TEST DRIVE MEME #18

[penancemods]

Arrival

You remember a dream.

Or maybe nightmare is more accurate.

It was full of hellfire nipping at your skin and a sensation of being pulled down no matter how much you struggle or cry for help. There's a voice that feels like it's coming from all around you at once. Contrasting with the nightmare unfolding around you, it's smooth as silk. It makes you want to listen with every bit of attention you can muster in the moment.

"Judgement has come upon you, but not to worry. It can still be undone."

The voice promises you redemption for your sins. It promises you a better life and everything you could ever want, if only you just stop struggling so much.

And so you do.

Everyone wakes up in the same room initially. The room is done up in red with a cushy bed, a window, an old TV in the corner on a desk, and a few Hieronymus Bosch paintings lining the wall. There's a bathroom to clean up in and any belongings will be sat around the room to be gathered later. There's a duffel bag provided for your convenience.

After feeling a sensation of falling or dropping onto the bed, characters wake up feeling like they've just slept for a week. Their body will feel heavy and stiff, and they'll have a massive headache at first.

They'll quickly notice the list of their sins written with their blood on a bedside table on an old piece of parchment. This will mean the list is tied to them and can't be changed or tampered with. They'll also receive their device to connect with others and the network. It won't be anything terribly fancy. As a matter of fact, it looks like a very old Blackberry type phone.

Once characters are ready to leave the room, they'll head down long, winding halls. They're dimly lit and have an ominous feeling. They may encounter fellow sinners or demonic staff that will direct the newcomer down to the lobby to get their actual room key to settle in. The staff may be pushy, or they may border on courteous. It really just depends on the mood of the staff at the time and how they're treated in return. Eventually, everyone comes to stairs that lead downward.

Once down to the lobby, you'll notice the front desk manned by a demon who looks bored out of its mind. To the side of him is the door to the kitchen, where guests may help themselves. To the right is a small duty free shop that seems to have a surprisingly normal, expected stock of items. Look around a bit further, there will be a tiny bar tucked in through a corner door. It seems pretty well-stocked and best of all, there's a demonic bartender who seems to know how to mix any drink you can imagine (and a few you can't). Of course there's some seating, bar games, and a jukebox tucked in the corner if you'd rather stay and socialize a bit. There's also a new addition of a karaoke machine.

Please note that all the songs on the jukebox are appropriately hell-themed. Hopefully Sympathy for the Devil is universally loved.


Stand Your Ground

Rise and shine, dear guests! The weather outside is as frightful as it's ever been, oddly cold. Colder than it was even at this time last year, but it seems to match the mood of the staff. Another sinner uprising, another looming threat of outsiders wanting to wreck Hell, and the staff is understandably exhausted and down in the dumps. Still, they seem to be at least trying to spread the Halloween cheer with more decorations! Gaudy decorations are in every square inch of the hotel, along with some unique looking jack-o-lanterns that seem to watch you wherever you go!

There are even some absolutely cute little turnip ones from the old timer demons who insist it's the only way for it to be done!

Lucifer and Lilith are both curiously missing in action at this time. If asked, the staff will helpfully explain that there were poltergeists and then one of the sinners lost it and tried to take over Hell, again. They'll also complain at length about how absolutely ridiculous it is that anyone thinks they're capable of ruling this place over Lucifer himself. Feel free to try to escape the incoming rant! But either way, the big guy in Hell is apparently putting up more barriers to prevent things like this from happening in the future!

And to handle an outside threat called The Veiled Order apparently, but don't you worry about them! They're simply not important at the moment and absolutely not not planning a bit attack soon. Nope.

New arrivals (and old!) should enjoy the rather expansive breakfast the demons have made in the dining hall. There will be plenty of breakfast foods ranging from bacon to pancakes to donuts and anything in between to encourage indulgence. There's no need to hold back now, right? You're already dead! So eat up all that unhealthy food and maybe add something a little bit stronger to your coffee than just plain cream! No one is judging around here, especially when there's a few bottles of top shelf alcohol available next to the coffee station.

