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

[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."

[lvb]

“There’s a bonfire outside.” Anywhere with her present would be the most romantic spot in Hell. “We could sit there.”

He wants to gaze into her sweet face all night, cherishing every little detail of her. He compromises by wrapping his arm about her shoulder so they can walk side by side, an obstacle barely paying attention to the world outside their bubble.

“There’s a poem in my world I just can’t stop thinking of when I see you:”

He leans down to recite for her

“An hundred years should go to praise
Thine eyes, and on thy forehead gaze;
Two hundred to adore each breast,
But thirty thousand to the rest;
An age at least to every part,
And the last age should show your heart.
For, lady, you deserve this state,
Nor would I love at lower rate.”

[ohmyscream]

Annie hasn't felt this happy in a long time. L.L is so good to her that the events that happened seem so distant. It's a shame they didn't meet sooner. She likes their little fantasies about being each other's firsts for a reason. She would erase the bad and replace it with moments like this.

"That's beautiful." She smiles up at him as they walk. "I don't recognize the poet.... unfortunately, I was never a big romance fan. I like spooky things."

Emily Dickinson. He wouldn't know her.

"Because I could not stop for Death—
He kindly stopped for me—
The Carriage held but just Ourselves—
And Immortality.

We slowly drove—He knew no haste
And I had put away
My labor and my leisure too,
For His Civility—"

It felt like something better than Poe. Edgar Allan Poe, in Annie's opinion, is just too dramatic for what she wants.

[lvb]

He chuckles at that.

“And yet you read those romance novels from the library? I’m surprised!”

Her love for the macabre is another charming little facet on the many-planed jewel of her soul - there’s nothing about her that’s simple or shallow or easily assumed. Every time he looks deeply into her, he sees something entirely new reflected out.

Together they walked out, his arm about her shoulder, in no hurry at all because why hurry when he has the chance to walk by her? Even the most mundane of action glows with a new contentment with her under his arm.

“I feel for you far too fast.” He says simply, because it feels so right to do so. “so fast I was in denial - I’ve never been one for sudden crushes. But you, my Annie, you’ve made this torture worthwhile. I’d rather be in Hell with you than back on earth having never known you.”

[ohmyscream]

"I got them by accident and refuse to admit defeat. Besides, one of my favorite horror writers was known for his romantic poetry. He... was a deeply passionate and troubled man. Died of rabies, apparently," Annie says, looking up at him with a soft smile.

She can't get over how they work together. He is older than her, but sometimes she forgets. He doesn't act like she expects a thirty-year-old to. Annie supposes being immortal and probably traumatized by war did a number on him.

"It takes time for me too." She doesn't know why this is so easy. "Usually it takes me weeks. I crush on people easily. People are interesting, and I guess I love them for it.... I thought I might fall in love with you. I knew it was possible. You're very charming. And...You made the things in my head quite down. I felt like I was myself again. There's still so much I want to tell you. We have time."

[lvb]

[ He raises his brows at the incongruity between her sweet voice and that factoid about the rabies - how does she manage to be so cute no matter what comes out her mouth? ]

Weeks? You’re far more aware of your feelings than I - though maybe this is just how it should be. You’re teaching me, Annie, just what a natural love looks like.

[ The bonfire’s still burning and it reeks of spice - but that matters little compared to the way the firelight catches on her skin and hair. She’s so pale she’s blazing right now and he can’t help it, he has to stop and catch her cheek in her hand and kiss her as the demons and arsonists hoot and dance and heckle.

He could stay like this his entire life ]

Why didn’t I meet you when I was seventeen? [ Before the war, before the Geass, before he decided to live a life apart from humanity ] I would have been all yours

[ohmyscream]

"Well! Does it count as weeks if it usually takes me three months?" She flushes under his praise over her knowledge of her own feelings. "I... wouldn't have confessed so soon. But... I do love you. After everything we need this soft good thing."

She nearly spoons when he kisses her. The dress that she wire to go clubbing in leaves her chilled in the night air but with the fire and his sweet kiss Annie feels warm. Drunk too but on his love mostly.

"Do you think so?" She touches his cheek gingerly. He looks like something out of a dream.

"I think I would have been smitten right away.... maybe we would have gotten married right after high-school. We would have everything together."

She reaches for his hand. "Come on, hold me. We'll tell stories, not whisper fantasies in the dark. We're here now. We can soothe the hurts of the past and move to a happy future."

[lvb]

“Why wait that long? My mother married on her eighteenth birthday.” And wouldn’t Annie look beautiful in a white dress, her face glowing with love just like this. His voice drops conspiratorially. “I was born six months later.” Less romantic was the fact that his father had been in his forties and had fourteen children already, but those facts could be overlooked.

