Possession Event

[lucetimods]

Who: People in Luceti
What: Spiritual possession
When: The 26th to the 1st
Where: Luceti!
Summary: Check out the previous mod post.
Rating: If it gets smutty, move it somewhere private.


Starting at midnight on the 26th, Luceti and its inhabitants will find itself the focus of the Filial spirits, usually quiet and reclusive, now stepping out to deal with one of their own.

As promised, here is some additional information to help figure out how to play around with the spirits and interacting with similarly possessed people.

First off, each spirit has a certain time or place when they are at their most powerful. Consequently, characters possessed by them will enjoy these boosts and this in itself can be a deciding factor in what would otherwise be a stalemate. Here’s a quick run down:

Sona - She’s most powerful around lakes, rivers, and the ocean. Mostly this is concentrated at the southern lake.

Kipinn - He’s most powerful in high places, like mountain tops and the roofs of community buildings.

Faeren - She’s most powerful in the farmlands alongside things that grow.

Tsinku - He’s most powerful in the village itself, where technology thrives.

Eferin - He’s most powerful in the center of the forest where his heat may cause trees to burn. In fact, the upcoming forest fire may cause some trouble if his followers get too rowdy.

Hyt - It’s most powerful during the daytime under a bright sky.

Twila - It’s most powerful during the night time.

Nala- She has no domain and is generally welcome wherever she goes.

How possessed characters will deal with other possessed characters will depend on the interactions of the spirits themselves. A useful spreadsheet sums up these relationships. Those that have a friendly attitude to one another will generally allow ‘trespassers’ into their domain, but those they are not so friendly with may cause conflict.

Finally, to elaborate on Twila-possessed characters. Those with a natural affinity for darkness are likely to be possessed first. Once they have, they can try to recruit others less-compatible candidates to ‘join the cause’. Their goal is numbers. The more who are working with Twila, the better. Once they do, they’ll be inclined to act in their own self interest and if necessary, deal with others who try to get in their way. In the long term, the spirit Twila wants to stay this way, bonded to the Lucetians as hybrids, that way it cannot be imprisoned again. Think of it as pure survival instinct of an animal that’s spent way too long in a cage.

All isn’t lost. The other spirits may not be able to cage it again, but they won’t accept Twila reacting in this manner. Though it’s hard to tell what their beef with Twila is, they have an instinctive familiarity with the dark spirit and seem to act as its jail keepers.

They have the power to free people from Twila, but given their poor communication skills, figuring that out might just be a challenge. After all, the spirits can only communicate in shades of feeling and intentions, but not actually verbalize directions or marching orders. However, there will be a Malnosso post mid-event that will give everyone, possessed or otherwise, the info they need to turn things around.

Comments

[complicatedliar]

His eyes narrowed. "I did not say there was anything wrong with you, and you will not put words in my mouth." His lips twisted in a bitter line. "That you would transform words of... of..." ...no, he will not say it, not now. "--of esteem into an attack is precisely that of which I spoke. That my feelings and honest words mean nothing because you are so tightly wrapped in guilt and recrimination that you will hear negativity where none was offered."

[touchofrogue]

That sounded right. Even if he was angry with her, it sounded relevant to what they were discussing, insightful, incisive - like Loki.

And some part of her that was wound very tightly relaxed and settled, because this was horrible, but it was him so... everything was okay.

Rogue laid one still-gloved hand on his chest and met his gaze. "Your feelings and honest words mean everything. You can't think I'm tryin' to find fault with what you said to shut you out. I care about you. But you look back on what you told me and tell me I was wrong to hear criticism behind what you said, an' I'll believe that's not what you meant. But can't you look at it and see what it sounded like to me?"

[complicatedliar]

"And I care about you." He ran a hand through his hair, feeling frustrated with this entire situation. "There was no criticism in it. You have said similar things to me time and again, have you not? What makes this so different, then?"

[touchofrogue]

...how to say this without saying 'because your life goals suck and mine don't' or 'because I'm not trying to destroy an entire race or two in pursuit of my own personal satisfaction?'

