TEST DRIVE MEME #34

[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, 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

"Rise and shine, darling!" Lucifer's voice booms within everyone's minds one fine morning, and sinners will almost feel how infectious his good mood is. And what does he not have to feel good about? They've rescued sinners from Mammon's latest antics and now they can hopefully move on with their lives, without any further interference. "Those who have been here for a while will know that the annual Carnival is well on its way. This time, I would like to assure all of you that I have taken every utmost precaution to ensure it's a good event for everyone from beginning to end!"

"Regardless of what my father would like to see, I would like to reward all of you for standing at my side. All of you havedisplayed astounding bravery and care for your fellow sinners and demons alike. This deserves a reward in my book. So no torture, no pain, no zoos to be forced into... just a bit of fun and games. This time, the clowns have been told to mind their manners!"!

Some of the sinners who have been here since the beginning may feel their stomachs clench in fear at the mere thought of a carnival, but the atmosphere is... happy. Demons are being far kinder than they have been in the past, approaching with kinder requests to help. Some may get a little rough around the edges, may shove or criticize or look like they want to hit, but be patient! Hell is all they really know and those old habits die hard at times! They got the spirit at least...

To show their thanks, they're bringing out cans of Speed Energy again (can you guess the secret ingredient?) that will have sinners absolutely buzzing to help. Decorations need to be placed, rides need to be set, tables for vendors and games. It seems like the beginning of some sort of tunnel of love is being put together by Lilith and the sex demons...

Lucifer is even walking around personally supervising and checking in on sinners with enthusiam and warmth. There may be an air of nervousness about him -- he is technically disobeying God and they still haven't found Emmanuel, but he's putting on a brave face at least!

For those who'd rather opt out of manual labor, some of the succubi have set up lemonade stands. They're offering cups for kisses - and don't worry! They're inviting sinners to join in the fun and take over some of the stands!

There's also some late Spring Cleaning going on around the hotel and guests will find boxes of items left outside to rummage through that may include newer clothes, games, and other sources of entertainment. There may even be the odd weapon or two! Staff will not say no if anyone wants to give them a bit of a and with the cleaning and dusting either... it seems the large spiders have come back in to try to spin their webs and stay. Don't worry! Even though they may rival a chihuahua, these guys tend to be docile and friendly. Be careful you don't accidentally adopt a pet!




Reach Up High

WARNINGS: blood, torture

"My dear guests!" Lucifer greets as sinners are led to a room with two seats and a table in between. They then will be made to sit by two burly demon escorts.

"What I am asking of you is rather simple... pick a sin from your contract, any sin, and explain how you got to that point. Simple enough, yes? Perhaps gaining a better understanding of what made you sin in the first place will clear a path into avoiding situations like this in the future, as well as form that all too important human connection that I'm told some of you are desperately needing. Please don't try to get out of it... I really would rather not punish you.".

And true to his word, so long as sinners comply and share what made them perform a sin on their list, they'll be let go. If, after five minutes, nothing has been shared, a headache will begin. The pain will gradually increase until it floods the body. Nosebleeds may begin to happen, so will bleeding out the ears or eyes. Eventually, a sinner may even lose a sense for a 24 hour period.

Is it really worth potentially going blind just to get out of a little bit of talking? Come now...

(Effects should begin 5 comments in and gradually worsen until sinners either give in or start to lose one of their senses. After this, they'll be released from the room regardless whether they complied or not)


Follow Me Down

Prompt I

WARNINGS: Potentials for sex, aphrodisiacs, non/dub-con, etc.

Club Penance has decided to don a new theme for the night! The theme is lingerie. The staff now wear more modest lingerie reminiscent of the '50s. Elegant, pretty, tantalizing. Or maybe it's just the aphrodisiacs in the air and food that make one feel that way.

They are also insisting everyone else put on lingerie as well. Don't worry! It's not old fashioned and anything that suites your fancy will be available. Try to skip out? Guests will find it magically appear on them... and possibly not in the theme they'd choose for themselves. If magic fails, the staff or local demons may take it upon themselves to slip it on the poor sinner themselves.

Swinging is an event happening tonight. Put your key from Hotel Penance or Hellburbia into a hat, another sinner draws it out... whoever gets your key will be your lucky partner for the night for any kind of fun! Sinners may find their keys disappearing and appearing in the hat entirely without their knowledge... but staff will be very persistent about follow-through! There will be rooms available for fun in the Club, for those who'd rather not go back to their personal rooms.

Other than that, oddly enough tables have been set up for romantic dinners, private rooms are available for sexual activities (not all of these are vanilla. There are toys and machines and anything else one could want, including costumes or things to suit any fetish). There's also live entertainment in the form of dancing or sexual performances on stages around the club. Volunteers are more than welcome!

For those not partnered up, there's speed dating where demons will lead a prospective partner to your table for a little bit of a chat and a drink. They may not always get your tastes spot on, but hopefully it's entertaining for all involved! if sinners find their drinks seem to have a little extra aphrodisiac added to them, oh well. It was probably an honest mistake.

Those who are attached, either via Casino Styx or through other means may find themselves growing oddly loving or possessive of one another. Jealousy and the urge to claim their partner (even in public) will grow substantially throughout the night. While it may not always result in violence and instead be enthusiastically embraced by both parties, it may also result in the urge to leave marks or claim in darker ways. Collaring their partners, leaving their names, etc. They're yours and don't you want everyone to know that?

Alcohol does flow freely around the club and usual demonic drugs or party drugs are available on demand.


Prompt II

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


Wildcard/Misc.

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Questions, comments, suggestions

[penancemods]

[egregoroi]

If something only counts as a drug to your character, would it still be available?

[zunge]

Are the drugs available only the type you physically consume/inhale, or can they be administered through exposure via other methods? I am specifically curious about whether it would be possible to have something from my character's canon called photo narcotics be an option if it's kept to a small area of effect like a small room (mainly so that it's easy to control exposure and characters/players can avoid if they wish). It is specialized lighting equipment that offers narcotic effects through light exposure. There are details about it in the wiki write-up for Mink's route (beware of descriptions of of drug use and nonconsensual sexual content in the link).

NPC - Lucifer

[odaystar]

At the carnival

[the_amazing]

He's seen Lucifer before, but only from a distance. Peter's never had the opportunity to speak to him in person, so now is as good a time as any. He has a lot of questions, to be sure, and a lot of pain and anger to work through.

"Prince of Darkness, I presume? Got a minute for a foolish mortal?"

[OOC: If this doesn't work, I can edit or delete.]

[failed_antichrist]

[After everything that's happened, it's been a while since Setsuna was able to run into Lucifer. When he spots him out and about, he waves at him, and has no issue yelling out.]

LUCI! [He runs over throw his arms around Lucifer.]

angel the siren | borderlands

[egregoroi]

Arrival
She's not the fastest of the group making their way down the stairs, being in pain isn't new. That's a given to most of life as she has known it. Or waking up disorientated, cut into, with some new piece attached to her body.

