TEST DRIVE MEME #1

[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

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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Comments

[invicto]

[ James isn't one for patience. He does try, though, waiting for as long as he possibly can for the guy to change his mind. Good thing he does, because he's got half the mind to get that knife and make that decision for him. ]

That's a sin? [ He lifts an eyebrow, shaking his head. How boring and unimpressive. He approaches with the knife in hand, grabbing the guy's wrist and holding his arm up, then he presses the sharp tip against skin, moving it with smooth, steady precision as he carves up each letter across his forearm.

And maybe he takes a little more time than necessary, his thumb pressing against the inside of the guy's wrist, watching the blood drip from the cuts with a little too much interest. It's Hell down here, entertainment's been hard to come by. ]

[followhim]

[ his reflex, in this time of duress ... is to reach for humor. ] We'll have to get past the first date to get to the good stuff.

[ it doesn't not hurt, but he's had worse. that's a nice thing he tries to tell himself while being sliced into. this is fine. he's had worse. if he can just focus on something else, it'll be over soon.

fun things to notice: he doesn't have a pulse. and the blood doesn't seem to be too actively drippy. possibly because of the first thing. ]

You don't really need to take your time with it, buddy.

[invicto]

I may just hold you to that.

[ Don't dangle the promise of finding your dirty little secrets right in his face and then take it away! Now he really wants to know. He finds himself even more intrigued by the guy when he can't feel a pulse against his thumb, his gaze flicking up to his face just as he's called out on enjoying this so much. ]

Spoiling all my fun. [ He presses his lips, but does draw the blade away once the word is carved onto the arm. Then he pulls up his sleeve, holding his own arm up along with the knife. ] Theft.

[ That's probably one of the tamest on his list of sins, but like the guy says: get past the first date to get to the good stuff. ]

[followhim]

[ he takes the knife with trepidation — this is where the real challenge is going down. he's going to have to dig the knife in and look at that blood and not get... well, essentially a mouth boner. ]

Yeah, okay.

[ that sounds equally bland, but you know what? that's fine. he doesn't need to think about that. or want to think about this dude's sins — maybe the less he knows, the better? that's kind of the vibe he's getting.

the ironic part is, now that it's his turn with the knife, he seems to be also taking his time. and staring very, very intently. this is fine. ]

[invicto]

[ James is pretty sure there's more to this guy than meets the eye. The lack of a pulse was telling, but now it's the way that he seems both afraid and eager to cut into his skin that leaves him feeling curious.

For a moment he can't pay attention to that. He hisses when he feels the first prickle of pain when the blade pierces the skin, but then he opens his eyes and looks down, as the guy carves the letters into flesh, blood pooling around the cuts until it starts dripping down his arm and onto the floor.

Then his gaze flickers up to the guy's face, and he steps closer, slow grin on his face. He stretches his arm out a little more, tilts it closer, as if to encourage the guy to keep going. ]

Should I tell you another sin?

[followhim]

[ the dripping bothers him in the sense that it's wasted food. what he wants to do is just get in there and lick his arm, but that last little raindrop of common sense that he has stops him (for now). if they keep going, maybe the door will open.

also, it occurs to him that maybe he should be the one getting cut into? he's less likely to die, even if he doesn't seem to be healing right now.

but...... he doesn't want to ...... ]

Yeah. Uh, yeah. Your choice.

[ maybe he's into it? ]

[invicto]

[ It's definitely not what he's expecting to happen. The guy seems mesmerized by the blood, but he doesn't think for a second that he wants to drink it. Honestly, if that were the case then he'd be lifting his arm up, holding it a little closer to Poe's face just to tempt him.

He closes his hand in a fist, gritting his teeth at the sting when another drop of blood spills from one of the letters. ]

Manipulation.

