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

Barok van Zieks | Great Ace Attorney | Enma

[dehallow]

[ This is my toplevel for Closed Starters. If you want one, check out my plotting comment! ]

Cain

[dehallow]

[ Getting a meeting with van Zieks is not particularly hard. The youkai managing his calendar has it out for him (a feeling that is a little bit mutual) and gladly schedules far too tightly. Barok is getting the feeling that people are marching in and out of his office a dozen times a day lately. It could not be more different from the dignified position he'd held in London.

But such is his lot in Hell Town. Burying himself in work is a lot better than having to consider a lot of other more personal things that have come up in the last months.

Cain will find a small but tidy office when he arrives to meet his colleague from another department. The only thing notable is that the desk is pretty full of papers and documents. There is also a glass of wine next to the piles, though it doesn't seem to have been touched at all yet. ]

Mr. Knightley, if I am not mistaken? Are you here on behalf of your division to inquire about the warrants yet again?

[himbosupreme]

[Cain had never met the man before, and wasn't exactly sure what to expect. He was higher ranked, and seemed to be fear and respected equally among those he asked. Well, it was more the rumors he heard that the knight was interested in, anyway. If those were true, he'd finally find a bit of relief.

As he entered and heard the voice, Cain bowed, a hand on his chest. Hopefully he was facing in the right direction...]

Yes, that would be me. I'm afraid I'm not sure what you're talking about with the warrants-I requested to meet you for...a different reason.

[God, he was so bad at this formal small talk.]

[dehallow]

[ Hearing this, van Zieks feels just a tiny bit less exhausted at the prospect of having another damn appointment this afternoon. If it really isn't about the warrants he isn't signing or the speed of signing on the warrants he does give out... thank god. He was getting very very tired of repeating himself on that front.

But also, he has no idea what this might be about now. It's not like anybody has been talking about anything but the Stardust investigation all week now. ]

Ah - I see. It was my mistake to assume. Please take a seat and enlighten me on your cause then.

[ He's just going to move a pile of folders to the side so the desk space between them is a little more open. ]

[himbosupreme]

[Well, he didn't sound to be mad at the very least. The shifting of the papers and the seat did help him find a direction to look in, so Cain only hoped he was not staring next to the man's head.]

Sorry to bother you when you seem busy. It was actually a bit about that kind of thing-the word is you are refusing to use dubious methods in order to get people arrested and such. Is that true?

[dehallow]

[ So it's not only 'a bit' about that thing, it's about the very thing... But Cain makes it sound like he's not here to complain about it like everyone else had and that alone makes this the much more intriguing visit. ]

It is.

[ Van Zieks leans forward a little, mustering Cain with his piercing gaze. ]

Integrity has traditionally been lacking in the Department, but that is no reason to abandon my personal morals and follow the flow. Any paper that crosses this desk is going to be based on legitimate evidence or it won't leave this office at all.

[himbosupreme]

[Look, he's doing his best. And fortunately the piercing stare was not visible to Cain-not that it would've worked anyway. But Barok would see him visibly relax in relief at his statement.]

Oh, thank the heavens. I thought I was the only one here...

[But no, as much as he wanted to be friendly, he had a job to do.]

I actually spoke to Lord Enma recently, about something different but related. He told me that maintaining order is the highest priority, not whether people viewed us or him in a good light. But I still don't see how they are supposed to trust us, if we lie and cheat like everyone else!

[dehallow]

[ Spoke to the Enma...? That's not a privilege granted to just anyone. It gives Cain's presence a weight that his attitude alone would not have been able to. ]

As it turns out, most people are not particularly adept at intuiting when an institution has fallen to corruption. All the Enma would need to do in order to improve image would be to put more effort into lying and concealing. In a perverse way, I am glad he is not invested in doing so.

[ Working here already reminds him enough of the work conditions he's been under at home. Once a Reaper, always a Reaper. That's all he can think when confronted with the shinigami who frequent the building. ]

Keeping that in mind, I will take it one step further. I find myself committed to truth as the highest value even if exposing that truth might lead to the distrust of the public.

[himbosupreme]

[Well it was his promotion and probably the recent tower excursion that got the man to even listen to him, even if it went badly. Cain's still not sure if his reputation is irreparbly damaged, but he didn't have much choice other than to continue.

