TEST DRIVE MEME #27

[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 and nothingness consumes you for a second, but only 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.

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. They are urged forward to take a numbered ticket and wait their turn in the long line. As they're ushered forward through the corridor, their first stop will be to see Lilith, standing outside her office.

The woman in a smart suit and a friendly smile steps forward to greet sinners one by one. "I'm sorry for your rough landing. We've never gotten it quite as smooth as it was in the past. Please, let me see your hand--"

Once she has the sinner's hand, there's the warm, almost electric touch of magic that soothes away the aches and pains, heals the wound left behind on each sinner's palm. Lilith looks satisfied with her work and gives a nod. "There, all better. Please continue on until you reach Death's office. He'll have your contracts ready for you."

There's a slightly wicked twist to her lips. "Please do feel free to ask him about any of those sins listed..."

And so on, sinners travel until they finally arrived at another office where Death sits waiting. Here is where you'll receive a contract detailing all sins committed. If they look at the list closely enough they'll notice it's written on with their blood. That explains the wound then. It's an old piece of parchment despite the freshly written letters upon it. Death will also provide slightly more modern smart phone. Think early generation Android.

Seems as though Hell has moved on up from the very old Blackberry type phone.

Once characters have their device and their contracts, they're ushered further down the hall. It seems to go on and wind forever, but eventually, they come upon the lobby of Penance hotel. Once there, they will notice several shops and other areas around the front desk.

The demon at the front desk looks rather bored, but when sinners approach? He seems to snap to attention to offer whatever help they might need of him. He will at least direct to food or rooms to rest their wary bodies, or recommend sights to see around the hotel.


Stand Your Ground

While the Mares have gone, as per Death's bargain with God, and reconstructing Penance is coming along fairly well, the air is carrying with it a cold crispness that sends a chill down one's spine. Lucifer is still nowhere to be found, and if pressured, staff will say he's having talks with the other Lords of Hell, as well as God himself. Things need to be worked out, no matter how difficult it is for Lucifer to accept and swallow his pride. He won't be around to offer warmth to the Penance community and it may, in fact, be mirroring his current mood.

Or it may be the creeping sense of doom that's following so many around now that The Veiled Order has been able to nearly complete their next spell. Local demons will plainly say that God won't help them against this threat, that he doesn't care if Hell is destroyed, and others will be very hush about the situation entirely. No need to scare the local sinners, new or old!

Instead just enjoy the reopening businesses around the local area! Nothing is off-limits. Hellburbia seems to have suffered some extensive damage recently, but not to worry! There's talk of building back better than ever.

Other than that, Helluva Cup has a new spiced drink... and spiced everything. That's right! Pumpkin spice has apparently come early this year... and it may be a bit overpowering and in everything in the coffee shop, regardless of what you order. Even Bean, the 'friendly' hell rat the owner keeps in the shop seems to be feasting on pumpkin flavored meat. That's probably okay. Right?

Penance Library is offering a special reading of Leviathan-specific reads. The local goblins will be doing readings every afternoon for all who care to listen or to stick around and discuss it. These will all be fictional in nature, not historic texts.

Strangely enough, there seems to be a sort of curfew happening. While everyone will not be expected to be in the hotel necessarily, they must take shelter in the newly opened Club Penance, Casino Styx, Hella Shorty's, or other establishments. They must either stay the night in these establishments or be escorted to the hotel by demonic guards. These guards will be doing rounds around the Penance community to ensure no one is out alone. Do not fight them or they may surprise you with how strong they can be.

Additionally, anyone caught defying curfew knowingly or fighting back will be locked in their rooms for up to three days as a potential danger to the community as a whole. There are all sorts of dangers lurking out there and the demons are absolutely trying to keep everyone as safe as they can!

Otherwise, it's business as usual around Penance, so go on an exploration! Bundle up against the cold! Have fun!


