Worlds of Madness

[Scarlet]

Really was this how things were going to start happening now? Scarlet had been sleeping after running throughout Karakura for several hours, both training and doing her best to keep the Hollows at bay as they never seemed to just stop. A rough day for the typical human working what had been roughly eighteen hours ranging from her actual job as a hostess and then of course swinging around her axe at the strange gross bodies of the Hollows. She'd come home and just flopped down on her bed letting the soft embrace of sleep comfort her tired body, then just like that instead of waking up in her room with the sun light guiding open her eyes, she was standing in a burning landscape with several others in front of a man that looked like a combination of everything she found attractive and horrible at the same time.

"Red hair, muscular, that shirt. . the eyes."

Scarlet shook her head slightly not realizing that she was drifting off. That's when everything was revealed and Scarlet found her palms pressed against her face, she wasn't going to cry although if someone were going to it probably would be in this position. No, she started to rub her eyes and then smacked both her cheeks at the same time loud enough for everyone to hear. This wasn't the first time that she'd come across entities that claimed to be from Hell, but this was the first time she was inside of it. For that reason, Scarlet took the time to look around actually physically turning and making sure to observe the environment and surroundings. If she was meant to play some sort of game than it likely wouldn't be anything not dangerous if it meant to entertain the King of Hell.

She could tell that the others for the most part were either going to be a hinderance or just plain difficult to deal with as some of them seemed needlessly prideful or an ass kisser, while others just couldn't believe what was happening. She did have to keep herself from laughing though at the remark from the Shinigami towards the girl with dressed in white. It was a funny comment that normally Scarlet would have burst out in delight. "Well then what will we be playing for you? Some twisted spin on children games? Dangerous turns on actual sports like dodgeball? Can always throw some of the more disobedient citizens of your kingdom at us. I'd be more than happy to cut down some more of them."

[Blair Aldaine ❅]

Some woke themselves up one by one, others seemed to rise at the same time. Their dynamic was already interesting. A smile crept up on Satan's face as he watched - a horrendously malicious joy threatening to find its way to the surface. He had to admit he already had his favorites. Anyone who challenged him was interesting enough in his book, and anyone who displayed any amount of cowardice would be the easiest to torment. All of this was good. Mors did well, and Satan wasn't complaining about the guests. They would have to figure out how to survive, or else they'd sincerely struggle.

"I assure you," he purred, eyeing each participant individually, but paying especially close attention to the green-haired woman. "I am going to make this worth it for anyone who manages to escape. For those of you who can't, then we'll get to know each other much more personally." With a pause, he brought his gaze back to Celes. "Regardless of any preferences you may have."

He snickered and paced himself in front of the group while he spoke. "I've given you all of the information you're allowed to know. It's just a game of luck. But since each of you seems so eager to start, the least I can do is tell each of you the Sins that brought you here." As he listed each name, he stood before the respective participant. "Luke Clyburn, you embody the Sin of Pride. You have been welcomed back to the World of the Living after being dormant for so long that even I had considered plucking your soul straight from your body, but every time you meet with someone, regardless of their status, you love to gloat about your abilities as a Bount. As a being who can hear it all, I've grown tired of it."

Turning to Arcadus, Satan changed his tune. "Arcadus, you have interested me for quite some time after I watched you challenge my generals. Still, you embody the Sin of Gluttony. You even started your evolution over entirely for power and sought out ways to strengthen yourself by the day. Though all Hollows could be seen as gluttonous creatures, your embodiment comes from the attempts you make at growing more powerful still. At what point will you be satiated?"

His eyes shot over to Leonie quickly after he finished up with Arcadus. "Leonie Dallmann, your refusal to work together with the other participants further proves the fact that you embody the Sin of Sloth. Your fixation with the Vandenreich constantly stops you from being able to enjoy other causes of happiness in life. How many times have you had to turn away from friendship due to who or what they were? How many times have you slept on the opportunity to expand your worldly knowledge because of such steadfast devotion? Not that I care much. These failures brought you to me."

With a shrug and another step, he changed his attention over to Mirim. "Ah, Mirim Frost. A classic case of Envy. You're limited in your speech and thus your abilities. I'm sure you wish every day that you were not in this situation despite your familial bonds. Is it not true that you've cursed yourself before for having such difficulty communicating? Don't you wish someone else would take this burden from you so you no longer had to deal with it?"

His smirk grew larger once again, unable to hide his anticipation. "Your turn, Celes Shindazu. I couldn't find a more fitting Sin than that of Lust. Anyone who actively goes down the Vizard path lusts after the power it brings, which puts you in the same boat as Arcadus. I'm sure you two could find ways to be friends, right? And perhaps some stronger insults if you wish to offend the Kind of Hell."

Then his eyes snapped once again over to Impo. "You are an interesting one, my friend. And so very much the embodiment of the Sin of Greed. You may be asking me how that makes sense, but just think about it. You wish to keep all of that raw power roaming around inside of you to yourself. You don't wish to share it at all. I couldn't take it from you even if I tried, and you're thinking of ways to make it go away? How selfish. With what you have, you could gift me thousands of souls. How I wish you would reconsider."

With narrowed vision, he walked until he was close to Scarlet and his face was only inches away from her own. "Scarlet, you are allowing your Wrath to shine. If you're so sure you can unleash that fury and destroy my kingdom so easily, then this is going to be a much more entertaining game than I ever would have thought." With a pivot on his heels, Satan turned away and waved his hand dismissively. "Maybe try smiling more. That tends to bring people in."