Rogue bit her lip and then spoke, "When I told you I wanted you to be happy, we both knew what I was talking about. Your plan to take over Asgard wasn't makin' you happy. I wanted - an' I still want more for you then just settlin' for revenge and then being miserable for eternity. What you just said to me - I don't know what you want to be free from, what you think I'm fightin' myself about. All I could see was that we were up there, an' I was flying in your arms, and suddenly you were telling me that I wasn't happy. Can't you see how that might make me wonder what I was doin' wrong?"

Now talking, Rogue couldn't quite seem to stop, "And then as I'm caught up in your arms and wracking my brain about what you could be talkin' about, and all I could think of is that you mean my powers. And when was the last time you saw me bein' 'free' at all? When I was near death an' taken over by the voices in my head so that I wasn't even me anymore? Tell me I'm wrong - tell me that wasn't what you meant."

Please. Please don't let that be what you meant. Let me have been ridiculous and wrong.

[complicatedliar]

Loki stared at her. "That is utterly ridiculous. And actually very insulting." He threw his hands up in a gesture of frustration. "Really, is that all you think of me, after all this time, everything I have done, over and over again in an effort to prove to you that you matter to me? Do you truly think so little of me?"

What is the point of this?

He continued on, ignoring the urge to simply walk away. Long game. This was something he wanted. He would have it.

"And that," he said, tone becoming clipped and measured, "is precisely the point. You shy away from what you want for reasons I have never been able to devine. I recall nearly having quite the argument with you over the fact that you wanted a horse but wouldn't let yourself have one. The only time I have witnessed you let yourself have something you want is with me, and I recall the struggle of that. But then you are happy. Is it any wonder that I wish to see you stop fighting yourself and be happy all of the time?"

[touchofrogue]

Well. She hardly knew what to say to most of that, but fortunately she did have something to say, "Of course that's not all I think of you! But that was the only thing I could think of - and I was afraid, all right?"

She dropped her hand from his chest and turned around, then remembered he had to read her lips. So Rogue looked at him over her shoulder, her voice ragged. "For a moment, I was afraid."

And again, once she started talking the words came, pouring out of her stunned and weary heart, "You want to know why I hold myself back? I hurt everything I touch. How many times have I wanted to help someone, only to know that I'm puttin' them in just as much danger just being around them as what I'm saving them from? I can't even hug a friend to comfort them without bein' terrified something will go wrong--"

Why don't you? Why don't you just let go?

Rogue took a long shuddering breath, the spirit hitting her someplace where she was weak, and she almost faltered. And to recover, she almost told him why she hadn't gotten herself a horse; even then she'd been saving for Tony's project. At least, that was one reason, instead she confessed, "Every day I go see Penny and manage a safe ride with her, I'm amazed."

[complicatedliar]

"You've never hurt me." His lips thinned to a bitter line for a moment. "At least not like that." He flicked his fingers. "I have been told time and again that I destroy everything I touch. Perhaps that is true, for what else can a chaos god do? Well, that is also a fact within every life. Every time one touches something, there is a danger of destroying it or causing it injury. While for you it can be far more literal, the point still stands. If you do not touch things, yes, you cannot hurt them or be hurt by them. But neither can you be happy."

He tilted his head, looking at her intently he could feel his words having an effect, pushing her toward the point at hand. That internal voice he had gotten along with so well for the most part pushed him as well, driving a frank statement from him he never would have otherwise made. The opportunity to spread was more important than being secretive, for now. "You taught me that, by the way. Because I wanted you so badly, you became more important than my desire for safety."

[touchofrogue]

Heart heavy, Rogue shut her eyes and gritted, "The other hurt counts just as much."

But just as Rogue shouldered on that weight, more responsibility for hurting someone, for destroying something that was whole, his later words also struck home. Because I wanted you so badly, you became more important than my desire for safety. That hit her heart with the kind of pain that heals.

Rogue turned back to Loki, stepped towards him again. "You make me happy. Don't you see that?"

[complicatedliar]

"And it is a hurt I've accepted as a necessary risk. You don't get to make that decision for me."

He smiled crookedly. "I would hope that I do, more often than not. But should I not also want you to be happy when I am not involved?"

