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

Come now, how can we be sure that they'll be safe if no one is overseeing them? As an upstanding memory of the Tamamo clan, I'm sure they can be entrusted to you.

[And the knowledge that some people are... ordering this? On purpose...? He still isn't sure he trusts it very much, but at least no one can say he didn't try. Getting himself some damn tea is the new goal now, to make this party just a little more bearable.]

Correct. Although, proper preparation is a little more complicated than.... Have you perhaps never come across matcha in its powdered form? [Matoba blinks his eye a little wider, seeming genuinely surprised to meet someone who doesn't know of the intimate details of the noble tea ceremony.]

[Not to fear, for Matoba refolds his arms in his haori sleeves as he settles in for what seems to be an explanation.]

Properly made matcha is something of an art. The correct balance of powder, the correct form in the whisking.... If you overwhisk then the froth is excessive, but if you under-whisk it, powder remains unblended. It's really quite delicate.

While I'm honored that you have such an esteemed view of me already, I am only one person in a nightclub that is full of lost souls coming from other factions all over. Though I will be passing on the message to my fellow bartenders as soon as possible so as to avoid overuse of our special ingredient.

[ see? problem solved! kind of.

now, back to matcha, where he shakes his head at his other question. he's from an entirely different world, and there are only a few things he knows about japan thanks to the sages that they'd summoned into their world. there are just some things that he has no idea about despite his age -- which is why he's looking more intrigued than ever at matoba's spiel. ]

An art, you say. Were I to get my hands on that powder, I would be sure to create--

[ ...actually, hang on. his brain just hatched an idea. ]

Excuse me for a moment.

[ let him just swooce right out of here for a sec and check at the back??? this may be a bar, but surely they might have other ingredients here, such as...

a-ha. ]

Here we go. [ that sure is a bag of matcha in shylock's hands as soon as he returned to the bar. yes, he's serious about this. ] What else do we need?

[For the moment, Matoba seems satisfied enough by Shylock's beleaguered barely-acceptance of his stupid complaint to let it go in favor of the rather self-serving task of teaching the bartender to prepare a proper cup of tea.]

Yes, that's right. Where I come from, matcha is not only a popular drink and ingredient, but its proper preparation is considered something of a sacred ceremony, one which can be used to appease the gods. It's quite popular as a hobby in my circles, thanks to that.

[What 'circles' he means, Shylock can probably hazard a guess by now- Matoba waits as the other man goes in search of that vital ingredient, and when he returns, his eye rests on the bag with an appraising curiosity. Surely ayakashi, whose tastes normally tended as archaic as his own, would have matcha of decent quality?]

Water, of course. It must be boiled to a very precise temperature range. [Does a place like this even have a proper kettle? Not to mention... Matoba frowns to himself as he realizes the real snag in the plan.] Ah, but the most vital component, besides the quality of the powder, is in the whisk. A small, bamboo one... This establishment may be a little modern to stock something like that.

[The Tamamo's quarter of town likely had proper tea houses, with proper tools. Tsk! Perhaps he would have to pay a visit sometime to give this man a real lesson.]

[ alas, he couldn't see a whisk like that at the back. or maybe there is, but he just missed it? either way, this simply isn't the right time to make one. ]

I do know a teahouse or two. If I were to reserve a room under my name, will you teach me? I assume that they are not the usual tea parties that I have accustomed myself with over the years.

[ tea ceremonies... that's right, akira would've mentioned something like that before, in one of their idle chatter. shylock has always wondered what the difference was, so maybe...? ]

Consider this as compensation for ridding our precious liquor. You are lucky they are flowing tonight.

Edited 2022-03-10 14:03 (UTC)

Aah, I do seem to recall passing by at least one teahouse in Tamamo territory on my previous visit. It's unfortunate, but I can't trust one of the ayakashi there to prepare for me, so I wouldn't mind sharing a bit of knowledge... In exchange for service.

[He wasn't exactly the most artistic person, but spellcasting was something like an art. In fact, a lot of his skills required at least the kind of careful attention to detail and disciplined learning-by-repetition that ceremony, too, called upon. In archery and in tea, the power was in the focus.]

[Matoba can't help a chuckle at Shylock's affirmation.] Compensation, is it? You're getting quite a deal out of me already. I should think I am the one to be owed a favor.... But teaching a man to fish, as they say, is an investment.

[ there's that word again -- ayakashi. perhaps this man is also familiar with a certain someone in the tamamo clan who also uses the same etymology? hell is a small world, after all, and natori also didn't want to drink anything during their gathering earlier...

well, that's topic for next time, seeing as they'll be meeting once more. it has been an odd sequence of events, but certainly not an unwelcome one. ]

Glad we are on the same page. [ his smile has become more genuine here, with a touch of relief. whew! ] In that case, I shall make arrangements and contact you on a later date once it's settled, Mr...

[Oops, they always out themselves eventually. That'll have to be Natori's problem, since this guy will be making him look bad the town all over.]

Matoba, [He finishes, inclining his head politely. His own smile has lost some of the blatant mischief, but remains unreadable all the same. He's serious about the investment part. He hopes it will pay off.] And to whom do I owe the pleasure? My usual forms of contact are unfortunately a little impossible at the moment, but I seem to have been given some sort of telephone device. I suppose you may contact me that way.

[If it isn't like, underwater when Shylock sends his message.]

Shylock Bennett. And I do share your sentiments regarding my usual contacts. In fact, I'd rather not use these "smartphones" if I could help it.

[ but alas, he couldn't. he can admit that these phones are very convenient, but anything about modern tech just skeeves him the heck out. something something about the destruction of the environment and ecosystem back home. ]

But I shall find a way regardless. Thank you for your time, Mr. Matoba, and may you have a nice night.

March 2022 IC Mingle

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