「 TDM 01 」

[watertrade]

i. Arrival

There isn't any strange feeling or sudden blackout to warn someone of what's to come; it simply happens. One moment they're in their own world attending to their own business, and the next they're underwater. Specifically, the dark, cold waters of the Sumida River. With air temperatures in the high 40s it's not a pleasant experience and the sudden shock leaves new arrivals at risk of drowning.

Luckily, they aren't alone. The crews that constantly patrol the river are quick to fish the newcomers out, dry them off, warm them up, and explain the situation. Maybe the names mean something to said newcomers, and maybe they don't. No matter the case, they're the same for everyone: you're in Yoshiwara, near the city of Tokyo in the country of Japan, and you're here to stay.

New arrivals that feel up to the task are encouraged to help with retrieving other newcomers. Those that don't welcome to huddle under blankets until the boats return to docks. Once there everyone is given directions to their faction headquarters, where they can receive their housing and job assignments - and maybe a change of clothes. Those that still feel overwhelmed are permitted to mingle on the docks. There's not much to do but sit around and shiver, but at least there are friendly locals that are willing to answer any questions for them.

ii. Loose Change

It's easy to drop things in crowded areas and hard to retrieve them. Luckily that doesn't seem to be the case this time. The sound of a coin hitting the ground is quite clear and the coin itself is easy to locate. Considering that single coin likely represents a distressingly high percentage of any given newcomer's wealth, picking it up is highly advised. The supernaturally inclined might sense the faint magical buzz around the coin, but nothing significant.

Maybe two people reach for the same coin at the same time. Maybe one of them realizes it's not theirs and turns it over. Whatever the case, the second they're both touching the coin they find themselves stuck to it. No amount of tugging or prying can get it to detach, even though there's no sign of any sort of adhesive holding them in place.

Upon closer examination the coin isn't a real one and is instead inscribed with the words 'Pinky Swear', along with an image of the act in question. And that's the only clue to the method of escape: the two parties must link pinkies and make a solemn oath to one another before they can let go of the coin. Fortunately is seems any oath will do, even one as simple as 'I solemnly swear to give you a high five'. They shouldn't take their newfound freedom for granted, however. Breaking the oath or leaving without trying to fulfill it will result in the two being stuck together again and a new oath will be required to escape a second time.

iii. Hot Chocolate

Despite their reputation the people in Yoshiwara can be generous. Anyone who looks appropriately cold, bored, or just plain unoccupied will find themselves approached by attractive young men and women bearing sample cups of hot chocolate. The beverage is rich, warm, and expertly crafted, and even comes in dark, milk, and white varieties. If someone wants more, they're in luck: the cafe Lazy is running a special promotion in which all newcomers can receive a full serving for free.

Anyone who accepts will find themselves whisked into the cafe, seated at one of several kotatsu (which are all partitioned off with thick curtains), and presented with a tall mug of the hot chocolate of their choice. They won't be alone, either. Everyone is seated with at least one partner and encouraged to make idle chatter while they drink. The socially awkward might find the small book labeled 'conversations starters' helpful, and if that doesn't work there's also a small box of goodies on each table. It sure is a friendly atmosphere.

Perhaps too friendly. It turns out that the hot chocolate is laced with aphro, a variety that causes both arousal and mild giddiness. The thick, nearly soundproof curtains might make more sense now: they're clearly meant to muffle the sounds of lovemaking from other patrons. Visitors don't have to mingle so extensively, of course. But the 'conversation starters' book goes from fairly innocent subjects to ones likes 'describe your ideal sexual partner' in a hurry, and the box's goodies consist of lubricant, sexual position guides, and bullet vibrators. Sex is clearly the intent here.

On the way out customers will be told that the whole process is an advertisement for the cafe's 'couples service', thanked for their participation, and sent on their way with a smile. Maybe it's a good idea to accept Yoshiwara's generosity with caution from now on.

iv. Later That Night

No one would call Yoshiwara safe, but the dangers are predictable. An actor might end up with a stalker, a prostitute might have to deal with a violent client, and a business owner might have to deal with a criminal extorting protection money. There aren't really surprises when it comes to the sort of threats one can expect to face. The rigid control exerted by the four factions ensures that.

