heckinooc | TDM 001!!

TDM 001!!

[ SEE GAME NAVIGATION TO READ UP ON HECK GAME BEFORE PLAYING IF YOU SO DESIRE ]

A) MAY I OFFER U PIE IN THIS TRYING TIME(GARDEN LEVEL)
[OOPS YOU DIED. WELCOME TO THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL. If you're new here, have a sheep cherub or imp slap a "HI MY NAME IS--" sticker on you, and frantically explain "DON'T WORRY, WE'RE WORKING ON IT, WE'LL HAVE YOU OUT HERE....AT...SOME POINT..." Wack. Also, you may noticed that your body may or may not have changed. What's up with that??? Who cares, at least you have as spiffy new cell phone! You're also told you're free to take the elevators up to Heaven or down to Hell. Good luck!

In the mean time--join the garden party that's going on! Or at least, it seems like a party?? Except all they are serving is pie. Apple pie. Blueberry pie. The classics. For you more Carnivorous types, there's stuff like mince pie, and...the name is smudged, but maybe don't eat that one unless you're a cannibal.

But along with a variety of normal pies, if you accidentally eat a weird pie, your character might experience the following:
Vinegar Pie - It's tasty but suddenly you're compelled to blurt out an Insult or ruthlessly tease the next person you see.
"Sweet" Potato - If you're a normally grumpy or aggro character, this pie will suddenly make you want to be more affectionate! This can be anything from wanting to hold hands or saying genuine nice things.
Humble Pie - Suddenly you feel complimenting or praising others and might downplay your own achievements, or insult yourself.

You can probably shake off the effects, but hey. Free pie!! ]

B) LETS GET READY TO RUMBLE (HELL LEVEL)
[TIME TO EXPLORE. Today in the Hell Level, the Hotel (Ho-hell? Helll-tel? Okay just Hotel) it's time for spring cleaning! Wait, didn't they just have that? An Imp says yes, but this is a different type of cleaning. Time to TAKE OUT THE TRASH!!!!

Which is to say, out of no where you might receive a PUNCH in the face by a local, or an imp! If the latter it's like being bapped by a sick little lamb. Still, even if a local punches you, you suddenly heal immediately? That's right, TODAY ONLY, this is a 'get into a scrap injury free' spring holiday, and you can rough house as much as you want with each other today in the Hotel, and NO DAMAGE will remain! Ever wanted to get cut in half and suddenly stitch back together? WELL TODAY'S YOUR LUCKY DAY.

If you're not into PG rated guro however, why don't you try exploring:
-The clubs! The nightlife in hell is FANTASTIC and genuinely fun!
-Games! Along with casinos galore, there are also normal arcades! Any game you can imagine, it exists.
-Or explore parts of Hell's Hotel that don't involve getting into a dogpile! ]

C) MARCH COMES IN LIKE....(HEAVEN LEVEL)
[TODAY IN HEAVEN THOUGH, there are advertisements for the ZOO!! A zoo in heaven?? Fuck yea!! But when you get there you see nothing but...........lions. And lambs. Just, everywhere. They aren't fighting though, but being super cute and soft and have tiny wings. You can pet them and pick them up--well the lambs at least. The lion might crush you. But you're dead anyway so give it a shot champ!!

Local angels explain that every 'spring' the zoo does this, and it's a sign of good fortune! You might wonder why you need good fortune in Heaven, but fuck it, when it Rome!! If you stick around long enough the zoo will change back to 'normal' and you can find other animals to gawk at.

If zoos aren't your thing though, check out heaven's:
-BEACH!! How is there an ocean and sandy white beach in the sky! Who cares, it's heaven! Beach episode time!
-Coffee shops! There are no coffee shops in hell! LIVE YOUR COFFEE AU DREAMS.
-Or just explore the Heavenly hotel in general!]

