atonementooc | February Test Drive

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February Test Drive

Test Drive #002

Welcome to Atonement's second test drive, and thank you very much for stopping by! We hope you enjoy your stay! Please refer to the prompts below for ideas, or simply make up your own! Whichever is easiest for you.

Prompts

Arrival: You don't quite remember how you arrived here. It appears that you're suddenly in a dead land with eerily red skies. The grass is dead, the trees are dying, and there's absolutely no sounds of life beyond your own footsteps, even if it feels like you're being watched somehow. Eventually along the narrow path you follow, you walk through gates that seem to guard a quiet, abandoned town and a sinking feeling starts to settle in that you are far from home and there may not be an easy way back.

The sign hanging above the gates simply says "Welcome to Penance: Home Between Homes" and nothing more.

Within the gates, there are the leftovers of what may have once been a lively, welcoming little town, if it didn't look as if people either fled or somehow vanished in the blink of an eye. There are dusty shops that are still stocked with supplies, many with their doors busted out or left open. There are homes that haven't been touched in what feels like an eternity but they still have furniture and the remnants of the people who lived there previously. Cars and bikes are littering the streets that are in varying shapes of usability. The more you look, the more unsettling everything becomes...

First Punishment: As a show of good will, your hosts will give you a very easy, albeit potentially embarrassing, task to carry out for your first punishment.

There will as few secrets in Penance as possible. Transparency is key to atonement. You will reveal at least one sin in a way that will be permanent, which means via tattoo, scarring, branding, or other permanent means somewhere on your person. For those who are unable to be injured or scarred, there will be enchanted items that will be able to pierce even the toughest skin, cut deeper than even increased healing can recover from. All necessary items will be available at the tattoo parlor in town. If desired, characters may also make an announcement on the network listing their sin(s) for judgement from their peers.

Please note that if the character insists they are free of sin, they will be provided a list of what they're guilty of by their hosts.

And the Forecast is...: As of this morning, there will be a steady rain over Penance that will darken the skies to black and fall as if somehow tainted and muddied, followed by a cold and harsh wind that will chill one to the bone if they dare to venture out in it... which may be necessary. The ground and roads will be slick and muddied, but there will be power outages due to the weather so staying in may not be necessarily more appealing. The rain will continue steadily for a week and be intermittent the rest of the month.

However, should anyone venture to the town square in search of warmth, there will be a large tent set up that is entirely illuminated regardless of whether the rest of Penance is or not. There will be supplies such as food and water for the taking, as well as a few old blankets for people to huddle under while they wait out the storm.

Two Lies and a Truth:
Your hosts would like to start a fun little game if everyone will take out their devices and connect to the network. Think of it as a bonding exercise! Everyone could use a little support down here... it keeps morale up after all. Everyone should tell three things they've done wrong in their lives and let others guess which one is the actual sin.

Don't worry, in this case, lying will not add any time to your debts. It's just a little harmless fun.

As a note, all threads may be considered game canon if all parties agree. Hope you have fun and thank you! The game officially opened February 1st and both apps and reserves are open indefinitely. Please stop by and join us!

premise | faq | taken | reserves | apps | hiatus/drop | network | logs | ooc | mods | requests

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[Aku doesn't like this device nor does he want to play this game but it wouldn't be Penance if he was having fun. The demon heaves a heavy sigh before he begins.]

Very well. I will play your foolish game.

ONE. I burned an entire kingdom to the ground to spite one man for his disrespect to Aku.

TWO. I stole a planet's oceans to harvest the riches within them.

THREE. I forced my daughter to murder my nemesis and the man she apparently loves. [Blech.]

Those are all really terrible choices for truth... Uh. Three. Three is the truth?

Three would be true if my efforts had been successful. But to my great misfortune, they were not.

Right. I guess you cant win them all, right?

It's just as people say. If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.

Otherwise your enemy wins and you end up in a place like this.

I guess that's one way of looking at it.

Or you could realize you maybe did some bad stuff and try to do better?

I'd say that number One is the truth.

Number one is indeed true. The Emperor and his armies of men stood no chance against me. He learned the hard way what it means to disrespect Aku.

"Sounds legit. Sometimes even rulers of kingdoms have to learn a lesson or two. Especially rulers of kingdoms."

The young man made a disgusted face when he thought back about what he had expired with rulers and how they've treated their people.

A r r i v a l

[Luke is used to the city, and the open spaces and relatively open sky leave him feeling uncomfortably exposed. Even the empty streets, which should be comforting if only because he'd see anyone else looking at him, just make him feel like a target. He walks with his shoulders up and tries to pretend he's calm, but he's busy scanning the streets as much as possible. With only one eye he can see out of, it's probably pretty obvious, but better that than being caught by surprise.

