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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Annie Dyer | OC CW listed

[ohmyscream]

Follow Me Down

I CW: Fire, Disobedience

The bonfire is attractive. Annie is in a cute black satin dress that covers up a majority of her lovely scale spots. Her hair is loose but curling about her and catches the light from the fire nicely. A demon has been chatting her up. She giggles as the demon continues to encourage her to join in on the fun, even gesturing at a table with plenty of booze to go around.

"Okay." That doesn't sound so bad. "I'll do it."

Annie goes to grab one of the boxes and dodges a hand, flipping the demon off quickly. "Just because I said I'd help doesn't mean you get to play grab ass!"

She grumbles as she goes to 'help a demon out'.

II Shots, Shots, Shots!

A(Apple) CW: sex, lust, will update as needed 18-25 without planning only

Annie has been out dancing, she is trying to outrun her feelings regarding wanting to smash all of the TVs. She is very sure the staff will not be pleased. Having the demons turn against her because of a temper tantrum isn't something she would like.

"Oooh!" She smiles up at the very pretty succubus with the tray of shots. "One. Love the dress. It looks great with your hair. Nice choice."


Annie licks her lip thoughtfully. "Are those samples?"

The succubus smiles and sweeps a hand over the tray. "Yes. You poor sinners could use some liquid fun."

Annie looks over her choices and grabs a green one, tossing it back. She sees movement out of the corner of her eye and adjusts the neckline of her dress and fixes the strap of her heels before striding across the club.

B Cinnamon: (OTA!)

Annie smooths out her dress as she exits a side area of the club. She even gives a little finger wave and hums to herself happily as she makes her way through the club. For a while she sits at the bar, tapping her foot to the beat as she sips a club soda with lime in it.

"Oh!" She smiles as an incubus waiter stops by her. He leers at her and leans in close. "You look much better now than the last time we met, beautiful," he purrs. "Happiness is better on you."

Annie flushes and laughs, not knowing what to say. "Thanks?"

She wants him to go away. She doesn't look at the shot when she grabs it, but the spicy cinnamon kick makes her shut her eyes for a moment. It takes her back for a moment and when she opens her eyes her heart catches in her throat.

Who knew someone so amazing could exist? She flashes them an inviting smile, hoping they'll catch a hint.

Wildcard!

Something else? Hit me up, and I'll see what we can do.

Cinnamon cw: drugs, past sexual coercion

[lvb]

It’s been honestly a little awkward to be around Annie these last few days. Not anything to do with her - okay, much if it is to do with her, even if L.L has been trying to pin the blame fully on the demon that had stolen his body and used it to-

Used it to-

L.L has no memory of what the demon did, but the creature filmed a video of itself and Annie in the darkness of the night, of it breaking every boundary sweet Annie had requested of him in order to break her.

And she’d been broken.

It’s not in his nature to talk through traumatic incidences at length. For him, if it’s the past it’s the past and if there’s no way to make it better, if there’s no force to inflict vengeance upon then there’s no use dwelling on the evil committed. He’d rather have let her quietly process in his arms, would rather had just deleted the video unseen so they could move on.

Sweet Annie, it spoke poorly of him that seeing her used that way had changed something in him, but it had. He’d been violated too, watching his body act out such filth, hearing his voice spew petty vitriol while she only mewled praise in return. He’d kept a good act up afterwards, only showing remorse for her having to suffer so, but in his hearts of hearts he finds it hard to look at her.

But there she is in the crowd, talking to - is that the incubus from the video? The one she’d led in during the second part, the one it had used and made use Annie? He should slip away before he’s spotted but then she looks at him with such a bright smile and there’s nothing he can do but smile wanly in return.

How can she look so sweetly at him? It’s not fair. Does he owe her for the violation wrought upon her? Will slaying God or Lucifer or the Veiled Order compensate for her pain? He doesn’t know any more, he’s out of his depth.

[ohmyscream]

In truth, Annie finds parts of that night are a blur. The videos she saw because Annie had been foolish enough to ask were traumatic. She is so angry that she wants to destroy someone. Never LL though because she knows intellectually it wasn't him. She can look at him and see just the way he carries himself that he is not the man who abused her.

Now, with liquid courage and love in her veins, she can see him more clearly. Her poor lover is hurting just as much as she is. How selfish she had been, retreating in on herself. He deserves the same gentleness she had sought from him. Right before she reaches him, she grabs a shot and then takes it with her as she goes to see him. They need to talk.

"I wanted to apologize. For.... some of my behavior," Annie said as she stands in front of him. She smiles a little sadly. She loves this amazing man but hurt him by pushing too quickly towards being 'fine'. He had suffered too.

