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.

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.



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Monika | Doki Doki Literature Club

[holeinwall]

stand your ground

back to basics

[ She can't believe her eyes once she steps into Helluva Cup with her notebooks and pens in tow. It's no joke--she gets to experience pumpkin spice. The real deal! The ultimate sign of fall! And, well, after the past few months she's had, she could really use something nice and comforting.

So, she indulges...even knowing the place was hit or miss.

It's not long before her table is littered with pumpkin spice everything, from a signature "latte," something that looks like it might be a scone, a cinnamon bun that is so crusted in spice it looks like it fell into a vat of the stuff, and even a fried up sampling of Bean's pumpkin meat. The latte gets the most attention first, and she takes a sip, shivering as it travels down her throat. Definitely has a, er, kick to it.

It's kind of nice, though. A reminder of better times. Therefore, she has to write a sad poem about this all. ]

It's the season for sweaters and sweets, but you're not here with me...

[ She sighs wistfully as she looks down at the sentence she's written in her notebook, along with the very sad jack-o-lantern that she'd drawn at the top of the page. Don't peek, okay? ]


all booked up

[ A demon's getting the tightest of hugs, much to their chagrin. But Monika doesn't care. She is all about happiness and indulgence right now. And she's glad to finally be able to enjoy her home again, the library.

After that overly cheerful greeting, she's practically skipping her way through the freshly rebuilt aisles, giggling in a way that's only slightly unhinged. It gets even more concerning once she gets to the romance section, and she grabs book after book, clutching them like they're precious beings. Because they are!

Eventually, her and the pile of books make it to a table, and she places them all down carefully in a perfect row--a few old favorites and some new discoveries--gently smoothing the cover of each one as she does. Then, after sitting, she pulls over one particular book, the front of which has a couple posed dramatically on a rock in front of a crashing wave. ]

A Mermaid's Wish...I missed you.

[ Monika pulls the book close, and then...yeah, she's hugging it. Maybe even caressing it. She's totally, totally fine, really. ]


reach up high (cw: all mentioned above)

Oh. This again, huh? Ahaha!

[ There's no fighting this time around. She knows the deal. Get grabbed, get thrown into a room, carve sins. She actually looks kind of happy about it. It's the little things in life that can bring the tiniest bit of joy, and it's nice to have something fun and familiar again.

She's snatching up her sins list and tucking it away before sitting down, though. Even after all she's been through--realizing she's horrible, she's done horrible things, yadda yadda--she still likes to control the narrative on that list by, you know, not letting anyone see it.

With a sweet smile, she rests her chin on her hands, sighing with contentment as she hears the noise of someone else getting shoved in with her. It'll be a sweet date, just like old times! ]

I hope you're ready to get intimate with me. I've been needing something like this for a long time...


follow me down

reopening (cw: potentially all mentioned above, frenzy usage)

[ Someone's looking pretty annoyed. After getting forcibly stripped by some demons and running around like a (very naked) chicken with its head cut off, Monika eventually managed to find some lingerie to wear. As if she wanted more attention drawn to her! She'd hoped to sneak in and out, no big thing, just get some of the Frenzy she'd heard about for ages and go back to hiding in her room and pathetically get high by herself. But surely plenty of people had seen her having a fit, hadn't they? Great. Just another night in Hell...

Her capability for caring has been gradually eroded for so long, however, that she eventually says eff it and pops the pill she came looking for. How much worse could things get?

About twenty minutes later, that thought's not even on her mind.

Her laughter somehow manages to cut through the music of the club wherever she goes, high-pitched and full of off-kilter joy. She's been pestering demon after demon, patron after patron, and just your luck, you're next on the list. ]

Hi~ You look so alone!

[ Whether or not that's true, she's sidling up, getting deep into personal space as she leans in. Because who wouldn't want to share so much happiness with her? She's got a lot to give! ]

Come onnn. [ And her voice drops a bit lower, getting more sensual. ] Don't you want to have some fun?

[ Is that her hand sneaking up to hold your cheek? Is this perhaps a moment for a sweet first kiss? She's definitely getting close enough to do it. ]

Oh, right. Want something to drink? Something to make you feel good? I'm supposed to be working and all, but maybe I could take a little break with you...

[ Because right now? You're just that special. And she definitely hasn't used this line on everyone she's come across. ]

What d'you say? Hmm~?


reopening (cw: alcohol)

Oh my God, stop picking that song!

