Forced Confessions

[spoofer]

Characters: Ensemble cast, any/all characters of Xistentia!
Summary: At the end of a spring-time mingle party, D.E.S.T.I.N.Y. unleashes a psychic weapon that forces characters to confess their secrets to one another. Check out the mod announcement for more information.
Date(s): First 2 weeks of April 2018
Warnings/Notes: Psychic influence/coercion, potential trauma, etc. in confessions. Please use subject header warnings appropriately!

Forced Confessions Event

I admit I'm on the rebound And I don't care

Five-Day Party

It begins with a party, out in the woods of Xistentia, with drinks, food, and fairy lights. The glade is illuminated in a brilliant palette of jewel tones, the most intense where the dancefloor stretches out between glow-in-the-dark marked trees, punctuated by F.A.T.E.S.' ever jarring, mismatched combination of musical tunes. Not far from that, you have enclosures of soft bedding set aside in mood-lit shadows, and veiled by mosquito net, for those of us who prefer more privacy.

The deeper nightclub colors fade to a warm, lustrous gold where there are spaces to sit, socialize, and eat.
Dining options feature treats from across the multiverse, including spice candy that will make your tongue feel just the faintest touch of a sting, native meats prepared with sauces and salts, and a variety of fruit and vegetables, some of which have a bioluminescent glow. Some of the wines are strong enough to knock a werewolf's metabolism on its ass— and these are marked with an audio sign, repeating the same warning over and over.

Other liquid refreshments include a blood bar, courtesy of Rafaello d'Este's local business.

Psychic Bomb: The Confessions (April 5-14)

But on the fifth evening, D.E.S.T.I.N.Y. strikes. There's a warning— only 10 minutes in advance-- over the network, even while the vast majority of revelers are a little too busy to pay any attention to their daemons.

A black ball of some writhing, metallic substance abruptly comes tearing through the atmosphere, the size of your average adult human curled into fetal position. As it breaks through layers of gas, it adopts an orange glow for a brief instant. It's easily lost in the canopy, even for the most agile and practiced of Xistentia residents. It's impossible to tell what it is. A faint whine fills the air, and a moment later, the projectile detonates. The scent of tar fills the forest along with shouts of dismay. And too little too late, F.A.T.E.S. warning system begins to blare that a contaminant has entered the atmosphere.

However, apart from a few bruises, panic and partial deafness, nobody seems harmed at all. That is, until the compulsion sets in.

Your secrets, both large and small, suddenly become wrenching fodder for impulsive speech... or signing, texting, any multitude of communication methods wind up hijacked. The worst of it comes when you face someone you know and love. Sheer willpower might stave off the urge long enough for your character to get out of range for conversation, and it might be a good time to avoid company for awhile. It will come randomly, in spikes, for 2 weeks to follow.

Feel free to use the confessions thread here to start some textspam trouble!

Bomb Resolution (April 12+)

A week later, F.A.T.E.S. and both magic and science-minded researchers have analyzed the goop. The worst of the epidemic is localized around the party, though psychic ripples continue to be felt across Xistentia for a few days.

And now we need cleanup.

It's a motley group of unlikely volunteers. Some people are just lucky— they have no secrets they fear to share, or perhaps just no shame. Others are just good samaritans, willing to risk a terrifying level of honesty in the interest of preventing further damage to the relationships that make Xistentia run.

In any case, the group finds themselves armed with gloves, rubber suits, and floating glass containment orbs, manipulable with gestures, that can absorb the black ichor off the trees, earth, and furniture. This will be stored at the temple. And what we'll do with it—

Who knows. Or perhaps you and your compatriots have an idea for the substance permanent disposal to share.

Comments

WARNING FROM BARDOCK -- April 5

[spoofer]

Re: WARNING FROM BARDOCK -- April 5

[ssbardock]

During the first day of April, Bardock feels the pain of a vision suddenly coming on of a upcoming problem due to D.E.S.T.I.N.Y. The vision is a two part one:

One of a sudden metallic ball coming toward Xistentia and without warning, starts spreading. There is screaming in Bardock’s vision, and another part to the vision there are something called containment balls spread out in a far part.

