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penancememes2022-02-24 09:33 pm
penancemods) wrote in penancememes2022-02-24 09:33 pm
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TEST DRIVE MEME #32
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, And it seems to linger for a long time. There is nothing at all. It must be lonely. But it won’t be forever.
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 take your care package and continue on until you reach the stairs."
On their way out, sinners receive their 'package', a contract detailing all sins committed. If they look at the list closely enough they'll notice it's written with their blood. That explains the palm wound then. It's an old piece of parchment despite the freshly written letters upon it. They will also receive a slightly more modern smart phone. Think early generation Android and a pamphlet made by other sinners during their stay here with useful tips.
After that, sinners will be ushered on to a set of stairs where a guard waits. "Welcome to Penance," the demon says gruffly before motioning them on without an ounce of courtesy. "Don't hold up the line."
They seem to go on and wind forever, but eventually, they come upon what appears to be a lobby of a 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 The morning reveals the first glimpse of Spring that Penance has seen in months. The frigid temperatures seem to be receding and the blood snow is finally melting. Repairs around the hotel are back on track, returning it to its former glory as the kitchens and other supplies slowly begin to fill back up. Everyone seems tentatively hopeful that maybe, just maybe, things are veering back towards normal.
Or as normal as they can be in these very uncertain times, with Mammon seemingly content to stay in Penance for an extended vacation and the gruesome remains of Hellburbia. The local demons seem rather pleased to be getting back to normal, at least. The hotel cafe, Helluvacup is officially opened for business again! This time with an array of spring drinks that included iced strawberry lemonade, a variety of flavored iced coffees, iced teas, and a specially blended coconut drink made with some ground up hell flora that’s said to increase stamina and well-being. Samples of these drinks will be provided by Bean the hell rat, who will be donning a little bee costume to encourage guests to come by and say hi!
Careful, he bites a little bit and may or may not carry a disease or two. If anyone tries to hurt him, they’ll have to contend with the manager. That’s his pride and joy after all. As normal as Hell seems to be, there’s an odd stirring at night. It sounds like something flying outside or claws tapping against the roof. It isn’t the Mares, but it certainly sounds like something. As days go on, guests may start to see dragons from Mammon’s lands out of the corner of their eye or picking through alleyways to hoard up items. They may sneak into the hotel if they’re tiny enough and steal small trinkets. There are also strange sightings of another new face hanging around these dragons. Mammon seems rather… disturbed by him, oftentimes complaining under his breath about that buffoon showing up.
Demonic staff assure sinners it’s nothing at all to worry about though! Just ignore it.
Besides, there are more fun things to focus on. There are free hell horse riding lessons coming up at the stables. Why, one might ask? Well, it’s simple really… Lucifer is planning a hunt that will take volunteers outside of Penance’s walls. He still has his little brother to save after all, and a spear to find. He hasn’t forgotten the thread of the Veiled Order or the fact that Barbas is contained in a mansion in Hellburbia!
Lessons will focus on gaining your horse’s trust. A bit more complicated than what a mortal may be used to, it takes some work to earn your horse’s respect. They may be bribed with flesh, blood, or the occasional brushing and petting. Spending time talking with your horse and sharing a bit of who you are with them doesn’t hurt at all either… they like it when people seem to ignore their sometimes grotesque appearances.
These clever beasts will also be hesitant to be ridden at first, but with enough training, should be able to navigate a training course set up for this special occasion.
It will be encouraged to camp out with your selected horse in the evenings to strengthen your bond, so sinners will be given a bonfire and plenty of simple foods for their camping adventure. Don’t worry, it will seem oddly warm thanks to the fires!
Mornings will be met with scooping up any messes the horses leave and feeding them their daily flesh and water. Do try not to lose any fingers! They get a little over-excited at times…
Reach Up High
Prompt I: The First Pull is the Hardest WARNINGS: mutilation, blood, torture.
Lucifer's voice rings out as it always does, compassion and warmth clear despite his words. It lingers in guests' ears even as they're forced into a dark room by demons and shown an ominous looking device just waiting for them.
Should the guest refuse or fail they will hear the contraption start up. An ominous sound of something shifting rings out before a sharp pain shoots up their finger and ricochets through their body. Each time a person fails their turn they both lose a fingernail. this will keep going until they've lost all ten (or however many the guest may have) or they answer a satisfactory number of sins. It really just depends on which sort of torment the guests are content with suffering through and how much they want redemption.
[Note: How many sins characters have to explain to be released will be left up to player discretion!]
Prompt II: Lend a Hand WARNINGS: blood mention, torture
With the flood waters receding, it’s time to clean up Hellburbia and get it back in working order. To remove a sin from one’s contract, sinners are encouraged to grab mops and buckets, and any tools they can get their hands on to set to work on the ravished neighborhood. Lucifer wants the homes back to their flawless appearances and habitable again. Demons will be selecting sinners at random if they’re lacking volunteers, and be prepared, if they catch sinners slacking that there will be some harsh punishments!
These demonic construction workers and cleaners are not above whipping, denying water, etc. to those who are being particularly unruly to them. Cleaning isn’t always a breeze. It isn’t meant to be simple.
But it will be worth it in the end when those who wish to move back are able to!
Everyone is encouraged to stay far away from the old mansion where Barbas has been sealed away… but there will be some hoodlum demons with some fresh eggs and rocks that are just begging to be tossed at that old place. Sinners may join them if they dare!
Follow Me Down
Prompt I: A Slave For You WARNINGS: fantasy slavery, noncon, dubcon, aphrodisiacs, kidnapping
The usual debauchery at Club Penance is on hold, thanks to the way Mammon has settled in the space and converted it to an effective auction house. While Lilith had hoped that Mammon would be bored of his games by now, he hasn't moved on just yet! Mammon’s greed continues to affect anyone who lingers too long, prompting visitors to transition from well-intentioned visitors to fierce bidding competition. Why bring home one thing when you can bring home all of them? Why not drive the bidding higher and higher when it comes to getting what you deserve? Gold and rare items are a fine currency to start with, but the highest-value items will probably cost a bidder a piece of their soul.