Using her legs, on the hand? That was like getting on a bicycle after years, and she was wobbly as a baby deer as she tried to make her way down the stairs. A little out of breath, both hands on the wall as she goes one after another until she enters the lobby.

All of it, the sights, the smells, the sounds, the simple act of just breathing like a normal person on normal lungs for the first time in years, is exhausting. Lost and tired, she reaches for the closest person, she knows what's coming almost predictably. Reaching to whoever is closest to tap them on the arm - and she is small, not that much over 5', all told, bare feet to the floor. A mix of healthy, not a cut, not a bruise or injury on her body, and yet she seems completely exhausted and overwhelmed.

"Sorry, I don't mean to bother you. I just... think I am going to throw up. Can you help me sit down?"

So far, she hadn't seen Jack. Which was good, and bad. She didn't exactly want to spend eternity with her asshole father, but she wanted more than anything, to know he was dead already.

Stand Your Ground
When had she last seen a carnival? Eden 2 on a field trip when she had been little with both her parents? Was that the sort of memory she dreamed up in her illusions in the emptiness of her life otherwise.

She isn't doing very much, managed to shuffle her way to a lemonade stand with bambi steps. With a glass of lemonade in hand, she swings her feet where she's too short of the seats, sipping it from a straw. Not up to the rides and kissing the demon had resulted in the shiest kiss on the cheek where she nearly panicked and ran away before it got anywhere, but she stuck to her guns, and now she sipped it in victory.

Instead, she offers a different sort of help.

Every so often she lets a demon come up and she closes her eyes and puts her hand on the machine he offers her. Faintly she hums with light that turns her blue full-body tattoos white, one, two, three, and then she opens her eyes again, the light dims. "You've got your calibrations set right, this time. Just make sure to tighten the bolt properly."

It seems to please her a lot, being useful with her powers. Just using them to help people do something fun. The demons as a concept seem.... normal, really, that all of this is a little, if she closes her eyes, like Pandora.

Reach Up High
What sin hasn't she committed? Greed maybe? It really takes a minute for her to speak, not because she doesn't think she's done wrong, but because... she's not sure where to start.

"Are we supposed to admit big things? Or everyday things? Because there is the torture, probably, but that's just something we all saw... or do you want the corporate manipulation and tax evasion...? Or murder? Does accidental murder count as a sin? What if the gun had an AI? Some of the Torgue AI's get really pushy when you don't give them someone to murder... uhm..."

She fiddles looking at her hands because this is just - Pandora. But having others speak, they aren't just used to cannibalism, it seems like.

Follow Me Down: I & II
This was certainly an outfit, white lace and sweet, the sort of thing she can't imagine anyone she knows wearing. Not even Moxxi. But that apparently was the theme for the night, and when in Hell, right? Especially since Jack still was not here.... then maybe... maybe she could just... cut back like everyone else did? Even if she was sure he would absolutely kill anyone for looking at her like this.

So dressed in the little lingerie outfit, she finds somewhere she can sit doing what she does best, just watching people. Though everything is on display, and that is terrifying. She is a siren, bought and sold and killers and goddesses, it becomes clear that the peak of blue tattoos from under her clothes otherwise, doesn't finish there. From toes to the back of her neck and across the entire left side of her body - there are blue lines. Curling over her breasts, up her thighs, on the flat of her hips.

And in her spine are metal rings of exposed cybernetics, like someone would hook another machine into her.

This is her first drink. Her first taste of alcohol. Doing what adults do. Not the enforced, endless emptiness Jack forced her into. She doesn't know where to start, so she does the only sensible thing she can think of: orders one of every drink there is and takes one quick mouthful, and then a longer sip.

It's not Eridium the flash of the system to hot, so sharp to her body. This was like sinking into a warm blanket that was a wash of a hundred new things. Before long, she was eating everything around her, a familiar haze of euphoria that simmered as her happiness made her light up. Literally. The tattoos pulse with her happiness and the way she feeds her powers into her emotions, that ripple the air about her like a static discharge.

Until it's all just wonderful to her, the pain and frustration of her weak body fades from her, and she is tilting her head back, laughing at something she finds hilarious.

"That's the thing, my name is Angel - and I'm in hell." It's not dignified how hard she laughs, a snort as she hiccups into her next glass.

Someone should probably take the alcohol off the girl whose never drunk anything before and weighs five pounds soaking wet.

Or worse, before the drunk girl crying starts.

network: 4N631

Hi,
Quick question,
Where are the gun vending machines?
I can't seem to find any.

Follow me down

[birdpapi]

And this is the reason he usually avoids Club Penance. They're always doing something weird.

He'd tried to skip out. Not because he cares what anyone else is doing or because he's ashamed of his own body, but because it's just not really his style. It doesn't surprise him, though, that they still put him in an intricate harness (at least the amount of straps kind of matches his aesthetic) and a thong. At least they're red and black. See, he would have just gone to go get drunk somewhere else, except he hears a familiar voice, that voice that had echoed in his head when he first landed on Pandora and guided them to the vault, the voice that lied and manipulated and-- He hears the name Angel, and he has to turn back around to find its source, to confirm that he's not imagining things.

It's not difficult to find her. Sure enough, she's right there, blue markings glowing in that same way Lilith and Maya do when they're excited or happy. Angel.

Seeing her isn't really a surprise. With all that she's done, she would be in hell and, after all, she's dead. Surprise isn't what he feels, but ... definitely shock. He hadn't been in the core with the other Vault Hunters, but he knows what happened, saw it. The memory of Jack's retaliation is ever present in his mind as it replays Roland collapsing in front of Jack, in the hollowness that loss carved in his chest to fill with grief and anger and guilt and why did he not go too, why was he not there to help, to put a bullet in Jack's head before--

And she is both perpetrator and victim. A liar and a murderer, but one of Lilith and Maya's own, a daughter caught in Jack's claws before she could ever hope to tell right from wrong, used and manipulated to suit his needs, tortured until the only way out was death. He wishes he could feel more angry, but mostly it's just ... nothing. Both her and Jack are dead. What does it matter anymore?

With his goggles gone thanks to the club, the yellow hawk eyes that have replaced his human ones might be startling, especially coupled with the intense way he eyes her as he approaches. Like he could read her secrets if he watches close enough. He slides smoothly enough into the seat opposite her, sweeps his gaze across the collection of half-full and empty glasses in front of her, then looks back up.

"This supposed to be your rebellious teen phase?"

Reach up high

[sharktrash]

Lucky (maybe?) for her, it seems she's ended up with someone who isn't all that judgemental of Pandoran customs. Maybe because half his crew back home would fit right into that dumpster fire of a planet, but who's keeping count.

As usual, Squalo's dressed in black, his long white hair looking almost a little otherworldly, though the localization features are probably the thing that draws attention the most: a pair of pale, slim horns and a set of sharky sharp teeth that keep peeking out whenever he speaks or smirks.

