penancememes | TEST DRIVE MEME #12

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, there's a demonic bartender who seems to know how to mix any drink you can imagine (and a few you can't). Of course there's some seating, bar games, and a jukebox tucked in the corner if you'd rather stay and socialize a bit. There's also a new addition of a karaoke machine.

Please note that all the songs on the jukebox are appropriately hell-themed. Hopefully Sympathy for the Devil is universally loved.

STAND YOUR GROUND

QUIET AGAIN

Good day, denizens of Hell! The weather remains crisp and hot as ever, but all voices have finally ceased! No more telepathy, no more unwanted flashes. The entire hotel seems relieved by this turn of events! The staff is in a far better mood as the bustle around handling cleaning and laundry and all those tasks they tend to despise.

There's some buzzing talk around the hotel about how it's been almost a year since this experiment began and they've heard that Lucifer will want to make a special announcement about it soon. If asked, they won't really say what he's planning to do about all of this. Some may even seem a little put off by how long this experiment has gone on and would rather just not talk about it at all.

Ah, well.

What matters is it's been a year for some of the guests in the hotel and there's a nice, lengthy list of redeemed souls. Not too shabby. They're making excellent progress.

In celebration, a new location has been unlocked just off the hotel gym! It seems there's a new indoor pool. For once, it does seem to just be a normal pool with no weird after effects. It doesn't suddenly turn into blood or anything! Though guests will be responsible for its upkeep. The staff already cleans up after every other mess they make, why should the have to deal with this one too?

Lucifer will be curiously absent and unreachable during this time. If asked, the staff will say he's a busy overlord and he's got other things to tend to. They'll direct them towards Lilith instead, who will have made a return to the hotel for the time being.

THE VEIL
Warnings: dead animals, blood, violence.

For all the palpable relief in the air at no longer dealing with odd voices, there's still another threat looming in the air. A cult by the name of The Veiled Order who wants to take over Hell itself. it seems they're still on the move. they're still leaving animal carcasses around the outside of the community and starting fires here and there. It seems to be some sort of ritual. Or maybe it's just a scare tactic. No one can be absolutely certain.

Either way, one day, Lilith will appear on every device in the Penance community. She will look as calm as ever, entirely professional as she meets the camera with a slight smile. "While this isn't my usual area of expertise, addressing all of you as I am, it's a necessity. I'm asking all of you to help us gather a few items around the community to help with a spell that may provide us further insight into what our friends at the Veiled Order are up to. A list will follow this broadcast... please return the items you find to the front desk. We're all deeply grateful for your continued cooperation."

The list is as follows:
5 Hell flowers
2 apples
5 strands of dark hair.
4 vials of Squonk blood.
3 fingers.
2 items touched by magic.

Worry not! If fingers are severed during this portion of the event, the staff has magic to regrow the limbs over night. Staff will be very grateful for the help.

Once all items have been acquired, Lucifer will include the findings in his announcement.

REACH UP HIGH

PLEASE EXPLAIN...
Warnings: mutilation, blood, torture.

"Welcome, my honored guests! Since some of your ilk have displayed an alarming tendency towards secrecy and outright lying, I've come up with a way for you to practice frank discussion instead," Lucifer's voice rings out as it always does, compassion and warmth clear despite his words. It lingers in guests' ears even as they're forced into a dark room by demons and shown an ominous looking device just waiting for them.

"What I ask of you won't be an easy task, but it will be a lesson that's valuable to learn. The device before you will display a sin one of you is guilty of. You will be given exactly one minute to begin explaining what happened and how. There's no need to try to excuse your behavior... do be frank about it. Fair warning, if either of you refuse... you'll likely be very unhappy about what happens as a result."

Guests won't have the option of refusing this daunting task. The demons that dragged them in will also shove their hands in the opening of the device. They'll be unable to remove them as a typing noise begins sounding out. After a moment, a sheet of paper will then pop out of the top of the device for guests to read, with one sin off their list printed neatly on it. They will have a minute to begin to explain what it means and how it happened.