With the time since the rushed setup, Mammon has had the opportunity to divide the space more formally. In addition to earlier wares, bidders can compete with one another for valuables from all sorts of worlds, usually pieces of art or other display items. Special auctions spring up for potions or magic charms that aren’t normally available. The auctioneers promise that the sinners addicted to Frenzy, the local drug of choice, would find their way to even higher highs with some of the best alchemy hell has to offer. They recommend getting your hands on the purple powder for a particularly mind-blowing experience.
And as before, there are still regular rounds of slave auctions. These vary from the domestic to the most debauched and depraved forms of servitude, whether bidders are looking for a french maid or a personal footstool.
The hungry club succubi and incubi have ensured that all the slaves are made pliant and assured eager to please whoever buys them. Who can they resist a desperate slave, eager to please? The acts they are expected to perform, as well as the duration of service, seem to be linked to the cost of the slave. Spirited, unbroken new arrivals go for fairly cheap, but the price goes up based on how exotic or well-trained a slave is.
Also new are a hall of group pens where slaves are left to loiter together between auctions. They're a calming space, with one wall made of glass so they can be watched by potential buyers. In the pens, slaves are encouraged to make themselves appealing, and interact with other slaves. Maybe some of them will even get purchased in pairs if they put on a good enough show for the voyeurs outside.
Post-purchase customization is now available for bidders willing to pay top-dollar. It costs a lot to indulge far out kinks such as tentacle play, animal play, guro, etc. But under the heady spirit of competition and need to have more, who cares about the cost of a soul? You aren't using yours anyway. Might as well put it to good use.
Sinners who've been here for weeks might have noticed that the term of a slave purchase seems to be proportional to a slave's price. The cheap ones seem to snap out of it in a day or so, and even though the expensive ones tend to linger under the influence for a week or longer, there's a lot of turnaround. This has resulted in a rash of kidnappings throughout the community. People are being snatched up even if they have the sense to stay far away from the club! It might be safer to travel in groups.
Prompt II: Casino Styx WARNINGS: dubcon, loss of agency, memory manipulation
For those who thought Casino Styx may never return, they'll find themselves very mistaken. By evening, when the skies have faded from their odd reds and oranges to nearly black, sinners will notice a large, shining construct by the gates of the community once again. The golden exterior draws the eye better than even any Vegas establishment could hope.
Guests will be invited to come check out what's going on. As they near, the lights draw in attention almost as much as the blood 'water' feature dug around the new Casino Styx. The water fountains blast up to five hundred feet in the air on either side of a long bridge that leads across the blood and right to the entrance. Once inside the lavish establishment, guests will see the large statue of Charon that stands in the middle of a pool. To the side is a bowl full of golden coins to tip the ferryman. It's encouraged that all who enter do this simple gesture.
Those who skip it may notice their luck is simply awful all night. The effect may even follow them home.
The water theme only continues on as guests enter the casino proper. The walls look as if they have water cascading down them, but touching it will show it's merely an illusion. Somehow, they still somehow seem to reflect the glittering lights dancing overhead. Guests should appreciate how the atmosphere in the casino seems to inspire relaxation and a good mood.
The casino includes a variety of all the expected games, ranging from slots to poker to blackjack to roulette, and anything else imaginable. What is the point in gambling when there's no currency in Hell, one may ask? Well, that's where the real fun begins!
Sinners can work off items on their contract via gambling. Matching three objects on the slot machine will remove one sin, one time. Any subsequent wins on the slots will give golden coins to give to Charon for extra good luck. Patrons can also put up sins for wager in any competitive game like poker, but do keep in mind that the losers take all the sins on to their list! Be careful playing against demons or 'eating fresh baby' may end up on your contract.
It doesn't stop there, either. In higher stakes games, wagers can be made with bits of soul that get converted to the form of chips, made either with the patron's or, if you're too cowardly to bet your own, harvested from the damned souls in other parts of Hell. Be warned! Lose too many of these chips made from your own soul while gambling and sinners may start to experience a concerning lack of conscience, emotion, or feel a sudden eagerness to indulge in a vice that's natural to them.
So, do they tend to be vain? Suddenly that will be doubled and they may demand to be worshiped. Prone to sloth? Maybe they just won't want to move at all...
Not to worry though. As long as a sinner maintains a a little of their soul, the effect will be temporary as the energy repairs itself and becomes whole again over the next week or two.
Gambling with souls does offer winners the ability to win upgrades to their rooms (Softer beds, better electronics, etc.), earn a night in a lavish suite at the casino that will open soon, or VIP perks at Club Penance. Win big enough and one may also earn a request from home or to be put on a wait list for rooms at the casino to live permanently during their stay.
There are also strip-based games for those feeling frisky. Players will lose articles of clothes for each round they lose and the winner may decide to keep the pieces discarded. These can be played against multiple players or one-on-one.
Finally, there are games where body parts will be the wager... those who are brave enough to part with some flesh will find themselves earning perks around Hell. These will include the ability to escape from future torture for a round or two, or the ability to earn back abilities that may have been previously blocked upon arrival in Penance. They may also win a night with Lucifer or Lilith (Not in that way! Winners will get to ask questions or tour parts of Hell that may have been previously off-limits). Players will just have to ask themselves if it's worth losing an actual arm or leg for...
What's a night of gambling and vice without a quickie wedding or two? Without a place to make some bad decisions? While marriage isn't generally customary in Hell, there's a nice little wedding chapel in the casino for those impulse decisions! The marriages performed won't necessarily be binding in the traditional sense, but will be officiated by either a Grim Reaper or a fairly bad Lucifer impersonator who seems to use darling a bit too much. His roots are starting to show, too...
Oh, and are those LED lights he's got attached to his suit to make himself glow? Oh, well, if you ignore all that, it's not bad.
The ceremony will not be religion-based and will have appropriately Hell-like vows unless the spouses-to-be choose to write their own or request otherwise.
Oh, one more thing... while these marriages will be only as binding as sinners desire them to be, Lucifer will not freely annul them if that's the route sinners want to take. He will expect favors in return, generally in the form of service. Play assistant or housekeeper for a bit, earn your annulment and put that bad move right behind yourself!