[ She yells it across the room, vaguely in the direction of whatever horrible excuse for a person is doing karaoke, personally trying to irritate her. Grumbling loudly, she turns back to her glass of champagne and rubs her temple. The comedown from Frenzy was...not great. So she decided to finally check out the hotel bar like any normal person would and get through it the healthy way--with a drink!

But there's only but so many times she can hear the same dumb songs over and over, even if she has no reason to be annoyed at people having fun. Not that anyone needs to know that. After all she's been through, she has a right to be crabby and entitled! ]

You can't even sing that well! That last note was totally flat!

[ She could do tons better. Like, if she wanted to. Not that she does! So she'll just keep being a bad heckler, even if it's directed at someone who might not have even been singing. But surely everyone understands the world revolves around her, right? Right.

So stop singing. Or not. ]


wildcard

[ If you'd like to plot/come up with something else, feel free to hit me at venicebeach or PM me! And I'll match any format you like. <3 ]

back to basics

[mcfakeass]

(That's a ridiculous amount of pumpkin everything on top of her table, and Aoba can't help but stare at it for a second before his eyes fall towards the lady who overindulged in it. With his own pumpkin spice latte warming his hands, he watches her as she writes, peeking quickly despite possible wishes against it. She looks sad, and she seems to be close to him in age.

With his best smile which does not erase the fact that he looks way too younger to be in Hell, he approaches the redhead.)

Hey, I'm going to get myself a refill of this, would you like one too?

(Being pleasant gets you places, so, of course, his voice sounds enthusiastic, his eyes nearly closing from feigned cheerfulness.)

[holeinwall]

[ It takes a moment for Monika to be drawn out of her deep thoughts, oblivious to the peeking. She blinks as she glances up from her notebook, her eyebrows going up slightly as she spots an unfamiliar face. A...super young-looking, unfamiliar face. Was Luci getting desperate for souls?

She pushes that thought away too before realizing he'd thrown a question her way. There's some more blinking before she looks surprised. ]

O-Oh! Um. [ There's a bright smile, somewhat forced. ] Sure! I wouldn't mind another. That's really nice of you~

[ And kindness from others was something she was getting increasingly weak to, especially after the past few weeks. ]

Maybe see if they could go heavier on the milk? [ She holds up her cup. ] This one was pretty lacking. Ahaha!

[mcfakeass]

(Truth is, Aoba is anything but kind, in all honesty, but if there's an adjective to describe Aoba, it'd easily be 'two-faced'. The dark blue-haired boy then waves a hand, only to emphasize what he says next.)

It's not a problem at all, since I'm going there myself!

(And he'll nod excitedly, winking and giving her a thumbs up before he excuses himself. When he returns, she'll notice that he has no issues with sitting by her table, setting her beverages on the surface before taking a sip.)

I hope they didn't mess up your order, but I can go back there if anything!

[holeinwall]

[ Her smile becomes a bit more genuine at the "kindness" as he walks off. Maybe with time, she'd realize they were birds of a feather, but all of her emo thoughts have her distracted now.

Once he comes back, she doesn't seem too bothered by the company. He might notice she'd subtly closed her notebook while he'd been away, however. Like many things about her, her openness was more of an illusion. ]

Oh, don't worry. They always mess up stuff here. But that makes it kinda fun! Like playing coffee roulette!

[ After finishing off her first latte, she pulls over the fresh one and takes an experimental sip. She seems to consider it for a moment before shrugging. It's something! ]

So~ How're you adjusting to Hell? I can tell you're new.

[ He's lacking a lot of the deadness in his eyes that she's been spotting in her own lately. ]

all booked up

[amazonfresh]

Well...

[Diana speaks mildly, a book forgotten in her hands as she stumbles on Monika.]

It's good to see you so excited. It's been some time since I've seen you so cheerful.

[Her voice is gentle rather than teasing, but perhaps slightly bemused.

She hopes the excitement is a good sign.]

[holeinwall]

[ Any other time, Monika would probably have stopped what she was doing and quickly put the book down in embarrassment, but right now? She doesn't care. She's going to hug her papery friend, nice and tight. ]

I'm back in the library. There's no way I can't be cheerful here!

[ With a happy sigh, she finally stops doing questionable things with the book and neatly places it with its brethren. Now it's time to tap each cover and contemplate which one she'd poke through first. ]

I'm home!

[ And deftly ignoring anything that might dip into the territory of her mood beyond how! incredibly! happy! she was! ]

[amazonfresh]

[The commitment to being chipper, ignoring any other mood, isn't entirely unnoticed but Diana isn't sure if it's intentional or not.