His sweet Annie, he could hold her forever. He runs his hands over her lovely back, pliant where he’s only bony, then pauses, frowning.

“You’re cold.” Quickly he lets go of her to swirl his long coat off his own body and around her shoulders in one graceful swoop. On him the garment comes down to his ankles - on her it’s piddling onto the floor, but he doesn’t even wince at the muck, not when he can keep her warm.

[ohmyscream]

"You want to marry me?" Annie is surprised. That is the implication she is getting from him. Annie doesn't say what she is thinking. She knows he has many siblings and thinks his father may have been a bit of a predator. It is hard to tell without more information, but her worries aren't something she will express. L.L has probably given enough thought to his parents.

"I'll be fine, just hold me...." She trails off and gives a laugh. "L.L, you could have just held me closer. I wouldn't have minded sharing body heat."

She pulls him so that she can kiss him. "I love you. I... I kind of feel like even if we had forever, it wouldn't be enough. There's so much I'd love sharing with you."

[lvb]

He pulls her in close again, stealing her body heat for his front. His back will soon chill, he knows, but better she be warm than him - deserves the very best of everything.

He silent after she reinterprets his words. Is he asking that? Is he allowed to ask that? They've known each other for such a short time... but why does it feel so right?

It's that kiss that decides him, for it warms him all the way to his toes in a way that's not lust but something he'd be happy to sink into for eternity. As they break apart he sinks to the floor on one knee, looking up at her with wide adoring eyes that reflect the firelight.

"Annie Dyer," He takes hold of her hand in both of his own, cradling it gently, "Will you marry me? Here and now? Annie, I only intended to exist here, but you make me live. I want to be the one to always make you smile.

[ohmyscream]

She had no idea what to say. Annie thought that maybe he was teasing her with the idea of marriage. She can't help but smile at him and try to pull him up.

"Yes. I love you and... and I want a future where we can be happy together," she tells him. She looks at him with delight.

"Let's go to the chapel. I bet they have things we can borrow. We'll exchange vows tonight."

It feels right. They can be together and find a way to save everyone. Maybe one day they can get to C.C and Annie can get her darling to make C.C happy too. Another wedding for the real Queen. Annie already wants it for L.L and his first love.

[lvb]

He’s smiling so hard he looks like his heart is about to break - whatever has he done to deserve a woman like her in his life?

“You deserve to covered in silk and gold.” He can see her now in his mind’s eye, her beauty only enhanced by a sumptuous dress. “You deserve to have every person here lining up to watch you wed. Are you sure you want to give that up?”

[ohmyscream]

"I don't need fancy. Just the man I love," Annie states as if she's telling him a weather report. "Maybe.... not in this dress."

She is at least aware enough to see that a club dress isn't something to get married in. "Something more... high class. I was going to dance the night away in this."

There had been other motives too. Annie had wanted someone to notice her. Obviously that worked because her darling L.L had seen her. "Actually. I never imagined myself getting married. I have no idea what I'd like to wear. Something white? No lace, but I do like ribbons.... I think I have something in my closet."

[lvb]

He’s been through her wardrobe enough times, whenever she’ll let him play dressup with his pretty little Annie-doll, that he’s got a good idea of which dress he means. It’s beautiful (like everything on her is transformed into loveliness, right now he can’t picture her looking less than radiant in anything) but she deserves so much more.

He grins hard and pulls away from her, already knowing what he can do. He has the fabric, the sewing machine and her as his muse - he’ll be able to whip up a train for her dress before the bight grows too old.

“Go put the dress on, love.” Oh, but to draw away from her is hard. He must, for she deserves his gifts. “And meet me in my suite. You’ll be the bride you deserve to be.”

[ohmyscream]

Annie will let him go through her things whenever he wants. Therecaeeca few things he isn't allowed to touch. Books, mostly, as if they are wholly sentimental to her. She hasn't told him about them. Maybe she should before they really get married.

"I'll do the dove gray dress. With the lovely cap sleeves," Annie tells him. It has lovely embroidery on it and Annie had been saving it for a fancy party thinking that she would need to blend in.

Instead this would be her bride's dress. Annie loves it because she wants him to see her looking pretty. Annie also plans to do her hair up so that the parts that curls fall down in soft waves.

"I'll see you soon, my beloved." Annie offers him a quick kiss before she leaves him.

