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

[compelledtoprotect]

"Shit!" Steve hissed in pain as the knife was yanked away, flinging his hand off. He glared at Cain for a moment then smoothed the expression away. He'd done it again. Making assumptions. Steve closed his eyes and clenched his jaw, angry at himself, not Cain.

"Sorry. I just . . . sorry. It's a bad habit. I touch people, a lot. I keep forgetting not everyone appreciates it. I won't do it again." He stayed silent as Cain picked back and then started speaking. He met the man's eyes when Cain sat back and let out his breath slowly, flexing his hand a little, the blood welling sluggishly in the wounds. Steve lifted his brows at the idea of living on Mars. That . . . that was pretty damn cool!

"You lived on Mars? Really? And you might as well pick another sin. I didn't hear the locks go."

[hiddenobjective]

Cain glared back, half expecting the man to lash out at him. He was ready for it but it never comes.

"Yeah, that does sound like a bad fucking habit," There isn't a shred of remorse until he spots Steve flexing his hand, trying to work out the sting from the blade which makes him swish his lips a little. It's obvious he's trying to mask the subtle feelings of guilt with annoyance.

"Did I get you bad?" As if knife accidents were just a thing that happened.

Taking his eyes off of Steve, he glances toward the door with a frown and then over to his own list.

"Well. You did your part. I'm guessing this is a two way street," He's certainly not happy about it, but it didn't seem like they had much of a choice. He tosses the second knife down on the table, the one not already covered in Steve's blood and looks at his list. None of them look appealing, but one is short and all blocky letters.

With a resigned sigh, he starts to tug his spacesuit open. It's all one piece, so to get at any of his skin he has to pull it off at least to the point where he wants Steve to carve the word. He peels it down until Steve can see the dip of his hips, just shy of being lewd, and points to a spot just above his hip.

"I'll take 'THEFT' right there. Small as possible obviously," He muttered, eyes on Steve.

[compelledtoprotect]

"I know. I just keep forgetting. Most people back home don't seem to care, or I guess they just put up with it, not sure which." And suddenly Steve wondered. Did people put up with his touching because of who he was, or because they really didn't mind it? That was a deeply disturbing thought and it made him feel sick before he pushed the worry away. It wouldn't help anything to start torturing himself with yet more things he couldn't immediately change.

He glanced at Cain and caught that expression, a slight, grim smile touching his lips, "I'll live Cain. Besides, it was obviously my own fault." He stared in confusion as Cain started talking about streets, then started stripping. Steve felt his cheeks heat but didn't look away, unsure exactly what was going on. Until the man spoke again.

"No. I already told you. I'll take all the damage. I'm not gonna scar you Cain. It's alright. I heal fast." He held up his arm, which had already stopped bleeding. It wasn't Steve's usual M.O. to be so blatant in exposing his healing ability, but he thought it might help convince Cain to let him keep being the one getting cut.

[hiddenobjective]

"I'm guessing those people back home actually know you," Cain muttered. He wasn't against physical contact, but it took him a while to feel out strangers and even longer to come to actually trust them.

He gave Steve a nod at his reassurance. It was just a cut and it wasn't like Steve was a small guy. Cain felt bad for cutting him, but he wasn't going to beat himself up over it.

"You're funny. What makes you think that you get to be the one to pick? I did my part. The door didn't unlock. Stop being a pussy and pick a word," He growled, meeting Steve's stubbornness with his own, "Unless you want to stand around and see how they're planning on 'motivating' us."

[compelledtoprotect]

"Well. Some of them . . ." Most people that got close enough to be touched were people Steve knew, but not all. People he got thrown into situations with didn't necessarily know him personally, but they usually knew of him. Still. Now that the thought was out there, it bothered him. How many people had he upset without even realizing it?

He stared at Cain, mouth opening and closing a few times before he found his voice, "But . . . but I thought . . . no? I mean, I know what they'll do. We'll both end up with more cuts from invisible knives. The wounds just show up, and they keep showing up till the door opens or we start cutting again. But it's really alright. I wouldn't mind . . ." He sighed and with real regret reached for the knife. His stomach churned at the idea of carving someone up, even if they asked for it. It wasn't like they were lovers playing a game!