Reach Up High

WARNINGS: cutting, blood, torture

Whether you've been here for months or you're freshly arrived, your demonic overlord unfortunately expects some participation despite the current state of things. You can try and shirk the responsibility, of course. You can bargain your way out of it for a while. But eventually, you may find yourself trapped in a room just off the gym that's been fondly dubbed The Torture Room. It has all manner of equipment in there, along with an iron maiden even.

But don't worry about any of that right now. It probably won't be used.

You can try the door, but even with super human strength or every lock picking skill in the book, you won't be able to open it.

It soon becomes apparent what you're supposed to do when someone else is eventually shoved in with you. Both of your lists of sins will appear on a table that's been placed in the center of the room with two handy knives. You can choose to guard these or not care at all that they're on display.

"Unfortunately, due to Father coming back into the picture, I know that He will demand punishment be delivered despite our circumstances. I have chosen a rather easy one, focused on honesty and acceptance of your sins. Please pick up a knife and choose a sin from each of your lists to carve upon your skin. Aid each other in your journey, carve the words to help your fellow penitent be candid with everyone around them!"

The voice rings out within the sinners' heads as it always does, although Lucifer seems agitated at the moment, hesitant in some way that he usually isn't.

"I do apologize for this. If it was up to me, you would have been free of additional torment this month. However, there will be additional incentive for anyone who should try to resist the task I've appointed them."

It isn't a lie nor an idle threat either. The longer you wait to do what's been requested of you, the more shallow cuts that will appear on both of your bodies. Are you really prepared to endure this pain when giving in would be so much easier?

And more than that, are you willing to let another suffer along with you?

Eventually, the cuts will stop if you suffer them long enough, but you'll have failed this challenge and sustained more damage than if you'd just gone along with it. Satan will also be very disappointed in you.


Follow Me Down

Prompt I: Reopening

WARNINGS: sex, drugs, alcohol, aphrodisiacs, body changes, potential kinks, violence, potential non-con or dub-con.

Club Penance is finally back! And with themed nights to start off all the fun. This night's theme is: Anything But Clothes. Guests who enter the adult oriented side of the club will notice the incubi and succubi who serve in it are entirely without clothes (and any ounce of shame!). They're eager to get right back to business. They're very encouraging of others to do the same whether it be immediately or in sexy strip shows.

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 in the club, 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 undress may also find their clothes randomly disappearing, or being torn off by some eager patron or demon who is 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.

For the dance oriented portion of the club, the theme is a little more lax. Instead of outright nakedness, 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?


Prompt II: Your Average Hotel Night

WARNINGS: Alcohol and drug abuse, potential non-con/dub-con

With all the sinners, new and old, the hotel bar will be lit up with activity. Drinks will be readily available, there's food in the kitchens if anyone wants to bother serving it, music will be blaring whenever there's electricity, and overall, there will be an energy to the atmosphere that's absolutely contagious. Even if you aren't typically inclined to linger at these sorts of events there may be be a certain pull to stay and have a bit of fun.

You might not get much of a chance to have that in Hell, after all. One drink won't hurt, right? Nor will one more after that, and after that. Ah, sweet gluttony. Why not have a pastry next? There's some delectable sweets available just a few steps away. More of a meat person? Like things salty? Fear not, it looks like someone graciously brought all sorts of snacks and foodstuffs from the kitchens to the bar as the night progresses. Indulge! You deserve it.

Similar to Club Penance, the bar also has every sort of drug available that might tickle your fancy and some you've never heard of. There's no harm in experimenting, is there? You're already in Hell. The staff will offer to show anyone how to use the drugs or give advice for what to try if you tell them what you want to experience. Shockingly, they won't lie! Their advice is good word its just you might not have been exactly prepared for it.

There's a stage and a karaoke machine for those feeling brave or just wanting to torture people with some sweet, sweet renditions of The Devil Went Down to Georgia.

