jigokulogs | September 2022 Mingle!

September 2022 Mingle!

MAIN NAVIGATION

The influx of fresh Lost Souls means the factions need to have a little welcoming party for them. So some recreational activities are in order. All Lost Souls will receive a message from their respective faction leaders with orders to go have some fun.

Shuten - WEENIES ON PARADE

Shuten Clan newbies will be summoned to the Arena, which has been set up with a very different kind of fight than usual. The members of the Shuten Clan do nothing by half-measures. Partying, drinking, and eating are all encouraged to excess. This time they're inviting new recruits to test their mettle in various eating contests. You'll need nerves of steel and a stomach of iron to succeed. Hot dogs, marshmallows, pizza, lobster rolls, breakfast cereals, rice, and more are all on offer.

See how much you can eat and try not to get sick! Competitive eating is a messy, disgusting affair, regardless of the emergency buckets stationed strategically throughout the building.

If you're feeling especially ballsy, you can take on the biggest onis and other youkai by teaming up with your fellow Shutens. They're all confident enough to take that bet.

Glory, prize money, and antacids to the winners. Shame to the losers – they'll be run through town in weenie costumes.

Better eat up 🙂

Tamamo - ALL NIGHT LONG

The newest Tamamo recruits are summoned to a local gymnasium. Strangely, rather than sports equipment laid out on the court, there are a number of light futons, blankets, and pillows. Everyone will be sorted into one of two yukata patterns – one purple and one blue – and sent to their respective sides of the court to lie down in bed and pull up the covers.

It is then that the referee will explain the rules of competitive pillow fighting. When the whistle blows, jump up and grab one of the authorized pillows at the center of the court. It's a game much like dodgeball, but the goal is to hit the opposing team's king with a pillow from your half of the court. Team members use blankets and sometimes their bodies to protect their king.

There will be a few rounds, and you can rotate who is king at your discretion. Protect them with your life! Or whatever. Star players will receive a bonus and a coupon to one of the best Tamamo spas.

When the competitive stuff is done, the sleepover proper will begin. There will be liquor, sodas, and light snacks for everyone while movies are projected onto a screen late into the morning. The movies range from classic dramas and romances to outrageous yokai comedies.

Sutoku - GROSSERY GANG

The Alliance has found themselves in the possession of an entire truckload's worth of reject children's toys. Ever the opportunist, the Daitengu has assigned the project of inventorying and trashing the particularly offensive ones to the new guys.

Of course, you're expected to play with a few of them as well. Maybe one of them is decently fun, and they could sell the rest, you know? Many of these toys are gross out bathroom humor in nature, and spit water randomly at anyone who loses their round. The Daitengu has thoughtfully provided a selection of alcohol to make this game a little more adult friendly. Toys that lack the appropriate spitting mechanism can still be played over shots, really, go nuts.

While you 'work', there will be plenty of motivating music piped into the warehouse. The sound quality is not great, but they tried?

Everyone who sorts through a decent amount of toys will get a little extra pay, although who is really paying that much attention to who's doing what here?

Credit where it's due: We turned kids toys into drinking games

Enma - BREAKING THE ICE

Welcome to the Department of the Enma. New Lost Soul recruits will be summoned to a large conference room in Kaigo no Bou, which has been outfitted with a variety of buffet table offerings and tables which seat between 5 - 6 people comfortably. You are invited to fill your plates at your discretion, the craft services people are used to feeding bottomless yokai stomachs and the food will not run out.

Clipboards with a variety of icebreaker questions have been provided at each table. The pens have assuredly been firmly affixed to the clipboard. Please return them together.

Every 30 minutes Captain Shiki will blow her whistle to signal that you are to migrate to another table with fresh companions. You are, indeed, being forced to get to know your coworkers, lucky you. This isn't tedious at all.

Pick a few of the questions below to answer, and get chatting. Or Captain Shiki may come over to stare at you with intense disapproval. You can't get away with just zoning out to that sweet smooth jazz playing overhead!

1. If you had a time machine that would work only once, what point in the future or in history would you visit? 2. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go? 3. If your house was burning down, what three objects would you try and save? 4. If you could talk to any one person now dead or alive, who would it be and why? 5. If you HAD to give up one of your senses (hearing, seeing, feeling, smelling, tasting) which would it be and why? 6. If you were an animal, what would you be and why? 7. Do you have a pet? If not, what sort of pet would you like? 8. Name a gift you will never forget? 9. Name one thing you really like about yourself. 10. What's your favorite thing to do in the summer? 11. Who's your favorite cartoon character, and why? 12. Does your name have a special meaning and/or were you named after someone special? 13. What is the hardest thing you have ever done? 14. If you are at a friend's or relative's house for dinner and you find a dead insect in your salad, what would you do? 15. What was the best thing that happened to you this past week? 16. If you had this week over again, what would you do differently? 17. What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about 'God'? 18. What's the weirdest thing you've ever eaten? 19. If you could change one problem in the world today, what would you like to change? 20. What book, movie or video have you seen/read recently you would recommend? Why?

