TEST DRIVE MEME #8

[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 cold is still biting, but the heat is (mostly) working within the hotel and other establishments again. It's enough to take the chill off for the most part. Coats and extra blankets are being passed out to those who need them as well.

Unfortunately, the food shortage that begun a few days ago will continue on for a few more yet! All food will be rotting or covered in maggots and mold, so new and old arrivals alike should probably steer clear of it if they can. If asked, the staff will insist it was entirely unplanned. Totally. Honest.

It will let up before the month is over and then fresh food will more than return! In the meantime, guests are able to bargain for a morsel of food someone else might have hidden back that hasn't rotted or try some of the bizarre fruit sprouting up that ranges in looks from a Durian to Jackfruit.

Just be aware that eating them before they're ripe enough may result in severe nausea and other decidedly not fun issues. Get them when they're perfect though? Unlike their earth counterparts, the insides seem to range from the sweetest, most delicious fruit you've ever had to something that may appear to be human blood and guts to something oddly... pork tasting, and everything in between. Food's food though, right? Don't complain, just eat.

There's increased security around the stables where animals are kept around the hotel, just in case anyone decides to eat Lucifer's prized animals. That will be a firm no. For any guests with pets of their own, there will be small rations of non-spoiled food to feed them, but it has very little nutritional value to humans.

The theatre has also changed the movie lineup to now include: Christmas with the Kranks, The Ref, Jack Frost, Holiday in Handcuffs.

Go forth and enjoy the way the holidays even seem to invade Hell.

The hotel bar's jukebox also seems entirely overrun with horrible festive songs now, pushing holiday shenanigans off the playlist. Try to enjoy it while you get drunk! Or hope someone actually gets up to indulge in karaoke to drown it out. The music has seemed to put the demons in a rather sour mood if anyone bothers to listen to the complaints.

Prompt II

[One day, on the network, sinners will be greeted with Lucifer's face. He'll smile brightly from every phone or computer in Hell, before he speaks:]

I thought it may be fun to include an icebreaker of sorts... Get you lot mingling and bonding with each other before the loneliness eats you absolutely alive. I want there to be something to redeem after all... a shriveled husk of a person is hardly that.

[Lucifer seems to find his own joke amusing at least.]

So, here we go:

What pleasant memories help you through the tough times?

Or alternatively, what are some of your favorite hobbies to distract yourself with?

[Lucifer may not respond, but rest assured that he will eagerly be watching others share their answers and talk amongst themselves]

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

"I know after such a food shortage, all of you may be eager to overindulge and sate your hunger... or even hold food back, just in case. But this isn't the act of a good person. It isn't how someone who is truly selfless, as my Father desires all of us to be, would act. So I ask all of you to turn to whoever is nearest and simply share what you have. It doesn't necessarily have to be food, but it must be an item or act that will make their lives easier," Lucifer's voice rings out, sudden albeit encouraging and warm as always.

Sharing is caring, apparently. The request seems simple enough, doesn't it? Just share a bit of food or anything else that might seem useful to someone else and you'll have done your good deed for the day! Of course, should the guest ignore this request, they'll find their insides burning. It will grow steadily worse until it becomes unbearable. Nothing a guest drinks or eats to soothe it will help either. These feelings will persist a full night or until they cave and do as requested.

FOLLOW ME DOWN

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

The club, as it turns out, isn't quite ready to give up its party from the previous month, but they have put a new twist on it. As before, once a sinner enters the establishment, they'll be greeted with almost entirely nude (to fully) incubi and succubi servers. Their trays are full of aphrodisiac-laced treats that show no rot, as well as drinks and drugs of all sorts. There are dancers and other performers enticing their audience to stay, and plenty of free stages for sinners to put on their own show. Sex machines, bondage equipment, or toys are freely available for these performances.

Poles, cages, and everything else one could want are also on offer.

But this particular party? It's a bit different. No one is allowed in unless they are appropriately dressed in lingerie. Don't worry if you came overdressed! The demons will helpfully provide it at the door and even offer a room for sinners to change in! If refused, entrance will be denied (forcefully, if necessary). If guests aren't sure what to put on, the staff will be more than happy to choose for them (again, with force if necessary)!