"I was trying so hard to pretend I was 'just fine' that I couldn't see.... you weren't fine. I'm sorry for doing that. I just... didn't want to dwell on a night I didn't want to remember."

[lvb]

His first instinct is to tell her he's fine, of course he's fine, he can handle himself... but where he stands with her is becoming more complicated still. When he'd first begun hanging round her he'd mentally plugged her into the 'Ashford' part of his brain - someone to enjoy light interactions with, someone for whom he'd wear the face of the schoolboy untroubled by Geass and genocide and who'd never ever know just how dark he truly was... but she'd seen something of his worst traits now, skewed by that devil.

He's not fine. She's ten years younger and he should be the bigger one, the stronger one, but he's not fine. His shoulders sag lightly. There's no way to be both quiet and keep a distance in the nightclub so he's forced to step in, to place his hands on her small shoulders and lean down to tell her.

"I don't want you to apologise." He doesn't even know what he wants from her, sweet girl. Perhaps... just to rest in the quiet and dark together, to let it all sink in? But there's no time for that in Hell, not with another torture around the corner.

So he kisses her forehead, hoping she knows he's forgives her for being the victim.

[ohmyscream]

"But you were hurt too! You... you have to wonder what he did." Annie feels her heart squeeze tightly. He has become so important to her.

"I get that... you want to protect me. You think I deserve soft and gentle things." Annie can't help it. She touches his face, cradling a cheek with a hand. He is so different from everyone else she has ever been with.

"I think I love you for that. You believe in gentleness and good... where I... I struggle with that. I know you've been through horrors I can't imagine. You're not so good at hiding that." Annie kisses his cheek softly. It is a tender move born from the love she has for him. "It's okay. I'll fall more in love with you and what you want to share with me. Just... let's try to not push each other away."

[lvb]

He can't help it, he blushes hard at her. That's more effusively sincere praise than he's ever gotten from a lover - C.C's love is a quiet love, its words couched in sly teasing but all sincerity showing in her touch alone. Annie's so emotive in contrast, so open and unashamed and for his embarrassment's sake there's only one explanation for her enthusing so hard, so soon, while they're still half-strangers.

"Are you drunk?"

She's holding a full shotglass, which indicates she's been imbibing. He takes the shot from her hand and gulps it down, planning only to judge from the burn just how alcoholic is is before his Code burns the poison away - and his mouth is full of cinnamon and his mind is reeling.

"Oh." He looks at her and sees her. His eyes slowly grow round as he cups his hand over hers on his cheek. "I have been pushing you away, haven't I?"

[ohmyscream]

"Probably yes," Annie says with a shrug. "But I know how I feel."

Except she is drunk. Annie lights up and grins at him. "I was going to ask if you wanted one. You looked like you might."

Annie tilts her head just a bit. She isn't bothered that it has taken this long for him to figure it out. He had a lot to catch up on.

"You were trying to...I don't know. Protect my feelings? I had a bad time of things, and you... you were being sensitive." Annie kisses his cheek again, closer to his lips. "It's sweet but... I'd like it very much if my... my boyfriend didn't treat me like glass. I'm stronger than you seem to think... I just. I like having you with me. You make me feel stronger. And you were right, they were trying to break us. Well. They didn't break me."

[lvb]

‘Boyfriend’. Up until now he’d not really been defining their… relationship? It is a relationship with any particular word. A friend, yes, a lover, that’s a given with how they spend their evenings, but any titles he’s been offering have always related to the fact that he has a wife he intends to return to.

Boyfriend has nothing to do with C.C. Boyfriend is exactly how he feels: that fluttering breathless schoolboy attraction to a beauty that’s only grown as they’ve gotten to see beyond each other’s smiles. She’s the girl he holds hands with, the girl he whispers sweet nothings to just to see her smile like she’s doing now, exactly like she’s doing now…

“I’m such a fool.” He blurts. “I don’t know when I fell in love with you, but every fibre of my being longs to protect you from harm. Oh Annie, it’s not you that’s glass, it’s my heart that shatters into a thousand pieces at the thought of you coming to harm.”

[ohmyscream]

"This place is going to wreck you," Annie murmurs, moving to tuck an arm around his waist. The heels she is in don't really help her catch up to him as far as her height goes. L.L is just so tall compared to her. Even now, her hair just brushes against his jaw.

"I want you to not suffer too. I think..." She chuckles against him. "We were both trying so hard. We were protecting each other."

She tilts her head to look up at him. Lover. Boyfriend. The guy who makes her heart beat faster now that she can see him. She wants to marry him someday. Find a way to stay with him as long as possible. Even though she knows he will have to leave her.