Still, he was considering Barok's words with a bit of confusion.]

But that's not how that's supposed to work...I mean, when I was with the knights, we always worked hard to ensure the trust of the people we protected. Lying to put up an image would just make that worse when they found out.

[He also was from a country where people were always fairly straightforward compared to others, so in some ways it really didn't make any sense. Though..he can see it being a possiblity.]

You're right that the Lord Enma doesn't seem that type of man, though. But if we continue to let other comrades of ours bend the rules whatever way they can to keep order, then it reflects on everyone. Same with his absence in public spaces.

[Though, he looked up again at where Barok's voice was at the speaking of truth. His commitment was genuine and Cain could only admire it, even if it seemed a bit harsh at times.]

And...I suppose you're right in not keeping secrets from people even if it hurts them, but sometimes it protects people. I just don't want this department to sink into some depraved version of justice.

Ryouma

[dehallow]

[ Clearly phonecalls just won't cut it. It's that thought and the fact that van Zieks is starting to feel like a caged animal between his files and reports, that make him head out to Sutoku territory himself.

He arrives at Ryouma's office in his signature black cape, looking like the vengeful ghost of the legal department. In their previous conversations Ryouma may have felt that he could hear van Zieks scowling through the phone - now he can actually see the sour expression for himself.. ]

Mr. Sakamoto. Pray forgive the intrusion into your doubtlessly busy day. I thought it was prudent for us to meet in person. I am getting the impression that remote conversation hinders us from reaching an understanding.

i'm sorry about him immediately

[kaientai]

[ oh boy. ryouma had a feeling his stalling tactics were having diminishing returns, — so he should have expected this — but... can anyone really expect a man in a cape? although with how he's wearing his jacket these days he's not allowed to make judgements. ]

Ah.

[ to encapsulate a considerable amount of exhaustion in one sound. ]

I know I have a charming face, but what do you suppose we'll accomplish like this?

he is wonderful

[dehallow]

[ Worse than just wearing the cape, van Zieks also uses it for a dramatic flourish as he pushes it over his shoulder. His time in court has taught him that a bit of an act helps the reputation, but also... he's just a naturally dramatic person. ]

An inescapable conversation environment.

[ No more hanging up under false-sounding pretenses! ]

Must I remind you that legal punishment of any black market observations is also in the interest of your very own faction? How is it then that you insist on muddying the waters through the illicit means applied by your own men?

[kaientai]

[ ryouma considers, seriously, if there is any possible reason that would justify vanishing into his spirit form and checking right out. inescapable conversation environment, indeed! ]

Right...

[ that might be a challenge if his willingness to dodge the worst parts of his job didn't totally just look like cowardice. which it is not, so, ryouma endures. ]

But really, 'illicit' is such a strong word, though, huh? When did it get t' be a crime t' ask some questions? I wanna get into the shipping business, y' know, so checkin' into what goes on is just doin' my due diligence.

[ if he has to endure, so will you, mr. lawyer man. ryouma will give him the same nebulous responses anyway; he doesn't shy away from his over-the-phone persona. ]

[dehallow]

[ Though this conversation is not starting off any better than the last two they've had, van Zieks takes some comfort in being able to glower at Ryouma while they repeat this same song and dance yet again. ]

What your people are doing goes beyond 'asking questions' - we've had multiple accounts of trespassing as well as a case of breaking and entering. A possible incident of fraud is being looked into as of now.

All of which I have informed you of prior, so I do not see why you still need to downplay the magnitude of your order to the Alliance.

[kaientai]

Hmm. Well, sure, that's whatcha said.

[ why would you say something so controversial yet so brave? ]

That's a lot to be lookin' into. Plenty of manpower, I'm sure; tax dollars at work an' all that. But do y' actually have anything solid there, though? A shred of evidence connectin' me to anything that allegedly took place?

[dehallow]

[ Van Zieks raises his eyebrows and crosses his arms. ]

Am I incorrect in assuming this entire investigation is taking place under your guidance? If you wish to disavow the actions of your fellow Alliance members, I can just place criminal charges on each of them individually, of course.

