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TEST DRIVE MEME #4

ARRIVAL
You remember a dream.
Or maybe nightmare is more accurate.
It was full of hellfire nipping at your skin and a sensation of being pulled down no matter how much you struggle or cry for help. There's a voice that feels like it's coming from all around you at once. Contrasting with the nightmare unfolding around you, it's smooth as silk. It makes you want to listen with every bit of attention you can muster in the moment.
"Judgement has come upon you, but not to worry. It can still be undone."
The voice promises you redemption for your sins. It promises you a better life and everything you could ever want, if only you just stop struggling so much.
And so you do.

Everyone wakes up in the same room initially. The room is done up in red with a cushy bed, a window, an old TV in the corner on a desk, and a few Hieronymus Bosch paintings lining the wall. There's a bathroom to clean up in and any belongings will be sat around the room to be gathered later. There's a duffel bag provided for your convenience.

They'll quickly notice the list of their sins written with their blood on a bedside table on an old piece of parchment. This will mean the list is tied to them and can't be changed or tampered with. They'll also receive their device to connect with others and the network. It won't be anything terribly fancy. As a matter of fact, it looks like a very old Blackberry type phone.
Once characters are ready to leave the room, they'll head down long, winding halls. They're dimly lit and ominous feeling. They may encounter fellow sinners or demonic staff that will direct the newcomer down to the lobby to get their actual room key to settle in. They may be pushy, they may border on courteous. It really just depends on the mood of the staff at the time and how they're treated in return. Eventually, everyone comes to stairs that lead downward.

Once down to the lobby, you'll notice the front desk manned by a demon who looks bored out of its mind. To the side of him is the door to the kitchen where guests may help themselves. To the right is a small duty free shop that seems to have a surprisingly normal, expected stock of items. Look around a bit further, there will be a tiny bar tucked in through a corner door. It seems pretty well-stocked and best of all, self-serve if you want to get away from your demonic hosts for a bit. Of course there's some seating, bar games, and a jukebox tucked in the corner if you'd rather stay and socialize a bit.
Please note that all the songs on the jukebox are appropriately hell-themed. Hopefully Sympathy for the Devil is universally loved.
STAND YOUR GROUND
Prompt I
It seems like not long after everyone has either returned from the maze or arrived fresh to hell that the storms started yet again. A bit more sporadically and not the constant downpour of the previous month, but it's still blood and fire raining from the skies, along with claps of thunder and lightning strikes that seem far too close for comfort. Fortunately, there's not as much flooding this time. Unfortunately, a particularly loud clap of thunder and lightning that strikes close to the hotel seems to leave it and surrounding establishments in the dark. Quickly, the hotel becomes a cold place, urging all guests to to move to the lobby for some warmth.
A roaring fire will be going and there will be hot drinks and snacks kindly provided by the staff while they try to work on correcting the problem.
Eventually, some rather panicked goblin-like demons come rushing up from the basement. They're half-singed and dirty looking from their adventure, so it doesn't seem to bode well for the power returning any time soon. Guests who listen closely will hear the demons apologizing profusely for 'letting them escape' and much more worrisome than that, about how it looks like there might have been some tampering going on down there. The staff is quick to tell the demons to hush and go, not to worry the guests or let word get back to Lucifer.

It's okay, they reassure, it's not that bad down there! The lights provided all seem to flicker dangerously though, almost completely going out at times, as you descend creaky stairs to a lower level. Apparently the demons are tired of risking their hide to get the power back on, but they're quite happy to risk all the guests'.
The basement is slightly flooded in some areas, bloody rain making its way through cracks in the foundation. It reeks of dampness and mold. There are things that skitter in the corner of your eye as you venture in further. Rats, bugs, and a few smaller beasts.
No one will be given more to go on than they're looking for a breaker box to reset, and hopefully, that'll get everything back up and running again. Unfortunately, there are so many twists and turns that it gets confusing after a while... How come the basement looks much bigger than it has any right to be anyway?
The basement is also jam packed with boxes just begging to be gone through. Most of them just seem to house an odd amount of clothing and what may be personal items left from previous guests, others hold decidedly more satanic and occult items. But if there's anything you're looking for in particular, from jewelry to a coat to a rad new walkman, you'll probably find it down here.
Keep going and you'll come across a room with a heavy steel door. If anyone should venture inside, they'll see a dungeon inside. There are demons chained to the walls in various ways, strung from the ceiling, or caged up that seem to be wasting away and forgotten. If they notice you, they'll try to plead with you to let them out, bribing you with information on Lucifer that no one else knows, but it's probably for the best you don't. There seem to be a few free spaces waiting for new additions after all... and besides, they've got to be locked down there for a reason, right?