"I love you too. Do... you want to leave? So we can just... be together?" No sex just hanging out.

"I wish we had movies to go watch. I could snuggle up in your lap."

[lvb]

Just the idea of that sort of slow comfort makes his heart ache. It’s a familiar sort of activity, one he’d loved in the slow afternoons of his marriage when they’d settle for a while without a task - and to live that with Annie, to have her sweet weight in his lap and her hair under his nose as they relaxed together would be like a dream.

“I could read to you.” He frowned at his own words. “But my spellbooks aren’t particularly charming.”

She deserved to hear a warm tale, not about Spells With Human Flesh.

“I could tell you the fairytales of my world. I wonder, would they be the same between your earth and mine? I don’t know that about us. Annie, I want to know everything about us.”

[ohmyscream]

"I found a few mystery novels to tide me over," Annie offers. The idea of him reading to her or telling her stories sounds awesome. She hasn't told him, but she likes being cuddled into him. He smells very good to her.

She wouldn't want to hear about magic. Not while trying to get him to just talk. He might fumble if it's about magic since it's a kind of awkward subject.

"We could tell each other our favorite fairy tales from when we were kids." She smiles brightly. "It's a good way to get to know each other better.... I know you like figuring me out. Like I'm a puzzle."

[lvb]

“I want to hear your fairytales. Tell the stories that shape a child from the United States.”

There’s still so much they don’t know about each other but she already knows his heart. In a fit of absolute fondness he bands and slips his arms under her armpits, lifting her off her feet to give her a twirl. She’s so sweet, she’s so empathetic, she makes him giddy to be around and he wants to hold her forever.

But physical reality swiftly sets in - spinning her round on tiptoes, even with the help of those spiked heels, is a wobbly affair. He sets her down with a breathless giggle and his eyes are bright with his affection.

“Let’s go, beloved.”

[ohmyscream]

She almost asks him not to call her that. She called the fake him beloved when she was tricking him into thinking she wasn't forming plans. Annie realizes that it sounds different, though. He really does love her.

"I can't wait to share stories. There's... There's one I want to save for October," she tells him with a smile. "It's spooky, and I love a good ghost story... takes place in the region I grew up in."

Sleepy Hallow is a classic. She should also see about introducing him to Poe. That will be such a treat to share. "I wonder if there's rooms with cozy fireplaces...? It would be romantic."

B Cinnamon - lmk if this works? He's an obnoxius white knight type, sometimes

[failed_antichrist]

More than once, Setsuna has said he'll never return to the club, for a whole host of reasons. Unfortunately, he continuously forgets about that vow, usually due to boredom or curiosity. That's why, yet again, he's found himself in the club.

He isn't even thinking about it when he sees one of the waiters too close to someone else. That happens a lot here, and some people don't mind. The person its happening to, though, she looks uncomfortable.

"Hey, buddy. Give her some space," he pushes over to say. He at least grabs a drink for himself, as Annie's drinks hers, frowning at the incubus. He's too busy with those things to notice he knows Annie. He'll realize in a second.

[ohmyscream]

Annie sees Setsuna when she opens her eyes after the shot goes down. She blushes when she notices him. He is easily recognizable from their last encounter. Annie hadn't noticed his looks before given their situation back then.

"It's... it's alright. He just met me when someone... was not being kind to me." Annie won't elaborate. She however is looking at him seriously as if trying to figure Setsuna out.

"It was nice of you to step in. I'm not used to needing help."

She would rather not be near this incubus. He unsettled her. Annie likes the idea of being rescued by someone like the wonderful Setsuna.

[failed_antichrist]

Setsuna's wings fluff up, some.

"Oh, okay. As long as you're okay." He still gives the Incubus a look.

"It's okay. We never gotta really talk after what went down on the ship. I hope you've been okay?" he asks, softly.

"It's nice, getting to see you from this view. I can see you better. You're really pretty." That's not even the shot talking, yet. Setsuna just lets his mouth run, like always.

[ohmyscream]

The Incubus raises a hand innocently. His work here was nearly done.

"I merely wished to let the lady know she looks beautiful when she's happy," the demon purrs less than innocently. That causes Annie to turn scarlet.

She nearly scampers to Setsuna's side. He feels like a person who she can be safe with. Annie just knows he wouldn't hurt her.

"It went okay on the island." Annie looks up at him and offers a smile. His comment on her beauty makes Annie blush and smile flipping back her hair feeling pleased.

"And you're actually pretty handsome. I didn't notice before. We... were busy after all."

