James's Descent Ch. 09

The girl let her hand slip on his leg, a clear invitation to do something else. Something fun. Maybe not full sex, but something to entertain the girl and him as well. James got the message. He switched from this game to another, if only to set the mood. He could go on and on about sex games... so well crafted, just holding back enough to keep the suspension of disbelief while offering both a good story and quite the scenes. Fully animated pairings were at his beck and call, using the kinks he enjoyed in exactly the way he wanted. That was a dislike he had of other sex games... even some astorian ones... no-one ever got things just right. But these did.

By now, his cock was out and in her reach, always in the open, even if this room was not particularly sex-themed. Pami's hand slipped on it to begin stroking as she also looked at the pleasing sights with a temptation in her. No need for her to play with herself, James would reach over and let his middle and ring finger slide over her closed lower lips, a tease, for now, to evolve into fingering. He could still play this game with one hand, which was a great quality for a sex game. Why are you even playing it, eh? Few were so interested in the plot.

But there was... a noise. A growing noise that made it increasingly difficult for the man to enjoy these pleasures. Faint, utterly faint... but there, noticeable especially when he was not focusing on something else. Even now, it was there, like soft tinnitus. He asked what that was.

"People are calling for you back in your world." That was the response of one of the "attendants" which might as well be named devils or demons, even when shaped like pretty men and women. "Everyone has them, but I guess you were more well-known. Don't worry, you can ignore it. Can't do anything but that."

And, indeed... he could ignore it... sleep through it, and forget about it for days. He only felt it when it got a bit stronger and he was not doing anything at all. The fact that he heard it now spoke of its growing intensity. And he couldn't keep that secret here.

"Ugh. Don't you at least know what they want? They're ruining the moment."

"Nope. Other than... well, that they might have a problem. Such it is with any great figure. But I guess it's a lot of someones. Though, I think we left the world in a good enough state."

"Yeah, but who knows how it went?"

Someone might know. James thought of that one that allowed so much to him. Anyone else... not a good answer. They'd have to go and look everything up and there was never a clear answer. But she... might know. It was odd that James thought of Satan as a she... though they haven't appeared in any form other than that "cute" one. But just as soon as that thought was finished, the voices quieted down enough to be ignored. No use, the moment was ruined... a bit. They'd return to the more casual touching when such a game was played. Eventually, there might come an orgasm or seven, going through them in tune with the scenes they both saw on the big screen, inspired by them to play out such ideas either on the couch or right in front of it.

But James was not one to forget about a problem.

*

Private rooms were also a feature of hell. The enjoyment of one's retreat from everything was almost sacred. No one could come in unless the owner wanted and James at first had to sigh and cover his eyes at the literal mansion he was gifted... he requested something a lot more modest, if still holding everything he might need. And mansion was not an exaggeration as the initial space given to him opened into an outdoor land stretching over a couple of square kilometers, but it could be infinite if he wanted it to... in the middle was a grand estate filled with opulent rooms made in the image of just about every pleasure place hell had to offer. He opted for just a three-room house with a very modest yard.

As he retreated to this place without the ball and chain attached, he found it to be a private enough space for this. He felt like he was doing something wrong, but there might be nothing to it other than giving others concern.

"Lucy." Beat. "You know who I mean. I'm not going to say other names."

She was invited, and so the figure materialized before him, a cloud of sparkles emerging to have the girl hop out with arms stretched high and a wide smile on her. Quite the entry.

"Oh, I try! So, you want something good, or is it about those OTHER thoughts you've been holding? Yep, no surprise... come on, we can all hear them. And I've been around."

It was still utterly bizarre to consider that the ruler of hell was not only presenting themselves like this, but that they came to answer him with barely a second of pause. And she also heard that consideration.

"Always got time for my special boy! I like to see what made you hold out. Hm.... and you're holding onto caring about them even with so many distractions. Usually, people forget. It's not your problem. And a lot of people ended up where they are of their own choices."

"Still, I'd like to... know. Is that so hard?"

"Well, for some... to check on what the many universes are doing and pinpoint exactly yours through the mountains of paperwork... yeah."

And, as if to instantly prove that wrong, she stepped aside to have what looked like clean reports float before his eyes, dozens of statistics on the empire. She beat the man to the mental question as well. Lucy was now dressed in a business suit, but one that still tried to be "cute".

"I've been keeping an eye on them. Special project. And they're doing... well, a bit better than most. You gave them some good rules. Here you can see the average satisfaction in your land compared to the average in others. Even when keeping in mind the age of the empire and its so benevolent starting situation."

He saw... graphs. The man knew graphs and could note the information they tried to tell. No heaven, but it was a good place to live. The average man got out of his labor more than others, the pleasures of life were much more tangible to most. If he scrutinized it enough he could see where his guidelines came in... sex was often held back, but not always, yet here it was a free form of expression and dialogue, one that increased trust, lowered displeasure, and gave more hope. The greatest concern was leaving a more permanent mark in the form of children... who would have children in turn. The rate of childbirth was almost explosive in the empire as even the accidents were loved and no issue arose from the wanton fucking.