Let them go against all better judgement and they'll most likely just rattle something off while they take off running as quick as they can.
Listen closely enough and you might hear tortured screams as they're presumably killed upon reaching the main floor of the lobby. It was probably inevitably, so don't blame yourself.
Anyway, moving on you keep going past the dungeon, and you'll finally find the room with the furnace and breakers to reset. It shouldn't take long to flip them back, but they'll continue to trip on and off for a while and may require multiple groups to make a return trek down to reset them until the demons finally correct the issues with the wiring that is causing these outages.
Speaking of issues with the wiring and what may have caused them... Hang around the bar or lobby enough, or around any area of the community, and you may hear muttering of something called The Veiled Order from beyond the gates. Some of the demons seem excited, others seem nervous. If asked, the demons may brush guests off. If drunk enough or given proper incentive, they may tell a story about a group of rebellious demons that Lucifer tried to cast out. They were damned to live in the burnt forests outside the gates, but sometimes, they still cause trouble.
Apparently, they thought they could be better rulers than Lucifer and were quite discontent with how he maintains Hell.
Some may say they're worried the Order is causing mischief by messing with the hotel, having had ample opportunity to sneak back within the gates. Others will laugh heartily and insist that it's a dumb tale to scare young demons, nothing more. Certainly nothing to worry about.
Another thing guests may overhear or bribe out of demons around the bar or club is talk about the call of infernal nightmares. If pressed for more info, the demons won't give much beyond the fact that it's a miserable thing, entirely miserable.
Prompt II

The staff will be offering a reward of a gourmet dinner of the guest's choice if anyone around the hotel will help to capture these little pests and bring them to the front desk. Afterwards, they'll be returned to the basement and locked away again.
Otherwise, people are free to ignore them or laugh at the people who can't seem to shake the little creatures following them around.
Careful though, breathing them in can make your lungs rot. Nasty way to go probably.
REACH UP HIGH
Prompt I
Warnings: cutting, blood, torture.
Whether you've been here for months or you're freshly arrived, your demonic overlord expects some participation. You can try and shirk the responsibility, of course. You can bargain your way out of it for a while. But eventually, you may find yourself trapped in a room just off the gym that's been fondly dubbed the torture room. It has all manner of equipment in there, along with an iron maiden even.
But don't worry about any of that right now. It probably won't be used.
You can try the door, but even with super human strength or every lock picking skill in the book, you won't be able to open it.

"Know that honesty is a good place to start on your road to redemption. Sure, it can be terrifying at first, but that's why you've been given a partner in this journey. Pick up your knives and carve at least one sin into each other's flesh. Help in the journey to be candid with everyone you should meet here!"
The voice echoes all around you again, just like in the nightmare, and once again there's the pull to give in. This voice really does seem like it has your best interests at heart.
"If you need a bit of encouragement, we'll be giving it shortly."
It isn't a lie or idle threat either. The longer you wait to do what's been requested of you, the more shallow cuts that will appear on both of your bodies. Are you really prepared to endure this pain when giving in would be so much easier?
And more than that, are you willing to let another suffer along with you?
Eventually, the cuts will stop if you suffer them long enough, but you'll have failed this challenge and sustained more damage than if you'd just gone along with it. Satan will also be very disappointed in you.
Prompt II
"A generous nature is an important part of being a righteous person. Greed is a sin my Father frowns on quite a bit. What I ask you to do today is to go out and find a gift for that special someone or friend of yours and give them something to smile over."

And if you don't, expect to be in excruciating pain for a few hours, and struggling for a breath. If you can't share a gift, then you don't deserve to share all that oxygen, do you?
FOLLOW ME DOWN
Prompt I
Warnings: Alcohol and drug abuse, potential non-con/dub-con.

You may not get much of a chance to have that in hell after all. So one drink won't hurt, right? Nor will one more after that.
There will also be every sort of party drug available that might tickle your fancy. There's no harm in experimenting, is there? You're already in hell and the staff is handing it out and so helpfully showing you how to use it, or recommending a type that would suit what you want.
You've presumably done your atonement for the day, yes? So cut back a bit, let loose. Hell might be pain and torment, but it's also a nonstop party in the bar.
There's even a brand new stage and a karaoke machine for those feeling brave!
Ask the staff demons very nicely and you may even get less scrupulous drugs as well. Things that will convince your fellow damned souls to tell only the truth for a fun prank, or perhaps even potions that will make someone so enamored with you, they won't take their eyes, or hands, off you. How dare they give you the cold shoulder earlier, right? You've got them now.