Also there's a quick but fair warning on the network about the forced secrets and confessions.

Bardock's seen the future before but it was his own fate, but now it concerned everyone involved here.

"PLEASE! GET OUT! Something Big IS GOING TO HAPPEN HERE!"

CONFESSIONS -- April 5 textspam

[spoofer]

Thea Queen: OTA

[redarrowqueen]

I deserved to be stabbed, it was penance for the person I was.

John Proudstar 🦅 OTA (cw war, racism, etc.)

[pridestar]

1. Don't think I haven't thought about it— born on a reservation with a poverty rate thirty percent higher than the rest of Arizona. And then I take American automatic weapons to Iraq, and pay it forward. Don't think nobody looked at me with hate. Loving my country wasn't easy.
   
   
2. I know it would be easier in some ways to kill. I think about it more than I want to admit. I don't know why I'm admitting it now.
   
   
3. When she died, all I could think is I should've kissed her before. Or I shouldn't have kissed her at all. Our world wasn't like this one, where passion always saves you. I'm not even sure this world is what it wants to be. I think that's what it dreams of being. And she knew all about dreams.

joseph kavinsky | ota; (tw death, manslaughter/drugs, crime, feces)

[pillz]

[1] I was in love. Every fucking time. Probably the worst part about it.

[2] Didn't kill my dad. Just sounds cool. Would've if I could've gotten away with it. Just as bad. Other little big-eyed kids are fucked up dead because of me, anyway. Trust your local drug dealer, or maybe won't.

[3] I don't hate anybody more than I hate me.

[4] I think my mom used to sneak ex-lax onto my pizza 'cause I hated vegetables that fucking much and she didn't want me to die of my own bullshit.

[5] I miss John Murphy.

Kristen Kringle l OTA (CW: Dating Violence in Canon)

[misskringle]

I'm a walking doormat.

I'll never meet anyone nice.

Maybe I deserved to be hit, least a little.

To the world I look cool and collected but I'm still that shy mouse content with paperwork.

[hermajestyssword]

Knowing I can never have her doesn't mean I don't still want her. Badly.

warning/ death, manslaughter/ OTA Marcus Wright | ota

[anewhero]

[1] Fuck this life, I should of died a long time ago, I just..

[2] My life is fucked up. I stole a car in mistake and killed MY OWN BROTHER and TWO COPS!

[3] Damn, i love Blair.

[4] I can't say I don't deserve a second chance

loki | ota

[dothelokimotion]

( 1. the chemicals are restless in my head )

[ All Loki could hear was the ringing sound. He gropes on the ground before managing to lift himself up. No damage, thankfully or any other malevolent presence lurking nearby. But his paranoia is in full force and there's something in his throat, clogging up his breath. Something was wrong but Loki couldn't put his finger on it. As he rises unsteadily, rubbing his throat raw because there is a — a compulsion crawling under his skin, he can feel it. Loki is too familiar with such things not to repress a shudder —

— and Loki stops breathing because his hand is turning blue. He's turning blue and Loki looks like he's on the verge of a panic attack. ]

No, no, no, no.

( 2. burying the voices of my conscience hitting ground )

[ After that unfortunate incident, Loki has been keeping to himself. However, the lure of a party was a bit much. Loki was never that fond of being solitary after all and the promise of bright lights and food took off the edge of his paranoia a little. He was still the God of Lies. Of Mischief. No strange effect was going to rule him.

( the scratches on his throat beg to differ )

Still, he's not going to be ruled by some strange compulsion. And if the truth spews from his lips, Loki will twist it until it works in his favor. Dressed in a dark blue suit, Loki sits at the tiny bar, nursing a drink. And when he's approached, Loki plays it cool. ]

Having a good time?