...come to think of it, no. He'd rather be her sole source of happiness. What a delicious thought that was; she'd be his, all his. But stating that would not help this argument, even as he mulled over the thought. Later. He could work on that later, once she was in the right frame of mind.

[touchofrogue]

Well, she thought she should get to make that decision, and that the answer should be no. Why, why was he doing this? Why would anyone do this? Couldn't they see she just wasn't worth it?

...that wasn't an argument Rogue felt she could win. It wasn't even argument she wanted to win. It had been an argument she'd begun to lose ever since the X-Men came for her after Gambit had kidnapped her, and had nearly completely lost with Tony when that idiot man had refused to let her alone. She didn't want to fight about it with Loki now. She wanted that part of her to be dead... or maybe only alive enough to understand it when people walked away.

They were right to walk away. Anyone who didn't walk away was crazy.

"I'm not unhappy without it involving you," Rogue said earnestly. "That's another reason why I got so upset - I'm a lot happier being restrained and keeping other people safe than I would be if I was putting them in danger."

...wouldn't I?

That's nonsense, you know. Shouldn't their lives be their own responsibility? What about your life?

[complicatedliar]

"Our lives are our own responsibilities," Loki said, one eyebrow arching up. "You know, it still counts as trying to take away the choices of others, whether you're a wicked creature like me or someone who thinks, oh, it is for their own good."

Really, he didn't care about the free will of others, not one bit, other than he didn't want to see it curtailed in a static way. It was convenient at times, annoying at others. But it was an argument of relevance to her.

He shrugged. "But what do I know, as the aforementioned wicked creature? It is your life, dearest."

[touchofrogue]

It is my life.

Rogue looked down as that thought rung oddly in her mind, and then back up at him, "You're right. But... there's one more thing I don't understand. You said I was--"

Glorious. He said glorious. And Rogue shivered slightly, as though she'd passed under a shadow.

"--glorious when I took my freedom. What - what were you talking about? When had you seen that?"

Don't you remember what it feels like to just let go?

Just let go.

[complicatedliar]

His smile momentarily became something softer, warmer. "Racing on horseback. Chasing you through the forest. Those moments when you look over your shoulder at me and smile, and there is nothing in your face but joy."

[touchofrogue]

Her heart softened in response to his words, and the last of her fear fell away. Rogue took a half-step closer and wrapped her arms around him as best she could. She rested her head against his chest and closed her eyes.

All of life can't be that way.

And then, that strangely foreign inner sense insisted, Why not?

You'll never know if you don't try.

Rogue looked up at Loki and said, "Take me up again?"

[complicatedliar]

Loki smiled, wrapping his arms around her tightly. He placed a kiss on top of her head. "Gladly."

And up they went.

[touchofrogue]

Up they went, and it was good - but not good enough. She was still grounded, dependent.

You'll never know until you try.

Until I try what?

Let go.

That's crazy.

Is it? Try. Let go. You know you want to. Just do it. Just once. Try. What harm could it do? Let go.

Rogue straightened and looked in Loki's eyes with a sort of inspired excitement. "Loki? Let go."

[complicatedliar]

There was a moment of hesitation as he looked at her, eyes searching hers. He smiled, taking a moment to kiss her urgently.

He let go.

[touchofrogue]

Rogue responded, kissing him back with simple need, and when Loki released her, she fell.

She fell smiling, as dark wings appeared, swallowing up her white ones and bearing her aloft. And Rogue laughed for the joy of flight, of belonging, of letting go.

[complicatedliar]

Loki grinned, holding a hand out to her. "There you are," he said. "Glorious."

[touchofrogue]

Still laughing, Rogue looped around him and then took his hand, pulling at it so they'd hover quite close together. She felt glorious.

"Here I am," she said, smiling at him, just for him.

Here I am, and I belong with you.

[complicatedliar]

Loki grinned, the entire expression brightening as he wondered if now she would at last be done with holding back. He'd never liked that feeling, and now it was an even harder thought to bear. He wanted her; she should be his, wholly.

He closed the bit of distance between then to kiss her.