D) WILDCARD
[DO WHATEVER ELSE or send text messages on your phone!! ]

OOC NOTES:
-This TDM is open to all! For now, you do NOT need to join the comm to play in it!
-Post questions for the mods here
-Remember, playing in the TDM does NOT guarantee your entry or app being accepted into the game proper later down the line!
-Apps open next Sunday! Be sure to read the rules linked there and check the current taken list!
-For current players: TDMs count as game canon AND threads may be used for AC if you wish!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[What's his has always been that: his. This building (with its groaning pipes, unsteady current, cache of liquor, and people, oh the people) is no different. It has a new face, sure. A new place to nestle into, far away from anything remotely close to Amestris or Dublith. But that doesn't mean it's very dissimilar to what he had. It's the same, old, shit-end bar in the backend of town. A kingdom made of all the so-called trash people left behind, only to have sin, sin, sin come along to collect.]

[He's comfortable here, relaxed. As if he's been dead not for a few months, but hundreds of years, and the brick and mortar is just a part of him.]

[How horrible it is then, to have that comfort sudden and so violently shattered.]

[Because he knows that voice. Knows that voice like a bad habit. How it slithers into his ear like a worm and wiggles all its displeasure. Greed sets the glass in his hand down on the counter.] Well, if it isn't cobbled-together Envy. [A snide edge holds onto his words like a hissing gas line, and a curl teases at the corner of his lip, sharp and menacing. No, there's no love lost between him and his family, and given his long list, Envy is close to the top. Of those he hates, of those he can't stand.]

[The former homunculus bites his lower lip as he turns to shoot a glance over his shoulder. And ah, that killer's look is so easy to drag up from the depths when it comes to the good ol'bloodline, isn't it? So easy to fall into old habits, into biting words meant to leave a wound even if a physical one will never stay. Because pain (the sensation of it anyway) is something they can recover from relatively easily, even in this afterlife. But the deeper gashes? The ones that bubble, split open, to fizz and fester invisibly?]

[Those hurt so much fucking more, don't they.]

[And Envy is so, so easy to cut.]

[Greed's eyes tick wide. Wide, cruel, and predatory.] Knew they brought in some garbage, but I didn't realize they were in the business of bringing shit through the gate. [The forks of his tongue squeeze through his teeth, running faint lines atop the flesh before a spark or two seals them up again.] Suppose I should have figured one of you would show up sooner or later.

[The Sin steps forward and the spikes along the end of his tail start to unfurl. One by one, they peel away like a rose on fire to rattle and buzz. He regards Envy with a disregard that's all teeth.] Long time. And still here you are, looking just as ugly as ever.

[Envy's confidence is like tissue paper, isn't it? The smallest spark would set it alight, the slightest tug on either end will tear. Greed rarely needed to do or say much to rip him to shreds. The spines along his back ripple all the way down to the tip of his tail, his lower set of hands curl into trembling fists for but a moment before he forces that unbothered mask on and relaxes again.

The jealous one has never known "good faith" but he has known what humans expect of that ridiculous concept and he can already tell that showing any towards his estranged sibling is pointless. Nevertheless, he's the only one he can sense in this place, and the only thing Envy recognizes at all from his world. He'd never want to admit to wanting— needing —to feel grounded by staying near something familiar, so he won't. But his presence in this building (brimming with creatures he couldn't take on even if he wanted to in this state) should be enough to prove to Greed that it's a necessary visit, even if it isn't necessarily fruitful.]

Come on, why so hostile? [He holds up all four hands in surrender, fluttering those big, perfectly lined lashes at him.] I'm just here to say "hi." And to congratulate you on your nice little place.

What if we just sat down and had a drink? Caught up for a bit~?

Are you. [He doesn't ask, doesn't even bother to. There's no answer Envy could give that would satisfy him, no excuse to dampen the heat beginning to simmer, twist, and writhe in his core like a hot-fevered parasite. Because he knows how this begins and how it ends.]

[Between Jealousy and Avarice, there can only be one.]

[Greed's heels scuff the floor as he walks closer. Slowly. Deliberately. Deadly.] Oh? Have you forgotten in your old age? [He spits Envy's venom right back at him on a forked tongue that knows nothing else when it comes to his kind.] Does that ring a bell? Do you remember that?