And if one thing isn't frowned upon in Hell, it's gluttony. No one will judge if you want a taste of human flesh or cute kitten out of curiosity or anything.

Staff will encourage guests to take it easy. Things have been rough lately, and they're only bound to get rougher!


Reach Up High

Prompt I: Jesus Wept

WARNINGS: mutilation, blood, torture, extreme gore.

Somewhere from within the hotel is an ominous rumble behind a closed door. This time, it isn't from any wayward mages or ill-timed bombing attempts, but the unlocking of a previously forbidden room. There are eerie screams from within, followed by menacing laughter as the door swings open of its own accord. The room within is painted in nothing but darkness and a thick fog.

For those who would dare approach, they will be able to make out the outlines of chains hanging in wait from the ceiling, but most other details are obscured. There may be a brief flash of figures in the shadows, the stench of blood. This feels like a bad idea, but sinners are drawn forward anyway. There's something of a promise inside this room... something new and exciting, greater than anyone is capable of imagining!

You know what they say about curiosity and the cat, don't you?

Before common sense can win out, guests will find themselves pulled into the room and hear the gut-wrenching slam of the heavy door behind them. Once inside, guests will be able to make out the torn apart bodies on the ground, halved or nothing but splatters of guts and bone. Despite all logic, some will still be writhing and moaning still. Whether in pleasure or pain, it's difficult to tell

Look closer still and sinners may notice one has managed to scrawl with their bloody handprint:

There are no limits.

It may feel as if reading those words puts things into motion. Suddenly, one of the poor sinners will find the chains lashing out, hooks sinking in deep as they find their purchase on their bodies and pull. They will find themselves pulled into an almost gruesome mockery of a crucifixion pose. Arms drawn up, legs held in place. Clothes may be torn or shredded as their unmarked bodies are marred with the hooks. Flesh and muscle stretch under the strain. Fortunately, it doesn't go further.

Not yet.

"My dear guests, we haven't explored the depths to which pain can show our true selves in a while, have we? And with all the energy flowing around our little community, I had more than enough time to prepare this surprise for all of you. This is a room that had been locked off for a while now, and my children trapped within have found themselves rather bored lately," Lucifer's voice rings out within both ears of the sinners, eerily reassuring despite the hellscape in front of them.

"I want to show you the lengths Hell used to go to, the pain and pleasure mix of true torment. It's in suffering that we find our true selves. I do firmly believe that. We find out who we're meant to be, what we're meant to be, giving and receiving pain. Help one another and you will be set free!"

The fog dissipates enough to reveal a table nearby full of all sorts of horrifying instruments. Paddles, whips, some of them barbed in nauseating ways. There's wax to melt, knives. Needles to pierce flesh with. There are instruments that deliver enough electric current into the recipient to hurt and leave them writhing, gags for when their cries become too much.

"Next to your instruments, you will find a list of sins and wrongdoings your lovely captive has done in their lives, both here and back home. Read it and punish accordingly. Remember, there is freedom in humiliation as well as pain. Force them to see who they truly are inside. There's also redemption to be found in the punishment. You are delivering God's divine justice! You are God's hand! He will be so pleased..."

In the shadows, there are those same figures standing in wait, ready to manipulate the hooks.

"You will have no more than four attempts to carry out your punishment. Failure or refusal to do so will result in another hook driving into our poor bound soul here. After your four attempts, I am sorry to say they will be torn apart by my friends in the shadows with you, and you will have murder added to the list of sins tainting you. It would be such a needless shame to fail at this, wouldn't it? And who knows, perhaps you'll find you adore this path..."

There's a short laugh from Lucifer, as if he just made a brilliant joke. "Succeed in your punishment and you will both be released with one more sin removed from your list. Don't worry about any injuries... there are bandages and other aids available just outside. Now, my darlings, go have fun."