But there's money to be made in Yoshiwara, especially when it comes to visitors from off world. For some groups the reward outweighs the risk. Newcomers in particular tend to be disoriented and there's rarely anyone to miss them, which makes them ideal targets. Any new arrivals alone on the streets after dark run the risk of being kidnapped by a group of shady individuals prowling the town. Their methods range from snatch and grab tactics to luring targets into dark alleys, but once caught everyone is given the same treatment: gagged, hands bound, and left in a dimly lit room to wait until they can be removed from Yoshiwara and sold to a third party.

But the kidnappers are hasty and prone to mistakes. Victims may get a chance to shout before they're subdued. Their bindings are often loose. The rooms they're left in often have one or more other occupants. Escape is quite possible, especially with a little teamwork. The police are on the case, as well, and they're not picky about the help they'll accept. Newcomers can assist the cops in tracking down and freeing people as well, and help from already escaped victims is especially valuable.

But not everyone is opposed to this operation. Sufficiently motivated newcomers may also be recruited to assist the kidnappers. It's dangerous work, but the profits are high and the connections one makes in the process are invaluable.

Between the police and the assistance from newcomers most victims will be freed shortly after they're kidnapped. For those that aren't, the kidnappers will be stopped as they try to leave town and any remaining victims will be rescued at that time.

OOC

Hello, and welcome to the very first TDM for Yoshiwara Nights! Use this post to voice test characters, decide who you want to app, and get a feel for the game and your fellow potential players.

Events of the TDM may be kept as game canon. Once you're accepted you can submit a five comment thread of your character pulling people out of the river (Arrival), assisting the kidnapping victims (Later That Night), or assisting the kidnappers (Later That Night) to gain bonus reputation with your starting faction, the police, or an unknown third faction, respectively.

Reserves will open on February 3rd! Our schedule for the next few weeks can be found here. If you haven't already please make yourself familiar with our information pages.

If you have any questions about the TDM prompts please direct them here. You can also follow us on Plurk at yoshiwara for further updates.

Comments

D - Starting Gen

[megaenvy]

Hustled in, a cup of hot cocoa thrust in front of her, the hooded woman was pushed towards a seat and the curtain finally drawn. She let out a tiny huff that was close to a sigh, gloved hands wrapping around the cup when she seemed to become aware that she was not alone in the little space. This person was speaking to her, looking at a book and asking a question that would have made most people squack in a bit of umbrage. It was a really personal question, after all.

She, however, said nothing for a second, breathing in the scent of her cocoa before setting it down. "Analyzing... Testing... Experimenting?" It was like she was trying to think of which word was correct. Her voice was high pitched, girlish for a woman in her twenties. Finally she almost smiled and nodded. "Experimenting." It looked like she had settled on an answer. And, since they were speaking out of a book why shouldn't she continue to pay the favor forward?

"And... what do you have?"

[avidita]

Well, now, wasn't that an upfront answer? Mammon had admittedly wanted to rile a random stranger, but they had to admit that this was just as amusing to deal with. Their lips quirked up in a faint smile and the inclined their head. "Let's see... 'Experimentation' of its own sort, I suppose. Keeping in control and seeing how far one can push or drag things out... They're a little bit similar, I suppose."

To hell with it. This is enough to have earned their name. "I'm Mammon. I take it you're a scientist?" And already more tolerable than Verde, amazing.

[megaenvy]

She listened to Mammon in a detached sort of way, holding her cup up so that she could let the steam rise in front of her gaze. The warmth flowing over her legs beneath her skirt was nice. It felt good to get the chill out of her bones. She was dressed more for the comparative warmth of the Hoenn summer, not to mention the season had still been quite warm when she'd been whisked away thanks to Groudon's interference. So, the kotetsu was appreciated.

