penancememes | TEST DRIVE MEME #4

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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.

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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Well the punishments haven't stopped yet, so it would stand to reason they'll keep coming." That logic was precisely what got them into this deal in the first place, but it was effective.

Briefly Draco's lost in mulling over what he would need precisely. A small cauldron, pewter preferably. A number a vials, glass, and stirrers. A catalyst or two which might be harder to come by, pearl dust, or bloodroot spores, though a bit of cinnamon might do just as well. He could nick that from the kitchen... or possibly find it in the shop.

Draco quietly clears his throat and perches on the edge of his ridiculously curtained bed. "Perhaps I ought to write up a list, it's quite a bit."

"Sure... I'll see what I can find." He gives a thoughtful hum. "Maybe there's something in the library. Can't ask the staff, but there might be books that have info on the plant, stuff it's used for..."

Because while Billy wants his shot to get out, he also doesn't want to give Lucifer the key to like, destroying earth or heaven or whatever he might be planning.

"If nothing else, maybe we'll discover a useful purpose for it besides whatever Lucifer is planning."

"It's a good idea. I haven't spent nearly as much time over there as I'd like recently, but it's probably the best place to start looking. I haven't exactly come across a Herbology section, but there must be something similar."

He's been a bit distracted, not only by some of the awful things but by the temptations as well. If anything, Draco's a little annoyed at his own weakness. Throwing himself into an actual solution now (or the potential of one) seems like the best way to pull himself back onto... some sort of track. He hopes. It beats spiraling into madness, in any case.

"We'll only need to be cautious that we don't allow anyone to catch on to what we're looking for. I don't suppose you picked up anything else useful lately, in the maze or anywhere else?"

"I haven't spent as much time there lately either... I think it's time though. There's got to be something useful there anyway."

Billy's been spiraling since he's arrived and maybe-- well, maybe it's time to get focused again. He needs to get out of here before he loses his mind entirely. He needs to figure out a way to get other people out too.

"Not really... At least nothing useful about getting out of here. How about you?"

"Nothing massively helpful either, I'm afraid. I had a conversation with Loki recently, who seemed quite certain this wasn't a 'real' hell, and he's hardly the first person I've heard say as much."

He shrugs, and sighs again. "But I'm not sure it makes much difference if we can't get free of it either way. Our gracious host also manages to make things appropriately hellish, often enough to make it difficult to argue it's not some sort of hell."

"I don't think it is either. I've been to a real hell before, and it's-- well,okay this is almost as bad, but it was different. That said-- there are an infinite number of universes out there. They all presumably have their own version."

So who's to say this isn't?

"It's hard to tell what he's putting on for show and what's for real. I wish there was a way to tell."

This isn't the first time he's heard mention of multiple universes either, or alternate dimensions, although- "One of these days, someone is going to have to explain to me exactly how that all works."

Because he's genuinely interested. He's also a little concerned Billy's been to a real hell before. Then, he's reminded that Billy mentioned once being familiar with a hell lord. He supposes that would explain that bit.

His lips quirk with somewhat wry sympathy. "But yes, quite. Perhaps if we keep digging, we'll turn up some indication of what to believe, or at least... vaguely trust."

"I can try, if you want. I have experience with them. Plenty of it, as a matter of fact."

One day, he'll tell Draco that hell lord is sort of his father in a way, but-- probably not right now. It feels like something that would make other wary of him, with good reason probably.

"I hope so. It's always just a guessing game around here and waiting for the next bad thing to happen.

"True. All we can really do is attempt, see what comes of it... and hope we're not horribly wrong."

Draco considers Billy's offer, and ultimately decides being more informed is rarely a bad thing.

"Alright then. I know a small bit about the concept of alternate timelines creating multiple realities, that sort of thing, but it's not something I've looked into too deeply." Not that the research wasn't there, but he hasn't yet gotten around to that section of his father's library. It was on his list before... well before hell happened.

"Obviously this place has demonstrated multiple realities exist, fairly definitively- I suppose then I'm just struggling to see a larger picture, if you think that's something you could help me with."

Knowing his luck, this is all coming back to bite him in the ass, but-- he doesn't voice that. No need to be a downer.

Especially when he's supposed to be explaining timelines anyway. "Sure... I could try at least. I can explain multiple realities as they work in my universe, anyway. And how I've come to understand them at least. We might want to get comfortable first though."

He has no idea if the rules of Billy's universe apply, when half the time the rules of his own seem horribly confused by whatever magical chaos is happening here in hell. Nevertheless-

"It could be helpful, or at the very least interesting," he adds by way of encouragement.

Draco waves a hand at the spot next to him, with only the slightest grimace. "The bed is hardly the most comfortable thing, but unfortunately it's the most comfortable thing in the room."

He moves then, to take a seat next to Draco as he gives a thoughtful hum. "Before I came here, I was in another place that brought people in from different worlds... and before that, I was traveling around the multiverse with friends. It was a bit-- different, that. We saw what our lives could have been like if we'd made even the most minor choices..."

He gives a wry smile. "What do you know about multiple worlds and universes now?"