[Oh, and how cold greed can be. How cold, lifeless, and downright disinterested it can become, given the right circumstances. The Sin's tail buzzes, soft and low. But before long, it's too loud. Too quick, too alarming, and he can hear it in his ears, but he doesn't seem to care.]

[He gets within inches of Envy and the smell of carbon on him is as thick and damning as sulfur.] Sure. Have a drink - [Greed's grin splits his face from ear to ear, threatening to snap his skin right off his jaw. He grabs another cup on the counter and when his claws snare the glass, the points of them scream into it; like nails splintering along a chalkboard.]

- let's find you your poison.

[Envy doesn't give him an inch. He simply lowers his hands to rest on his waist and hips, tilting his head to the side like a curious dog. His new, almost-goat-like ears flutter cutely, a move that would disarm anyone that wasn't one of his own... but it's not like he's doing it on purpose.

Probably.]

What are you talking about? I haven't seen you in years.

[He chuckles, head tilting the opposite direction and into the palm of one hand.]

Your memory must be better than mine; can't say I remember any conversations from over a century ago.

[It's probably not the smartest idea to go into this situation with a lie, but he knows if he can convince his stingy sibling that it's been that long, maybe he can get his foot in the door without having it slammed on him.]

Mm, but whatever it was, I'm sorry. [He can sound so sincere when he wants to, but that's always been part of the game. All he can hope for is that it's enough not to get him literally poisoned before the night is out.]

I'll never make fun of you for being old, ever again~ [Especially since he, himself is old as hell now too...]

Edited 2024-05-09 06:45 (UTC)

[Greed turns and as he does, he shows his back to Envy. Shows his back like he knows, like he's following the same path he did a century prior. Does he even remember that? The day he left without a word to disappear in the haze of another, foggy Amestrian morning.]

[In the end, he doesn't care what Envy remembers, doesn't remember, or choses not to remember.]

[Instead, he says nothing and lets his body language speak for itself. His shoulders hitch up to his ears, the spines along his tail shudder back down flat. No, his brother isn't worth the time of fucking day, is he? So fine, he'll give him just that. The nothingness of it all that hurts and stings and strikes twice like a mamba with a mouth full of venom.]

[The former homunculus slips around the other side of the bar, the glass in his hand screaming beneath the pressure of his claws. He checks out his cache of liquor and lands on something he (at least) finds fitting. The bottle of absinthe stares back at him as green as ever; its shine like stagnant swamp water. Greed grabs it by the neck and brings the stopper up to his teeth.]

["Show me your true self - "]

[Without his usual flare or air for the dramatic, the Sin sinks his teeth into the cork. He claps down his jaws as sure as vice, threatening to tear the whole thing to absolute shreds. The Sins, his family. Can he even call them that? Did they actually deserve that? No. They're a so-called group, a gathering of creatures vomited up and spat out to cleanse a man with feet stained bloody and red. But no amount of anything could make a monster like that pure, could it?]

[And no amount of good could ever wash away his sins.]

[Greed pulls the stopper out with a violent jerk of his head before spitting it to the floor. He gives no prep to the drink when he pours it: no sugar to make it smooth, no ice to level out the flavor. No, oh no. He figures this is the answer Envy deserves. And as he tops it off, he slaps the glass down with a dull thwack.]

[All the while, he doesn't even give the other Sin a second glance.]

[That's Envy's least favorite side of Greed, that's for sure. Minus the new addition of some sort of vaguely reptilian tail and horns, that back was the last memory Envy had of his sinbling for a very long time.

Which isn't to say he isn't still haunted by the real final image he has of him: pinned up like a taxidermy beetle, screaming maniacally and cursing their entire bloodline between bouts of panicked, hysterical laughter as he's lowered into a vat of lava to be melted down and reabsorbed. His father's children regarding their maker undoing his own creation, one of their own, daring them to make the same mistake.]

Still giving us the cold shoulder, I see. If it helps— [He hisses, clumsy around this new forked tongue of his.] —It's just me. I showed up here alone.

