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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Comments

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~

[millenniumeyed]

[She's so small the spikes probably wouldn't reach her anyway. You'd think Lucifer would make an effort to decorate his torture room with appropriately sized devices.]

Perhaps not the worst, but who wants a stranger to go at them with a knife? [A pause.] Mmm, come to think of it, some people would go 'please sir, can I have another' at that.

[But she doesn't sound like she's one of them.

Her arm doesn't reach as far as he would like, so he grabs the end of his chair and drags it closer, sitting himself diagonal to her and rearranging her arm to accommodate his new position. Blade hovering over her forearm, he holds her wrist to the table and raises an eyebrow as she continues to speak.]

Yes, I can. [Pegasus turns the knife in his fingers and reaches over to close her mouth by tapping the handle her under the chin.] You were making suggestive comments before you'd even seen me, and I've barely been here five minutes, so you just sound disingenuous. You're a pretty girl. You don't need to come on this strong, nor to men my age. Assuming your appearance isn't deceiving me. [She looks young, but it's always a little difficult to gauge age. People in their earlier twenties can look pretty young.

Drawing the knife away, he slips it back around and applies it to her arm, cutting as shallow as the exercise allows. One neat line.]

Good guess. Do you have any talent in the arts? [Maybe she'll drop whatever this is if they move on to a more palatable topic.]

[holeinwall]

[ Ignore that questionable way she averts her eyes and says nothing at that question. She's not one of those people! At all! She hates knives!

Just, uh, not going to acknowledge any of that.

Not that she needs to. The way he shuts her up makes her head jerk back with an affronted scoff. How very dare, sir! ]

They weren't suggestive. They were romantic. I try to make the best of bad situations! [ By being suggestive. ] And! Like! I'm not coming onto you! Which, by the way, would be fine no matter what, because I'm practically 19 already!

[ In short, yeah, she's young. There's another scoff before she puckers her lips up in annoyance. It's about all she can limit herself to once he starts cutting, because she's so not going to risk ending up with a janky tattoo. ]

I like the literary arts. [ Her answer's petulant. Really mature. ] And guys that don't try to ruin my fun.

[ A pause. ]

...Thanks for the compliment.

[millenniumeyed]

[Definitely not the reaction of one who enjoys this kind of thing. But the rest is entirely in line with the behaviour of a teenager, and he smiles at it. At least one of them is having fun.]

'Practically nineteen'. How could anyone doubt your maturity. [He says it mildly, teasingly, and then sets the knife aside to pull down a sleeve and dab her wound. His shirt is already dotted with blood from his first time in this room, so he isn't troubled by the stain.] This isn't an easy scenario to get into. So dreary, and it smells like sweat and blood in here- not suitable at all for romance. You might have better luck writing about it.

[He tsks and applies the knife again.]

That's how you do them. [Compliments, that is.] Do you write about it? Romance?

[holeinwall]

I-I'm really mature!

[ Is what a mature person says. But he manages to shut her up for a while for real this time, because even if he's being relatively gentle, the cutting does hurt. She truly did abhor knives, simply because of who they reminded her of, even if she often kept that friend's knife on her for protection. This wasn't a fun way to cause pain. It's probably why she tended to overcompensate with her "romance," as he'd so quickly picked up on.

Monika breathes out as he dabs, her eyes drifting off elsewhere as a bit of discomfort settles on her. It was always hard when she wasn't allowed to control the narrative of her situations. ]

I do. Mostly poems.

[ Her answer comes after she's silent for a while longer, followed by a quiet sigh. The cheery mask is gradually shifting away. ]

Romance is my life. [ Her lips purse, half at the sting of the knife, half at all the regrets that sprout up in her mind. ] Or it was, anyway. Now it's mostly in the books I read.

[millenniumeyed]

[They're in agreement there. Not fun at all. Knives are messy, require close-quarters, and if you use a knife to dispatch someone, it's a deeply unpleasant thing to witness. But he's very deft with the knife, despite that. His lines are perfect. At least by the end of this, she'll have a pretty little scar.]

We have that in common.

[Both things, coincidentally. Romance doesn't dominate Pegasus' life as much as it once did. After seven years, he's had to cede defeat on that front.]

Shame happily ever afters don't come as easily as they do in books, isn't it? Sometimes they don't come at all. [He flicks his eyes around the room. Don't get much further from a happily ever after than hell.