[As this is a Hellraiser based prompt, feel free to assume anything with a sadomasochistic bent to it can be found within the room. Attacking the demons controlling the chains will not stop them. They seem to be invulnerable to attacks and are only there to observe and add additional hooks when they deem fit. When a punishment is deemed worthy enough to release the hooked partner is left up to player discretion, but a character is only allowed to fail a punishment four times before they have to witness a horribly gory scene.]


Prompt II: Let's Play a Game

WARNINGS: mutilation, blood, torture.

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. These are words from my Father's own book, preaching the ever so present importance of putting one's own worth below that of his fellow man. So very poetic, yes? And heroic. Only the truly good would be so selfless. Fortunately, I'm not asking you to kill yourselves here. Not exactly, at least." Lucifer's voice rings out within the sinner's heads, warm and coaxing as it ever is.

"No, I am only asking that you practice the art of self-sacrifice with your fellow penitents. We're going to play a little bit of a game. You're all familiar with escape rooms, yes? Well, it's like that... don't worry, you'll figure it out soon enough."

Spare a Pint Awakening in a room with a single box in the center of it, sinners find themselves wearing a tight collar with a clock ticking down. They have fifteen minutes to place their hands inside the box. They'll soon learn that it's full of sharp objects ready to cut. Upon further inspection, they'll find two glass bottles attached below.

They must spare a few pints of blood each, it turns out.

Once time is up, if they haven't suceeded, spikes will pop out from the collar and embed in their necks. This will result in both participants nearly bleeding out before demons tend to them. Any scarring will be permanent.

Free the Angel Suspended in the air, one sinner will find themselves outfitted with the most devilish device. Brackets have been connected to their ribcage, dug in deep as their bare skin stands out to expose the horrors. There are only fifteen minutes before the trap trips and rips open their chest. To save them, the other sinner must remove a key from a bowl of acid before the timer reaches zero and unlock a mechanism on the device. If they fail to do so, not only will the poor soul bound experience excruciating pain, kept alive through some unnatural means, but the other will suddenly feel as if their insides are twisting in on themselves.

Sinners will be patched up afterwards, but the bound will have a scar that remains on their chest as a reminder to both parties.

Lucifer will explain the rules of each game to the guests very thoroughly and offer whatever reassurances he can. As promised, all sinners will be healed properly after completing their tasks, whether they succeed or not. Even those who find their insides unfortunately on the outside.

If guests turn on one another, they will additionally be punished with a sin from their list branded upon their skin somewhere and fail any sort of redemption offered this round.


Follow Me Down

Prompt I: Monster Mash

WARNINGS: sex, drugs, alcohol, dub-con.

Hell is having a party and absolutely nothing can stop it. It seems like it may possibly be a days long event too, if the way things are going is anything to judge. There are tacky Halloween decorations spilling from the hotel out into the streets, trailing towards the club and other locations. Demons are partying everywhere, there's lively music. It's like a rather twisted Hell take on a block party. Beer and other refreshments flow freely, there's food and candy, and fires lit around the area for warmth (or s'mores, or whatever demons may want to cook over a fire!).

In the hotel lobby, there have been racks upon racks of costumes set up for people to choose from. These include all the usual things ranging from fictional characters, sexy versions of everything, lingerie, masquerade masks, and outfits for entirely anonymous adventures. If character won't don a costume willingly or are unfamiliar with Halloween, the demons have zero qualms forcing it in whatever ways work. Multiple costume changes throughout the partying, however, is allowed.

For party activities, there are live demonic bands playing at various points in Penance (and they welcome those who want to join in!), various party games such as bobbing for apples (although 'apple' here is used loosely. At times, they may be substituted with feet or human hearts or whatever is around), pin the wings on the angel, rounds of 7 Minutes in Heaven and spin the bottle, as well as pumpkin carving contests. There's also a stage set up if guests desire to show off their costumes (or take them off).

As usual, there's plenty of food and drink, including all the questionable ones like human flesh or blood. There may be a roasted Squonk or two available. There's also every drug available that someone could want, including Frenzy that's free of charge.