At least, he is until he comes upon a cluster of abandoned bicycles. He can't drive, and who even knows if there's fuel for the cars anyway, but a bike will be easier and give him a little extra speed, and it's not like there's anyone around to stop him taking one. Trying not to look too furtive, he starts examining his options, dropping to a crouch to look more closely. He also loses track of his surroundings, expecting to hear anyone getting to close and forgetting the ground here is softer than he's used to in the city.]

F O R E C A S T

[The weather is definitely taking a turn for the unpleasant. and Luke doesn't have the warmest set of clothing. He hasn't had time to go looking for spare, either, although he's marked a couple of the shops he could find some. Shoplifting is almost a habit despite the lack of shopkeeper to yell, and Luke can't stop himself furtively picking up a spare pair of jeans that look about the right size and shoving them under his jacket, before he turns to find the dubious shelter of the tent.

He's uneasy in the tent, too, a wary figure on the edges of the light, only coming forward once he's sure it's safe to grab one of the blankets and something to eat. If bumped into at any point, or if someone reaches for the same food or blanket. he automatically responds with a step back and an angry look, fists clenching.]

Watch it. I was here first.

T W. I N J U R Y

[He's never gotten a tattoo, although he's thought about it once or twice, but he knows it involves needles, and Luke just isn't great with needles. Even entering the parlour makes him unhappy- unhappy enough for the air temperature around him to drop noticeably as he starts draining the ambient heat, entirely without meaning to.

He's never been the type to hurt himself, but he hates the idea of someone else doing it even more. And he really doesn't trust anyone who demands he hurt himself not to do worse if he doesn't. He picks up the tattoo gun, dropping it if he spots someone else coming in the room.]

No-one said anything about this being a spectator sport...

2 T R U T H S, 1 L I E

how is this supposed to help anyone bond?? "sure you killed your dad lets be friends" "oh you took a guys hand off once thats awesome" "ive always wanted to end a joyride by putting someone in the hospital too"

[Point out how dumb the game is and play it at the same time? Why not?]

Dude, did you really just complain about the game and play it at the same time? Besides, it's pretty much hell, right? We're all horrible people who probably can't be trusted... what other games could you play? Spin the bottle?

im a multitasker obviously
that and i dont trust them not to do something if i complain and dont play
but thats missing the point. why do they want us to play games? seems like a weird torture to me

Probably because it's weird torture. Isn't that the point of this place? I doubt they really expect us to make friends. ... Is the truth the last one?

they specified a bonding exercise. seems like the exact opposite to me

and no. hotwiring cars isnt that easy

Are you saying you take what they say at face value? I'm a little suspicious, I guess. ... The hand one?

no. just dont get why theyre bothering dressing it up that way. whats the point when they have us stuck here?

imagining otherwise doesn't make my dad any more dead yet so yeah. the hand one

I guess so. Maybe they really do want us to make friends. Or make sure we don't trust anyone here... who knows. Ouch. Don't get along with the old man?

[ Honestly it's a lack of things to hunt that sends Billy back to the tent, the canned goods enough to keep their little homestead running until they've got the lay of the land. If either party of the Robicheaux-Rocks house had their way, they'd be entirely self-sufficient, making money off alley fights or Goodnight's serenading in a local saloon.

But ear to the ground, hand to God, this truly was a ghost town of the worst kind.

Certainly, they could steal what they needed from the general store, barter what they don't to invisible merchants in exchange for necessities, but... Well. Sometimes the path of least resistance is the best.

All the same, there are more strangers in the tent today. Such as the young man who's barking at him to watch it, that he was there first. The reaction gets Billy's hand on his knife belt, fingertips playing against one of the silver gilt handles of his blades. ]

Plenty of food to go around.

[ He tries to make himself stand a little taller than his 5'6" petite stature allows. Be a little more intimidating. Even if it's just the tone of his voice that promises violence in return for violence should this child press the issue.

After all, Billy's been done taking orders for years. ]

[Honestly, it's a bad plan getting aggressive here. Running is going to be difficult (but not impossible, and it's not likely anyone will really follow him outside if they don't have to). There are other people watching, other people to get behind him, and other people to get caught up if something goes wrong. But backing down would probably give the wrong kind of impression, and Luke's not about to do that.

Besides, it always helps to know who he can look to if he does want trouble.