Then he shrugs, moving onto the next letter.]

Do you have a favourite story?

[holeinwall]

[ Her eyebrows go up a bit. Something in common? Despite it all, he's speaking her language. Someone as perpetually lonely as her is always seeking someone who might get her.

But! She's already gotten a little too real, so maybe they could discuss that some other time. Her openness had to be carefully controlled. Small doses and all that. ]

You just said the understatement of the century. [ She laughs. Okay, maybe a bigger dose was needed. ] When you fall in love with maybe ten people at once, and then one of them literally rips your heart out, you sort of end up realizing happy endings are usually only stuck in books! Ahaha!

[ ...That was probably a very big dose. B-But moving on! She thinks a moment, because, well, she's read a lot of happy endings. ]

It's kind of hard for me to pick a favorite, though... [ She presses her lips together in contemplation as she vaguely admires his handiwork on her arm. ] I like forbidden romances a lot? You know, the ones that aren't supposed to work out and all, and have a lot of conflict, but end up working anyway.

[ Kaiba had noticed that pretty easily. The bastard. He's on her mind because this guy had seen through her instantly, too. What are the odds? ]

[millenniumeyed]

[Don't feel bad: seeing through people is his speciality, even if he isn't quite as good at it as he once was.

Who exactly he's talking to dawns as she speaks. The cheating. The heart-removal. Sounds perfectly in line with Tech Boy's sordid story of revenge, and he's reasonably sure that's not a common enough thing to be the story of multiple people.]

Sounds like you're heavily reliant on it- [Again, something Pegasus can relate to, even if his love was fixed on one person.] But one might also say you just have a lot of love to give. Some people will appreciate that. [A pause, then:] Not the person who ripped out your heart, evidently, so you might want to touch up the criteria for who you extend it to.

[He dabs away more blood, though there's only so clean he can get the arm.]

Good answer. Who doesn't like a little Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy or Beauty and the Beast?

[Though that kind of relationship is definitely one of the least realistic in fiction.]

[holeinwall]

A lot? [ She huffs quietly, but it's mostly at herself. ] More like too much. If you can even call all that love, anyway.

[ Her first real sign of discomfort starts to show in how she frowns slightly, gaze shifting to a table of torture implements instead of in his direction. Thinking about that person who did the heart ripping was difficult--talking about him, even more so. For once, she was truly regretful about something.

So, it's probably no surprise that she soon goes back into overcompensation mode and smiles cheerfully, deftly batting away the topic of her sad life into the atmosphere. ]

You know, it's funny. I still haven't read Pride and Prejudice. You'd think I would've by now. Guess I really need to start branching out from my usual stuff!

[ Think Harlequin Romances, mostly involving demons of some kind. She's got great taste. ]

Honestly, though, do you think it'd be bestiality if Belle and the Beast made love while he was still in beast form?

[ He never implied she couldn't ask dumb suggestive questions about books and all! ]

[millenniumeyed]

[..........Monika, why. He did have have a question of his own, but now he's too distracted by the one she asked to say it. Who even thinks about that??]

That is the absolute worst thing someone has ever made me think about, and we're in hell, so that's an achievement. An answer would require me to dedicate more thought to it than I already have, so you definitely aren't getting one. May god have mercy on your soul, young lady.

[Just going to hastily move on from that, get back on track. He might be a bad person, but even he doesn't deserve to consider beast dick.]

What do you mean, 'if you can even call it love'? [Pegasus leans forward, tipping the blade away from her arm. Wouldn't want to accidentally nick her while talking.] What else might you call it? [Obsession? Desperation?]

[holeinwall]

[ Look, it's a very valid question!!! ]

Oh my gosh, you're so dramatic! Ahaha! I mean, it's not like I asked if he has a really weird...well, you know...

[ How anatomically correct could things get? A question for the ages.

...One they can't seem to focus on, because this guy's really taking the steering wheel when it comes to driving this conversation--the one she's still been desperately trying to keep a grip on. So unfair. She looks mildly put out at having to continue to be all truthful or whatever, leaning back as he leans forward. ]

I dunno what it was. [ She makes a face. ] Misplaced feelings? Sheer desperation? Maybe there was some real love in there somewhere, but not the right amount.

[ She doesn't want to go so far as to call it obsession. That's definitely not her thing. At all. And there was no possessiveness either, because that just falls back into her being desperate. Yes. ]

[millenniumeyed]

[Listen, he's a home schooled rich boy. Delicate sensibilities are inevitable.]

