TEST DRIVE MEME #4

[penancemods]

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.

After feeling a sensation of falling or dropping onto the bed, characters wake up feeling like they've just slept for a week. Their body will feel heavy and stiff, they'll have a massive headache at first.

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.

Once that whole scene is squared away, the staff will be urging guests to volunteer and pushing them into a drafty, creepy basement with nothing but candles and flashlights to lead the way.

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

Apparently what the goblin-like demons accidentally set free are strange demons that possess fungi, dust, and dirt. They don't seem to quite be from this world, but they're called Coal Tars apparently. They're harmless creatures for the most part, but they do have a love of following around people with dark or sinister natures.

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.

It soon becomes apparent what you're supposed to do soon enough when someone else is eventually shoved in with you. Both of your lists of sins will appear on a table that's been placed in the center of the room with two handy knives. You can choose to guard these or not care at all that they're on display.

"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."

With the items available in the basement and the shop in the hotel carrying a few new items, Lucifer would like to spread the good will of gift giving. It doesn't matter if you're not well acquainted with each other yet. You don't need to be! Anyone can spread cheer by giving a gift.

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.

With all the sinners, new and old, the bar will be lit up with activity and absolutely bustling with guests and demons alike. Food and drinks will be readily available and provided by hotel staff (although they might not always know what humans eat. What do you mean, you don't like fried kitten?), music will be blaring, and overall, there will be an energy to the atmosphere that's absolutely contagious. Even if you aren't typically inclined to linger at these sorts of events, there will be a certain pull to stay and have a bit of fun.

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.

There are also tables set up for all sorts of gambling and various bar games to entertain yourself with. Since currency as most are familiar with it doesn't quite exist down here, most of the demons seem to be accepting bits of your soul, if you're in a gambling mood. You may also get pulled into a fun game of strip poker against one of your fellow guests for a few succubi that are having a night out.

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!

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Comments

[invicto]

[ The lack of proper lighting actually helps James. Humans are naturally sensitive to light where he's from, so his eyes are much more accustomed to poorly lit places, and it's much easier for him to adapt to the darkness than to the light.

But that still doesn't mean he notices everything, especially with the stench keeping him distracted. Guess he should be relieved that it's just someone else, rather than a demon... or worse.

And when he realizes who it is? Oh, it gets even better. There's a faint smirk on his lips, one he suppresses because the situation really doesn't call for it. ]

Admittedly, not how I'd have liked to run into you again, but... well. [ He shrugs, still carrying his phaser as he nods down the hallway. ] Let's keep going. Better not to stay still for long.

[bountyhead]

[ Faye doesn't have to see the smirk to hear it in his voice but that goes ignored for now as she steps forward to follow his lead, gun still drawn but pointed down. She didn't get a good look at whatever it was that James was holding in his hands but she assumed it was a weapon just like hers and it goes unquestioned.

She remains in tow as they advance down the hallway, taking special care to slow down and glimpse into each room they might pass, trying to use the small amount of light to her advantage in the case that something less favorable is lurking down there, waiting to attack.

There's a few moments of silence that seems to drag between them as they focus on the matter at hand until she speaks up; voice hushed as not to draw too much attention to them just in case. ]

Have you found anything? Come across others?

[invicto]

[ He's forced to agree that this is hardly the time or place to be commenting on their first meeting, so he saves that topic for later. When they're elsewhere that isn't disgusting and doesn't stink, and once power is back up too. Here, any comment on their brief encounter is just going to get ruined by the stench and the overall filth down here. ]

A few people, yes. But no hellbeasts or anything of the sort. Little less populated than that maze, it looks like.

[ He looks over a corner, content when he doesn't see anything moving in the shadows, and starts walking down the corridor. ]

But I haven't found anything resembling a power box, either. You?

[bountyhead]

[ Faye's thankful when there's no further mention of the incident because she's certainly not going to bring it up. Having something direr to focus on helps too.

She trails close behind on James' heel and covers whatever area he doesn't, despite having slight trouble seeing. He must've been down here a while considering how well he's navigating. Her eyes will eventually adjust against the unreliable flickering of the lights. ]

No. And I haven't found anything useful either. [ Like, you know, a flashlight. ] Just all these boxes filled with junk.

[ Presuming that it's just that. Junk. And perhaps she's not too far off, having yet looked inside any of them. It could be anything -- documents, knick knacks, body parts. Who knows! But now that she's said something, her curiosity unfolds and she finds herself slipping into a room that's littered with them in a state of disarray.

She approaches a lone box and kicks it so that it topples over. Miscellaneous contents seem to fall out and scatter across the damp floor, and she stops to bend over and get a better look at one of the items.