But he wanted to see where that displeasure was coming from. A breakdown of people by their condition. A Bell curve, as expected, with the vast majority in the middle and descending numbers in each direction.

"Actually, that's a bit unusual. Normally it's more like... this."

Lucy gave a comparison, the curve sliding more to the side of the displeased. Even then, the majority were on the "basic" side of society and not slipping through the cracks. It seemed like most in the empire had a decent situation. And he saw the numbers of those who were behind that curve. About ten thousand, if a significant number for a person, a small one compared to a few million. One could look at this and say it was a good result.

"Are those at the bottom there of their own actions?"

"Didn't check them all, just some samples. Found mostly people who were not taking the lessons well... the ones he touched a bit harder."

A pause as the man understood who was being referenced.

"Touched by god?"

"Tempted. Just enough to go that way. Your people are doing a good job of keeping them down."

Often, this was a hilarious fact. How the devil was in no way tempting most people, but rather waiting for them at the end of a life with whip in hand... or with a comfy chair. How this being was not in any way responsible for the intrusive thoughts, the out-of-control ambition, the desire to hurt people just for hurt's sake, or any and all that one could call evil. No, that was the other guy. That was.... What humans were from the start as taken from the source.

Considering that variable, humans could not achieve any sort of society where everything was right. There would always be those that were tempted by evil for evil's sake or there would be conflicts from the basic desire to have enough. But somewhere in this, James still saw a possibility, he did not have details, just an inkling of it. He stared at the numbers for a while, this time being the consumer of a report rather than the creator of it. And as always, he wanted to see what it was based on.

"Oh, I could show you the individual bits of data, but it can take quite a lot to take it all in. But, you satisfied? Come on, it's doing better than most. That's an achievement."

She could showcase how all of his guidelines had improved the world, how the recommendation of seeking challenges has reduced the number of entitled people by a grand margin, and how the focus of community has left few to go at it alone, resulting in greater joy when they had a solid group to assist them, how the focus on truth made the usual means of growing problems stop before they turned too bad. These were virtues of any decent society, but here they knew to pay attention to these factors and not just achieve them by ignorance. Astoria was better.

"Eh... guess as much as I can. I guess building a society is harder than most people think. Fighting against human nature. Small picture is easy. Big one is not."

"You would not believe how many idiots I have to punish for not accepting that. Well, them's the facts. If you want to keep staring at them I can set up something in your place."

"Any chance to actually see how it's doing? Like... videos and such?"

"Don't recommend it. It doesn't translate well to what you are now. You need context, a lot of it... and it can take a lot to take it in." A sigh as she looked sad for a moment. "This is a problem for some... not wanting to leave the world behind. It's not your problem. Can't expect someone to just fix everything. People break it by design.... He is inevitable. How about I introduce you to someone? Someone you can talk about this without thinking I'm trying to hold back?"

That seemed to both be a way to manipulate him and a way to introduce new information. But James would take that option to see where this was going. He had other growing desires about this place... he saw just about every pleasure place they had, directed to them by the locals. The only barrier to going further was knowing where to go. He might be tempted to ask for another favor... even if it may be argued that it would do his soul no good.

He decided to pursue the latter one first.

*

This was not forbidden, rather it was not recommended. Lucy knew why and had warned him as such, yet the man persisted. In truth, it could be a joy to experience this process, one that she understood. Dressed in an outfit suited for a guide, the little girl would lead him into the "lower" levels of hell. James could not help but draw a parallel.

"So, this is where Dante descends into hell, seeing his political enemies being tortured for all the sins he thought they were committing. Gonna see everyone I hated here, right?"

"Friends, enemies... strangers. Everyone's been through hell plenty of times and even you could be down here, or an earlier version of you. Earlier versions of your friends, or later ones... once you pass through the gate it's a fresh start. People can do right or they can do right. Hitler's soul is all over, you had drinks with him up there."

"I assume the one up there was another life where he did good."

She just smiled. The first level the man saw was rather similar to the rooms he had been in already. People enjoying themselves, with plentiful distractions and refreshments. It sparked immediate confusion. Lucy was quick to elaborate.

"Here are the more mildly pleasant people. The ones who did good, but not in a grand amount. Yep, it looks a lot like the ones you're in, but the quality is a bit beneath it. I don't recommend you try the stuff here. Even if it's still damn good by mortal standards, you're gonna feel like it's slop. Too used to the better stuff."

A more modest version of the level he was in. This might imply there were better places, though if he was up there and Lucy seemed so impressed with him, there was probably no better. The enjoyments were just a bit above what humanity could produce, though still flawed to a point, issues that a man used to the pleasures above could see as completely ruining them.

It was not a bad place to be, in all honesty. The reward of those who gave the world a bit more than they took, the consequence of even a few good deeds. Hell was not an absolute, but with levels, ranging from the best to the worst and you did not automatically go to the trash if you were not the most virtuous person ever.

"I thought of myself as worthy of such a place once. Didn't do much harm, tried to give back more. Hey, do people who got cheated on pay and such end up here?"

"Oh, YEP! Because they technically gave more to the world than they got back. Meanwhile, the ones who reaped those benefits..." She pointed down.