[ What a nice, long word for him to carve into James's arm. He tugs his sleeve up just a little more, so he can take his pick as to where he wants to write it down. ]

[followhim]

[ he can do this. he's super chill. he can do this. he takes the knife and gets about halfway through the word manipulation until

jim's arm is against his mouth? he doesn't remember the a to b of doing that. it just sort of happened. and now he can't let go because he's sucking on his arm. this is a cool way to make new friends??? ]

[invicto]

[ Yeah, James isn't entirely sure how that happened either, and he lets out a surprised groan when he first feels Poe's mouth on his arm. His hand curls into a tighter fist, but he doesn't pull away. It hurts, but he's never minded a little pain. Or a lot of pain, really. There's a sense of euphoria that he can't quite explain, either. ]

Shit. [ His other hand moves up to cup the back of Poe's head. He's not sure if he's trying to encourage him or get him to stop, but he ends up just letting the touch linger, fingertips weaving just barely into the short curls of his hair.

And then, he just... laughs. ] You're a sick bastard, aren't you?

[followhim]

[ after he's had enough to satiate than impulse (it actually didn't take that much — and it's not like there's that much blood seeping there), he jerks his head away, looks equal parts horrified and embarrassed. not sure if this is better because he seems like of like a sadist and ... isn't minding, or worsebecause he's laughing at him and it's rude. ]

That was — [ he tries to wipe his mouth off with his sleeve only to realize that his sleeve is still rolled up. so he wipes his mouth off with the back of his wrist. that's fine. he can sort of hold it there to cover his fangs. ]

An accident. 'M sorry.

[invicto]

[ Well, he is pretty rude, and that's not even the worst of his flaws. Poe might as well just get used to it now, because now James knows about this little peculiarity of his, he's very unlikely to leave him be. ]

Don't be. [ Doesn't look like he minds, does it? He doesn't want an apology, it's a sentiment Poe can keep to himself.

While rolling his sleeve back down, he asks ever so casually. ] So are you a demon or something like that, or is blood just something you're into?

[followhim]

[ he does some very elaborate gymnastics around those questions and just responds with ]

I eat it. ... I was hungry.

[ in a continuation of his gymnastics, he tries to do an aerial twist to ]

Maybe I should just let you do me. So that doesn't happen again. [ he was so stressed he didn't even think about how much that sounds like innuendo. ]

[invicto]

Guess I'm lucky you weren't too hungry, then.

[ Because then he'd probably be passed out or dead (as dead as one can be in Hell anyway), and he really would rather avoid both those things.

He looks far too pleased by Poe's offer. He knows Poe hasn't yet even realized what he's just said, but when he puts it that way, James sure as hell is going to take the bait, unwitting though it is. ]

Oh, I'll do you anytime you want me to. [ He bites on his lower lip, reaching down to Poe's arm again. ] But here might not be the best place. Pretty sure we're being watched.

[followhim]

[ his face takes a whole emotional journey through confusion and embarrassment with a pit stop to wonder if he should be offended and, if so, how offended? ]

You got that right.

[ he's trying really hard to recover here. ]

I'm just — I'm gonna finish it. Think I'm good now.

[ yep. just gonna attempt to take james' forearm back and keep cutting like that didn't just happen. it's good to have dreams. ]

[invicto]

[ James lifts an eyebrow but lets Poe take his arm again. He even angles it just right, so Poe can keep carving his skin.

He did only make it to the P in 'manipulation' after all, may as well do it all now. Once it's over, maybe the door will open. (Actually the door's probably already open, James hasn't bothered to check yet.) ]

Ah, so you're a finisher. Always good to know.

[ With a wide grin, he steps just a hint closer, letting Poe have at his arm again. ]

[followhim]

[ mm, no. don't like this. the praise and ... come-on??? it all feels wrong. it makes him feel worse — more like a monster instead of better.

and that's why as soon as he realizes the door is open, he zooms out in practically a dust cloud. no witty retort for that innuendo. just bolting out as fast as he can. ]

[invicto]

[ Yeah, James is sort of aiming at monster in a way, even if he doesn't think that's really a bad thing. And he honestly thinks the bleeding arm will be enough of a temptation that Poe won't just run away, which is why it surprises him all the more when Poe takes off without another word. ]

Hey! [ Knitting his eyebrows, he scoffs, wiping some of the blood off his arm before he heads out the door too. Damn, why you gotta ruin his fun like that. ] Not much of a finisher, after all.