penancememes | TEST DRIVE MEME #1

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TEST DRIVE MEME #1

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

The hotel is undergoing some improvements already! Thanks to the new arrival of sinners, hell has a burst of energy and growth available to it. One demand of the demonic staff was the addition of elevators. It gets tiresome having to take the stairs all the time. They'll eagerly implore you to help them test out this new system, even going so far as shoving you right in the nearest available elevator with whoever else is in the vicinity.

Unfortunately, things aren't quite up to par just yet. Press a button and you'll find your elevator gets jammed between floors with very little chance of escape. Oh, oops. This is entirely the hotel's fault and will be fixed as soon as possible. In the meantime, enjoy your company and try to relax a bit.

It's definitely a high priority repair for staff, promise.

Prompt II

Maybe you were looking for the hotel gym to work off some stress or maybe you just took a wrong left somewhere, but instead of what you were expecting, you stumble across what appears to be a very well stocked torture room. There are tables with straps to hold down victims, chains falling from the walls and ceilings to bind them upright, and absolutely every possible torture device you can think of. There's even an iron maiden proudly displayed in the corner. Besides that, there's the normal supply of whips, knives, and any other equipment someone could want to inflict the most delicious pain available.

You're free to check it out or give it a go. You're also free to back out of the room very slowly, but with the knowledge this space will probably come into play at some point.

Oh, and a tip: the gym is to the right of this room.

REACH UP HIGH

Prompt I
Warnings: cutting, blood, torture.

After settling in, it really is only a matter of time until your demonic hosts expect some participation. You can try and shirk the responsibility, of course. But eventually, you may find yourself trapped in a room just off the kitchen that's curiously full of knives. 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 becomes apparently what you're supposed to do soon enough when someone else is eventually shoved in with you. Both of your lists of in will appear in the room on a nearby table 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 one of your sins into the other's flesh. Help them in their journey to be candid with everyone they 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

Well, that last punishment was a bit heavy, wasn't it? Or maybe you somehow skipped out on it all together. Fortunately for you, there's a less horrible one to get potentially wrapped up in along the way. You'll hear that all too familiar voice ringing in your ears as you explore the halls of the hotel or poke your head outside.

"Do one genuinely kind deed for someone and we'll consider it a step in the right direction for you."

This can be helping one of your fellow sinners out with a task or helping them find something. It can be a shoulder or a listening ear towards someone who needs it. You can even offer to help the staff clean up a bit around the hotel, or help a poor hell beast pup out of the hellfire around Penance. Careful though, even they have pretty sharp teeth and an aggressive attitude. It doesn't matter what you do as long as it helps someone else out.

Oh, and one more thing! The longer you resist, the more aches you'll notice. It'll start with a mild headache and escalate from there. You can wait it out, of course, and pills may help you cope with the pain if you really can't be bothered to do one nice deed. Although Satan is still very disappointed in you.

FOLLOW ME DOWN

Prompt I
Warnings: Alcohol and drug abuse, potential non-con/dub-con.

With all the new sinners arriving, this feels like a call for celebration! The bar will be lit up with activity. 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.

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 you've presumably done your atonement for the day, yes? So cut back a bit.

Ask the staff demons very nicely and you may even get less scrupulous drugs. Things that will convince your fellow damned souls to tell the truth or perhaps even things that will make someone so enamored with you, they won't take their eyes off you. How dare they give you the cold shoulder earlier, right?

There are also tables set up for all sorts of gambling and various bar games to entertain yourself with.

Relax and enjoy your first night in hell. 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 kinks.

Much like the hotel improvements inside, all these new sinners seem to have given hell the ability to open a new building just outside the hotel. It happens to be quite a happening sex club from the looks of it. Everything is bathed in obnoxious neon lights when you first enter the establishment. There's plenty of space for dancing, and poles for those so inclined. Mood music fills the air, along with something a little too sweet.

As tacky as it is, something may pull you to stay.

Whether experienced lover or total virgin, once pulled in, you may not want to leave for a while.

There are back rooms people can go for a bit of private fun, full of every type of toy and restraint that you could possibly desire to play with. There's also a rather large room with a massive bed that seems to be fit for any orgies you may want to try to arrange. Hell's not judging and may be encouraging a bit.

There are aphrodisiac laced food and drinks available around the club as well, but these will most likely be marked. If one slips through, ah well. Why else are you here if not for a bit of fun? The drugs will only help that out.

Of course outside, this club is clearly marked for what it is and anyone who would rather avoid it are free to do so.

MISC.

Thank you for checking out

penancerp's first TDM! Please note that all prompts are opt-out and players are more than welcome to come up with their own ideas while exploring the hotel and hell outside.