Ew.

[That's all he has to say about that. He makes a face, too, before the conversation turns to more palatable things (well, less palatable for her).]

You can't identify real love...? [That's terribly sad. He pauses, thinks, frowns.] No, I'm sure you can. Between the desperation and stretching yourself so thin, you're probably just not giving yourself the opportunity for genuine feelings to develop. But I suppose dealing with that impulse is easier said than done, or I wouldn't be writing this on you.

[And speaking of, he applies the last line, closing his sleeve over the wound to stifle the blood.]

Not that I'm encouraging it. Finding someone to dedicate yourself to in hell just sounds like setting yourself up for heartbreak.

[He's heard of one too many people disappearing since his arrival, leaving behind friends and lovers.]

[holeinwall]

[ There's nothing wrong with genitals! They can do some really nice things! Nothing "ew"!

...Okay, maybe there's some "ew" things, but moving on.

She looks slightly offended at that first question before he mollifies her with the follow-up. While she's been struggling to figure out what love is for her, there's nothing she knows more than real love! As much as she's read and written about it, and even felt tiny bits of it--possibly--maybe--well! The hard part is just making her experiences line up with real-world ones!

Monika makes a face again as she watches him slow the bleeding. This kind of sucks now. Like, go figure, she came out to have a good time and she's feeling very attacked right now! ]

Some people have been here a long time. My odds are good.

[ Did she mention she's really good at being in denial? ]

A-And, you know! [ Her eyes flicker to the carved sin under his sleeve. ] That's only there on my list because of some totally outdated notions of what counts as attraction! It's not like I could have sex when that sin really applied!

[ And she hadn't continued committing that sin, either! ]

Anyway! [ Huff! She's tired of everything being about her!! ] What am I putting on you? "Being a jerk"?

[millenniumeyed]

[He's trying to be polite and understanding here! Really, he is! But god do responses like 'my odds are good' make it difficult. He can't quite help raising an eyebrow before pressing on.]

What was stopping you? [It can't be because she was underage. That never stops teenagers.

As for his turn- he retrieves his list, taking care not to smear it with blood as he glances over the contents.]

Mmm, nothing about me being a jerk on here! Guess that means I'm a delight. [As long as he isn't murdering, stealing souls, kidnapping, lying, cheating... so many options to choose from, and the ones he wouldn't mind having on display are much longer than he'd like. Whoever wrote this really should have been more concise.]

Lets go with... [Thinking, thinking, thinking.] Blasphemy. I really should have gotten around to finishing the bible. [He gives a little, dramatic sigh.] But over a thousand pages is an awful lot with that small, small text. I've read shorter trilogies.

[He sets the knife down to work open the front of his shirt. There's no way he's injuring his dominant arm, so chest it is. Hopefully that won't hurt too badly.]

[holeinwall]

[ Her mouth presses shut. He keeps getting so much truth out of her. How does he keep doing that?! Never mind her cagey look as she answers. ]

Some circumstances in terms of interaction were out of my control.

[ A fancy way of saying she was stuck in a video game without saying she was stuck in a video game. While she was coming to terms with her past, she still wasn't eager to throw it out to just anyone. That was earned!

Her expression shifts to being unimpressed, a skeptical eyebrow lifting as he speaks. "Delight" is really pushing it, but she knows she could've had worse partners for this. It'll slide for now. ]

The Bible's overrated. [ And she'd meant to say more, but as she's dabbing at her admittedly very nice wound, he throws her off even more by opening his shirt. ] You're not missing--er.

[ L-Look, she's a girl with needs! She hasn't seen someone else's bare skin in weeks! So, with wide eyes, she blindly grabs at her provided knife, her gaze not daring to move away from that shining beacon of skin. ]

I need to sit in your lap.

[ For, uh. Balance. ]

[millenniumeyed]

[That's a really odd answer, especially coupled with that look. He'll have to do some more prodding while she's at work on his sin. Maybe she'll be more forthcoming while distracted.

...And apparently opening his shirt was an advanced start on that. He just barely bites back a laugh. Good grief.]

It'd be difficult to write with so little space between us. [He has long legs, so she could perch on the end of them, but then balance would be a concern.

After folding down one side of his shirt, he peels those long legs apart and gestures between them, and yeah, the suggestiveness isn't lost on him, but there aren't a lot of positions they can take here. He manages to colour only a little.]