( 3. how can you say those things and keep a straight face? )

[ When the damage is done, Loki prompts locks himself up in the library. He doesn't go back to his apartment — his shared house with Thor because he can't, he can't — and throws himself into the maintenance of the library. It's closed though and any people who wish to come in would be faced with a fearsome illusion of a dragon guarding the door. Those people, who know Loki, would probably have no problem entering and notice him sleeping, his head resting on an open book as he tries to sleep for the first time in days. ]

( wildcard )

[ you're welcome to throw in your own prompt, catching Loki around Xistentia for some forced confessions ]

3 bc dragons and rng

[astralera]

[ Having slayed countless dragons far larger and fiercer than the one currently in front of her Era can't help the incredulous look she sends its way. Surely Loki could do better than that? She'll have to sculpt him a model of Midgardsormr or Nidhogg someday that he might have references to draw upon in the future.

The thought helps push down the pervasive worry Era has had for her friend ever since the unconventional attack began. As a patron of mischief and untruths she imagines it's been especially difficult for him, and that's not even taking into account all the other reasons this might be difficult for Loki.

While Era doesn't believe herself to have many secrets she would be distraught over blurting out (she's already embarrassed herself thoroughly with Aymeric more than once by now) there are a very select few that she would be upset giving voice to. But her desire to check on her friend's welfare outweighs her own desire for privacy, because Loki is worth more to her than keeping things to herself. ]

Loki?

[ She speaks before she spots him at a desk, head in a book in a rather literal sense. There is a momentary flash of panic as she worries that she may have woken him but there's nothing for it - she can't will the sound away.

Era hasn't seen him since she returned from her unexpected trip home and waking him from what is quite clearly a much needed rest is not how she wishes their reunion to go. ]

1! a little powerprose lmk if not okay!!!

[hasitsthorns]

[ Everything had been too nice. That's kind of the way Rose's life tends to go so she's learned, really, that when the universe decides to give everyone a break it isn't usually for long. She's unharmed in the initial blast besides kicking herself for not listening to Apollod. When half the time he spoke nonsense though or words half-garbled by barks, how was she to know he meant it this time when he'd spoken of danger?

She's already in battle mode and checking to make sure everyone else is alright. Vanyel was most important, of course, but then there's others and- She sees a familiar face but not as composed as she's used to. Once her eyes catch that hint of blue, she's grabbing his hand and hiding it with her own best she can. There's still speckles of blue between her fingers but it's the best she can do to obscure it in the moment.

Rose knows far too well about having a side of yourself known against your will and what that can do to a person; before he can protest too much, she's giving their clasped hands a tug and saying, ]

Dude, c'mon, over here. I think it's safer.

1

[mordacita]

[ There was enough of a warning for Rafa to be vigilant, to be prepared. The explosion almost knocks him off that game, sending him flying off his feet and knocking the breath from his lungs. That turns out to be a saving grace. He draws breath once, tastes the strange new tang on the air, and breathes no more. While he generally does breathe, both to smell and to talk, he has no actual need to and it's a simple enough process to stop. Then he's on his feet, moving through the ruined party. He's vigilant for another attack, because surely this will be followed up with more - but it's clear very quickly that it's not poison. No one is dying, no one is even coughing. This is something else.

Then he sees Loki.

Or what looks like Loki, changing into something blue and red-eyed. At first Rafa assumes it's the gas, but how can it be when no one else is reacting like that? And surely Loki would have more resistance to chemicals than mortals would. Rafa goes to him, reaching for his hand in the absence of being able to talk. He reaches for his shoulder too, and then beckons. We need to get out of here, he says without speaking. Let's go. ]

1!

[servomotor]

[To be entirely honest, Tony doesn't realize that it's him. It probably would have mattered. Perhaps not so much that he wouldn't have checked the Jotun is okay at all, considering they're all allies, etc., etc., war makes necessary allies out of us all, whatever, pragmatics, but he probably would at least have been less concerned. He knows now from watching Thor get knocked all over the place-- and Loki having survived as much— that anybody that considers themselves an Asgardian native can probably take a widdle boom.

More than widdle.]

On your feet, [he says. He's still half-deaf and stumbling, but he grasps Loki's shoulders and hoists him nearly right up onto his feet. A helper. The lights are out where they are or maybe he'd notice then, but he's looking away, unobservant as a bag o' bricks.]

the voices;

[shadowblends]

Oh, absolutely! [maybe expressed with a little too much enthusiasm, but kurt doesn't give loki much time to answer. his attention lingers at the god of mischief's neck, golden eyes blinking owlishly before he segues, smooth and easy into friendly conversation.]