[When time stretches on for so long that one cannot tell when one year ends and another Begins, most things about existence start to matter less and less. Yet the wounds remain as fresh as if they were sustained Yesterday; just long enough for the weight of the situation to settle on the shoulders and begin it's slow battle with gravity. Ten days, six months, five years, two decades. Half a century.

One hundred godforsaken years.

If only he could have forgotten his face. Ever.

But Envy was never the lucky one, was he? Even his greatest talent, his only purpose had been set to be his own undoing. He's never forgotten a face.

And wouldn't you know it, this face is definitely his least favorite. The same cold disregard he displayed when he turned his back on his family to go make a life of his own.

It's a knife in his gut, even now.]

C'mon. [He promised he would never beg like that again. For forgiveness, for grace, for pity, to be heard, nothing. To anyone, not even his own.

And why should he? Nobody else was ever sorry.

Greed certainly doesn't look sorry now. So Envy will fight his natural inclinations in favor of reason. At least then he could claim Greed was being the unreasonable one at best. It's not much but it's enough, sometimes.]

If I had a white flag I'd raise it, okay? Write a treaty or a truce or something, I'll sign it.

[Just... Stop (not) looking at him like that.]

Edited 2024-05-12 04:27 (UTC)

[Like a cold breeze blowing, the Sin looks up at his counterpart. Avarice and jealousy are so close, yet so far apart that it's easy for that loathing to build up in him like bile. Maybe once, they could have reconciled. But that was before. Before Wrath had stripped him of everything, before they all looked on at the marvel of his undoing. That's the thing about sins of the past - they come back to haunt, don't they?]

[And now, here they are. Here he is. That snide smile of his tainted with the absolute cruelty of distance and disregard.]

Yeah, I'm sure you'd be all too quick to do that, wouldn't you? Just to save your own ass.

[But then Envy says truce, treaty, sign, and Greed's eyes go incredibly wide. However, it isn't surprise that has him looking that way. Oh, no. It's something far more sinister. Far more wicked. The former homunculus sinks into the other side of the bar and his body practically coils into the mold of the countertop; like he's the final puzzle piece putting the whole picture together.]

[He grabs Envy's drink by the brim, digging tiny holes into the edge like pock marks.] Would you? Do anything? Be careful what you ask for, Little Envy. [A twitch of static snaps on his tongue, making the inside of his cheek light up like bones on an X-Ray.] Tell me, can you still change? Can you still do everything you could before all this?

[He asks like he almost knows. He doesn't, of course not. But a terrible kind of hope begins to fester in his chest. It bubbles there as sure as hot tar and expands, growing, growing, growing until it pops sizzling in the back of his throat.]

[Because oh, oh if Envy doesn't. If he's facing the same kind of slowness he's been facing or worse: wouldn't that be the cherry on the fucking cake? The gold-plated topper to finish it all off.]

[And with that thought, his whole demeanor changes. The ice melts away, replaced with a burn that craves satisfaction. That craves payment. Greed's face contorts with the blaze; his craze subtle, yet no less deadly. He takes what he's poured and throws it back completely: all its bitterness, its vile taste, coating his throat.]

[Of all the things to be asked...]

Has nothing to do with my ass, Greed.

[He sighs, hoping to dance around the answer to that last question for now.]

I want to— [Biting the bullet on this one is harder than he thought it would be. He knows what will follow- bitter laughter, ridicule, denial and finally expulsion. He's going to get laughed out of the bar and he knows it. He knows and he's going to let his ego take it full in the face, anyway.

Doesn't that count for something?]

—make amends. [He holds a hand up, silently requesting pause just long enough to let him finish.] Since it's just you and me... I figured we could hash it out. Like we used to. No Lust, no Pride, no "Dad," no plan, just us. Here! In "Hell." Sounds like a perfect time to catch up, if you ask me.

You can even beat me to death as many times as you want. My treat.

Edited 2024-05-22 22:32 (UTC)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

TDM 001!!

➥ Family Reunion, More Like Family Shitshow

EVERYBODY GET YOUR TICKETS NOWWW

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