penancemods: (Default)
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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lvb: (Kind)

[personal profile] lvb 2022-09-05 10:11 pm (UTC)(link)
So she's finally starting to come down from the high. He's relieved; how long could he have distracted her. Kindly, gently, he presses his face into her hair and murmurs.

"And you were drugged as well." He knows full well why she was sad - that demon, that facestealer, shaming her to her very core.

"Stay here, I'll fetch you some water." If she lets him unwind from her he'll know she's starting to come down. "And then we'll tuck you in to sleep."
ohmyscream: (Fell down)

[personal profile] ohmyscream 2022-09-06 02:08 am (UTC)(link)
"Please," she murmurs a little helplessly. She doesn't want to let him go. There's something important she has to say.

"Wait."

She looks very tired and a little sad. "I love you so much. You're... wonderful. But I have something important to say."

Her lower lip wobbles because she is drunk and tired onto of feeling emotional. "I can't marry you. It would make your C.C sad. I could never do that to you both. If... if you love either one of us please take it back. Don't marry me because you miss her. We'll find a way to fix this."

Annie was feeling very sad over that little bit she just said. She wobbles to her feet looking for something to dab at her eyes. Annie recalled hearing something about poison? But she doesn't think that she got drugged. That sounds silly because of course she has complicated feelings for L.L. He is her lover and has been slowly wooing her.
And she knows she is drunk and feels things when drunk.

"I think shots are evil." This is said as if it's a fact. Her gut turns and Annie suddenly lurches straight past him for the bathroom. "Excuse me."

She slams her way past him and nearly kicks the door shut. It's ungrateful and totally inelegant but she would rather not have him see her vomit up shots. When Annie falls to her knees with her head suddenly pounding? The world starts to hurt and L.L's younger lover becomes aware that in her own eyes she just made an idiot of herself. She's very aware that she told him she loved him.

She doesn't and knowing he is out there aware she is tossing her guts into the toilet while she's all dolled up to marry him is humiliation at it's highest form. Annie is sure she never wants to get married. Not after what the Emperor and Dylan have done to her. She wants to trust L.L but he feels a bit out of reach. She doesn't know what to do. Annie just knows she is drunk, sad, and not in love with the one man she'd like to be held by.
lvb: (Perplexed)

[personal profile] lvb 2022-09-06 10:14 am (UTC)(link)
Ahh. Perhaps he played his part too well. He watches her heave up, watches her disintegrate and run away to hurl up her guts. He gives her a minute, pondering which next steps to take, and goes to put the kettle on and bring her a glass of cold water.

He slips into the bathroom without knocking, settling behind her on the tiled floor. Slowly, soothingly, he rubs circles on her back, letting her finish puking before gently offering the water.

“The drugs affected me as well.” He murmurs. “My apologies, but that rush was what drove me to propose. It wasn’t until I tripped over my own feet before you arrived that my body cleared the fog.”

Poor girl, he’s not surprised she feels awful. What brings the mood up inevitably sends it crashing down again.

“I have some green tea. That will settle your stomach before you sleep.” He really needed to talk to her in more depth, but that can take place when she’s no longer drunk.
ohmyscream: (Drying off)

[personal profile] ohmyscream 2022-09-06 04:39 pm (UTC)(link)
She takes it all in as her guts are trying to still horribly betray her. Annie goes scarlet with a combination of shame of other feelings she can't name.

"Please don't do that again," she tells him seriously while she lets everything settle back down. "I couldn't ever consider getting married for real... not right now."

She rocks back on her heels from where she is squatting down low near the toilet. His presence with her is comforting.

"There was this very sweet man. I think I was in love with him too tonight. He fed me pizza."

Annie gives a slightly girlish giggle. "Between you and him I think I got spoiled on gentlemanly behavior."

Annie moves to hold out a hand. "Can you help me up? I want to take my hair down. Change out of this gown maybe. It's not for relaxing in. We need rest after tonight."
lvb: (innocent surprise)

[personal profile] lvb 2022-09-06 04:56 pm (UTC)(link)
“Who made the pizza?” Living with C.C has made pizza hunting second nature and he doesn’t even think before asking about the new source. Someone to cook pizza who isn’t him?