Of course gambling and marriages aren't the only thing to focus on! What sort of Hell establishment would this be if there weren't servers clad in old fashion Cigarette Girl outfits carrying around trays of treats to offer guests? Sinners may get parched between enthralling games after all. These treats include food, drinks, cigarettes, drugs, etc. Go ahead and indulge! No one will judge a little gluttony around these parts! Just watch anything chocolate... rumor has it, it makes one inclined to visit that chapel...
[At the moment, we are allowing players to decide among themselves who will win or claim one free sin removal from the slot machines. If you want a sin removed, please note it on the sin removal page and be sure to link a completed thread. If you're cashing in a perk, please link it on the request page with what you're wanting for mod review! Please note that while some abilities may be unlocked, nothing too game breaking will be allowed.]
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 or sample threads.
Thanks for clicking on our February TDM! As always, potential appers and characters already in game are welcomed to jump right in! This TDM counts as an additional game event as well as game canon for those coming into the game. If you app and are accepted, TDM tags become game canon and can be used for AC! Please have fun and don't hesitate to ask any questions you might have down below.
This is the first app round of the year. Reserves are currently open, and Apps will open March 1st.
If you have questions, comments, suggestions, etc., go here.
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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, And it seems to linger for a long time. There is nothing at all. It must be lonely. But it won’t be forever.
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 take your care package and continue on until you reach the stairs."
On their way out, sinners receive their 'package', a contract detailing all sins committed. If they look at the list closely enough they'll notice it's written with their blood. That explains the palm wound then. It's an old piece of parchment despite the freshly written letters upon it. They will also receive a slightly more modern smart phone. Think early generation Android and a pamphlet made by other sinners during their stay here with useful tips.
After that, sinners will be ushered on to a set of stairs where a guard waits. "Welcome to Penance," the demon says gruffly before motioning them on without an ounce of courtesy. "Don't hold up the line."
They seem to go on and wind forever, but eventually, they come upon what appears to be a lobby of a 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 The morning reveals the first glimpse of Spring that Penance has seen in months. The frigid temperatures seem to be receding and the blood snow is finally melting. Repairs around the hotel are back on track, returning it to its former glory as the kitchens and other supplies slowly begin to fill back up. Everyone seems tentatively hopeful that maybe, just maybe, things are veering back towards normal.
Or as normal as they can be in these very uncertain times, with Mammon seemingly content to stay in Penance for an extended vacation and the gruesome remains of Hellburbia. The local demons seem rather pleased to be getting back to normal, at least. The hotel cafe, Helluvacup is officially opened for business again! This time with an array of spring drinks that included iced strawberry lemonade, a variety of flavored iced coffees, iced teas, and a specially blended coconut drink made with some ground up hell flora that’s said to increase stamina and well-being. Samples of these drinks will be provided by Bean the hell rat, who will be donning a little bee costume to encourage guests to come by and say hi!
Careful, he bites a little bit and may or may not carry a disease or two. If anyone tries to hurt him, they’ll have to contend with the manager. That’s his pride and joy after all. As normal as Hell seems to be, there’s an odd stirring at night. It sounds like something flying outside or claws tapping against the roof. It isn’t the Mares, but it certainly sounds like something. As days go on, guests may start to see dragons from Mammon’s lands out of the corner of their eye or picking through alleyways to hoard up items. They may sneak into the hotel if they’re tiny enough and steal small trinkets. There are also strange sightings of another new face hanging around these dragons. Mammon seems rather… disturbed by him, oftentimes complaining under his breath about that buffoon showing up.
Demonic staff assure sinners it’s nothing at all to worry about though! Just ignore it.
Besides, there are more fun things to focus on. There are free hell horse riding lessons coming up at the stables. Why, one might ask? Well, it’s simple really… Lucifer is planning a hunt that will take volunteers outside of Penance’s walls. He still has his little brother to save after all, and a spear to find. He hasn’t forgotten the thread of the Veiled Order or the fact that Barbas is contained in a mansion in Hellburbia!
Lessons will focus on gaining your horse’s trust. A bit more complicated than what a mortal may be used to, it takes some work to earn your horse’s respect. They may be bribed with flesh, blood, or the occasional brushing and petting. Spending time talking with your horse and sharing a bit of who you are with them doesn’t hurt at all either… they like it when people seem to ignore their sometimes grotesque appearances.
These clever beasts will also be hesitant to be ridden at first, but with enough training, should be able to navigate a training course set up for this special occasion.
It will be encouraged to camp out with your selected horse in the evenings to strengthen your bond, so sinners will be given a bonfire and plenty of simple foods for their camping adventure. Don’t worry, it will seem oddly warm thanks to the fires!
Mornings will be met with scooping up any messes the horses leave and feeding them their daily flesh and water. Do try not to lose any fingers! They get a little over-excited at times…
Reach Up High
Prompt I: The First Pull is the Hardest WARNINGS: mutilation, blood, torture.
Lucifer's voice rings out as it always does, compassion and warmth clear despite his words. It lingers in guests' ears even as they're forced into a dark room by demons and shown an ominous looking device just waiting for them.
"Welcome, my honored guests! Since some of your ilk have displayed an alarming tendency towards secrecy and outright lying, I've come up with a way for you to practice frank discussion instead. What I ask of you won't be an easy task, but it will be a lesson that's valuable to learn. When the device before you turns on, it will display a sin one of you are guilty of. You will be given exactly one minute to begin explaining what happened and how. Do be frank about it, and fair warning: if either of you refuse... you're unlikely to be unhappy about the result."Guests won't have the option of refusing this daunting task. Demons drag sinners in, easily overpowering even the strongest guest if only for long enough to secure them in the seat and shove their hands into the opening of the device. Once secured, sinners are unable to remove their hands as a typing noise begins sounding out. After a moment, a sheet of paper will then pop out of the top of the device with a ding for guests to read. One sin off their list is printed neatly on it. Guests have one minute to begin explaining what it means and how it happened or why it's a sin of theirs.
Should the guest refuse or fail they will hear the contraption start up. An ominous sound of something shifting rings out before a sharp pain shoots up their finger and ricochets through their body. Each time a person fails their turn they both lose a fingernail. this will keep going until they've lost all ten (or however many the guest may have) or they answer a satisfactory number of sins. It really just depends on which sort of torment the guests are content with suffering through and how much they want redemption.
