TEST DRIVE MEME #24

[penancemods]

Arrival

"Judgement has come upon you. God has deemed you worthy of Hell. But don't worry, it can still be undone," comes a soothing voice that echoes all around you. The voice promises comfort, hope even.

It may seem like a nightmare at first, despite all of that. Full of hellfire nipping at your skin and a sensation of being pulled down no matter how much you struggle or cry for help. Wretched, unseen hands pull at you, grip tight at your body, tighten on your throat, skeletal fingers grab at your face, slide in your mouth and jab at your eyes as they struggle for purchase. It feels like for a moment, they may snap your neck as they tug and pull. The more you resist, the more phantom hands are added to your struggling body.

It feels like they could tear you apart if you let them. The only thing to do is to let go and stop fighting.

And so you do.

Darkness consumes you for a second.

Initially, everyone opens their eyes to a long, dark corridor made of stone. They find themselves in what appears to be a long queue with other sinners, palm bloody with a contract clutched in their uninjured hand that they don't remember signing.

Characters find their bodies feel heavy and stiff, bruised with odd hand prints here and there that they received during their journey down below. A massive headache throbs behind their temples.

If they look at the list in their hand, they'll notice it's written on with their blood. That explains the wound then. It's an old piece of parchment that details every sin they've committed.

As they move along the queue, they'll find a demon waiting to pass them a communication device that looks almost like a very old Blackberry type phone.

"Welcome to Penance," the demon says gruffly before motioning them on without an ounce of courtesy. "Don't hold up the line. This trip is gonna take longer, but at least you get a vacation..."

Once characters have their device and their contracts, they're ushered further down the hall until they come to a set of stairs. They seem to go on and wind forever, but eventually, they come upon what appears to be a door that's alight with white energy. Stepping through, they find themselves on an island.

There's a demon with striking animal features waiting at the start of a long path where an old castle can be seen looming over a quaint, old village. There's music on the air, celebrations clearly taking place. It's explained that while Lucifer rests and recovers, Mammon will be taking his place. Hell is, for the moment, a pleasurable experience they will heartily insist.

Unfortunately, there is a bit of a trek ahead still. The demon urges them on.


Stand Your Ground

The weather is crisp and pleasant in Mammon's domain. It seems to always be a beautiful day and a beautiful night, no matter what. Sinners should rejoice since this isn't very often the case when it comes to the actual Penance community.

While the energy in the air is as pleasant as ever, it's becoming quite obvious that there are unusual creatures roaming the area. Large dragons circle the woods surrounding the village and lately and often attempt to add to their hoard, other oddities have been slithering out. Chimeras of multiple animals wander free in any horrifying combination one can think of. Deer mixed with creatures far more predatory, bears mixed with wolves, other animals are sewn together in grotesque ways. It seems that with Mammon's attention directed towards the battle, he lost a bit of control over his... projects.

Some are aggressive, others are not. They are all, however, a very alarming show of Mammon's greed and lust for more.

Not to worry! Mammon and his servants will assure everyone that the situation is perfectly under control and that the animals are suffering very little to not at all. He just needs a piece to the puzzle to make certain that these new beasts have a productive, happy life. He will also be offering rewards to those who catch these critters unharmed and return them to the castle for safe keeping.

Rewards may take the form of extra food at the taverns, special rooms at the brothels, or a makeover at the salon and fine clothing to match.

Aside from the projects running around, guests may be delighted to see miniature dragons gallivanting around, no larger than the standard chihuahua but most the size of a palm. Some puff little bits of flame, others carry a slightly poisonous bite, but they're all absolutely adorable... and absolutely escaped the pet shop. To prevent larger animals from eating these little guys up, the shop is encouraging everyone to catch one or two or three. They may either choose to keep the little guys or hand them back to the store for safekeeping and a reward of golden Lucifer tokens for the upcoming Dark Carnival.

That's right! It's almost that time of the year again, folks! It seems like the annual affair will be held at Mammon's domain rather than Penance proper. There are promises of no clowns or human zoos this time around, so... that's a positive, right? A section of the village has been roped off and citizens are busy at work setting up decorations, booths, and a few other attractions such as rides and what appears to be a haunted house in a decrepit old building in the village. Careful! Whatever objects are being moved into the establishment do seem to carry actual spirits attached to them.