Relax and enjoy your night. Coming here and facing your sins is the hard part, so surely you deserve to have a little fun, right?
Prompt II
Warnings: sex, aphrodisiacs, potential dubcon/noncon, potential kinks.
The club within Penance has always offered many options for debauchery, but now it seems they're stepping things up a bit. There are themed rooms for sex machines (the same that were present at the carnival) that can be controlled by a demon or a partner. If asked, they'll gladly set you up on stage to put on a performance for the entire club.
They won't side eye you for any other kink you ask for either, however depraved it is.
But the succubi are handing out potions again, that can be taken willingly or not. The purpose of them is to strip away all of your inhibitions... or in certain cases, your mind as well as your will. It will leave those who take the potion as a perfect little pet or slave for someone. It doesn't matter if you're generally strong-willed or not interested in submitting. You'll find yourself wanting to please someone until it's the most important thing on your mind. Maybe until it's the only thing on your mind. It doesn't even matter if you generally hate or adore the person you've attached yourself to, you'll find yourself sinking down on your knees anyway.
This is the perfect time to play out all those daddy kinks, domination and submission scenes, or perhaps a bit of pet play. It doesn't matter what theme of the game you choose, you're suddenly all for it no matter what.
Because you just want to make someone happy, even if what makes them happy is hurting you as much as pampering.
MISC.
Thanks for joining us for our fourth test drive meme, sinners! Reserves are now open for the upcoming app round on August 1st
If you want to speak with Lucifer, you're free to text or pray to him right here
If you let a demon loose in the dungeon, reply here to see what tidbit of info they revealed!
If you have a comment, suggestion, etc. please go here!
Rules | Taken | Reserve | App
Network | Logs | OOC | Memes
Spike Spiegel | Cowboy Bebop | OTA
[ To any observer, it would appear that Spike did not overhear the hushed conversation about escapees. He continues to lazily play fetch with his runty hellhound, Zwei. The hound getting more and more frustrated with his poor throws, and the long pause between retrieval and when he throws it again.
Eventually, one of the throws goes wild and Zwei scampers after it. ]
Hey. Stay where I can see you.
[ When the hellhound doesn't return, he huffs and gets up, slouching down the hall after him.
He doesn't come back. Instead, he takes the hound into the basement as he goes to investigate. ]
Stand Your Ground, II
[ Both Zwei and Spike happen to be very food-motivated. It may be the only trait that they share. The problem being that the pesky "something beautiful" in Spike's soul means the Coal Tars are entirely uninterested in him. It makes hunting them much more of a challenge than Spike was expecting.
But hey. He always likes a challenge.
He prowls about the hotel, looking for anybody who might possess that blood of the beast Vicious still thinks Spike has, who might have a few more of the things flocking to them. Zwei, for his part, is nose-to-the-ground trying to sniff them out.
He's not a very good hunter.
Either way, sooner or later they will be hovering a little close with hopeful looks in their eyes. Spike, being the only one of the pair who can talk, takes point. ]
See any sentient balls of dirt lately?
Follow Me Down, I
[ There seems to be more new people around, and Spike goes wandering down to the bar to check them out. Equal parts hopeful and dreading the possibility that he may recognize somebody.
At this point, he is extremely suspicious of anything the oh-so-gracious hosts try to get him to drink. The only thing he will accept from them is unopened cans of beer. What does catch his interest is those oh-so-enticing games of chance. He takes a long drag of a cigarette as he eyes up his options.
Blackjack seems to winning most of his attention, though he can be persuaded to try something else. He glances at whoever he ends up at the table with. ]
Good thing I wore a lot of layers, eh?
Wildcard!
[ Toss something my way, PM or find me at
Stand Your Ground, II
[He gives Spike a wary scowl.]
Why you askin'?
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Peking duck. Sea bream baked in salt. A bowl of pho so big you could give a dog a bath in it, with tripe and tendon and brisket. Duck a l'orange. And one of those big cream puff tower things... croquembouche!
[ Spike twirls a bag around his finger. ]
Those things are a literal meal ticket and I'm hopping on that gravy train. [ Which makes him think of... ] Oh. A roast beef and Yorkshire pudding with gravy and peas.
sorry, wrong account
You're willing to turn someone over for capture for food?
I admire your honesty, at least.
[He gives an annoyed sigh, and his eyes betray him and flicker to where a couple of them are hiding out, peering at Setsuna from around the corner of a nearby hallway.]
No worries!
They're not people. They're vermin. You can't let these things infest the place. They'll make everybody sick.
[ Spend enough time living in space ships and you start to get real sensitive about these things. He grins cheekily at the compliment. ]
You'd be surprised how often I get that.
[ It's not very. ]