All that we ask is that you remember to put clear warnings on any potentially triggering content! Warn for sex, including underage or incest, violence, abuse, non-con, etc. Please put these warning in a visible place, either by the prompt itself or in the subject line. This isn't just a suggestion but a requirement to participate in the game.

Now that all that's out of the way, we hope you have fun! Feel free to ask questions under the appropriate comment before or on the FAQ page. Since this is the game's first TDM, we are also very interested in hearing any suggestions you have or ways to improve the game experience.

Since this is a big event, Lucifer himself will be taking a few questions via his device for anyone so inclined down below.

As a final note, don't forget that reserves are open now until May 1st as well!

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[ The mind could play tricks. From the distance, and with him in the shadows, it was easy to mistake him for some other "Jim" Kirk, because he looked practically the same. As the man approached, though, he leaned forward with his elbows propped on the table, and the trace of a faint light nearby lit up the deep, noticeable scar going down his left cheek.

His gaze lingered on the man, eyes going from head to toe, thoughtful. No one ever called him "Jim", not aside from McCoy. It was admittedly odd, hearing it coming from someone else. ]

James, usually, but yes. [ He wondered if he could lie. Wondered if he could get some information out of this guy before he figured him out. Maybe his lingering look had been enough to give him away, but he gestured to the spot on the couch right next to his anyway. ] Sit.

[He sucked in a surprised breath when the man came into the light, highlighting a nasty scar on that familiar face. Steve reached toward the man before he caught himself, pulling his hand back when Jim spoke. Not his Jim. There was a long moment of struggle as he tamped down the emotions clamoring to be indulged, but Steve won the struggle. Barely. He hesitated before taking the offered seat, finally settling down where James indicated.]

James then, sorry. I'm Steve. I guess I mistook you for someone else. Am I bothering you?

[ Steve may have won the struggle against his emotions threatening to burst to the surface, but they were all still crystal clear on his face, his stance, that near touch that never really happened. James smiled ever so faintly, and he leaned back in his seat as the man sat next to him. ]

Not at all, Steve. It's a party anyway, being all by myself seems a little silly. Wouldn't you say so?

[Steve gave the man a slight smile, rather glad to see the attitude of having fun was still somewhat similar. Sort of. If his observed behavior was any indication, James had few, if any, inhibitions. What what had happened to him though? For the most part, on the island, different incarnations of people he'd met had been fairly standard in their histories and general outlook on life. James seemed . . . different.]

A party huh? Guess you're not too upset to wake up in Hell then? It did look like you were having fun earlier. Have you been here long?

Well, it's not ideal... didn't particularly like not knowing what was happening. Staff's kinda rude. But entertainment has been abound, so far.

[ Mostly in the form of nice, unsuspecting people. At least he hadn't killed anyone yet, but then he never did like to kill unless he absolutely had to. It was just unfortunate when it was a necessity. Or when he had a score to settle.

Steve was safe from that, luckily. He struck him as a kind, honest guy. Terrible weaknesses, the way he saw it, but they were weaknesses he could exploit at a later date. Until then? Well, he saw no reason why they couldn't have some fun. ]

Not very, though I'm not sure how we measure time here. A few days, it feels like. [ One of the waiters came by to bring a couple drinks to their table, and James dismissed them without a glance, pushing one of the glasses towards Steve. ] Yourself?

[He wanted to ask inappropriate questions, especially about that scar, but Steve had been brought up better than that. Well, with people who deserved respect anyway, and so far James did. He took the glass the man pushed at him but didn't drink, just toyed with it a little. Steve wanted all of his faculties to be running at top form at the moment, even though so far alcohol had as little effect as usual on him. It was just a matter of time before "Hell" realized he wasn't susceptible to human-level intoxicants. If Zenith could drug him, Hell certainly wouldn't be far behind.]

Can't say I've tried talking much to the staff, but you're right, the ones I tried were pretty . . . unhelpful. I think I've probably been here the same length of time though. Tell me James, have you seen anyone you know? From back home?

[ He might've gotten an honest answer out of James, actually. Or maybe just some story, but either way he wouldn't know until he asked. As it was he didn't seem to pay much mind to the scar, as though it was at least some good years old. Something he was used to by now. ]

Not a soul. [ His lips twitched. It's a joke, see? Because they were in Hell. ] Guess I'm... all alone. Are you maybe in the same situation? We could always keep each other company.

[Steve smiled a little. That was more like the Jim he knew from the island, blatantly flirting with anyone. He huffed a soft laugh at the joke and dropped his eyes to his glass, tipping it back and forth between his hands. If he didn't keep them occupied he might just reach out and stroke James' cheek without asking permission.]