There are tables set up for all sorts of gambling and various bar games to entertain yourself with. Since currency as most are familiar with it doesn't quite exist down here, most of the demons seem to be accepting bits of your soul or offers to do chores around the hotel. You may also get pulled into a fun game of strip poker against one of your fellow guests for a few succubi that are having a night out.

Relax and enjoy your night. Coming here and facing your sins is the hard part, so surely you deserve to have a little fun.


Wildcard/Misc.

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seto kaiba | yugioh | ota

[neutronblast]

knife to meet you.
cw: cutting, blood, torture

[through some stroke of fate or just dumb luck, kaiba had managed to avoid most of the hellish torture until now. sure, he had been scarred and burned by cultists, but he wasn't intimately acquainted with knives until now, as he's shoved into the nightmarish room with his sins laid out for all to see. or maybe just one person in this case.

he doesn't even look at the lists. instead, he stares warily at the blades as lucifer booms in his head.]

Well, this sucks.

[yeah. no kidding. he's not too fond of scars and that's exactly where this was headed.]

way down low.
cw: drugs, alcohol, aphro

[against his better judgment, kaiba decides to check out the re-opened club penance. and regrets it immediately.

sex was sex. he doesn't care one way or another; he's had a few partners here and dalliances back home. so it doesn't bother him to see it on full display. it does bother him, however, that the demons keep needling him to shed his layers and even undress entirely. eventually he sates them by stripping down to skintight leather pants, which hug his hips and leave him bare above the waist. now he's on display too, sipping at his mojito and letting the drugs -- slipped into his drink -- lull him into submission.

for the most part, kaiba keeps to himself in the booth. but he's not adverse to company or conversation and may even be lured into a dance, if one chooses to engage him.]

we bonded.
cw: dubcon

[as kaiba winds down in the club, he unwittingly gets roped into testing out hell's latest concoction: a curious drug said to bond people together.

it's exactly the sort of thing he would rather avoid. because people were pretty much the worst. even under the best circumstances, even with those he could tolerate, he kept them at a distance. it was easier that way, to act above it all. it was easier to seal those emotions shut and pretend they didn't exist. except he can't now.

when he locks eyes with you, it's pretty much over. intensity takes over. there's no escape from it.]

Hey. Come with me.

[where we they going? it didn't matter. he just knows they have to be together.]

wildcard.

[kaiba can also be found at helluva cup, bitching about pumpkin spice, or breaking curfew. feel free to run into him there or anywhere else! his "canon" scar has already been decided for the first prompt, but multiple threads are welcome. the second prompt is open to anything in the club as well. hit me up with any other ideas!]

k n i v e s

[sharktrash]

[ squalo has never had that sort of luck. he'd already had scars from work when he first got here, then got a bunch more thanks to hell, and feitan had worked over most of the remaining unharmed skin on his chest and back. ]

[ what's a little bit more at this point? ]

[ he's sitting on the table swinging his legs back and forth like the torture room is his goddamn home. picks up a knife. throws it up and down like an apple. grins. there's no room for friendship in reach up high prompts ]

How unlucky for you.

[ is he referring to the fact that kaiba apparently doesn't like it or that he got him of all people to be stuck here with? yes. ]

[neutronblast]

[as if they were friends. as if they would ever be. as if he even has any friends at all. although far from frightened by squalo's usual show of bravado, he's not exactly thrilled to see him there. being trapped in a room with a mafioso and a murderer didn't bode well for anyone. he was still unpredictable and thus still a threat.]

Can we just get this over with so I can get back and forget it ever happened?

[kaiba claims the remaining knife, twirling it right back at squalo as a sassy touché.]

At least pick a fun one. Then we can really make a joke out of it.

[sharktrash]

[ squalo's expression doesn't change as he extends his arm, pointing the knife at the other man and blocking the other blade from moving. what a show-off. ]

Do I look like a fucking joker to you?