All Factions - THE GIFT OF SONG

Did you all enjoy having some of your wishes granted? Well, so did a flock of those annoying magpie! They asked for the gift of music. These feathered nuisances, however, have fallen in love with an old school metal band. That is all they will be singing for the foreseeable future! Different members of the flock have taken up different instrumentals and vocals for the track, spread out across electrical wires and rooftops, singing their favorite rockin' tune to the skies!

Lost Souls have been asked to please catch them and get them to knock it off, they are truly annoying everyone, across all factions.

Should you catch these musical magpies, and not one of the other clans, they will tell you their sorry tale! They love this band, but the group broke up years ago. All the magpie want is for their favorite old dudes to be reunited to jam with them, one more time!

The old dudes are out there in the city, but who knows why they broke up and if they can even be convinced out of retirement. Good luck, if you succeed your boss will give you a favorable bonus, which would be a great boon to a newbie just getting settled.

In the meantime:

Shabadabadia
Shabadabadia
Babababa
Babababa
Babababa

Welcome to the IC mingle!

If you have any questions about the mingle content, please ask them here! We're trying something a little different to help reduce comment clutter a bit, so that link actually goes back to a header on the Substory post.
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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[levi holds the crates steady just long enough for the person to get down, then straightens up to full height and notices, like most people, that this person still has a few inches on them.]

Hey, don't worry about it. I just didn't want you to get hurt. These magpies are... a real problem, and we have enough of those to deal with. [they're a little curious, though, of one particular thing.]

I'm surprised you haven't had them flocking to you. They love shiny things, and your armor is definitely the shiniest thing around here. [a pause, and a playful sort of look.] Unless you're preparing for battle with them?

I don’t know that I’d call them a problem, per se. Maybe a little difficult to handle.

[Annoying. She means annoying, but Kisara is just a little too nice to start in with that. Perhaps to her credit.

When Levi makes mention of her armour, she looks it over fondly. Although she’s come to this new situation, this new circumstance, she has continued to keep it in good condition. That someone else takes notice of that is a high compliment. She prides herself on her equipment upkeep.]

I didn’t even think about that, actually. Back home, all the bird-like zeugles didn’t seem anymore interested in me than they were anyone else. Maybe in spite of how my armour looks, they find me a little imposing.

[zeugles, huh? they roll that word over, trying to figure out how to spell it in their head, but pick up pretty quickly that it means monster, at least.]

Yeah, I think you could pull off imposing if you wanted to. [maybe that impression is a little different based on circumstances, but they're still willing to give this person a fair shake.] So can I ask what the armor is usually for? It's very... classical. [rustic. antique. old-fashioned.] The kind of thing that you'd hear about in fantasy stories. What do you usually do at home?

Edited 2022-09-16 14:38 (UTC)

[The magpies likely have that in common with some back in Dahna. Kisara doesn’t think she’s very imposing in the slightest, but looks can be deceiving, even when one is greeted by a smile that she’s not particularly afraid of giving.

Levi’s assessment of not just her armour, but of her person befuddles her for just a moment. She’s been called many things, but ‘classical’ is not one of them. When she realises to what they refer, however, she issues a quiet laugh.]

I’m the captain of the guard.

[Was, anyway. It’s still weird to hear herself say it, because she’s not sure when she goes back if she’ll hold that role. And if she doesn’t… what will she do in place of it?]

Someone else here called me ‘knightly,’ I think, though I wouldn’t say it like that. I protected a lord. My people. I’m just a really good guard.

Ah, that does make sense. [they smile and nod, thinking that it certainly does track for someone dedicated to guarding a lord to be dressed in armor. even if they're working on terms for "lord" and "armor" that are a couple centuries in the future.]

So you'd be with the department of the Enma here, then? A public servant, helping keep the peace? It's a little like a modern-day knight—but if you're not comfortable with it, I can just call you a guard. Or your name. [the smile turns to a grin as they get through those words, stumbling through it all like someone who didn't know where the sentence would end where they got there.]

Mine is Leviathan, by the way. Levi, if you'd like.