With his back facing the group, Satan put his hands on his hips and looked at the throne that towered over them. Without much effort, he jumped effortlessly up to it once again and promptly sat down. Despite being so high up, as he spoke, his words would be heard as if he were standing only a few feet away, just as they had before. His ability to project was enhanced within his realm since he was the master of it all, giving him complete control over any physics in Hell. This was only one of the perks, and he supposed it was fair since he was tossed aside and forced to reign here all those years ago.

"Celes," he shouted. "Enjoy being the first victim."

With a flash bright enough to blind everyone, the scenery changed suddenly to look like a massive pathway with several areas where it splits. Interestingly enough, the end of the path led to a light that appeared to be connected to the World of the Living. Stones of various sizes floated around very slowly in the empty space, but the surrounding area was painted a strange red, almost as if there was a layer of skin blocking sunlight. Celes would find herself at the beginning of the path, already faced with a fork in the road, and she would be given two options to choose from by two very familiar faces. It was up to her to make the right choices.

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OOC: Alrighty! I'll be posting this after each round of choices once it's my turn again but both the angel and demon (chosen by me in secret) will post, followed by Celes, then followed by me. We will repeat this two more times before Celes' fate is determined for a total of three rounds. If you guys have questions, just DM me privately so we can keep it secret unless your questions are super general! In which case, feel free to ask in the group DM.

[Mirim Frost]

Envy, a feeling of discontentment or resentful longing brought about from another's possessions, qualities, or luck. To have this brought out before her in such a way gave her pause for thought. It was true that her inability to communicate properly was an inconvenience, but the quality of envy did have roots in her existance. She could say that she was born the moment her mother split the corruption of her soul free, causing it to grow a form Mirim wore to this day and she'd be correct. However, she could also say she was born the moment this corruption began to fester in Miranda Frost's soul.

This corruption grew because Miranda survived that which she shouldn't and her purification process was faulty. Though it scrubbed the hollowfication from the soul, it didn't fill in the gaps and etchings left behind. Her struggles throughout the following years in the soul society filled these etched instructions and just as DNA instructs the body on how to grow and operate, so did these etchings instructed the soul to self destruct.

Mirim would be born the moment these negative energies began to manifest, desiring that which had been averted. Mirim was born from envy, hate, and wrath, but had ultimately been saved when Miranda split her soul and allowed this curruption to fill the then empty space to create another soul, however corrupted and fragmented it may be. This origin wasn't lost on Mirim, who stood there and looked away from Satan. He was correct, but not for the true reason.

Mirim carried the memories of those who came before. It was her duty to grow and remain existing long enough for these memories and stories to be transferred. With her new bonds with X'cution, she was able to work on herself. She obtained a job, made friends and loves. She got to enjoy life for what it was. Yes it was true she would enjoy to talk and speak her mind as others do, but through this difficulty she was able to truly appreciate her gift for singing and mimicry.

Though she desired to voice her disagreement, she kept her mouth shut. It wasn't worth it here to argue with the man who carried the keys necesary to leave this place in one piece. As her eyes shifted to look upon Satan once more, she'd be blinded, disoriented. When her vision cleared, the girl found herself standing at the mouth of a path. There was something oddly familiar about it, yet it still stank of that hellish corruption. It reminded herself of the World of the Living if hell had begun corrupting it. It was not unlike the area of Death Mountain, though with less ash coating the ground.

Additionally, she'd feel a presence nesting in her chest. It was strange but not at all unpleasent. Graceful and light, it soothed her soul. From this feeling she felt as if her path was the correct one, and that something rather unpleasant would occur of one were to follow the other path. Mirim's eyes widened as Celes herself approached the paths. It was then she knew in her heart of hearts what her role right now would be, but how could she communicate this to Celes?

Did Celes even recognize the likeness of Mirim to her mother, Miranda? Though with a strange mechanical left eye whose light betrayed her emotions, a true window to her soul, and wearing paler skin than that of her mother, her face and hair were almost identical. Mirim would recall a hazy memory of how Miranda and Celes first met.

Miranda would be whisked away, not unlike how everyone here was, to a dark apartment building in New York to do the bidding of this ancient artifact. Miranda had just recently arrived in Squad 7 on her first assignment, but Celes herself was but an academy student. They first met when Celes was also whisked away mid swing of her blade during swordsmanship training and slashed Miranda, cutting deep. Together, the two would escape and make it back to the Sereitei, though only they knew how. The memory inherited by Mirim was fuzzy there, but she did recall her mother still retaining that scar from all those years ago, despite being offered by Squad 4 to heal it perfectly.

There was a sense of dread that hung above the fullbringer. Miranda would never forgive Mirim had she let Celes go down the path of damnation here. As this dread set over her, so did this presence in her chest eased it. The pale blue of her eye would shift to a calme and neutral white. The presence would speak, no, it would sing.



"When ashclouds fall, you'll walk this way, like whispered screams, your mind won't see." she sang softly to some unknown, slow beat. Never breaking the threshold of the path, she'd raise her arms up in welcome, hands unfurling. "Blood and fire, flames kiss your face, an ancient lyre, dictates your fate." The presence sung, possessing Mirim not unlike her memories did. Unlike those occasions, this time she didn't live the events that were sung, even if she understood the words spoken through her. "I believe we'll leave the hellscape, split the clouds to the sun. Fly away on wings of fortune, but fate's only just from dust to dust."

"So come hither. Walk the path"