… but C.C’s not here to enjoy it. He helps Annie up by her hand and steers her to the sink to rinse out her pukey mouth properly, reaching back discreetly to flush the toilet as they move. He’ll have to come back after she lies down to give the area a proper clean.

“Which pair of pyjamas shall we share tonight?”
ohmyscream: (Default)

[personal profile] ohmyscream 2022-09-06 08:37 pm (UTC)(link)
"Sazuka. He's a gentleman. I think you'd like him," Annie tells him as she lets him help her up. She rinses her mouth out and even carefully swishes a few mouthfuls of water to really clear the awful taste of bile and booze from her mouth.

"He used my recipe for fast rising dough." Annie looks at them standing next to each other in the mirror. What a pair.

"The.... the usual ones?" She smiles a little shyly. "The maroon. They smell like you. I'll rest better. I... I know you've been struggling too. So if you're not up for a snuggle I'll be okay."
lvb: (Oops)

[personal profile] lvb 2022-09-06 09:20 pm (UTC)(link)
And in the mirror his eyes go very very round as all at once he realises he'd fallen into the habit, without even noticing he's been doing so, of compartmentalising all the different social spheres he moves through.

"My height, green eyes, distressingly buff, has a smile that lights up the room?" Who else could it be?

"It's pronounced Suzaku. Kururugi Suzaku." He rattles that name off with a perfect Japanese accent even as his expression turns deeply awkward. "And I've known him since I was ten. He's the one who killed me."

He pulls away from her, needing a moment to regroup outside. This is a mess. She's drunk and soulhurt and he's been keeping her in a fenced little enclosure he's privately named 'Lamperouge, aged 30' that he's going to have to open just a little.

He pauses just before exiting, suddenly realising that he's given all the wrong impression.

"He's the best man I know, though he doesn't believe it's true. You can trust him Annie, but be gentle - he's been hurt by the world for so long he believes he deserves punishment."

He strides out then to go and make the tea - one for himself, because he needs something for the conversation, and one for her despite her rejecting the idea because it's good for her and he's sure she'll change her mind if she sees him sipping his.
ohmyscream: (Investigate)

[personal profile] ohmyscream 2022-09-06 09:38 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yes," Annie says actually blushing because messing up Suzaku's name was a little embarrassing but also because he really is a handsome man. "Honestly, it was wonderful dancing with him too."

She gives a rather girlish giggle. "Actually. You have him to thank for us. We danced until my feet hurt on Lucifer's island. Then... then I needed a break and somehow ended up in your lap."

She gives him a sly smile right up until he confesses that he died at Suzaku's hands. It seems unreal that these two are so closely linked.

"I... I only shared pizza with him. Basically. We were.... like you and I just were I think." Annie sucks on her lower lip staring at him. It feels so weird to hear about all of this.

Does L.L think she'll chase someone so easily? The temptation is there. Dancing had felt so good. Everything else had been perfect too.
lvb: (Perplexed)

[personal profile] lvb 2022-09-06 10:11 pm (UTC)(link)
He needs the moment to process out by the kettle before shifting to the bedroom to contemplate her answers. So Suzaku and Annie have known each other longer than he's known her? That makes sense, they've both been in Hell far longer than he has, but it always rattles him when the people he's placed into different parts of his life turn out to have connections with each other that he never even realised.

But this, he knows, is just a holdover from his youth, when not spotting a political alliance forming out of his influence would have been a matter of life and death. It's his own fault for not pulling them both into the same room in front of him and introducing them in a context he could control and manage, in letting them think of each other firstly in relationship to him.

He's not upset she's obviously charmed by him - far from it. She's playing with other lovers just like he is, sampling what the world has on offer. If she's going to be with any other man Suzaku would have been his first pick - he wouldn't have tried to set up his friend with Nunnally if he didn't fully believe he'd be a force of good in a gentle woman's life.

He tries not to picture the pair involved in her hobbies of spanking and stepping on men, which were her stated reason for finding other lovers; that's too strange. Unfortunately it means when he comes back from the kitchenette with a pair of cups in hands he's grimacing lightly from redirecting his thoughts.
ohmyscream: (Trouble)

[personal profile] ohmyscream 2022-09-06 10:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Annie has become too good at reading his moods. It was about surviving the Emperor who had similar if sinister looks on his face. She tells herself that this is different. It still makes sense to confess something to him.