What about you? I have to admit, this party sure has it's charms.

[he tugs at a sleeve, adjusts other parts of his outfit to hopefully appear casual. no reason to bring anything up right away-- keep stuff light and cheerful for the moment then worry about the marks when he's sure he won't spout off some truth he might have to explain.]

You look nice, [adds the mutant.] The blue's a good color.

1, shows up 25 days late with thorki

[drapes]

[ thor stays the sweet fuck away from this party, seeing as every gathering in xistentia seems to come with some kind of catastrophe attached to it. while the last one he experienced turned out, well, fantastic, he's wary the next could be ruinous. so he stubbornly stays at home, slumped on the couch, watching cartoons. like a grown ass man.

it's the warning that rings out through the network that gets him immediately to his feet, dashing through the door and onto the streets before he so much as hears the end of it. he's aware his brother had gone to that party, and whatever attack or spell is coming, he'll likely be at the epicenter of it. dashing through the party, he probably shoulder checks a few other guests, shouting a 'sorry, excuse me' as he runs through, wildly looking for the suit Loki left in, or the jet back hair he knows to be his brother's.

The moment he spots him is the same as Loki notices the blue creeping up his hands, Thor's eyes widening, not for surprise of how it looks, but because he knows Loki is about to utterly lose his shit. His heritage has never meant anything more than an idle detail to Thor, one that his brother stresses over much more than he does, but he knows him. Knows he's about to cave in on himself and shove everyone away, likely Thor most of all, before finding a place to hide, so he hops a desert table and a pillow pile to speed over before Loki has time to see him and object, arms around him the moment he skids in close enough. ]

Shh, shh, it's okay. Breathe, Loki. [ it isn't that thor doesn't remember the burn that comes from jotun skin - it's that he doesn't care. Loki could be singeing his entire arm for all it would convince him to let go of his brother, his lover, right now. luckily, there's loki's suit covering his skin and thor's armor in between, but that isn't a fact he considers either, a strong arm wrapped around his back to hold him close, and the other hand at the back of his neck, half in his hair, to tug his face against his shoulder. ]

2

[shadowmarshalllucask]

[Lucas finds himself keeping to himself as he sees Loki while passing by, trying to avoid whatever the man with crazy hair was saying.]

I'm not sure yet.

hanako 'rosalina' nurumi 🌹 original character (ota + closed)

[hasitsthorns]

I ( April 1st~4th | ota )

[ Rose looks happy. This is true more dates than it isn't but there's something else to her smiles and laughter. It's a genuine sort of glow to her these days. For the first time since her time home, she sincerely seems to be content with her life. What woman with two boyfriends and a new fiancé wouldn't be though?

She can be found just about anywhere though more notably the dance floor and trying to convince F.A.T.E.S. to let her DJ. This is the umpteenth time, of course, but she still hasn't given up. Someday the entity will let her take over the musical reins, she's sure of it.

Later in the evenings, she's likely lounging in one of the enclosures and looking skyward. In contrast to whatever pop song she was blaring out before, she hums a quiet, contemplative tune now as she winds down. She'll invite anyone to lay down with her that comes to investigate, friends, enemies, and even Vex. That's how good she's feeling these days! ]

II ( April 5th | closed to Vanyel )

[ He's one of the first she makes sure is alright after the initial attack. It doesn't take her long to find him and she admits, perhaps a little frantically, that she'd been worried. It was no secret that she couldn't imagine a life without him, not really, but it isn't anything she usually has to speak. So when she does, it

bothers her. She can tell almost right away that something is wrong. She's blurting out what feels like her every, panicked thought and it's- Well, it's not alright. But it's less awful because the only one hearing them is Vanyel for the time being. After making sure others are alright, they come home to a house full of frantic dogs that need to be soothed. ]

I'm gonna miss you guys, [ is what she starts with. Even for something more inconspicuous, it's still incriminating. She doesn't mean to say it (which has been true of so many things today alone) but it's something she does think often, something that's been on her mind since she returned from her time home. ]

I, uh. I mean just... y'know, when we have to figure out what we're gonna do when it's time to go back and all. Figure we'll probably be separated a while and everything.