"You can choose your favorite," he suggests conversationally, as if they're speaking about what to order for lunch. He's tipped his chair on two legs, lounging like he owns the place, hands behind head. The burly demons next to them is probably the only reason his feet aren't on the table yet. "Generally, everything counts as long as it's either illegal or you feel bad about it."

There's something a little deja vu about this girl... as if he's met her, or some echo of her, during torture before, and then never again. But it's too blurry in his mind to properly make out. Still, it makes him curious to hear more about her.

Or her sins, whichever. That was totally a good first conversation topic.

Stand Your Ground

[gravity_fissure]

Essek had heard of carnivals, had watched them come through Rosohna from a safe distance away. Caravans made of carts would set up, the whispers and skeptical looks of residents – especially of higher Dens - would be shared, and Essek would hear about them between lessons. That was always the extent of his involvement: rumored whispers and gossip. He was too busy with studies, then work, and finally politics to partake.

Until he arrived here and had nothing but time.

He didn’t trust this particular carnival because it was here. Anything that was in this plane seemed poisoned, warped in some way, regardless of what Lucifer promised, but he was interested in what made it beguiling to so many people. Besides, they were important to Mollymauk, and so….

…it would be important to Essek as well.

The long draping of his dark cloak brushed against the ground and he floated his way through the aisles, watching the demons, the people, the…civility of it all. It was impressive given the customary interactions around this time of month, and he was ready to actually turn away before he caught a flash.

Magic? It had been caught out of the corner of his eye, not letting him see enough to make a solid assumption. The instinct in him craved to know exactly what that was. Carrying his open parasol, he drifted his way over to this woman, curious, especially at the markings on her skin.

“If you do that often enough, they will begin to follow you and ask for more,” the drow said, his accent curling softly against his tongue. “They can get a bit demanding in time.”

arrival

[oinkoink]

In all honesty, Sally feels like she's about to throw up too--but having someone else, someone smaller and more delicate-looking than her (not that Sally would say it's hard to look more delicate than her) ask for help immediately grounds her. At least, it grounds her enough to shove down the worst of her own imminent breakdown.

"Oh, erm, yes, of course. Here--"

She awkwardly puts the other girl's arm around her shoulder and lets her lean on her, trying to ignore the tension in her body as she starts to guide them across the lobby.

"These couches should do. I mean, they look fine."

If they're even real. If any of this is real. If the person she's helping isn't some kind of elaborate illusion meant to throw her off guard. Sally's not sure she'd be able to tell the difference, at this point.

arrival?

[madeofscars]

Well. Isn't that a little bit of a deja-vu.

When Bum feels that tap on his arm, his initial response is to flinch, but as he glances back, there's no impending threat. It's just a girl who looks like she's about to fall over or have a panic attack, and he remembers all too well how he'd just sat there on the floor and had an actual breakdown on his first day... and the few kind people who had actually stopped to check on him and help. If he can help anyone else in the same way, he should do that. He just hopes he doesn't inevitably, somehow make it worse.

"I-it's okay. Sure. Um..."

He's not really bigger than her, not by much anyway. Still, he seems to be a bit stronger right now, at least enough to keep her from collapsing as after taking her in he quickly grips her arm to help her steady herself. He seems to avoid looking at her face, though, instead occupying himself with glancing around for anything to sit on -- a couch, or at least a calmer spot on the floor -- so he can carefully steer her toward it.

It's probably a good time for some sort of reassuring small talk, like It's a lot, huh or Did you just get here, but it all feels silly or obvious. Awkward silence it is, at least while one of them hasn't thrown up from stress (yet).

Yelena Belova | MCU

[laviny]

Carnival Preparations

[Yelena is suspicious of the carnival. She hasn’t been to any of the previous ones but just the news that one is coming and Lucifer’s assurance that it’s totally not going to be terrible, for reals makes her assume something terrible is definitely going to happen.

As such, she decides to get a feel for the lay of the land while things are being set up. She makes a point of helping out with various things like decorations and setting up tables in order to get an idea of what kind of attractions a Hell carnival might be planning. If it helps her get on the good side of a couple of demons, that’s even better.

If she sees someone passing by she might call out.]

Hey, can you hand me that ribbon there? I need to hang it up over here.


Spring Cleaning

[When she’s not hanging out at the carnival grounds, Yelena definitely takes some time to rummage through the boxes of stuff left outside the hotel. She grabs a few brightly colored garments (with pockets, if possible) and goes digging for weapons. She happens upon a large, clunky statement ring that is not technically a weapon but would definitely leave a mark if she punched someone while wearing it.

She slips it on.]

Hah. Not bad.


Reach Up High

[Yelena's not thrilled by being forced to sit at a table across from another sinner, but honestly when she hears the instructions she kind of shrugs to herself. She can talk, if that’s what they want. If it gets her out of here unscathed she’s fine with it.

With a sigh she turns to the other person at the table.]

Okay, sure. Do you want to go first, or should I?

Reach Up High

[amazonfresh]

[Diana has no problem participating in this sort of penance. Though she does tend to find what Hell deems sins worthy of punishment flawed.]

Either way. I will go first if that is better for you.

Sally Timms | Slade House

[oinkoink]

Arrival

[The whole situation is less than ideal. There's disorientation and panic as Sally transitions out of the frying pan and directly into the fire. Fires of Hell, that is. Someone tells her to stop holding up the line and in a state of shock she forces herself all the way through to the lobby, clutching the things she's been given. Continuing on as if in a trance, it isn't until she finds herself standing outside of the hotel and taking in the state of things that reality catches up to her. And all at once, her knees give out.

Shaking, Sally crashes down in a straight line, feeling very much like a stone dropped down into a well. Her vision pinpricks, panic swelling in her throat until she can't breathe, and she lets her contract and her phone and the fox-headed hairpin she'd been clutching when she arrived clatter to the pavement in favor of ripping her nails into her hair.]

Fuck! Fuck!

[This is just great.]

Stand Your Ground

1.

[When Sally gets roped into spring cleaning by one of the demons, she sucks in a breath and tries not to freak out (again). Anyone and anything looking at her or indicating she should be doing anything sets her whole body on edge, but there are certainly worse things she could be asked to do. Worse people, or things, who could be doing the asking.]

All right, Oink. It's just a bit of tidying up. Don't get yourself in a...

[Something tickles at the back of her neck, and when she reaches absently to brush at her skin, is met by a thick, hairy spider leg. Turning, she's face-to-face with a large set of eyes and the end of her sentence trails off in a startled shriek.

If you're particularly unlucky, she might be stumbling backwards right into you, regardless of what sort of domino effect of chaos it may cause.]

2.

[Eventually, she does find a sense of calm, settling down between a few boxes to organize the dusty contents. When she pulls out a worn box of what appears to be a Hellish version of Monopoly, she can't help but let out a snort.]

Right. At least this one makes sense--a real work of the devil.

