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penancememes2020-08-23 11:33 pm
penancemods) wrote in penancememes2020-08-23 11:33 pm
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TEST DRIVE MEME #16
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, and 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 have an 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. The staff may be pushy, or 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
Infernal Nightmares There's a chill in the air this fine Hell morning, which may be a relief to some of the guests who aren't as fond of the usual heat. A look outside will reveal the infernal skies have darkened severely and there's a light drizzle of rain and hellfire. Not to worry though, dear sinners! There isn't enough to cause any actual damage to anyone who ventures out. Not yet.
But curiously enough, the demons seem to be leading the hell beasts from the stables to Club Penance. Before anyone gets any concerning or disturbing notions, there seems to be a makeshift construct put together outside to house these animals.
If one didn't know any better, they'd think the demons are positively buzzing with anxiety outside.
The reason why is soon apparent when Lucifer's face appears on every device and TV screen throughout the Penance community. "Good morning, my honored guests! I have some unfortunate news to bring you today. I hate to announce this when new arrivals are filtering in, and I know that many of you have curiosity to sate with recent ongoings. I have a few things I'd rather enjoy reaching out about myself. As things stand now, I haven't the time to beat around the bush or indulge anyone. It's out of my control."
He looks strained around the edges, sat at his desk in a show of forced casualty. He leans forward towards the camera. "Those of you who were here this time last year should surely remember the Mares, and for those who were not... They're ferocious little creatures that make their trek through Hell every year. They were a bit delayed for reasons unknown to me, but they will be here in a few days' time. The staff will fill you in on the details while I go and put in a request that Father allow us to skip this month's punishment. We should be focusing our attentions on making it through this dreadful time without any such worries, and do so together. That is why I ask all of you now to be please be willing to work with each other, sinner and demon alike."
He makes a motion with his hand. "We are in this together either way, after all. And while we may all lack privacy for a bit, what I do is for the absolute best, I do assure you. I wish to leave you with a warning. In the coming days, you may notice your dreams becoming worse, more horrific... this is only a taste of what is to come. Be strong. Be brave. I do have faith in all of you to overcome this as we have in the past."
After Lucifer's image disappears, the staff will be gathering guests and demons alike all over Penance to the lobby in groups. Once there, there will be refreshments provided for those to fight off the growing cold that way. Hot chocolate, coffee, liquor... all things to enjoy in front of a roaring fire. It's an obvious attempt to make things seem calm before the actual storm approaches.
But before anyone gets comfortable, the tired, perpetually bored demon stationed at the front desk climbs his way up on to it to clear his throat, gathering attention towards him.
He then proceeds to explain the Mares. Nasty, furry little demons that feed off dreams and bad energy, and create it in abundance. It will start with nightmares, he says, and continue on until they become part of the waking world. These beasts make their trek through the Heavens to Earth to the Underworld itself every year to receive their feast. It's said it keeps their master at bay the rest of the year.
It's just terribly unfortunate that by the time they reach Hell, their strength has grown enough to cause stronger nightmares.
He will stress that while the Mares themselves cannot drain anyone enough to kill them, they create dangers between people in other ways. Paranoia, fear, anger, overindulging in vices and violence. All of these are a danger to each and every one of them.
For once, the staff isn't even being dismissive or cruel; they genuinely seem to be trying to stress just how important it is to make sure everyone is on guard against this threat. Even Lucifer will have to suffer them, they'll inform people. They all will.
While guests will be left alone for the most part as the demons board up windows and take down doors to each of the rooms in the hotel, they will eventually seek more aid to make better time.
Namely, the staff may ask for help rounding up the animals and for volunteers to help take care of them over the coming days. Feeding, bathing, or playing with them to keep them from getting restless or violent are all encouraged during this time. There is a special area set up in Club Penance to house these animals away from the aphrodisiacs and sex demons. Anyone who volunteers to stay overnight with the animals will be informed they won't allow them to indulge in any alcohol or drugs during the duration of it and they may feel the effects of the Mares more strongly the closer they get. But it is for the good of these animals to not be alone, they'll assure anyone asking.
Those who aren't fond of animals will be asked to keep an eye on any prisoners in the basement dungeons, or to help cook meals, or to prep for the worsening nightmares. Preparing seems to involve boarding up windows and any unused ways into the hotel to keep the little pests out. If one didn't know any better, it would seem like the demons are purposefully trying to keep everyone involved in busywork.
What can be expected of the Mares as they venture ever closer to the Penance community?
Nightmares can be expected to grow steadily more traumatizing as the week drags on. The skies will darken to black as flocks of Mares pass over, there will be constant thudding noises outside as the little beasts try to break inside the guarded hotel. There is the ever present sound of giggling, menacing laughter that never seems to fade and only grows stronger the closer they get.
What may start off as abstract horrors that have you waking up screaming at night will grow steadily more detailed and realistic. They will take shape and form of what guests most fear, whether that's themselves, or someone or thing that has left its mark on them. Worse yet, it doesn't just stick to when guests are asleep.