[Note: How many sins characters have to explain to be released will be left up to player discretion!]
Prompt II: Lend a Hand WARNINGS: blood mention, torture
With the flood waters receding, it’s time to clean up Hellburbia and get it back in working order. To remove a sin from one’s contract, sinners are encouraged to grab mops and buckets, and any tools they can get their hands on to set to work on the ravished neighborhood. Lucifer wants the homes back to their flawless appearances and habitable again. Demons will be selecting sinners at random if they’re lacking volunteers, and be prepared, if they catch sinners slacking that there will be some harsh punishments!
These demonic construction workers and cleaners are not above whipping, denying water, etc. to those who are being particularly unruly to them. Cleaning isn’t always a breeze. It isn’t meant to be simple.
But it will be worth it in the end when those who wish to move back are able to!
Everyone is encouraged to stay far away from the old mansion where Barbas has been sealed away… but there will be some hoodlum demons with some fresh eggs and rocks that are just begging to be tossed at that old place. Sinners may join them if they dare!
Follow Me Down
Prompt I: A Slave For You WARNINGS: fantasy slavery, noncon, dubcon, aphrodisiacs, kidnapping
The usual debauchery at Club Penance is on hold, thanks to the way Mammon has settled in the space and converted it to an effective auction house. While Lilith had hoped that Mammon would be bored of his games by now, he hasn't moved on just yet! Mammon’s greed continues to affect anyone who lingers too long, prompting visitors to transition from well-intentioned visitors to fierce bidding competition. Why bring home one thing when you can bring home all of them? Why not drive the bidding higher and higher when it comes to getting what you deserve? Gold and rare items are a fine currency to start with, but the highest-value items will probably cost a bidder a piece of their soul.
With the time since the rushed setup, Mammon has had the opportunity to divide the space more formally. In addition to earlier wares, bidders can compete with one another for valuables from all sorts of worlds, usually pieces of art or other display items. Special auctions spring up for potions or magic charms that aren’t normally available. The auctioneers promise that the sinners addicted to Frenzy, the local drug of choice, would find their way to even higher highs with some of the best alchemy hell has to offer. They recommend getting your hands on the purple powder for a particularly mind-blowing experience.
And as before, there are still regular rounds of slave auctions. These vary from the domestic to the most debauched and depraved forms of servitude, whether bidders are looking for a french maid or a personal footstool.
The hungry club succubi and incubi have ensured that all the slaves are made pliant and assured eager to please whoever buys them. Who can they resist a desperate slave, eager to please? The acts they are expected to perform, as well as the duration of service, seem to be linked to the cost of the slave. Spirited, unbroken new arrivals go for fairly cheap, but the price goes up based on how exotic or well-trained a slave is.
Also new are a hall of group pens where slaves are left to loiter together between auctions. They're a calming space, with one wall made of glass so they can be watched by potential buyers. In the pens, slaves are encouraged to make themselves appealing, and interact with other slaves. Maybe some of them will even get purchased in pairs if they put on a good enough show for the voyeurs outside.
Post-purchase customization is now available for bidders willing to pay top-dollar. It costs a lot to indulge far out kinks such as tentacle play, animal play, guro, etc. But under the heady spirit of competition and need to have more, who cares about the cost of a soul? You aren't using yours anyway. Might as well put it to good use.
Sinners who've been here for weeks might have noticed that the term of a slave purchase seems to be proportional to a slave's price. The cheap ones seem to snap out of it in a day or so, and even though the expensive ones tend to linger under the influence for a week or longer, there's a lot of turnaround. This has resulted in a rash of kidnappings throughout the community. People are being snatched up even if they have the sense to stay far away from the club! It might be safer to travel in groups.
Prompt II: Casino Styx WARNINGS: dubcon, loss of agency, memory manipulation
For those who thought Casino Styx may never return, they'll find themselves very mistaken. By evening, when the skies have faded from their odd reds and oranges to nearly black, sinners will notice a large, shining construct by the gates of the community once again. The golden exterior draws the eye better than even any Vegas establishment could hope.
Guests will be invited to come check out what's going on. As they near, the lights draw in attention almost as much as the blood 'water' feature dug around the new Casino Styx. The water fountains blast up to five hundred feet in the air on either side of a long bridge that leads across the blood and right to the entrance. Once inside the lavish establishment, guests will see the large statue of Charon that stands in the middle of a pool. To the side is a bowl full of golden coins to tip the ferryman. It's encouraged that all who enter do this simple gesture.
Those who skip it may notice their luck is simply awful all night. The effect may even follow them home.
The water theme only continues on as guests enter the casino proper. The walls look as if they have water cascading down them, but touching it will show it's merely an illusion. Somehow, they still somehow seem to reflect the glittering lights dancing overhead. Guests should appreciate how the atmosphere in the casino seems to inspire relaxation and a good mood.
The casino includes a variety of all the expected games, ranging from slots to poker to blackjack to roulette, and anything else imaginable. What is the point in gambling when there's no currency in Hell, one may ask? Well, that's where the real fun begins!
Sinners can work off items on their contract via gambling. Matching three objects on the slot machine will remove one sin, one time. Any subsequent wins on the slots will give golden coins to give to Charon for extra good luck. Patrons can also put up sins for wager in any competitive game like poker, but do keep in mind that the losers take all the sins on to their list! Be careful playing against demons or 'eating fresh baby' may end up on your contract.
It doesn't stop there, either. In higher stakes games, wagers can be made with bits of soul that get converted to the form of chips, made either with the patron's or, if you're too cowardly to bet your own, harvested from the damned souls in other parts of Hell. Be warned! Lose too many of these chips made from your own soul while gambling and sinners may start to experience a concerning lack of conscience, emotion, or feel a sudden eagerness to indulge in a vice that's natural to them.
So, do they tend to be vain? Suddenly that will be doubled and they may demand to be worshiped. Prone to sloth? Maybe they just won't want to move at all...
Not to worry though. As long as a sinner maintains a a little of their soul, the effect will be temporary as the energy repairs itself and becomes whole again over the next week or two.