It's a framed picture of a man and a woman. You can tell just how much they were brimming with happiness over the child that sat between them. A cute little family. A hint of a frown tugs at her lips. ]

Who are these people? [ They didn't look like anyone that was currently in Hell. ]

[invicto]

[ She can count on it happening later. When they're on more neutral grounds, not a basement stinking of rotting shit and blood and fuck knows what else. Even James knows to pick his moments better than this. ]

Haven't looked through them yet.

[ Priorities, simply put. He's been aiming to find the power source first, then either get it to work again or call down anyone that can fix it. Only then will he indulge and look through everything else that's stored away down here, and hopefully he'll find a few things of use to gather and take for himself.

But it seems like she has other ideas in mind. His lips twitch in a frown but he doesn't tell her they should keep going, at least not yet. He comes over, probably standing a little too close for comfort as he peers over her shoulder at the picture. ]

Old residents? [ He wagers the guess. A shot in the dark, and he shrugs. ] Or current residents who are just kept elsewhere.

[bountyhead]

[ She doesn't understand priorities. Apparently sifting through remnants of the residents of yore held more of a priority than what they were down there to do. It's just a matter of being easily distracted. She picks the frame up and straightens her posture, alerted to James' presence when she nearly bumps into him. She looks at him, compelled to inch away but she doesn't. Instead, she looks back at the photo and traces the pad of her finger over the cracked surface of the glass that still held the picture in place. ]

Like where? [ She seems to ask, but her voice barely carries that question loud enough for him to hear, as if it were something she was asking herself. Were they somewhere outside of the Hotel? Did they cease to exist? Why keep their belongings down in this disgusting basement? ]

[ Faye doesn't stall much longer and the barrage of questions seem to fade out. She places the picture back down among the mess she's created and quickly turns, only to meet James's face, eye locking on his for a prolonged moment, a sort of wordless exchange of gaze at first. ]

We... should continue looking. [ A hesitant smile before she steps forward and brushes past him. ]

[invicto]

[ They should have at least some time to explore after power is restored, he thinks. But he's not in any particular rush either, so he doesn't mind that they take a small detour to peek into the contents of the boxes.

It's definitely intriguing, how they ended up here, as well as their contents, and the question as to where these people might have ended up is a very interesting one. Unfortunately, not one he has an answer to at the moment.

His eyes flicker up to meet hers just as she turns, lingering. When she finally moves past him he allows his lips to widen into a smile, and he turns around to follow after her. ]

So are we just going to pretend it didn't happen, is that the plan?

[bountyhead]

[ His question seems to echo down the corridor -- sudden but not entirely unforeseen. It was bound to come up and break the surface one way or another, and she was foolish in assuming that this task they were given would stall the eventual breach for a good while.

It doesn't seem like she's going to stop walking, keeping her back turned to him, attempting to seem more interested in what's around them rather than what was asked. A few moments later, however, she answers him. ]

I thought the plan was to find the power box.

[ Suddenly, she stops. Something catches her eye in one of the rooms and prompts her to raise her gun. She doesn't exactly see anything but she can hear rattling from within the shadows and what she doesn't need is for some hell beast to come charging towards her unexpectedly. She goes to move forward when a disgustingly large rat bolts out, running over her boots, past her, and into the darkness of a different room. ]

[ She kicks her leg out from instinct but the rat had moved on too fast. ] Ugh! [ Now she's grossed out and irritable. Her head whips around to look at James. ]

Do you really want to talk about what happened right now?

[ Because they could. Just don't expect any sweet talk. ]

[invicto]

[ He wouldn't want them to stop walking, no. This isn't exactly the most pleasant spot, so James would gladly leave it as soon as possible, and continue the conversation elsewhere.

He opens the mouth to express just that, when suddenly she tenses and lifts her gun. He does the same, but his eyes can see into the darkness, and he relaxes well before the rat comes rushing out, stepping over her boots and all.

Biting his lips in to suppress a snort, he steps up next to her, eyes sweeping over her before he shrugs. ]

No. It'll hold.

[ So long as she realizes he's not going to let it go. ]

Let me take the lead. I can see better in the dark.

[bountyhead]

[ She can feel the way his gaze outlines her. Her lips subtly purse and she'll eye him right back until their gazes lock up. They hold, as if to share a look. She then steps aside, gun lowering to her side again, her head turning away to peer down the corridor. ]

If you insist.

[ She's fully prepared for a more thorough confrontation. That night has flashed through her mind in a variety of ways, never once ceasing to cut her a break from having to remember how he felt within her, and just how much she had enjoyed it. That despite the fact she wasn't herself, fueled by a doped up drink that amplified her lust in a manner she's never emitted before, she still feels an ache form below whenever she recalls it. As if she wanted him.