There are whispers guests will hear during the day and night when they are refusing sleep, tugs at their consciousness that remind them of their darkest thoughts and secrets, and leaves everyone with a sense of unease.
It will grow eventually into waking nightmares, visions flashing before guests' eyes during any every day task. Ultimately, the nightmares will even start taking shape, coming into the real world.
That's right. Whatever stalks a guest in their dreams will come to life in even more twisted form than they thought possible. Fears to reality. There feels like there's truly no escape.
For those who feel guilt instead of fear, they'll be forced to see the object of it wandering around the hotel, telling everyone what they've done, just how horrible they are, and have to hear it repeated in their ear constantly.
If the guest fears themselves most of all, they'll find themselves acting out what they're afraid of doing most. Do they worry about harming others? Do they fear losing control or falling into some vice they've worked hard to get away from? They'll wake to the horror of the outcome or act it out before they even realize it, or be absolutely powerless to stop it.
Guests and demons alike will start to feel their sanity slipping as the Mares continue to feed on them. Some will become aggressive, others will just be desperately trying to find ways to stay awake or curling up in absolute misery.
Unfortunately, there are no known methods of keeping the Mares at bay, even if there are a bunch of old wives tales the mortals would talk about on earth. Drinking coffee grounds before bed and other such nonsense that would never work. It may be worth a shot for the desperate, however. Fighting the phantoms that come to life may be an option as well, or jarring the person out of their sleep-deprived fears to make it fade.
Lucifer and the staff will promise to be working on a solution that will happen soon, however.
Reach Up High WARNINGS: cutting, blood, torture
Whether you've been here for months or you're freshly arrived, your demonic overlord unfortunately expects some participation despite the current state of things. 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 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.
"Unfortunately, Father has demanded punishment be delivered despite our circumstances. I have chosen a rather easy one, focused on honesty and acceptance of your sins. Please pick up a knife and choose a sin from each of your lists to carve upon your skin. Aid each other in your journey, carve the words to help your fellow penitent be candid with everyone around them!"
The voice rings out within the sinners' heads as it always does, although Lucifer seems agitated at the moment, hesitant in some way that he usually isn't.
"I do apologize for this. If it was up to me, you would have been free of additional torment this month. However, there will be additional incentive for anyone who should try to resist the task I've appointed them."
It isn't a lie nor an 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.
With the addition of the nightmares, this situation has the potential to go out of hand quickly, as the Mares feed on paranoia and fear. Hopefully both sinners may stay focused enough to weather this punishment and get out of the room before those knives look better for defense against one another than as tools of redemption...
Follow Me Down WARNINGS: sex, drugs, alcohol, aphrodisiacs, potential kinks, violence, potential non-con or dub-con.
While the Mares may not be able to drain people to death, there are plenty of dangers that follow as the realms between sleep and consciousness begin to blur and fears start to eat at sinners and demons alike. It becomes more and more apparent that the hotel will not provide the safety Penance needs.
The solution they promised? It involves herding everyone, human and demon and everything in between to Club Penance. This means a trek through the flood of Mares outside that have made the skies appear completely black while they're so thick in flight, and plenty of terrors along the way, of course...
Hallucinations and nightmare figures make the short walk even longer, fraught with dangers.
Sinners may opt to stay behind with a few stubborn demons, but may mercy be with all of you who choose this path.
Once inside Club Penance, there is the promise of safety! Doors and windows will be boarded up in quick order to keep the pests out, any strays sneaking in will be fought back outside by demons and sinners for the safety of all. The skeletal soldiers who have taken guard of the gates will station themselves valiantly outside to guard those within the club.
They fear no dreams, the demons assure.
After, the succubi and incubi will be gathered around in welcome to their new guests. Lilith will be sat on one of the expansive, plush couches that have been set up in the club, speaking quietly to Lucifer for a time. At least, until he sees everyone has arrived safely.
"My children and penitents!" He greets with a flourish. "Welcome to Club Penance, where Lilith has offered us safety until the Mares have passed. Until further notice, we will be make use of the private rooms for sleep and the club itself has been made as comfortable as possible. We are glad you could make it! Salvation has come upon us in the form of Frenzy once again!"
True to his word, plush furniture has been sat around the club, both portions of it, and a few screens to watch TV. Food of all varieties is being served (with the promise that they contain no aphrodisiacs).
By being in sheer proximity to the incubi and succubi, one may notice a certain draw in the air, but again, there will be no pheromones deliberately delivered to force the usual pull of sex and sin.
After the brief greeting between Lucifer and guests, the succubi and incubi will begin passing out Frenzy, the only drug that's been effective against the Mares so far. Frenzy is a Hell-exclusive drug that can be snorted, injected, taken in pill form, or smoked given user preference. While no one will be forced to take it, it will be highly encouraged.