Gambling with souls does offer winners the ability to win upgrades to their rooms (Softer beds, better electronics, etc.), earn a night in a lavish suite at the casino that will open soon, or VIP perks at Club Penance. Win big enough and one may also earn a request from home or to be put on a wait list for rooms at the casino to live permanently during their stay.
There are also strip-based games for those feeling frisky. Players will lose articles of clothes for each round they lose and the winner may decide to keep the pieces discarded. These can be played against multiple players or one-on-one.
Finally, there are games where body parts will be the wager... those who are brave enough to part with some flesh will find themselves earning perks around Hell. These will include the ability to escape from future torture for a round or two, or the ability to earn back abilities that may have been previously blocked upon arrival in Penance. They may also win a night with Lucifer or Lilith (Not in that way! Winners will get to ask questions or tour parts of Hell that may have been previously off-limits). Players will just have to ask themselves if it's worth losing an actual arm or leg for...
What's a night of gambling and vice without a quickie wedding or two? Without a place to make some bad decisions? While marriage isn't generally customary in Hell, there's a nice little wedding chapel in the casino for those impulse decisions! The marriages performed won't necessarily be binding in the traditional sense, but will be officiated by either a Grim Reaper or a fairly bad Lucifer impersonator who seems to use darling a bit too much. His roots are starting to show, too...
Oh, and are those LED lights he's got attached to his suit to make himself glow? Oh, well, if you ignore all that, it's not bad.
The ceremony will not be religion-based and will have appropriately Hell-like vows unless the spouses-to-be choose to write their own or request otherwise.
Oh, one more thing... while these marriages will be only as binding as sinners desire them to be, Lucifer will not freely annul them if that's the route sinners want to take. He will expect favors in return, generally in the form of service. Play assistant or housekeeper for a bit, earn your annulment and put that bad move right behind yourself!
Of course gambling and marriages aren't the only thing to focus on! What sort of Hell establishment would this be if there weren't servers clad in old fashion Cigarette Girl outfits carrying around trays of treats to offer guests? Sinners may get parched between enthralling games after all. These treats include food, drinks, cigarettes, drugs, etc. Go ahead and indulge! No one will judge a little gluttony around these parts! Just watch anything chocolate... rumor has it, it makes one inclined to visit that chapel...
[At the moment, we are allowing players to decide among themselves who will win or claim one free sin removal from the slot machines. If you want a sin removed, please note it on the sin removal page and be sure to link a completed thread. If you're cashing in a perk, please link it on the request page with what you're wanting for mod review! Please note that while some abilities may be unlocked, nothing too game breaking will be allowed.]
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 or sample threads.
Thanks for clicking on our February TDM! As always, potential appers and characters already in game are welcomed to jump right in! This TDM counts as an additional game event as well as game canon for those coming into the game. If you app and are accepted, TDM tags become game canon and can be used for AC! Please have fun and don't hesitate to ask any questions you might have down below.
This is the first app round of the year. Reserves are currently open, and Apps will open March 1st.
If you have questions, comments, suggestions, etc., go here.
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Wait, wait, wait... [Or maybe it doesn't actually fully lock into place just yet. But it's starting to even if Jaskier is mentally trying to push back against it as a possibility.] Hold on. Wait.
[Despite her having not said or done anything as of yet, Jaskier still demands a moment.]
Long before? ...How...long? [Oh, he's getting there!] Are we talking seconds? Minutes? Days?
[He would like Yennefer to be a little hyperbolic right now and lean more in the seconds category as far as measurements of time is concerned. But he purses his lips as his stomach starts tying itself into some knots over the notion that maybe even days isn't enough in the space between his question and her answer that feels like it's also stretching on too long despite not doing that at all.]
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Try...oh I don't know.... (is she purposefully drawing it out just a little? maybe. it's not the most mature move, but she's not a mature person all the time.of )
Months? Roughly seven of them or so?
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What?
[The word is spoken so quickly, there's hardly any time to add any sort of inflection that would cement it as a question. In fact, if it wasn't typically a question when left all by its lonesome in a sentence, most likely, one would mistake it for a statement. There is just simply far, far too much to process with that piece of information. On the lesser end, there's the fact Jaskier just saw her moments ago in Kaer Morhen, and here she is saying it's been seven months since she last saw him. On the larger, more important end, Yennefer has been in Hell for seven months. Seven. Months.]
You have to be joking, [he says with a laugh that's lacking in both breath and mirth.] Because if you are, that's not funny. It's not. At all. But you are joking. Right?
[From his tone, it's likely easy to ascertain that those aren't serious questions or that he's even managed to convince himself that she is joking. Because Yennefer may be many things, but Jaskier doesn't think even on her worst behavior she would stoop to lying or joking about something like that. He doesn't even really give her a chance to actually answer though as is often typical when words start falling out of him in such a disorganized manner.]
No... No, no, you're serious. Oh, you're serious...
[There is the most minute shakes of his head before Jaskier's brow knits itself together and rather than just look at her, he scrutinizes her for a moment. One could forgive her for mistaking it as trying to catch her in a lie, but he isn't. Rather, he's trying to quiet the concern and worry about what seven months of Hell could have done to her. If he finds no evidence of it, then that means it's fine, right? She's fine? Of course, she's fine. She's been through worse. Because of all her shitty decisions, she's dealt with worse and come out the other side. And maybe learned to make an occasional good decision. And people like her always don't just survive, they thrive. And hasn't he called it all along that she's the exact sort of person who would thrive in a place like this?]
[Oh, but none of that feels particularly convincing to Jaskier. At least not enough to fully quiet the worry. He knows he won't find anything because mages and their damned appearances, and it's not like Yennefer would ever trust him enough to say anything to the contrary if it wasn't a desperate moment or she was backed into a corner. And even if she is one of the most powerful people he's ever known, that doesn't make her immune to everything.]
[With a couple of blinks, he seems to snap out of it. Vaguely. Insomuch he's not really looking at her anymore and it's only another moment before he turns back towards Bean. Really, he's still trying to process her answer, muttering a seven months to himself. Or to Bean. Maybe both. Maybe to no one. It's hard to say he's even consciously aware he said anything.]