Should the guest refuse or fail, they will feel the contraption start to work once again, an ominous sound of something shifting before a sharp pain shoots up their finger. Each time they fail, they will each lose a fingernail. this will keep going until they've lost all ten (or however many the guest may have) or they answer a satisfactory number of sins. It really just depends on which sort of torment the guests are content with suffering through and how much they want redemption.

[Note: How many sins characters have to explain to be released will be left up to player discretion!]

FOLLOW ME DOWN

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

With all the sinners, new and old, the bar will be lit up with activity and absolutely bustling with guests and demons alike. 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 to stay and have a bit of fun.

You may not get much of a chance to have that in hell after all. So 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 the staff is handing it out and so helpfully showing you how to use it, or recommending a type that would suit what you want.

You've presumably done your atonement for the day, yes? So cut back a bit, let loose. Hell might be pain and torment, but it's also a nonstop party in the bar.

There's even a brand new stage and a karaoke machine for those feeling brave!

Ask the staff demons very nicely and you may even get less scrupulous drugs as well. Things that will convince your fellow damned souls to tell only the truth for a fun prank, or perhaps even potions that will make someone so enamored with you, they won't take their eyes, or hands, off you. How dare they give you the cold shoulder earlier, right? You've got them now.

There are also tables set up for all sorts of gambling and various bar games to entertain yourself with. Since currency as most are familiar with it doesn't quite exist down here, most of the demons seem to be accepting bits of your soul, if you're in a gambling mood. You may also get pulled into a fun game of strip poker against one of your fellow guests for a few succubi that are having a night out.

Relax and enjoy your night. Coming here and facing your sins is the hard part, so surely you deserve to have a little fun, right?

TOUCH ME
Warnings: Somnophilia, drugs, non-con, aphrodisiacs, dub-con.

The succubi and incubi have set up a fun night at the club. Sure, there's the nonstop dance party just next door, but in the main part of the club? Everything has been transformed to accommodate luxurious baths and massages, plush beds and oversize pillows that scatter the floor with the comfort of the patrons in mind. After nearly two weeks of very little sleep, it's time to be pampered a bit!

For a special treat, bringer of souls into Hell and mother of all sex demons, Lilith will be taking the stage. It seems hypnotic dances aren't her only talent! She'll be singing something inhuman, in some dead language perhaps. One won't need to know the words to be instantly soothed and coaxed into staying. It's apparently the best siren's song to draw those weary souls into the club for a fun, relaxing time.

As always, the aphrodisiacs are kicked up very high, but it seems like every touch the demonic staff gives makes one feel almost soothed and safe instead of ravenous. Every massage, every brush of a fingertip even, feels relaxing. Why not stay for the night? There will be warm drinks and all the pampering one could want! After a drink and a massage, one may be coaxed into a bath to be cleaned from head to toe (with or without a very happy end as those fingers trail everywhere).

All will seem on the up and up until after the bath when patrons may find themselves very sleepy all of a sudden. Is it just the lack of sleep catching up? Is it Lilith's calm voice ringing out everywhere?

Or was it drugs in the drink again? It was probably drugs in the drink.

It will get to the point where they absolutely won't be able to hold their eyes open. Sinners may not even remember being taken to one of the private bedrooms and laid out on the bed. They certainly won't have much awareness at all after they've settled into one of the most comfortable beds of their lives.

Or maybe they didn't even actually make it to a private room. They could have been left out on the club floor on the cushy seating, or laid presented somewhere all eager and ready for the touching.

Oh, and it will be tempting. Other patrons may find it downright irresistible with the succubi whispering into their ears, urging them to take what the want. Look at that gorgeous body, all spread out and responsive, even if they're asleep. What they don't know won't hurt them, right? Or perhaps it's absolutely the only way to wake a guest.

Think of it as a very naughty Sleeping Beauty situation and you're the knight in shining armor, come to save the day with a kiss. Or, you know, something much more.

Toys will be left out to be used at the sinner's pleasure, as well as anything else one may want.

Of course, the succubi didn't absolutely promise that one wouldn't wake up in the middle of the act! They're confident patrons will figure out how to maneuver this very awkward position.