Tonight is about being daring! Never done drugs off someone else before? Now's your chance!

Never even been drunk? Well, just let the demons help take care of that.

It's also about experimentation with something new. This can be someone who is generally outside your usual preferences, an act you'd never considered in a thousand years, to anything else under the sun.

Guests may also know screens set up around the establishment, but oddly enough, they appear turned off for the moment. If asked, the staff assures they will be back as soon as a few kinks are worked out.

Prompt II


A fall festival seems to roll into town one day overnight, and it seems to be centered around the hell fruit that's springing up on lifeless, dead trees. It's bustling with demons of all sorts and will last one week.

There's a tempting wine that's been made out of the fruit that can vary in taste, but seems to be stronger than most other liquor available anywhere else. It tastes so good though... like the forbidden fruit it most certainly is.

While most will feel just drunk off it, others may find it harder and harder to resist. They may selfishly crave more and even develop a desire to hoard it back.

Much like the apple the serpent tempted Eve with, one may find it offers a certain... clarity into one's situation after they've had enough. Knowledge one may not have wanted, but cannot deny any longer.

Or perhaps it simply just makes others entirely too happy, or too horny, or any number of possible ways. Take a sip and find out where the wine leads you!

Other than that, a few vendors are peddling jams and pies made out of the fruits. There are also a few selling items from earth ranging from electronics to clothes to weapons, and anything in between. Some may be selling actual earth animals as well, mostly small ones kept as pets, but they'll insist they make the perfect meal. They even have areas ready to butcher and cook them right then and there for those who are interested in buying.

If sinners decide to save Fido or Mr. Floppy from their ill fates, they should make absolutely certain that they can care for them though. Pets aren't easy and the demons find them more delicious than endearing

There are a few games to play, as well, reminiscent of the earlier carnival. Darts, tests of strength, and even a dunk tank with a demon who yells embarrassing stuff at the guests that seems oddly knowledgeable. How did they know you wet the bed until five? Probably best to not question it.

Besides that, there's a ferris wheel that provides a nice view of your hellish surroundings (that may occasionally breakdown and trap unsuspecting sinners on it for a while). It could be the perfect place to go to get some alone time with that honey of yours though.

It may all seem like a relaxing thing after starving for so long, but those who linger may begin to feel a need to hoard items. Food, weapons, and anything else they can get their greedy little hands on. Perhaps it's still the starvation talking, but sinners may find themselves feeling almost too irritable if anyone tries to take what's theirs. Potentially, this could even extend to possessiveness over other people as well. Oh, well, hopefully sinners will manage to control all those pesky urges!

When the skies darken to what is probably night in Hell, there will be a special fireworks display taking place. They seem almost magic, taking shapes most people wouldn't think possible. One might see Lucifer's face up in the sky once or twice, drawn in brilliant flames. There are blankets to sit out and watch, plenty of wine or warm drinks to go around, and no end in sight.

MISC.
Thanks for joining us for our eighth test drive meme, sinners! Reserves are now open for the upcoming app round on December 1st

If you have questions, comments, suggestions, etc., go here.


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Comments

[wanderstars]

She's going to assume he's not hiding a dead body in there. But still, whatever it is seems important. That, or the room is in so much of a mess that he doesn't want anyone to see it so they won't annoy him about it.

Not that the room is her main concern right now, not with the way he's looking. Her smile wanes and gives way to concern, seemingly ignoring or unaware of how eager John seems to be to get rid of her.

"You don't look well, John. What's wrong? If you tell me, I can try to help you."

[conjobs]

Why is she wearing that face? He hates that face. The face that looks at him after he's had one too many bottles of whiskey. The face that looks at him when he has to pick up pieces of a dead lover from the floor after he's ruined them and dares to ask if he's okay.

No, he's not fucking okay. Does the copious amount of substance abuse and foul attitude indicate otherwise?

"Take a hint and just go, love." He pulls his head from out the gap between the doorframe and the door, and tries to slam the door shut on her.

[wanderstars]

He tries and he succeeds, because Kori's surprised by the abrupt answer, but also she's really not the sort to force herself into someone's space. Her face falls nevertheless, and she stands there by his door for a good while, wishing that there was some way she could help but feeling both useless and rejected.

