Round Robin: A Bloodthirsty Invertebrate-Killer!

[onyourmark]

This is a totally casual free-for-all group storytelling game! Anyone can join in at any time, no experience necessary.

• Make sure you read what the other posters have written in the story thus far. Try to keep things kinda-sorta coherent, don't just go veering off in another direction.
  
  
• Spell-check! And try to obey the basic conventions of grammar. It doesn't need to be ready to send to the publishers (this is the internet), but, yanno.
  
  
• Posts can be anywhere from 200 words (more or less) to a single sentence!

I'll go first.

The whole problem started with Christian Evangelists.

... Well, maybe that’s not fair to the Evangelists. The problem actually started with the Devil, but all of Sam’s problems started with the Devil, so here is what Sam has identified as the beginning of his problem aside from the Devil (despite the fact that this story begins and ends with the Devil, which-- as the Devil will surely tell you-- most stories worth telling do):

[cko]

First of all, it turns out the Christian Evangelists were right all along. When you speak the Devils' name (in any context--even devil's food cake), the Devil does come to you. You might not be able to see him, but he's there.

[pacejunkie]

That's where the circle came in. Sam and his friends got used to using it whenever they wanted to have a private conversation. It was Sock's idea to replace the Devil's name with You-Know-Who, like Voldemort. This worked pretty well, leaving only one problem remaining.

Sam was able to keep the Devil at bay, but he had been less successful with the Evangelists. Seems word got around of Sam's predicament and some of them had started a small crusade aimed at saving Sam's soul. It wasn't that he didn't appreciate it, Sam just wished he could convince them that they were wasting their time.

[onyourmark]

“Have you even tried accepting Jesus into your heart?” one of them asked, a hint of impatience finally creeping into his voice after a twenty-minute sermon in the Bench’s bath hardware aisle failed to rouse Sam from (perhaps somewhat more diligently than usual) restocking decorative faucets.

“One time I thought I found Jesus,” Sock offered helpfully. “But it turned out to be a homeless dude.”

[cko]

(To Sam's vague irritation, Sock seemed to enjoy this predicament, and got a fiendish pleasure out of encouraging the Evangelists. Or, maybe just because he was bored.)

[pacejunkie]

So that brings us to the bloodthirsty invertebrate killer. No seriously, it does -- via the evangelists. It went something like this...

[Blue Sunflower]

Sam had hated birds long before the Devil started making them mandatory helpers during his Reaper jobs. The cardinal tattoo, Winston, and the oriole on the mailbox didn't help change his opinion. But the robin? It was the worst.

And it didn't have to be that way. But damn. Why worms?

[cko]

Yeah, worms. In simpler, more innocent days, Sam thought of worms--when he thought of them at all--as slightly ooky but quite harmless, wriggling creatures that he'd dig from the garden, put in a coffee can, and take to the lake to go fishing with his Dad.

But since seeing the giant worm that lurched up from the parking lot at the Bench and gulped down Gladys, he just hasn't felt the same way about worms.

Or his Dad, as far as that goes.

[loandbehold]

And speaking of Dad, "where did he go?", Sam wondered aloud. For Sam had gone back to the campsite only to find out that dear ol' Dad, the man who had sold his soul to the Devil in the first place, was no longer buried. Alive or dead.

[pacejunkie]

When Sam returned to the site of the demon's cage a few days later, all that remained were an open pit, a mess of earthworms and those annoying Evangelists, holding a prayer circle around the hole.

"Excuse me," Sam asked one of them, after looking into the pit and finding it empty. "But did you see anyone in this hole?"

Only one broke from her prayer long enough to respond. "The only things in this hole are from the fiery pits of hell and we mean to destroy it."

Well that wasn't good, Sam thought. Maybe his father was still down there, and they hadn't dug deep enough. He broke through the circle and jumped into the pit, digging furiously with both hands.

"Stop! What are you doing?" they cried. And then the wailing started. And then one of them lifted a cross and spilled something on him. Sam looked down and saw the worms...

And then all hell broke loose.

[cko]

A rain of shimmery, glimmery powder poured down, showering around him to land on the roiling mass of earthworms at his feet.