Steve swallowed hard and dropped to his knees, putting him at the right level for cutting, looking up at Cain with pleading eyes, "What . . . pick something? Please, I . . . I can't choose . . ."

[hiddenobjective]

Cain rolls his eyes but stubbornly stands his ground. He'd done what the disembodied voice had asked and the door wasn't open yet. To him, it followed logically that it was Steve's turn now. The guy obviously had no problem with getting cut, so maybe his 'real suffering' came from inflicting the pain. It was Hell after all.

"I said 'theft' was good," He shifted slightly, rocking forward on his feet to sort of jut his hips out. It wasn't until he looked down and took it all in that it struck him just how suggestive the whole thing looked. He almost managed to completely stifle his snicker but the smallest noise snuck out. If Steve glanced up, it was obvious that Cain was also trying to suppress a smirk. He had to admit that this looked a bit ridiculous.

[compelledtoprotect]

The idea of cutting into a friend's flesh, which was essentially what Cain was to him at the moment, was sickening. Steve had used a knife before on people, but he didn't like it. He liked his fists and his shield. Getting close enough for a knife to be effective was too close. He had to watch the life drain from his enemy's eyes when he used a knife. The initial resistance, the pop he could actually hear as a blade pierced the skin, the usual gush of hot blood over his hand. Steve shuddered at the memories and closed his eyes, swallowing convulsively.

"Theft? Right. Theft . . ."

Steve opened his eyes again and stared at the pale skin he was supposed to cut into. The fingers of his other hand brushed Cain's sharp hipbone absently before he curled his fingers around the man's opposite hip, holding Cain still. He set the knife against that untouched flesh and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly, then cut. Steve's movements were smooth and quick, slicing the word into Cain with surprising skill. In moments he was done, before the blood even had a real chance to well up from the first stroke. It was only then that he glanced up at Cain, face a mask but eyes a roil of emotions, not all of them bad.

"Cain?"

[hiddenobjective]

He put a steadying hand on Steve's shoulder to help balance himself, looking straight ahead like he was getting at the doctor's getting a shot. The only indication that Cain felt anything was a barely audible inhale at the first cut and the way his grip slightly tightened on Steve's shoulder.

It was quick, an ugly, stinging, sharp pain, but quick.

He glanced down at Steve, not entirely sure what to make of the look he was getting but in that moment he heard the lock of the door click, his attention snapping to it before smirking down at Steve, face lighting up.

"Told you," His lopsided grin faltered a little at that mix of emotions in Steve's eyes, a little uncertain as to how to deal with him, "C'mon, stop being weird and get up. We can get out of here. You did fine. Didn't hurt at all."

It felt a little strange reassuring him, but he seemed to need it. With the door unlocked now, he pulled at his suit, working it back on.

[compelledtoprotect]

"Cain wait. I should do something about it. You're bleeding . . ."

He'd risen to his feet and reached out as if to stop the man, but he had no right. Steve let his arm drop and headed for the door, pushing it open to let Cain out first. He suppressed the shudders, managing to don a smile for the man. Cain had actually taken the breath to try and reassure him all was well when he knew damn well it wasn't. That deserved a reassurance things were fine. He could fall apart later in private.

"Here. After you. Promise me you'll get that cleaned up, ok? It is Hell after all. Infection seems like a given."

[hiddenobjective]

"Yeah, yeah," He absolutely wasn't going to do anything for the cuts, "This suit absorbs... I don't know, some level of bio-organic material. It's a whole thing. So, consider it taken care of."

He was happy enough to duck out the door though, glad they have their freedom back. And, honestly, the price wasn't ridiculously steep.

"See you around, Steve."

end yay!

[compelledtoprotect]

"See you . . ."

He watched the man walk away, worried and guilty as hell, but with no right to follow. Cain didn't want his help. He didn't want anything from Steve and he wasn't going to try forcing himself on a stranger. It bothered the hell out of him though.