[ swiftly, he leans over to unroll kaiba's sin scroll with his free hand. do you have anything fun, bad boy, or is he gonna have to put the fun in funeral right here and now? ]

I already know what I want. You got a preference?

[ He often let his victims choose their manner of death, it's not a big step to behave the same way with something like permanent scarring. What a nice guy. ]

[neutronblast]

[fine. he'll bite. even though he already suspects he'll regret it.]

And what exactly do you want, Squalo?

[indulge him. god knows you will anyway.]

[sharktrash]

[ he gives a crooked grin and tugs at the neck of his shirt, revealing what may as well be a print pattern of MURDER covering what's visible of his shoulder and the area around his collarbone. ]

Another one for the collection, of course.

[ Talk about being proud of his work. ]

Wouldn't want to walk around with something pathetic like "cheating" carved into my skin.

[ Yes, he's just looked at your list, Kaiba, and he's throwing shade. But then, what else is new. ]

[neutronblast]

[he glances over the scars for all of two seconds before grunting:]

Am I supposed to be impressed? Or intimidated? Or both?

[keep it up, squalo. keep posturing. get it out of your system. go for broke. he'll wait.]

we bonded;

[millenniumeyed]

[Considering the events of the last two weeks, it probably isn't surprising that Pegasus is found highly inebriated by Seto, a glass of off-colour wine hanging from his fingers. He ended up at Club Penance from the hotel bar, and he can't remember how exactly that happened, but he's not fussed, because some friendly demons almost immediately sat down to chat with him and top up his glass with... well, he's not entirely sure what it is; the demons were just about to explain it to him, but he's quick to abandon the conversation when Kaiba addresses him.]

You want my company? There's a first. How could I possibly refuse?

[He drains his drink, rises, and tosses his empty glass to one of the demons, who fumbles and just barely manages to catch it before it strikes the ground. The demons, for their part, exchange a look before shrugging and moving on to the next available subjects.]

Where to? I've lost count of how many glasses of wine I've had and the night is young.

[Pegasus is very obviously drunk, and lucky Kaiba: he's about to have all the pleasant warmth and lowered inhibitions without the potential for a hangover.]

[neutronblast]

[no. no, no, no, his mind screams at him. anyone but you. anyone but this man. he doesn't want to "bond" with this man. he can't bond with this man. every part of him opposes the very reality of it; every part of him rejects it. yet the drug doesn't care about any of that, so rather than rail against it, he accepts it. he accepts it without question.

seto drifts close, brushing their torsos together. his own bare, toned, muscular.]

You're drunk.

[a meaningless observation. so was he.]

This shouldn't happen.

[a pointless remark. it would. it will.]

You don't want it.

[...didn't he, though?]

[millenniumeyed]

[Oh, he's. Very shirtless, isn't he. Which didn't seem quite as important a moment ago, but they're in such close proximity now that it's hard not to notice that, yes, he's completely bare allllllll the way down to his hips, and oh, wow, those pants are really tight aren't they.

It's odd that this is the second time he's run into Kaiba shirtless. That seems like a lot of times for him, specifically, to see Seto Kaiba shirtless.]

What?

[He looks back up at Kaiba's face, clearing his throat and arching an inquisitive eyebrow.]

I missed most of that. What don't I want?

[neutronblast]

[it is even possible for him to get closer? well, he manages it, then nearly hisses through his teeth:]

You know exactly what I meant.

[millenniumeyed]

[Well, he does now, and he looks somewhere between amused and bemused.]

Oh. Oh no. [He laughs, reaching up to cup Seto's face in his hands and give his cheeks an affectionate little pinch. The proximity should be a concern, but he sinks into it instead of away.] You got drugged again? You gave me all those warnings and you're walking into trouble every other time I see you.

[He's really, far too drunk to be cognisant of the fact he's also drugged, but it'll register eventually.

He closes what little space remains between them, foreheads jostling together.]

