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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[He arches a brow. Jim Kirk? Granted, he didn't know him all that well back in Zhautas. Well, not as well as Scott. He just didn't think he was the kind to take a bunch of sketchy, unmarked pills.

It doesn't seem like this one recognizes him either. It's more common than not around here.

He gives a shrug as he brings his own drink up to his lips. There was a time he wouldn't have been so casual about any of this, but-- he's had quite a bit to drink and they're in hell. Can anything get worse, really? There doesn't seem to be any sort of levels to this hell, so it's not like they can get more damned either.]

Um. I can't say I'm an expert, but I guess it depends on what they gave you. I've seen a lot of people snorting stuff, swallowing it... But sure, why not? Mix it in and tell me how it goes.

[ If it helps, this Kirk does look slightly different. Though it is something that Billy might only notice once he comes closer, there's a scar going down the side of his face, long healed by now but very much there.

The casualness is something he appreciates, genuinely. He detests being judged, even when people have reason for it, but having people in Hell of all places judging him for being interested in experimenting with some drugs he's never heard of before seems highly hypocritical. ]

Well... what won't kill you, right? [ Pursed lips, he pours about half the powder into his glass, swirling it so most of it dissolves into the drink. Then he holds up the rest between them. ] Joining me?

[He moves closer, tilting his head -- yeah, the scar is a new thing. But it also seems a little... rude, at least, to ask about it.

Besides, he's eyeing that powder curiously, as if he's debating. But really-- it's sinking in that there's no one here besides maybe one person to be disappointed in his choices and they're in hell. It can't get much worse.]

... I guess so. Although if we both just end up dead... deader? That might put a damper on things.

[ He wouldn't be the first to ask about it here. James might even feel inclined to tell Billy about it, or make up a wild story. Nothing says he's forced to tell the truth about it. ]

Tell you what... [ He shrugs, dropping the rest of the powder into Billy's drink. He leaves just a bit behind, swiping his index across the inside of the bag. ] I'll give it a try, if you're that worried. But I've seen other people take it, it's fine.

[ Otherwise he wouldn't be licking his finger clean with this much certainty. ]

[He's pretty sure it's-- probably fine too. Why there's a huge party in the middle of hell, he's not sure, but... they seem to want people to have a good time. Probably wouldn't accomplish that if everyone wound up dead.]

I mean, if you're offering to be the guinea pig for now, go ahead.

[He idly tilts his head toward one of the tables set up.] Want to go sit while we finish these?

[ James is pretty sure he knows why. If the themes in this party are anything to go by, he'd say the purpose is to provide people with various forms of temptation. Whether it's alcohol, drugs or sex, one only has to choose-- or take all, if they feel like it. The further from repentance they're kept, the longer they will be stuck here. At least that's the impression he's gotten.

Not that it matters either way to him. He never really believed that Hell existed before, but knowing now that it does, he knows he's exactly where he's meant to be. ]

Lead the way.

[ He takes both their glasses and follows him towards the table, taking a seat next to him, placing both drinks in front of them. ]

I'm James, by the way.

Billy.

[He settles in a seat, reaching for one of the drinks. His eyes idly scan around the bar, not looking for anything in particular, just taking in the sights.

Not that there's much to see. Or rather, it's just all appropriately hellish.]

So-- James, what did you do before you were dragged down here?

[ That opinion varies depending on who he talks to, he's starting to notice. James has no frame of reference as it is, but some of the people so far have commented that this looks far tamer than they thought it'd be. No constant pain and torture, no suffering, if anything these parties seem to make them all feel almost... welcome? As welcome as one can feel in Hell, anyway. ]

Captain of a ship. Traveled around the galaxy. [ So being stuck in a single place is probably going to be the hardest part for him to get used to. ] You?

That's amazing.

[He flashes a grin as he brings his drink a little closer, lifting it up to his lips for a testing sip.]

Um-- [How should he even answer that? Sex experiment subject? Trying to stop a plague? Hopping around realities before that?] I was doing some traveling too, actually. I got to go to the moon briefly, one time. I saw a concert there... it was really amazing.

It was, yes.

[ Granted, James enjoyed the power that came with it more than anything, but he always did like traveling, going from place to place. It wasn't something he often admitted to, but there was a peace he found in the deepest, darkest corners of the galaxy that he could find nowhere else. ]

A concert on the moon? Never heard that one before. [ With so many planets out there, why would anyone choose to do anything recreational on a dead satellite anyway. ] Is that as far as humans have made it outside of Earth, where you're from?