Follow Me Down II

[So where does one go when all hope is lost? The bar, naturally. It helps that there doesn't seem to be any charge for the refreshments. Sally finds a corner seat at the counter and orders whatever sort of ale is on tap, not caring at the quality as she nurses it. And another. And at some point decides that it couldn't hurt to have one of the laid out pastries to console herself.

Except it very quickly doesn't just stay at one. A second follows, and then a third...and at some point she's just started grabbing them and bringing them up to her a mouth with absolute single-mindedness, eating them forcefully and without joy.

Hope you didn't want any.]

(( OOC ))

[chaos_magnet]

(( Do you want him comforting in Arrival, rescuing in Stand 1, or playing big bro in Follow?

p.s. I want to read the book now & I just adore Mae. Her? ))

James Holden ★ The Expanse (TV) ; openish

[chaos_magnet]

STAND YOUR GROUND ; OTA

Carnival
Came by my town today
Bright lights from giant wheels
Fall on the alleyways

James can be found:

Helping with carnival set-up (wearing his Rocinante jumpsuit)

Manning a lemonade stand - not all drinks need kisses, though

Winning prizes for people

Riding everything, however, he will only ride the Tunnel of Love with Bela, Gabriel, or Diana

Gaining a spider pet, because word spread of his humane methods during a previous cleaning (looks similar to Lucas the Spider)

Can thread or handwave, just comment explaining what our two did. c:

---

REACH UP HIGH ; ONLY OT ONE

You look at me, but you don't see
Understand, I'm a sinner

The Earther has yet to be subjected to this particular 'event' and as such is somewhat disgruntled at being forced into it. Into explaining something on his list in an inorganic manner. James doesn't know that resisting will equate into physical punishment, though he expects consequences, and so has little drive to avoid it.

With a glance back at the guards, a lingering one at that, he sighs with heavy resignation before turning to the person trapped with him.

"You know, I've been here a year now..." James stops, blinks. "...shit, I'm just not realizing it's been a year." He needs a minute to process this, staring at the table. He gives a soft incredulous laugh and head shake, comes to and resumes looking at the fellow sinner. "Uh, anyway, been here a year and never had to do this. What about you?"

---

(( PM or Discord { A Broken Zebra#0054 to hatch plot bunnies ))

at the carnival

[cleptes]

After another horrible experience in the hospital, Bela was in need of a distraction. She knows that she wasn't responsible for what happened there, given the drugs and pills the staff plied her with. Still, Bela did feel guilty and wanted to apologise to anyone she had caused harm to when she saw them.

That may take a little more courage than she has right now.

Which is why Bela finds herself at the carnival today. She takes a look around for a while, taking a note of the various rides and the Tunnel of Love before heading towards the lemonade stands, pleasantly surprised to find James behind one of them.

"Well, hi." Her face breaks out into a warm grin that's full of affection. "How many kisses will it take for a cup of lemonade and for an escort around the carnival?"

Monika | Doki Doki Literature Club

[holeinwall]

burning love (cw: attempted arson and who knows what else...)

[ This cannot stand. This is an affront aimed directly at her! Because while she'd hate anything to do with the Carnival on principle--thank you, last year's, for all those traumatic memories--one part of this sordid mess can't be allowed to exist. No matter how much she believed in the power of love, no matter how much she was an expert at romance...

The tunnel of love cannot be allowed to exist.

Her attempts at destruction started simple, mainly gently pleading with the demons putting it together to, you know, stop. Clearly, it doesn't dissuade them, so she graduates up to attempting to steal pieces of the tunnel itself. She was never programmed to be some amazing thief, however, so again. Thwarted.

Today's attempt involves a flaming bottle of alcohol. The library taught her all about Molotov cocktails! This will surely slow everything down!

...She throws it onto a soft spot of ground, and the flame eventually sputters out. Noticing this, the demons shout at her to leave and angrily shoo her far, far away.

But she will not! be! deterred! If her antics haven't already attracted enough attention, her running up to whoever's closest surely will. ]

Do you know how to start a fire? I need to start a fire! Or...do you have a bomb?

[ That tunnel of love has it coming! ]


lemonade mouth (cw: kissing Monika)

O-Oh, I'm not really that thirsty--

[ But her protests are ignored, and she's found herself firmly in place at a lemonade stand. Which, really, it's not the worst thing in the world, getting some easy kisses, but those sex demons always lead her into trouble! She doesn't even want to be here!

...Kisses are really, really nice, though.

So, if she has to do this, it's going to be done her way. She snags up a piece of cardboard and a marker, then decides to make her own "special menu" that she props up against the crate of lemons for everyone to see. The "prices" are as follows:

no kiss ~ water
kiss on the back of my hand ~ water with lemon
kiss on my cheek ~ unsweetened lemonade
kiss on my lips ~ the best lemonade ever
a date ~ any way you want it ♥

With a satisfied smile, she sets her chin on her interlocked fingers and leans forward to wait patiently. Surely there will be tons of takers!

Because, yes, the kiss doctor is now in. ]


wildcard

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

burning love

[lolidollie]

[Doll only cares about love if one person is involved. Destruction, on the other hand, sounds like a lot of fun! There's one huge drawback.]

I don't have a bomb. And I don't know how to make a fire. Unless you have a fire already. Then you can burn wood from it. Or use a match!

Surely we can find something?

[But however they might need to search, Doll wants to help make this happen.]

What are we going to [Doll smirks as her tone curls around the word, lovingly] burn?

Spider-Man/Peter Parker | Marvel 616

[the_amazing]

Stand Your Ground

Peter's not really sure about the difference between a festival and a carnival, but seeing as how the one he attended a few months ago was full of dangerous games and suspicious food, he's not expecting much this go around. He's recently freed of his metal arm grafts, but the wounds still throb on his sides and he's not moving as well as he normally does. He spends a lot of time sitting and people-watching this go around. Others can see him observing the crowds from a distance, and he'll talk to anyone else who'd like to do the same.

When he's not outside, Peter is also interested in perusing the boxes left down in the lobby. He and another person might find something interesting in one of them. He also notices the return of the spiders, but none of them seem to be the trio he formerly had as pets.

Follow Me Down I

He's never really understood the sexy underwear thing. Of course, Peter is always appreciative when his partners wear those kinds of things, but he's not into it himself. However, when he enters the club hoping for a drink and some relaxation, he's forced into something anyway. It's humiliating, but they've somehow secured special themed underwear just for him. It's extremely revealing in the back and kind of itchy, but they won't take no for an answer and shove him back out into the club to mingle.

So he'll be very embarrassed when you approach him, whether it's at the bar where he's nursing a drink in an attempt to black out these memories, roped into the speed dating, or dancing out on the floor.

Wildcard

Something else interest you instead? Please let me know on here, Discord, or Plurk!

Follow Me Down

[bluecircuit]

Nebula hadn't been particularly keen on lingerie either and despite her attempts to slip past and to the bar without changing, they'd somehow managed to force her into some white lacy lingerie in the stead of her usual attire. She isn't shy, per se, but looks far from comfortable as she approaches the bar.