[Sometimes he liked it better when he couldn't stand Yennefer at all. That would make this a lot simpler.]
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Jaskier, not even I would joke about that.
(it's said in a serious sort of voice. o there is no teasing, no playing, no joy (or not much, she'd be lying if she said she hadn't been hoping to get some sort of reaction out of him) to be derived from the idea of him being stuck here with her and geralt -- she may not always like the bard but she can't say he really deserves to be here. sure he sleeps with people maybe he shouldn't and apparently infidelity is a sin here -- at least to some extent -- but compared to people like her and geralt who make made their beds over and over again for very long life spans....
well his sins seem small in comparison. not that she feels guilty about most of the choices she's made, much as this place tries to make her be, but still. he'll be eaten alive here -- perhaps literally. while he blue screens of death her own brain backs up a little bit)
Wait -- what were you doing in Kaer Mohren?
(of course she knows of the place geralt returns to every winter, but she's never actually been there herself. not her knowledge, anyways.)
cw: allusion to suicide
[As can sometimes be expected of Jaskier, his mouth gets ahead of him. The part of his brain looking for the easy escape from having to think too much more on all of this latches onto her question as the opening to her accusing him of being useless. But the part of him that was actually listening and paying attention catches up quickly and stops him before he could remind her she was the one who woke him from a dead sleep positively begging for his help. That just now wasn't an attempt to take a dig, it was a genuine question.]
[She doesn't know, he realizes. Or maybe she doesn't remember? Yennefer said she could portal all over this place, but not return home through her abilities. So, she has her magic back, clearly. But maybe she's never lost it? Is that possible? Does it even matter? Either way, she has no recollection of that loss, of that particular desperation of powerlessness that she's never had or felt before, that rending from her of what has always defined Yennefer of Vengerberg. And she also doesn't know... Jaskier's gaze drifts to one of her wrists as it sinks in that she also doesn't know what she almost gave up trying to fix arguably the worst fuck up of her long life in the worst possible fucking way.]
[Jaskier swallows hard, as though pushing down whatever the rest of his sentence was about to be, as he meets her eyes again. He is not going to be the one to tell her. How could he? There's a very low chance she'll think he's making it all up, but there's a very high chance that she'll convince herself that he is. And then what? Then she's pissed at him. Pissed at him and probably with a short fuse meaning he probably gets turned into a toad or his dick ends up falling off or something terrible. Or, potentially worse, she just abandons him right here and now. And then they're on their own, hating themselves and resenting each other.]
[He can't even begin to think of a scenario in which there's a positive outcome to telling her. So, he draws a breath with a flicker of a smile.]
My point was more the only place more ridiculous for me to be than Hell is Kaer Morhen. And I'd rather there than here. [It's a weak, terrible lie, but if it's not in one of his songs, Jaskier tends to be equal in ability to a child caught nicking sweets at the market. He doesn't even believe himself right now as he starts fidgeting with his fingers, but he's pleading silently for Yennefer to let it be.] Wouldn't you?
cw: allusion to suicide
(yennefer didn't lose her magic here. maybe it was because of hell. maybe it was because she was grabbed before she used up all of it.
maybe it was because when she was apped her player had no idea she would lose it. so when his gaze drops down to her wrists she thinks he's noticing the scars from her attempt back in aretuza -- not a more recent one. those scars and her eyes were the only thing she kept of the old yennefer, the one she has tried so hard to kill and bury.whatever he was going to say, he seems to change his mind. she narrows her eyes a little, crossing her arms over her chest.)
Yes. But I don't think that's what you meant. I've heard about this happening to other people....timelines not matching up. (her and geralt's more or less did, so she never gave the phenomenon much thought because it wasn't her problem. until now.)
Does that mean I survive Sodden? (she doesn't know how to feel about that, she had survived in hell these past months assuming she had no life to go back to.)
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[Jaskier's answer is relatively quiet and comes quickly, but it's intentionally so this time. Reluctant as he is to share anything that she hasn't lived through herself, Jaskier's gut tells him that it would be cruel to even hesitate (never mind to refuse) telling Yennefer of her fate at Sodden. As far as he's concerned, she has a right to that much.]
[But he offers no theatrics, embellishments, or barbs with the confirmation of her survival. By her question, Jaskier can only conclude that Yennefer has been moving through this place with the assumption that she hadn't. Or at least with no hope that she had, if nothing else.]
[Jaskier wants to believe the news of her survival would just light the fire in Yennefer necessary for her to find a way out of here out of an old stubborn refusal to accept a fate that's been handed to her. But she's been here for seven months. There's really no telling what sort of effect that's had on her even if seven months is the blink of an eye for someone like her. So, it seems best to simply give her the bald truth and let her do with it as she will rather than trying to dress it up into something he'd assume prettier and easier to take.]
You survived.
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(for all this time she had assumed she died on the battlefield, that there wasn't a life to go back to -- and now that she has confirmation that there is...she honestly doesn't know how to feel. she had been so miserable after discovering the truth about the wish, after getting the harsh truth that she would never be able to have the child she had desperately desired. saving the other mages -- well at least then she'd be leaving behind a legacy.
but if she still is alive -- that means she shouldn't be paying for her sins just yet. so getting out of here...well the top priority is still the mammon mess, one thing at a time, but at least it's a goal now. she never liked being judged anyways, that's pretty much this place's whole deal.)
Good. That's all I want to know.
(if she knew too much about her future she'd probably purposefully fight against it at every turn here. she knows better than to ask too many question -- and the fact that jaskier is not being verbose for once in his life suggests he wouldn't tell her much anyways.)
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[The latter feels the worse of the two assumptions to Jaskier. Much as he knows he will inevitably come to rely on someone like her in a place like this, that's not something he would want to be left unreciprocated. That she isn't exactly the Yennefer that risked her life for him doesn't really matter when it comes to that because that's the problem when you come to realize the person you thought was the worst isn't exactly as terrible as you painted them out to be. You can't forget that.]
[So, instead, he says,] So where is it? Where is your little corner of Hell that you've managed to seduce or swindle out of some demon lord? Frankly, I'm surprised you don't have him on a leash behind you. Or should I brace myself for news that you've managed to overtake the whole place in just seven months' time?
