THE CIRCLE OF LUST - MOTEL
And that is what The sin of lust truly is.
Charlie
…Okay.
…Okay.
Voice from Beyond
Charlie lifts the apple. The skin dimples under her fingers.
Charlie lifts the apple. The skin dimples under her fingers.
Voice from Beyond
She bites.
She bites.
Voice from Beyond
Sweetness floods her mouth. Sugar sweet memory. Honeyed warmth, summer afternoons, being wanted, being chosen. It is the most delicious thing she has ever tasted. Nothing she ate in life even comes close.
Sweetness floods her mouth. Sugar sweet memory. Honeyed warmth, summer afternoons, being wanted, being chosen. It is the most delicious thing she has ever tasted. Nothing she ate in life even comes close.
Charlie
Oh… oh god…
Oh… oh god…
Voice from Beyond
She has no dominion here.
She has no dominion here.
Voice from Beyond
Her stomach twists. Her chest tightens.
Her stomach twists. Her chest tightens.
Voice from Beyond
Suddenly, the diner is loud.
Suddenly, the diner is loud.
Voice from Beyond
Asmodeus.
Asmodeus.
I don’t want to be alone again.
I want her gone. I want silence. I want control.
Charlie
…I can hear you.
…I can hear you.
Voice from Beyond
Both voices freeze. For the first time, neither is speaking aloud.
Both voices freeze. For the first time, neither is speaking aloud.
Lord of Lust, Asmodeus
Oh.
Oh.
Lord of Lust, Asmodeus
…Interesting.
…Interesting.
Charlie
You’re- you’re both crying! You want to be separated and together at the same time! You want it so badly it hurts.
You’re- you’re both crying! You want to be separated and together at the same time! You want it so badly it hurts.
Voice from Beyond
Asmodeus leans back, satisfied. Smiling. Whatever agony lives beneath the surface doesn’t touch her expression.
Asmodeus leans back, satisfied. Smiling. Whatever agony lives beneath the surface doesn’t touch her expression.
Lord of Lust, Asmodeus
See? Told you she’d be fun.
See? Told you she’d be fun.
Lord of Lust, Asmodeus
She is The Pride afterall.
She is The Pride afterall.
Charlie
What… what did you do to me?
What… what did you do to me?
Lord of Lust, Asmodeus
Oh, sweetheart. I didn’t do anything. You just learned how to listen.
Oh, sweetheart. I didn’t do anything. You just learned how to listen.
Voice from Beyond
Charlie realizes it then. Every desire, every yearn, every hunger around her whispers to her. Wants. Needs. Longings buried so deep even their owners don’t admit them.
Charlie realizes it then. Every desire, every yearn, every hunger around her whispers to her. Wants. Needs. Longings buried so deep even their owners don’t admit them.
Charlie
I can hear what people want. What they crave. Even the things they’re ashamed of.
I can hear what people want. What they crave. Even the things they’re ashamed of.
Lord of Lust, Asmodeus
Welcome to Lust.
Welcome to Lust.
Charlie
…So what now?
…So what now?
Lord of Lust, Asmodeus
Now you leave.
Now you leave.
Lord of Lust, Asmodeus
Aww, don’t say it like that! She’s visiting Gluttony next.
Aww, don’t say it like that! She’s visiting Gluttony next.
Charlie
Gluttony… Beelzebub?
Gluttony… Beelzebub?
Lord of Lust, Asmodeus
That’s the one. A little older than me. He used to be a chef back on Earth, you know. Top-tier. The kind people cried over. Michelin stars, television spots, devotees lining up just to watch him plate food.
That’s the one. A little older than me. He used to be a chef back on Earth, you know. Top-tier. The kind people cried over. Michelin stars, television spots, devotees lining up just to watch him plate food.
Lord of Lust, Asmodeus
Funny thing is...I don’t actually know when he died. Or why Lucifer picked him. Maybe it wasn’t about excess at first. Maybe it was devotion. Obsession. The way he poured everything he was into feeding people.
Funny thing is...I don’t actually know when he died. Or why Lucifer picked him. Maybe it wasn’t about excess at first. Maybe it was devotion. Obsession. The way he poured everything he was into feeding people.
Lord of Lust, Asmodeus
He was always onssesed with food.
He was always onssesed with food.