She'd needed a stiff drink before, now she needed about ten when she approaches the bar where Peter is sitting and she is suddenly grateful for what they'd chosen for her to wear.

"You look ridiculous." Although her gaze does linger on his backside that's being accentuated by the tight lacy back of the underwear.

Inej Ghafa (CRAU) | Grishaverse (books) | OTA

[tricktofalling]

1. Stand Your Ground
There's a litany of things to worry about that Inej has next to no context on, and she's fairly certain she doesn't want it. Kaz, at least, has given her some armor for this place, some truths as he's experienced them. Whatever happens will happen, no matter how she might want to push against a system set against them. Hearing there's a history for this carnival means, hopefully, that people will be considerate and mindful.

Inej has known the truth of humanity for far too long, but she doesn't let that cynicism cloud her.

Instead, she makes herself helpful. The starts of the carnival are more the Staves, the Barrel than the circus she grew up in. So, as much as she can, she avoids that. Instead, she doesn't mind seeing how she can help with the lemonade stand, and a bit of cleaning inside the hotel as well.

If a couple knives disappear from boxes? No they didn't.


2. Follow Me Down, II
The bar in the hotel is nothing like the Crow Club--the one in Ketterdam or the eponymous namesake in Darrow. Still, there's a comfort in familiarity, in the bustle of people seeking to soothe an ache, and Inej lets herself feel that comfort.

She doesn't trust it, mind. Why would she? Anything too good to be true certainly is. But it seems she's stuck here, like the rest of them, and that's a learning curve she needs to quickly get on top of.

With a small glass of scotch and her back to the wall, Inej watches the ebb and flow of the crowd. She makes no move to hide herself, as she most certainly could. Instead, it's all about being unobtrusive, present but forgettable, as she learns a little bit more about this place.


3. Network; un: knifewife
I'm sure everyone has asked all the questions already but humor me, if you would - is there a place like this one where you come from?


4. Wildcard
[Inej comes from a sweet SOL game where she's been for five and a half years - she's fully grown and a little more filled out than in canon. Feel free to assume she's around for any of the prompts, and go ahead and tag her with whatever~]

@walkingouija

[bestfuneralever]

heres how it goes

home in the middle of an apocalypse
here in lovely helltown population several hundred or some shit
home. to the 60s and another apocalypse
creeptastic village called matthias township that actively tried to kill us all for like almost a. year
aaand immediately back into hell
and then it gets kinda fuzzy?

and whatdya know im here again
this place fuckin loves me.

but the answer to your question is yup def been to a place besides here or home
its a rare breed around here but it does happen from time to time

birdie lewis | vampire: the masquerade (original)

[acaseofyou]

Arrival

It is strangely easy to let go.

Certainly one way to get out of Denver, though probably not the best way.

Birdie had never bought in to the idea of being a tortured immortal cursed by God through the sin of Caine, or whatever the currently accepted history was. For her, the Embrace had always been a gift despite the downsides inherent to unlife. Giving up the sun for some moral flexibility and a voice that would never age had worked well for a long time. Ending up in hell (or some version of it) makes more sense than she wants to admit. Sense she'll probably still argue the finer points of later, when she's not so out of sorts.

It's a lot of change (and a lot of stairs) to take in all at once after being stuck in one place for so long.

Once she gets to the lobby she sits in an available chair and starts going through the pamphlet, and her face goes on an absolute journey when she gets to the bit about being forcibly married. Even the demons haven't phased her -- that's just kind of like being in the middle of an unlikely gathering of Tzimisce all into the same particular aesthetic -- but the idea of marriage?

Horrifying.

Stand Your Ground

The whole carnival announcement feels ominous, the same way knowing a Nosferatu is in the room but not knowing which one or where is ominous. There's just not enough information to figure out how worried she ought to be.

Makes it easy for her to end up helping some demons set up some kind of ring toss. The work itself is easy enough, and they don't seem to mind much when she starts singing quietly to herself, "There's a pink one and a green one and a blue one and a yellow one, and they're all made out of ticky tacky and they all look just the same," as she stacks differently colored rings.

Reach Up High

Well, they do stay on brand, don't they? Feels a little, too, like being brought into the principal's office or an interrogation room or... Well, being brought in to talk to Edward about some song he didn't like her singing.

She can see what the goal here is. Contrition, regret. Or at least an adequate performance of some approximation of those things. There isn't a lot on her list she feels particularly remorseful about, though. The murder, yeah, that was bad and mostly accidental. And staking Lorelai was self-defense. The rest she wants to argue circumstance about, claim willfull misinterpretation or nitpicking. Whatever the case actually is, she's as good at lying to herself as she is at lying to anyone else. Also on the list.

As soon as the voice is done explaining the premise of the exercise, Birdie says, "Okay, fine, but I maintain that the incident in '65 was a public service."

Sometimes, in Birdie's opinion at least, smashing the tail light on a cop car is not only cathartic but an noble act of resistance.

Network - un: birdie

Is there a reason I can't find the Spotify other than the fact that we're in hell?

[ ooc: she's an oc so there's info & permissions if you are so inclined! ]

reach up high

[bottle]

Yennefer doesn't really understand the use of these sessions -- she doesn't really regret most of the things she's done. She did what she had to to survive -- why should she feel bad about that? The Continent is a harsh and cruel place, you survive or you die.

She didn't want to die. She won't apologize for that.

Still, the woman in front of her perks her interest.

"Why do you consider it a public service?"

Steve Rogers / Hydra Stomper | Marvel's "What If...?"

[hydrastomping]

Arrival
[Generally speaking, Steven Grant Rogers is a reasonably god-fearing man. A good solid Irish Catholic upbringing will do that to a kid, and all this "suddenly you're in Hell" business isn't doing a lot to help his level of ambient guilt. But he'll take in the information easily and sincerely, looking perhaps particularly dated in his very World War II-era uniform, almost as if he's just come off helping Amelia Earhart with her flight.

He spends a long time settled around the Lobby. thumbing through the welcome documentation as he squints at unfamiliar concepts and circles the ones he thinks he might want to noodle on some more later. It sure says 2019, but he hasn't seen a single flying car or anything out of the World's Fair, so that's probably an exaggeration. One of those "land of Tomorrow" setups or something.

When someone comes close enough, he'll set up straighter, and give a more proper nod, followed by a "Mornin'" or a "Ma'am," whichever seems more appropriate.]


Stand Your Ground

[A fair! Now that's something that needs no explanation. Steve's happy to explore the setup even in its early stages. At the start, he'll be smiling as he takes it in, trying his hand at early setups for baseball tosses, even though he isn't quite strong enough to knock anything over even when he can make the ball connect. Noodle arms really only get a guy so far in the end.