He watched in growing horror as the powder coated the worms, making them foam. Even in his shock, he was idly reminded of his childhood days, eagerly pouring salt on random slugs on the driveway.

Suddenly, the wet churning mass seemed to bubble up and expand. And expand. And expand. It had ballooned up to knee-height before Sam shook out of his brief reverie and jumped back in horror.

"Aaaaaagh!"

The chanting from above grew in volume and intensity. The powder continued to rain down. The skies seemed to darken. The bubbling worm foam grew faster and faster, flowing around him.

Sam looked desperately for a way to get out.

[Blue Sunflower]

Which is when the robin came in.

At first, Sam thought the robin would be his salvation. Until he realized it was the evangelists who had thrown the bird in.

So Sam, per usual when things started going in this weird way, started to panic.

[cko]

... in one part of his mind. The other part was strangely lucid. With amazing clarity he saw the robin swoop down toward him. He ducked, turned, and fell. Looked up the side of the pit and amazingly, in front of him, a shelf in the mud to clamber up. Which he did.

Reaching the top of the pit, he ran like blue blazes.

[amber]

Sam hurried down the green field, beneath the dark sky. That same shocked expression on his face, like whenever something insane would happen. His sneakers grazed over the growing grass, the green blades whipping at the soles of his shoes.

The evangelists continued to chant. Sam could hear them from afar... soon the sky darkened to an even deeper blue and a clap of thunder bellowed from within the advancing slew of dark-gray clouds. A bolt of lightning. Then came the rain. Although, this was no ordinary rain... it was a transparent shade of pink; and as the rain continued to pour, like a watering can from the heavens, it got thicker and stickier. Darker -- a heavier shade of red. Almost as if it were blood.

Sam raced, now as fast as his legs could go. He could still hear them chanting. Until finally they stopped, and soon heard horrible screaming.

"Blood! The sky bleeds!" Cried out one of the evangelists...

[cko]

Gasping and stumbling, he headed toward the forest. But the bloodrain was soaking his hair and running down his face. His vision blurred, he ran face-first into a tree.

[Blue Sunflower]

"Hey, badass!" Laughed a familiar yet unwelcome voice. "Guess you taught that tree a lesson, huh? It totally deserved it, I assure you."

Sam wiped the rain out of his eyes to find he was sitting at a table in a bar he didn't recognize. The Devil sat across from him - and on his shoulder was the robin.

[cko]

Sam blinked, and, realizing he was dry and undamaged, gave the Devil a look. "Har-de-har. So what was that all about? And...where are we?"

He looked around, the character of his surroundings becoming evident. Yeah, it was a bar...but not like any bar he'd ever been in.

[joshcarter]

There were all sorts of weird creatures in it. Some looking humanoid, others looking totally out of this world.

"Where... Are... We...?" Sam asked again.

To that, the Devil just smiled and gave a laugh. The robin twitched a little and looked around the bar indifferently, seemingly oblivious to anything around it.

[cko]

[Uh-oh. I sense a crossover developing. I'll think twice about it, but I may not be able to resist. Karaoke, anyone?]

[Verse]

One of the weird creature had its tail snapped on Sam's back. Sam jerked around, and realized the creature was just swinging its tail casually. Then there was lamps made of fire and ... worms. (since we are talking about worms) Sam could have screamed but he saved it for the worst.
Sam realized The Devil won't answer his question. Instead he asked. "So... another soul? " He hesitated, then continued, which he repeated this sentence for the third time, but clearer and sharper. "Where are we? "

[cko]

The Devil grinned, his bright white teeth splitting the golden tan of his face. "Welcome to the Bi Bar, Sammy, my boy," he said, gesturing broadly. "I figured it was about time you met some other denizens of Hell living above ground. This is the hangout for the Incubi and Succubi."

Sam stared across the table for a moment, then slewed his eyes around the murky environs. As the shadowy figures came into focus, he realized he was surrounded by creatures dressed in stunning outfits with glittery skin, glowing horns, and curving, waving tails. The sound of the electronica music penetrated his blurred awareness. Creatures milling, drinking, talking, laughing...it was like a twisted commercial for some fancy liquor.

The robin, far from looking indifferent, suddenly looked ominous.


