TEST DRIVE MEME #38

[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

Curiously, every television within Hell seems to be covered with a sheet and wrapped in chains. If one listens closely at night, they'll hear murmuring coming from them. If any curious newcomer should try to remove the coverings, they will find them magically enchanted in some way that makes this impossible, however. If asked, the staff will explain that they're undergoing a cleansing to remove a curse placed upon them by evildoers. If pressed further, they'll hear talks of The Veiled Order.

But not to worry! There's plenty to do. Helluvacup needs to be rebuilt so the coffee demon and his prized hell rat on a harness and leash quit wandering the halls... the staff is rather tired of being bitten! Additionally, it feels like reality is shifting more often to showing what the pristine hotel may actually look like. It hasn't been that long since the buildings were flooded by lava and utterly destroyed. The beautiful interiors were too good to be true, and the veneer is cracking more severely now. At times, the illusion drops to the burnt out husk of a building, to rotting wood and torn, old furniture. Sometimes it's jarring enough to leave one dizzy before it simply flashes back to normal. Unfortunately, whenever these glitches occur, it is entirely possible to find one's self in an entirely different room than they meant. Wanted to grab a midnight snack? Have fun in that blood room. Wanted to take an innocent pee, minding your own business? You may accidentally walk into someone's room.

In which case, it is probably very advisable to not relieve yourself and find a more suitable area. What could possibly go wrong?

At least there does seem to be a break in the heat? Hell is an almost comfortable temperature, but there are already talks of the dreaded Fall coming soon. In Hell, Fall tends to feel more like the dead of winter, bt hopefully, there will be a skip to the usual snow and frigid temperatures.

.


Reach Up High

Prompt I:

WARNINGS: drills, torture, blood, lobotomy

Part of redemption is suffering, Darlings. That’s why sinners are drawn here. They will hurt, but they will also learn to become better people. One way or another.

The demons who bring sinners here have tied them quite firmly into a contraption that forces them to recline back with their heads trapped in a vice. If they look up, they’ll be able to see the whirring flash of metal from an active drill poised just overhead. They can squirm if they’d like, but it might be unsettling for the person bound behind them. Before they can vocalize any questions, they’ll hear the sound of Lucifer’s warm, soothing voice.

"My dear guests, I’ve done a lot of thinking about what I can do to bring you closer together. Father often says that humans should love their fellow man. Maybe you just need some help building trust. I assure you that you’re both perfectly safe. If you stay still and chat, the drills will cause a little scratch, but nothing you can’t live through. Talk about your sins. Talk about your day. It’ll just take a few minutes before you can leave. Be nice, and whatever you do, don’t move a muscle."

It’s at this point that sinners might notice that although they are rendered immobile from the waist up, their legs are free. They can push back their chairs and avoid the drills which are suddenly moving forward. But since they’re bound to someone else, pushing back will send their partner forward into their drill and surely condemn them to a messy death. If neither sinner moves, they can both survive. The drills will move close enough to tear the skin at their foreheads and perhaps scratch the skull underneath, creating a mild concussion at worst. But if the sinners were unable to make peace and stop themselves from moving, the drill is quite capable of pushing past bone and into the soft flesh of the frontal lobe. You can technically live with the kind of brain damage caused by an injury there, but do you really want to do that to your new close friend?

You have three minutes to figure it out.


Prompt II

For those fortunate enough to escape the unplanned lobotomy, well, there's an easy task for you! As previously mentioned, Helluvacup and the hotel's own pool both need to be tidied up, or rebuilt in some cases. Any sinners who volunteer will be treated to free drinks and snacks, and receive appreciation from demonic staff. Plus, chipping in and helping your fellow sinners (and demons) is something God often encourages! It will be good for one sin removal overall. There will be building supplies, cleaning supplies, and anything else sinners need to push forward!

The staff also won't be put out if sinners would rather do a little bit of cleaning instead...

Besides, it's a rare opportunity to help import supplies to Hell. There are large crates of unnamed items, new furniture items, torture items, clothes, and more. There's also several boxes of nothing but pumpkin spice that veteran sinners, who know what every fall entails, may cringe at the sight of.


Follow Me Down

Prompt I

WARNINGS: fire, disobedience

Speaking of pumpkin spice and torture devices... Well, sinners may find the prime opportunity for a bit of a bonfire if they're so inclined. It seems some demons are not looking forward to the months of pumpkin spice flavored foods or, well, working, really. These are young, reckless demons, but they've decided to help some of these new shipments get 'lost' by starting a large bonfire in a secluded place in Penance proper. They'll be asking sinners to help out. They'll supply the booze as they watch everything burn later!