"John--" she starts, hesitant, calling out loudly enough that he'll hear her through the closed door. "I'm... sorry. I won't bother you anymore. But please, come talk to me later if there's any way I can help you."

[conjobs]

He also hates that she's still there. Most people would have just taken the hint and buggered off, told him to go fuck himself as some kind of parting shot. He's come to expect it. He's fully prepared to fight fire with fire.

He doesn't know what to do with kindness. Especially the unearned, undeserved type. There should be no kind people in a place like this anyway. Only monsters and bigger monsters.

Lingering by his bed, he waits a good long while until he thinks she's gone. Then the door clicks and he pulls it open slowly.

Of course, he freezes when he finds her still standing there. The door is open a little wider now but there's still not enough light pouring in for her to see the formative stages of a spell he's been working on.

"...how long were you going to wait?"

[wanderstars]

Kori doesn't know how to turn upset into anger. When she's hurt, she can only be kind, and when she cares she can't really turn her back.

Perhaps that's silly of her. It wouldn't be the first time she would be told that she cares too much too quickly, but she has never known how to be any other way, and even when it's not reciprocated, she can't bring herself to regret ever caring or showing kindness for the people she grows close to.

She wouldn't stand there for much longer than that. It was a distant hope to see John opening the door again, but clearly he doesn't want her there right now, and she can simply wait for the day that he will reach out to her again.

Her eyes widen when the door opens just as she's about to turn away, though. She smiles when she sees John's face, and shrugs at the question.

"Only a few more minutes," she says. "I didn't want to bother you, but I'm worried."

[conjobs]

He opens the door a little wider so she can at least see past his lithe frame. His bed hasn't been slept in. There's a corner of a chalk circle on the bedroom floor with symbols around the perimeter, interspersed with scented candles (the only candles he could find) and if she decides to peer in further she'll see a small bowl of nasty dark goop. The two rabbits he brought back from the fair are suspiciously missing, with the two rabbits he originally acquired still in their cage seemingly oblivious to their surroundings.

It looks like John's been trying to summon Lucifer into his bedroom and honestly he might joke about that if he was in a joking mood.

"I'm working on something." And the 'something that doesn't involve you' part isn't outright stated, but at least implied. "You don't want to go to the festival anyway. They'll just-" He clears his throat and averts his gaze. "You don't want to go," he reiterates.

[wanderstars]

She can't help her curiosity when the door opens a hint more, especially when she can feel the sweet scent coming from inside. She peers briefly over his shoulder but doesn't really move to walk past him, even though it's clear that she'd like to come in.

His words catch her attention again, and she looks back to him instead, quiet for a few seconds as she studies him intently.

"They'll just what?" Punish them again? Another kind of torture? She hasn't suffered much at their hands yet, aside from one unpleasant experience in the virtual reality rooms, but she has heard plenty about what goes on here. "What are they doing there?"

[conjobs]

"I don't know," he says with mounting frustration in his voice, leaving the door hanging open and turning away. It's not an invitation to come in but he hasn't outright told her to sod off.

He genuinely doesn't know, because he hasn't spent much time at the festival, and it's probably different from his carnival experience. What he does know, he doesn't want to talk about. Doesn't lead to a conducive conversation either way.

"Don't touch anything." If she really wants him to go out, he'll at the very least need to peel off his clothes and go pass out in the shower even if he's in no mood to shave or eat anything beforehand. And he doesn't want his work so far messed up while he's got his back turned.

[wanderstars]

That's as good as an invitation to her, so she just steps inside after him, closing the door while she looks around the room. She has no idea what he was working so the circle only gets a confused glance from her, then her eyes go to the cage with the rabbits near a corner.

"Not even your bunnies?" She approaches them, crouching next to the cage. "They look so cute. Do they have names?"

[conjobs]

John almost tears the buttons right off his shirt as he sheds out of it and tosses it carelessly on the floor. It's in its usual state, not the way he keeps it when he has guests like Kori around. Clothes in piles, used whiskey tumblers on almost every flat surface. At least there's no stale or rotting food anywhere. The sight of it is enough to put John off eating anything completely over the past few days.

"Wanker and Cuntnugget." Yeah, no one likes their names. Yeah, John doesn't care for anyone else's opinions. He glances over at her and there's a pause before he starts removing his trousers.

