penancememes | TEST DRIVE MEME #8

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TEST DRIVE MEME #8

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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ARRIVAL:

[Ed has heard enough bullshit in his life not to blindly trust a soothing voice promising things to be better in some uncertain future. After all, this was definitely not where he wanted to be and the idea was that they were supposed to be sent off to wherever they wanted to go once the program ended. Of course, that was a joke just like everything else about that damn company and the wounds were still fresh from that whole ordeal, emotionally at least. He does eventually stop struggling long enough to give in, but he certainly doesn't go easily about it, and when he wakes up feeling hungover it's with a taste of bitterness over his situation and the fact that he had known better, if only he'd been able to listen to himself and resist giving in. As if doing that had gotten him anywhere in other worlds before this one.

He gets up, he stretches, checks the belongings in the room and duffel bag. He's ignoring the list - pointedly ignoring the list - because he can and it wouldn't make any difference considering he actually couldn't, the thing would follow him around wherever he went. Although the irony of his blood being the ink it's written in, is not entirely lost on him. He'd done this 'redemption' thing before, it was pointless then and it would be pointless this time too, he was pretty sure. This list was more exhaustive than the one he'd originally been given all those years ago, but it had certainly never left him either, not when it was so on the nose, so here he was expecting more of the same.]

STAND YOUR GROUND:
I:

[Ed is no stranger to the cold or to starving. In fact, he'd endured the latter well enough as young as ten, that it was practically child's play at this point. If the blizzard or famine in Attollo was fatal, he would have died at least once, that's what being stubborn gets a person. Instead, he was miserable and uncomfortable for the weeks that torture extended. Starving was far from new to him, and neither was eating weird things that he probably wouldn't have even looked at under normal circumstances.

If someone nearby seems to be looking for their next meal, he'll hold up the one in his gloved hand with a raised eyebrow.]

This one's edible.

II:

This is ridiculous, is there some book full of these ice breaker questions or something?

[Why always these dumb questions. He doesn't want to think about pleasant memories lost to the past, basically ever. Not helping, Lucifer, thanks anyway.]

REACH UP HIGH:
I:

[Ed had tried the door, pulling, pushing, alchemy, all sorts of abuse and even lockpicking. Nothing worked and he felt helpless, which was not a good look on him. This was new, everything he'd been through, every one of these damn places he'd wound up in had never done this. Making them torture each other was a new twist on things, and he hated that it scared him, he was supposed to be used to whatever they could throw at him.

When someone else enters the room he looks from them to the blades and back again, trying to read the room and asses the situation. Just because he wasn't too thrilled about the idea of cutting up someone else didn't mean that some new stranger was going to feel the same way. He's tense, poised to react if he feels the need to defend himself, hopefully, they can be rational about this. From his experience, they couldn't actually want them to do this, rather the point would be to resist the temptation, and he has no idea how entirely wrong he is.]

What the hell is this, some kind of test?

(Also open to prompts where Ed's shoved into the room on someone else, instead!)

FOLLOW ME DOWN:
II:

[Ed has a glass of wine, perhaps he's had several glasses of wine by this point. It tastes good and there's no reason not to in this situation. It wasn't like him to loosen up unprompted but he can't live his entire life back against the wall on the off chance this is also suspicious or dangerous.

He can be found just about anywhere (except the "pet" food, I'm not feeling that mean today.) but will show an obvious preference for the darts among the game stalls, and his aim's pretty good too if it's not so late into the evening that he's had too much to drink, at least. If he's bumped into by the Ferris wheel, he's likely just staring it since he's never seen one of those working before.

By the time the fireworks start he's switched to drinking something warmer, and probably minus the alcohol.]

WILDCARD:

[It doesn't take him long to wander the halls, get to know the place and check for exits. Establishing the layout was a priority and that does include moving to the front desk and exploring the locations around it. Get to know the place, get to know the people here, that was always his priority these days because when things finally exploded, it was good to know who might be an ally.

While he can be found in just about any corner of the hotel that's available to patrons, Ed is far more likely to be spotted at the bar. He doesn't get a drink, but he does linger by the jukebox and occasionally look through the songs as if debating putting something on from it. If someone gets close enough to him, they might notice he's definitely muttering to himself as he looks through the listings as if searching for something specific.]