"I wouldn't be interested in him for... anything you'd expect." Annie blushes as she gathers her courage. "I liked how he treated me. It was tender and sweet. I liked that. I think... if anything? That's why I'd be interested."

She eyes the mugs of tea he is carrying and grimaces because it's hard to accept things she hasn't seen prepared. Annie scolds herself from drinking things she hadn't seen poured herself. She knows logically L.L is safe but there's that lingering fear of the unknown. The dark, really. The unknown is what scares her. All those lonely nights left by herself with her parent's house up near the back woods.

No matter how pretty the house was it was still dark and lonely at night.

"Where's the pjs?"
lvb: (Kind)

[personal profile] lvb 2022-09-06 10:55 pm (UTC)(link)
That gives him pause. Oh, sweet girl, does she think he's upset with her? He sets the cups down on the bedstand and runs his fingers over her lovely cheek.

"I'm embarrassed." He admits this much, so she knows it's not her. "I'm so used to keeping secrets I turned you both into secrets from each other for no reason at all. I should have introduced you the moment I realised I wanted to keep you."

He keeps talking as he fetches the pyjamas, neatly folded away.

"It's a little difficult between us - I remember 2030, he remembers 2019. To me, he's my dearest friend, who I no longer speak to as often as our lives have gone down different paths. To him, I'm the traitor he was going to kill in two months to punish for the death of the girl he loved. We're finding a common ground slowly; I don't think he considers me a friend just yet, but we're once again allies."

And as usual to her goes the satin maroon top, far too large on her, and for him are the now perfectly fitted bottoms. He sits on the bed to undress himself, laying out each item of clothing neatly.

"He is exactly how you describe him, under that pain. Tender, large-hearted, sincere, far too fond of cats, dignified despite my father's oppressive regime attempting to grind away the shreds of his people's dignity. I even arranged his circumstances to set him up with my little sister after I died, but their tender friendship never blossomed into anything further. He would have been good for her. He'd be good for you, better than me."
ohmyscream: (Snuggly)

CW: human sacrifice talk

[personal profile] ohmyscream 2022-09-07 01:06 am (UTC)(link)
"I haven't even told you everything," Annie says with a sigh relaxing at his touch. "Not about me. I'm not even sure what I'm worried about. I just.... thetecwas this Thing. That he fed my friends to. It took their souls and when I... I killed him. I accidentally messed up the spell he was doing. I took possession of his soul. The Thing. Abomination really. It was so furious that I had won.... so. It made a deal. I could join it in it's little realm. And play a game. For the souls Dylan stole and fed it."

She starts to take her hair down. The long coiling braid falls down as she starts taking the pins out. Annie frowns to herself as she sees how long the braid actually is. Her hair is so goddamn long now.

"Anyways! I happened to win back one soul. Before I ended up here. In this place.... I never told you. Witchcraft is a touchy subject.... and I ended up in a spooky magical realm for like, a year and a half. Which is wild."

She starts trying to figure her way out of the gown. The cape is first to come off exposing her mostly bared shoulders. Annie can't seem to figure the rest of the dress out.

"Can I have a hand?" She huffs at the dress in irritation. "It was easier putting in on than taking it off... I also can't believe you're trying to set me up with your childhood best friend. It's sweet. For you to want him to be happy. I would like getting to know him. He's... interesting and sweet."
lvb: (Default)

[personal profile] lvb 2022-09-07 01:24 pm (UTC)(link)
But his stomach clenches unpleasantly as he realises that a good number of his assumptions about her life must be terribly wrong. Given all he’s kept from her he’d be a raging hypocrite to feel at all betrayed by her revelation.

So he doesn’t scowl, he doesn’t pin her down and demand her to fill him in, he firmly shoves the rage at wasting his Geass on her out of the way. Life and necessity had taught him how to be an excellent actor and he pills on all that experience to keep changing into his pyjamas and then slipping behind her gently.

He strokes the scales on back of her neck with soft fingers. It’s vital not to scare her into hiding more information from her.

“I know about the stigma against witchcraft.” He murmurs. “You’re right to fear that. C.C has been burnt at the stake in the past by those who misunderstood her immortality as the devil’s gift.”