Lord of Lust, Asmodeus
Exactly. Which is why people like to lump Lust and Gluttony together. Desire, hunger, wanting more. That’s what the fools say.
Exactly. Which is why people like to lump Lust and Gluttony together. Desire, hunger, wanting more. That’s what the fools say.
Lord of Lust, Asmodeus
But Lust is about wanting what you don’t have. Gluttony? It’s about never stopping once you do.
But Lust is about wanting what you don’t have. Gluttony? It’s about never stopping once you do.
Voice from Beyond
Asmodeus taps the table, the apple core rolling slightly under her finger.
Asmodeus taps the table, the apple core rolling slightly under her finger.
Lord of Lust, Asmodeus
There was a time Satan wanted to merge our circles, actually. Said the overlap made sense. Desire feeding consumption, consumption feeding desire.
There was a time Satan wanted to merge our circles, actually. Said the overlap made sense. Desire feeding consumption, consumption feeding desire.
Lord of Lust, Asmodeus
The vote was overruled. He was mad.
The vote was overruled. He was mad.
Lord of Lust, Asmodeus
No wonder, really. He always had problems with his desire of claiming land. Ruling people. Even back when he was human. Territorial issues. Authority issues.
No wonder, really. He always had problems with his desire of claiming land. Ruling people. Even back when he was human. Territorial issues. Authority issues.
Lord of Lust, Asmodeus
That’s part of why he’s the Lord of Wrath now. Real fun guy.
That’s part of why he’s the Lord of Wrath now. Real fun guy.
Lord of Lust, Asmodeus
I'm sure you've known him back on earth. He was a pretty famous guy.
I'm sure you've known him back on earth. He was a pretty famous guy.
Charlie
I was never really into politics.
I was never really into politics.
Lord of Lust, Asmodeus
I hate that guy.
I hate that guy.
Lord of Lust, Asmodeus
Anyway. Lucifer adored Beelzebub. Used to say gluttony was honest. Fulfilling one’s needs. You want, you take. No one stopping you. No pretending it’s anything else.
Anyway. Lucifer adored Beelzebub. Used to say gluttony was honest. Fulfilling one’s needs. You want, you take. No one stopping you. No pretending it’s anything else.
Charlie
And I have to… eat there too?
And I have to… eat there too?
Lord of Lust, Asmodeus
Oh yes. It's Gluttony, duh.
Oh yes. It's Gluttony, duh.
Voice from Beyond
Asmodeus slides out of the diner booth. It peels away from her with a wet, disgusting sound.
Asmodeus slides out of the diner booth. It peels away from her with a wet, disgusting sound.
Lord of Lust, Asmodeus
Well. Good luck, Charlie.
Well. Good luck, Charlie.
Charlie
Wait- that’s it?
Wait- that’s it?
Charlie
No quests? No… boss fight or something?
No quests? No… boss fight or something?
Lord of Lust, Asmodeus
Oh no. None of that. I’m not interested in tests or trials.
Oh no. None of that. I’m not interested in tests or trials.
Lord of Lust, Asmodeus
Games are for people who need validation.
Games are for people who need validation.
Lord of Lust, Asmodeus
You can expect that nonsense from the others, though. They’re far more mentally ill than I am. Surprisingly.
You can expect that nonsense from the others, though. They’re far more mentally ill than I am. Surprisingly.
Lord of Lust, Asmodeus
Oh! One more thing. One of my little lust demons will grab you at the exit. Don’t worry. They know the way.
Oh! One more thing. One of my little lust demons will grab you at the exit. Don’t worry. They know the way.
Voice from Beyond
Asmodeus steps back. Then, unexpectedly, she bows.
Asmodeus steps back. Then, unexpectedly, she bows.
Lord of Lust, Asmodeus
It has been an honor, truly.
It has been an honor, truly.
Lord of Lust, Asmodeus
The second coming of Pride… walking our circles in borrowed skin.
The second coming of Pride… walking our circles in borrowed skin.
Lord of Lust, Asmodeus
Let’s hope the ultimate plan goes smoothly.
Let’s hope the ultimate plan goes smoothly.
Lord of Lust, Asmodeus
See you at the final feast.
See you at the final feast.
Lord of Lust, Asmodeus
Lord of Pride.
Lord of Pride.