That’s right, though to my understanding, the clans we’re put into are not determined by who or what we were where we come from. I’m familiar with an Enma member who was actually a student and doesn’t seem to have any background or history with law enforcement. I would consider the clan I was put into to be coincidental.

[Or intentional based on some other merits. Perhaps they know more about her than she’d like for them to. It’s certainly something to consider. She’ll have to discuss it with Alphen or someone she feels she can trust at a later point in time.]

Name works. [She confirms for them with a dip of her head. Folding an arm across her chest, as old habits certainly die hard, she continues.] My name is Kisara. It’s nice to meet you, Leviathan. Or Levi. Whichever you may prefer.

Oh, by all means, call me Levi. Most people around here do... I know that my name is a lot for some people.

[they did it to themself, literally, so they'd be a little bit of a jerk to deny people the right for a nickname.]

Is that so? Well, first off, Kisara, it's nice to meet you. Second, I'm a little surprised to hear that—I'm part of the Sutoku Alliance. [and they tap the pin they have affixed to their shirt.] But I assumed that our assignments here would have to be based on our professions. I worked for an organization responsible for raising meta-humans, so I knew a fair amount of information about them... I always guessed that was the reason I'm in the information-gathering faction.

[they tap their chin.] ...Or maybe the department of the Enma is in more disarray than we once thought.

[She considers for just a moment admitting that she doesn't know much about Sutoku, including whatever they may be doing on their side of things, but Levi is kind enough to answer that without her even prying for it. She tries to think of whoever else she knows of Enma and there are some who seem as though they fit into the association a bit like a glove, but then there are others who... don't.]

I couldn't say. I don't know very much about what's going on, if I'm honest. [And there is no shame in confessing to that, she finds. Everyone has to start out somewhere, after all. It wouldn't be feasible for her to have all of the pieces in place just yet.] Some of the members of Enma that I've met do seem to fit in, but there are just as many others who wouldn't. It's much of the reason I've thought my own assignment was coincidental and just happened to work out.

[Although... according to some, like Kim, Kisara's background in combat may not necessarily be particularly useful.]

Ah, I see... well, as much as I did spend my first couple weeks here making fun of the Enma himself, [which they say with a little bit of shame tinting the tips of their ears] I think it's probably more likely that the process is a lot more inscrutable than any of us are allowed to know. Probably on purpose. Everyone has a different reason for surrounding themselves with certain people, after all.

All that is to say that it's definitely not a failing on your part if you don't know what's going on. [they smile as politely as they can.] I barely knew what was happening until Ringo-chan got kidnapped last month. Other than that, it was just... bird attacks and stumbling around trying to find something to busy myself with.

You're probably right.

[And by 'probably,' Kisara's almost absolutely positive they are. There appear to be more than a few things in this world that are deliberately left in something of a questionable state. Whilst it sparks the desire for curiosity and intrigue, she also understands given her status as new, she must tread carefully. She doesn't yet know who she can and can't trust in this world aside from Alphen.

Everyone else she must simply take at face value and consider that there may be something more beneath it all.]

I'm going to guess that this kind of feeling is a commonality for the people who recently show up. I don't doubt in time I'll have a better grasp of the situation as a whole, but for now, doesn't seem anyone's expecting too much out of me.

[It wouldn't be feasible to, after all. No one picks everything up immediately.]

Well, you're arriving in exciting times if you're waiting for someone to expect something of you.

[they say it like a joke, and they even smile about it, but when they continue it's clear that they really, really aren't joking about this. at the risk of overexplaining a situation, they go right into it.]

There was a high-profile kidnapping recently. The daughter of a financial magnate who provides not a small amount of financial backing to the Sutoku Alliance. She was taken from him very publicly, and—well, if you know about the bounty that's been issued, that's what all that is about. [right. it's public knowledge, they realize, that there's some chaos happening among the independent bounty hunters.]

We haven't received formal orders from any of our leaders yet, but we're all waiting on the day that those orders come. It won't be too long, I don't think.

[Truthfully, she hasn’t made any expectations. Except that she can come out of this with something that will benefit the Dahnan people. It sounds very simple in concept, but there’s almost nothing simple about it.

She’s hearing familiar information that she heard from Eula, but it’s good to hear it from another mouth. How others perceive the situation may be different and it’s important to get a grasp on that. There are already some very differing opinions about how things are run right down to how clans act. It is, in fact, a lot of information to take in at once and makes it very difficult to form her own opinion.]

I heard about all of that. I know there are some people treating it like some kind of money-grabbing bounty hunt. I know others are taking it a little more seriously and expressing concern over missing people out in the Wastelands.