There's a round of trick or treating going on throughout Penance as well. Go to the club or bar, or any other establishment and you'll find demons ready to hand out their treats or tricks. It may be drugged candy, regular candy, small trinkets, or other useful objects. Tricks may be decidedly less fun, ranging from a swat with a cane, a cut with a knife (non-life threatening this time around!), or just cruel comments that seem to hit too far close to home while the demons around enjoy a hearty chuckle. Don't worry, it's all for fun!

In the bar, there's the jukebox playing some spooky new music, as well as karaoke. Bar games such as darts, pool, poker, etc. are also all available. It may include succubi trying to start a rousing round of strip poker, but that's just the risk you run in Hell!


Prompt II: Dig Your Fingers Into Flesh

WARNINGS: sex, bdsm, pet play, human furniture, dubcon, noncon, drug use.

Club Penance seems to continuing the new gimmick! Themed nights. This night's theme is: Leather and Lace, Bring on the Mace. Guests who enter the adult oriented side of the club will notice the incubi and succubi who serve in it are clad in skimpy lace numbers or seductive leather. They may be seen sporting clamps or other toys, leather masks, etc. They will eagerly encourage all who enter to join in the fun and games.

On their trays, they offer drinks and drugs of all sorts. Shows are being put on on the stage as usual, the offer of sex demos with guest participation are still on the table.

As usual, these demons play under respectable rules, safe words and all. They will also gladly exit the stage and let guests entirely run the show. They're on their best behavior tonight, even if the natural aphrodisiacs they give off seem to be amped up

Guests who refused to dress up may also find their clothes randomly changing into something more appropriate or being forcibly changed by a demon who may be a bit too into the theme! Ah, well, no need to worry too much. There will be costumes and lingerie to slip on to go home in. There's absolutely nothing wrong with a walk of shame back to the hotel in nothing but a thong, they'll assure. It's just another night in Hell.

For those who are really adventurous, there are also special concoctions that the club offers. These include:

Frenzy ○ The drug will be given to anyone anyone who asks for it. It can be snorted, injected, taken in pill form, or smoked given user preference.

Despite the questionable name, guests who partake really will feel the best they've possibly ever felt. They won't need sleep or to rest, but they won't necessarily feel the strain on their bodies either. They'll be full of energy and their mood will be amazing with no hint of nightmares or dreams anywhere.

The demons won't let anyone come down either, not once they've started and not until they're told a guest doesn't want any more.

Even then, they may still try to convince them otherwise. It's a party for as long as you can go, or until you completely burn out, it seems.

But with all good things come bad. It seems a side-effect of the drug is an actual frenzy as well. A frenzy for sex or violence or anything a character might want that they deny themselves on the regular. They'll feel this growing hunger, this ravenous need to have and to claim everything they think is theirs.

Some may even fade away into an almost animalistic sort of state.

The more the guest takes, the more they'll experience this sensation. Fighting it won't help either. Though they did sort of bring that one on themselves, didn't they?

Other symptoms of coming down won't be too different to those of other drugs. Fatigue, depression. Guests will begin to feel the effects of staying up for so long without rest or stopping to take care of themselves. They may also feel a certain longing for more, but it can be fought off with enough strength of will.

The drug isn't free either. The succubi expect to be paid in energy or through actual work in the club.

Bond ○ A potion that will bond guests together the minute one speaks to the other. The encouragement is that this should be done consensually, but the demons won't necessarily be checking. Once bonded, guests will feel what the one who took the potion feels. This includes pain and pleasure both with effects lasting a full night. Give someone the most intense pleasure of their lives or torture them until they beg for mercy!

For a really intense experience, both participants can consume the potion with mutual effects.

A special section of the club has been set back up to follow the theme! Within the area, there are pillory stocks and other restraints set up with demons and random club goers alike restrained and naked. Some of these will be stand-alone, some of these will be attached to beds, etc. A list of sins will be written on a blackboard sat near the sinner and a plethora of toys will be available. The selection will range from knives, candles, ice, impact toys, clamps, gags, etc. There will also be plugs, beads, dildos, and anything else one could want if they desire to add a little pleasure to the pain.