She scoffs to herself at that. Reluctantly almost, she'll follow his lead. ]

How are you able to see better in the dark anyway? Is it because you've been down here a while? [ Her eyes have adjusted but there are still corners so dark she can't make anything out. ]

[invicto]

[ If he suspected before that she'd been affected by that potion that night, now he knows it for sure. Not that he feels particularly sorry about it, she was still more than willing to let him fuck her, in fact she was quite insistent on it, and with the way she's now acting he has a feeling that part of her still longs for that feeling again.

James, for one, sure isn't about to give up so easily.

For now, he steps up ahead of her, phaser in hand and ready to aim and fire at the slightest disturbance. He doesn't look over his shoulder as he answers her question, keeping a steady pace as he takes them down the corridor. ]

My eyes are... different. They're photosensitive. All humans are like this, where I'm from. So I get blinded by too bright lights, but I can see better into the dark.

[bountyhead]

[ She makes damn sure there's not a flicker of evidence that would say she wanted him again. Because she doesn't. She's positive of that (right?). Having known nothing about the man, not even of his existence, and the first thing she does is fuck him. She wishes she could have gone back and withheld from drinking, knowing now what absolute trouble it's caused her. Especially the residual feelings that were inflicting at best.

She remains close behind. Close enough that if he were to stop suddenly, she'd likely bump into him. All the same, she stays alert, drawing her gun up slightly as he does with his phaser, and shadowing any of his movements while they advance further into the basement. The smell is getting worse. She makes a face but her voice won't give away to that. ]

Where are you from?

[ Why not attempt to know more about him outside of how well he fucks? It's not like they're having much luck finding the circuit breaker just yet. ]

[invicto]

[ Luckily he's moving slowly, making sure to check every room and corner, pointing his phaser this way and that so he's sure there's nothing hiding in the shadows.

He doesn't immediately answer her question. A complicated one, even if she might not realize it herself. It's not exactly the kind of topic he can delve into too deeply while they're down here. ]

Earth, 2262. Or a version of Earth anyway, I can guarantee you no one else here comes from the same universe.

[ Jim's as close as it gets, and even then everything that matters seems to be a complete mirror of his own reality. ]

[bountyhead]

[ 2262? That's nearly 200 years into the future from the year 2071. A fact that seems to temporarily stun her. She had yet to meet anyone who was from a time period way beyond her own. No wonder the weird gadget in his hand seemed unrecognizable. ]

I'm from Earth too. Well, a Earth, I should say.

[ She continues to stick close to him, keeping an eye peeled for the reason they're both down there to begin with. Still nothing. ]

But it became uninhabitable. The moon was destroyed and inflicted catastrophic damage to its surface.

[ If he inquires about it, she'll explain, but there's details that involve her that she feels are better left unsaid. She wasn't looking to give the guy her entire backstory. This was simply conversation to skate over whatever weirdness may have gathered between them. ]

[invicto]

[ He pauses for a moment to look back at her, taking in that bit of information. ]

Then we're definitely not from the same Earth. [ The moon is still very much there, orbiting Earth, and it doesn't show signs of going anywhere. He resumes his previous pace, slowing down to peer into empty, abandoned rooms, stopping whenever he hears strange noises from around a corner. ]

So how did the moon get destroyed?

[bountyhead]

[ She'll meet his eyes at that moment, hinging on his expression until he looks away. ]

One of the astral gates malfunctioned and exploded.

[ She says, almost bumping into him when his footfalls come to an abrupt stop. Her gaze trails his and she aims her gun up but slightly angled so that he wasn't in her direct line of fire. ]

They were used to travel within the Solar System through hyperspace. It made interplanetary travel possible in a matter of hours.

[invicto]

We use starships for that. They travel at warp speed, so they go pretty fast. Maybe not that fast, but at least our moon hasn't been blown up yet.

[ He'll take the ships, honestly, even if gates connecting planets sound incredibly useful.

There's a faint, intermittent buzzing sound coming from somewhere nearby, louder as they walk further down the hallway. ]

There's something ahead. [ From the sound, James is feeling pretty optimistic about it... ]

[bountyhead]

[ Starships. She thinks of her zipcraft, Red Tail, and a longing reaches through her chest. She missed flying. The freedom to leave and travel somewhere millions of miles away. A perfect way to escape one's problems. A yearn she's had to smother since arriving in Hell.

Faye hears the buzzing and optimism seems to bleed into her tone. ]

Do you think we've found it?