He sets his shoulders, glad he's got what look like a few inches on the other guy- although he doesn't have knives, and he has no idea how much experience the other guy has with them either.]

Maybe. But it shouldn't be a problem if you get your food from a different pile, in that case.

[ Sure, it's a bad plan to get aggressive, but unfortunately, Billy's pride is getting the better of him. Backing down at this point is not an option. He's told himself that in this world, in this place between life and death, he's going to be equal to any other man on the street.

So he doesn't back down, despite the stranger having a few inches on him. But he doesn't draw his knife, either. No, no, when someone's unarmed like this kid is? Bare knuckles is all he needs. ]

Or you.

[ Which is a pretty clear statement to back down. ]

[Surprisingly, despite suddenly entering a cold room, Leo doesn't seem to be affected. The perks of being a monster made out of smoke and fire under the human guise means a much higher body temperature than normal human beings.]

Oh yes because watching sinners mutilate themselves is such a fascinating past time. Right up there with watching ticks get removed from the skin.

[Somebody's a touch grumpy, possibly from the bloody scar he's clearly just made on his arm, or possibly because Sunai tend to get a little hangry just like normal humans when they don't eat frequently.]

first punishment; tw: self-harm

[A knife, a tattoo... branding. What the hell was he supposed to do? He'd never thought about tattoos, and all the scars he had were from stupid accidents as a little kid. He'd rather not have too much identifiable about him for really good reasons. Easier to trace, easier to spot...

But he apparently has to do this, no skipping it.]

... How bad do tattoos hurt again? I don't do great with needles. But I think I'd do worse with a knife.

[Why can't he just pay someone else to do it for him? Maybe that would be a lot easier...]

forecast;

[The rain, the cold, the lack of power... it really is starting to feel like hell down here. Ryan pulls his coat that he plucked out of one of the stores earlier, holding it tight around himself as he walks under the tent for cover. It has food at least, and lights. That's a bit of a plus.

He reaches for a bottle of water first, eyes darting to whoever is closest to him.]

Is there some kind of generator around here? My house is out... the whole town seems to be out of electricity which is a drag when we could use a little heat.

network;

I really don't want to play their game. How about we just find some other way to get to know each other? Like trade hobbies or interests. Even our favorite books would be a lot more interesting than what our sins are.

[Leo's busy holding a bit of gauze to his right arm to stop the flow of blood. It doesn't look like human blood, too dark in its combination of dark red and black colors. He just got done with scarring himself and is regretting that choice immediately.]

Go with the needle. Trust me on this.

[He had been howling in pain quite a bit more than was necessary, but that's because he's never felt a knife sharp enough to pierce his skin. That had hurt like a bitch.]

Dude--

[Shit. He's never seen blood like that before, is his first thought. Second's... well, he's not doing anything with an audience and he can't bring himself to run out either. Not when some guy's bleeding all over the place.]

Okay-- Cool. [He swallows a little nervously, nodding towards his arm.]

Do you need help with that? It really doesn't look good.

[Leo looks down at his arm, checking to see if the blood flow is being staunched at all. It's slowing, but still going.]

I'll be fine. I just need to get something to eat.

[That's kind of a weird thing to be saying considering what his current circumstances are, but Sunai always heal faster after absorbing a soul.]

But see if you can find some alcohol around here to clean this with.

[He's never gotten an infection before, considering his body temperature burns out most bacteria and viruses, but in a place that has knives sharp enough to cut impenetrable skin, who knows?]

Keeping up your strength?

[It's the only connection he can make to bloody arm wound and being fine-- well, that he really wants to think too deeply on. He's close to Hell after all, and he'd never even really believed in that, so...

Can't rule out anything else weird, right? Like guys who bleed in abnormal colors.

He shakes his head, focusing on searching the shop over. Eventually, he finds some alcohol tucked in a cabinet and comes back over with it.]

Right-- got it. I think there are some store that have bandages around too, if you need to wrap it.

Something like that.

[This place was full of sinners. All he had to do was pick one out. Curiously, the teen helping him out seems to have a fairly clean soul. At least clean enough by the standards of Leo's world. He hasn't committed anything too horrible.

He takes the alcohol and swabs away at his arm with a hiss and a wince. It hurts, but he's felt worse in his life. The blood flow is beginning to stop.]

Now what is someone like you doing here? Your soul isn't tainted with evil deeds.

[He says this with certainty. But then Leo actually can see the condition of someone's soul. It's a Sunai thing.]

[The video feed begins with a stare from a grim looking young woman. Unyielding ice blue eyes fix forward with an expression of stern displeasure. For a moment she looks as though she may speak, but a sharp sigh steals her words as she abruptly places down the recording device, and fishes off screen for a smoke.