"You can feed them if you want. They haven't eaten in days." Assuming that the leafy things in a bag in the fridge haven't all turned rotten or been consumed by worms.

[wanderstars]

She just chuckles at that. She has no idea what the names mean, but they sound funny anyway.

Glancing back to John briefly, she does a quick sweep of the room, and not seeing any actual food to give the rabbits, she instead pops the cage open and reaches inside, touching each of them with a hand. There's a soft glow as she pours some energy into both pets, pulling away once they seem more soothed and content.

"That should last them a day," she says, closing the cage again before she stands up and turns to look at John, stepping closer to him. "It looks like you haven't eaten in days either."

[conjobs]

"...not hungry," he mutters, suddenly feeling a little self-conscious when she's hovering close. Giving no fucks about how he comes across doesn't work as well as when people simply respond with 'fine, do what you want, I'm leaving'.

He could actually do with some food. He just doesn't want to pick around mould, insects and rot, and he's not yet at a point of starvation where he doesn't care about those things.

Scratching the formative stages of a beard, John starts towards the ensuite bathroom and rifles around for a towel. The mess on the floor calls to him, demanding his attention, promising it'll only take a few more hours until it's complete. Doesn't he want to get out of here? Doesn't he want to give this sodding incarnation of Lucifer a gigantic fuck you? But it's hard to see the floor with an alien princess standing in the way.

[wanderstars]

Kori steps up to the door, leaning against the frame without stepping inside. To be fair he didn't shut that door so she's just going to keep working under the assumption that she can walk around all she likes. So long as she doesn't touch anything, of course.

"You don't have to eat," she explains, looking him over. "I can feed you the way I fed your bunnies. You will feel better afterwards, I promise."

'Better' is relative, of course. What's bothering John right now seems to run much deeper than just his empty stomach.

[conjobs]

She can't make him feel better. Nothing can. He's tried. All the 'fun times' he's been peddled throughout the world just goes into this black hole that seems insatiable. He makes a soft, noncommittal grunt and turns away from her to step into the bathroom, flopping his towel over the rail and ignoring the haggard-looking homeless addict lurking in the mirror on the left.

"I'll be out in ten. Don't let anyone in," the gruff voice calls out from within the shower, moments before turning the water on. She hasn't asked, and he's been happy not explaining. He doesn't think anyone else would just leave things alone without asking any questions.

[wanderstars]

Her gaze falls when he vanishes into the bathroom, but she doesn't insist further. Instead she looks around the room, and while she waits for him to come back out, she starts cleaning up the mess, picking up clothes and folding them relatively neatly, gathering all the empty glasses and placing them together on the same table so they're not scattered all over the room.

The candles she doesn't touch, nor does she step into the circle, though she's standing right next to it when he comes back out, peering curiously at the symbols and whatever dark fluid he has in that bowl.

[conjobs]

He's still sporting his hobo chic look when he emerges from the bathroom with a towel around his waist, hair dripping wet and faint shadows from skin wrapped around bones drawing contoured lines on his torso. Her curiosity hasn't gotten her killed yet but one day it's going to get her hurt. If he doesn't succerd in driving her away by the end of his stay here, that is.

She's moved his stuff around but at this point he's too tired to be snappy.

"Can't find my shaver." Can't find anything in his own mess. No surprises there. "Let's just go." He doesn't seem all that interested in grooming himself anyway.

[wanderstars]

John always looks a little messy, but today he looks especially tired and worn out. She feels helpless, not being able to do anything to make it better for him, even if all she could manage from him was a vague smile. It looks as though she won't get even that much out of him today.

She waits until he's dressed, and only then does she step closer again, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek before he can push her away. Kisses had made it better the last time after all, so why not now?

She's stepping back a moment after regardless, shooting him a small, contained smile. "I like your beard. It looks nice on you."

[conjobs]

He casts a longing, rueful look at his unfinished work before tearing his gaze away putting his clothes on. It's only been a few days, it's not like he'll look thinner than normal. But the extra darkness around his eyes and the unshaven look certainly isn't helping. He probably looks a decade older than he usually does.