Later on, he accepts some of that energy drink that's on offer, just because it looks like a fancy kind of soda pop he hasn't tasted yet. And for a short while, it's great. He feels more awake than he's ever felt in his life, and the fair is somehow more vibrant and exciting. But it isn't long before it triggers some of the irregularities the doctors are always droning on about. His heart regularly has palpitations on a good day, but right now it feels like the thing is hammering against the walls of his chest looking to escape. He sinks against the wall of one of the booths, doing his best not to look conspicuous. It's fine. It'll pass. It's always passed before. It's just never been this intense or with this much pressure.When he starts to think about it too much, it makes his breaths come shorter and in smaller bursts. Damn asthma.

It's fine, though. He's sure it's fine. He doesn't need to flag anyone down for help. He can get through this. He can do it all day if he has to.]


Wildcard

[I'm open to other prompts too! There are plenty of other games to play in Hell, even if Steve is being all business the current starters. He's a little guy with a lot of heart, and that can go in all sorts of directions.

Also, if anyone threaded with Steve the last time I TDMed him, I'm happy to handwave that the interaction still happened! I'm trying this again now that I have a little more time. Thanks to anyone interested in playing.]

stand your ground

[oinkoink]

[Working keeps Sally's mind from spiraling, though she still can't help murmuring to herself as she shuffles her way through the carnival, box of supplies in hand. She's focused enough on the task at hand that she almost doesn't hear it--passes right by the young man slumped against one of the booths.

But the wheezing does reach her, and instinctively her steps grind to a halt. The girl turns back toward the noise, uncertain even when she makes eye contact.

Like, what is she going to do? It's not like she has an inhaler. Or knows much first aid. Anxiety clutches at her as she wrestles on whether or not she can still pretend she didn't notice him...but her conscience wins out over her cowardice and she ultimately puts the box down on the nearest table.]

Do you, um, need any help?

[Sally takes a few steps closer, hands clutching at her sleeves.]

Steve Rogers | MCU: Winter Soldier (CRAU)

[compelledtoprotect]

Stand Your Ground

Steve liked working with his hands. It was mindless, soothing work and he reveled in it. He was happy to help out with whichever task happened to need doing. The building parts were by far his favorite though. Coming home exhausted and sweaty from a hard day's work made Steve feel like he really was a normal person, at least for a few minutes.

He was even happy to pitch in with the cleaning, acting like the very worst picker by going through every box he could find. But they were full of such treasures! New clothes, odds and ends, stuff for his silly little crafts . . . And every now and then he found a true gem and tucked it away for a special time or person. Hey, he was upcycling! Steve didn't even mind the spiders much. The skittering still gave him a chill from time to time, but they really were sweet. Not enough to take home though. One hellhorse to take care of was plenty even if it didn't technically live in the suite.


Follow Me Down

Steve had long done his best to stay away from the club, but lately he could be found there more and more often. He rarely did anything but sip at a drink and watch, but the temptation was what he fought against. The temptation to be terrible. The new look was a pleasant surprise, to a point. The first time he came in, Steve managed to find something that didn't bother his sometimes-touchy feelings over being dressed too femininely. The corset was a little irritating, but he liked the shirt a lot. The swinging aspect was a little less appealing, but somehow his key ended up in the hat anyway and Steve was introduced to his new partner.

The next time he hit the club, he was put into something a lot more revealing and a lot less masculine. It didn't quite cross the line for him, but he was a lot stiffer during the speed dating and dinners. At first. Eventually he chilled out and just enjoyed the romance in the air.

The last time he entered, the demons didn't give him any choices and actually stripped off what he'd come in wearing to put him in what was essentially a dress. And heels. With the embarrassment over his outfit turning his face a deep red and the conditions aggravating his already irrational jealousy and possessiveness, Steve was a terror for anyone he happened to meet that he considered his. He thought he had something to prove, or maybe he just wanted to show people how serious he was about protecting what was his. Either way he was in a vicious mood and anyone falling afoul of it would either get dragged to the floor for a show or pulled into a fight. Blood was blood, right?


Wildcard

Want something else? Just tag in with a starter or PM and I'll write one!

stand your ground

[assays]

Cleaning was a good way to take her mind off what had happened at the hospital, even when Peggy believed she shouldn't be doing anything to help Lucifer. Her hope was that it would benefit her fellow sinners.

After sorting through a few boxes, Peggy comes across Steve and taps him gently on the shoulder to get his attention.

"Find anything worthwhile?"

Rogue | Marvel 616 | OTA

[backwaterbelle]

i | stand your ground

[Fuck the carnival. Rogue experienced the past two, and those alone have her completely dubious of Lucifer's promise that everyone will play nice. It doesn't help that she's in a Mood after her time in Mercy, one that's put a bit of fire back in her spirit.

So she takes the opportunity to volunteer for the manual labor. Not only does she have anger and frustration to burn, but she'd like to keep an eye out for less nice behavior from the staff. Plus she's had her fill of being cooped up indoors.

The mutant steers clear of the energy drink. It's clear she doesn't need it anyway, hauling large parts of rides as though they're mere pillows and taking flight when someone needs a little assistance with a hard to reach connection or decoration. If she spies someone struggling, looking confused, or even vaguely familiar, Rogue doesn't hesitate to holler down or over at them.]

Hey sugah, need a hand?

[She's also taking every opportunity she has to take flight, even taking her breaks and meals up on the roof of the hotel for some quiet, fresh air. It's also quite a good vantage point to person watch, and she sits in partial exposure. Hopefully it tempts other fliers to visit.]

ii | follow me down (nsfw options available)

[Rogue used to avoid Club Penance like the plague, but with everything that's happened since she's been here, particularly in the last handful of months, she's been finding herself frequenting the club more often. Relatively speaking.

There's something charming about the 50s aesthetic of the lingerie. She also knows better than to try and fight the theme, so she chooses something completely extra over top classic pinup.

Being unattached, the demons try and coax her into either the speed dating or the swinging event, and she makes a fair effort in weaseling out of several attempts. On more than one occasion, she agrees to the former in order to avoid the latter, and is either less than ceremoniously shown off like gussied cattle or provided with her own proverbial meat to appraise. All the while sipping an amber liquid drink neat.]

You think a spin's in order? [She teases, regardless of the situation.

When she's free of the arranged activities, Rogue can easily be found at the bar, partaking in some sorrow and nightmare drowning with a strong drink.]

iii | wildcard

[ooc: Have something else in mind? PM this account or message me on plurk to discuss other options!]

ii

[zunge]

[Now that he works at the club, this means Noiz is subjected to the night's dress code just like all the other employees. At least with the 50s' tendency toward chastity they've got some decent men's options like a cardigan and vintage boxers. He's about to head off on his meal break when one of the demons grabs him by the upper arm, causing him to lash out at him a couple times to fight him off. The demon is strong enough that he might as well be swatting a brick wall, and leads him over to a speed dating table where Rogue is already seated with a drink.]

Let go already. I'm not gonna run off, for fuck's sake.

