![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
the moment you've all been waiting for
Hey there Luceti, anyone interested in a PLAYER PLOT? There's been some buzz on Plurk for months now, and it's getting close to the time for it, so:
Luceti's House of M!
What Does that Even Mean??
HERE is a tl;dr version of the backstory, which offers a lot more details because I like to ramble. The concept of House of M itself is a Marvel thing, so for those who don't know, the short version is this:
- the Scarlet Witch is a reality bender who was possessed and went crazy for a while
- she killed a bunch of cool people and even after she was caught she was kind of off the deep end
- she remade the world so everyone she considered to be important could live their perfect lives, with her family in control of the world
- this was undone, obviously, but it was definitely a big freaking deal
What I'd like to do is recreate something similar to this in Luceti, as an open plot. Originally it was going to be closed to Billy and Teddy's CR, but hey, the more the merrier |D So it's fair game to anyone. This is absolutely optional to everyone! So if you don't want to be a part of it, you'd only have to pay attention if your CR is affected, basically.
What's Going to Happen?
The build-up has been ongoing: Billy has been gradually be using magic more and more, for no reason, experimenting with more powerful and complex magic as his confidence grows, and while his control improves, his restraint seems to be somewhat lacking. Loki’s player has already volunteered to have Loki come forward about noticing this, ie. suggesting some kind of magic intervention, but by then it’s too late.
There will be a double kidnapping- Teddy and Billy together. Some experimentation goes on. Early on, Billy's powers will be fully accessed in order to open a nexus portal and recreate the Wanda scenario, AKA possess Billy with the Life Force to see what kind of control he'd have over it, and when that fails pretty miserably (as he starts to lose his grip on reality despite Teddy's attempts to help) they decide to take it to the next level.
They fake Teddy's death to see how the magic responds.
Predictably, Billy loses it, and when he starts TRYING to trash things despite their facility's power dampeners, they send him back to Luceti to try and delegate the damage to the enclosure instead, holding on to Teddy while they observe the mess they caused. By then, however, Billy's psyche is reaching past the destruction stage and is slipping right into the "this is not acceptable" stage: the part where Teddy not being alive is an unacceptable state of existence for him. The logic of "he'll be back in a week" can't reach a mind already lost to that madness, so Billy will become fixated on a single idea:
"Teddy can't be dead."
So he recreates his "world". Not all of it, obviously, since this is a contained player plot and would be optional even to his closest CR. The idea is that anyone who wants to be involved could become a part of "Billy's Luceti", AKA a fragmented alternate reality where Luceti is a peaceful place- there is no war, no kidnappings, no experiments. It is as if everyone has been brought into a paradise, and they have no desire to live anywhere but in this perfect, beautiful world where they have everything they could ever want. Their lives can be changed to whatever degree the player wants.
And Billy? He is the quiet, not-quite-there observer of their happiness, accompanied all along by Teddy. Who is not really Teddy. He looks perfect, and he smiles, and he is basically the perfect boyfriend. But the essence of Teddy, his soul, is completely absent. He's a high-functioning doll for a mad man.
And then Teddy returns from his own kidnapping to find that Billy is crazy and that he's been replaced. When he tries to reach out and snap him out of it, Billy will lash out at him, violently against the idea of this old, imperfect, human Teddy ruining his perfect existence. This Teddy is real, which means he can die. But since Teddy can't die in Billy’s reality, then he can't be allowed to be real. Therefore he has to kill the real Teddy so he won't die. It's backwards logic, but he's insane and possessed, so who expects logic to actually work?
Billy will be stopped, obviously- killing Teddy for real would be going past the point of no return. Once this happens, the spell will wear off and everyone still affected will realize what's been going on, though not necessarily who was responsible for it. Billy will remain possessed for a while; not as violently insane anymore, but people can visit him and he’ll try to create another miniaturized “perfect” scenario for them to try and make up for shit he’s caused - for example, Teddy's mother showing up for dinner despite being dead/not in Luceti. This can go in basically any direction and will be really personalized, so it's an option for people who don't want to be altered by the spell itself but still want to experience the effects in some way. It won't affect characters personally, just the scenario around them and Billy, and it'll be very temporary.
What Can Happen in this Perfect Life?
A lot, basically. Those affected by the magic will believe that Luceti is a paradise, and they have no problem with living within it. The world within the barrier has everything they need, and there's no war, kidnappings, or experimentation. Families can be toyed with, altered, created. Whatever would make the affected character happy, chances are it can exist. They could have different personalities, different families, different histories, even powers if they wanted. Whatever their little hearts desire. For example, Cassie could be alive, and her dad could be alive, and she has Jonas or Nate or whoever hanging on her arm. Someone who desperately wants a child could find themselves with a baby. Almost literally anything they want.