[kaientai]

Mm. That'd be pretty awful. But that'd be real convenient too, huh? Y' want me t' feel bad an' ask ya nicely not t' throw the book at my people, right? Well, I ain't changin' what I said.

First, ya ain't answered my question about actually havin' any evidence.

Second, well—... don'tcha just love how the law works? It's so complicated, they got all these li'l loopholes an' procedures for everything. I hope your people down there at the station are makin' sure every stroke is perfect.

[ this is arguably worse because he says this like they're having a normal conversation and even his smile seems perfectly sincere. it's not like he's making any threats or anything.

it would also not be ryouma's first time dragging someone into a legal bureaucratic hell scenario, although it would be his first time doing that in hell. ]

Musashi

[dehallow]

[ Van Zieks always looks out of place in Tamamo territory. He's like a dark shadow among the various neon signs offering pleasant entertainment, trying to neither see nor be seen.

But he can't refuse an invite from an important Tamamo official, so his dark-cloaked figure shows up at Musashi's office exactly at the right time. He's already argued with Sutoku, here comes Tamamo... He's half expecting to have a call from the Shuten by the end of the week. ]

You wished to see me, so here I am.

[ A dramatic flourish of his cloak, just because he is like that. ]

I assume it is to issue a complaint.

[ryototsukai]

[ He definitely looked out of place, but Musashi knew to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing. This was an important meeting, after all, one that the boss lady trusted her to handle well... Which, like, okay, she got that Tenkohime trusted her, but was she really the kind of person they wanted speaking to an ADA???

Either way, she gave a bow, keeping her smile bright. ]

Yes, I assume you are Van Zieks-san? My name is Miyamoto Musashi, I work in security for several of the businesses here. I'm told they've been getting served search warrants and it's sort of scaring away clients...

[dehallow]

[ Van Zieks does have the courtesy to give a bow in return, though he is gritting his teeth at hearing the '-san' attached to his name. It sounds too foreign. Almost half a year of living in Japan and yet some prejudices run deep... Ah well, it's diplomacy time now. ]

It is a pleasure to meet you. Your reports are correct, we have sent a number of warrants into the territory. Not all of them were from my office, but I have been making an attempt at handling the majority.

If you have questions about the legitimacy of individual warrants, my office can easily back up the claims.

[ryototsukai]

Not just the legitimacy, but the sheer amount. You're office is burying us in these things.

[ Musashi sighed, shaking her head. But before she got any further... ]

Can I offer to buy you a drink? Strictly professionally, I mean.

[ She didn't just want to unload on this guy, she could imagine the Enma was keeping him busy as hell, but still. ]

[dehallow]

[ Other people might see this as an attempt to buy his favor, but this is Barok 'drinks in court' van Zieks and while the possibility crosses his mind, he dismisses it with the knowledge that it wouldn't work on him anyway. And he would like a drink. ]

I will not decline that generous offer - but I can tell you up-front that if it were entirely up to my superiors, you would be receiving even more warrants.

[ryototsukai]

[ She signals to one of the girls to bring them said drinks. A glass of wine for Barok, a simple can of Asahi Dry for her. ]

So, while we're being upfront... [ She cracks the can opening, helping herself to a long sip. ]

How much of this is the Department trying to save face, after everything that's happened lately?

[dehallow]

[ Honestly, it is pleasing to him that he apparently has a Wine Vibe to him. It is exactly as should be. ]

That is very forward indeed.

[ He's the Enma's representative here, he can't just shit-talk his department... theoretically. So after a beat he continues: ]

One does get the impression that this is about asserting control. The Department of the Enma looms over all, keeping this city in line - a reputation that would ideally uphold itself without such drastic measures.

That said, not a single warrant that bears my signature is unjustified. I vouch for it.

[ryototsukai]

[ She helps herself to a long sip of her beer before continuing. ]

You're really confident in that. Which is important in your position, I understand. But some of these cops are hassling my workers for just doing regular business.

If some Stardust filters its way down to unaffiliated gangs, it's not exactly the responsibility of bottom rung part-timers to stop that, yet they're the ones getting harassed.

[ A sigh. ]

I'm sympathetic to the position you're in, but this flood is cutting into our ability to keep the gears turning.