Draco pulls his legs up crossed on the end of the bed with an encouraging nod.

As Billy's explanation progresses, he can't entirely help his amusement. "Clearly not nearly as much as you. Never gave it much thought until I arrived here, but obviously it's been on my mind rather a lot since. It's strange, the magic feels all wonky and twisted sometimes, but then at least it still works."

He's a bit curious about the finer points of universe hopping, but also- "That sounds quite exciting, although... somewhat terrifying. Multiverse is definitely a new word."

"I don't blame you. Where I come from-- there's a lot of weird stuff that happens."

And he'll get back to the multiverse stuff in a minute, but-- he can't help but give a curious look. "What does your magic feel like anyway? Usually."

It's an interesting question, one that Draco takes some time to consider. "Well- it's a bit... I suppose it depends really."

He's not off to a great start, so he starts over.

"It depends on the magic you're using. Charms can be a bit tingly, transfiguring is more... twisty." He's not sure if this is making sense or not, but he goes on regardless. "Dark magic can be quite heavy, the Unforgivables-- "

Draco cuts himself off and there is a slight shudder that goes through him before he presses on. "Potions is a far more subtle sort of magic, but it has a feel all its own as well. It's complex, you might say."

"I don't know if any of my spells have a different feel... It's all just like raw power and energy and emotion that I'm drawing on, that I'm bending to do what I want. Sometimes it's almost-- overwhelming. Sometimes it is overwhelming."

But not that often, fortunately. "It feels good to use it though. Most of it."

Some of it may feel darker, when he's set on hurting other people, but he doesn't ant to talk about that now. "But I like it. I like hearing about your magic. It's so different to mine..."

"Some of mine are that way, raw like that, it can really vary from spell to spell, the more complex spells are always harder to control. But yours certainly sounds... unpredictable. I imagine that might come with the chaos territory."

Higher levels of power, there were only a few wizards Draco knew of who could control them, and he's seen first hand precisely how corrupting that much power can be. But he's not sure telling Billy that is the best idea. He doesn't want to freak him out.

"It does seem they're very different, despite the similarities. It's fascinating... and I'm supposing yours doesn't require archaic Latin to function." Not that all of his does either, but enough of it to be tedious.

"Mm, maybe." He gives a shrug of his shoulders. A lot seems to come with the chaos bit-- including corruption. He's seen, or at least heard of, the horrors his own mother has been capable of to know he needs to avoid it if he can.

"My words are spells. If I want it bad enough, all I have to do is speak it, visualize it... it happens. But that doesn't mean I can't learn the archaic Latin ones either." He gives an amused smile.

"I'm just self taught, like I said. I haven't had much chance to learn... but the library here has been good for that, and the last place I was, I had a mentor."

"Sounds simple enough, sort of a... willing magic." He's more thinking aloud at this point, but he tilts his head some curiously, and his brow furrows a bit as he thinks it all over. He doesn't see much of a need to have his guard up around Billy, so he's fairly relaxed.

"The library has a surprising amount of magics in it, from what I've found. I'm still trying to sort it all out honestly. ...But if you think you can learn my spells- that is, assuming there are any you might find useful, I might also be able to help. Possibly. I'd be willing in any case."

His lips quirk a bit, along with his eyebrow. "If you like, of course."

"Oh, really?" He gives a curious look at the offer. He's not going to lie and say it's not an interesting one. Who knows if it'd work? But nothing ventured, nothing gained, he supposes.

He gives a friendlier smile. "And however would I pay you for your mentoring, huh?"

The briefest flash of bewilderment crosses Draco's expression and then it seems to fall into place in his head, right along with his growing smirk.

"Well I'm not sure," he teases, leaning back a bit on his palms, if only to be even more effectively smug. "What are you offering?"

His smile turns almost affectionate as he watches Draco's expression change. It's-- endearing, really. Cute, if he was the type to ever say something like that.

He gives a thoughtful hum as he ducks his head. "Well, you did seem to be pretty impressed with some of my other more... oral talents."

Okay, that was cheesy, even for him. He can't help a soft laugh before he looks back up. "Alternatively, I'm sure I can find plenty of ways to show my appreciation, even ways that don't involve the bedroom at all."

"They were rather impressive talents," he agrees, watching Billy with a faintly warm tilt to his own lips, mixed in with all the amusement, and a touch of the predatory. "I seem to vaguely recall you mentioning something or other about screaming my name... "

Draco almost accidentally catches Billy's gaze then, but he holds it now. "We might consider both."

"Oh, is that what you're after?" He meets that gaze steadily, smile lengthening.

"I suppose I can do some screaming with the proper incentive." And because if they're going to talk about more-than friendly things, then he figures it's fine to lean in and press a quick kiss to Draco's lips.

"We've got the time for both, sure."

Smirking into the press of lips, he takes a moment to consider the question, but rather than give any kind of verbal answer he lets his palm find purchase at Billy's cheek to pull his lips close enough again for Draco to nip at the lower one a bit hard before he steals a quick kiss back.

"I did promise to attempt, and I would hate not to follow through... " He has many flaws, but Draco usually makes an effort to keep his word these days.

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