Penance Inbox

[cleptes]

 

You've reached Bela Talbot's voicemail. Sorry I can't answer your phonecall; please leave a message and I'll get back to you later.

 

video | text | voice | action

 

Comments

text ≛ un: Cervantes // backdated to day after Mares Event

[chaos_magnet]

You make it through that shit?

text; un: Lugosi

[cleptes]

I did.

[ Barely, but she's still alive. That had to account for something. ]

I'm glad to hear from you.

[chaos_magnet]

Yeah. Yeah, me too.

I saw you once. I think. And I tried to get to you or hallucination you, but the Mares weren't letting me.

[ The dead wouldn't let him. The protomolecule crystal-like wall. ]

[cleptes]

You could have seen me, but I don't think I saw you.

There were times when I was so turned around, I didn't know what was real or not.

[ She remembers what felt real though. ]

Did you have someone looking out for you?

[chaos_magnet]

I was with Wei Wuxian at first, found Rodriguez at some point. After that...I don't know who was real or not.

You?

text, un: superchick (1/2)

[formerlydead]

hey bee

so I think tech is currently being punished for snooping around his mansion and I could really do with the distraction from worrying about him right now

he says he's fine and communicating via his mind (it's a god thing) but you know how dumb boys are, he's probably lying. anyway talk to me before I go insane lol

[formerlydead]

[ After no response... ]

bela? are you okay??

reply around the 9th Dec

[cleptes]

I'm alive.

[ Then comes another text. ]

Based on what you told me about Tech, I think I was punished for the exact same reason.

[formerlydead]

[ The sheer relief she feels once she finally hears from Bela... and maybe a little anger too because how dare Lucifer hurt the two people she cares about the most. It was a double whammy for her having them both go missing at the same time. ]

holy shit are you okay???? do you need a hug? do you want me to come over?

[ She's spent enough time with Tech to know he's recovered, now it's Bela's turn to be checked on. ]

[cleptes]

I'll be fine. Peter was lucky enough to find me when I was let go and he's been taking care of me since then.

[ Bela is reluctant to give her friend even more of a chance to worry about her, but she knows Ava will because of how close they've gotten. ]

You can visit later if you like.

[Dated to before Peaceful End event] ★ Video ★ Cervantes

[chaos_magnet]

[ It's been days since he heard from Bela, so addressing that is his first concern. If the reason for said silence revolves around Them or him, James is ignorant, and given how well they've been doing, his assumption is something's happened to her. Worry eating away at his sleep, James appears on screen with bags under his eyes and a croaky voice as he tries reaching out via the Network when knocking at her door has proven fruitless. ]

I can't find you. And I don't like it.

Video | Lugosi

[cleptes]

[ Bela fully intended to reach out to people when she was released from the torture room, but she was exhausted from her ordeal. After her wound was patched up and she took a long bath, she slept the rest of the day into the next morning. When Bela woke up, she had messages waiting for her from both Ava and James. She responds to Ava's text first because it was easier than having to reply with either voice or video.

When she switches from text to video, Bela makes an effort to look her best, but he'll notice that her skin is paler and that she looks tired. He didn't look great either and that makes her concerned. ]

If you'd know where I have been for the past week, you definitely wouldn't like it, James. [ She heaves out a sigh, worrying at her bottom lip. ]

I was held prisoner by some demons and subjected to torture. I'm not sure I want to tell you what they did... [ Bela trails off, sucking in a breath. ]

[chaos_magnet]

[ He zeroes in and pales at the sight of her as his body goes through a rollercoaster of emotions, from that elated high at knowing she's still here, followed by the sickening drop at simply seeing her because something's visibly wrong before she even confirms it.

In a tight and pained tone, James asks -- ] If you tell me where you are, I can be there. If you want me there.

[cleptes]

[ Until now, the most horrific physical thing she had gone through was being bitten and turned into a zombie. The torture went beyond that and now Bela has a mark to remind her of the experience, aside from any bad dreams that may come as a result. ]

I do want you here. God, I do. [ She wants to be comforted and reconnect with people she's close to. ] I'm in room 201. It's a shared suite, but my roommates seem to be elsewhere at the moment.

[chaos_magnet]

[ After slipping into a jacket, he keeps the connection live while making his way from 214 to her suite, muttering an unnecessary 'I'm on my way'. James only briefly pauses to ask -- ] Right, shit, do you need anything?

[ If Bela declines, he'll briskly walk and only hang up once he's knocking on her door with some level of urgency. ]

"You're just like my favorite song, going 'round my head." (post-Striking the Hammer)

[chaos_magnet]

The moment Diana is able to shatter the spell, James is overwhelmed; from the onslaught of real memories and his actual life before Hell, his life here, clashing against the untruths of soda jerk Jimmy. He's drowning in emotions and unsure which one to settle on, stomach nauseous. And he feels that hero complex so strongly it almost hurts, because James wasn't the only one violated. He has people inside and he's the sort to give a shit about the others too, the ones not within his circle. He has to do something. He has to...shit, it's too much. He knows he'd do better with a minor adjustment period, but the others don't have that luxury.