[That's directed at the demon who gives him one last nudge on the shoulder to urge him into the chair. Noiz heaves an annoyed sigh and rolls his eyes as he pulls out the chair and sinks into it. He gives the pied woman a quick, neutral onceover.]

...A spin?

[Looks like the meaning of the slang term she just used goes over his head.]

Velma Dinkley | Scooby Doo | ota

[thevelmster]

i | stand your ground

[Nothing like an annual event and a recent loss of yet another, well-loved partner and friend to put the young woman in a nostalgic mindset. While she has terrible memories of the carnival, of being put in a cage and tormented, but she also remembers the friendships she forged there. Not to mention how Luke Freaking Skywalker rescued her. She still has the excited nerd selfies she took of handling his literal saber.

Still, Velma’s wise enough to know how slipperiness of Memory Lane’s slope, and she takes to managing the sadness and loss in a completely natural manner for her, by throwing herself full force in tasks to keep her busy. Nevermind that this isn’t particularly healthy, but at least it’s productive.

Using her engineering skill set, she makes herself useful safety checking rides as they’re built, stepping in to double check old and compromised wiring in the electronics.]

Whatever melange of fluids that is... [And she could take several, well educated guesses at this point. None of them are pleasant.] It’s not oil and it’s absolutely the wrong viscosity for that motor. And the brakes need... [They get a dubious peer.] Attention.

[When she’s not testing the patience of the demons and carnival staff, which she’s taking satisfaction in after her hospital experience, Velma can be found meticulously searching through the boxes of items. She expects these items to have been gleaned from previous sinners and their departures, so her search is equal parts practical and emotional.

It’s not until one of the chihuahua spiders leaps out at her (for a hug, clearly), does she break her focus, yelling out and stumbling backwards, sending the box and items clattering all over. There’s also a bit of a shriek from her, plus frantic flailing of attempting to rid herself of this pest trying to... cuddle her?

Apparently it doesn’t understand the concept of consent.]

ii | follow me down (nsfw options available, but not required)

[She tries to keep herself busy and productive, but the nights are lonely and insomnia is a taxing bitch. It’s not something that Velma’s proud of, missing the physical touch and comfort of her partner this much, but the fact remains that she aches for them. It’s not just the carnal forms, but the little touches, the warmth of an embrace or a brush of reassurance. The hospital was the first time she’d slept alone in months, and the absence is only affecting her worse now that medications and torture aren’t distracting her from it.

Eventually, it’s too much, and she guiltily makes the decision to abandon the attempts at sleep or productivity for the almost guaranteed distractions of Club Penance.

Magic adjusts her attire to fit the theme, and while she knows it’s either luck or compassion that has provided her with ”additional modesty”, the increasingly reckless part of her doesn’t particularly care for it.

She’s often found around the bar and mingling, drinking something that has the appearance of tropical, with a pineapple and cherry flag and cute little umbrella with a more phallic design on the little paper portion. Leave it to Hell to be festive.

Demons find her easy pickings to drag around for potential speed dates and while she’s not resistant, it doesn’t stop her from being awkward, stranger or not.

There’s even a point in the night(s), after many drinks, that she’s contemplatively examining her hotel key, debating the pros and cons against her desires and deteriorated morals she continues to try and uphold. More or less. At some point in the night, the key mysteriously goes missing too, and while there’s a bit of panic in this realization, a decent facet of her is excited. Not that she’ll admit that.]

iii | wildcard

[ooc: Have something else in mind? PM this account or message me on plurk to discuss other options!]

i | stand your ground

[endofcompliance]

[Bucky regularly goes through the boxes when he has a moment, or he's not mentally affected by the hotel or club in some fashion. He is so focused, he doesn't realize someone else is down there until he hears a shriek.]

[Quickly, his head shoots up and he moves over, until he sees a cuddly spider, then he gives Velma a weak smile.]

Haven't seen you in a while. I was starting to wonder if you had gone home, but the demon at the front desk said you hadn't.

[He nods his head to the spider.] They're friendly. But I can remove it if it's too much.

jesse pinkman | breaking bad | ota

[yeahmagnets]

STAND YOUR GROUND

[ Jesse spent a few days holed up in his room after escaping the hospital. He kept to himself, mostly trying to sleep off the whole experience. When deep in his trauma, Jesse tends to curl in on himself and withdraw from others. He feels the need to hide away and numb his pain rather than productively work through it. It all just gets compartmentalized and shoved aside by drugs and alcohol. Drugs, he has, but lucky for him Hell has everything in abundance, even if some of it is laced with things he never asked for. The other day, he drank a beer and ended up on what felt like an acid trip, stuck talking to himself in the bathroom mirror for over an hour without even realizing the passage of time.

Today, he finally feels okay enough to leave his room. There's been some buzz about a carnival, and it piques Jesse's curiosity. He can't help but keep some skepticism in his back pocket. Hell is a place to be punished and to repent, from everything he's learned, so the idea of having a good time at a carnival seems fishy to him. Still, his cabin fever had been getting bad enough to warrant him stretching his legs outside for a while. Like a moth to a flame, Jesse's drawn to the music and lights eminating from the carnival, and it doesn't take long before he arrives on the grounds.

The carnival is still being set-up, it appears, but that won't stop Jesse from taking a look around. As soon as he walks through a rusty turnstile, a demon makes a gurgly noise at him and shoves something into his palm. It's cold to the touch, and when Jesse looks down at the newly acquired item, he notices that it's what looks like a can of soda. He rolls the can in his hand so he can read the label: Speed Energy. ]

Huh. So, what, Red Bull or somethin'?

[ He asks nobody in particular, and cracks the can open without a second thought, starting to chug it down as he wanders the carnival aimlessly. By the time he tosses the empty drink into a trash can, it's starting to hit him. He's starting to sweat, his pupils are dilating, he's feeling jittery all over and everything is suddenly ten times more interesting. Jesse's eyes dart around and he ends up in front of some kind of game booth. It's like that game where you throw a baseball at a tower of metal milk jugs, but these look more like potion bottles than milk jugs. Some are glowing, others are bubbling. The one at the top of the pyramid is giving off a neon green smoke and crackling slightly. He's supposed to be helping put things together, not testing out the games, but Jesse's never been known for playing by the rules. Jesse grabs a ball and tosses it gently up in the air a few inches, catching it in his palm--testing the weight. He turns to (your character) and asks: ]

Think I can knock 'em all down?


REACH UP HIGH

[ At some point jesse finds himself being manhandled by two burly demons. he initially thinks he's being thrown out of the festival by security; something he's used to, but starts to panic when he's shoved down into a chair in what reminds him far too much of an interrogation room for his own comfort. Two chairs separated by a table in the middle of an otherwise empty room? Yeah. This is uncomfortably familiar. He struggles and tries to excape to no avail, then finally resigns and sits with a huff, leaning back defiantly. He's quick to admit one of his sins. Some are easier to admit to than others, so he starts light, searching for an easy way out. ]

I dunno, yo, I guess lying? That's one of my sins. It ain't like I did it just once, but like...I did it outta self-preservation, every time. That I can guarantee.