[lvb]

He takes a long moment to watch her bare back as she walks away - what has he done in his life to deserve such a sweet and pliant beauty as her? - before trotting on his sharp heels to his own room. He’s careful to take a separate route to her, just to resist the temptation to catch her again and cradle her sweetly.

There he fetched the bolt of fabric she most deserved, the shimmering silver organza. It would have been lovelier if it had been pure silk rather than polyester, but what he had would have to do.

And then, in his rush to his sewing machine to begin working on her train, his heel slips out from under his, wrenching all of a sudden to one side sending him tumbling to the floor. He lies there, breathing heavily and waiting for the pain to pass -

And the pain passes

And the bubbling warm glee filling him passes

And he realises he’d been drugged with something so much more insidious than the usual lust drugs.

He lies there for a while, face pressing into the floor as he groans at how fucked the whole situation is. Is the poison meant to be short-acting or long-term? Is it permanent? If he breaks Annie’s heart by refusing marriage, will that pain remain once the poison wears off?

One thing he knows is that there’s no way he can marry her. Sleep with her, yes, romance her and call her his concubine, yes, but to make a formal promise would be a betrayal of C.C.

He needs to play this smart. He levers himself off his floor and grabs his design book, slipping out to the common room to await Annie’s arrival.

[ohmyscream]

Annie arrives maybe ten minutes after his 'reset. Her hair is artfully done up in an elegant braid crown with soft wisps of hair falling down around her face. It looks natural which means in truth she spent a lot of time on it.

Her club makeup had basn cleaned off and she looks fresh faced and happier now. Something about it is much simpler and goes with her scales. To finish off the look she is in a beautiful gray dress.

She looks briefly surprised by him carrying a sketch book. Annie pauses and gives him a glowing smile of appreciation. He's clearly putting thought into this.

"You look so serious." She offers him a dimpled smile. "Do you want to go over some details?"

The spell has yet to fade from Annie. Here she is at her most truly affectionate. L.L will have to be very clever.

[lvb]

[ He feels guilty just looking at her. He lets that emotion come out as a bashful grimace as he sits on there communal sofa and pats the cushion beside him ]

Annie, You’re a goddess right now. Lucifer himself wouldn’t be worthy to make you the Queen of Hell… I can’t walk beside you in anything I own.

[ He flips through his sketchbook for her, showing his drawings of long stylised men and women in elaborate costumes. ]

Annie… [ He looks away from her, working up a blush and letting go of the last of his dignity ] I’d like to have a special costume as well. I’m sorry. You deserve to be wed right now.

[ohmyscream]

It's okay.

[ She gingerly grasps his hand with a soft smile.]

I just want us to get to be together. It doesn't matter if we marry or not.

[ She cones in closer to him, ready to settle in to just talk. It's so nice to help him and be near him. Annie loves being with him. ]

Why don't you show me what you have in mind? Maybe we can find something to work on?

[ She feels funny now. She isn't sure what it is. ]

[lvb]

He pulls his hands from her grasp, but only so he can loop his arm about her shoulder and keep her close. He can stretch this out until she’s sleepy - or distract her with sex and fall asleep after himself.

With one hand he flips through his sketchbook and all the stylised bodies with their elaborate clothes until he reaches a fresh page

“I have so many ideas,” he confesses as he starts sketching a brand new figure with too long a torso. “Something elegant but not too elaborate. Something that will match the formality of your beauty. Something embroidered.

One has to question his idea of ‘not elaborate’ as he begins the outfit by adding a long and ruffled cravat to the sketched figure. He’s going for a look he’s wanted to try anyway

[ohmyscream]

Annie settles into his side. In this she is not being compliant but seeking to enjoy his company. If L.L is truly not ready to marry her she can be content to wait for him. He hasn't banished her from his side yet.

"I like the style of the coat," she says as she watches it cone to life on the paper. She can imagine the fabric he might use.

"Are you sure you want a cravat?" That seems very formal compared to her own dress. She considers it again then gives him a small smile.

"It could be nice.... I just want you to feel like yourself. If that's part of it then we'll go with what makes you happy. Cravats are just incredibly formal in America."

[lvb]

“Are they? Then I’ll adjust it.” What a good excuse to carefully rub the lines out on the paper. “The Americans make up such a large proportion of the people here I don’t want us to seem unbalanced in their eyes.”

He taps his lip with the end of the pencil, considering her, considering the rest of his design. He’s taking this drawing seriously, as much of a ruse as it is; she deserves that much.

“I could go for a compromise: an open cravat that mimics a scarf.” He sketches that out onto his figure, considers, then rubs off the shoulder epaulettes from his initial drawing to balance out the formality.

“Do I really look that formal to you?”