On the blackboards will contain a list of sins for characters and will typically be over the top and sex-based in nature, ranging from claims of promiscuity to selfishness in bed to specific taboo sex acts they enjoy. It can also include a few non-sexual ones, depending on the mood of the demon who wrote it. It may include other misdeeds done while in Penance. Expect it all to be humiliating or uncomfortable in some way or another.

For those who aren't into that, there's also a lovely display of human (or demon!) furniture to enjoy. Some of it may be familiar faces who are forced to maintain this position for however long others deem fit. Come sit on a face or two, or see if you can make someone fail at being a human statue. There may be a little pet play go on, a little denial play.

We won't talk about what it takes to be let into the rest room tonight...

For the dance oriented portion of the club, the theme is a little more lax. Instead of outright fetish wear, patrons may be offered revealing clubwear instead. Things that will look mesmerizing in the lights of the club ranging from neon colors to clothes that seem to flash on the dance floor. The music will be thrumming in the air, pumping down to your very bones as you dance the night away, and all patrons will feel good. It will feel as if they could actually dance all night if they so wanted, even without the aid of any drugs.

It will be an all night rave with all the party drugs and drinks one could want! Live music plays all night. The band also loves to receive requests, so knock yourself out! They seem to strangely know any song they're asked to play.

Knock yourself out, give up any care in the world and have fun. You're already in Hell, so don't you deserve to feel good for a while?


Wildcard/Misc.

Don't see something you love but still want to get a feel for the game? Check out our extensive list of LOCATIONS and write up your very own prompt however you'd like to! You can also add a "NETWORK" post option to your TL for quick, easy, and fun interactions.



And without further ado: Welcome to our new TDM for the November 1st app round! As always, potential appers and characters already in game are welcomed to jump right in! This TDM counts as an additional game event as well as game canon for those coming into the game. If you app and are accepted, TDM tags become game canon and can be used for AC! Please have fun and don't hesitate to ask any questions you might have down below.

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Suzaku Kururugi | Code Geass | OTA

[swordofzero]

Arrival: Stand your Ground

Fire burned around him as he fell, pain enveloping him. He had been expecting the fall, expecting the fire but the words. They were not expected. He did not recognise the words.

Judgement? Redemption? Was this Schneizel's doing? Another card up his sleeve? Something Lelouch hadn't foreseen?

The pain is expected, the soft bed is not. He opens his eyes, taking in his surroundings. He is lying on a bed, he is uninjured though his body is stiff, as if he hasn't moved for a while. He isn't tied down. He can move all his limbs but they are heavy, his head hurts, his hand has been cut.

He forces himself to sit up. He's still in his flight suit but he can see his cloak folded at the edge of the bed. He stands up and forces himself to walk, to pick it up. That is when he spots the list, written in blood.

It's not long afterwards, when he has gathered the few items, the phone (who captures someone and gives them a phone?) and he is walking down the stairs.

His eyes linger on the demons, on the other people who are milling around. He is ushered into the dining hall and stands staring, dumbfoundedly, at the breakfast feast. It is cold, he is glad for the heavy cloak and he walks up to the nearest person. His posture is stiff, hiding the exhaustion he is still feeling.

"Excuse me. Could you tell me what is happening?"

Reach up High: Jesus Wept

"Let me go!" Suzaku hadn't been here very long and he had been driven by curiosity to follow the others. It had been a trap and he was angry at himself for falling into it. Now he had chains digging into his flesh, strung up in front of another figure, as a voice, Lucifer, tells them what to do. Suzaku's eyes glint in anger.

"Don't listen to him. No one should be forced to harm others!"

The pain is great, the words are clipped. But he knows pain, he knows torture, he stops struggling and looks down at the figure in front of him.

Follow Me Down: Monster Mash

Somehow the day after being tortured he was not expecting a party. What was this place? What strange place of pain and... costumes? This looked more like the sort of festival Milley would organise. If darker in theme.

