jigokulogs | March 2022 Mini Event

March 2022 Mini Event

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The Night Parade is fast-approaching and each faction will be busy with their own preparations.

1. SHUTEN CLAN

The Celestial Phoenix Casino, a fairly popular casino in the Shuten territory, is overdue on its protection money. This money is sorely needed for parade preparations. Unfortunately, the casino has decided it doesn't need to pay up because they've hired some new unaffiliated muscle. Neither the manager nor their new muscle are the type to listen to reason, so be prepared to exert some intimidation and force to convince these new bodyguards to take their business elsewhere.

The brute squad working for the Celestial Phoenix seems to be made up of several different youkai. Some of them are more human looking than others, but you'll notice no Oni. Even independent Oni wouldn't dare turn against the Shuten Clan. Even lacking in Oni, these thugs are armed to the teeth, swinging several deadly weapons and even a few firearms. This could get rough, so be prepared for the worst. Take the gangsters protecting the Celestial Phoenix out or convince them it’s not worth it.

Once inside, you'll discover that the owner, in a panic, has locked himself inside the casino's value with the protection money owed. This might take some doing to get open...

2. SUTOKU ALLIANCE

The Kappa want to be left alone and the Daitengu has asked Sutoku Alliance members to assure their wishes are respected. Members are tasked with convincing people to stay away from the Kappa's riverside facilities by whatever means necessary. Of course, you may want to take a look for yourself to see what they’re being so secretive about. That’s not recommended, if you don’t want to get into trouble.

It’s not just strangers who are nosy, though. Retinues from both the Shuten and Tamamo clans are making an appearance and asking why the inspections are taking so long. Why are the Kappa dragging their feet? The Alliance prefers to avoid direct violence, so it's up to you to talk to these clan captains in a way that convinces them to leave the Kappa alone.

If you're curious enough to dive deeper into the Kappa's business, however, even your Alliance membership isn't going to keep you safe. The Kappa themselves seem to disappear from sight the further into the sewers you go, as if invisible. Preventing yourself from being spotted by a security camera or a patrolling Kappa is almost impossible. Cover your faces, stick to the shadows, and you might just notice that... they’re building something down there.

Something for the Parade? Who knows? But it’s definitely not decorations or a float...

3. DEPARTMENT OF THE ENMA

The parade route for the Night Parade needs to be "cleaned up". The Department is tasked with getting the low level street gangs and squatters to clear out. The homeless population will resist and may not be so easily persuaded to give up their spots. Your best bet is to offer them food, booze, or shelter for the night. The street gangs will assuredly fight back. Use your strength or your wits to get the job done.

The gangs will not typically be that tough, most don’t want to step up to the Department's goon squad too heavily lest they wind up in a cell for the rest of their lives. Still, some might be hopped up on encouraging substances and try to escalate. Don’t worry, though. You have the authority of the Enma on your side! Don’t think they will get away with waving a weapon in your face.

The homeless, though, lack strength or weapons. They are more fueled by desperation to keep their spots. Winter hasn't been kind to them, after all, and they don’t have much respect for the Enma's authority. Their belligerent behavior is loud, and often violent despite their absence of means to properly defend themselves. At worst, they’ll probably try to use biological warfare. Don’t ask what's in those bottles...

4. TAMAMO CLAN

Parade costumes need to be designed, crafted, modeled, and then likely mended knowing the rough and tumble yokai. The textile shops and tailors of the area need Tamamo Clan members to help them out. Costumes vary from extremely ornate to extremely sexy. These costumes need to merge form and function, for the Tamamo clan parade marchers that means they need to be able to sell their specific wares while wearing them. (wink wonk)

None of the costumes are floor ready and the shop bosses urge you that these cannot be seen by the public until they are ready. This won’t stop some peeping toms and tammies from trying to scope out the goods. Most of the voyeurs are spying for perverted reasons, but some are from shops outside of Tamamo’s influence trying to copy the designs for themselves. Either way, Tamamo Clan members aren't expected to be just pretty faces. So rough’em up.

5. TASTE TEST (ALL FACTIONS)

For those less interested in their faction's work, the restaurants in the Tamamo territory also need help finalizing their menu offerings for the Night Parade. Taste testers and creative cooks wanted! These aren’t just any dishes though and may have some interesting effects. One may be so spicy that everything burns, your face turns red, and you need to cool yourself off. Or maybe your dish is so good that you need to take a nap – it doesn't matter where you are, you'll just fall asleep right on the spot. Another possibility is a dish that gives you unstoppable energy – literally. It will make you want to get up and go and never stop moving. If you stop moving, it may cause a bigger problem.

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Hear, lemme help.

[ Musashi took up the kimono from LB, shifting herself behind the other woman again. First, she grabbed a simple, pale cotton najajuban to layer on first. ]

Since these are fine silk and difficult to clean, think of this like an undershirt! Just slip your arms through here...