[Kisara’s weight shifts and she folds her arms across her chest.]

I’m more concerned about the girl, myself. What she wants. And the story of how this came to be where it’s at, which everyone else is theorising on. The only person who has the answer to that is her, but it seems to me that very few others care about that. Only what they can get out of the situation.

Mm. [see, now that's something interesting. and it won't hurt anything or anyone for levi to give a little more information, especially to someone who does seem legitimately interested in ringo-chan's wellbeing.]

She's not quite the only one who knows the answers. You can learn a lot over drinks with a person. [they don't mean to sound so mysterious as they say it, but it does help the whole image. they rock their weight to their back foot.] Ringo-chan can't stand her father. He tried to force her to inherit his position, and she refused. She left to live her own life on her own terms because she couldn't abide by the way a financial superpower like Kaberou dealt with the world around him.

[there's the question of what ringo-chan wants, but to leviathan, it's easy.]

She just wants to live her own life. One that she can be proud of. Don't we all?

I heard about her issues with her father.

[In fact, it’s that relationship issue that made Kisara immediately consider that this ‘abduction’ wasn’t an abduction at all. But again, the only person who would really know the answer to that is Ringo-chan. And so called abductor. Anyone else weighing in is just theorising. Just like she is with her thought process, but the logic there makes it an extremely strong possibility.]

I’m of the opinion that she went willingly. I don’t think this is a bounty hunt at all. I think it’s taking a girl and putting her in a position she doesn’t want to be in against her will when she should be offered asylum. It’s my intention to see if I can get the Enma to offer her sanctuary. It wouldn’t please her father, but I’m not interested in condemning an innocent life either.

Granting her sanctuary?

[now that's a solution that leviathan hadn't considered. a much safer one than the alternatives they had thought up, as well.]

I'm no fan of the idea of returning her to her father, either. Do you really think that's something that Captain Shiki would be willing to grant? [they pause.] Well, the Enma himself, I suppose. It's not as though she makes every decision on his behalf. [and they think, quietly, of a different question that they may need to ask at some point about the safety of ringo-chan in that situation. they have distinct and very strong feelings about whether all cops are legitimate children, but they do not speak those feelings aloud.]

Do you think you would be listened to if you made that request?

Based on what I’ve learned about the department…

[She doesn’t look certain. Tipping her head to the side for a moment, as if she even needs to give it consideration, she ultimately ends up shaking her head.]

Probably not. There was one other member of the Enma who heard what I had to say and she agreed with me, but I’m finding that I’m carrying some fairly unpopular opinions. That said, even if it’s a fool’s errand, the attempt has to be made. If I can locate her, if that somehow comes to pass, then it’s my intention to get her sanctuary somewhere, even if I’m just taking her back to my place. Even a temporary solution is better than just giving up.

[Kisara doesn’t have a full plan on this. She’s just not familiar enough with all of the variables. What she really wants to do is talk with her personally. One-on-one. No pressure. Just two women who both probably need sanctuary in their own way.]

[leviathan doesn't exactly have a full plan on this either. but they feel, right now, that kisara has the right idea. and that perhaps kisara can be trusted more than most might. they're still thinking.]

You'd be surprised the things that seem like common sense that are just completely unpopular. Especially when a hundred billion yen gets involved. [they speak with a slight bitterness to their tone, but that can't be much of a surprise.] I and the Sutoku Alliance are planning an expedition into the wastelands at some point soon, once we can find where she's located. I would be glad to share that information with you, if you think that you can offer her sanctuary.

[they aren't an officer yet, so they can't promise anything, and they're not sure they'll be able to promise anything afterwards either. but this seems like the right time to be striking deals.]

She may trust me if I say that we're arranging something safe for her, away from her father.

Exactly. It's the price applied to the situation. A lot of people are desperate for it and as someone who's never had much money, I get it. I do. But this is still a person's life we're talking about and it seems like many people are just making assumptions or acting on impulses without thinking about what the repercussions for those actions might be.

[...It's probably real easy to pretend one's personal fate is more important than anyone else's life one might be ruining in the process. It feels like this world is just people stepping on top of other people as everyone clamours for the top. It's cut-throat and brutal. No better than the Renans using the Dahnans as their stepping stones to greatness.]

I was thinking about going into the Wastelands myself. I can try to offer her sanctuary. I'd like to. I have a couple of people here that I trust and I think would be willing to help support this. If you come out with any knowledge that you feel you can share with me, I'd appreciate it, but I also understand if you're apprehensive to do so. I know with my name attached to the Enma, it's plenty of reason for others to give me a wide berth.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

September 2022 Mingle!

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