Despite the questionable name, guests who partake really will feel the best they've possibly ever felt. They won't need sleep or to rest, but they won't necessarily feel the strain on their bodies either. Without the need for rest or the heavy weight of fatigue, along wit the feel good effects of the drug, sinners will find their nightmares fade rather quickly.
They'll be full of energy and their mood will be amazing with no hint of nightmares or dreams anywhere. They will feel like the best version of themselves, confident and able to do everything they want.
The demons won't let anyone come down either, not once they've started and not until they're told a guest doesn't want any more.
Even then, they may still try to convince them otherwise. It's a party for as long as you can go, or until you completely burn out, it seems.
Additionally, the demons will expect some form of payment. They feed off sexual energy and may encourage sex of all kinds to happen, including threesomes/moresomes, shows, or private adventures. They will try to keep this stealthy under Lucifer's watchful (and disapproving) eye. If sinners absolutely refuse to partake in sexual adventures, they will be put to work cleaning the club or serving guests food and drink over the course of the following days.
With all good things come bad. It seems a side-effect of the drug is an actual frenzy potential. A frenzy for sex or violence or anything a sinner might want that they deny themselves on the regular. They'll feel this growing hunger, this ravenous need to have and to claim everything they think is theirs.
Some may even fade away into an almost animalistic sort of state.
The more the guest takes, the more they'll experience this sensation. Fighting it won't help either.
Other symptoms of coming down won't be too different to those of other drugs. Fatigue, depression. Guests will begin to feel the effects of staying up for so long without rest or stopping to take care of themselves. They may also feel a certain longing for more after the drug has worn off, but it can be fought off with enough strength of will. Nearly every drug comes with a risk of dependence, doesn't it?
Or that's how it is, generally. It seems the rush of needing to make a large quantity of the drug has resulted in some bad batches. Unfortunately this means that Frenzy may not give the high expected. Some potential alternative effects include:
Eventually, the nightmares will begin to let up on their own, even without any drugs, as the Mares go on their merry little way. The skies will lighten (though there will be a steadier fall of rain) and everyone will be allowed to return to their normal living situations at the hotel, the suburbs, or anywhere else they may feel most at home. Hopefully, they'll feel the weight off their shoulders and feel relief- until whatever waits around the corner next...
Wildcard/Misc. Don't see something you love but still want to get a feel for the game? Check out our extensive list of LOCATIONS and write up your very own prompt however you'd like to! You can also add a "NETWORK" post option to your TL for quick, easy, and fun interactions.
And without further ado: Welcome to our new TDM for the September 1st app round! As always, potential appers and characters already in game are welcomed to jump right in! This TDM counts as an additional game event as well as game canon for those coming into the game. If you app and are accepted, TDM tags become game canon and can be used for AC! 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.
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Rules | Taken | Reserves | Applications
Network | Logs | OOC | Memes
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, and 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 have an 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. The staff may be pushy, or 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
Infernal Nightmares There's a chill in the air this fine Hell morning, which may be a relief to some of the guests who aren't as fond of the usual heat. A look outside will reveal the infernal skies have darkened severely and there's a light drizzle of rain and hellfire. Not to worry though, dear sinners! There isn't enough to cause any actual damage to anyone who ventures out. Not yet.
But curiously enough, the demons seem to be leading the hell beasts from the stables to Club Penance. Before anyone gets any concerning or disturbing notions, there seems to be a makeshift construct put together outside to house these animals.
If one didn't know any better, they'd think the demons are positively buzzing with anxiety outside.
The reason why is soon apparent when Lucifer's face appears on every device and TV screen throughout the Penance community. "Good morning, my honored guests! I have some unfortunate news to bring you today. I hate to announce this when new arrivals are filtering in, and I know that many of you have curiosity to sate with recent ongoings. I have a few things I'd rather enjoy reaching out about myself. As things stand now, I haven't the time to beat around the bush or indulge anyone. It's out of my control."
He looks strained around the edges, sat at his desk in a show of forced casualty. He leans forward towards the camera. "Those of you who were here this time last year should surely remember the Mares, and for those who were not... They're ferocious little creatures that make their trek through Hell every year. They were a bit delayed for reasons unknown to me, but they will be here in a few days' time. The staff will fill you in on the details while I go and put in a request that Father allow us to skip this month's punishment. We should be focusing our attentions on making it through this dreadful time without any such worries, and do so together. That is why I ask all of you now to be please be willing to work with each other, sinner and demon alike."
He makes a motion with his hand. "We are in this together either way, after all. And while we may all lack privacy for a bit, what I do is for the absolute best, I do assure you. I wish to leave you with a warning. In the coming days, you may notice your dreams becoming worse, more horrific... this is only a taste of what is to come. Be strong. Be brave. I do have faith in all of you to overcome this as we have in the past."