[ Musashi reached to gently take on of the other woman's arms, guiding her through the sleeve holes. ]

Oh, thank you!

[Though the style of clothing was unfamiliar to her, LB does her best to commit what this woman was telling her to memory - from what she could tell, it might not be the first time she'd have to wear something like this in the Tamamo district.]

All right, sure...

[LB puts her hands through the holes in the outfit, lifting her arms once they're through to get a feel for the outfit.]

This is so soft... but I already feel like this might be the most fancy thing I'll ever wear, heheh!

Alright, and we just fold this right over left, and keep it fairly snug...

[ Musashi still kept herself behind LB, but put her arms around her to help guide and smoothe out the juban. Maybe this was a bit... too intimate? But Musashi didn't really stop to think about it. Dressing up was always going to be something that required some physical closeness, after all. ]

Now put on the actual kimono. Same way through the sleeves! I'll reach in and help get the juban sleeves through, too, so don't mind if my fingertips brush up under your arm.

[If anything, LB was still more vaguely worried about accidentally harming her than any feeling flustered over the intimacy. Even if this more or less confirmed for certain that she indeed could not harm anyone through her power in this method, so it was good for something besides learning how to put on an unfamiliar garment. Perhaps once she gets a better feel for the powers she rarely had to use before being out of her suit, it'd weigh more heavily on her mind, but for the time being, it was just an experiment to her.]

Oh, don't even worry about it, eheheh... [Perhaps it might come off as a nervous laugh - which it was - but probably for an entirely different reason than Musashi might expect. ] the touch is necessary to help, so really. I appreciate it.

[She maneuvers herself around where necessary to make it easier to put the clothing, sighing in relief as it really did seem as though Musashi was doing okay behind her. Still... she needed to be certain.]

Are you all right, back there? You're not feeling tired suddenly, or anything of the sort...?

[Yeah, it was probably a weird question to ask out of nowhere, but LB doesn't even think of it.]

Hmm?

[ An out of the ordinary question, sure. Was she moving lethargically and hadn't noticed? Talking too slowly? That didn't seem right... honestly, she felt fine. She cocked her head to the side, raising an eyebrow. ]

Nnnooo? At least I think I'm fine? Am I doing something weird?

[LB breathes out heavily in relief. Okay. At least she knew for certain that she wasn't harming the other woman. Maybe it was time to stop worrying about it so much?

But now LB had the awkward situation of trying to navigate out of the question.]

Oh! No, not at all, I swear. It's just, uh... eheh... it's been a long day and I want to make sure that you helping me like this wasn't a burden?

[ Nah, not at all! Musashi gave LB's shoulder a small pat, as if in punctuation. ]

Now, let's get this over and... okay left over right...

[ A bit more fidgeting, Musashi almost doing more touching than necessary, if only to emphasize she was completely fine, but also... maybe she was kind of helping herself to a bit of friendly intimacy too. What, it was fine for dressing up, wasn't it? ]

Now for the hard part, the obi. You've got a flat waist sash, and then the silk rope over that. It should be a complimentary color and pattern.

[Well, LB is at least glad that she seemingly takes her on the spot lie at face value and relaxes as Musashi goes onto explain the rest of the outfit. LB looks over her shoulder occasionally, making certain that the other woman was okay, but otherwise seemed okay with the whole touching thing.]

Wow, this is really complicated - ahaha - and there's some people that put this on every day?

But hmm... "complementary"? Is something similar to the fabric itself better? Or something that contrasts?

In the entertainment world, this kind of stuff is important. [ Musashi hummed as she grabbed a sash that looked like it fit the ensemble. It was a contrasting color, with a crossing grid pattern in different shades of blue. ]

The presentation is basically everything. It sets the whole mood, creates the dream-like atmosphere that clients seek out oiran for in the first place.

I figured as much. The job I had before coming here - eheheh - didn't deal in this kind of business at all. So I'm doing my best to learn all of this.

[In all fairness, being a mercenary really didn't suit her much at all. It was... really nice being able to learn about the skills that were actually far more fascinating to her.]

At the very least, though, I know the importance of presentation. I was pretty good at disguises, back in the day, you know. This is a little more fun though, I think.

[Even if a lot of that was due to the aid of high tech camouflage. But y'know.]

Was this kind of thing your chief profession before?

Wandering swordsman!

[ Which she realized... wasn't actually a job, but she couldn't really give any other answer. ]

I go from place to place, perfecting my swordsmanship. It's... less profession and more way of life, I guess.

[LB looks a little surprised, both at her response of a job and that the answer she was given actually wasn't that far off from her old profession. Okay, so perhaps it was less militaristic and actually more badass than what she used to do, but still.]

That's... really cool, actually! Heehee! I saw a lot of wars, in my old world, but hardly anyone actually used anything like a sword.

Japan was at relative peace, in my time. [ A very young, very fragile peace. ]

So anyone looking to practice the sword was doing so for self-betterment reasons, to find enlightenment through the blade. That was mostly what it was for me. I didn't really have any aims for power or glory, just... getting better, becoming stronger, than I was before. Competing against myself, yanno?