Gently he unzips her. Traitor, he should have guessed from all her transformations she was hiding a well of evil- but no, no, she had just as much right to hide her past as he, especially as he told her that was what he was doing back when he first soberly propositioned her.

“How old were you when you were pulled into that realm?” He’d assumed she’d already finished high school before coming here - but had she?
ohmyscream: (Fog)

[personal profile] ohmyscream 2022-09-07 03:52 pm (UTC)(link)
"Barely eighteen." Her voice sounds so distant to her. Like she isn't really here and it is someone else speaking her confession. Maybe this is better. Get everything out and stop feeling so dirty inside. "I didn't... I didn't feel like I had a choice. It taunted me. Knowing I could save them but... they were out of my reach. It was trying to... do something to me. I'm not sure what but I get headaches now. I didn't tell you because it stopped at the island. It... didn't matter anymore."

She shivers at the feeling of the air from the room on her skin. It feels colder now especially with what she is telling him. Or that person who sounds so much like her. It doesn't feel like her so this is fine. Everything is fine.

"I didn't finish school. Too busy locked in that realm trying to win and... I probably should be dead. I'm a murderer and participated in magic. I know how bad I am. It was just nice to pretend I hadn't done terrible things that I'd happily do again. I saved Katie. I don't know how but I know I did."

Maybe she should leave L.L in the morning. He thought she was still a good person who got caught up in bad things. Annie feels guilty for not telling him before now. But she reminds herself that he also was guilty of things he didn't talk about. Best to let him decide if he can deal with her biggest sin. It would be a shitty thing to just tell him and run away no matter how much she wants to hide from him now.

" I went... a little mad there. When I ended up here, I... thought this was another trap in the game. Another bit where I was going to be alone facing some terrible puzzle or riddle. I... guess I was feral. I'd go days without talking to anyone. I was finally kind of better by March. It took me months to stop thinking I was back there. I don't think I can ever be the girl I used to be ever again. That place really fucked me up. I wanted to be a good person but it's hard knowing I have to finish what I started. There was no way out once it begun."
lvb: (Perplexed)

[personal profile] lvb 2022-09-07 06:22 pm (UTC)(link)
His hands still at the tone of her voice, that haunted and traumatised distance he’s heard before.

She makes it so very hard to stay angry at her.

He stares at her bared back, at her soft skin and mottled scales, such a small and delicate woman… it wasn’t treachery. It was shame. She’s ashamed.

He strokes her plait around to his reach and delicately unplucks her hair, coming up the lovely curls.

“…When you come to know Suzaku better, you should tell him about this too.” There are echoes there, similarities. “When my father conquered his country, he…” That’s not his story to tell. “He eventually accepted his lot as the conquered and sought to prove himself over and over, to show that the Japanese were as worthy as any Britannian. He played the game perfectly within the rules - and he got further than anyone of his people ever managed. But he was fundamentally unable to perceive that true political games being played around him, the ones that would prevent a man of his race ever raising to true equality.”

As he talks he runs his fingers through her hair.

“He too carries around a weight of shame. Eventually, powerless in the face of powerful puppeteers, most people break. One has to, in order to survive. One needs to justify the brutal unfairness in order to carry on.”
ohmyscream: (Lip bite)

[personal profile] ohmyscream 2022-09-07 07:47 pm (UTC)(link)
"I... could barely tell you." Annie turns slightly as she feels him undoing her braid. She was going to leave it in. It took so much work getting it to that perfect braid. Her dress slips and falls to her hips leaving her bare from the waist up. The cut of her dress made a bra not very practical and Annie hadn't cared to bother with one.

"I knew I would tell you. One day. I wasn't sure if I should but.... I needed to."

She takes in what he says and gives him a long look. "I'm surprised he could be the way he was with me. It... it was sweet. I know how you treat me when you're bring tender and I like that but..."

She bites her lip staring at him not sure how to explain. "We were drugged. Very much so. I was even drunker and... I feel like even without the shots I fell a little for him. I missed baking and he indulged me.... but only a crazy man would say no to pizza."