[ For someone who spent nearly her entire human existence lying, she's just so bad at it. ]

III ( April 6th~12th | ota )

[ A stark contrast to just a couple days prior, Rose looks downright angry. For a woman who spent so long lying by omision and half-truths, suddenly feeling the compulsion to lay everything bare is maddening. She hates this. Everything about it is just the worst and while she'd rather hole up and hide away there's still errands to run and life to go on so she can't.

Besides, staying at home means she runs the risk of telling Vanyel even more that she's been keeping from him. More that she said she wasn't and, well- Rose just doesn't want to deal with that right now. She's already made things bad enough as it is.

She could be anywhere, doing anything when suddenly she's reminded of something she hasn't said and it's spoken aloud before she can stop herself. It ranges from things as innocent to 'I love being scratched behind my ears' to something darker such as 'I don't know what any of my partners see in me still some days.' ]

(( ooc; this is the more wildcard option just lmk how light or heavy you want the confession to be! you can hmu on plurk @ puddingandpie or Discord (Pudding#0541)! ))

stargazing or something idk

[shadowblends]

[when he finds rosie relaxing in one of the enclosures, kurt isn't sure if he should be surprised or not. he hesitates a moment, upturns his own gaze to admire the brilliant twinkles then returns his attention to her.

if anyone deserves time for relaxing, he imagines it would be rose; she's surely pulled thin between two lovers and wedding plans. oh, and fighting on top of that. which is exactly why he's here-- to help relieve any stress he can.]

Hello! [he greets cheerfully, wasting no time flopping down beside her.] I brought you something.

[fangs gleaming, nightcrawler sets a paper bag before her, arms looping around his knees once he draws his legs up.] We talked about doing this some time ago, but things happened and ... yeah. [he blows stray bangs from his face, watching with expectant golden eyes.]

II, of course~

[drehnifusbahi]

[He is, more or less. The concussive blast knocked him flat and left him winded, but physically that's the extent of it. He's back on his feet in fairly short order, and looking for 'his' people first and foremost. Rose, Vex - and the most recent addition, Kurt.

Mentally, he's still rattled, more by the suddenness of the attack than anything else - whatever else can be said of F.A.T.E.S., it? they? have been very good about giving them advance warnings, up til now. How suddenly it seems to be over is also discomfiting, and leaves him deeply suspicious that there must have been more to the blast than there seemed.

He doesn't immediately connect the blast to Rose's nervous chatter, except inasmuch as he assumes she too was more affected by the attack mentally and emotionally than physically. Either way, once they've made sure their friends are alright, he's content to head home with her - the atmosphere of the party has been thoroughly ruined, and they do need to see to the dogs, after all.

The dogs press in on them immediately, and he automatically reaches down to start petting the two nearest to him. But before he can say anything, Rose says... that. And then... backpedals?]

If nothing else, I can take them back to Skyrim while you deal with... what you need to deal with, in your own world. There's plenty of room at Lakeview, and I'm sure Lucia and Alesan will be delighted to have them there.

Thea Queen: OTA

[redarrowqueen]

[1]

[Thea embraces the idea of a party if only since its something she knows best. She and Oliver Queen can work rooms and crowds like nobody's business and she's easily working the party like its old hat. She only nurses ginger ale and soda but she's actually being social! She'll be cagy about the scars that can be seen however, least till things go south...]
-----
[2]

Wish I was armed! [since her bow and arrows were back in the apartment. But it was too late, she'll be spilling just how much she's sure she deserved everything from the last few years. It won't be pretty folks and well she's got demons galore. But for the moment she's making sure all is as it should be and helping anyone in need.]
--
[3]

Wildcard option! Anything goes from confessions aftermath to party events

Era ☘ OTA

[astralera]

☘ PARTY

[ As always, if there's a buffet available Era can be found indulging in the various foods she finds in front of her. Crowded parties have never (and likely never will be) something she enjoys, but the Warrior of Light is never one to turn down the opportunity to stuff her face until she's had her fill.

