jigokulogs | March 2022 IC Mingle

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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!

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Mm, it's not polite to comment on other people's eating habits, [or lack thereof] you know. I could be allergic, and now you're putting us both in an awkward position.

[Except if anyone's putting them in an awkward position, it's Natori by lying about it??]

...

(He just watches Natori for a moment, completely unbothered. Is he supposed to feel awkward? Was he rude? He either doesn't think so or doesn't care,)

If that was the case, not telling anyone and making people try and serve you anyway is just wasting everyone's time.

I don't want them to try and serve me! I suppose they just see my face and can't help themselves but want to get things for me.

[...Well, one way to stop himself from feeling quite so hangry is by playing around a bit.]

(He just opts to finish eating his skewer instead of answering right away. One stick down, he's just going to reach for another. All the while, he's still looking Natori over. He can't help it when Natori mentions his own appearance?)

You're not that special.

(Nothing really screams "I wanna give him things!" to Hizen.)

So immediately! [He does not sound remotely wounded, even as he dramatically clutches at his heart as if he's been physically wounded.] How cruel. Don't say that where too many Tamamo members can hear you, or I'll be out of a job.

(Oh no. Do you ever feel like you're interacting with the wrong person... because Hizen is getting a vibe,)

This is a party.

(No one... no one is really working?)

[Do you ever feel like you're interacting with the right person... to make you feel better when you're in a bad mood? Natori should probably feel bad for his unpleasant personality, but he's having more fun right now than he has at the rest of the party.]

Are you familiar with the term "networking"? Unfortunately, even if it's after business hours, if you're at a team-building excursion with your colleagues you can never be truly off the clock.

(Every Tamamo Hizen has met since day one has made him tired.)

No.

(Not completely true. Yes, he knows what networking is but he's never had to worry about it when he just gets thrown into situations where he has to deal with people and they, in turn, have to deal with him. Forced interactions sure are a thing where he's from.

Hizen glances back at some oni that are playing some wild drinking game involving finishing entire bottles of alcohol as a penalty.)

Didn't expect you guys to be so hardworking all the time, though.

(He hasn't been here for very long but he kind of just got the impression the Tamamo clan was maybe more laidback than the others? Managing the pleasure districts has that feel?)

[This does get a laugh of surprise from Natori, if only because he can't think of the last time someone called him 'hardworking' in any way that wasn't a backhanded insult-- as in, hardworking because he didn't have the natural talent, or else some jab about him spending his time acting instead of focusing it on exorcism politics. The laugh is like a break in the self-obsessed, carefree Tamamo act to the actual human being underneath.]

Sorry, sorry. I suppose it's unexpected, right? But that's how it goes with professions like these. Actors don't let up until they're in private. [Or until they get themselves distracted from their himbo routine, exhibit a.] Especially not in a place like this, I'd imagine.

(His eyes flash. Excuse you, why are you laughing because it better not be at him?! Hizen looks like he's ready to throw hands in this club. Natori looks easy? He could definitely take him on, he thinks--

Ah, but then he apologizes and Hizen relaxes, leaning back in his seat but still very much watching Natori. He's defensive now. He's following along and trying to understand what he said was exactly so funny.

This guy is an actor? Hell really is full of all sorts of people,)

... So you're a faker.

(Someone putting on an act to look a certain way.)

[Hizen could absofuckinglutely take Natori, and it's probably obvious to the both of them. Maybe if Natori had his shiki to protect him, it would be different, but... Well, a lot of things would be different if he still had access to his full comportment of exorcist tools. At least he doesn't hesitate when he says]

That's right. [well, he's not wrong!!] But I suspect a lot of us here are putting on some sort of performance. At least among the Lost Souls, I can't imagine more than half of us are that enthusiastic to be here.

(Hizen can't relate. He's made no secret of his exhaustion and disdain for being here. He's as prickly as ever, he doesn't pretend to be friendly, and he doesn't bother hiding the fact that his patience usually runs thin.

Finishing his skewer, setting it aside, leaning back, and just looking overall just looking like he would rather go home and take a nap or something instead of being here--)

Can't imagine many people being too thrilled about ending up in hell.

(And he shrugs. He doesn't seem too bothered but then again, that's just his entire air. Tired. Resigned.)

You'd think, right? But I guess if this is someone's second chance, it would be different.

[Someone who's here because they died, and now they have a chance to return. Or someone who deserves to be here, and gets to play around in the brothels and violence. There are almost certainly people like that here.]

But even then, there's a difference between making the most of an opportunity and actually being excited to hang out at a party like this. But if your job involves getting people to have a good time, there's not much of a choice, is there?

Weirdos don't count.

(Because they're hecking weird. He doesn't make the rules.)

Then what exactly are you doing?

(He doesn't look very excited. He doesn't really look like he's doing much of anything. Is it Tamamo-esque to just sit there and look nice? Is this networking? Boy, Hizen would have chosen someone better than himself in that case. It's a lot of talk and Hizen just... doesn't see what he's doing?)

[Natori... raises an eyebrow... because he hates to break this to you Hizen, but every single person (and ayakashi) here is weird.]

Right now? Trying to distract myself from the platefuls of food. [because he is, in fact, still a hungry moron.] I don't make a habit of eating food given to me by youkai, so it's been a long night.

(He hates to break it to you Natori... but things could eb weirder. Hizen's bar is so low, it's practically in hell.

Ah, but that's interesting, he thinks. Normally dull and tired eyes flash briefly with understanding. This guy isn't weird; he's being knowingly cautious.)

... What're you gonna do when you get hungry?

(Or rather, too hungry. Natori has to get hungry eventually. Hizen gets hungry here and he isn't even human? Granted, he's practically human now as far as capabilities go... but he's still a spirit; critically depowered but very much a touken danshi still.

Also ignore the shift from judging the hell out of Natori to vaguely being interested and... worried? He can't help it. As the spirit of a tool that serves humans, he can't help it sometimes.)

Haha, don't worry about me! I can last through the end of the party.

[And then he'll go to a conbini or something afterwards. It's difficult being a paranoid exorcist, but it's even more difficult to learn how to cook for himself, so he has to draw the line somewhere. His experience infiltrating large gatherings of this sort tend to go along the lines of "find and eat the human" or "trap the weaker ayakashi in the manor so they can be eaten by something stronger;" he can't avoid eating within the ayakashi realm entirely, not when he's stuck here for who knows how long, but he can at least avoid the stuff served at parties, especially when he already knows that some members of his newfound clan see no issue in adding things to the drinks.]

Though I might be tempted to sneak out the back if it goes on for much longer.

Hm.

(Just a quiet "hm" in acknowledgement. As long as he eats. In all of his time with a physical form... hunger is one of his least favorite feelings.)

No one's stopping you.

(From going out now. And Hizen isn't going to snitch.)

[Okay, swordmom.]

Haha, I suppose not. Cover for me if anyone asks?

[yes he's messing around again.]

(The official term is government assigned babysitter, thanks.)

I told you you aren't that special.

(Who is going to ask???)

Guess not, huh. [Again: he does not sound at all disappointed about this; it's actually kind of nice to not have to worry about things like that here? That said, immediately after saying this, he gives a little wave and adds] Alright, I'm relying on you!

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March 2022 IC Mingle

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