After Lucifer's image disappears, the staff will be gathering guests and demons alike all over Penance to the lobby in groups. Once there, there will be refreshments provided for those to fight off the growing cold that way. Hot chocolate, coffee, liquor... all things to enjoy in front of a roaring fire. It's an obvious attempt to make things seem calm before the actual storm approaches.
But before anyone gets comfortable, the tired, perpetually bored demon stationed at the front desk climbs his way up on to it to clear his throat, gathering attention towards him.
He then proceeds to explain the Mares. Nasty, furry little demons that feed off dreams and bad energy, and create it in abundance. It will start with nightmares, he says, and continue on until they become part of the waking world. These beasts make their trek through the Heavens to Earth to the Underworld itself every year to receive their feast. It's said it keeps their master at bay the rest of the year.
It's just terribly unfortunate that by the time they reach Hell, their strength has grown enough to cause stronger nightmares.
He will stress that while the Mares themselves cannot drain anyone enough to kill them, they create dangers between people in other ways. Paranoia, fear, anger, overindulging in vices and violence. All of these are a danger to each and every one of them.
For once, the staff isn't even being dismissive or cruel; they genuinely seem to be trying to stress just how important it is to make sure everyone is on guard against this threat. Even Lucifer will have to suffer them, they'll inform people. They all will.
While guests will be left alone for the most part as the demons board up windows and take down doors to each of the rooms in the hotel, they will eventually seek more aid to make better time.
Namely, the staff may ask for help rounding up the animals and for volunteers to help take care of them over the coming days. Feeding, bathing, or playing with them to keep them from getting restless or violent are all encouraged during this time. There is a special area set up in Club Penance to house these animals away from the aphrodisiacs and sex demons. Anyone who volunteers to stay overnight with the animals will be informed they won't allow them to indulge in any alcohol or drugs during the duration of it and they may feel the effects of the Mares more strongly the closer they get. But it is for the good of these animals to not be alone, they'll assure anyone asking.
Those who aren't fond of animals will be asked to keep an eye on any prisoners in the basement dungeons, or to help cook meals, or to prep for the worsening nightmares. Preparing seems to involve boarding up windows and any unused ways into the hotel to keep the little pests out. If one didn't know any better, it would seem like the demons are purposefully trying to keep everyone involved in busywork.
What can be expected of the Mares as they venture ever closer to the Penance community?
Nightmares can be expected to grow steadily more traumatizing as the week drags on. The skies will darken to black as flocks of Mares pass over, there will be constant thudding noises outside as the little beasts try to break inside the guarded hotel. There is the ever present sound of giggling, menacing laughter that never seems to fade and only grows stronger the closer they get.
What may start off as abstract horrors that have you waking up screaming at night will grow steadily more detailed and realistic. They will take shape and form of what guests most fear, whether that's themselves, or someone or thing that has left its mark on them. Worse yet, it doesn't just stick to when guests are asleep.
There are whispers guests will hear during the day and night when they are refusing sleep, tugs at their consciousness that remind them of their darkest thoughts and secrets, and leaves everyone with a sense of unease.
It will grow eventually into waking nightmares, visions flashing before guests' eyes during any every day task. Ultimately, the nightmares will even start taking shape, coming into the real world.
That's right. Whatever stalks a guest in their dreams will come to life in even more twisted form than they thought possible. Fears to reality. There feels like there's truly no escape.
For those who feel guilt instead of fear, they'll be forced to see the object of it wandering around the hotel, telling everyone what they've done, just how horrible they are, and have to hear it repeated in their ear constantly.
If the guest fears themselves most of all, they'll find themselves acting out what they're afraid of doing most. Do they worry about harming others? Do they fear losing control or falling into some vice they've worked hard to get away from? They'll wake to the horror of the outcome or act it out before they even realize it, or be absolutely powerless to stop it.
Guests and demons alike will start to feel their sanity slipping as the Mares continue to feed on them. Some will become aggressive, others will just be desperately trying to find ways to stay awake or curling up in absolute misery.
Unfortunately, there are no known methods of keeping the Mares at bay, even if there are a bunch of old wives tales the mortals would talk about on earth. Drinking coffee grounds before bed and other such nonsense that would never work. It may be worth a shot for the desperate, however. Fighting the phantoms that come to life may be an option as well, or jarring the person out of their sleep-deprived fears to make it fade.
Lucifer and the staff will promise to be working on a solution that will happen soon, however.
Reach Up High WARNINGS: cutting, blood, torture
Whether you've been here for months or you're freshly arrived, your demonic overlord unfortunately expects some participation despite the current state of things. 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 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.
"Unfortunately, Father has demanded punishment be delivered despite our circumstances. I have chosen a rather easy one, focused on honesty and acceptance of your sins. Please pick up a knife and choose a sin from each of your lists to carve upon your skin. Aid each other in your journey, carve the words to help your fellow penitent be candid with everyone around them!"
The voice rings out within the sinners' heads as it always does, although Lucifer seems agitated at the moment, hesitant in some way that he usually isn't.