Should guests be inclined, they may offer a helping hand, but they will not be forced to do so this time.




Everybody Needs a Holiday

While it may be a little disorienting to not only go to Hell, but to be on a sudden vacation, Mammon’s domain is actually very inviting!

Upon entry, there is lively music in the streets and, worth noting, the demons in this area of Hell seem far more hedonistic than those found in Penance proper. They wear fine clothing, silks and furs, and expensive jewelry. A lot of them have adopted animal characteristics or sport various types of body modifications. They're strangely beautiful creatures overall. Although with all of Mammon's 'projects' on the loose, it does make one wonder if they've adopted these characteristics naturally or if there's something more sinister going on...

Best to not wonder about that so much.

The village itself is quaint and old-fashioned, but everyone seems to be rather pleasant. There may be darker aspects to explore for those inclined, but they are nowhere near apparent on the surface. It's sure to be uncovered later, however...

The incubi and succubi in this area seem to be particularly breathtaking and enticing, but sinners will be urged back on track, should anyone seem to be drifting. There will be time to explore later!

For now, everyone will be encouraged to go to the castle and be shown to their rooms. While they will follow the usual housing assignments to avoid further upset to the sinners' routine, the floor plans will be a bit different. Bathing will be done in communal areas with walls separating the showers and large baths that always seem to run the perfect temperature. None of the rooms will have private bathrooms or kitchens attached. All rooms will have a common area attached to lounge in, however. It will have plenty of available seating for entertaining.

No one will have private kitchens, but room service is available at all hours with anything the sinners could desire available. Maybe even things they never thought they would...

TVs, computers, and other familiar electronics will be unavailable and non-existent in Mammon's realm, but there is a library contained within the castle with fiction and non-fiction from Earth (and beyond) all available for perusing. Devices will continue to function as normal.

Mammon's garden will be available for viewing. In every establishment and all around the castle, there's a cider available freely that seems to encourage a good mood and lower inhibitions. The effects aren't overwhelming, but the more one drinks, the stronger they may become as it builds up. Each night, there will also be an option to attend dinner in a rather grand hall, which Mammon frequently attends. There's always a large spread of food and spiced wines and ales available, as well as decadent desserts and other tempting treats. There's frequently live music or succubi dancing for entertainment.

Overall, the atmosphere in Mammon's realm seems to be focused on luxury, indulgence, greed, and sloth.

[It's recommended that everyone read thoroughly through the new location information as it contains helpful hints on what there is to do while on this vacation! It has a list of shops, animals, vendors, etc. Plus a little bit of information regarding Mammon's land itself.]


Reach Up High

For those who still desire to work on their contracts and remove sins from their list despite the fact this is a vacation, there will be opportunities available! They won't even require suffering... much. Rounding up creatures, saving dragons, or helping the carnival set up are all considered good enough deeds to remove one sin from a contract. This is one sin over all, not per deed.

At least it doesn't require any painful torture... though there may be opportunity abound for that as well, if someone wants to go that route...


Under the Surface

Of course this is still Hell. There has to be something going on once in a while, right? Walk down just the right street and sinners may see delectable tortures being carried out in seedy back alley establishments. Loving cuts with knives, harsh blows with whips while your sins are repeated for all to hear. Even the torture seems to have a hedonistic approach and debauchery about it.

Are the victims truly suffering or are they being redeemed in the best of ways? Those who decide to participate may soon realize that the cider everyone has been consuming seems to add a layer of euphoria to pain and punishments. While this isn't necessarily sexual in nature, it encourages a sense of good well-being after and sinners may become addicted to pain.

The crash may not be too fun though, watch out for that.

There are also other vendors in this area that are offering drugs of all varieties, as well as questionable photos of other sinners engaging in true acts of misdeed, unlike the comic shop that seems to be more embarrassing than not. Perfect chance to get that blackmail of your enemy killing that guy...