She can probably feel him tense up when she leans in close, holding his breath when she brushes her lips against his skin. The compliment comes out of left field for him and he doesn't really know what to say to that, standing there blinking a few times before he finishes buttoning up his shirt.

"Not gonna take a knife to it?" he asks gruffly. The trenchcoat comes on but he's all out of his magician flair, shoulders slumped and without the usual swag in his step. He's already formulating plans to find a place to ditch her in the festival - or a person to ditch her with - and come crawling back here. His eventual inevitable vanishing act will be the only magic trick he'll be pulling off tonight.

[wanderstars]

Kori, of course, remains blissfully ignorant of his true intentions. He does look terrible in comparison to the last time she saw him, but at least he seems willing to go out for a little while, and she sees that as a good sign, confident that this will cheer him up.

"A knife seems a little drastic," she comments with a shrug, and once he's all dressed and ready to go, she hooks a hand around his arm and leads them out of the room, excited to try the Ferris wheel if nothing else.

"That circle you were doing," she starts, glancing at him. "Is it magic? I have seen similar things in movies."

[conjobs]

"No, it's my taxes," he replies flatly in a deadpan tone, dragging his feet a wee bit as she pulls him along. He wouldn't know if she's not familiar with the way people point out things they think are obvious.

"It's nothing like the movies," he adds, a little more seriously. At least, not the kind of magic John likes to dabble in.

"Do you even believe in that stuff?" Do aliens do magic? She's certainly capable of something but just because he doesn't think it's scientific doesn't mean he's going to immediately attribute it to magic.

[wanderstars]

"What's taxes?" It's a genuinely curious question, as she slows her pace so he's not dragging his feet so much as she's settling for his slower pace. She's not in any particular rush anyway, so long as they get to spend time together.

"Many things are nothing like the movies," she answers. She's not that gullible, at least not anymore, and she's learned plenty about how movies are made, and how not everything on them is like in reality.

"It is true for you, isn't it? How can I not believe something that exists?" It's like saying she doesn't believe in demons when they are living among them right now.

[conjobs]

"The only certainty in life." Since, you know, death can be cheated. He's seen it happen and of course he does the cheating himself on the regular.

"Right. You'll give people a run for their money with that kind of openmindedness," he quips. But yes, magic is true for him. The consequences of having worked with it for decades, in particular, have taken their toll on him even if he doesn't try to let on anything that doesn't fit the infallible Constantine image.

"I'm busy with it so m'not staying out long," he warns. In case she gets any wild ideas about spending the next few hours trying to cheer him up or breathe some life into him.

[wanderstars]

That still doesn't answer her question, but it doesn't sound like it's that important anyway, so she just shrugs it off. She's just glad that John has agreed to go out with her, even if it's just for a little while.

"That's unfortunate. I like spending time with you," she comments, shrugging. "But I understand. I promise not to keep you away from your magic for too long."

That still won't stop her from feeding little amounts of energy into John at a time. Faint sparks that will gradually make him feel less hungry and less tired. She's doing it even now, while they walk with their arms linked towards the festival set up just outside the hotel.

[conjobs]

"Save it," he snaps even though she hasn't done anything to earn his ire other than just show up outside his door, and doesn't deserve his attitude. She's not saying it to be pleasant or to sweettalk something out of him. He- doesn't quite get that, yet. Or ever.

He does get noticeably less grumpy the less hungry and tired he is, though, so that should hopefully be of some small comfort. The light outside is a little too bright for him, as though he's hung over. But he's otherwise not much worse for wear.

By the time they are in the midst of the festival there's a bit of light coming back into his eyes when he sees a stall or display that interests him, even though he doesn't engage with any of the vendors proactively.

[wanderstars]

She blinks at his reaction but says nothing else to it. She doesn't quite understand what he wants her to save it for, but it feels like the kind of thing she shouldn't be insisting on, so she doesn't.

He didn't seem too eager about the festival so she's actually glad whenever he shows some interest in some of the stalls, and slows down when it looks like he wants to see something that's on display. Friendlier than him, she's much less reluctant to engage with the vendors, asking what a few of the things are, or browsing through some of the shinier and prettier items. She doesn't have interest in getting anything, however, and she's more eager to direct them towards the ferris wheel.

"Come up there with me, John. I'd like to see the view." Not that she needs to, she can fly after all.