"I do apologize for this. If it was up to me, you would have been free of additional torment this month. However, there will be additional incentive for anyone who should try to resist the task I've appointed them."
It isn't a lie nor an 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.
With the addition of the nightmares, this situation has the potential to go out of hand quickly, as the Mares feed on paranoia and fear. Hopefully both sinners may stay focused enough to weather this punishment and get out of the room before those knives look better for defense against one another than as tools of redemption...
Follow Me Down WARNINGS: sex, drugs, alcohol, aphrodisiacs, potential kinks, violence, potential non-con or dub-con.
While the Mares may not be able to drain people to death, there are plenty of dangers that follow as the realms between sleep and consciousness begin to blur and fears start to eat at sinners and demons alike. It becomes more and more apparent that the hotel will not provide the safety Penance needs.
The solution they promised? It involves herding everyone, human and demon and everything in between to Club Penance. This means a trek through the flood of Mares outside that have made the skies appear completely black while they're so thick in flight, and plenty of terrors along the way, of course...
Hallucinations and nightmare figures make the short walk even longer, fraught with dangers.
Sinners may opt to stay behind with a few stubborn demons, but may mercy be with all of you who choose this path.
Once inside Club Penance, there is the promise of safety! Doors and windows will be boarded up in quick order to keep the pests out, any strays sneaking in will be fought back outside by demons and sinners for the safety of all. The skeletal soldiers who have taken guard of the gates will station themselves valiantly outside to guard those within the club.
They fear no dreams, the demons assure.
After, the succubi and incubi will be gathered around in welcome to their new guests. Lilith will be sat on one of the expansive, plush couches that have been set up in the club, speaking quietly to Lucifer for a time. At least, until he sees everyone has arrived safely.
"My children and penitents!" He greets with a flourish. "Welcome to Club Penance, where Lilith has offered us safety until the Mares have passed. Until further notice, we will be make use of the private rooms for sleep and the club itself has been made as comfortable as possible. We are glad you could make it! Salvation has come upon us in the form of Frenzy once again!"
True to his word, plush furniture has been sat around the club, both portions of it, and a few screens to watch TV. Food of all varieties is being served (with the promise that they contain no aphrodisiacs).
By being in sheer proximity to the incubi and succubi, one may notice a certain draw in the air, but again, there will be no pheromones deliberately delivered to force the usual pull of sex and sin.
After the brief greeting between Lucifer and guests, the succubi and incubi will begin passing out Frenzy, the only drug that's been effective against the Mares so far. Frenzy is a Hell-exclusive drug that can be snorted, injected, taken in pill form, or smoked given user preference. While no one will be forced to take it, it will be highly encouraged.
Despite the questionable name, guests who partake really will feel the best they've possibly ever felt. They won't need sleep or to rest, but they won't necessarily feel the strain on their bodies either. Without the need for rest or the heavy weight of fatigue, along wit the feel good effects of the drug, sinners will find their nightmares fade rather quickly.
They'll be full of energy and their mood will be amazing with no hint of nightmares or dreams anywhere. They will feel like the best version of themselves, confident and able to do everything they want.
The demons won't let anyone come down either, not once they've started and not until they're told a guest doesn't want any more.
Even then, they may still try to convince them otherwise. It's a party for as long as you can go, or until you completely burn out, it seems.
Additionally, the demons will expect some form of payment. They feed off sexual energy and may encourage sex of all kinds to happen, including threesomes/moresomes, shows, or private adventures. They will try to keep this stealthy under Lucifer's watchful (and disapproving) eye. If sinners absolutely refuse to partake in sexual adventures, they will be put to work cleaning the club or serving guests food and drink over the course of the following days.
With all good things come bad. It seems a side-effect of the drug is an actual frenzy potential. A frenzy for sex or violence or anything a sinner might want that they deny themselves on the regular. They'll feel this growing hunger, this ravenous need to have and to claim everything they think is theirs.
Some may even fade away into an almost animalistic sort of state.
The more the guest takes, the more they'll experience this sensation. Fighting it won't help either.
Other symptoms of coming down won't be too different to those of other drugs. Fatigue, depression. Guests will begin to feel the effects of staying up for so long without rest or stopping to take care of themselves. They may also feel a certain longing for more after the drug has worn off, but it can be fought off with enough strength of will. Nearly every drug comes with a risk of dependence, doesn't it?
Or that's how it is, generally. It seems the rush of needing to make a large quantity of the drug has resulted in some bad batches. Unfortunately this means that Frenzy may not give the high expected. Some potential alternative effects include:
Increased paranoia - rather than feeling their absolute best self, sinners may feel their paranoia increase immediately. Everyone is against them, someone is following them, someone is trying to kill them. Maybe they'll want to bust out of the club itself! The staff will discourage this venture as much as possible.
Need for truth - sinners may feel the need to confess truths, particularly of a nasty variety, or at least in a nasty way. They will not be able to quell this urge easily.