There seems to be a new vendor in town too. The figure's table seems to be set up like a fortune teller's booth, complete with a crystal ball and the pungent smell of cheap incense. He beckons those who dare look near, urges them to take a seat in front of the booth. The figure remains in dark robes, hood drawn to obscure their face. The only visible part of them seem to be their hands. Unlike the animal-like demons of Mammon's domain, this one seems to have human hands with sharp, yellowed nails. They offer knowledge in exchange for something you will not miss in return, they assure. What is it? Well, they refuse to say. Nothing important, nothing important.

Ask anything! It can be about a specific occurrence back home, the answer to life, the universe, and everything, or something as simple as what does Lucifer truly want. Keep in mind that a price will be taken down the line and it may not be something the sinner actually wanted to lose. Ah, well...

[For knowledge based transactions, please respond here. If a character asks a question of their homeworld or something in their future, players may assume they are told a bit of information on the topic without waiting for mod approval. If a character asks something related to Hell, please wait for a response. Regardless of answer type, please respond to the thread linked here so that you can later receive a decision on what your character has given up for this knowledge. It may be a memory, a temporary loss of a sense, a year or so off their lives (when they return home), lack of resilience to sin, etc. Please be aware that signing up does mean consequences at a later date... and these may not come from Mammon or Lucifer.]


Follow Me Down

WARNINGS: sexual themes, animal-like behavior, dub/non-con potentials, implied bathroom play, mating.

It seems there's a trickster somewhere, somehow who spiked the cider. Naughty little devil! Those who are unfortunate enough to drink the tainted cider may find themselves developing animal-like traits, such as enhanced senses, animalistic urges, and a general need to be territorial or possessive. They may find the urge to keep to their pack or to branch out and find a new one. This may also result in features, such as fangs or claw-like nails that may or may not retract. Sinners will find themselves reverting back to a primal nature that they may not be able to resist.

How utterly embarrassing!

Don't worry, these effects only last a couple days at most before they will fade completely! Unfortunately, 'animal-like traits' may also extend to mating rituals. Sinners may find themselves going into heat. While knotting or other traits will not be apparent, sinners will find themselves desperate for intimate contact. This may mean a poor sinner in heat will be mated by several lovers in a row as their scent inevitably draws them in, there may also be possessive behavior displayed that results in biting and marking, and others wanting to mark their territory in ways that would make even the most seasoned succubus blush.

It may also mean those inflicted with the heat-like state, will present themselves to those they find attractive as mates or find other ways to entice them to get what they want.


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 June 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.

If you have questions, comments, suggestions, etc., go here.


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daryl dixon | the walking dead (open & closed)

[dadyl]

➸ 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙵𝙾𝚁𝚃𝚄𝙽𝙴 𝚃𝙴𝙻𝙻𝙴𝚁 - OPEN

[ Daryl has been watching people come and go at the fortune teller's booth for a while. Few seem to leave in a happy mood, some cry, but most others just take their piece of information with a stone-like face and then shuffle along, resigned to where they are and the inability to do anything about whatever they've just learned.

Daryl can think of a few things he could ask. He can think of nothing he's entirely sure he wants the answer to, however. ]

You afraid to ask, too?

[ Whoever else is hanging back gets a short, sideways glance from him, but he doesn't seem bothered by their presence. He can appreciate that someone else is fighting with the same particular sort of cowardice that he is. ]

You think it's tellin' the truth?

➸ 𝙼𝙰𝚁𝙺𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝙷𝙸𝚂 𝚃𝙴𝚁𝚁𝙸𝚃𝙾𝚁𝚈 - CLOSED (cw: likely nsfw or adjacent)

( i. ) CLOSED TO: GABE

[ Daryl catches the scent of him before he sees him. He'd woken up that day to find all of his senses heightened, so much so that he'd had a headache from all the new sounds and smells for nearly an hour before he'd learned to live with it, but now they're all telling him the same thing - he's close, find him. When he does, some protective instinct in Daryl flares up so hard that all he can see is the other fanged resident giving Gabe a hard time. Whoever it is, they stand far taller and broader than Gabe, even moreso than Daryl, but Daryl's never been afraid of being outmatched in size.

He approaches silently but for a low, rumbling growl, rips the other 'wolf' away from Gabe by the collar of their shirt and throws them in a toppled heap on the ground. As they're scrambling to their feet, Daryl squares his shoulders, towers down on them and barks like a coyote.

Then he turns on Gabe. ]

Watch it, Origami.

