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Penance Mods ([personal profile] penancemods) wrote in [community profile] penancememes2022-08-24 10:35 pm
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TEST DRIVE MEME #38

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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sharktrash: (neutral // what are you looking at)

FMD2 B)

[personal profile] sharktrash 2022-08-27 04:52 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Squalo's on a break, finally having a moment to pour a drink for himself rather than for every goddamn demon or horny sinner turning up at the bar, and he's very much enjoying it, actually. It may not be quiet, exactly, but it's relatively peaceful (nobody is stabbing anyone at the moment) and he can just lounge on the plush chair and sip away while watching people make fools of themselves. ]

[ And then there's some guy he's never seen before -- a new person? -- meeting his eyes. And holding the contact. Squalo raises his eyebrows slightly, then cracks a half-grin and lifts his glass a little as if to toast him from the distance. Getting hit on is part of the job, really, but he doesn't have to actively enable it, and this gesture should be neutral enough to -- ]

[ Is he seriously coming over?! ]
servesyouwright: (→35)

[personal profile] servesyouwright 2022-08-27 09:40 pm (UTC)(link)
[ This particular drink is sour, and not in a good way. Drinks can definitely be sour in a good way, and it's pretty irritating that this one isn't. Or is that just a given when it's Hell? Is everything just going to taste off?

When he catches Squalo's eye, he feels an instant surge of anger, the kind that makes him see white for a second. Who is this guy? What's with that eyebrow? The grin and raised glass? That's some attitude.

Before he fully knows what he's doing, he's marching over, putting his own glass down on a table he passes on the way. He stops just a step away from the chair Squalo's sitting in. ]


Can I help you?

[ Like he's not the one that approached. ]
sharktrash: (why you little // teeth)

[personal profile] sharktrash 2022-08-28 12:53 pm (UTC)(link)
[ holy shit. he's got a Karen on his hands. why can't Jacinda the other demonic bartender take care of this? ]

[ Squalo stares up at him blankly for a few moments. no, he doesn't believe he did anything rude or inappropriate there... which means, it's time to start. ]


You can remove yourself from being in my face, for starters.

[ A demonic patron at the next table is already going "Ooooooooh" at them. ]
servesyouwright: (→11)

[personal profile] servesyouwright 2022-08-29 05:02 pm (UTC)(link)
[ He does not appreciate the commentary from that patron, and throws a glare in that direction. Obviously, Squalo's the more offensive guy here, though, so he quickly turns his attention back to him. ]

Seriously? You give me that mocking grin and I'm supposed to remove myself?
sharktrash: (glare // got you)

[personal profile] sharktrash 2022-08-29 06:15 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Welp, fuck that, then. ]

[ He slams his drink down on the table and gets up. ]


Mocking? I was being nice, you donkey-blowing piece of trash.

[ Now he's definitely being mocking though?? ]
servesyouwright: (→10)

[personal profile] servesyouwright 2022-08-29 08:11 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Uhm. ]

What did you just call me?

[ His voice pitches a little higher, and the bluster and anger is sort of gone for a moment. Because there's no way to respond to that except sort of ... sputtering. ]
sharktrash: (smirk // sharp)

cw: language

[personal profile] sharktrash 2022-09-03 04:48 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Oh, he liked that one? There's plenty more where it came from. Squalo's grin grows a little wider, but not in a good way. ]

I said you're a dickfaced piece of shit who fellates everything that moves just like your whore-ass mother.

[ All in one breath. He actually looks fucking proud of himself for that one. ]

servesyouwright: (→35)

wheeze

[personal profile] servesyouwright 2022-09-04 04:55 pm (UTC)(link)
[ His posturing wasn't very impressive to begin with, but even less so when he first just gapes in disbelief, eyes wide. Why bring his mother into this? Uncalled for.

Rather than say anything, though, he just winds up and swings at Squalo's jaw without hesitation. ]
sharktrash: (smirk // leering)

[personal profile] sharktrash 2022-09-10 11:38 am (UTC)(link)
[ Uncalled for? He definitely called for it the moment he decided to pick this fight. ]

[ It's not hard to anticipate that particular punch -- after all, most street fights usually started after some select words including one's mamma -- and Squalo ducks under it with an evil grin, already throwing a punch back at Phoenix from below. ]
servesyouwright: (→25)

[personal profile] servesyouwright 2022-09-11 04:50 pm (UTC)(link)
[ In comparison to Squalo, Phoenix has essentially no fighting experience whatsoever. When his punch misses, it takes all of his effort not to fall, never mind notice there's a counterattack coming. It hits him in the stomach, knocking the air out of him as he drops unceremoniously to the floor. ]
sharktrash: (unsure // what the fuck)

rip

[personal profile] sharktrash 2022-09-18 12:39 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Oh. Well. That was fast. Squalo straightens up, his grin fading somewhat as he stares at the pathetic guy on the ground. It... doesn't actually feel satisfactory to keep hitting him? He'll still kick him once for good measure, though. ]

That's what I thought. Stay down or fuck off.