Increased arousal - unfortunately, it feels like you may have just been hit with a super dose of Viagra or some other sex drug that will leave sinners in a prolonged state of sexual arousal. No matter how many times they reach their release, they will find themselves endlessly greedy and turned on. Unfortunately, there's no doctors readily available for any erections lasting over four hours...
Jealous/Possession - what's yours is yours, and what's theirs is probably yours as well. This can be jealousy related to people, things, etc. It can be a nasty urge, but do try to calm yourself.
Dud - there's also the potential that the drug given will be nothing but a placebo and not help in any way at all. The succubi do apologize for the mix up, sometimes that happens.
Eventually, the nightmares will begin to let up on their own, even without any drugs, as the Mares go on their merry little way. The skies will lighten (though there will be a steadier fall of rain) and everyone will be allowed to return to their normal living situations at the hotel, the suburbs, or anywhere else they may feel most at home. Hopefully, they'll feel the weight off their shoulders and feel relief- until whatever waits around the corner next...
Wildcard/Misc. Don't see something you love but still want to get a feel for the game? Check out our extensive list of LOCATIONS and write up your very own prompt however you'd like to! You can also add a "NETWORK" post option to your TL for quick, easy, and fun interactions.
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a frenzy of a time~
But none of that is on his mind right now. He only knows good things, positive ones. How the blanket he found and has draped around his shoulders is hands-down the softest thing he's ever touched in his life. How his heartbeat feels like it's in time with the music floating through the club. The way every drink he's had tonight tastes like fucking candy and the way his roommate looks right now. Jesus, was Harlan always that hot or is that the drugs?
Nah.
Harlan's always been fucking hot.
"Well, well, fancy seeing you here, stranger." he practically sings in greeting, leaning over the back of the couch his friend (were they? what does friendship look like anyway?) was currently perched on, practically draped behind the other man, chin resting on the back of the couch, over Harlan's shoulder.
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He perks up when Klaus appears behind him, glad to see his roommate. He tilts back to rest his head against the back of the couch. An added perk of Frenzy is that he doesn't mind being in such close proximity to people. It's come in handy with everyone stuck climbing over each other in the club, but more than that, it's nice to not freak out over something as simple as his pal coming over to say hello.
And they are pals, at least in Harlan's opinion. He's gotten used to Klaus since they've been living together, and it's actually not as horrible a prospect as Harlan once anticipated. It's kind of nice to have someone to come home to, even if he'd still prefer separate bedrooms. And bathrooms.
"Hey. Pressing pause on your quest for sobriety, huh?"
He's not judging. Frenzy is the only thing getting him through the nightmares, and he's in support of everyone else following suit. Given that Klaus doesn't look exhausted and emotionally beat to shit, Harlan's betting he's high, too. Good for him. Frenzy should be an exception, given how fucked up the city is right now.
He offers Klaus the joint he's been smoking, since weed is barely a drug and doesn't count either, in his opinion.
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He hums softly, a long, drawn-out, whine of a sound. "Like I have a choice?" he sings the last two words. Of course he had a choice. He could say no. He probably should have. But he couldn't stand it any more, he couldn't be taunted by the haunting dead father of his, by ghosts clamoring for his attention, he couldn't find himself trapped in that crypt between blinks again.
The choice had been easy.
Obvious.
Inevitable.
Klaus smirks a little and slides up and away from his friend, only long enough to slip over the back of the couch and slide down to sit next to him. Like. Really close. He plucks the joint from Harlan's fingers and takes a long, deep drag from it, continuing his slide down the other man's side, head landing easily in his lap, bare feet resting on the arm of the couch. The blanket that had been wrapped around his shoulders is now splayed haphazardly across Harlan's lap along with him.
"Mmm this is good." He says, blowing out his hit, taking another right behind it before dangling the joint between his fingers, held out to his roommate to take again.
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But by the time he's pondered where to rank all this on a scale of normalcy, his roommate's head is in his lap, and there's a pleasant, lingering tingle down the side of his body Klaus had slid down against. It's not unlike the thrum he felt when Fenris had put his hands on him, and that... yes, that was a good experience, Harlan has decided. Hm. Interesting.
He takes the joint back, rolling it in his fingers for a moment as he thinks.
"Oh, you had a choice, technically. It's just a choice with an obvious right answer. Why should you have to stay sober when the nightmares are so bad that we can't even sleep?"
He's got shit to say, man. He sucks in a hit and settles more deeply against the couch, getting comfortable now that he'll presumably be here awhile. Klaus has a sort of "the caterpillar from Alice in Wonderland" vibe going on right now, and Harlan barely remembers that movie, but he does not remember the caterpillar as a particularly mobile guy. He was, like, pretty content to just sit around on his mushroom all day. It's amazing that they snuck such a stoner into a kids movie.