[Note: crossover narrowly averted; thanks, Verse!]

[joshcarter]

"So, wait, you dragged me away from that thing," said Sam, pointing at the robin, "just to bring me to some kind of demonic bar?!" Muttering under his breath, "Unbelievable."

"What, Sammy? Don't you think you should appreciate it a bit, me giving you a vacation from catching souls?" Laughed the Devil.

"You call this a vacation? A bird almost killed me today, and you call it a vacation? That's it, I'm leaving." Sam retorted, feeling frustrated.

Just as he was about to get up, a glittery hand was put on his shoulder and a sultry female voice said from behind him, "Well, if it isn't Sam Oliver..."

[cko]

"...What's a nice boy like you doing in a place like this?"

Sam, startled at the sound of his name, turned around to see ... Marlena? But not the Marlena of the demon cage worksite. No jeans, no denim jacket. This Marlena was...well, there was only one word for it: gorgeous. And hot. And enticing. And magnificent.

Hmmm, guess there was more than one word for it.

[teras]

But considering she was a Succubus, that wasn't surprising…

Her eyes had a mischievous glint in them as he looked her over.

And made a mental note…

Hot looking Succubi in high heels and a black mini slit down the right side to show their panties… Or lack there of… Are something to write to Penthouse about…

Marlena slinked closer to him, wetting her lips slightly with her tongue as she purred, "Can I offer you a drink?"

[cko]

The Devil sat forward across the table, steepling his fingers. "Now, now, Marlena, my dear. You remember I only let you back in my--shall we say, good graces after that rebellion debacle, if you promised to stay within--" he gestured circularly "--your realm. And I do believe our man Sam here is outside of that particular realm."

As if it understood, the robin twitched its head, and seemed to nod, its beady eyes shining.

[teras]

Marlena just smiled, "Well, we're in a bar. And you know how many mortals lose their inhibitions in them..." She winked at Sam, "If you feel like trying something with a lot more kick than coffee... I'll be over at the bar mixing drinks..."

As she walked away, she traced a finger over Sam's right shoulder before blowing the Devil a kiss and disappearing in the direction of the bar's selection of drinks...

[cko]

Despite his overwhelming dismay and discomfort, Sam found his eyes following Marlena's retreating backsi....uh, back towards the bar. With great effort, he turned back toward the Devil, who was watching with casual amusement.

"So can we just get down to business?" he said, trying to keep the whine out of his voice. "What is going on? Who were those people at the pit? Why did it start raining blood? And what are we doing here now in this..." he looked around, momentarily distracted again... "weird place? And--" glaring at the robin, "now I gotta be freaked out by birds, too?"

[Blue Sunflower]

"You're freaked out by everything, Sam," the Devil pointed out. "Sometimes it's quite disappointing." A wide grin mischieviously spread over his face. "Or at least it would be, if watching you wig out wasn't so highly entertaining."

The Devil then over-exaggerated a sigh. "I'm sooo bored, Sammy. Thought I might stir things up a bit by playing with my favorite Reaper. You're so much fun!"

Sam just glared back. And sulked. Dammit, he hated being one of the Devil's toys.

[cko]

After sulking for a minute, Sam shook his head. "So this is all a game?" he burst out. "Like, it's not even an escaped soul or anything?"

"Oh, no, well, yes." The Devil flashed his smile. "It is a game. Of course it's all one big game." He gestured up to the skies, then fixed Sam with a look. "But it's also a Soul. Think about it, my boy, what could be the connection? Fundamentalists, bleeding rain? Succubi and Incubi? The Robin?"

While Sam gaped, the Robin, as though understanding, fixed its beady eyes on Sam too.

[cko]

The Devil suddenly looked stern, almost glowering. "It seems someone has not been studying," he growls. Sam looked startled, askance. "Studying? You mean...you were serious about that? Those dusty books? Some had locks on them!"

The Devil's face relaxed suddenly, genial once more. He waved his hand in the air as though summoning a waiter. "Another time, Sammy my boy. Another time. This time I'll give you a bit of a hint." He smiled like a game-show host. "Not the 'Beginning' of 'Nights', but the...." He looked enquiringly across the table. Sam squinted back.

The Robin flicked both wings and let out a small screech.