[ Hey, he got the word right, but... watch what? Even Daryl isn't sure why he's still snarling, but the instinct is too strong to deny. He suddenly can't stand to see anyone or anything he doesn't trust anywhere near the guy that spoke softly to him once and walked him out of a crowd when he needed it most. ]

( ii. ) CLOSED TO: REY

[ Hers is one of the only faces here that has the potential to bring Daryl any kind of relief or a brief moment of connection, but now the sight of her in a crowd makes every one of Daryl's senses perk up and sharpen. He loses her quickly in the press, far away from him and moving in the other direction as she is, but with his new sense of smell, he hardly needs to rely on his eyes. Rey smells as charged as he knows he does, whatever that means, and somehow he's positive that he'd know the scent of her anywhere.

He's proved right when his fast pace brings him to the edge of the crowd only a few yards behind her. And it's definitely her, alright. ]

Rey.

[ Not a question. When she stops he steps in close to her, enough that when he butts his head against hers without any other greeting offered, it's more of a nuzzle. ]

Where've you been?

[ He's not sure why it comes out that way, nor why he's touching her. He'd been thinking of saying something like 'haven't seen you in a bit, hope you've been okay' but those aren't the words that end up coming out - nor is it the same sentiment at all as he breathes her in. ]

( iii. ) CLOSED TO: AMOS

[ Daryl isn't sure whose scent he's following around the corner of the alley until suddenly the guy is there, big and unmistakable even while being circled by three others who have similar animalized traits as Daryl. Every heightened sense in Daryl is telling him danger and on top of that, the directive protect him burns as clearly as any instinct for survival he's ever known. Daryl has always been someone willing to put himself between danger and his people without hesitation, and now, thanks to the fuzzy memory he has of being led out of a crowd by this guy, his body is screaming at him to return the favor.

So he does. He approaches on quiet hunter's feet and takes the closest target around the neck to fling him into the brick wall with all the force he can. Two seconds later, he's between Amos and the other two, fangs barred. ]

Don't you fuckin' touch him.

[ His voice is more low growl than words and he snaps at the first of the two strangers that rushes him, making them flinch and draw back. ]

He ain't yours.

➸ WILDCARD !

( Let's plot or just hit me with something different! I prefer to chat first about super intense scenes or anything nsfw but I'm open to a lot. pm the journal or add/pp @ kaitniss )

[minuteofangle]

[ One moment Gabe's squaring up against a fucker a full head taller than him, getting up in the man's face to snarl at him and spit venom, and in the next -

In the next, someone's there like the wrath of god and the fucker's sprawling across the ground. And then the new guy barks.

What.

Gabe twitches, too surprised to be rightly pissed about it. ]

The fuck was that, huh?

[dadyl]

[ Daryl can see the look of surprise on the guy’s face but can’t seem to process it cleanly. The scent of him is far stronger, more urgent and more important, and seems to fill Daryl’s perception far more. He steps closer to him, tense and flexed, and breathes in deeply. ]

You know him?

[ He forces himself to look back over his shoulder at the other fanged asshole disappearing down the alleyway, apparently not looking for a fight if it was going to be 2-on-1. ]

[minuteofangle]

Never met him before. I had it handled.

[ Gabe frowns, listening carefully. Daryl seems off somehow. And then Gabe wonders if there's some visual clue he's missing, some detail his nanotech isn't sensitive enough to pick up. He doesn't like it. ]

The fuck is up with you?

[jedied]

[ Rey didn't think she'd had that much of the cider. Just a small cup; she'd been so thirsty after helping round up a number of Mammon's chimeras and everyone had been drinking the stuff all week. She hadn't noticed anything different about herself until she'd nearly bitten through her own lip with one of the small sharp points that her canine teeth have become.

She'd be cursing her own carelessness if she could think straight. Instead, she's stalking around restlessly, unable to cure the odd hunger she's feeling with any of the food on offer. Unable to pinpoint what, exactly, she needs. A fight, perhaps? Or -- ]

Daryl.