Anyway, point is: Harlan isn't sure what to do with his arm, now that there's a man resting where he would typically put it. What would be the normal person thing to do? He decides the answer is resting his arm across Klaus' middle, and so he does, but, hm, it feels unnatural. He frowns, shifting this way and that like there's some perfect orientation that won't feel so alien.
"I don't know what I'm doing."
He mumbles it, more talking to himself than to Klaus.
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Klaus can feel the discomfort starting to rise, though. The way Harlan keeps shifting to find the 'right' way to sit now that he has a Klaus in his lap. He leans, just slightly upward, to take that joint back again before settling again, breathing in a hit on par with the huge clouds that caterpillar Harlan was comparing him to might take. He presses the joint back between his roommate's fingers, free hand taking the one Harlan is so worried over the placement of and tangling them together, linked hands now settled easily, relaxed as anything on Klaus' end, on his chest. "You think too much," he smirks up at him. "we should fix that."
He'll just let those words hang in the air and morph into whatever meaning Harlan might take it to mean. Klaus has more than a few ideas in mind but, some barriers melted away by the drugs or not, he's still never going to force people into things, either. Especially not when he's just as content to lay here like this for however long Harlan might allow it.
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The drugs help, especially the weed. There's a pleasant buzz collecting at the base of his skull, and already he can feel it separating his head from his body. He's nervous, he knows, about all of this—Klaus so intimately lounging on him, their fingers threaded together, we should fix that—but those nerves don't make it down to the rest of him. There's no sharp spike of panic twisting through his chest, no burning need to fidget or pull away. He's just nervous, without all the physicality of it distracting him. It's a good feeling.
Idly, he runs his thumb along the edge of the blanket on Klaus' chest. It's got a nice texture to it.
"Fix it how?"
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“I don’t wanna freak you out,” he points out, staring up at the other man. “But you’re really fucking hot.” He says it around a wild grin, hoping he doesn’t push his luck, here.
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But then Klaus clears up any lingering uncertainty, and Harlan's eyebrows tick up in surprise.
"What? Why?" It comes out automatically, and yes, he realizes it's a stupid thing to say, but his mind is too hazy to worry about a filter. He shakes his head. Don't answer that.
His eyes drop to their hands, to Klaus' grin, and then back up again to the crowd around them. Everyone else in the club is too high or exhausted to pay them much mind; they may as well be alone, even if this version of alone is louder and more frenetic than he's used to. He glances over to the secluded corner where he'd been with Fenris earlier, where his blood still stains the floor if you know where to look. That was good, wasn't it? A net positive.
He takes a final hit of the joint, and then leans to stub it out on the table in front of them. He can feel the vague sting of the cuts from Fenris' gauntlets under his sleeves as he moves.
"I'm not freaked out," he says, and it's almost true. His pulse is already hammering in his ears, but he recognizes it this time. It's excitement, not fear. "Try me."
And in case that wasn't permission enough, his free hand drops back to his lap, his fingers gently playing with a lock of Klaus' hair.
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"No?" He's surprised by that statement, and it's etched obviously into his features as his eyes sweep back up to Harlan's face. Try me. "Oh, honey," Klaus practically purrs as he eases up from his spot in Harlan's lap, shifting to face him, "those are dangerous words with me," he drops his voice low, though the only warning in the words is a suggestive one.
With such a clear invitation, though, Klaus doesn't hesitate once he can reach Harlan properly; it's a cautious, soft press of lips, hesitating more than Klaus normally would because he knows it might actually be unwanted, once the other man realizes just what he asked for.
cw mentions of sexual assault, they're vague but still
But between the weed clouding over his thoughts and the Frenzy lighting up his body in the best way, he's inclined to just let himself make what might be a horrible mistake. Fenris or Klaus or anyone else he might end up pushing his limits with before this is all over—if any of them end up in his nightmares in the aftermath, he'll deal with it as it comes up. That might mean throwing away these budding new friendships that are already so important to him, but it's hard to care, hard to think that far into the future once Klaus presses their lips together.
It's such a quiet action, all things considered. He's used to force, Fenris shoving him against the wall or Grace coldcocking him with a pistol, and knowing Klaus, Harlan expected him to lead with that same sort of misguided hunger. But he doesn't. The kiss is gentle and hesitant, so much so that at first, Harlan doesn't know how to react.
That's the problem, though. He doesn't know, so he freezes, and then remembers: You think too much. Right. He's meant to fix that.
His fingers brush the back of Klaus' neck, his hand resting just under his jawline so that Harlan can tug him in closer, an action meant to say yes, I do want this. He can feel the steady thump of Klaus' pulse under his palm, and he fixates on that, counting the beats to stop himself from overthinking. It works, for the most part; his other hand slips out from between them to push the blanket off of Klaus' shoulders. Some part of him is still caught up in the performance of it, the what next?, but this is a start. This feels nice, the heat of another person pressed against him, breath against his cheek, and he tries like hell to stay in that moment. One step at a time.