[ Aaaaand he just sits right back down at his table and picks up his drink again. Which is... something like an opening, maybe, but it might be best to just call it quits... ]
servesyouwright: (→20)

Bless

[personal profile] servesyouwright 2022-09-18 02:41 pm (UTC)(link)
[ To his credit, he's already about to get back up when Squalo kicks him. It delays his recovery somewhat, as he flinches with a pained sound and stays put for a second or two.

Did this asshole really just sit back down?

So punching the guy's out of the question. Maybe he should have figured from the start.

He straightens back up, and takes a deep breath. ]


Nice hook.
sharktrash: (blank // this hangover is killing me)

[personal profile] sharktrash 2022-09-18 03:19 pm (UTC)(link)
[ This asshole sure did sit down to continue sucking up his alcohol, yes. A testament to how much of a non-threat he established Phoenix as. He's free to try to change his mind, of course. ]

[ As is, he just glances in the direction of the man when he speaks up, not even bothering to turn his head properly. ]


I know. [ Is it his turn to say something encouraging about the other now? ] Shit balance.
servesyouwright: (→50)

[personal profile] servesyouwright 2022-09-19 08:14 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Unfortunately, that's very unlikely to happen. Doesn't mean he won't try, though.

Those 'encouraging' words get a cold stare in response. ]


Ah, I fell, is that it?
sharktrash: (shouting // don't get in my way)

[personal profile] sharktrash 2022-09-19 09:13 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Whoa, a cold stare. Whatever shall he do. ]

[ Oh, that's right, pay it no mind. ]


Well damn, you're smarter than you look.
servesyouwright: (→08)

[personal profile] servesyouwright 2022-09-21 01:58 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Wow, rude. ]

Smarter than you, that's for sure.
sharktrash: (blank // i don't give a fuck)

[personal profile] sharktrash 2022-09-23 11:48 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Wow. He came out to have a good time and he's feeling so attacked. ]

Yeah? You got some fancy "college" degree or someshit?

[ Yup he literally does air quotes and everything. Because obviously anybody this bad at throwing punches and this convinced of their smarts had to be some kind of a huge nerd. Which did not necessarily make them very smart, actually, and Squalo is still sure of his superiority. Of course. ]
servesyouwright: (→52)

[personal profile] servesyouwright 2022-09-24 02:03 pm (UTC)(link)
A university degree, in law.

[ The fact that Squalo doesn't seem to think of it as anything to brag about doesn't go completely amiss, but he also doesn't really care. He is very proud of that degree. He still remembers graduating and passing the BAR like it was yesterday. At the same time as it feels like ages ago. ]
sharktrash: (frown // unamused)

[personal profile] sharktrash 2022-09-26 08:35 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Squalo gives him a flat look, because seriously? Did this guy think he was being impressive or something? It is, however, worth note just what kind of education he claims to have. A law degree. That's got to be a cop, or a lawyer, or a judge in that case. All ratfaced bastards, of course. He rolls his eyes and waves a hand dismissively. ]

Right, so mommy and daddy put you in a suit and tie and you think you're the hot shit 'cause you get to ruin honest people's work. Talk to me once you've tried a real job.

[ His disdain might be a little too obvious there, but what is cop-kun going to do? Arrest him in Hell? ]
servesyouwright: (→22)

[personal profile] servesyouwright 2022-09-27 08:35 pm (UTC)(link)
[ He

doesn't even know what to say to that. Honest people's work? Once he's tried a real job? What the f... ]


Lawyer is a real job.
sharktrash: (mock gasp // don't tell me...)

[personal profile] sharktrash 2022-10-01 11:46 pm (UTC)(link)
[ looks at him. ]

[ starts fucking laughing. ]


Right. Not like you rob people blind to say a few made-up words in trial and then sell out the moment somebody else offers more.

[ what kind of lawyers have you been dealing with, squalo? ]
servesyouwright: (→46)

[personal profile] servesyouwright 2022-10-04 07:33 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Bruh. ]

All words are made up.
sharktrash: (irritated // you're a piece of shit)

[personal profile] sharktrash 2022-10-09 10:51 am (UTC)(link)
[ well that just sounds like willful obtusity to him. ]

Wrong, plenty of words are real.

[ he sounds absolutely convinced of his own flawless victory. ]



servesyouwright: (→10)

[personal profile] servesyouwright 2022-10-09 06:17 pm (UTC)(link)
[ What?

This guy can't be for real. He just can't be. Is he for real? Phoenix was just being a smartass, but Squalo doesn't seem to get that.

Wow. He's ... a total idiot. ]


I don't even know what to say to that.
sharktrash: (smirk // sharp)

[personal profile] sharktrash 2022-10-09 07:01 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Is the guy trying to act superior? Probably. Is Squalo going to acknowledge it in any way? Hell nah. He leans back in his seat and puts his boots on the table. ]

You can start by apologizing for interrupting my riposo.

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