And she's loathe to spoil the mood if Monika is at least genuinely cheerful in this much.

So she opts instead for another question, a topic likely to be safe.]

So I see—what are you reading there? It seems like it must be an old favorite.

[holeinwall]

[ An opportunity to talk about a book she loves? Yes, please! ]

Ahaha, it totally is! [ She holds it up again so Diana can get a better look. ] It's this really sweet retelling of "The Little Mermaid." The original one's so depressing, you know? Love shouldn't be so sad!

[ Her expression seems to change for a moment, as if she realizes saying that is hitting a little too close to home, but she reworks everything back into a big smile soon enough. ]

...How about you? Find something interesting?

all booked up

[chillestrogue]

[Len spends a significant portion of his time now in the library, getting his grand escape plans in order. He converses regularly with Zelda here, but at this point he's on his own, working on hand-drawing another map.

He smirks when he hears Monika, not looking up from his work but asking her all the same;]

Find something you like?

[holeinwall]

Yeah, I did! It's one of my favorites.

[ She's still hugging shamelessly. This is how you treat someone--er, something you care for deeply. ]

I called dibs. You'll have to wait if you want to read it~

[ Because he toootally wanted to read some campy retelling of "The Little Mermaid." ]

[chillestrogue]

Be still, my beating heart.

[Comes the soft, teasing drawl. He doesn't say it meanly, but he's also had a younger sister who went through a whole unicorn-and-fairies phase and sometimes he just has to handle things delicately]

[holeinwall]

[ Monika makes a pouty face as she puts the book down, but it's pretty playful. ] I can sense a little sarcasm!

[ It's fine, though. She's used to people questioning her book choices. Now she knows how Natsuki must've felt, even if that sort of judgement was perfectly fine, since manga was clearly not literature. ]

What are you looking at, huh? Something icy?

reach up high

[failed_antichrist]

[Just like old times? Maybe not. There's the addition of being married to the guy thrown in with her.]

[If anything, Setsuna is embarrassed with how few sins he has left. His wings fluff up when he realizes who he's been put in a room with.]

Not again! We already did this one.

[holeinwall]

[ Her head whips around at the voice, and her entire demeanor changes. Oh, jeez. This is...not as fun. ]

Setsuna? Um. Ahaha. What are the odds?

[ Monika faces forward again to hide a frown. This had been easy when they first met and he hardly knew her. Now, after all they'd been through, things were a tad different. Treating this in such an easy-breezy manner probably wasn't going to fly. ]

It's just...Hell trying to bring us closer together.

[ She'd been doing such a stellar job of being a wife, after all. Super stellar. Subtly, she brushes a hand down her face. Her next sentence is muffled because of it. ]

You're not going to make this into a big deal like last time, are you?

[failed_antichrist]

Must not be that many people in Hell if we keep running into each other like this.

[Her words get a soft laugh out of him. Closer together, huh?]

Considering we're married now, [his smile turns soft and gooey] I'm not sure how much closer this place wants us to be.

[He frowns, a little, at her reasonable question.] I guess there's no point to it. Best we get it over with, right? But, why don't you cut on me first, okay. I'll even take off my shirt.

[holeinwall]

[ Despite it all, his gentle teases bring out a smile under her hand. He wasn't the worst person to get forced into a marriage with, was he? ]

Oh, I'm sure I could think of some other ways to get closer...

[ She giggles. It's treading a fine line, saying things like that, since she was trying to be a good and reformed love addict. But how could she help herself? Setsuna brought out the best in her!

Monika grabs one of the provided knives and hops up to head his way. But before they get started, she wraps her arms around him, careful of the knife and his wings as she hugs him. ]

I'm really glad to see you, despite it all. [ Her smile's light and playful when she pulls back a bit. ] Should I take my dress off too, so we're even?

take a look, it's in a book, motherfucker

[neutronblast]

[kaiba wasn't much of a reader -- he spent most of his time squinting over teeny-tiny chips and convoluted blueprints, so that exhausted most of his energy and his poor eyes -- but today he finds himself a bit bored so he finds his way to the library. and of course monika is there. he really can't escape this awful woman, can he? of all the rotten luck.

but after so much they've shared, for better or for much much worse, he doesn't shy away from her company. he joins her at the table and arches brow at her, uh, enthusiasm.]

Are you going to read it or ravish it?