Note: Ed's from COS with a few years CRAU, so an adult, for anyone canon familiar. He dresses in all black, wears white gloves at all times and a leather jacket when cold enough.

please feel free to throw your own starter at me or hit me up to plot something out/request a prompt. If you'd like to do something but want Ed on your character's top-level instead, shoot me a link. PM works, I can be reached on plurk at

Chainofhabit.

[ Laica's hoarding tendencies have apparently turned to... carnival prizes? They are big and shiny and/or fluffy and she is loaded down with balloons and stuffed animals and cheap plastic tiaras and other junk. It's unclear how much of it she won for herself, how much she managed to convince somebody or other to give her, and how many she just flat-out stole.

She watches Ed throwing darts for a while, eyes keenly judging his skill and the prizes on offer. And then puts on a winning smile and saunters over, arms laden with other prizes. ]

You certainly know your way around a knife, darling.

[ There's just an edge of flirtatiousness in her tone as she leans against the booth counter, smiling warmly. ]

[Ed's not all that attached to material possessions, a good thing too for all the moving around he's done since childhood. He's far more likely to turn that particular drive towards people he's attached to, but thankfully those are in pretty short order around here. So far, he's only recognized Hawkeye from home and their relationship wasn't exactly close.

Which means Ed has no prizes because he's declined to take them or simply given them away. She might have even witnessed him handing something or other off to somebody nearby, prizes mean nothing to him. A good weapon, on the other hand, kept him coming back to the competitive games. Training was important, it meant survival, and if it happened to satisfy a bit of a nostalgia kick while he was at it, well that was just an added bonus.

The sound of her voice makes him falter with a heavy pause, staring straight ahead at the target for several seconds before turning to offer her a quick grin in greeting.]

I've had a lot of practice.

[Years of it by this point, and he'd only focused heavier on it in recent months with the lounge. Ed is no stranger to face-twins, in fact, those words could have a double meaning in this situation. If he'd only seen her and she hadn't spoken he would have brushed it off as a coincidence, but the voice and use of 'darling' to address him certainly threw off his typical ability to dismiss her as a stranger. No, he'd been doing this for too long and that was definitely Laica, but as golden eyes take her in and register that she was different - older, at least - he's certain that she didn't approach out of any hint of recognition.

It wasn't the first time, and it wouldn't be the last, but he's gotten better over time at looking a friend in the face and treating them as a stranger.]

Looks like you know what you're doing, too.

[Maybe her target was a little different than his, but whatever her method it was definitely working for all the prizes she'd obtained. He was sure she'd charmed at least a few of them out of someone else's hands, but it wasn't exactly a pressing concern to him how she got them.]

[ Hawke's situational awareness is above average when she's on the hunt or in battle. Even if she's not consciously aware of what information she's taking in, she's still processing it and acting on what feels like instinct later. If asked, she wouldn't be able to say that she saw Ed give his prizes away. But that information is lurking somewhere in her subconscious as she approaches.

She does notice the way he falters, and it makes her wonder if this is another young man who will claim to know her. IT's such a confusing conversation whenever that happens. ]

I always admire a man who knows what he's doing.

[ She giggles, and then glances down at her armful of prizes and shrugs humbly. ]

Oh, I never know what I'm doing I'm afraid. Could I watch you with the knives? It's such an interesting thing to see.

[ That last part is genuine. Her skills in battle are all magic based, and she does find herself frequently fascinated by what people can do with weapons alone. ]

[Luckily for Laica, Ed knows how to keep his mouth shut, typically. At least until he gets to know a person and can feel out their reaction to learning the truth. It didn't matter though, some people were completely different from their counterparts so it wasn't any different than meeting someone's identical twin by chance and expecting them to be the exact same person - things just didn't work that way.

Her words and the following giggle are enough to make his face color faintly, looking away pointedly and clearing his throat.]

That's not true, everyone has something they're good at...

[He paused at the question, shrugging slightly. It wasn't as if he was unused to being watched but there was a whole new angle to it, trying to juggle not making things uncomfortable. Keeping focused on something else would help, at least. Ed glances over the prizes on offer before putting in a request for a new set of knives, feeling the weight of them out of habit despite having done this already a few times.]