Same. Haven't found any familiar souls either, unless you count yourself being the double of someone else I know. But I'm good with getting to know each other. You can never have too many friends, right?

[He met the man's eyes again, curious. It wasn't his Jim, and it didn't seem like they were even much the same man. James felt . . . darker. Dangerous, and not because of the scar. Steve had been around a long time, and he'd spent a hell of a lot of time with people who were dangerous as all get out. James felt like them, someone who could do real damage if he happened to get certain wires tripped. It didn't scare him, but it did make him wary and cautious. No reason to court trouble after all.]

[ That sort of touch would definitely be weird, but James could notice already how Steve kept his hands busy, and how he couldn't tear his eyes away from the scar. It became apparent why soon enough, when Steve dropped that bit of information. ]

A double?

[ He sipped on his drink, then shifted closer, intent and evidently interested. ]

Tell me more about him. Were you two close? Did he look a lot like me?

[He didn't slide away when James moved closer, just gave a slight nod. Steve gave him a crooked smile and stroked one finger down his own cheek as he spoke, not that there was any real need to talk about the obvious.]

In almost every way. Except the ah . . . yeah. You look just the same. But you're different. From a distance I could mistake you two, but not once I get close, and not because of looks either. You act different, and you feel different. Ah, your um . . . yeah. I guess it's like identical twins or something. They look the same, but they're obviously two different people once you get them talking. You still fly a space ship though, right? In outer space?

[Because space was so cool! It was a secret passion of Steve's and it wasn't a good idea to get him started. Ever.]

[ Nice to know that whatever Steve's relationship was with this other version of him, it was one that didn't shy away from physical closeness. James worried at his lower lip, looking the guy up and down while he talked. ]

My scar? [ He reached up to touch his own cheek. ] I've had it for a few years now. Got a few more too, a little all over.

[ To the question he nodded, though careful to suppress some information, not giving away too much about his universe. ]

Yes. I'm the Captain. Or... I was, I guess. I'm not holding my breath on going back there.

[ And if he did, he'd no doubt find one of his crew members having betrayed him and taken the Enterprise for themselves. ]

[There was concern on his face when James talked briefly about the scar, and he was still curious about how it had been acquired, but it was clearly a subject James wasn't all that eager to expound on. Poking old wounds just wasn't very kind, especially with strangers. The worry only grew as James mentioned the possibility his ship might no longer be his if and when he he got back to his world. Just what kind of world did the man come from?

He reached out, covering one of James' hands with his own and squeezing lightly. Even with strangers Steve tended to touch. He blamed it on being in the ice for so long and being completely deprived of human contact for almost a century.]

James I . . . I'm so sorry . . .

[ The touch seemed to come from nowhere. It wasn't that James was averse to being touched, much less so by someone he'd tried to hit on only moments ago, but it was the nature of the touch that startled him.

Steve's hand was warm and gentle, and the touch was intimate and heartfelt. It made the hair on his nape rise unpleasantly, his shoulders squaring as he tensed up, blue eyes wide and cold. ]

Keep your pity to yourself. I don't want it. [ He removed his hand from underneath Steve's, grabbing his drink and downing it in one go. ]

[Steve blinked and sat back, tapping a finger on the table absently. He wasn't pitying James, he was empathetic, but that didn't mean the man saw it that way, or wanted it. That was fine. It was actually in character for what he'd seen so far; the type of man James seemed to be wouldn't allow anyone to see him as weak. He sighed and looked down at his glass, frowning.

What did you say? Apologizing again wouldn't help.]

Can I buy you another drink James?

[ This was complicated. Whoever this guy was, whatever he meant to this other version of him, clearly he could become very dangerous to him. He allowed himself liberties that James would've never given anyone, and having someone here who might at any point think it was alright to try and peer past the barrier he kept up around himself was a dangerous thing.

It could make him weak. James couldn't tolerate weakness, much less so in himself.

Maybe that was all the better reason to keep him near. He could keep an eye on him this way, so he'd know if this Steve guy ever tried to betray him in any way. That was the reason he told himself, anyway. ]

Sure. [ He pushed his glass forward, gesturing to one of the waiters. ] Are you drinking with me, this time?

[He downed his own glass and gestured for another as well, offering James a slight smile. It was the least he could do. Whatever had damaged the man, it went, far deeper than just an outside scar or two. He'd never learn anything if he just gave up. Besides, giving up just wasn't in his nature. Steve would be there for James whether he wanted it or not.

Well, at least for the foreseeable future anyway.]

