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

[astralera]

[ Era eyes the knife warily, though doesn't feel threatened by it. His grip is too tight, and he doesn't seem to be of clear enough mind to use his knife with as much finesse as Era knows he's capable of.

Her brows knit together in concern, but offers a small smile regardless. She's happy to see Loki again after what has been - for her - a handful of months. ]

My apologies. I did not mean to wake you.

[ She makes no move to step forward, waiting patiently for her friend's panic to subside fully first. ]

[dothelokimotion]

[ His hands shake but Loki slowly puts the knife away with a flick of his fingers. His voice is a low rasp. ]

I — No harm meant. Where — have you been?

[astralera]

[ Taking this as an invitation, Era makes her way over to where Loki is seated so that they can converse without straining their voices. ]

I had an accident that took me home for some months. [ Oh. And there's that frustrating impulse. She purses her lips but otherwise doesn't fight it. ] I failed in defending my people once more, and was returned to Xistentia's shores drained of nearly all my aether.

[ Given that aether is not just magic but life force she had been uncomfortably close to dying, which Loki will likely be able to infer.

Era offers a slightly strained (but no less earnest) smile. ] But you - you're in need of some rest, my friend. Books are great for many things, yet as pillows they are severely lacking.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Ah. Loki wets his lips but it is difficult to muster up a response. ]

I . . . I can't. I rather be here.

[astralera]

Do not fret. We need not leave your library. [ She gives him a considering glance. ] I know that there are more comfortable furnishings than a chair and a table. Perhaps a bench?

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki still looks tense and harangued — like a blow that's coming at any moment before he visibly shakes himself out of it. ]

Perhaps.

What are you doing here?

[astralera]

[ She holds out a hand for him to take. Come on, friend. Let's go somewhere comfortable. ]

I was concerned. [ There is a moment's pause. ] And I have not seen you for many months.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki hasn't made much physical contact since he's changed. There's still that overwhelming fear that he'll burn people away with the cold. He eyes that hand in trepidation and fear before turning his gaze away. ]

I'm fine. It's better if I'm here. Away from others.

[astralera]

[ Era keeps her hand out for a few seconds after Loki averts his gaze, then allows it to fall back to her side. Her expression shifts to one of mild hurt - not for herself, but for her friend. It pains her to see Loki like this.

She knows he knows she would never (purposefully) harm him so the fear on his face confuses her until he speaks. ]

Loki, you need not fear harming me. It has been my decision to come here, just as it is your decision to stay. Will you not let me help?

[dothelokimotion]

Harm?

[ Loki laughs, a sharp brittle sound that cracks under the pressure. ]

I've harmed people without meaning to. My very skin keeps me from harming others. There has never been a point of time when I haven't harmed people.

[astralera]

You cannot harm me more than I have already been harmed. [ Not what she meant to say at all, but something about the way Loki laughed struck too deep a cord in her. ] If you cause me pain then it is no less than I deserve and no more than I can handle.

[ She offers her hand again. ]

So please, Loki, my dear friend. Let me help you.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki stares hard at the table, nails digging into the wood. ]

I didn't ask for this.

[astralera]

[ Her expression softens. ]

No one ever does.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki can feel his nails chip at the wood that he's gouged out. Weakness. But he's always been weak. Weak at heart, weak in mind. Whatever anger that used to linger seems to be fully extinguished, burned at Asgard's altar. Who was left to be angry at? To blame? Only himself. ]

Perhaps not. But he should have left me there.

[astralera]

[ She reaches out for him, heart aching to ease some of his pain. His hands are far larger than her own but she is accustomed to that by now and does what she can; wraps her tiny fingers around a few of Loki's, giving a soft squeeze meant to be reassuring.

He needs to move somewhere more comfortable, and if need be she'll drag him there (gently) herself. ]

I don't know what you speak of, but I am happy he did not.

[dothelokimotion]

My father. Though, I had two. One who left me on a rock to perish. The other who took me to use me.

[ Who said he loved you. Perhaps Loki was wrong. He was wrong about everything and it was his intrinsic self, the desire to lash out and burn that ruined it all. It was all him. ]

[astralera]

I have been used by others for all my memory, though the ones who used me came to care for me soon enough. [ Era is glad she doesn't feel the compulsion to add her uncertainties after that, because that would be counterproductive. ] Perhaps it started as a desire to use you in some way, but I cannot believe he would not grow to love you in time.

[ She'll tug gently on his hand. ]

Come, Loki. Let's find you a more comfortable spot to rest.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Finally, he does rise, tired and wilting at the corners. Loki has always been a highly emotional creature and once that was drained away, all that was left was a silent mournful lethargy. He drops her hand once he rises, wrapping them around his elbows, afraid to touch, afraid to hold. Always afraid. ]

[astralera]

[ Era can't say she didn't expect him to physically withdraw from her, but it still stings a bit regardless. She sticks close enough to him to be felt without actually touching, guiding him toward a padded bench she recalls being particularly comfortable. She had actually fallen asleep on it once, which is not a common occurrence for her.

Once they reach the bench Era reaches into her inventory and pulls out a thick, large blanket and lays it across the top of the bench for added comfort, with half of it hanging over the side ready and waiting to swaddle whoever lays atop it.

She sits at one end of the bench and pats the empty space beside her. ]

Pray rest here for a moment. I will make sure no one disturbs you.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki eyes the space briefly before he sits, sinking into it in silence. He picks at his fingers and skin, rubbing his palm raw, an old habit that holds deeper connotations now. His head hangs low, hair falling like a black curtain. ]

I'm not that tired.

[astralera]

[ Oh, don't you dare do that Loki. Era ignores her previous decision to avoid touching Loki until he seemed ready for it, but as soon as she sees him rubbing his skin raw - no. She reaches out, both hands aglow with healing aether as she wraps them around his hands, fully intent on mending his skin. ]

No, you are exhausted.

[dothelokimotion]

I — [ He wets his dry lips. ] — I want it off.

[astralera]

[ That confuses her enough to give her pause. ]

...Your skin?

[dothelokimotion]

It's fake. An illusion.

This is not what I look like.

[astralera]

[ Era understands immediately how important this moment is - that this is Loki opening himself up to her, being incredibly vulnerable. She hopes it isn't the fault of a compulsion.

Looking at him, expression intent and eyes brimming with affection for her friend, Era weighs her response carefully. ]

You need not keep illusions around me. I would be glad to see you.