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

[one ear twitches-- "ayakashi" is another word for "youkai", then? good to know.

and good to know that nehan is being mistaken for one, even without mentioning that he is one. it helps more with the lie that he's one.]

None taken. I would have drugged you as well, given the chance, just to see what sorts of drugs the clan carries.

[Natori's understanding of the world is comfortably binary: "ayakashi" is such a large umbrella to cover "everything that isn't human" that he hasn't come across anything yet in this place to make him consider the need for an extra category. He needs that us-versus-them mentality even when he's going to be living and working with all manner of spirits and creatures in this place, partly because it helps him deal with situations like this one.

He laughs again and takes it as a proof of concept.] Well there you go. If you want to swap drinks with me once he comes back, I promise I'll give you a full report of whatever happens. [this is a bullshit promise.]

I don't trust that statement.

[yes, he did say that outright, and with a straight face.]

And more likely than not, both of them will have their additions.

[fucking called out. but he doesn't look sheepish or do anything more than incline his head towards Nehan in agreement.]

Oh well. I guess we'll need to toss both. I'd start to feel bad for him, putting in all this effort when we're just going to ruin it. How long has he been following you around?

The moment I came in to this welcoming party. Of course, he was paid to do it. [then nehan stops talking about the man when he comes by to give them their drinks-- and he gives the host a nod for his trouble. basic courtesy and what not.

and he keeps his silence until the host is well out of earshot, because if he's correct, the man is a youkai as well, just hiding the fact that he is-- which means he likely has similar hearing to nehan.]

Shame we're not paid to attend this.

Of course. [That smug, cat-that-got-the-cream smile spreads back over Natori's face as the host comes back. He wraps his fingers around his drink with a flourish and even winks at the host as he moves on; maybe it will be a silver lining for him, to think that Natori might be getting what's coming to him. But as promised, he pushes the drink to the side to join his first one without actually taking a sip from it.]

Well aren't we, in a way? If you think about it, everything we do here is in service of our contracts.

The contract payment is something in the far future, and doesn't help us in this moment. [and survival relies on what you do right now, nehan knows this.]

Money would.

Haha, well, when you put it like that. Well, if you ever want lessons on how to try to take his job [he tilts his head ever-so-slightly in the direction where their surly host disappeared to, to indicate who he's talking about] I'd be happy to oblige. I'm sure we could find someone here who'd be willing to pay for the night, and as you might have noticed I'm in something of an adjacent profession back home.

[nehan very determinedly does not look in the direction of the host who was fawning over him, instead keeping his eyes on his companion.]

I know how to fit into his job, but I have no interest in it. He's in the business of faking emotional intimacy, not a night's physical intimacy, and that's too troublesome. [for... obvious reasons.]

But I'm not interested in selling myself for a night just yet-- and when I do feel the interest, I can do it myself.

[except he knows no one would buy him, not when his body underneath this bespoke suit and coat has too many scars to look enticing.]

Haha, it was the faking emotional intimacy I was offering to help with! You might not believe it, but I was a prickly, sullen teenager [read: like you are right now] before I started at my current job. I'd never be so rude as to imply you'd need assistance with the physical side.

[but he absolutely would be so rude as to imply the emotional one...? Whatever, it's true and they both know it.]

[detached he may be from people in general, nehan still picks up on what the human is implying. then he shakes his head.]

My answer is still no. [he cant fake emotions for too long, if he even manages it that day, trying to be a host would just be a disaster.] So it's best to drop the topic altogether.

Suit yourself. [At least he doesn't take any offense to it... but he can't help but be curious.] What do you see yourself doing here, by the by? Obviously I don't think any of us were thrilled about ended up in a place like this, but I'm curious about how people are making the best of it.

Drinking a lot of wine while waiting for assignments from on high.

[which isn't wrong...! but also not the entire truth.]

Wine is surprisingly cheap here, and decent quality for the price.

March 2022 IC Mingle

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