[ She'd been so lost in her own pursuit of something nameless that she hadn't noticed him until he's right there, and then he's flooding her senses, his smell familiar in a way she hadn't noticed before, and his greeting more than welcome. Her lips curl into a small, almost relieved smile which reveals her tiny fangs, and her voice comes out in a low almost-growl that would've startled her if she weren't feeling slightly warm and fuzzy around the edges the minute she presses her cheek against his, her hands clenching possessively onto the edges of his vest as though to keep him from pulling away again. She breathes deep and sighs, having found what she didn't realize she'd been tracking. ]

What a pleasant surprise.

[dadyl]

[ The way her cheek brushes his is at once strange and so familiar. It’s something he would normally have pulled away from nervously, something he never would have initiated himself, but now it seems natural. Easy. Comforting. Her fingers curling into his clothes are welcomed because it means she isn’t going anywhere without him - that he’ll be taken along, like a pack should be. As though he actually belongs somewhere, here.

It’s a challenge to find any words to respond with, but eventually he does. ]

Is it?

[jedied]

Mm-hm.

[ She can't articulate why. She knows, vaguely, that this isn't how she'd normally greet a friend. Maybe she's finally going demonic? The teeth would suggest it, but this doesn't feel evil. She just belongs with Daryl right now. He's one of hers, someone she's meant to protect. Someone who will protect her in return. There are too many others right now, pressing in from all sides, and she turns her head to snarl something rude in Huttese at someone who's just jostled her on their way past.

That done, she focuses on Daryl again, her eyes sharp and hungry. ]

Come on. We should get out of this crowd.

the fortune teller

[mcpieceofshit]

(Izaya is only around to perhaps pick up gossip that someone might be throwing around after their meeting with the so-called fortune teller. Knowledge about home doesn't really do it anymore for him, not when he's in a much more exciting and alluring place for someone like him - someone who just likes to watch.

Naturally, there is a thing or two that Izaya'd most likely like to see unfold in the depths of Hell itself. Cowardice, however, hinders him from asking himself in fears of having something precious taken from him, but to have others do it in his stand? That's what pawns are for!

Izaya's taken from his thoughts by someone voicing his concern, smiles, and waves a hand. No need to lie this time around.)

For an unknown price, it'd better be, no? Although I feel like one should take it with a grain of salt whatever it is they tell us. From the stories I've heard, I was given very little reason to trust anything that comes from this place.

[dadyl]

[ Daryl has to snort at those observations and he nods before looking over again to consider the creep with the fingernails. Like anything that looks like that should be trusted anyway. ]

You ain’t kiddin’.

[ And the unknown price... there are only two questions he could think that would be worth whatever it is they’re looking to take from him, and he’s been living without answer to those for a long time. Something you won’t miss. Well, Daryl has little enough that anything taken would be missed. He knows that. And he’s also pretty damn certain that they don’t mean his vest or a boot. ]

What d’you think they’re gonna take from everyone? You been around long enough to guess?

[mcpieceofshit]

When I came around, we were already coming here, would you believe that?

(He missed the reign of Barbas, and the fight, as well as all the other little conflicts surrounding it, which he finds rather unfortunate. There are way too many things happening in Hell that Izaya isn't a part of and that he more than anything wish he were.)

If I were to guess, it'd be something that benefits them and hinders us. Inability to resist sinning, perhaps?

more of the fortune teller

[vretha]

I am concerned, [ the tone of the girl, who doesn't look like she could be more than eighteen, is very serious, as if this is the most serious manner that could ever have been discussed before her ] that perhaps it is the truth.

Delivered in a rather absurd and ... not quite, but bordering on offensive caricature fashion. Then again, what else can one expect from Hell?

[dadyl]

[ Her seriousness is indeed creepy, but only because Daryl has learned to judge unknowns off of the people who seem to know them better than him. She seems to be taking the scene sort of personally, and so maybe that means he should be taking it all pretty seriously too.

Not that he isn’t already. ]

You mean like some cheap carnival shit. [ Yeah, he can see that. ] This whole place is tacky that way, though. Think they do it on purpose. Don’t make it any less real.

[vretha]

Yes. That is not an uncommon thing that people do with fortune-telling, though it can be very real.

[ From Inej's glare in the direction of the display of the fortune teller, its garish ghoulishness, it's apparent that she believes the mockery is in and of itself just as great a sin as any she may have performed or perpetuated. She's processing what Daryl said, though, and after a moment's pause, moves to clarify. ]

But these absurdities are hiding true meaning behind them? You've experienced this?