James doesn't bother changing clothes. He bolts back to the hotel to start pounding on doors before sending out messages and that's how he finds himself at Bela's; banging the side of his fist in a constant knock coupled with her name until someone opens the door or a full minutes passes; whichever happens first.

[cleptes]

Kate and Ava were still inside. She failed to get Ava out and the guilt weighed upon her like a stone. Bela didn't even try to rescue Kate, knowing that she only had so much time to make an attempt. She was safer in the hotel despite the current condition it was in. At least she managed to get one person out.

Drinking had helped to take the edge off and the only people that Bela has spoken to about her experiences were the two people who portrayed her 'parents' in that false existence. They had given her something her real parents were incapable of. Knowing that brought up emotions and memories Bela had locked away for a while; she hated her parents.

By the time she hears the knock at her door and her name being called, Bela is already tipsy. The wine she had been drinking gave her a pleasant buzz and a nice, warm feeling that kept out some of the chill. Even so, she was wrapped up in several layers and wearing comfy slippers. Bela sets down her glass, leaving her room and padding over to the main suite door to answer it, opening the door wide.

When she sees who it is, Bela doesn't hesitate in throwing her arms around James and pulls him into a tight embrace.

[chaos_magnet]

He's too wired and worried to notice the colder temperatures or even remember where his jacket ended up. None of that matters until James knows the state of his people, and as Bela is opening the door, he finds himself impatiently craning to catch a glimpse of the greeter.

"Oh, thank fucking Sol." He'd crumple into a puddle of relief had she not attached herself to him, and James hears himself make some sort of soft sob as he squeezes Bela as firmly as seems safe with risk of injury. He's crying into her hair.

[cleptes]

She clings onto James with no intention of letting go, feeling some kind of giddy relief that he was here with her. Bela rubs a soothing circle into his back with a hand when she hears the sob and allows James the time to release whatever emotions he needed to get out.

"It's okay." She whispers softly, trying to reassure him. "I'm okay." Mostly. "I really fucking missed you though." Bela adds, sounding emotional herself. "Even though I caught glimpses of you in that place, it wasn't - you weren't the James I knew."

[chaos_magnet]

He wasn't himself to the point that it almost creeped him out; the constant joviality of Jimmy the soda jerk. The guy who waltzed into the diner just to befriend a teenager, who pined for this woman going by another name and never acted on it.

James lets Bela go but doesn't give any space back. He instead takes her face between his hands and gently smooths her hair while haphazardly wiping himself against his shoulder as the initial tidal wave begins to settle. "I really fucking missed you too, Bela."

Using that name feels more right than wrong, something that will pass the longer he's away from false memories and a Stepford, Animal Farm neighborhood. The names came be addressed later.

"Who got you out?"

text; un: ladyava (backdated to "into the great beyond" event)

[formerlydead]

hey bee, are you going on the spear of whatever trip?

text; un: Lugosi

[cleptes]

Hi 'Lady Ava'.

Afraid not. You'd think it would be something I'm interested in, but I'm really not sure.

Are you going?

[formerlydead]

this charming bard called me that. it has a ring to it, don't you think?

I thought I'd go. I feel like I've done nothing but get high since I got out of hellburbia. plus it feels selfish to have as many abilities as I have and not use them to help.

if you're not going, stay safe while I'm gone.

[cleptes]

It does! Also, a bard? They're from medieval times.

I don't think you're selfish, Ava. Hellburbia was a lot so you had to handle the fallout in whatever way you could. But if going on the trip helps you, I'm not going to discourage it.

I will be safe. I'll just cuddle with my cat. Which, I forgot to tell you about.

James asked Emmanuel to give me my cat from home and Ava...it was one of the loveliest things that anyone has ever done for me.

[odaystar]

To Whom It May Concern,

It has been years now since Hell has been redone and made even greater than ever before. And you, my prized guest, have made it twelve months in your journey towards redemption. I know that there have been bumps along the way and we haven't always seen eye to eye, but I do wish to show my gratitude. Together, we will all leave Hell one day.

I have handpicked gifts specifically for you to commemorate this anniversary. I do hope you enjoy them.

Shiny golden basket with candies and gold jewelry with gorgeous gemstones

A dress personally designed by a famous fashion designer in Mammon’s Land

A voucher to get out of torture. It may be transferred to another party.

Again, I thank you for all of your help in making Hell what it is today.

Yours,
Lucifer