If questioned about it, the demons will insist that it's just another part of the importing project. Everyone's trying to tell you to grab the crates and haul them somewhere, right? Into the fire is somewhere. Of course it's fine! You get points for being good little boys and girls every time you shut up and do what you're told. Why would anyone lie about that?

Perhaps it will come as a surprise, then, that anyone who participates will receive one sin added to their contract in the form of arson.


Prompt II

WARNINGS: sex, aphrodisiacs, non-con, etc.

Club Penance has new shots for all to try! Eager incubi and succubi stand around with trays of them, eager to pass them off under the strobe lights and pounding music. The air is sweeter than even usual, the demons amping up the aphrodisiacs to ensure everybody has a good time, and there's plenty encouragement to get lost in the atmosphere. These shots all have a unique influence, although that part may have been left out... Oops.

Apple: Causes one to fall lust with the first person they see. They will absolutely be overwhelmed with the desire to have them and do whatever they must to receive their affections.
Cinnamon: Causes one to fall into love with the first person they see. Their heart will skip beats, they'll feel the urge to recite poetry, anything! Your love must be known.
Pumpkin: Causes one to fall out of balance. Just the perfect meet-cute, isn't it? Hopefully you won't fall into anyone in a bad mood.
Sour Apple: Causes one to fall into a rage. Ah, oops. Maybe they didn't think that one out. This one causes aggression and the need to make certain others know you're the top dog around here.

Wildcard/Misc.

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Comments

Steve Rogers | MCU: Winter Soldier (CRAU)

[compelledtoprotect]

Reach Up High II

Steve liked working with his hands. He also liked the relative solitude of such a physical activity. Rebuilding was satisfying on more than one level and he indulged himself day after day, working mostly on whatever was the heaviest work. Might as well use all that super strength for something, right?

He was usually dirty and tired when he took a break, but smiling. It was good to do something mindless and exhausting and he didn't mind chatting with other residents who decided to help.


Follow Me Down II

Steve's mind wasn't in the best of places lately and he found himself hitting club almost regularly. Why? Escape. The problem was it didn't really work most of the time. Still, he kept trying. And the new drinks seemed like a good start. Most things didn't work on him for long, or at all, but sometimes the staff managed to mix things strong enough to affect for a little while.

He'll be trying everything, so just pick your poison!


Wildcard

Anything else just post it on up, or I can write a starter!

Reach Up High II

[amazonfresh]

Steve isn't the only one who prefers physical labor to the other activities Hell offers to engage with. Her strength is welcome here, and while Steve may prefer some solitude in his work, Diana enjoys the opportunity to work with others.

It seems like a sort of bonding experience.

And there's something honest about sweating beside one's comrades.

Diana offers Steve a smile during a break for water. This seems a much better meeting than some of their other recent encounters. She still remembers the sting of the whip from the last time. She tries to keep that memory from her eyes, though.

"It's good to see you looking well."

[compelledtoprotect]

He'd stiffened a little when she sat down, but it wasn't because Steve didn't like her. It was the guilt. He'd hurt her so badly . . . Steve turned and offered a smile, scooting closer after a moment.

"I won't apologize again, although I could never do it enough. You look good too Diana. How's the back? You've been moving well." The idea that she could be scarred, because of him . . .

[amazonfresh]

"I've healed well," Diana assures him. She can't be surprised by the concern. He'd been concerned at the time.

"I'm tougher than you think, Steve. And it was not your fault."

[compelledtoprotect]

"I don't think you're a light-weight Diana, but anyone who gets hurt that badly would need some time. And it might not have been a choice I wanted to make, but I am the one who swung the whip." And he was starting to argue again. Steve closed his eyes and sighed. It was so odd the way he always reacted to her. He liked Diana!

"Sorry. No scars though? Nothing pulling across your back?"

Follow Me Down II

[deaddrop]

"What are you drinking?" Natasha asks, sliding beside Steve at the club. Should she be here? Should he?

At this point, they're probably well beyond that question, aren't they?

She's here. She's taking a break. She's doing a shot or two.

No need to get hung up on it.

i have no idea what "out of balance" is but lets try that XD

[compelledtoprotect]

He'd known who was coming over and slid his glass along toward her hand, "Orange. I think it's supposed to be pumpkin, but it doesn't taste right. Not that I'm surprised. It's probably a new drug."

And Steve couldn't care less. Unless he got a massive dose in one of those little cups, he could drink all night and barely notice a change. Natasha, on the other hand . . .

I think it means Natasha is about to be a tripping hazard

[deaddrop]

"Is it that time again already?" It seemed like last week they were having pool parties. Natasha takes the shot, though, and she throws it back smoothly. She might be a mere human, but she doesn't struggle with this part of drinking.