[ Now he's picking at the edge of the table, eyes focused on that, a bit of a scowl stuck on his face. His next words aren't necessarily aimed at the person sitting across from him, but they're said loud enough for them to hear regardless. ]

Not like I'm the only person who's ever lied. I bet everyone has.


FOLLOW ME DOWN: PROMPT I

[ When Jesse arrives at Club Penance, a rather lacy set of lingerie is shoved into his hands. He eyes it and then looks at the demon who placed it there. There's a moment of silence, his brain clanking away at his observations. ]

Yo. You can't be serious.

[ He's supposed to wear this? Nah. Ain't happening. Not a chance in...in Hell. Jesse tosses the lingerie haphazardly over his shoulder and continues his way further into the club. Perhaps the discarded lacy ensemble lands draped across your character's face.

Once it's clear that he's not complying with the 'rules', a couple of demons manhandle him and some magic spell is cast, which makes his clothing magically disappear. In their stead, Jesse is left in some kind of leather harness--straps across his slender body with a cold, metal ring holding it all together in the center of his chest. At least he has pants on still, though they're way, waaaay tighter than any pair in his closet back home. He's used to swimming in his clothes, not being constrained by them. The leather pants grip every bit of his anatomy and he kind of feels naked even with clothes on. He doesn't have any choice now. His 'regular' clothes are nowhere to be seen, so it's either this or go in his birthday suit, so he decides he'd better leave at least a little bit to the imagination.

Anger flares on his face and he whips around, grabbing the nearest demon by the shoulders. ]

If someone doesn't give me back my shit in, like, thirty seconds..?



FOLLOW ME DOWN: PROMPT II

[ The next thing Jesse knows is that there's food and he's gotten his clothes back, though he's been made to keep the leather harness bit on under his hoodie. Call it a compromise. It smells way better than the lame cafeteria junk he'd found back in the Hotel building. This seems decadent, like some gourmet treats done up right. He can dig it, even if back home he mostly kept himself alive with knock-off Pop Tarts and Funyuns. ]

Damn. This looks awesome.

[ Jesse says before digging into a platter of what appears to be nachos. They taste good, and the first tentative bite leads to more voracious eating before he's turning his head and talking to the person nearest to him, one cheek chipmunk-full. ]

You try these? They're bomb.

reach up high.

[dyaddyissues]

[ it's been a good long while since Kylo has been in one of these rooms. When he's grabbed by two demons it definitely ignites a stab of panic in him that has him struggling against them until he spots the room contents and the other occupant. No bloody knives on the table this time, just the lists. It's not the hospital.

He's shoved into the seat without any preamble, causing him to roll his eyes as the door is slammed behind him.

He doesn't even bother attempting to budge it. His lightsaber isn't on him, anyways, it's back in his room while he works out the recent damage to it's casing.

The scowl on his face deepens as Jesse starts talking. ]

You're probably going to need to be more specific than that.

[ Kylo Ren trying to stall for time? Never. ]

Manjoume Jun | Yu-Gi-Oh! (GX)

[thundercrashes]

Arrival/Stand Your Ground (Spring Cleaning)

"--You're set for where you'll rest in peace! You guys should go, too!"

"I won't. I refuse to be with you after we die."

"Hey, Manjoume-kun, can someone like you even go to heaven?"

... Apparently not, since he's ended up here instead. It's funny, how you end up remembering such stupid conversations from what feels like ages ago upon hearing that you're dead and going to Hell. Jun knows at the time he had not been taking that ridiculous back and forth discussion with Judai and his friends that seriously, and even now he can't quite remember what he had responded back with at the time in regards to that question. (Probably snapping at the geek squad to get his damn name right already--it's Manjoume-san, not Manjoume-kun)

But even after being handed the phone and pamphlet, there's only one absolutely surefire way to confirm if this is really meant to be Hell, in Jun's opinion.]

Where the hell are you idiots at? If you dumbasses don't get out here right now, I really will tear your cards in half, you stupid, shitty Ojamas! Ugh, I'll even take anyone else from the Reject Well showing up at this point...

[This is what he can be heard saying, as he, for some reason, can be found yelling at whatever duel monster cards managed to make the trip down here to Hell with him, or tries searching the spring cleaning boxes for any sign of spare cards that might have wound up in one here that's not already in his deck.

After all, can this really be considered hell if those annoying duel spirits are not here to scream in his ears about their awful luck?]

Reach Up High

[Manjoume snorts upon hearing what's required of him.]

Well, I can tell you right now that what's on mine is stupid. I mean--[And here, he actually holds up his list of sins, folded to allow just the one at the very top--Wrath--to be seen for now.]--it's natural to be very angry upon finding out you ended up in Hell when it's absolutely undeserved, isn't it? I shouldn't have to explain myself on this one.

[And yet, his other hand that isn't being used to hold his list has twitched to grasp at the left side of his neck, clearly agitated about something more than just being annoyed at ending up here...]

Follow Me Down (Prompt II)

[It's not the drinking or the drugs that end up bringing Manjoume here--he would like to believe he has standards to still hold onto before he'll give in and start indulging in such things--but the prospect of playing games. Granted, he probably won't be able to get a game of Duel Monsters going with just anyone hanging around, but that's no reason to not play anything at all. Even if it has been a while since he played anything other than Duel Monsters, he's certain he still remembers the basic rules of poker at least.

... Even if his first hand starts out bad, and with a hiss of annoyance, he toes one of his shoes off once he's told that he's ended up taking part in strip poker rather than the normal one. Manjoume is a lot of things, but he would like to think that being a quitter isn't one of them yet.]

Don't get used to it. I'll find a way to win this game before any of you degenerates get the privilege of being graced with anything else of the Manjoume Thunder's flawless body here.

["Flawless", he says, despite the fact that he looks like a skinny twink wearing a black leather coat and a turtleneck in Hell.]

Wildcard

[ooc: The option for anything else you would like to RP that doesn't fit in the above prompts! Feel free to PM me or hit me up on wailords if you have any questions about anything--I'm still in the middle of rewatching GX so it's possible I might not be able to app this cycle, but I am going to do my best regardless!]

arrival

[menaretrash]

[ It's the yelling that catch's Ann's attention first -- she's looking for familiar faces, but the snapping of 'you dumbasses' has her turning to glance over in what appears to be a young man's direction. She blinks a few times, a brow arching up, before she looks around. There doesn't seem to be any 'dumbasses' running up to join him, and she hasn't seen him around before, so she can only assume that yeah, he's definitely new and that also explains why he's looking for... friends. Probably. She calls her friends dumbasses so it's probably the same thing. Except he mentions cards, and really she has no idea what the hell that means.

Whatever, it doesn't really matter.

Lifting a hand in greeting, she approaches, offering a small smile. ]

Hey! If you're looking for someone [ Or something? Maybe he's a card nerd like a few other people here she knows. ] I can try and help. You're new here, right?