jigokulogs | March 2022 IC Mingle

1. WELCOMING COMMITTEE

cw: optional aphro in Tamamo Clan prompt

The influx of Lost Souls means the factions need to have a little welcoming party of sorts. The leaders of each faction each send a message to their new recruits, telling them to meet at their respective headquarters.

The Shuten Clan directs their new recruits to the Arena. There’s plenty of food and booze to go along with the exhibition matches from the toughest fighters they’ve got. Enjoy the view or get involved in an arena fight, if you’re feeling spicy. If bloodsport isn’t your cup of tea, there’s a number of gambling games to partake in, too – don’t worry, your money isn’t at stake here, unless you want it to be.

The Tamamo Clan recruits are sent to the brothel Mizukume. Hosts of all sorts are there to fill your every need. If you’re not one to be doted on, there’s also exotic dancers in every state of undress for you to look at. You may be tasked with being a host or a dancer yourself. If you’re not in the mood for that, there’s plenty of food from Tamamo-controlled restaurants to eat and seemingly endless drinks. The drinks may or may not have a little something extra in them, so check the labels carefully.

The Sutoku Alliance meets at the nightclub Konoha. It’s truly a celebration with an enormous amount of fast food from every joint in their district and an equal amount of cheap drinks. Sing your heart out with live band karaoke – don’t worry about them not knowing your song, they seem to have a depth of knowledge beyond this world. Once that settles down, there’s plenty of dancing to do or you can be a wallflower, whatever suits your mood.

The Department of the Enma meets at a meeting room on the top floor of Kaigo no Bou. The room is uncomfortably opulent and wouldn’t be out of place in a Heian imperial court. Fine silk tapestries cover the walls, richly lacquered wood is inlaid with gold, and it all feels like it was decorated by someone with more money than taste. There’s fine food and even finer drink available. Various multi-armed youkai play in a jazz band, playing their instruments in a much more complicated manner than strictly necessary. Stretch your legs and dance. Take a peek out the window for a bird’s eye view of the city. If the interior is too stuffy for you, escape to the roof for some fresh air – just be careful not to fall off.

2. PARTY TIME

CW: optional aphro

After everyone’s had their fill of food, drink, and entertainment: the party isn’t over. They’re told to make their way to Konoha with the instruction to show their faction’s pride. That’s a careful way to tell them to raise hell. Upon arrival, all recruits are provided with an advance on their pay by The Enma. Food is provided by the Shuten Clan, a variety of all sorts of meaty foods. Drinks are provided by the Tamamo Clan, but be wary because some may have that special Tamamo kick to them (read: aphro). It’s technically a neutral meeting place, but there’s almost certain to be a fight sooner or later. Entertain yourself, meet the other factions, and raise some Hell.

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ EMPATHY - You know the look on this man's face. You've worn it yourself, coming down from a long and horrible night. ]

Rough night? [ Less a question than a statement. Harry grabs a cigarette pack out of his back pocket and pulls out a stick for himself. ] Mind if I join you?

[ Yakuza to the core, Majima has a lighter out and offered the flame in an instant. They haze you into that when you're new, slapping your head roughly every time you're not paying enough attention. He lingers behind his own cigarette, leaned into the wall. Apparently he doesn't mind, or is too worn out to object. ]

Yeah, sorry for th'noise.

[ Majima speaks with the Kansai accent, it's considered the more country drawl; informal unlike the clipped clarity of the Tokyo accent. That Majima's accent is affected and imperfect is probably not noticeable to anyone but other Japanese. ]

...M'Majima.

[ They're all stuck in this together, probably time to get some introductions done. ]

Harry. [ He shoots an appreciative smile for the light, turning the stick between his fingers. ] And don't worry about it. Coming to Hell is... an experience, for all of us.

[ He has, to his own surprise, adjusted well to the experience. Learning he wasn't actually dead has helped out. Tenuous attachment to his home is a whole other can of worms. He takes his drag in, short and sweet, then blows it out smooth. ]

Gotta say, I watched you in the arena last night. You had some sick moves out there. Felt sorry for the poor bastards you were up against.

[ An exhale, almost laughter but not quite. His tail -- pale scales in the pale light -- shifts back and forth on the floor. ]

Been yakuza my whole life, ya pick up a few things.

[ Or you die; futile and unfulfilled. It happens all the time. It's not a career with a long life expectancy for the vast majority. He hesitates a minute longer, ]

Been in th'yokai towns a while too. Hakagemachi's th'last one. All warped an' fucked up, not whole like this place.

[ INLAND EMPIRE - He is burdened by the weight of his life even in death. Perhaps that is why he is so haggard.
ENCYCLOPEDIA - You don't actually know what a yakuza is. ]

What *is* a yakuza?

[ He doesn't know a lot of things, the yokai thing especially is still settling in, but that seems to be the most important thing. A closely held identity to this man. ]

[ He doesn't mean to laugh, but the question hits him as an absurdity when he's neck deep back into his old life. But, hey, maybe Harry will forgive him if it gives Majima a moment of levity. ]

Hah... ah.

[ He knows whatever he says gets translated, but he says the next word with some extra clarity to emphasize what it is: ]

Bōryokudan. Violence groups. Mainland's got th'Triads, Italy's got th'Mafia. Japan's got th'Yakuza. Gangsters.

[ To anyone in this particular town Majima is peak yakuza. His gold necklace, tattoos, suit, and swagger give him away in a heartbeat. When he was expelled from his clan, he couldn't convince anyone he was a civilian to save his life, even when he was one. Three guesses how he lost his eye. ]

Whole town's just like home.

[ The twist of his mouth suggests that's not entirely a good thing. ]

[ LOGIC - You don't know half of those words (Italy and Japan are countries, you figure) but you get the idea.
ESPRIT DE CORPS - They are his people and he carries them here, to a place that's like home and isn't. It isn't a comfort. ]

You don't sound pleased with that. [ Was he hoping to escape it? Or is being reminded of home more painful when he's not there? ] So are you a criminal, back where you're from?

[ His mouth twists slightly. In Osaka, he had been obliged to declare himself a civilian at all times because he was trapped at the heart of enemy territory; Omi Alliance territory. He is--was--Tojo Clan, based out of Tokyo. He hasn't seen Tokyo in years. ]

Somethin' like that.

[ One of many unwanted impoverished youth who had nowhere but the yakuza to go. Does it make him a criminal if society never wanted him? Fine then, he will be. ]

Had been runnin' a cabaret club for a while, pretty legit.

[ Also not a pleasure. ]

[ ENCYCLOPEDIA - You don't have an *exact* idea of what they are, but you did pass by some establishments advertising themselves as one. They also advertised spending time with attractive women as part of the experience. ]

Really? That sounds like fun. Sexy fun. [ Yet it doesn't sound like he had *that* much fun with it. ] What's the difference between legit and not though?

It's a real pain in th'ass. [ Majima corrects lazily. ] Girls are always fightin' or wheedlin' about somethin'.

[ But there's a vaguely fond smile on his face. Majima liked looking after the good ones, helping them grow their confidence and do their jobs well. Teaching them makeup and how to match their dresses. He knows a lot more about it than he probably looks like. ]

Legit, though... Got receipts for everythin'. All the booze comin' from th'right place, all th'workers got their papers, not scammin' the customers with fake bills. That kinda thing.

Was a drag not bein' able t'hit the real shitty customers though.

[ And there's a sharper smile. There are definitely benefits to living the yakuza life and it's definitely punching people when they deserve it. ]

March 2022 IC Mingle

shuten housing

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