March 2022 IC Mingle

[jigokumods]

MAIN NAVIGATION

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.

Comments

[enterthe]

A rescue from nothing makes no sense. You've been in distress both times I have intervened.

[Since Junpei won't stick up for himself, Ydris has to step in! They were created to serve that purpose. Junpei just keeps being the human which happens to fall into their orbit.]

[moondregs]

I wasn’t in distress ... it was just a little awkward!

[ He folds his arms over his chest with a huff. ]

Okay, the first time I was honestly scared and ... it’s good you came along, but it’s not like you can watch me every minute. This place is full of danger. A guy handing me alcohol isn’t dangerous though, just slightly annoying.

[enterthe]

It could absolutely be dangerous! Such things could be spiked with any manner of other additives-

[Literally as Ydris is saying this, a waiter walks by and fills back up the glass they're holding. It's being held oddly aloft, after all, Ydris unnatural as to where a person would be holding an empty drink. It looks like they're demanding a top off, which they get, the waiter quickly moving on with a job well done]

Hey! No! I didn't... now what do I do with this? [back to square one and with nobody to dump it on wow]

[moondregs]

[ He can’t help it. The timing of the pour and Ydris’s reaction strike the right notes to cause a laugh to burst out from him. Maybe it’s because of all of the anxiety he’s had all night, but once it starts he’s having a hard time stopping it.

At first he tries to hide it behind his hand, but it gets much too hardy and there are tears pricking the corner of his eyes. Soon he’s doubled over and holding his middle, trying his best to stop but another new wave hits him and starts him up again. ]

[enterthe]

[The laughter gets Ydris' closest approximation to a Concerned Look. They assess that Junpei isn't (entirely, maybe, they hope) laughing at them, but more at the timing of the situation. They make a huff of a noise and some smoke leaves their mouth with it.

Haplessly holding the drink while Junpei starts doubling over, Ydris looks around for an out.

They decide to just shove it as the nearest person passing by. Not unlike the yokai that shoved the drink at Junpei and started all this. The main difference is this person seems wicked on board for a fresh drink and greedily takes it away as they pass.]

There! I got rid of it.

[moondregs]

[ Junpei finally manages to mostly regain his composure, though his face is still red from how intense his giggle fit was.

After watching how Ydris takes care of the situation he can’t help but be cheeky. ]

Thanks for showing me how it’s done. Very helpful.

[enterthe]

You're... welcome? [unsure]

You're welcome. [quicker and firmer, that time, Ydris decides that's right. Junpei might just be catching on that they're not quite as on top of this new world as they brazenly act.]

[moondregs]

[ That distraction gone, Junpei finds himself looking in the direction of the door again. ]

I’ve been trying to figure out if I’ll get in trouble for leaving. There’s really no point in me being here and I’m getting a headache from the music.

[enterthe]

I believe you would be looked down on for that. There is some secondary party we seem to be expected to make appearances at, beyond this one.

[being put on display at Springtide aristocratic affairs was something Ydris grew used to, once they had been deemed enough of a success to claim their position as the new Fire Dragon. Ydris only sees it as proper to attend such obligations.]

We are new members of this alliance. To not make a unified showing would be cowardly.

[moondregs]

Cowardly.

[ Junpei gives an unimpressed look, shifting from one foot to the other impatiently. ]

It’s not as if I actually have any loyalty to them. They’ve forced us into these roles and dangled carrots over our heads. Or, at least I’m sure I’m not the only one promised something in return for working for them.

Don’t tell me you feel a sense of duty when you’re more or less a prisoner.

[enterthe]

If that's how you see it, then, yes. I've always been held prisoner by my obligations. That is the nature of duty. [they say this with an odd pride, like it's somehow respectable to be shackled to a purpose someone else deemed fit. For Ydris, it's supposed to be divine to serve as the Fire Dragon. They cannot be anything else, after all...

This might strike them later as transcendentally horrifying, but listen... that's later.]

Loyalty has little to do with it, as you explained. You made a deal, you should honor that or walk away entirely. [whole ass it, no half measures]

[moondregs]

You can’t walk out of hell.

[ If you could, he’s not sure if you’d just walk into something worse anyway. ]

So this place is just a continuation of the same for you, but I’m not thrilled to be a prisoner. My old life was awful, but at least I wasn’t doing someone else’s dirt—-

[ A look of horror crosses his face, and suddenly he shrinks down from his previous confident lecturing. ]

—- well, not for most of my life, anyway. But at least that was my own choice. Stupid or not.