He is dressed as a cat, he had fought it but then allowed it, in order to be able to chose the costume. This was better than a lot of the costumes had been and it had allowed him to get away from the demons. He stood with his back to the wall, glaring at the part goers.

Arrival: Stand your Ground

[failed_antichrist]

It was a pretty good spread, and considering food in Hell could go bad at any time, Setsuna wasn't going to let it go to waste. He still wasn't driven to overeat, yet, at least (not that a couple of pounds would hurt him), but he was starting to eye the pancakes. That was a bit more for him...dessert for breakfast, he didn't even really like sugar much, but here they were.

He's about ready to grab for some eggs, when he hears Suzaku's question. He gives a huffy sigh and answers plainly, "Uh, breakfast? Where've you been? You just get here or something?"

And people thought he looked delicate? This guy in his pretty uniform - wait! He'd never seen this guy before. Maybe he was new. Setsuna's cheeks burn a little at the realization.

Re: Arrival: Stand your Ground

[swordofzero]

"Yes." Suzaku didn't seem to even register the huffiness of the sigh and just answers as plainly as he was asked.

"I take it from your words you are not newly arrived."

He has no idea where he is still but if this boy has been here for a while then he might have information.

[failed_antichrist]

"Oh...." Setsuna's tone changed completely, going soft. He ran a hand through his hair. "I'm an ass. Sorry about that. Um," he gave a nervous, fake chuckle, "welcome to Hell, I guess?"

There really needed to be a better way to greet people when they got to Hell.

"And no. I've been here over a year."

[swordofzero]

Hell. Literal hell? Or just a place that humans called hell. The latter could be many places. Everything so far had seemed to imply the latter, the words about redemotion, the list of sins literally written in blood...

But it had to be some kidnapping. Was he being held by terrorists? And if so why was he allowed to walk free and being offered breakfast.

All of this faded into inconsequential with Setsuna's next words. "A year?" He had been held here for an entire year? "Do you know who our captors are?" What was their motives? Had there been escape attempts? Rescue attempts?

He can't ask any of those latter questions, he has no idea how closely watched they are being.

[failed_antichrist]

"Little over a year," Setsuna confirms with a shrug.

"Well, I guess our captors are Lucifer and God," Setsuna points out. "But it's not like you can't just walk outside the hotel." Of course, figuring out how to get out of Hell? That had been the real problem.

None of those answers likely helped Suzaku, though. Usually, giving answers just left a person with more questions. Even Setsuna felt like that, even after a year.

"Name's Setsuna, by the way." Having a friendly face and knowing someone's name could help, he hopes. Anything to make the whole shock a little easier.

[swordofzero]

Lucifer and God? They had to be code names. But it is the next part that interests him more.

"We can leave this place?"

He feels it might not be that easy, if this boy had been here for a year. Why hadn't he just left? Was it a trap? He has a lot of questions and these answers just gave him more.

He nodded at the name, "Suzaku Kururugi."

[failed_antichrist]

"You can leave the hotel, yeah. Not that I recommend going out too far alone. And you can't just leave Hell. Yet. Well, some people have, but we're still trying to figure out how the rest of us do it."

Suzaku was more than welcome to ask anymore questions he had, but first, Setsuna had one of his own. His face lit up at the name.

"Suzaku? Are you Japanese?" It was an odd balm, hearing names he could place, that weren't so American sounding, but, considering his experiences, he needed to ask.

[swordofzero]

Some people had managed but the way wasn't well known. He nodded, it was something to work on. If there was a way out he would find it.

He does have more questions but Setsuna's own question takes him aback. Not just the question, the wording. It's getting more normal to hear people say 'Japan' but Setsuna said he had been here a year. Setsuna was likely Japanese himself.

"Yes. I am." His tone was... complicated.

[failed_antichrist]

"With those eyes?" Setsuna asks, way too happy. His own blond hair had been the source of a lot of trouble and beatings at school over the years. Somehow, all of the negative implications are easier to set aside when he can bond with someone about it.

"You mixed, like I am? I'm a quarter British."