[Jaskier assumes that's the type of conversation Yennefer would prefer and that they go back and forth like this, but it also serves the purpose of allowing Jaskier to ask what the hell Yennefer has been doing for the past seven months since she arrived here without asking outright and getting nowhere with such a direct question.]
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(poor jaskier, he didn't know he not hitting just a sore spot but rather something that felt like an infected wound she didn't know how to cure. her jaw tightens. of course she had spent time trying to charm some of the higher ups -- had even made a true connection with emmanuel who went and got himself sacrificed to free them all from barbas' control. but in the end, she was the one on a leash. at least that's how it felt. the wedding to mammon wasn't finished before barbas' spell was finished...but she knows part of a binding spell was started, and it may be only a matter of time before he tries to finish it. which is why she has to find a way to sever the link. her voice is harder and unlike their normal barbs at one another, truly angry.)
If anyone got swindled in this place, bard, it was me. And any ties I might have to a demon lord were not by choice nor to my advantage.
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Yennefer, how much trouble are you in? [He doesn't ask because he has any delusions that he can fix it since the likelihood of that is slim to none. Heroics are the subjects of his songs, but that's where it begins and ends. There's also the matter of Yennefer's tendency of often refusing help. Using people is comfortable to her, but asking for help... That's a rare sight. Rarer still for the Yennefer before him, he assumes. But they're a little past the part where Jaskier can so easily just leave her to her inevitable demise any longer.] What happened?
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{ don't pretend you care, bard. the words are at the tip of her tongue but yennefer considers herself good at reading people, it was one of the many things beyond magic she was taught to do, and he doesn't seem mocking. he doesn't seem to be delighting in her distress as he might have in the past -- he seems legitimately concerned and she has no idea what to do with that. she decides to avoid the first question (for now), and focus on the second)
One of the lords here, Barbas, brainwashed a large group of us for two months. Made us believe we were natives here, demons who were doing our parts. He put us into families that we believed to be legitimate.
(and that part still stings as much as the rest of it, considering how much yennefer had wanted children. she still feels an attachment to waverly and hazel that she doesn't know what to do with. and being married to geralt and the illusion that they could be happy for a time and end not because of self destruction but other forces? well that's a whole other can of worms. there are a lot of cans of worms here. nothing but worms.)
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[It may be a bit of an assumption, but Jaskier imagines that Yennefer would have rather endured anything other than that. Jaskier doesn't know how long exactly Yennefer had spent in her long life trying to have a child of her own, but he'd seen it firsthand how much she was willing to burn the world down if that's what it took. To have that not just within reach but within her grasp only then to have the scales lifted from her eyes is crueler than most things that could have been done to her.]
[He almost says I'm sorry, but he's fairly certain Yennefer will tell him exactly where he can shove that sentiment. Even if it was an extension of empathy, it could likely only be taken as pity and she'd close the door on saying anything further. So, he just leaves it at that. Just the quiet acknowledgment of how cruel that was for her to have everything she has wanted for so long and to have it turn to ash in her mouth like that.]
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Yes. Shit. The kind of shit you can expect here. Some of the torture will be of the more traditional type -- but a lot of it won't.
(of course there's debate of whether that was supposed to be torture as barbas never planned on giving up control but whether someone intends on something being torture or not doesn't really matter. someone doesn't have to intend to hurt you in order to do so. )
And even though we were not in control of our thoughts or actions, some of us are still facing repercussions from things that happened in that delusion.
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What do you need, Yennefer?
[He's careful not to ask how he can help or even begin to imply that he can provide her with what she might need. Yennefer's pride would likely never allow her to accept such direct offers of help, and especially not from him. But oddly enough, she's not too bad at being able to say what she's missing from solving her problem on her own. It seems that naming a need was a very different thing from asking for or taking offered help.]
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(it's baffling how...nice he's being to her. he's not gloating at the mess she's clear in over her head about. he's not mocking her. he's asking she needs and it throws her because as far as she knows, she and jaskier are not friends. and yet here he is...asking what she needs like she even has any idea what the answer to that question is.)
What I need is a way out of a marriage to a demon lord -- it was interrupted but there was a binding spell involved and Lucifer did talk about how something needed to be decided about what to do with the brides -- and the other ones seem to be content to be given away like property but I am not.
(hence the many, many hours she is spending in the library, looking for anything useful to find.)
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They really don't know who they're fucking with, do they? [he says, gesturing with his hands to the whole of her. Out of every person he's ever met, Yennefer of Vengerberg is the single most likely individual to spit in the eye of expectations. She survived Sodden. She will survive losing her magic. She will survive the Deathless Mother.] If you'll pardon the lack of a better term, I would almost feel bad for your betrothed if he wasn't a demon. I've seen what you do when you're pissed and it's...
[Jaskier trails off, nodding his head a little.]
There's a reason I don't write about you that much aside from the fact I don't think a song about the very definition of a joyless void would play well.
[Jaskier knows that Yennefer probably doesn't need to be reassured of her ability to get out of this or what she's capable of, but it certainly can't hurt when he's more or less asked her to acknowledge what a shitty corner she's managed to get herself back into.]
So, have you figured anything out about the spell? I mean, I'm assuming you weren't aware of it happening until you... [Jaskier gestures towards her head.] You know. Remembered the truth or whatever.
[Jaskier knows fuck all about magic, but he does know from his time following Geralt around that the first step to breaking a spell is knowing how it was formed.]
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(she smirks a little at his words. they're almost comforting in a weird sort of way.) No they don't. But that is something I can use to my advantage. They think they can own me. They will learn that they cannot.
(and sure, she hasn't found a way out of it yet, but that doesn't mean she won't. of course it does mean the longer she goes without an easy or obvious out the more likely she will be to find or engage in a dangerous one. she's been known to do desperate things when backed into a corner -- jaskier would know that even better than she does, currently.)
I was aware, but like I said I was brainwashed, I went along with it because I thought if I fought it it would put my family at risk.
(there's a sharp breath as she remembers the rain of blood, the painful blur of two sets of memories merging and the panic she had felt in that moment.)