[invicto]

Only one way to find out.

[ James doesn't slow down, if anything he picks up pace, stopping just near the corner to look around it, making sure the hallway is empty. The sound seems to come from a small service panel on the wall opposite, and he walks up to it, pulling the door open.

He's no engineer, plus the technology he's used to is far more advanced than the primitive system in place here, but even he can spot some damage, the frayed or outright missing wiring not helping either. ]

Can't say for sure if this is the source of the problem, but it's worth calling someone down here. Unless you know anything about fixing something like this?

[ He looks at her, just in case. ]

[bountyhead]

[ It sure looked to be the source but there was the chance of it being something else completely. Either way, it didn't look good. And although Faye wasn't much of an engineer herself, what was primitive to him held a bit more familiarity to her. Not by much, but it would be worth a shot to try and fix.

She steps forward, tucking her gun in her shorts, and examines the damage. Her hand snakes out to nudge and pull at the cluster of wires. There's no calculation behind her efforts at all but she determines a few of the frayed wires to be the culprit. Neglectful maintenance.

She steps back. ]

A few of these wires need to be replaced. There might be some around here.

[ But finding them might take a hot minute if there were any in supply at all. She looks around and sees a few smaller boxes and immediately digs into them. ]

Unless you want to go find someone and leave me all alone down here, that is.

[ She glances over, hoping to catch James' eyes, and smirks. ]

[invicto]

[ James steps aside and lets her take a look, watching her all the while. He wouldn't stick his hand in there if he was paid, honestly, but he also doesn't tell her not to do it. If nothing else it might answer a few questions.

He lifts an eyebrow at her smirk, then lets out a soft chuckle, approaching her and helping her through the boxes. ]

Oh, don't you worry. Didn't even cross my mind to let you be so easily.

[bountyhead]

[ Faye was daring where she should really be cautious and that didn't always end well for her. In this case, the worst that would happen is she's shocked horribly, possibly to the point of death, but apparently that wasn't enough to deter her. She continues sifting through the one box and finds nothing but miscellaneous junk, quickly moving onto the next. ]

I'd hate to think you would. [ She remarks, her tone playful. There's undetected sarcasm there, somewhere.

Being alone with him in this musty basement, channeling off one another's focus, neither of them drunk or influenced by a drug -- it took away her need to feel completely guarded anymore. He wasn't lunging at her with grabby hands after all. He was capable of being respectful and retaining priority. She could appreciate that.

Her dive into the second box proves to be beneficial when she comes across a wad of wires. She'll hold them up, comparing. They look to be the right ones. Now all she needs are the tools. She goes looking again, barely sparing James a second glance, leaving them to silence until she decidedly speaks up. ]

Do you remember everything that happened?

[ i.e. the night of the Gala. So much for saving this conversation for a better time. ]

[invicto]

[ His lips twitch at the hint of sarcasm, but he too turns his attention to the boxes of junk laying around. It's not that he's not interested in repeating the experience of their first meeting, possibly in a slightly different context, but he knows that being pushy and forceful now won't get him what he wants.

Besides, he does know to sort his priorities, and a stinky filthy basement isn't the place to be making moves on someone, especially when there's something short-circuiting somewhere.

While she manages to find some wires, James has gathered a couple of tools. They look primitive at best, but he figures they might be able to do the job, provided they can figure out what's wrong. ]

Here. These might be handy. [ He says rather than answering her question right away, handing her some of the tools. After a pause, he adds. ] Yes. I remember all of it. Don't you?

[bountyhead]

Oh, thanks.

[ She looks over each tool to make sure they were what she needed and set the ones she'd use on top of the panel box while dropping the others back into one of the boxes. With the wad of new wires tucked under her arm, she gets to work, first making sure the switches are in the off position. At least she's cautious of that much.

His question is left unanswered as she starts ripping wires and figuring out what goes where. It's not so much the distraction, or her focus on the task, as it is her hesitation that makes her stall from replying right away. ]

Yes. [ She finally tells him, point-blank, still not sparing him a single glance. ] Every single detail.

[ And she didn't like it. It confused her and made her feel things she didn't want to feel -- like the way her body would react whenever the thought of him pounding her from behind would sporadically flash across her mind. She especially didn't like when that happened. ]

[invicto]

[ James is rendered a little useless when she takes up the task of switching out the wires, but he keeps guard just in case. While she works, he looks around the nearest rooms, staying always within earshot, poking his head here and there to keep himself distracted while she works.

He comes back once she answers, lifting an eyebrow at the tone in her voice. ]

Geez, was I that bad? Because back then, it sounded like you were enjoying yourself.

[ And rather a lot, too. ]