Annie has a crush. A small one but it's there.
lvb: (Friendly)

[personal profile] lvb 2022-09-07 08:48 pm (UTC)(link)
He’s always preferred loose hair on a woman and Annie’s no exception. She looks so feminine when sleeping with her locks spread around her, soft strands he has to be so gentle with when he strokes them out the way. He arranges her hair in the way it looks best on his Annie-doll, some over her shoulders to cover her breasts, creating that alluring peekaboo as she moves, and the rest spilling down her back.

It’s so cute how taken she is by him.

“Did he tell you about the World’s Largest Pizza debacle? He broke C.C’s heart two years in a row failing to throw that dough. She’s as obsessed with pizza as you’d expect a medieval peasant would be.”
ohmyscream: (Feeding)

[personal profile] ohmyscream 2022-09-07 09:06 pm (UTC)(link)
"He told me about stretching dough for one,"Annie said giggling at him. He was so funny about her hair. She shouldn't be surprised as Annie is well aware she has very pretty hair.

"I don't blame her! I was in two intense sports. I had to stay on top of having filling calories. Pizza was one of my favorite ways to fill up." Annie sighs happily. "There was this one place down near where the big meets would get held. They had something on the menu they called a Garbage Pizza. It had every topping on the menu. All the meat. All the veg. Four kinds of cheese in addition to the normal stuff. Ohmgawditwassogood."

She misses that monster of a pizza. "Tasted better after a win. One time I was so tired my hands were shaking. One of my squadmates jokingly hand fed me a slice... that kinda rocked."

Annie hadn't ever told him about her athlete days. She smiles sheepishly up at him as she finishes sliding out of her dress. Annie is aware that under normal circumstances they might fall into bed for a round of love making. Especially with her looking so attractive in just her underwear but she isn't in a place to be touched like that. Not after being so honest with her past. This is like being undressed in an enterly different way. He can see her now and that's a little intimidating.

"It's too bad you didn't get to properly enjoy this dress.... maybe another time."
lvb: (Neutral)

[personal profile] lvb 2022-09-09 03:29 pm (UTC)(link)
He wouldn't have minded pressing her into the mattress and making love to her - but the fact that her pre-emptive rejection doesn't kill his need is enough for him to know that it's not that he wants to comfort her, he simply wants to sink into her to distract himself from all the complications she's thrown up with their mutual drugging and her revelations.

And so he averts his eyes politely and passes her the pyjama top to button on, a mild smile forming on his face as he tucks all the selfishness away.

"In which case, when I cook a pizza, I'll be sure make it greasy." He strokes her hair again, tucking a lock behind her ear. "You've been incredibly brave tonight. Thank you."

"I should clean the bathroom. Stay here. You deserve the rest." And go for a walk perhaps, clear his head somewhere away from her.
ohmyscream: (Watching)

[personal profile] ohmyscream 2022-09-09 05:05 pm (UTC)(link)
She pulls it on, making sure that the buttons don't pop. She has figured out that on occasion this top cannot quite contain her. It's the annoying part of being a young woman with curves to concern herself over.

"Maybe not that greasy? I haven't been training as hardcore. I've put on a bit of weight. Not really as bad thing. Just a thing I've noticed," Annie says with a faint shrug. She was never overly concerned with her weight because she knew that it was far more important to have the right strength in her muscles to do the things she did.

She gives a tired yawn and gives him a nod. "I'll just finish the tea and head to bed. I ... I'm sorry, but I'm not sure if I could be.... intimate right now. Too much drinking. I don't trust my judgement."
lvb: (Neutral)

[personal profile] lvb 2022-09-09 09:01 pm (UTC)(link)
“You’re far too drunk and I am far too sober.”

He stands then, scooping up his folded clothes with the intention of putting them away. He’s got clothes in his sewing room, comfortable clean simple clothes... He hesitates for a moment before speaking.

“I’m far too awake. I might go for a walk after my chore. Don’t wait up for me, darling. I’ll be as quiet as possible when I return.”

He could have snuck out but he wants this outfit, the one he came to Hell in. It’s his personal armour and he needs something to settle him.

In the end he’s not back until past 2am, stinking of a barroom floor and regretting his decision to test the shots to see how quickly he could clear them from his system. He almost sleeps in his sewing room, just to be alone… but Annie’s nightmares can be terrible.

He stuffs down his selfish side, takes a quick shower, and returns to the bed he belongs in to sleep chastely beside a woman he has no future with.