[enterthe]

Don't mistake me for ever being thrilled. I've done what is required of me. [sometimes, when they aren't completely fucking off from what they should be doing- that's beside the point! Ydris doesn't need to admit to such personal failings,]

It's cooperate with a faction or nothing. So don't be stupid about that. [that would be bad for the human, so none of that! Ydris must caution him appropriately!]

Better to work towards a reward than impotently protest. Your only prize then will be further suffering.

[moondregs]

I wasn’t planning to resist.

[ The reward is too valuable. Even if there’s a part of him that has doubts on promises made by yokai. There hasn’t been any proof given they’re capable of doing what they’ve said they will, after all. ]

But this party can’t be that important. Most of these people are so drunk they won’t even remember tonight. All I’ve done is avoid people and feel restless.

[enterthe]

Stay at least through the following party, to make an appearance before the other factions. They'll want a show of numbers. Sneak off after that, h-... [they realize that, for someone they've spoken to for a while now, they cannot... recall sharing names with this one. No, no, Ydris only gave their name last time!

This is still just human to them.]

... what is your name, human?

[moondregs]

Junpei.

[ The question is sudden, but there’s no reason for him not to answer it. As much as he tends to be argumentative with Ydris, he hasn’t gotten the feeling they’re going to do him any harm.

Also, just maybe, a part of him likes that someone seems to give a damn about what happens to him. That’s not something he is fully aware of or would ever admit to, but when you’ve gotten used to most of the world ignoring or assaulting you being fussed over is a novelty. ]

That’s going to be hours from now, isn’t it? Ugh.

[enterthe]

[Ydris is certainly going to fuss, especially as Junpei has expressed how exhausted he is by all this. The dragon has little knowledge of average human limitation, their own depowered state being their first direct experience with it. Most of their second hand experience being with druids, humans with far greater ability than the average person.

So, concern activated]

You should pace yourself, then. Shall I find you another water bottle? Something that can't have been tampered with...

[moondregs]

I need more than water. I need quiet.

[ He starts off towards some open seats, not necessarily expecting Ydris to follow but not minding if he does. Maybe if he’s already talking to someone there’s less chance of some random person bothering him. ]

[enterthe]

One is much easier to come by... [that is to say, Ydris will fetch him a water. It might have been a nice, icy cold bottle (sealed, Ydris demanded!) if it wasn't for the fact they were the one to bring it over to him. It warms up in their hand, just mildly chilled by the time it's tossed into the young man's lap.

Ydris flops to sit in a seat nearby, kicking their legs up onto the table in front of them. Someone had given them a pack of cigarettes, which they begin fiddling with to open. It's really the main thing they can indulge in at such a party. Food is odd for them and drink isn't going to do anything but start an alcohol fire]

[moondregs]

[ Even though he hadn’t asked for it, Junpei opens the bottle and takes a deep drink anyway. It had been awhile since he’d had any water, and he didn’t realize how parched he was until he had some.

Then he notices the cigarettes.

An uncomfortable expression forms on his face as he wrinkles his nose. ]

You’ve got to be kidding me.

[enterthe]

With what-? Oh... [they pop a cigarette from the box, fiddling with it between fingers]

Don't like them? They appear common. [Ydris sure had no trouble getting a pack. Most Springtide smoke, especially the Druids... but then they can easily heal away all the health downsides to such habits]

[moondregs]

My mother smoked.

[ It’s all he chooses to say, looking down to his lap as his manner wilts. It’s not preferable to have his discomfort on clear display, but the memory of her and what happened is still raw and sore. ]

I tried to get her to quit ... but she’d still sneak them.

[enterthe]

Ah.

[well. Ydris thinks to put them away, but their form doesn't really accommodate for that, so they end up looking around. With a wrist flick they end up tossed onto a side table out of Junpei's sight, just to sit abandoned. Someone will probably pick them up. It's fine, it's not littering.]

I would not smoke around my own daughter. Around you I can just not. [there's no need for it, it was just something to do, after all.]

[moondregs]

[ He wasn’t expecting Ydris to toss the cigarettes and the action clearly surprises him. The reveal that the other also has a child just doubles that. ]

... just like that?

[ Someone he hasn’t known for more than a couple days being so accommodating is incredibly confusing.

He also wonders how a being that was created by humans can reproduce, but Ydris had seemed touchy about that subject before so he keeps that query to himself. ]

[enterthe]

Don't give me puppy eyes over it. I am meant to protect humans like yourself and set upon a good example.

[it's obligation! Definitely not genuine care. Nope. Nothing of the sort.]

Without healing druids about, such vices are needlessly destructive. I can smoke another time.