[baltimores]

[ Right. It's Hell. Sometimes it's easy to forget that when the vast majority of your experience is a fancy boat and a nice garden and a bigass castle. And then suddenly you're surrounded by three, shit, he doesn't know what, just that he's probably going to have to fight his way out of this.

Which, no reason to think he can't, even though his own bared teeth are blunted, no fangs, and three against one aren't the best odds, but—

And suddenly it's two against two (or, rather, one against two, with Amos suddenly decidedly with a human(??) barrier). He keeps his fists up, but his own snarl fades into something confused. He recognizes this guy — Daryl — but this is like. The complete opposite from when he saw him last. So, what the fuck. ​]

What the fuck?

[ His voice is low, soft, genuinely baffled. He takes some offence to the language used — implying he's anybody's — but there are more pressing matters first. Also, he can still fight his own battles, pretty sure. He tries to step back up, square up, if Daryl's even going to let him now, seriously, where the fuck did he even come from, what the hell is he doing. ]

[dadyl]

[ It seems to be so much harder for him to care about words than sights and smells in the state he’s in, especially when one of the two they’re facing rushes at Amos again and Daryl practically clotheslines him with a vicious strike to the throat. With his partner gasping for air, the other seems to think better of his charge and turns, disappearing down the alley while the other two are still struggling to their feet. ]

What?

[ What what the fuck? It’s obvious enough to him, as obvious as basic biology - his pack was being challenged and that needed answering. Daryl can’t get the feral rasp out of his voice, even as he turns to Amos and steps into his space, inhaling him deeply, ears trained on the injured parties behind him but every other sense focused on absorbing the guy he’d been tracking. ]

You okay?

[baltimores]

[ For his part, Amos does manage to keep his ground. Doesn't flinch back when he's almost rushed, when Daryl handles it for him, completely invades his space and oh god, what is he doing? Is he smelling him?

Amos glances around his body for a second, trying to keep an eye on the two bodies yet to fully right themselves, but it's a fruitless effort. He drops his hands to his sides, looking directly into Daryl's eyes — that's a new one, huh — trying to figure this out. He didn't even get to throw a punch of his own, damn. ]

Yeah, I'm okay.

[ If he sounds skeptical, it's because he doesn't understand what's going on here. This is a complete 180 from the guy he led away from a torture stage, thought for sure he was going to fuck it up, get clocked or make things worse or whatever. And now he's up close and personal, sounding... there's something wrong with his voice. And not that Amos thought Daryl was always small or skittish, but taking down guys for him, unannounced and vicious. Nobody's ever done that kind of thing for him before. So combine the two, and it's weird as fuck. Something's not right. ]

Are you okay?

wildcarding it up!

[notyourgovernor]

[The level of crowds in the carnival were enough to set his teeth on edge. Rick hasn't been around this many people since before the fall of everything and it doesn't sit right with him. Animals though? That he can manage, especially if it's in exchange for valuables like food and maybe even a change of clothes.

He keeps to the edges of the crowds as they mill about, two baby dragons asleep inside his jacket and another one curled around his shoulders. The little ones are easy to manage given he has no weapons so he's taking another collection of them back to the shop when he glimpses a familiar profile.

Sorrow wars with relief as he starts shouldering his way through the people, not daring to call out his name until he's close enough to be absolutely certain that it's him. While he's glad to see a familiar face, it also hurts to know that his best friend, his brother, had somehow fallen.]

Daryl?

c r y f a c e

[dadyl]

[ Oh, no.

There's a significant lag in between the moment that Daryl sees him and recognizes him, and the moment he can accept what he's seeing.

It's really him.

It feels like his chest has been run over. He can't pull in a breath. He'd looked for him for years. He'd had to leave the communities that they'd built up together, live in the wild and the rain and the frost, just because he still saw him everywhere. About to step out of every building. He couldn't stay in the places Rick had saved when he hadn't been able to bring his brother home, dead or alive, to Michonne. To his kids.

'Hey! Be safe.' It was the last thing he'd ever been able to say to him before it happened. Daryl has never been much of one for words but he sure as shit can't find any now when he needs them. Just getting out his name is hard enough because Daryl is balancing right on the edge of an escaping sob. ]

Rick?