The answer she received was filed away in her mind. Control, of pleasure? Sensation? Experience? She could see the appeal, and certainly she understood controlling people. "Researcher..." There were always these little pregnant pauses in the way that she spoke, her tone halting. It was like she was always thinking about something. A sip and she found a giggle bubbling into her throat. "...More applied than pure theory."

Science for its own sake was, after all, a waste of a good mind. It was meant to be acted upon.

[avidita]

With the chill in the air, it wasn't like anyone was honestly in a rush to go anywhere, and Mammon had enough patience to spare. It had been a talent they'd had to cultivate over the decades, for a variety of matters. There had been the matter of sharpening their illusion, and then working through the curse... Although, perhaps the most important test of their patience had been when they joined the Varia. Bickering over to impress the Boss, adopting a small child with as good a tendency for assassination as his bad personality, the Boss himself...

In contrast, a researcher with not stunning social skills was the least troublesome thing to deal with. In fact, if anything, it was almost a vacation.

"There's no point if it isn't applied," they agreed easily enough. "Although I suppose it would be interesting to see it applied as a fetish."

[megaenvy]

She looked at him, briefly a hint of surprise in her eyes. Did he understand what he was suggesting? After all, most of her experiments involved pokemon and he was suggesting the use of her experiments as a fetish in and of themselves. Did people do that? No, no, of course there was bound to be someone who did. There were perverse people everywhere, though she doubted that they made it public knowledge, even with all the fascination for a gardevoir's supposed beauty.

She giggled and put her hands up to her face. No, no, he couldn't be that perverse. But it was still amusing. "I ... do not think... would approve. But... interesting. You are right, though... research meant to be applied."

"Without advancement... futility."

[avidita]

That's certainly a response, but informative in its own way. That didn't stop Mammon from huffing faintly. "You could share the joke, you know..." Not like it was important, but still. Their pride wasn't as bad as Squalo's, but it was still pretty notable. Still, with their former reputation meaning nothing, somehow that made it... not as annoying.

It was almost like being young again. Funny.

"What do you research in particular, then?" Since they still have a lot of their own cup to go through, they might as well talk while working through it.

[megaenvy]

Courtney didn't bother to smile or chuckle, the girl having a sort of quirky sense of humor on the best of days, and an underdeveloped one on the worst of them. She reached behind her, pulling a small red and white ball with a button on it and pointing it to the side within their space. A red beam of light shot out of it, revealing what looked like a three-foot tall bird.

"...Pokemon," she said rather simply. "I study their... place in mankind's... advancement."

[avidita]

....Well. This conversation just got more and more interesting.

For a brief moment, whatever effects the hot chocolate was slowly pushing through Mammon's body took a back seat, and they straightened up with clear interest at both the appearance of the creature and how it was stored. It was almost like the use of rings and boxes, back in Italy and Japan... Only it was clearly different in some very small but notable ways.

"And what kind of creatures are those, then?" they ask, snapping their fingers to the side and waiting patiently. It doesn't take long before there's the sound of rustling behind some cushions, and a large dark frog leaps up onto the table to peer up at the bird with brilliant red eyes. If there's anything to be worried in the size difference, Fantasma doesn't seem to care.

[megaenvy]

"This... is Swellow. ...Evolution of Tailow. ...Many kinds of pokemon exist... Swellow is only one...

[She smiled and patted the crown of its head, moving cleanly along the feathers so as not to ruffle them.]

My chariot in battle...

[Oh, that got a nice puffing out of the birds red-breasted chest, clearly very proud that she referred to him that way. Truthfully? It was a very kind way of saying that the noble pokemon was usually her transportation, not her front-line fighter. She had other pokemon for that, which was why she was comfortable showing him to a stranger for inspection.

The bird pokemon glanced down at the little frog and, if it could have smiled, it certainly seemed to, though it made no move. It knew to obey her commands implicitly. A trill of 'Swelll' ascended its gizzard and out its beak.]

We study... their part in mankind's ... advancement.