Of course once the spell got broken I got us out of there as quickly as possible. I've been trying to research the spell ever since.
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[Jaskier opts not to say anything about that breath even as it catches his attention. Whatever she's tamping down, it's not something he would have likely attempted to pry even if she had lived through life since Sodden. Yennefer keeps things close to the chest most of the time, and even with things a little less biting and antagonistic between the two of them back home, Jaskier isn't exactly the first person she's probably going to be prone to admitting to something she's wanting to keep tamped down if she can help it.]
I take it nothing so far?
[As far as leads or clues about the spell are concerned. Who knows if Yennefer has information about other factors in this situation that she might be prepared to use in case of an emergency?]
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Nothing so far. But that's never dettered me before.
(in fact the more roadblocks yennefer approaches in her research, the more determined she is to find answers. she wishes emmanuel hadn't sacrificed himself, even if it had freed all of them. he would have helped her. he had been genuinely kind in the way few people in her long, long life have been.
but it doesn't matter. she'll figure something out. whatever it takes. she refuses to belong to someone else.)
At least I have my wits about me....some of the other brides seem...content at the idea of being married off to him. And we've all been acting strangely. (more than once she's gotten distracted from her research by being more interested in her appearance than usual. speaking of her appearance: jaskier would be able to notice her ears are much more sharp and elf like than they used to be.)
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You're going to have to be a little more specific than that, [Jaskier says with a slight shake of his head.] There is absolutely nothing about you that someone wouldn't think strange even in a place like this.
[What are the warning signs? That's what he really wants to know. Not that there's maybe too much he can do in terms of pulling Yennefer back from the edge—not as though this is a physical threat that Jaskier can just squarely put himself in front of—but at least then he has a metric and he can know how much he ought to worry.]
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While I have always taken pride in my appearance. (to say the very least, considering the sacrifices she took to gain said appearance in the first place.) There have been times when I find myself not just preoccupied with it -- but obsessed to the point of distraction. Looking in mirrors and changing outfits when I should be researching or doing other things.
(it still seems strange that jaskier cares but for whatever the reason...well she'd be lying if she said she didn't need
helppeople she could use right now. she pulls back her elven ears.)And then there are these -- Mammon is known for liking to make altercations and hybrids, I suppose I should feel lucky my change is something so subtle.
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Lucky is a word for it, I suppose, [Jaskier says, agreeing with her vaguely since it seems like the trade-off is that subtle means easily overlooked. Then again, if there were more significant changes, there's no doubt in Jaskier's mind that Yennefer would skip this calmer, more rational decision to do her research first.] So, I'll be the first to admit I am absolutely shit at research.
[He doesn't have the attention span for it. For as long as he can sit and toil away with his lyrics and lute, he is the exact opposite when asked to sit in front of someone else's writings and consuming it.]
But I'd like to think I know just exactly how conceited you are by now. I could help keep you from getting distracted with all your endless preening and carrying on. And if you told me specifically what you're looking for, I could perhaps keep you focused.
[...And even if he is not particularly helpful with the reading and research bits, he could maybe subtly take a look on her behalf, too. If nothing else, maybe letting her bounce her thoughts and ideas off another person will shake out another lead and keep her from getting desperate quite so quickly. Ultimately, it's his hope that it would keep her safer for longer. But he shrugs his shoulders as though that's not his intent in the slightest.]
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You may be bad at research but you are good at talking to people, getting them to talk too, except for Geralt but some people are just a lost cause.
(she may not have always been jaskier's biggest fan but she is not blind to his skills and what might be useful to her.)
You can help me research, try to keep me on track, but you can also talk to the demons around the hotel, see what you can find about Mammon, or marriages to demon lords. It felt like some sort of binding spell -- but he didn't get to complete it so there must be some way to break it. We cannot use physical violence against his guards, not without potentially turning into gold.
(how accurate the memories they retain from hellburbia is debateable, but geralt shared that information, it seems pertinent to share now.)
There has to be a loophole -- and even if it comes with a cost -- it is better than the alternative. (sorry jaskier, but the desperation levels are already on the high side.)
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[But Jaskier is relieved Yennefer isn't telling him to fuck off or otherwise mind his business. Even if he's had to dress it up as a use me sort of situation rather than offering directly, she's accepting his help and even going so far as to give him something very specific to do. Something that even Yennefer has to admit she wouldn't have nearly as much luck with at least not while she's the bride-to-be.]
Oh, no, yeah, sure, whatever it takes, [Jaskier says, pantomiming agreement quite unconvincingly and poorly. But that probably shouldn't come as any surprise to Yennefer. Unlike Geralt and Yennefer who silently resign themselves and provide no recognition of a limit, respectively, Jaskier is the first to balk when the price of something raises a little higher than he's necessarily comfortable with. But he also knows there's no talking Yennefer down from a ledge, at least not a ledge that they haven't even found yet. They'll have to cross that bridge when they get there.] But, um? Yennefer? I know you're not trying to pay much mind to your appearance, distraction and all that, but...
[Jaskier purses his lips as he reaches over much like one does when trying to muster up the courage to touch while simultaneously recognizing touching is a good way to lose a finger if not an entire hand by minimizing the amount of contact. He attempts smoothing down a few flyaways that have managed to manifest themselves into existence while she's been toiling away.]
And I do mean this in the nicest way I possibly, I cannot stress that enough, [he says, recognizing the attempt at smoothing her hair while barely touching her is not proving to be the most successful and he decides fuck it and risks his hand with a little more contact.] But as good as it is to see you, I was serious. You do look a little shit.
[He returns his hand before he loses it.]
I think it's alright to let yourself be distracted long enough to freshen up. Hell, maybe even throw in a nap if you feel so inclined. That's what you usually do anyway, yeah? Leave everyone else to do the dirty work for you while you lay about and I don't know, eat sweets and drink your apple juice or something?
[He knows that's not it at all. Yennefer is far from shy about getting her own hands dirty. But it paints a prettier picture of someone in control and with the full extent of their power, and Jaskier has to imagine there's some version of her ideal life where that's the case. And if part of his job is to make sure she doesn't get too distracted, then that also means he has to allow some. Maybe even encourage it a little.]
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