I'm a little more concerned about how much you don't want that. Why don't we... [There's a pause, and his eye jumps around the room before coming to settle on the dance floor.] Why don't you indulge me in a dance instead?

[neutronblast]

[this is it; this is surrender. he allows the hand that ordinarily would've been swatted away. when pegasus presses forward, seto does the same. he leans into his touch. he permits the contact, even seeks it out, felt on pegasus' face as the drug takes effect. and his own hand reaches up, carding through all that silvery hair.]

Don't mock me.

[it's weak-willed at best. nodding at his suggestion, he draws back, taking pegasus by the wrist to tug him along.]

And fine. Just for a few minutes.

[just so long as they're together.]

knives

[swordofzero]

[As was the way of things in hell there was not much time to recover from the affects of the nightmares and the imprisonment and those days of not knowing what was real and what was a twisted dream.

Things had sprung back to as normal as things got in hell and it does feel it. This is more like things had been, before Barbas. Right down to being thrown in one of these rooms and Lucifer's voice echoing around them.

He's not been forced into this punishment before, he looks at the array of knives with distaste and then up to the other man.

Kaiba. His stomach twists. It would not be easy whoever he was in here with but Kaiba isn't exactly just anyone. He looks towards the door but he knows enough to know they won't get out of this. That's not how punishment works.]

Yes. It does. Are you alright? [He can't help but notice that wariness. It's worrying. Kaiba comes across as so confident.]

[neutronblast]

[on the one hand: yes, this definitely sucks, no bones about it. but on the other...

the gears were turning in that brilliant mind. this was the perfect opportunity to find out more about suzaku, more than what he already knew. thinning his eyes at the two lists on the table, he then holds his hand out, expectantly, ever the polished businessman. he'll just ignore that inquiry about his well-being, because frankly, it doesn't matter.]

Time to give it up, Suzaku. Let's see your list.

[after that, there would be no more hiding. not very much anyway.]

[swordofzero]

[He had casually arrogant Kaiba today. Suzaku wondered if there was anyone who could have entered this room who would have gotten a serious answer to the concerned question. If Kaiba would let himself show worry to anyone.

Or if he was like this with everyone. Suzaku just nodded, there's no point in arguing. They need to see each others lists in order to complete the task after all.

He handed it over, stood stoically again and reaching out for Kaiba's.

Maybe it would give him some insight, some understanding of the enigma that was Kaiba.]

[neutronblast]

[this is it, the moment of truth. after offering his own, he accepts the list, unfolding it in full as she scans over each and every line.

mass murder. slaughter. violence. patricide. enslavement. betrayal. finally, he has nearly every piece of the puzzle. finally, he understands. this was why suzaku acted the way he did; this was why he hung his head, let himself be hurt, over and over again. it's because he felt guilty. it's because he was guilty. damned and condemned in every regard.

kaiba glances over the list at suzaku, lifting a brow.]

You're a criminal. And I'm assuming this "F.L.E.I.J.A" is a deadly weapon of some kind.

[call it an educated guess. but surprisingly, his tone is free of judgment. or at least no more than usual.]

Did they execute you? Is that how you got here, Suzaku?

[swordofzero]

[Likewise he looked through Kaiba's. There were some crimes there such as murder, torture. Crimes that unusual for a business man who liked card games.

But he had said already, that he had made a peaceful world. Such a thing couldn't happen without bloodshed.

Kaiba spoke and Suzaku merely bowed his head. He was a criminal. Even if... Some of the worst of that list he had done as a soldier. He was not a criminal in the eyes of the law, he had worked for those who ruled the world.]

I was killed in battle.

[neutronblast]

Weren't you supposed to live? Whatever happened to that?