The ambiance of this party is far more to her liking, however. The music may be hit or miss, but whenever a song comes up that reminds her of one from home Era can be found in a quiet spot dancing. She's quite good at it - body flowing like water with the notes of the music, clearly comfortable in her own skin. The keen awareness of one's body needed to survive as a warrior in her world often translates well to skill on the dance floor. ]

☘ WILDCARD CONFESSIONS

[ Era is not the type of person able to stay in one place for too long. She is an adventurer at heart, and if she isn't occupying her mind then she is occupying her body with training or exploring, or a mixture of the two.

So despite the current risk of impulsively spilling out things she may prefer to keep to herself, Era wanders around the city and the wilderness around it. She's always been rather quiet, so hopefully that means she will be less inclined to blurt anything out. Or perhaps her relatively few memories will be a boon under these circumstances.

Either way, being outside in the fresh air is worth the possibility of embarrassment. ]

☘ CLEAN-UP

[ The protective equipment she wears is going to drive her mad, she's sure. It sounds weird and feels weird and smells weird. But protection is protection, and Era will accept it over nothing. She's done more unpalatable quests than this before, however, and so she just sucks it up and continues working hard cleaning up this strange goop that reminds her somewhat of Flan flesh. ]

{{Era can be found pretty much wherever you want her to be in the 2nd and 3rd prompts - I've left the starters open-ended on purpose. for the confessions, if she's on the beach or in the woods she will be in the company of her Chocobo and will either be combat training or collecting random things (shells, plants, neat looking rocks, etc.). if there's anything specific you want to do/you have a level of severity you would like any confessions to be (lighthearted, serious, somewhere in-between) just contact me via Discord (Era Ra#4916) or froakie!}}

CONFESSIONS!!!

[remarkablymodest]

[ There is a lot that's unspoken between them. It isn't necessarily that they're withholding information from one another; in fact, it's quite the opposite. It is oft in their case that actions speak louder than words. Aymeric doesn't need to tell Era he loves her in so many words for the gestures he makes (he hopes) conveys that well enough.

But ever since the attack by D.E.S.T.I.N.Y. and the strange sludge, it's been... different. He's felt an odd compulsion to speak his heart's words aloud. While he has a stronger willpower than most and arguably Era does as well, it feels like it's another a matter of time before they reach a breaking point. He's tried to give her some space. Naively, he thought it might help.

But soon as they cross paths - him on patrol and her exploring the wilderness around them - he can't stop himself from asking, ] If you had to choose, what might you say your favorite flower is?

kurt wagner [nightcrawler] ❧ ota

[shadowblends]

some days like i'm barely breathing; (party)

[spring has to be one of kurt's favorite seasons.

all the plants are growing again, it's getting warmer and the coming of such weather brings on things like this picturesque get-together.

he can be found throughout the party, watching people on the dancefloor, enjoying the music while nursing a small plate of mixed vegetables and fruit. if not there, he also takes up time near the bar, examining the dangerously alcoholic wines or lounges about on the oversized pillows near the projection screen, propped on some smaller cushions as he absentmindedly toys with yellow flowers.]

after we were high (confessions and clean up)

[as soon as things have calmed down, kurt has to take a moment gathering himself, palms pressed over his ears like that will make the ringing stop. not long after that, his first admittance:] I participated in a fight club, [comes out rather nonchalantly, making him sputter and promptly raise a hand to cover his face, hoping no one nearby has been paying attention.

when he begins to understand there's no stopping it, the teleporter spends more of his time at home, busying himself with his plants or other house chores-- anything to keep his mind off the fact he can't control the impulsiveness.

except, there are sure to be times where he might be caught traveling into town, which leaves him totally vulnerable during the random spikes.

throughout clean up, though, he's uncharacteristically quiet. maybe a offhanded comment here or there, but he's doing everything he can to keep from word vomiting his feelings all over some unsuspecting person.]

the love dope died; (wildcard)

[ooc: none of these doing it for you? hit me with something of your own!]

Re: kurt wagner [nightcrawler] ❧ ota

[shadowmarshalllucask]

Interesting to say the least of it.