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

[ryototsukai]

[ That smile... she couldn't help but flush a bit at the sight of it. It was the first time since she'd met the guy she felt like she was seeing something less routing, less practiced from him. Maybe it was less "regal" and more just... someone who genuinely hadn't had much of a social life before? She couldn't tell for sure, but she also wasn't there to judge.

It was just... nice. That smile. ]

Much better! [ She clapped her hands together, nodding vigorously. ]

And now you should try an opening line. Maybe get them to order a drink?

[mortelix]

[ mort considers that perhaps if he truly had a mentor in his life, he would have heard that phrase more often. being praised like this was definitely different, and yet he doesn't consider it so bad.

he can tell it is a statement that is well-intentioned, and beyond that, she seems genuine in her desire to assist him. also another foreign feeling, but he decides not to place too much stock into it. especially, when she...

asks for a opening line. opening line... he seems to mull over this before: ] My name is Mortelix, but you... You can call me Mort. [ his poor greeting aside— he reaches over musashi here and gently opens the drink menu in front of her. ]

What type of drinks do you tend to favor? Perhaps, I could help you decide.

[ryototsukai]

[ Musashi enthusiastically nodded. He was taking to the lessons a lot better than she thought he would! The guy still had a certain strangeness to him, but now it was blending into an allure of mystique, rather than something off-putting. It made him seem sexier, which was exactly what a host should go for. Always go for sexy.

She took the menu, humming. ]

I'm in the mood for something fruity...

[mortelix]

[ fruity...

this would truly be the bane of his existence. prior to his arrival here, he would consider himself a far cry from an expert in the field of mixology. while he's tasted fine wines and sakes, he wouldn't state he was accustomed to the sheer variety this place had to offer. all these alcohols had different names and labels— colors and flavors. it was difficult to get a grasp over, especially as mort wasn't one who necessarily dwelled on these things, if just because he's never really had to put thought to it.

there's a noticeable pause as his eyes skim over the menu, before he continues: ] For something sweet and easy to drink, I would recommend the Cassis and Raspberry Soda. If you prefer more refreshing flavors, the Sake Grape... [ tf, there's something after grape? ] fruit Cocktail is quite popular. [ he feels like he's speaking a foreign language even as the words exit his own mouth rather smoothly minus the hiccup.

to be honest, grapefruit may have not even existed in dragon valley, especially not during his time. so he can't fathom what it tastes like, but he hopes maybe they work for her? or that he may be able to distract her with a small touch to the back of her hand? ]

[ryototsukai]

The Sake Grapefruit cocktail sounds tasty, so let's do that!

[ He was smooth, certainly, but those hesitations were hard to miss. But she didn't admonish him for it, knowing it was his first time with the menu. ]

Don't worry about slipping on the names. You'll have time to get more familiar with the menu later. That's just something learned with experience. Excellent save on the brush of my hand, though. Most any girl would soon at that.

[ She did, too. A little. ]

[mortelix]

[ perhaps, he should be grateful that there was some success to his suggestion. his memorization of the next couple of lines seems in vain all things considered, but he supposes even that was an accumulation of some knowledge.

as before, while her encouragement is... different, he isn't opposed to receiving it. especially, when he considers it as an act of her goodwill, and perhaps another part her duty? while this normally would prompt his more inquisitive nature, he does practice some caution to her prior advice. it wouldn't do to ruin the activity and come across as intimidating or invasive, after all. (does this count as improvement?)

instead— ] It's all thanks to your tutelage. [ but, he also doesn't retract his hand either. though, it could be that he may be analyzing her hands... don't call him out. ]

Most girls, but it's pointless if it doesn't work on the Sword Saint. Isn't that right? [ since she was his current "customer"? ]

[ryototsukai]

Oh, w-well... [ Musashi let out a nervous laugh, rubbing the back of her head as more color streaked over her cheeks. ]

The truth is, I'm an easy mark, to that end. Cute guys and beautiful women can charm me easily. Some might say it's a weakness, but it's more I just let myself live life a little more freely. Maybe that's not very Buddha-like, but I like to think it is, in its own way.

So, the Sword Saint's heart is pretty exposed, in that sense... But I prefer it that way.

[mortelix]

[ 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. ]

[ryototsukai]

[ 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...

[mortelix]

[ 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?

[ryototsukai]

I'll definitely make it a point to try to be a regular for you~

[ Said with a wink as she took her drink. And sure, between her work, her training, her various paramours, and other obligations and indulgences, that was a crowded schedule. But Musashi never had a lack of energy for new and interesting experiences.

And odd as this man was... "new" and "interesting" were understatements. ]

Though I wouldn't mind seeing you outside of work, too, of course.

[mortelix]

I'm flattered. I'd say this training was a success, then.

[ admittedly, he isn't sure how well-suited this job is to him. but, he supposed it was a large step into comprehending more of this world, and apparently, it was also a bridge to becoming closer to his grander objectives. it'd be a lie to state that she didn't swiftly become one of them.

which only makes her words even more aptly timed. ]

I am yours whenever you desire it.