Stand here.

[She's short, he's tall. It works out that she won't have to lean down too much.]

What languages can you offer?

[holeinwall]

[ Monika has thirst levels rivaling someone trapped in a desert. If there's an opportunity to sate that thirst, she's going to take it!

...To a point, anyway. She's generally respectful of people's boundaries--even more so now. So, while she does look pretty disappointed that she's not going to be enjoying a very intimate moment, what he's offering isn't all that bad. Another thing she's learned since that endless thirst got her killed? Not being picky. ]

Okay, then.

[ Still, after standing, she doesn't immediately settle in to cut. She has to admire the view that looks like it could possibly come from the cover of a romance novel. A slightly older guy, shirt carelessly open with legs sprawled open as well--a lazy, seductive invitation. Another fun thing about her--she could create a fantasy in record time. It was a real gift.

Monika finally steps in close, and suddenly, she seems much more at ease. Things hadn't been going exactly as she planned, but this is was a step in the right direction. She's back in her element. And surely he'd let her stay there! ]

I'm afraid I've only got English to offer. [ Her voice is a playful coo. Her free hand is poking her "canvas" a bit as well. ] Translation isn't cheap~

[ He'd earned a subtle joke about her origins. Good for him!

And hopefully he's ready, because she's about to start carving without much warning. ]

[millenniumeyed]

[Yes, very romantic, tale as old as time and so on. The knife kind of ruins the scene, though, and he looks a touch dour when she mentions only knowing English. What a curious answer! But he was hoping she might know a language that could make the word smaller. He'd offer to write out the Kanji for her, but he's not sure what 'blasphemy' would be and it'd be awful to finish a word only to find out he got it wrong. Guess it'll just have to be in English.

The touching doesn't bother him. He curls a hand around her wrist and moves her fingers just below his clavicle.]

Here. Now, that's an-

[Oh, oof. That hurts. Obviously, but it hurts more than the arm did, and he spends a moment grimacing before he's able to press on. At least he's not tensing as badly this time.]

A warning would have been nice. [He'd huff, but that would move his chest and he really doesn't want to do that.] That's an odd answer, I was saying. Why don't you elaborate.

[holeinwall]

[ This is incredibly romantic. A quiet, intimate moment, with the knife representing the most beautiful act of penetration...or is that just her imagination?

She grins at his reaction. Whoops~ ]

Oh, sorry! I thought you saw me about to start! Ahaha!

[ Yeah, she may have done it on purpose. Just a little. It's not like she wanted to spend this whole shebang actually doing self-reflection or something! That wasn't the point of this at all!

Monika lets out a hum, carefree as ever as she works her way through cutting. It won't be nearly as fancy as his, but she intends to make it look nice. She's a perfectionist and all. ]

Who says my answer was odd? [ Now it's her turn to lean in unnecessarily. ] And what do I get for elaborating?

[ She's being difficult. Just a little. ]

[millenniumeyed]

[She would be one hell of a mind to read with the Eye. But lacking it, he can only hazard a guess as to what she's thinking, and to start with: pretty sure she's not sorry at all.

The cutting strains his expression and makes his hands twitch on his thighs, but at least she's making quick work of it.]

I did, just then. [So, so wry, then he continues:] So there is something more to it. Well, I wouldn't want to be stingy- how about a kiss?

[Perfect ending to such a romantic encounter, right?]

[holeinwall]

[ ...Well, darn. Observant, isn't he? Granted, she walked herself right into that one. (And yeah, she's easier to read than she likes to believe.)

ALSO WAIT. She jerks back, her cutting coming to a stop. U-Unfair! He can't just offer one of her favorite things like that!! ]

I--I'd need more than a kiss.

[ Clearing her throat, she gets back to work, looking a tad flustered. Maybe they can negotiate, because...that's a tempting offer, despite what she's about to say. ]

I'd need to get to know you more first. I get into trouble whenever I try kissing people I barely know.

[millenniumeyed]

[Careful with those sudden movements! Wouldn't want to cut too deep by accident! Pegasus doesn't look too troubled, though. Too busy laughing at that severe a response.]

You're right! We should at least exchange names first.

[Really should have done that much earlier, actually. Where are his manners?

Well, better late than never.]

Pegasus J. Crawford. Preferably Pegasus; Mr. Crawford is too formal.