Yeah. So tell me James, you think this place is really Hell?

[ His lips twitched, pleased when Steve emptied the whole glass in one go. He had a feeling Steve could handle his drink better than it might seem, but either way he was just glad to not be drinking alone. ]

I wouldn't know. It might be. Or it could be an elaborate prison somewhere. An alternate reality, for instance.

[ He looked around. ] People seem to be surprised that Hell looks like this. What would you expect Hell to look like?

[Steve huffed out a humorless laugh. What would Hell look like? He wasn't sure what it would be, just that it would hurt a hell of a lot more than it currently did. At the moment, he wasn't suffering more than his normal amount of guilt and regret, though some new reasons were in the mix.]

Dunno that it would have to look different, but I don't doubt we'd all be in a hell of a lot more pain. The real Hell is supposed to be a realm of punishment for your sins, right? So why are we sitting here having a drink instead of screaming somewhere getting our insides torn out? Or having all our worst sins replayed over and over with all the reality of living them again? They could be forcing us to commit atrocities and make us think it was real. No, this place isn't Hell, not the one you find in the bible. I think you're right about the alternate reality, and the prison. I doubt they're gonna let us go without a fight.

[ Now, this time it was James's turn to laugh. He took his drink once the waiter brought them over, turning to look at Steve. ]

Maybe that would be fun for some people here, you do realize. As for what the bible says... wouldn't know the first thing about it. [ Religion was dead and buried, where he came from. If any copy of sacred books existed on Earth, or anywhere in the Terran Empire, it would've been burned by now. ]

I've found some... interesting rooms. So I wouldn't rule out the pain and torture, just yet. It might still happen.

[His cheeks flushed slightly, probably not something James could see in the shadowed corner, he hoped. The island had definitely encouraged depravity at least as much as their new home seemed to, but fessing up to fantasies he'd had about people back there wasn't something Steve was eager to do. He also didn't think less of people who wanted to indulge in the more out-there forms of sex, as long as everyone was there by choice and not forced.

But he really hadn't been trying to talk sex!]

True, sadly. But a real Hell would find what it was that destroyed you and make that your punishment. That's the point. They tailor it to the individual so they can be sure you're suffering enough. You really never have read the bible, have you? Did they do away with it in the future? Or did another religion take over?

[ Oh, he was eventually going to find out how easy it was to make Steve flush, and he was absolutely going to use it to his own advantage and amusement. And he would dig out those darker kinks of his, too. At least he didn't have to worry about James judging him, since he was into some pretty hardcore stuff. ]

No, there aren't any sacred books back on Earth. All religions are gone. [ He was careful not to mention the Terran Empire. He had a feeling Steve had met Starfleet's Kirk so he didn't want to be bombarded with some unpleasant questions. ]

Edited 2019-05-05 18:42 (UTC)

[Steve blinked and looked thoughtful. It wasn't like he was all that big on going to church, mostly because it was difficult to find the time. But to have no religions at all . . .]

Do people get along better now? And if you don't have religions, do you still have holidays? What do people believe about an afterlife, and where do they get their values?

[He felt like a two year old just going "why" but he couldn't help it. How did people get along without any sort of religion? It was central to pretty much every civilization he'd ever heard of to have some kind of worship. The idea of having nothing . . .]

[ James pursed his lips, not quite frowning but close. He had answers for all that, but to share them he'd have to tell Steve about the Empire, and he really wasn't sure yet how he might take it. He kinda liked the prospect of getting Steve on his side. ]

You ask a lot of questions, Steve. Anyone ever tell you that?

[He chuckled and shrugged, sipping his new drink. Steve gave the man a smile that had charmed thousands more than once, though that wasn't really his intent. He made his offer with the hope James would take him up on it. It would mean the guy actually cared enough to be curious about him, and that might lead to real friendship. Steve had hopes that maybe a big part of James' attitude was just a lack of decent friends, people who'd be a good influence and offer him support and stability. That could work wonders on people sometimes.]

Yeah, I get that. You can just tell me to mind my own business if it's prying. Just because I wanna know doesn't mean you hafta tell me. No reason you can't ask your own questions either for that matter, though I may not answer. Kinda unusual to find a bad subject though. I'm pretty open as a rule.

[ Yeah, he could see how a smile like that might charm thousands. It nearly got him, and it would if he were a weaker man. As it was he simply took it as an invitation to scoot closer to him, knee pressing against the side of Steve's leg, elbow propped on the back of the seat. ]

Is that so? And are you open to answering questions, or... [ He trailed off, biting on his lower lip as his fingertips brushed lightly over Steve's temple. ] Open to other things, too?

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