Her lip does curl slightly at the taste, though.

"Apparently it is."

[compelledtoprotect]

Steve peered down at her, leaning in, "Already feeling something? That's fast even for this place. It usually takes a few minutes at least." He laid a hand against the small of her back, warm and comforting, and maybe a little concerned as well. New and unknown drugs could really fuck them both up.

"I'm not going anywhere."

FMD2? crush all his hopes and dreams i guess

[madeofscars]

He's noticed. Of course he's noticed. Keeping tabs on Steve had long become a hobby of sorts, even if things were a little awkward lately. First they had that heart to heart during a torture, and then, thanks to no small amount of Hell interference, Bum didn't see him again until they were on the ship headed back to Penance, and then all of reality had started glitching. It wasn't really a prime time for unloading more of his troubles on somebody else, so whenever they did speak he'd keep it mostly to nice, pleasant nothings like food or weather. He'd probably been noticeably quieter and back to being more withdrawn ever since getting back from Lucifer's Island.

But he feels like he's going to explode into a thousand little pieces if he keeps avoiding it. If he doesn't talk to anyone about what's troubling him, or... bring up the elephant in the room right here. It's fine. Steve had assured him that he wasn't angry and that he wouldn't leave him over being a little... obsessive, right? There's no need to worry about speaking with him about anything.

The club is... hardly the best environment for it, but Bum's already there, having shadowed the man, who appears to be drinking without much concern for his own wellbeing at the moment. Which is what really pushes him forward. Everything else can wait, but Steve seems to be having a hard time right now. Sure, he came by this place often enough, but not quite like this. Maybe something was wrong. Maybe he needed to talk it out.

Steve's downing another drink and Bum's finally making his way over, eyes to the ground and mumbling soft "excuse me"s as he navigates between extremely friendly succubi and incubi that seem all too keen to bump into him.

Finally, he reaches out to gently tap the man on the arm to get his attention. "Um... hey... is everything alright?"

Everything being him in this case. Or, maybe, them. He's not sure yet.

[compelledtoprotect]

Steve knew the boy was there. Even if he hadn't been lurking like that, Steve would have noticed Yoon sooner rather than later. On most days he wanted to hold him love him. Take away some of that pain. But he didn't push. He tried to let Yoon come to him, to make his own choices.

At the moment, he wasn't feeling very gentle or helpful. He was angry. Not at Yoon specifically, but when the kid poked him, it set him off anyway. Steve shot up off the stool and grabbed Yoon's shirt at the neck, easily lifting the kid right off the floor, and possibly strangling him a little as well. He started walking and didn't stop until he slammed that delicate body into the wall and pinned Yoon there with a hand on the middle of the boy's chest, toes still dangling above the floor. Steve leaned in and spoke quietly, though the anger was front and center in his tone.

"Speak. Up."

[madeofscars]

What?

His eyes widen in shock and the next thing he knows, he's in the air. His hands grip at Steve's arm on reflex, as if trying to alleviate some of the weight from his neck, struggling to breathe. Then he's slammed against a wall, and he chokes out a little pained noise but nothing else, wary of annoying the man further. Don't make it worse.

It's nothing new for him, really. He's been manhandled in various ways for most of his life, what with his small frame and aversion to confrontations. This probably isn't even the worst shove he's endured, although something is to be said about the man's strength to be able to hold him up like that with one hand.

He absolutely did not see it coming from Steve of all people, however. Despite the other's insistence otherwise at times, he's actually come to see him as someone safe to be around. This challenges everything he thinks he knows.

Like the fact that Hell could mess with people in all sorts of ways. He knows it's the case, he's sure it's probably something in the air or the drink that's making Steve suddenly be so harsh with him. And yet, there's that little part which wonders if maybe this is who he was all along.

It would be par for course for you, wouldn't it?

He wiggles a little, desperately trying to reach the ground with his feet, then forces himself to go still, though he's still staring at Steve in utter confusion and... yes, there's definitely fear now, too. He did something wrong, didn't he?

"I'm sorry," he manages. It's a little louder at least; he's making an effort no matter how much of a curveball this situation is. They can get out of this, he's sure, things will be fine again, he just needs to find a way to deescalate... this. "I -- I was worried about you..."

[compelledtoprotect]

The lack of struggle was telling, not that he'd been in doubt. Yoon had been abused back home and it showed in the way he just tried to placate Steve. If he'd been in his right mind he'd feel guilty, but if he was in his right mind he wouldn't have pinned the kid to the wall. Steve snorted at Yoon's words and straightened, though he made no move to let the boy down. There would absolutely be bruises.