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The only thing that momentarily trips him up is that skip of a beat when Harlan doesn't react. Had he pushed too much, too far, too fast? Was he wrong in what he thought was an obvious assumption to be made?
But as quickly as those thoughts surface, they're dissipated, by fingers running along the back of his neck that leave an amazing tingling feeling in their wake, a hand at his jaw that leaves a comfortable warmth against his cheek. Carefully, Klaus shifts from being at Harlan's side to in his lap. There's nothing overly pushy about it, it's really just a much better angle to deepen the kiss.
Klaus can feel that nervous energy bouncing off of Harlan and he pulls back slowly, keeping his forehead pressed against the other man's. "Hey, hey, listen..." He smiles, a gentle, welcoming thing that goes all the way to his eyes. "I would like to do...all kinds of things with you," he chuckles softly, that earlier smile slipping into the territory of a suggestive smirk for a moment. "but...I'm not ever gonna push you, I promise... You pick the pace, 'kay?"
He smiles again and kisses Harlan, soft and sweet and then he leans so they're cheek-to-cheek and he whispers in his ear, "but you have my permission to put your hands anywhere you want," he chuckles and trails kisses along Harlan's jaw.
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It's disorienting, then, when the other man pulls back. He doesn't go far (and Harlan wouldn't let him if he tried), but the break in action is enough for Harlan to lose his footing. He closes his eyes as their heads tilt together—don't think too much—and he keeps them closed as Klaus' mouth dips lower.
"Don't baby me," he says softly through the shiver brought on by the whisper against his ear. His hands move to grip Klaus by the waist as he sits up more fully, angling himself so that they're on a more even playing field. "I'll stop you if I need to."
Later, once he's come down from the high and has time to turn over these events in his head, he'll appreciate the gesture. Knowing Klaus understands his trepidation will go a long way toward easing his mind in the long run, and better than that, it will make Harlan more willing to try this again. In this moment, though, he doesn't want to think about that. He doesn't want to draw attention to the fact that this is so new to him, so foreign, and that without the crutch of the drugs, he wouldn't be able to do this. Instead, he'd rather take advantage of the opportunity, knowing he can't guarantee another.
One hand pulls up again to twine in Klaus' hair as Harlan guides their mouths together again. He's all hard motions and tight grips to keep his mind from wandering again, a detail that may read as more suggestive than he intends it to. Even with the drugs, he's not about to press much further out in the open like this, but then, what they're already doing feels impossibly intimate as it is. This may as well be sex as far as Harlan is concerned.
"Tell me what you want to do with me." He breathes it out between kisses.
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Still. He's not going to argue the point, or the lips that are on his again suddenly. Klaus hums a soft noise in the back of his throat, tilts his head just slightly to deepen the kiss. The hand still on his hip grips tighter and Klaus can't stop the way it makes his hips roll, a moan escaping from the delicious friction the action causes.
His voice stays low, a soft husky sound to his words. "If we were alone right now, I'd be on my knees, but you'd be the one begging." He reaches up and slides his fingers through Harlan's hair, letting his nails drag lightly across his scalp. "I just wanna make you feel good, baby." He caps the idea off with another kiss, letting his tongue trace across the other man's lower lip.
nsfw and also cw a lil bit of sexy gore?? idk this tag got a lil weird, gl klaus
"We should find an empty room."
Preferably with a lock on the door, though he hasn't thought quite that far ahead yet. He is not a person with much experience in sneaking off to get handsy.
"We're not gonna have sex, but we can keep doing this."
It's an interesting thought though, sex with Klaus. A future where he'd ever feel up to that seems impossibly distant, but he lets himself entertain the idea for a moment:
There's the provided scenario, Klaus on his knees with Harlan's cock down his throat—no, too much, but they could reverse it. The thought of Klaus begging, more of those heady moans tumbling out of his mouth, skin slick with sweat, legs shaking... Somewhere along the way, the fantasy turns red, the begging sharpens and low moans are torn into ragged cries, a blade flutters against soft flesh—
He swallows thickly. What the hell has gotten into him lately?
omg Harlan ffff
The thought doesn’t stop completely before it morphs into vague images in his mind, hands touching everywhere they can reach, kissing across every inch of him, and all the ways he could make Harlan twitch and moan and—
Right. Not that. Obviously, he wouldn’t. Not with whatever hang ups it is he seems to have with the idea of it but it’s hard for Klaus not to let his mind wander to the possibilities, especially with finding an empty room brought into the mix. Still, he can control himself, nodding and he can see that edge of desire still in Harlan’s gaze. It’s a good look for him, and Klaus really, really doesn’t doesn’t want to lose that thread of want with him.
“C’mon,” he mumbles, sliding deliberately slowly out of his lap, just another silent reminder of how good even the slightest friction feels with this drug pumping through his veins. He gets to his feet, fingers sliding down Harlan’s arm before his fingers wrap around the other man’s and he tries to pull him with him. “There’s private rooms in the back.” Which he will happily lead him to.