While she takes it and lights it with a spark from an old zippo lighter, one might glimpse the bits of red on the back of her hand, though nothing is yet completely visible. The cherry glows muddy red and a chemical calmness seems to gently envelope the stern eyed young lady.

She exhales, and gives the screen a look that it at first begrudging but quickly cool and unconcerned.]

I'm sure we're all familiar with the latest prescribed punishment. Would it be tempting fate to say it wasn't all that terrible? Relatively speaking.

[She draws her pale hand into the view of the camera, the red ruby of her nail polish almost pale aside the fresh red lines cut into her hand. They formed two letters, each carved with slightly stylized curves: BD]

I was also 'encouraged' to share the story of this scar, so here I am.

[She stares at the pair of freshly bloody letters, using a napkin to dab gently at the last stray drops of blood.]

It's for someone I... someone I had to let go. Even though it was the last thing I wanted. Even though I--

[She cuts herself short, rich red lips folding into a thin line as she battles some invisible war inside her mind. She doesn't want to do this... but if it means making up for what she did, and maybe fixing it-- well, she has to try]

I killed him.

[Now a half-hearted attempt at nonchalance to cover that split second of naked heartache]

I've killed quite a few people by now. Enough that I stopped counting. But this... but him, I... [Her fingertips trace the tender red letters and her face shows not a single hint of pain, aside from the moist gloss that begins to gleam on her somber ocean eyes.]

There are probably things that I should regret more than this-- I've done horrible things that I am not proud of. Things I'm here to fix. But...

Killing him left me... broken. In ways I don't even have words for. I've spent so much of my life alone, and yet... when he was gone, I learned what it was to be lonely.

[A single tear hangs on her thick smokey lashes and suddenly her expression goes stern and stoney; she squares her posture and slides into a humorless quirk of the mouth that is too sharp to be a smirk.]

First Punishment concluded; that was much tamer than I had imagined.

[End feed]

First Punishment

Leo was wondering exactly how he was going to fulfill this punishment considering his skin can't be pierced by any sort of blade. The perks of being a monster that drains human souls for sustenance. Well, looks like they had already counted on some people having powers like that. He's not looking too happy as they explain to him that they have enchanted items just for that purpose.

He decides which type of mark he's going to get. Looks like he's finally getting a second scar today. He picks up the knife, eyeing the keen edge. Best to just get this over with. "Owwwww!" He hates to be so loud as he howls, but he's not used to having anything actually be able to pierce his skin. He's also really regretting going the scarring route, but he's already got enough marks on him that resemble tattoos, and he wasn't sure branding would be as effective on a being whose made of smoke and fire under his human guise.

Nothing to do now but just continue on until he's carved a mark into his right arm.

Forecast

Rain. Oh joy. As if this place wasn't fun enough already. Leo doesn't bother to get out of the rain, instead heading where it looks like everyone else is towards the town square.

There's something unusual about him though. Anywhere rain hits his skin, it starts to evaporate with a small hiss into steam instead of just rolling down his skin. As a Sunai monster, Leo's temperature runs quite a bit higher than a normal human's. As he gets under the tent, it becomes even more apparent, more steam rising up from him as he flicks the few bits of rain still stubbornly clinging to him off.

He waves off the offer of food and water. Good thing for everyone present he's not feeling all that peckish yet.

Two Lies and a Truth

The nice thing about coming from such a fantastic world is that it's fairly easy to mix in versions of the truth with what it actually is. Sunai can't tell direct lies, so this should make the game interesting. Frankly, his life has been a whole lot stranger than any fable he could ever come up with. He turns on the device and the video shows a blonde man in his twenties. He's handsome, but in the way marble statues look: cold and unfeeling. His eyes are very intense, dark all the way around. The only blemish that can be seen is a scar that runs through one eyebrow.

"I got the scar on my eyebrow from a monster when I tried to claw his heart out of his chest. I've got no idea how many crosses are on my skin. And I never killed anyone who didn't deserve it." This second one might need some visual aid, so he holds up his left arm, which is indeed covered with tiny black crosses. To anyone besides anyone familiar with a Sunai monster, they might just look like tattoos.

Edited (lol forgetting the rules of how your character's powers work...) 2018-02-13 08:33 (UTC)

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February Test Drive

Two Lies and a Truth

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Re: Two Lies and a Truth

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Luke Cole | Original Character

2 truths, 1 lie

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Forecast

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Injury

Ryan Rhie | Original Character

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