[failed_antichrist]

One of his wings curls around Annie when she reaches his side.

"I think she got the message, and we're done here," Setsuna points out to the Incubus. His tone firm.

For Annie, though, he looks at her and smiles, pleased, to the compliment.

"We were, heh. We don't need to talk about that, though. Unless you wanna? That stuff sucks for some people. You seem like a really a gentle spirit."

[ohmyscream]

The incubus now puts on an air of being properly scolded. He gives a sort of bow and walks off with his tray of drinks to go find more sinners to offer the shots to.

The wing provides Annie with a feeling of security. She has no desire to be seen by the demon who had been bothering her. The redness fades from her cheeks as she looks up at Setsuna.

"No. It's okay. I'd really rather not talk about it... I'm not normally a cruel or violent person," she explains briefly touching one if the dark purple and black scales along her face. "There was an exception... but. Everyone I've told it to has said they understand. For the most part."

Except Izzy who seemed to be the sort to think she should have killed Dylan long ago. It's fine. She'd rather not hurt anyone ever again.

[failed_antichrist]

"Thank you!" Setsuna honestly calls after the Incubus. He's not looking for any trouble with them, but as long as the staff understands to treat Annie well, he's okay.

"I wouldn't think you would be." He watches her touch the scales and Setsuna reaches out to touch them, too. "And we all have exceptions. What...what happened there?"

[ohmyscream]

"Do... you have some kind of sway with them?" It's an honest question. Annie still feels like she is getting her feet under her even more than six months after getting here.

"It's near where I got smacked once." Annie smiles grimly. "It was a punishment. I guess it didn't really stick but.. someone got a little rougher on one confession than the others. No big deal. I'm kind of tiny compared to most of the other sinners. He didn't even really hurt me."

Liar, liar pants on fire.

[failed_antichrist]

"No...some of them don't like getting near me because the angelic stuff hurts us both. Some of us. Sometimes," Setsuna tries to explain, but he barely understands the situation himself.

Setsuna's lips set into a hard frown.

"What? No one should be treating you like that." He reaches to put an arm around her, protectively.

"And yeah! A lot of people here are way too tall, aren't they?" People aren't supposed to be six feet regularly, are they? What happened?

[ohmyscream]

"Seriously?" Annie looks surprised by that statement. "I didn't know that. Were you so good that you started getting the opposite of what's going on with me? I mean....you mentioned being an angel but that's incredibly literal."

It explains how he is so handsome Annie feels weak for him. She is blushing over how protective he is. "But I... was being punished. Isn't that the point?"

She doesn't get that a libe had been crossed. It doesn't occur to her that there had been boundaries that should have been set. She had been gentle in comparison given she knew not to really hurt anyone.

"Right? Like. Almost everyone towers over me. It's wild. Even you're kind of yall." Annie glances up at him and smiles a little. "I like it on you. You... you've been making it a point to make me feel safe with you. Thank you."

[failed_antichrist]

His face goes warm. "I don't think I did anything good, so much as I got tortured a lot. A lot a lot." So much, for so long.

"It doesn't matter. Most people don't deserve that. Especially not you," Setsuna insits, frowning. "Do you think you deserve it? Why?"

And Especially if lines had been crossed? Setsuna might punch someone for her, if he knew.

It's not every day Setsuna gets to feel remotely tall, at least not in Hell. He grins. "I'll definitely protect you. I'm glad you feel safe with me."

[ohmyscream]

"You survived without slipping into terrible habits. You provided comfort to people who needed it," Annie points out. "You've done your best and that's enough for me."

Annie considers her past when he questions her. It's not pretty, like everyone seems to think. "I have a lot of guilt I'm working on. I beat a man's skull in instead of making sure he was arrested. I... let my anger and wrath blind me. I also participated in witchcraft. Which... I'd rather not talk about. But it was the murder that got my 'punisher' upset. Because I told him I'd been blinded by someone's lies and believed they were good right up until I was shown how evil they were. I think that struck a nerve."

Annie knows her own weakness. "I want to be a better person, but I'm still angry. Knowing you'd do the same thing again given the chance doesn't change anything."

Annie looks up at him. It is amazing to her, she trusts him so fast. " I feel like I could tell you everything. Even the things I don't tell anyone else.... it's like. I don't trust easily with that stuff. But you make it feel okay to be honest."

And looking at him makes her heart beat in a familiar way. Annie thinks it's weird to be so emotionally attached to someone so fast, but he feels right. Like warm milk or a blanket fresh from the dryer. She can see trusting him with every part of her and while earlier that would have scared her off, Annie knows this feeling is correct.