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.

Welcome to the IC mingle!

If you have any questions about the mingle content, please ask them here!
If you have questions about the game itself, please check out the premise, FAQ, and rules pages.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ The sudden shattering of the glass makes Junpei visibly jump. The guy leaving the table isn’t even noticed at first as he’s switching back and forth between the shards of glass and the phone in shock.

It’s only a beat later that one part of what Nanako said truly sinks in, and he turns his confusion to her face instead. ]

What makes you think I’m stronger than him? He was way bigger than me.

[ The whole ‘monkey’ thing is easily brushed off as a generic insult. The guy was kind of hulking like a gorilla, so it’s not that farfetched of a conclusion.

He stands there much too long just holding his meal before it dawns on him the table is free and he finally sits himself down in the seat that’s furthest from the bits of glass. Eating has suddenly become the furthest thing from his mind, however. Nanako definitely has him listening, even if he doesn’t quite understand what she’s trying to say. ]

[The look that Nanako gives him is one of utter disgust, though it isn't necessarily personal; she isn't disgusted by him so much as the idea that size matters in terms of strength. She's smaller than most foes she faces, and does that stop her? Absolutely not.]

So what?

[Unlike Junpei, she remains standing, as she still views this conversation as temporary. She does, however, step a little closer to the table so she doesn't have to yell over the commotion of the party to be heard. Instead of looking at Junpei as she speaks, she turns her attention back to her phone, idly perusing the network.]

He's powerless.

[This is an assumption on her part. A lack of cursed energy doesn't mean someone is without abilities; in a place like this, with people (and non-people) from all over, there's a lot of gray area. In Nanako's mind, however, a non-sorcerer is a monkey, no matter what they can do.]

We aren't.

[She looks away from her screen long enough to wave her phone back and forth, driving this point home.]

We?

[ His eyes follow her phone in confusion. Is it some kind of hi-tech weapon?

He can see curses, and summon his shikigami, but he’d only known Yuuji was a sorcerer because he’d been wearing the pin Mahito had told him to look out for. He doesn’t possess the ability to detect cursed energy in others, and so he has no clue how Nanako knows he’s not just a regular, powerless human. He’s met so many sorts of beings here already that her being a sorcerer doesn’t occur to him naturally. ]

I think you’re assuming I’m something I’m not. I mean, I kind of have an ability, but it’s not exactly powerful right now.

[ He closes his eyes to concentrate for a few seconds. Slowly, a tiny jellyfish comes into existence above his head. It swims through the air in little circles and loops, and try as he might Junpei can’t get it to grow any bigger. Just like when he’d tried to summon it shortly after arriving. ]

See? That’s it. Not exactly terrifying, is it?

Edited 2022-03-13 23:18 (UTC)

[That gets Nanako's full attention.]

It's so cute!

[In fact, Nanako is going to snap a couple of photos of it. A tiny jellyfish! An adorable technique, though he has a point about it being far from intimidating.

She kind of wants to pet it.]

Okay, you're right. That isn't scary at all. [She'll give him that much!] But my technique is weak too. That's why I broke the glass instead of that monkey's head. [They're in the same boat.] You just need to be creative.

[She watches the jellyfish swim around, noting its tentacles.]

Have you tried to make it sting someone?

[A sting would still hurt! Even if it wouldn't do much damage. Or...]

I bet you could've used it to slip something in that guy's drink.

[Poison, preferably! But they have to use what's readily available to them.

Regardless, just like Nanako and the many glasses she's broken thus far, he has options! He, too, can work around his limitations to bring down the monkey population, one tiny jellyfish sting at a time.]

[ Junpei isn’t too surprised by the reaction. Moon Dregs is cute. Especially when it’s so small and not attacking anything. It decides to observe Nanako curiously, doing a few loops around her before returning to Junpei. ]

I’m kind of worried it would get hurt. I don’t know if any sting or poison it could use would have any effect, and if someone decides to retaliate they could kill it easily then go after me.

[ He takes a sip of his drink, watching as the jellyfish dips in to check out his food. ]

I think I need to concentrate on getting stronger first. It’s better to lie low and go unnoticed for now. Stay off people’s radar. But ... I’m not going to tell you how to handle things.

March 2022 IC Mingle

no subject

sorry for the delay!

no subject

no subject

my tagging ability has been booty this week but SAW THE MOVIE