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[But he stops entirely at what Spike has to say about "make everyone sick."] Wait? They make people sick? Still seems wrong to lock 'em up, but that's not good.
[He finally rises and crosses his arms.] I'll tell you where they are, and you can get some food, but only the ones actually pestering someone. Deal?
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This isn't an angel, demon, spirit, or person. It's like a rat that can rot your lungs.
[ He shoves it in the bag. ]
They're all going to pester somebody. That's what vermin does.
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There's a couple around that corner over there. [He nods his head in the direction of the hall.]
I don't care about the food, so you can turn them in, if you like.
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End?
Stand Your Ground, I
She finishes her coffee before she sets the cup aside and follows after him.]
Find your dog?
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He's not surprised it's Natasha. His subterfuge wasn't exactly the most sophisticated, and whatever she did in her life before this it's clear she's not easily taken in by such things. ]
Not yet. Who knows where he's got off to.
[ Spike waggles his eyebrows and turns to bump his back onto the cellar door, swinging it open without leaving any fingerprints. He pushes it open and leans against it, hands in his pocket, tilting his head toward the stairs leading down into darkness. ]
Looks like he might have gone this way.
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She tilts her head, accepting.]
Who knows what trouble he might be getting into on his own. Guess I can go with you. Second pair of eyes and all.
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[ He saunters down the stairs, flicking on his flashlight and looking around. ]
Well. This looks useful.
[ He wades through ankle-deep blood and muck to start searching through a pile of boxes. The first one reveals some women's clothes. ]
What's your size?
[ He asks as he starts pulling out some pieces that look like they could fit Faye. ]
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[Natasha follows more cautiously. If she'd had more warning, she'd have worn her work clothes.
Despite her comment, she glances over the garment in his hands, then back at the boxes. Supplies, probably?]
Just how much do you think they have down here?
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[ He tosses a few pairs of pants to her. ]
You're taller than Faye, I think these would fit you better.
[ The Bebop crew is very well-versed in scavenging. He sets the box aside and opens the next, whistling low. ]
Jackpot.
[ He picks up a box of shells and waggles it at her. ]
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Thanks for the thought.
[Her attention sharpens when he finds the ammo. That's a reason to keep looking.]
If you can't use them, sure you could sell them to someone who can.
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Stand Your Ground I
It was carrying something in its mouth, though Frank couldn't quite figure out what. He crouched down, whistling lowly at the dog. Not specifically surprised that it came over to him, but maybe a little surprised that it didn't look too wary or aggressive. At the moment, anyway. Christ, those teeth though...
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Spike pauses and lights a cigarette, the flick of his lighter alerting the guy to his presence. "We were playing fetch."
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He was quiet a moment, then offered a relatively easy smile. "You got an extra, buddy? Probably shouldn't pick it back up, but..."
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It's a joke. He thinks it's hilarious. Anyway. "Yeah, I was gonna keep going down this way to see if we could find the ball. Otherwise he'll start digging through my stuff looking for something to play with and I don't need that headache again."
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"I think he's decided to let you fetch it."
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"He's going to be even worse until I do." Spike saunters over to the conveniently slightly-open cellar door and slowly opens it, peering down the dimly-lit stairwell. He flicks on a flashlight and starts making his way down the creaking stairs.
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Stand Your Ground II
You mean these precious creatures?
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Yeah. These things.
[ Spike is, as a rule, unsentimental. But his approach to the coal tars is ruthless even for him. It's not just that rats on a ship, even a space ship, are a constant menace and a very real threat to food stores and general health. There's also the thing that had emerged from the fridge. The thing that was his fault, that had nearly killed the entire crew.
Not going to let that happen again. The coal tar goes in the bag, and he twirls it around his finger. ]
I'm trying to decide if I want a gourmet breakfast-for-dinner. Haven't had eggs benedict in a while. Or dim sum.
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You don't have to cook for me, ma'am. Not for what I'm talking about. They're awarding us a gourmet meal for catching the buggers. You could be my date, though.
[ He snatches another one. ]