The complications are lost to him, in the moment.

[swordofzero]

His eyes? He blinked them and nodded. Hes not sure what Setsuna mans, but he doesn't seem to mean it as an insult and so he doesn't take it as one, especially as Setsuna continued.

"Ah. I am a... I was an honourary Britannian." That system doesn't exist anymore but it did a year ago and if Setsuna has been captive all that time there will be a lot he won't know. "But both my parents were Japanese."

[failed_antichrist]

That's fortunate, seeing as Setsuna's unintentionally insulting words have gotten him into a lot of trouble in the past.

Now Setsuna's confused, all over again.

"Britannian? That like British, or something?" Crap. Maybe things are different where Suzaku is from? Setsuna does pout a little to the idea. He had been really hoping....

"My mother was born in Japan. But her father was from England. My dad is all Japanese."

[swordofzero]

Suzaku frowns, looking more confused than anything else. Like British? British was what Britannia had been called once, hundreds of years ago. But not to know... And his mothers father was from England?

"I don't understand. Britannian as in the Holy Britannian Empire." Which also doesn't exist anymore, but it was only disbanded in the last month.

There was no way anyone could not know of it.

arrival

[compelledtoprotect]

The cloak had caught his eye as soon as the kid entered the room, but Steve kept his distance. New people weren't always the most . . . emotionally stable. When the guy approached him though, well. As if he wouldn't help someone out! He smiled down at the kid, who really wasn't all that much a child actually. And those eyes . . . huh. It definitely wasn't a boy looking up at him, was it?

What a shame, though at least that lost innocence wouldn't be paid for in the hotel. He offered a hand and another gentle smile.

"Hi. I'm Steve. You mean the whole ball of wax, or just the meal?"

[swordofzero]

Not the eyes of a child at all. They were hard, focused, attentive on the room around them and on Steve himself, as if gauging him as a threat.

His nod is polite though, he looks a little surprised a the hand but shakes it. He does not smile. "My name is Suzaku, anything you could tell me would be appreciated."

He's a little surprised not to be recognised, this place must be very isolated. He's relived though, one less thing to worry about.

[compelledtoprotect]

Soldier. Now that he was looking, Steve saw it and his smile faded. The kid was military, or had been at some point. Shit. Shit. Not even a smile out of him even with the handshake. If only he knew about the relief of notoriety though. They could totally bond over that!

"Nice to meet you Suzaku, and all you gotta do is ask and I'll answer. I can't promise I know everything, but I've been here a long time now, so there's not much I don't know. Do you want only proven facts, or opinions as well?"

[swordofzero]

He nodded, glad to have found someone who would answer questions. Though the idea that he had been here a long time was concerning.

"I am happy to hear opinions as well. What do you know of our captors?"

Clearly there was no clear out way or people will have taken it, so gathering as much information as he could about who might be behind it is the best route.

[compelledtoprotect]

"Good, because I have a lot of them. And our captors are a lot less worrisome than everything else in this place. Lucifer rarely bestirs himself to act in person, and I know less about his female partner. So far they're . . . not the most immediate threat. Walk with me?"

Steve started to walk, expecting the kid to follow. Standing around and talking wasn't always wise, especially not in public. Not when you were criticizing your hosts' hospitality, "This place isn't safe, that's the first thing to remember. There are lulls, times when things seem safe and calm, but you can't count on them. In fact, they make the bad times even worse. It can almost feel like a home between beatings."

Yeah. You could find friends, family, lovers. You could even make a place that really felt like home. And then you could watch it be torn apart, and watch your loved ones tortured. In many ways it really was a living hell, even if it wasn't Hell.

[swordofzero]

He nodded stiffly and followed him silently. Standing in one place, in the hall of their captor and talking about such things was never a smart thing. Suzaku had no idea who here was part of their captors. He could assume the creatures, demons. But he is unsure about the other people. Many of them were Britannian, but there were others as well.

Not safe, he had assumed that much already. But lulls when things seemed calm and made the bad times even worse... He can understand that. Sometimes memories of happiness brought nothing but pain.