"You were worried about me? Why? What the hell do you think is gonna happen to me?" He leaned in again with a cruel smirk, "Should I be worried you're gonna take advantage of me? Is that it?"

Apple or Cinnamon

[whichisit]

Henry moved through the club toward Steven, he'd seen the young man coming to the club far more often and trying to lose himself in the place, and that didn't sit right with Henry, even if he came here a little too often sometimes. But he was already a preditor.

He smiles a little, "Hello Steve," He says softly.

[compelledtoprotect]

Steve had been drinking a lot, and he didn't really remember how much of what anymore. Nothing had really felt like it made an impression, so he kept tossing things back. Maybe the bartender would finally make something strong enough to have an effect. The next glass might do the trick and he lifted a brow at Henry as he tossed it back.

"I think you forgot an n."

[whichisit]

Henry laughs a little and settles on a stool next to Steven, "I thought you didn't like it when I called you Steven," He teases a little; he nods to the demon behind the bar getting his usual.

"How many of those have you had?"

[compelledtoprotect]

Steve watched the man as the alcohol hit his stomach, amusement sparkling in his eyes, "It's still weird, but I'm kinda getting used to it. You're still the only one who uses it though." He looked down at his empty glass and gestured for another.

"No idea, they keep taking the empty glasses before I can count. Why do you ask?"

reach up high ii

[inbello]

Ronan isn't the helpful type at the best of times, but he got roped into some of this cleanup bullshit by some demon or other. Ronan mostly doesn't respond to threats, but he's feeling some kind of way after Kavinsky's been missing. He's not really looking for extra torture on top of his other bullshit.

So he's here moving boxes and whatever else needs to be done. But he doesn't have Steve's ridiculous strength. He's got dream powers, but his regular self is just a regular boy. He's strong enough, but just for a normal teenager.

"Yo, strong man, a little help maybe?" He asks, gesturing to a particularly heavy box. He has no idea what's in it; maybe it's pool cleaning shit, who knows? He could say please, but he's Ronan, so he doesn't.

[compelledtoprotect]

Steve looked up and straightened, dragging a wrist across his forehead and leaving a smear of dirt. He smiled a little and came over, rubbing at his chin with the same wrist and leaving more filth. One day he'd get clean, but it wouldn't be soon.

"Hey. Whatcha need?" Helping out was his whole mission in life at the moment and Steve was glad to have an extra distraction.

[inbello]

Ronan's got a fair bit of dirt on him, too. This isn't exactly clean work. Whatever, he can shower back at the house when they're finally free to leave. He's not really sure what the criteria for that are, but whatever. Maybe he'll just bounce when he feels like it.

For now, though.

"Can't pick up this box. It has to go over there with those other ones," he says, pointing to a neatly stacked row a few feet away.

[compelledtoprotect]

Steve nodded and hefted the box, walking it over to the pile before coming back with a smirk, "And the next task master? I believe I'm now at your complete disposal." Why? Because it was more interesting than what he'd been doing. And he liked Ronan, although they barely knew each other. Plus, teasing was fun.

wildcard; cw: drug use

[mitsubishievo]

Kavinsky didn't have a good excuse.

Did he need one? Probably not. It didn't matter. He trawled the hotel often enough, knew where all his people lived. But when had Steve become one of his people, and not just a guy he fooled around with from time to time?

He knocked on the door. What the hell was that about? He'd probably say he wasn't feeling well, or some other shitty excuse. He didn't want Steve thinking there was something here. When the door didn't open within two seconds, Kavinsky knocked again. And then again, that same impatience.

Soon he was just doing an impatient, sort of arrhythmic bunch of knocks with both hands, waiting for Steve to open the door.

[compelledtoprotect]

Steve knew who was at the door, and he wondered why Kavinsky was knocking. All of his friends knew they could just come in if they wanted to, but apparently it made a difference to the guy to knock. A lot. As he stood there, the knocking became incessant, and it hadn't even been a full a minute! He walked to the door and opened it, both brows high.

"Kavinsky. Something wrong?"

[mitsubishievo]

"Nope."

Kavinsky knew he was invited, but there was something about performance, about reminding himself that he didn't want to be here, or that he could just be annoying enough that Steve would stop worrying and caring so much.

Now that the door was open, Kavinsky went right in like he hadn't just been being as obnoxious as possible at the door.

"Hey," he said, "you got any of that liquor that even fucks you up?"

[compelledtoprotect]

Steve let the guy brush past and followed him, a shadow flitting over his features at the mention of the god mead, "I do, but it's not up for grabs right now. Special occasions only." He wasn't sure he could ever get more, and the bottle had been a gift he treasured more for the meaning than the contents. Not that he didn't plan to get shitfaced at some point with it . . .

"I have plenty of other stuff."