That's good. Being in the middle of one war is already miserable enough, haha.

[Hell, she had to cope for years by deluding herself into thinking she was a beast of some sort to be able to cope with it. That, and the nanomachines really helped with that too.

LB smiles, though. She couldn't really relate too much about bettering oneself as a fighter, but could at least admire those who did anyway.]

I wish I could have bettered myself in the brief time that I knew peace - eheh - but I suppose I had no way of knowing what was in store.

[She's glad she has her back turned, as LB can feel her own expression turning more somber. But ah. That would invite far too many unwanted questions, best to steer the subject back to Musashi.]

But you must be very strong indeed if you've been improving yourself so much - I doubt anyone would give you much trouble at all, hmm?

Eh, I don't like to brag. Honestly, I've met so many people in my journey that are way stronger than me. It's exciting, that way, you know?

[ And with one last tug... ]

There we go! The obi should be secure in place. Let's just... tug at the neckline a bit to make sure your neck and shoulders are showing...

[ She knew what the Tamamo liked, after all. That classic oiran look. ]

And... alright! Let's get you in front of a mirror, eh?

It'd make me more nervous to have so many that were stronger than me - haha - but then I suppose that might be part of what makes you so effective at your job if you're able to grow from learning from those who would oppose you.

[LB tightens her waist as Musashi does the last adjustments to the kimono, not even minding as she tugged back the material to show off more skin.

She sighs once the other woman steps away, and walks over to the closest full-length mirror. She looks a little surprised once she gets the full view of the new attire - not in that she looked good, she knew she could make anything look good - just that she never imagined wearing something like this in a million years.]

It was a complicated process, but... this really looks quite nice, doesn't it? [She gives the mirror a discerning look, before eventually reaching to try to pull the front down a little in an attempt to show off even the slightest hint of her cleavage. However, she finds it too difficult to do with the garment in question. Oh well. She was just simply used to showing off her curves.] Not sure if I could pull this off every day, though.

They're not really meant for daily wear, anyways. [ Musashi hummed, fussing the fabric a bit here and there to make sure LB was the picture of elegance... at least as far as Musashi could create, anyways. ]

It's a special occasion, right? May as well live it up!

Right... I can see why, ahah! But also, this is a lot more than the typical party dress, or anything else I was familiar with as special occasion wear.

[LB watches carefully as Musashi applies the finishing touches, trying to mentally note what might need special attention if she were expected to do this alone the next time. Lifting an arm, she gently sways it around and is briefly fascinated by the movement of the fabric.]

I'm still glad I can see myself like this in something like this at least once. [Hell, there was a time when she wasn't even certain if she'd ever wear normal clothes again. To step into something like this just would have been a surreal thought back on her original planet.] You must think I'm silly, but um... thank you for helping me with this.

Hey, of course it isn't silly... [ Musashi giggled brightly, giving LB's shoulders a firm pat. ]

It's a whole new experience for you, right? I can tell... Isn't it better to lean into that? To really live something new?

You can tell that easily, huh? [Her lips curl in a half amused smirk as she glances back.] They really didn't give people time to do this, when I was a military contractor.

[And in her case, it was zero time at all. She really did appreciate actually having the time to relax and try new things like this, but also it was a process trying to get used it.]

But you're right, I suppose. Heheh... if nothing else, it's actually quite nice to learn something new besides things relating to war.

[Finally, LB turns around fully, her face lighting up with an idea.]

We should do something like this again - try on new types of clothes, if we get the chance to. And - eheheh - hopefully I can be the one to help out a little the next time?

A dress up buddy, huh? [ Musashi giggled, brightly, rubbing the back of her head as some color poured into her cheeks. ]

I'd really like that! Though I'm also super broke right now, so it's not like I can do any clothes shopping...

But stuff like this is fine, right? I'm sure the textile shops are always looking for models!

[LB pretty much mirrors her on accident as she's rubbing the back of her neck at her response.]

Oh, I'm broke too - eheheh - so it'll be a little while. But yeah - even just doing this is pretty fun, so I suppose we could just run into each other doing more jobs like this, huh?

It's a date!

[ Well, a friend date, at any rate... She wasn't going to push her luck with someone who was that much of a fish out of water. ]

The name's Musashi, by the way! Miyamoto Musashi. [ Said with a bright smile and firm nod. ]

Ah, I'm so glad! [For some reason, her wording doesn't even fluster her - as far as LB was concerned at the moment, it was a friend date! For her, it felt nice enough just knowing that there were at least a couple people out there that enjoyed her company enough to indulge her further.]

Right, we never did introduce ourselves, did we? Eheheh... [For what it's worth, LB has close to zero knowledge of Japanese history, so the name didn't even raise any eyebrows. She smiles back, continuing.] Just call me "LB" - it was fun working with you, Musashi!

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March 2022 Mini Event

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