talking with the old man, right? I remember that part."

Tenshi watched as she went through the motions, inspecting the last of the implements before handing them back and waiting idly. "A helpful personality has to be useful int his line of work." Particularly because she was doing the non-romantic variety of hosting. "And you seem quite willing to listen. I bet you've heard a few stories lately."

It was idle chit chat, but she was also pretty sure that Monika could probably pick up a fair few if she thought about it and kept up the 'good listener' part of this whole thing. Pity she wasn't in Sutoku. They'd lap thaat up.

[ When Kim's head swivels to face Kazuma, it's abundantly clear that he wants nothing more than to bite his head off. He had been expecting to deflect persons of interest and to make a speedy exit, but he hadn't been expecting to be interrupted by someone who by all rights has absolutely nothing to do with the information he's sought out. His eyes dart behind them, up towards the open window, waiting for someone to take notice -- but none comes. ]

Khm. [ Feathers ruffled but composure regained, Kim eyes Kazuma with some suspicion. He knows that Kim's up to something, clearly. ] Just dispensing of some trash, [ he says cooly, then tugs at his bright, gaudy uniform. ] I work at the local convenience store. And my location happens to produce an abundance of trash that needed to be disposed of elsewhere. And what business have you got here?

[ mr. mort...

titles and names aside, it's a peculiar sentiment to have his estimations echoed in tune. it isn't that mort doubts his own worth (because... quite frankly, it was difficult to when he considered himself far superior to those he's fought in the past), but from the idea that no one normally got within bounds of speaking with him so candidly. he supposed that's why these types of establishments were frequented by humans...

there's a small nod of consideration as he seems to ponder over his words. thankfully, it's shylock's well-timed instruction that keeps him to task.

it's clear he does his best to memorize. while any sort of combat kind of fell into place with him. the act of making a drink, while not difficult per say, was different enough that it causes him some pause. he's careful in his movements.

first, he takes the shaker as instructed. stares at it. second too long, before he adds in the rest of the ingredients. there's def. a lot of tequila that went into there, but listen... he the shakes it as instructed, before pouring it into the glass. he waits in what might be anticipation? ]

Is this "enough"? [ he probably should have asked before he put this monstrosity together, but listen. ]

[ it does seem like he had her approval...

admittedly, he's not sure if he could treat others the same way. even with his end objective in mind, he's not sure if he could truly feign interest in someone. he considered that initial want for someone as an almost sacred feeling. one he probably wouldn't want to soil with false pretenses... but, well, he supposed that was a thought and experiment for another time.

for now, he considers it a fruitful experience if just as he got a little closer to the sword saint that he had been coveting to some degree. with a smile, he returns with her drink. ]

May I take that to mean you'll visit me often?

[ i got u.

the majority of the challenges mort faces tended to be far more violent in nature. there was typically less talking and less metaphorical sizing up. it isn't that mort isn't capable of psychological warfare, but that he normally engaged in the physical breed. this is different, but at the same time familiar.

... and he doesn't exactly hate it. in that sense, mort feels the vampire beside him may share some of the same qualities as himself. it's clear he functioned in the manner as coming across as harmless and easygoing, but that it belied a more haughty or domineering nature. nevertheless, his expression remains unaffected, even as aster keeps their close proximity; it gives absolutely nothing to what was going on beneath the surface.

similarly, mort seems to be taking aster's words in stride. ]

Hah. Is that your impression of me? [ this time, mort does, however, place a hand on aster's head, if just to give a small pat, before a gentle push. ] It looks like I will have to further educate you.

[ whether he means this about himself or their fake lesson... well, who knew. it's clear that neither party is really learning, but the roleplaying is serving the purpose of them getting to know each other? this is how really really old people play i guess. ]

[oh my god they put a goddamn bow tie on that nut sack and made him fancy for this asmr date i am in love...thank you so much i'm forever in your debt!!!

That gentle little push instantly causes Aster's face to crumple with disappointment (of questionable authenticity), segueing into a pout. It's been 'established' that he likes praise and head-pats, after all, so it really shouldn't seem so strange for him to reach out and try to hold Mort's hand in place atop his hair.

Hopefully. It's perhaps pushing his luck, but no one wins by playing it safe all the time.] Mm...It's no fair that you know what I like, but I don't know what you like; we're not on even ground at all, Mister Dragon!

So maybe educating me is exactly what the doctor ordered ♡ Unless you mean that you're going to include discipline or something? That would be way too scary...

The same could be said about those who continue to seek death. [ he supposed as many lives as were sacrificed to nothing but his own desires to find someone worthy to call a rival, there were those who specifically came looking for death. he isn't sure if this 'owen' specifically gave off this vibe, but he does get the impression he didn't seem to think much of his death.

that said— he does find some semblance of humor in owen's words, which probably can be seen in the brief curve of his lips. mort would argue, however, that is was more than a human thing than it was a matter for children. ]

Oh? How would one show you that? [ his eyes seem to look over at owen's neck as if he were contemplating strangling him, but instead he just keeps his same easygoing expression. oops, it was probably because this is the most he's talked about death in a long time, he can't help but have the topic on his brain. ]

"Yeah, yeah." He replied rather unethusiastically, quitely formulating a plan and a conversation pace to get him to talk. He was silent all the way until they finally reached the doors of the bookstore with the old tengu inside.

Bishop took a deep breath, a quiet moment, then opened the door. "Good d-" "SHADDAP!! YOU'RE TOO LOUD!!!" Was the immediate response.

The old tengu was inside sweeping the store, more cantankerous than last time. "What do you want? Make it quick!" Bishop was stunned. "....U-Ummm, we have a gift for you sir. As thanks for...for last time." Even though it was a trade that they did, he's certain he doesn't remember.

"Eh? Well why didn't you say so? You young in's are always so loud and in a rush all the time. Come in, and close that door."

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July 2022 Mini Event

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so sorry for the long wait!!!

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