[he can't help but note the terrible irony. once again, it's more curious than cruel; he's not trying to rub it in here.]

bond-age I MEAN bondING

[twatter]

[ Why is Kaiba on this side of the club? Tech was just outside to have a smoke and happened to notice him heading in the sex side of things. He debates leaving him to it, after all -- nothing but trouble comes from hanging around the Succubi. But he has to at least check in on him. And that's all it's going to be. Just checking in, making sure he's good, and then heading back over to dance the night away (maybe with a Kaiba in tow.)

When demons try to undress him at the door, Tech pushes their hands away -- giving a glare. ]

Yo. Back the fuck off.

[ And then he spots Kaiba, heading over to him. ]

We should--

[ He doesn't get any further than that. Under the weight of Kaiba's stare and the intensity of his words, Tech Boy can only utter. ]

Um. O-okay? But, uh...where we going?

shit up about to get gay as FUCK in here

[neutronblast]

[ah, it's tech. he likes tech. more than like, really: he wants tech. he needs tech. he needs to be with tech, to embrace tech, to draw him close, to touch him and to memorize every inch with his fingertips. his pupils are so big, they're practically blown. and he's quite sure of it: he has never adored anything or anyone so much in all his life.

lucky tech. he gets what he's been after from the start: a seto kaiba who wants nothing more than his rapt attention and total affection.]

Does it matter?

[his fingers lace around tech's wrists. strong. insistent.]

Together. We go together. That's all that matters right now.

[twatter]

[ Tech is taken aback by the way Kaiba looks at him. It's almost adoring, enough to make him aware of his own pulse as it fights his rib cage. The way Kaiba's pupils practically swallow up the blue of his eyes is a telltale sign he's on something -- and any respectable person should get him to a safe place where he can come down from it.

Tech eyes the long fingers around his wrist, locked in Kaiba's grasp. Sometimes (a lot of times), Tech is not a very respectable person. ]

I want what you're on. Don't suppose you got any more of that?

[ Together. What a nice word that is -- a word Tech has tried to fight for every step of the way. Especially now that they've moved past being something transactional. ]

[neutronblast]

[he's obsessed. he's an obsessive person by nature, but usually he was restrained, locked up, totally in control even when things were out of control. not here however. he doesn't want to do anything else or be with anyone else. it has to be tech. he won't have it any other way. again, tech lucked out. he's finally won his coveted prize.

fortunately, while drugs may have suspended his inhibitions, that brilliant mind was otherwise fully operational. he gestures for a waitress, who dutifully brings over a delicate liquid in a wine glass. it's not actually wine, just a potion disguised as such. he can feel classy as all their emotions crash together like a blue screen of death.]

Here. Have some.

[it's not optional. he asked, so he'll get it. simple as that.]

[twatter]

[ Don't have to tell him twice. Tech takes the offered drink and downs it like a shot. He winces at the taste, but he's tasted worse before. He sets the cup down and looks at Kaiba. It takes a moment for it to kick in, but when it does. Damn. He's reminded of the connection he could share with Monika -- plugging in like wifi, feeling her feelings or sensing her emotions. Tech steps closer, sliding his arms around Kaiba's torso, amazed at how the sensation bleeds through into his skin. ]

Hazel told me about this. It's Bond, right?

[ He looks up at Kaiba, smiling like he's the only one in the universe right now -- the only one who matters. And he can sense from the ripples of Kaiba's emotions that Kaiba feels that same way. Their hearts are in sync. Their minds are one. He closes his eyes to savor it for just a moment. ]

[neutronblast]

[damn indeed. now they can see each other as they truly are; now they can see with clarity, all the things that had been missing before, at least for kaiba. while he could never plug in quite like a fellow machine, this was as close as they'd ever come to absolute cohesion of mind, body, and soul. well, almost. but they'll get there soon enough.]

I didn't want to do it.

[it's a lie. of course he did. dipping his head to tech's neck, he just breathes him in. backing him to the nearest booth.]

But it's too late now. There's nothing left but you.

[and nothing left for them to do but to make their reunion a reality.]