Uh- Sure, if you want. An old friend taught me, actually. If you ever want to learn, maybe I could give you some pointers.

[He wasn't actually the most confident at it, knife throwing was never his specialty really, but he wasn't so oblivious to miss that he was a decent enough shot, even if his motivation was more about having a decent distraction for awhile.]

[ Laica still hasn't encountered the other Hawke around here so she's blissfully ignorant to the whole process. ]

You're too kind, messere.

[ She smiles and leans against the counter, letting the curve of her body show as much as she can with her arms full. She watches with wide, guileless eyes.]

I'd like that.

[ Her voice takes on just a hint of breathy suggestiveness. ]

I'm sure there's lots of things we could teach each other. Maybe even find out what it is that I'm good at.

[He catches her movement, keeping his gaze focused on the target. This was more awkward than he expected, usually, he's better at this, and already he's wondering why that seems to be a thought he's had so many times since arriving in this place. The flirty suggestive attitude might go right over his head under normal circumstances but this was Laica - most definitely some other version of Laica, which didn't stop his brain from making the connections he knew - and there were few other people he responded so effortlessly to in that program.

So he doesn't have to think very hard to imagine what she's good at, and thus what she must mean with those words. After all, that was kind of how they met in the first place. Which is not really doing any favors for his focus at the moment.]

I really doubt you need my help with that.

[Figuring it out, he means. That's one part stalling while he regroups and one part suggesting very heavily that he's quite sure she's already well aware of what she's good at. He knows, but he can't exactly say that much without risking things getting weird. Observant as she is, it might be hard to miss his meaning even as indirect as his words were, she wasn't exactly making it easy for him to control the blush as it was, either. He lets the first knife fly as he continues, keeping his tone light as if he was speaking entirely hypothetically.]

Bet you have talents in a lot more interesting things than knife throwing.

Such journeys of discovery are always more fun with friends, I've found.

[ She left it vague on purpose. Precisely so he can imagine such things. Probably imagining even greater feats than she's actually capable of. Or maybe he's not that imaginative, and she might have the chance to thoroughly amaze him. Could go either way, and either way it gets her closer to her goal of that teddy bear.

Which seems less likely as she's flustered him to the point where his aim is off. Dammit, focus. She straightens up a little. ]

Perhaps. But none that are going to win any of those delightful prizes, will they?

[ Some of that flirtatious tone slips back in despite her best efforts. She's doing her best, but that leather-and-knives thing really works for her. And there's something about a serious man that just makes her want to tease and fluster. ]

[That wasn't the first time someone in this place with a face he recognized and a history he didn't know had used the word 'friend' talking to him, but it wasn't any less weird this time either. Of course, Laica's situation and Hawkeye's were vastly different but that didn't stop him from pausing the same way as if needing to digest that response. She might think he's not used to the concept of having friends with the way he seems to overthink it - if only briefly - before moving on.

As far as Ed's imagination goes? Six of one, half a dozen of the other, probably. Sure, he can have a great imagination when he puts his mind to things but the gutter his thoughts had promptly fallen into wasn't exactly one of his strong points, so it was hard for him to imagine much more than he already knew. Which was plenty, really, too much actually judging the by the off-center land of that knife.

Oh, prizes. Prizes being a safe topic, maybe he can recover from this. Speaking of serious, his tone and posture shifts slightly, not all that pleased with having missed the last one. He's holding the next as if refraining from throwing it prematurely with his response.]

Maybe not. Which one do you have your eye on?

[Having a goal helps, being able to focus on a specific thing, an exact score to reach. Ed was tunnel vision to an extreme, if she wanted a certain one and he didn't get it, he would keep trying until he did. He was stubborn like that, and few things got under his skin like disappointing someone. He could work with the flirting with a set task in mind, it wasn't as if he was unused to it. The situation had just caught him off-guard, all things considered. He definitely wasn't going to start thinking about how he was usually doing something whenever Laica was around and if they weren't otherwise preoccupied they managed to find something else to do.]

Edward Elric | Fullmetal Alchemist (2003) | CRAU

Follow Me Down II

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𝒶𝓇𝓇𝒾𝓋𝒶𝓁

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Reach Up High I

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