"I'll be sure to let upper management of just about every company know this."

That was sarcastic. And yet, it might come to be. James recognized no one as they walked through the moderate pleasure halls. Were the people he saw really there or just images to make him feel better? Considering the facts, maybe the others did not end up in his layer... maybe they were not really there and it was all just an act to make him feel better. And yet, they were as he remembered. No, he was sure of that... the others were not there.

"And this is why I don't recommend you see this. Yeah, they mostly ended up here... or lower. But you can't feel good unless the people you like are with you. In a way, they are there... they are part of you, as a sort. But... let's not get into it."

Even the knowledge of that could damper it. While those "illusions" were too good to be disbelieved, it would reduce his pleasure significantly. Were they even his friends or just people he got along with and took those roles? Or were they his friends but after several lifetimes until they earned a spot up there? Deep breath. No need for an existential crisis now.

"Yeah, just... keep it together."

"I should not dislike truth. And I guess this is the truth. Not everyone we liked ends up where we are... people we hate might not go where we want them to. Such is life."

"People aren't all you think they are. There's more to them than you see. BUT, this is about showing off how the people who do wrong have it. Wanna move on or see more of this place?"

James had seen enough of this place to be satisfied. Maybe his friends were here, or maybe they were in a lower, but still pleasant enough place. The math was correct, as he had given people so much with his power. He was hard to equal, though he liked to believe that a few of those who were there from the start... had also earned it. Navigating to the exit, Lucy would take him further "down". There was no worry of him being there... knowing of the places allowed him to move freely. Only those of particularly unpleasant bents were not allowed movement.

They would come upon a great outside, stepping into a quiet city resembling modern standards he remembered from his world, yet Astoria had not managed this yet. They were not at the right time in their development. He saw houses, streets, people walking dogs, and children playing... for a moment he might assume that Earth was just part of hell because of how impressive the reproduction was. Lucifer explained before he could reach that conclusion.

"And here we have the consequence for the 'neutrals'. The ones who barely had anything to give or take from the world, the ones who might as well have just been the human equivalent of filler foam. A bland side to the main dish above. A world just like out there... To a point."

"So, the guys that did not much just get boring earth. Do they even know they're dead? That this is hell? That they can move on and such? Also, considering what nightmarish state my world was in, this place might be considered a punishment." Beat. "Wait, is that it? The punishment for sloth is to endure the world exactly as you left it, see what your lack of action gives?"

The girl smiled wide, even though he was wrong.

"Nah, that's further down. This is like... a world at a time when it was okay for people. Like '98 would be for you. Just... decent world. And they are told after a while. Short one. Even then, most want to stay."

"Decent is still better than rolling the dice."

It certainly was. James could have dreamed in his years in the first world to live in a situation like this. Everything was just decent enough... the dream he tried to give these new people. One might think that his ambition was useless, that if one could experience this in the afterlife, all one had to do was the best they could in the world they had, being rewarded for it in death. But that was faulty. The environment could change a man's morals, it could make the neutral man evil by necessity, and it could make the good man unable to do good. It made old men commit scams in countries that gave them no jobs or retirement, it made decent individuals damn others because if they did not they were the damned ones. A bad world encouraged evil. Pain begets more pain. No, the process was flawed. You had to change both the conditions they evolved in as well as whatever they got at the end. The whole nature versus nurture argument.

"Quite the thoughts you have rolling in there. You always think so much about the world?"

"Someone has to. Or it ends up in the hands of people who don't have the best intentions."

"And yet the creator wants for all to decide the state of the world to make it worse. A blind idiot. Can't he see that trying to spread what he is will not bring out the best in people? No, he can't."

"It's still a bit hard to consider that God is such a flawed individual. And not just flawed, but terrible. Possibly after hearing so many religions that postulate that the creator is the good guy."

"Right, because only good can create, evil can only corrupt. Nah, evil creates all the time. Ambition is what drives the world... unfortunately. He made you in his image and then got angry when that image showed what a fucking monster they were. He suffers from the worst of every sin you can imagine and dozens of others you can't. No wonder those like him are not the best."

He had kept aside from the whole celestial issue, mostly because it was a bigger deal than he could handle. But there was a sense to it. A perfect being would manage it all swimmingly. An imperfect one would have their own flaws shown in the creation. A proud being would be unwilling to accept this truth, believing that there is something wrong with the other thing rather than with them. The sin of not questioning yourself.

"You seem to both think the evils of humanity as good and... not so. I mean, you praise lust ever so often and then show your dislike for it."

"Because they're not exactly sins... rather drives... things that lead you. Like those twenty-four subjects you preach in your schools." Lucy had paid attention well. "But a sin is when you go too far. When you just let those things control you. When you stop being a thinking being and let monkey instincts push you forward with no judgment."

"For self-mastery is the peak of humanity, not denying yourself, but acknowledging what you are and sharpening all your drives into remarkable tools."

"Someone read Dune." She smirked at the man.

They were walking through this serene place, holding this conversation as the man observed the lives of others. There was work, there was a schedule, needs to meet, and work to be done... but all this was just fuel for James to add to his big picture.