Wow-- [He laughs. He can't help it, honestly. He wasn't expecting the other to be impressed, but...] No, we've gone a bit farther. I've been dragged into a war between two alien species... not fun, by the way.

What's the most interesting place you've ever seen out there?

[ James just lets out a neutral hum, swirling his drink to dissolve the powder a little more, then taking a longer sip. Whether or not a war can be fun, that's open to argument, but it's definitely not an argument he wants to get into just now. Admittedly, it is very nice when people simply submit, but it can get boring pretty fast when there isn't some resistance to be found on occasion. ]

That's a difficult question, you realize. I've been to many different places. [ He doesn't need to think back much, though. ] It wasn't a place, exactly, but I did witness an ion storm once. An impressive sight.

That sounds like it'd be impressive... It must have been exciting.

[He takes a longer drink from his own glass.]

Do you think it'll be hard to get used to being stuck in one place? Especially one like this.

Oh, yeah. Exciting's one word for it.

[ He sure had fun meeting another version of himself, at least. Not sure the other Kirk would agree, but anyway. ]

Maybe. Maybe not. Depends on what passes for entertainment around here. [ A quick sweep around the room, then his eyes find Billy's. ] So far, so good.

What's another word for it?

[Because it sounds like there might be more of a story there, that's all.]

Mm, well... so far, it looks like free flowing booze, drugs, and terrible music.

Messy.

[ He doesn't want to get into the details, which is why his answers are short and vague at best. Billy strikes him as a very inquisitive guy, though, so he's not sure how long that'll hold up. ]

Well, it's not that terrible. Some are alright. [ Speaking of drugs, he gestures to Billy's glass. ] Kicking in yet?

I'm starting to feel pretty good... how about you?

[Billy likes knowing things, but-- he's capable of backing off if someone doesn't want to get into details. Considering they're all probably pretty frazzled after winding up here? He's willing to focus on the party for the moment.

And finish off that drink now that he's relatively sure it won't kill him or anything.]

Really... great, actually.

[ He ponders on the sensation for a moment, looking at his own hand as though he can see how the drug is affecting him. Then he thinks on how to further explain how it feels. ]

My heart is beating faster, and I feel... warm. I feel like I need something. Like when you have too much energy but don't know what to pour it into. My skin's itching too, like I'm craving for touch.

Well, that sounds like a perfect reason to get out on the dance floor, right? Or maybe find a quiet corner and touch.

[Because why not, right? If they want the same things, then it's worth a shot to offer...]

[ One of those two options does sound far more tempting, and James has never been the sort to dance either. Literally or figuratively. He smiles at Billy, giving him a quick once-over before getting to his feet, offering Billy a hand. ]

Come with me, then.

Sure...

[He pushes himself up after he takes the other's hand, letting him guide him wherever. Right now? he's up for pretty much anything.]

Lead the ay.

[ James loves it when people just go along with things so willingly, and with so little questioning too. The feel of Billy's hand in his own sends a spark up his arm, making his skin tingle, and he pulls Billy closer to him, arm snaking around his waist as they reach the dance floor.

It's just an excuse for proximity, really. He's not one much for dancing, but energy pulses wildly through him from the closeness between their bodies, and he lets out a pleased hum, hand pressing to the small of Billy's back. ]

[Billy doesn't blindly trust people, but-- he's also generally pretty sure he can handle whatever comes at him. The idea of following James willingly doesn't really instill a thought of panic or anything, just interest.

Especially when he's suddenly so close, leaving Billy practically tingling in the wake of those touches. He hums softly as he presses in closer, slides his arms up around his shoulders to draw him in even closer.]

[ Some people probably wouldn't go along so willingly with him, but James is enjoying his relative anonymity here in Hell, where people don't know the Empire and don't know him by name, or by reputation. Feels good to have people be this willing. Granted, he's not planning on doing anything terrible to Billy, but... well, one day that trusting nature might work in his favor.

For now he'll just use it to his own enjoyment, and hopefully Billy's too. His arms wrap completely around Billy's waist, one hand sliding up his back while the other slips underneath the fabric, seeking skin. It's the kind of contact the drug makes him crave for, and he imagines Billy will enjoy it just as much. ]

[If he knew, Billy probably wouldn't be so quick to settle up next to James. But he's not thinking that clearly -- and Teddy was always more the Star Trek guy anyway.

Besides, the touch feels so good. He lets out a low, pleased hum as he presses in closer, his own hands trailing up over shoulders, cupping his face to draw him down for an experimental kiss.]

follow me down I

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