July 2022 Mini Event

[jigokumods]

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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.

Comments

Nero Turner | Mahoutsukai no Yakusoku | Tamamo

[perfectdistance]

I. TAMAMO | ROLEPLAY | HOST

[Nero does not look like he's ready for literally any of this. He's a chef, not somebody anybody from the front room should really see. Nero's a good enough chef that nobody should be sending any of their food back.

However it seems like somebody wanted him to be more well rounded than he is right now. You never know when they might end up short staffed. Better to know more than one position, Nero. Better go out there and learn something, Nero.

They want him to be formal and polite during this? It'd be so much faster if he could just steal their cash and run.]

What can I bring you?

[Is this even right? He feels like he's doing something wrong already. Everything was so casual at the restaurant he ran at home.

Please critique him or offer him some advice, despite his pleasant smile he's paddling in the deep end here.]

II. RABBIT | OTA

[Nero has seen the rabbit around, more than once even. That doesn't mean he's actually spoken to her at all. Despite all the different youkai walking around the streets he's somewhat unsettled by this lady who seems to be passing out drugs.

He might stop you in a street a block or two away from her.]

What's with the rabbit medicine?

III. WILDCARD

[Message me at Mira#5533 to set something up.]

1

[ryototsukai]

[ Yeah, it was rough, but that's what she was here for! Musashi sat herself up, raising a finger. ]

Okay, first thing, it is a very safe assumption that the client is always going to want a drink first, and you let the waiter handle that. Your job is the nudge them towards the pricier end of the menu. Sort of... flatter their wallet, if you will. Make it sound like you're impressed at their ability to spend money, yanno?

[perfectdistance]

[His expression is so clearly "I wish I was anywhere else at this moment", for a quick second. He'll slide to her side.]

It's so lovely to have you here. Not just anyone can get in.

[ryototsukai]

[ Musashi nodded, enthusiastically, giving Nero a thumbs up. ]

That's way closer to where you want to be!

[ But she didn't miss that earlier shift in his face, either, letting out a small sigh. ]

Look, I know this stuff can be embarrassing at first, but trust me, the boss lady definitely appreciates people who can butter others up.

[perfectdistance]

I haven't done anything like this before. If she was askin' for fancy looking food? No problem. Asking me to do this is just... a lot.

[ryototsukai]

Well, if it makes you feel any better, you'll probably only have to give a passing performance, and never have to worry about doing anything front-of-house ever again.

[perfectdistance]

How well do I have to do here to make sure I pass and never do this again?

[ Free him. ]

[ryototsukai]

I'm... not sure. I think I just have to vouch for you. Or one of the captains does.

[ Which were a lot harder to please than her. ]

[perfectdistance]

[...]

Alright. Any other tips for this?

I

[retroductions]

[He cannot say that he is suited to the role of mentor, or even really teacher -- his personality is not terribly attuned to it, his attentions easily pulled this way and that and not prone to remaining rooted in one spot. Still, hot off the heels of a rather unexpected promotion, there is the blasted obligation of responsibility hanging over his head. One he is expected to fulfill to some degree.

It could be worse, perhaps. At least the task at hand is an interesting one: teaching another how to pry apart the body language of a client, in order to wring out the most money from them.]

I want a glass of the best spirit this place has to offer, dear fellow!

[He sits in his seat, impeccably straight, chin tilted up in a haughty manner. This is, obviously, a part of the "roleplay". The absurdity of it seems to be accentuated by the fake moustache Sholmes had found somehow, somewhere, plastered just beneath his nose in a very comical manner.]

[perfectdistance]

[This makes Nero and Sholmes both ill equipped for the stations that have been set up for them. If Nero had it his way, he'd be in the back and far, far away from actually having to deal with any customer service at all. But somebody out there decided he was far too pretty to be wasted on a backroom.]

Of course. The very best for our esteemed customer. And for your meal? The seared steak is a true treasure.

[He'll send a waitress off to go get the most expensive and the highest alcohol content. The sooner the customer is drunk, the faster he can start robbing them.]

sorry for the delay!

[retroductions]

[Such is what happens when you have the looks to make the clan money. Or accidentally stumble into a promotion and are therefore required to aid in these very strange--yet somewhat practical, from a monetary standpoint--exercises.

But yes. That's the way to go about it; Sholmes appears pleased that he goes out of his way to suggest something on the more expensive end.]

The seared steak? Well, if it is your recommendation, dear fellow, then send off for it! I will give it a try if you think it is worth the money -- the money of which is just simply spilling out of my pockets!

no worries!

[perfectdistance]

Of course, it's our pleasure.

[He doesn't glance down to look at his pockets, but Nero does slide closer to Sholmes.]

Is there anything else we could do to sweeten your stay with us?

[While he's talking, he deftly steals his wallet.]

[retroductions]

[Oh, his brow raises -- this one has a deft hand, but under the scrutinizing gaze of a detective, one who also has a penchant for stealing (if needed), it is not quite enough to go unnoticed.

Cheekily:]

Perhaps you might like to give my personal possessions back?

[Smiling, a bit more helpfully.]

And allow me to show you a bit more subtle way of going about it.

[perfectdistance]

[He wasn't expecting a detective. Usually at places like these, the rich are so busy spending their cash they aren't aware when it's being stolen out from under them.

Nero fully drops the act of a professional host, and goes back to his usual slight drawl.]

Sharp eyed one, aren't ya. [The wallet gets returned, back onto the table. Nothing has been stolen out of it yet.]

[retroductions]

[He smiles, leaning forward to edge the wallet back to him. Sholmes does not bother to check if anything's gone missing or not.]

Of course. A terrible detective I would be, indeed, if I did not notice even the smallest of details. And, I daresay, I am particularly talented at the art of pickpocketing myself.

[perfectdistance]

[Nero took one large bill and pocketed it for himself. Just because he doesn't need it doesn't stop him from following through on his more criminal instincts.]

You're the first detective I've run into in our faction. The art of pickpocketing usually something a detective learns?

i.

[breweries]

Nero.

[ don't worry king, shylock is here at the most opportune moment. normally easties are capable of being formal, but he supposes that being ordered to do so in this faction is going to be a tall order for him, huh.

he chinhands at his fellow wizard, his smile nice and easy. ]

You're too stiff. Loosen your shoulders, then try again.

[perfectdistance]

[Formal is fine. Formal is simple and easy. The problem here is that they want him to flirt and butter up the customers. Look at him, he wants to be an npc so badly, but everything in his life is preventing him from that role.

This would be a hard ask for Shino too, for slightly different reasons.

He breathes in and goes for his second attempt.]

Wonderful to have you here. What can we bring you?

[breweries]

[ a nod. okay, that's better. ]

I would like today's special, please. And the chef himself, if he's available.

[ damn ]

[perfectdistance]

[At least the panic doesn't show on his face.]

The chef? I'm afraid he's rather busy in the kitchen, but if you'd like to stay until after his shift...?

[breweries]

[ nodnod!! so far, so good ]

I'd like that, thank you.

[ a pause, before covering his mouth with the back of his hand to signify that he's gonna talk out of script here: ]

I am serious about what food you'll be serving to me, by the way.

[perfectdistance]

[Raises his hand up to cover his own mouth.]

Am I supposed to be front and back of the house? That ain't bad when it's a cafe or somethin', but running back and forth here? [There's a reason there's supposed to be a dedicated front of house.]

[breweries]

[ still talking in hushed voices: ]

Well, you are the man of the house. Do you plan to run a restaurant on your own, or do you not?

[perfectdistance]

[whispering:]

This is way more than I'd do even back home. You good if I leave? Thought sticking around was part of the host gig.