[notyourgovernor]

[Things had gone so wrong that last day. The fight, tumbling into that goddamn sinkhole, damn near coming to blows over it all, but Rick had tried so hard to make it right in the end.

Brother, I've got you.

No matter how many times they argued or spun apart, they always found their way back together. Nothing could sever the bonds he and Daryl had made over the years. Friends, allies, brothers. Feelings Rick never had words for and could never find.

The world around him blurs as he blinks through sudden tears because Daryl shouldn't be here, he shouldn't be gone and Rick shouldn't feel such an overwhelming sense of relief to finally see him again. Anything to replace those last images when he was standing on the bridge, facing down his own end.

His first step forward is lurching, hesitant and then he's moving quicker, meaning to haul Daryl in for a very overdue hug.] Yeah. Yeah it's me.

fortune teller

[dyaddyissues]

[ Casting a tall, severe figure, Kylo watches in what might look like an impassive nature; if not for the ever slight curl of his lip. He watches people enter and exit the tent and takes note in the way in which they arrive, and when they leave, but makes no move towards the set up himself.

It doesn't seem he's alone with his hesitance, in fact he'd have to wonder why anyone so openly trusts something that Hell offers, but.... well, he remains curious. ]

There may be slight truths to it, but I would not rely on any information given to us, entirely.

[dadyl]

[ Daryl can't argue with that. Maybe it would be something like all the hucksters in his world, using just enough that they could glean about to you trick you into thinking they knew more.

They had known his sins when he'd arrived, though. He can't deny that they had at least that much insight. ]

Who wants a half-truth, anyway. If we gotta pay somethin' for it.

wildcard

[neganomics]

[ Having the woods is a comfort. It's familiar. Negan takes to them to get away from the bustle of normalcy. Things haven't been normal in a very long time back in their world, so he needs a taste of their version of normal. The quiet. The trees. The occasional rustle of an animal. He squints toward the sky and double takes when he sees something fly across.

Perhaps Daryl had the same idea of outdoorsy escape. Because when Negan catches up to him, he's casually lighting a cigarette and gesturing with Lucille toward the sky. ]

Jesus. Was that an actual goddamn dragon? Or am I losing my mind? This our chance to be dragon hunters? Think you could take that shit down with your crossbow?

[ Does Daryl even have a crossbow here? Ah well. Doesn't matter. Negan swings Lucille up to rest against his shoulder. Probably wouldn't do much against a dragon, but it doesn't mean he won't go down swinging if they do get attacked. ]

[dadyl]

[ It turns out that Daryl and Negan crave the very same thing in this place, at least when it comes down to the need for their brand of normalcy to trump Hell's lavish extravagance. Maybe he shouldn't have been surprised to see him catching up, and even though Daryl considers trying to outrun him, he can't be bothered.

Especially not when the dragon swoops past. ]

Already done it.

[ He hadn't treated it as a big thing the last time the dragons had shown up (much bigger ones, he might add) and he'd shot one that dived too close to him square in the eye, but he's much more prone to arrogance now when he can tell Negan so. He can't help digging in with his tone. ]

Got one in the eye, anyway. Sent it packin'. Don't know if they die, though, they didn't stick around last time.

the fortune teller;

[mcfuckup]

[Masaomi nearly jumps when he realizes someone is talking to him rather than the fortune teller. For all that he loves to be the center of attention, he's been trying to blend into the background today. If Izaya finds out that he's been here, he'll no doubt throw it in Masaomi's face later. But when he turns, sees the rough-and-tough stranger who's spoken up, actually soaks the innocuous questions posed through his thick skull, he relaxes.]

I can't trust a guy who says he can predict the future. [The teen shrugs helplessly.] They're probably lying, but if they're telling the truth... That's even worse.

[dadyl]

How d'you mean?

[ Daryl doesn't spend a lot of time considering philosophical questions like those that come with fortune-telling. He's just never had the occasion to, nor really the right company. His entire life has been about the practicalities of surviving.

Why wouldn't you want to know the future, he thinks, if you can better prepare for it? ]

Like, if the answer ain't what you want, or somethin'?