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

[no_kyouken]

[ He smiles a little more overtly, still looking down at his hands tiredly, though. He does appreciate the gesture of solidarity, that's what makes him attached to Dante a lot of the time. Someone who understands without needing to ask a lot of questions or expectations.

The question he does ask is easy enough to answer though, ]

Couple more promotions, that's what ya get to. Unless ya get stuck as captain under somebody, but there ain't any Lost Souls in my way.

[demonrebel]

[He rests his cheek within his hand as he regards Majima from the corner of his blue eyes. Maybe it's the detective in him but Dante can read Majima like a book sometimes. The man's tired, burned out even. While Majima hasn't told him everything about his time in the yakuza, he can just tell that Majima is tired of the bullshit. However, leaving the yakuza is never an option unless you want to be sleeping with the fishes.]

That's right but you do have one big blue bastard in the way.

[He's lovingly referring to Toraguma, of course.]

Think you can get past the blue boy even with your snake-buddy helping?

[no_kyouken]

In a million years.

[ Majima replies with amusement, looking up with that answer. His smirk is sideways, bemused. ]

Toraguma ain't so bad, worked under worse.

[ Citation: the missing eye and torture, the experiment to brainwash him into a soulless murderer. ]

Rather have him on my side, anyway. Yeah? Don't wanna have all that responsibility anyway, ya can see how much he hates it. It's a pain. Lot more freedom on the next rung down.

[demonrebel]

[A thoughtful hum escapes Dante as he glances over towards the eyepatch. He figured that was the story behind that nasty wound but he never bothered to ask. It just felt like too invasive of a question, you know? Besides, Dante is aware that Majima is quite sensitive about his appearance.]

I guess the blue guy isn't but I don't like answering to a supervisor.

[He mutters before letting out a loud yawn. While Majima is tired mentally, Dante is tired physically. Not from doing anything in particular either. Dante is just a lazy cuss most of the time.]

Yeah, I can sorta tell but you can't convenience me Tiger-boy doesn't like the power.

[no_kyouken]

[ Majima just wants to answer to someone who isn't a complete fucking monster. Someone who supports the same values that he does. Toraguma has a lot more heart than Shimano ever did. ]

Even if he don't, he's gotta act like it. How else's is he gonna make folks think th'life is worth it?

[ A simple truth, a peak behind the curtain of how the yakuza life perpetuates itself. ]

[demonrebel]

Fair enough.

[A sigh escapes Dante as he leans back against the chair. Judging from his slouching posture and blasé expression, Dante is a little tired of the yakuza life. While he might have a penchant for trouble, he values his "peace and quiets" more with a couple of shots of tequila.]

I can't imagine being in his shoes but even so, he needs to get over the fox babe.

[Toraguma's whole personal war with Tenkohime strikes him as a little deeper than it seems but he refuses to think about it.]

In any case, I welcome any advice you might have for an old newcomer like me.

[Dante says with a little grin pulling at the corner of his lips.]

You're my "aniki", right?

[no_kyouken]

[ Majima watches him, still half-smiling. He doesn't know what is going on with Toraguma and the fox, but he knows the boss respects her more than he lets on. ]

Ya ain't gonna like my advice, yanno.

[ Tip number 1: Do what you're told. He exhales a mouthful of smoke off to the side. ]

[demonrebel]

Probably not but I would like to hear it.

[A crooked grin lingers upon Dante's lips as he regards Majima. You know, Majima is real easy on the eyes even when he's not being Goromi. Maybe it's just his natural charm or something. Or maybe Dante is just a tad bit smitten with him.

It could be both.]

Let me guess what the first tip is. [He strokes his chin thoughtfully as he lets out a hum.] Mind my business?

[Dante blurts out with an eyebrow arch.]

Nah, too easy! The first tip is probably "do as you're told, big shot."

[no_kyouken]

[ The feeling is mutual. He's been having a bad time, and already talking to Dante is the most relaxing thing he's done in weeks. ]

That's th'one. Guess ya better hope I get my own family, so ya can slack off on my time instead've Toraguma's.

[ A wider smile, fangy. ]

[demonrebel]

Ooh?

[He bats his eyes seductively as he leans over towards Majima. Yes, those little fangs are rather cute but Dante is really interested in those sexy lips.]

Already planning on giving me special privileges?

[As if he doesn't already have such privileges. Dante is grinning from ear to ear now, clearly amused with this serpentine man.]

I guess I gotta start sucking up now.

[no_kyouken]

Ya still gotta earn your keep. A family wracks up a lot've expenses.

[ He can flirt and stay on assignment at the same time. He lets Dante get pretty close to him before the smoke fills the space between them. ]

Got anythin' yer good at?

[ Heh. ]

[demonrebel]

[Despite his dislike of nicotine, the smell doesn't bother him. He breathes in the smoke with a deep inhale before puffing it back at Majima's face. He's a demon, remember? A fire demon, at that. Dante likes fire and right now, Majima has the right kind of heat.]

Well, I heard I'm really good with my hands.

[He teases as he purposely brushes his gloved hand down Majima's chest.]

But that would require a bit more privacy.

[He winks at him.]

[no_kyouken]

[ The gold chain in the hollow of his shirt glints, lightly disturbed by the passage of his hand. Majima just smirks behind his cigarette. ]

If ya want my strictly confidential advice...

[ Oh yes. Very serious yakuza secrets. ]

Ya should invite me over an' show me.

[demonrebel]

Strictly confidential, hm?

[He knows damn well they're not talking about yakuza anymore. Not with the way he's giving Majima those bedroom eyes. It's rather difficult for Dante to stay focused on the topic when Majima is sitting over there looking like a snack. That's why he's half-tempted to pounce on him right now.]

In that case, I ought to invite you home with me again.

[That's definitely an invite, Majima. Dante doesn't just invite any old body into his humble abode.]