[damn, seto. way to start things off nice and slow.]

reading fucking rainbow 🌈

[holeinwall]

[ It's a testament to how happy she is that his typical jab shockingly doesn't seem to affect her. Instead of being dumb and making a scene, she simply laughs. Nothing's going to bother her!

Also, she might now be stroking the spine like she's giving a dear pet affection. ]

I might do both. I haven't decided yet.

[ Books are love. Books are life. ]

You can watch if you want.

[neutronblast]

[you know what? fine. bluff called. he leans back and just gestures flatly to said book.]

Then by all means. Should be fun for me, at least.

[because he will watch. don't think he won't. because he's very, very bored, you see.]

[holeinwall]

Mm, no. I think not. I wouldn't want you to see such a special moment~

[ And she doesn't want to get paper cuts in weird places.

Eventually, she stops fondling the book and sets it on the table with the others so she can proudly smile down at her haul. It'd been too long since she'd been able to do this. Sure, her devotion to the literary arts liked to eat at her, because it was probably all a bunch of programming in the end, but at least it consistently gave her an escape. One she so desperately needed at the moment.

With a carefree hum, Monika lifts up a different book, one she hadn't seen in the collection before, and starts flipping through it. The demons on the cover are in a tight embrace as they kiss. ]

Wanna read one? I don't mind sharing. I'm gonna be here for a while and all.

reach up high;

[millenniumeyed]

[The person that is unceremoniously shoved in with her looks much less pleased, his shoulders a tense line and expression rigid. The wounds from his last visit haven't even begun healing. With his shirt sleeves pulled up to his elbows, that much can be seen. The gauze and padding he's wrapped them in are dotted with blood, and it's dry, but red enough to be obvious as recent.]

Have you, now? I expect you to keep the squirming to a minimum, in that case.

[He crosses the room, dropping into the remaining chair and retrieving his list, which he folds into a neat square and tucks away. He's not eager to show it to strangers, but he's not too troubled. They're in hell; obviously there's the potential he's a bad person.]

Any preference on language? [He'll go for English, if not.]

[holeinwall]

[ An eyebrow slowly lifts. Well. That sounds like a disappointing time getting trapped inside with her. But hey, she'll make the most of it!

...Maybe. Monika's looking a tad uncertain after he's sat down. Someone's been getting familiar with the color red, huh? She makes no comment about it, however, nor does she say anything about his now-hidden sins. It might bring up talking about hers, after all.

With a small laugh, her faltering smile gets set back in place. Like she said, making the most of it! ]

I'll be the best partner ever! I've got plenty of experience~ [ Long enough ago that she's been able to forget anything negative about getting her flesh carved into. ] Do you know French? It'd be so romantic to have something in French on me!

[ She leans forward, her voice turning coy. ] I bet "lust" would work perfectly!

[millenniumeyed]

[Alas, she has not managed to snag a masochist. Just a man very tired of these shenanigans, and he usually really likes shenanigans, so it's a disappointing development for them to have become so sour.

But he does manage to smile, and it's touched with amusement at the suggestion of French. That is one of the languages he knows, and specifically for it being romantic.]

I do, in fact. I could even make an attempt at it in-

[His voice dies briefly at that 'lust'. Probably a little unrealistic to expect some propriety out of people in hell, but man, you aren't supposed to say things like that out loud, or like that!]

Mmm. Interesting way of dealing with nerves. Or I hope that's what it is, because if you start making overtures while I'm using this on you- [He picks up the blade, giving it a wave.] I'm entitled to put you in iron maiden timeout. [He sounds teasing, so he definitely won't actually do that. Maybe just cover her mouth, because he would prefer not to get flustered at any point during this ordeal.] I have a very steady hand, if you're concerned. Necessary for my occupation. So, would you like me to make an attempt at ronde script?

[holeinwall]

Ahaha! Are you threatening me with a good time?

[ Pl-Please don't. She's managed to avoid that scary iron maiden for this long, and intends to keep things that way. ]

I'm not nervous, though! Promise! I mean, this isn't the worst punishment, and I get a nice tattoo out of the deal. [ A giggle. ] I won't be an issue at all!

[ After sliding off her cardigan, she places her bare forearm on the table. ] I trust you'll do an amazing job, too. And I'd love something fancy!

[ Ahh, but she can't help herself, even after that gentle warning. She leans in. ] Can you blame me if I can't keep my mouth shut around you, though?

[ Not that her big mouth ever gets her into trouble or anything. ]

I bet you're an artist. How nice~