Even if guests would normally be against indulging in a somnophilia kink, they may find their wills weakening anyway. The aphrodisiacs pulsing through the air are good at getting people to do what they normally wouldn't.

But for those who would really rather have both parties awake, patrons can arrange for private baths to enjoy together, or rooms to have a good night's rest in the feel good atmosphere. No sex required this time!

MISC.
Hey, guys! Welcome to our new TDM for the May 1st app round! As always, feel free to jump right on in, potential appers and current members alike! This TDM counts as an additional game event, as well as game canon for those coming into the game. Please have fun and don't hesitate to ask any questions you might have down below!

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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Are you sure?" Ruined or not, that princess dress used to have style at least. And she's mostly teasing. "I think you could pull off an age-appropriate Claudia if given the opportunity."

It's the princess vampire she has to work with. So sue her. She will, though, take Lizzie's arm, and hopefully leading her to somewhere where they might be able to find some clothes.

"Unless you were planning for more of a Selene vibe?"

"I think you might be right," She can't help but grin a little. Just having Josie by her side helps her feel a little calmer about things. Her sister has that effect.

"I'm definitely more of a Claudia."

"Exactly. But since you are not going full vampire princess right now, we should probably get you some better clothes."

As they move through the halls, Josie is turning over what Lizzie says happened in her mind. Part of her isn't surprised that Sebastian's blood is what's in Lizzie's system right now, but it's how it got there that concerns her.

"You said Sebastian roofied you with vampire blood?"

"Probably. I guess these aren't exactly the most practical things to be wearing."

And if they're in hell -- well being able to run better would probably be a good thing, to say the least.

But for now she's just looping her arm with Josie's, content to keep her as close as possible.

"He did. He wanted me to choose to turn -- but he had snuck the vampire blood into my wine so even if I didn't choose.....he had me all mixed up in his head with his lost love, Cassandra, like if he could make me immortal he could undo her dying or something."

As horrific as it was, there is still empathy in Lizzie's voice. She does feel for how alone in the world Sebastian must feel -- but that's also not her job to fix, hence the whole siphoning and breaking up with him thing.

Let's be honest, empathy - or at least vocalizing that empathy - is progress for Lizzie, so Josie isn't going to try and dissuade her from that. She's mostly concerned about what this means for her sister, and if she really is dying at home.

"That's ... really messed up." Because it is, but she doesn't sound angry about it. She has a feeling Ric will be angry enough for the both of them. "But it seems like you're okay. And hopefully whenever we get out of here, you'll continue to be okay."

It's true, any progress is still good progress when it comes to Lizzie and empathy. Even if she too is concerned about what this means here.

"Yeah. Hopefully. I mean, it would solve the merge problem....but it would cause a lot of other ones. And I don't want to ever outlive you."

Which would happen if she turned.

"I don't want that to happen either."

One of them outliving the other. Josie would probably be better at it, it's true, but that doesn't mean she wants to. She doesn't want to kill her sister through the merge and she doesn't want to deal with a world where Lizzie isn't in it. As long as they're both still on that same page, they'll figure everything else out.

"And that's not how I want to solve the merge problem if it's not what you want."

"I don't know what I want yet. We're not even seventeen yet." And she'd like to at least live up to the age their mom was when she turned, if nothing else. "I don't know if I'm going to want to have a family or kids -- we have time before we have to figure that out."

"We do." Sort of. They have a ticking clock hanging over their heads until they turn twenty-two but that gives them five years to figure out how to stop that. "We have all kinds of time to make those choices."

A beat.

"If we ever get out of Hell."

"Of course we're getting out." Lizzie says it with a confidence she doesn't really feel at the moment, but pretending helps, sometimes.

"We just have to find the trick to getting out. There's always a loophole."

"You're right." She'll try and match Lizzie's confidence, because they're a team. They're in this together and they'll figure it out. "We'll find the loophole." They'll pull a Hope. Somehow.

"But right now, I'll settle for finding clothes."

And with that, they can go do that, and then continue figuring out how to settle into this place,

/scene

TEST DRIVE MEME #12

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