"So the guards are the larger threat to us personally, rather than those in charge." That was often the way, the captors ran things, but to an average prisoner it was the guards who they had to be wary of.

[compelledtoprotect]

"The guards? The demons you mean? No, not really. I mean, some of them can be nasty, but for the most part they're harmless. No, I mean the . . . events I suppose. There's not really a better word for them." Steve shook his head, "No, stuff happens and that's where the real danger is. Some of the residents are a threat, so be careful there, but mostly it's the events."

"When new people show up, there's torture rooms that open up, and you can get shoved into them. You have to do whatever the rules say, and usually you can get out with little to no damage. But if you don't . . ." Steve would have shoved up a sleeve or taken off his shirt if he'd had a useful scar to show, but most of his injuries healed clean, and those that scarred didn't last forever, "It's not pretty. And there are other things that can happen too. Other bad stuff."

How much to tell? Suzaku had the eyes and demeanor of a soldier, but that didn't mean Steve ought to give him the worst of things. Then again, wasn't it better to be prepared? He paused and studied the kid, trying to decide, "Suzaku, do you want the worst, or just the highlights? Details won't make it better, just worse."

[swordofzero]

The demons, real demons? There was no such thing but they definitely looked the part. But even demons that weren't literally real could do terrible things. But to hear they were harmless...

He listened carefully, events, torture rooms, other bad things. He felt the scrutiny and stood straight and still, taking in the knowledge. So it was some sort of prison where they were encouraged to torture each other. How could that even be enforced? Surely people wouldn't do such things?

"The more knowledge I have on the situation, the better."

Being prepared was important, knowledge was important in any battle.

[compelledtoprotect]

The demons weren't harmless, but they were generally a very minor threat. Usually it was other residents, events, or invasions of some kind that were the most dangerous things to worry over. Steve sighed and gave a sharp nod.

"The torture rooms. You get shoved inside and there's a punishment for you and whoever else ends up inside. You do the task and you both usually come out ok. Don't do it, and you both get hurt. There's a knife room, where you have to carve sins into each other or suffer phantom cuts that bleed just fine. Another room has a box that tears out fingernails if you don't confess to the sins on your lists."

"We just survived the Nightmares. Spirits that came through and essentially drove most residents mad, bringing dreams and memories to life so that anyone who happened by would experience the same thing. Some people have been possessed by other spirits. There are plenty of things like that that happen. Too many to discuss just now." He met Suzaku's eyes, "Do you drink Suzaku?"

[swordofzero]

So they were to torture each other. Prisoners harming other prisoners. He nodded, his face stoic, not betraying any emotion as Steve described the various punishments that they were to take part in, carving sins into each other, confessing their sins... The list written in blood, he assumed.

But nightmares? Spirits? Possession? None of those things sounded possible, real. He was so busy trying to get his mind around it that the question took him by surprise.

"Drink?" He shook his head, "No. I'm not of age."

[compelledtoprotect]

He gave the kid a crooked smile, "That's cute. You must have been a seriously capable soldier Suzaku. Around here, the only one you have to answer to is yourself, but if you don't want a drink, how about a snack? I have a habit of trying to feed pretty much everyone. And we can talk more."

Once upon a time, Steve would have all but applauded a guy Suzaku's age for saying no to alcohol, but he'd learned practicality since then. People in the hotel did a hell of a lot of things they oughtn't, so if a little casual drinking was the least of that? He could deal with it. The invite back to his home was all but automatic. Steve had a thing about feeding people, and he always had something to eat in the suite. Or ready to be cooked. Either way worked.

[swordofzero]

Suzaku dropped his eyes, not sure at all what to do with that statement. He was a capable soldier, but it's not exactly a thing to be proud of. The offer of food surprised him as well, perhaps it shouldn't, they are stood in a room serving breakfast. But still.

"Thank you." He nodded, he's not sure how hungry he is but he would appreciate the opportunity to talk more, to learn more about what was going on.