These changes have to be acceptable within game rules, obviously, so I'll have an official sign-up, and people can use this post to plot what'll happen. If there's any conflicts in what's okay or not, I'll let you guys know. Additionally, characters can be involved in the same perfect life together, if they both agree to being affected in ways that mesh. For example, if Aang and Katara wanted to be together and happily married, they would both have to sign up with that reality in mind. Aang can't just believe that they're married while Katara remains unaffected and confused. The perfect world is more or less limited to those who are a part of it, and those outside the spell's influence won't be dragged in unwillingly.
These effects will be available for roughly one week; they can wear off early or last the entire time, whatever the individual players want to do. If the effects wear off early, the characters will be disoriented and confused about what happened, but otherwise free in every way. They can remember both lives or forget the alternate to whatever degree is desired.
I'll have a thread below for questions, too.
What We Need from You
At the moment we need a few things from people who want to take part in this.
1) Who's going to be involved in Billy's magic intervention, and when would be a good time for it? He'll have to do something between now and then to make it happen, mind, but that shouldn't be too difficult.
2) Who wants to find crazy!Billy and accidentally trigger the spell? (His CR is preferable for this bit, as they'll probably need to specifically mention Teddy in some way.)
3) Who wants to be affected by the House of M's changed reality? Sign-up! Discuss! Ask questions! Plot together and indulge in your perfect lives whee.
4) Who's going to take Billy out? (Natasha Romanov has been volunteered for this previously, so if she's still game for that, then we're good here!)
5) Since Wanda required Professor Xavier in order to give everyone exactly what they wanted, I have to play around a little bit more with this part. In lieu of lacking an actual telepath, Jessie has kindly offered her empath dude, Hisoka, and with that as well as Billy’s powers and his knowledge of the characters involved, we can still roll with the “whatever you want” scenario.
When is this Happening!?
Tentatively, the first week of October is when it'll start. From the 1st to the 7th would be the duration of the spell, the confrontation would be on the 8th, which would mean Billy is out of commission when I go on my hiatus. If these dates conflict with enough people, it can probably be bumped around, but that's what works best for me.
That's pretty much the gist of it! Sign-ups and questions below! If I missed anything or need to add/amend details, I'll do so.
What Does that Even Mean??
HERE is a tl;dr version of the backstory, which offers a lot more details because I like to ramble. The concept of House of M itself is a Marvel thing, so for those who don't know, the short version is this:
- the Scarlet Witch is a reality bender who was possessed and went crazy for a while
- she killed a bunch of cool people and even after she was caught she was kind of off the deep end
- she remade the world so everyone she considered to be important could live their perfect lives, with her family in control of the world
- this was undone, obviously, but it was definitely a big freaking deal
What I'd like to do is recreate something similar to this in Luceti, as an open plot. Originally it was going to be closed to Billy and Teddy's CR, but hey, the more the merrier |D So it's fair game to anyone. This is absolutely optional to everyone! So if you don't want to be a part of it, you'd only have to pay attention if your CR is affected, basically.
What's Going to Happen?
The build-up has been ongoing: Billy has been gradually be using magic more and more, for no reason, experimenting with more powerful and complex magic as his confidence grows, and while his control improves, his restraint seems to be somewhat lacking. Loki’s player has already volunteered to have Loki come forward about noticing this, ie. suggesting some kind of magic intervention, but by then it’s too late.
There will be a double kidnapping- Teddy and Billy together. Some experimentation goes on. Early on, Billy's powers will be fully accessed in order to open a nexus portal and recreate the Wanda scenario, AKA possess Billy with the Life Force to see what kind of control he'd have over it, and when that fails pretty miserably (as he starts to lose his grip on reality despite Teddy's attempts to help) they decide to take it to the next level.
They fake Teddy's death to see how the magic responds.
Predictably, Billy loses it, and when he starts TRYING to trash things despite their facility's power dampeners, they send him back to Luceti to try and delegate the damage to the enclosure instead, holding on to Teddy while they observe the mess they caused. By then, however, Billy's psyche is reaching past the destruction stage and is slipping right into the "this is not acceptable" stage: the part where Teddy not being alive is an unacceptable state of existence for him. The logic of "he'll be back in a week" can't reach a mind already lost to that madness, so Billy will become fixated on a single idea:
"Teddy can't be dead."
So he recreates his "world". Not all of it, obviously, since this is a contained player plot and would be optional even to his closest CR. The idea is that anyone who wants to be involved could become a part of "Billy's Luceti", AKA a fragmented alternate reality where Luceti is a peaceful place- there is no war, no kidnappings, no experiments. It is as if everyone has been brought into a paradise, and they have no desire to live anywhere but in this perfect, beautiful world where they have everything they could ever want. Their lives can be changed to whatever degree the player wants.
And Billy? He is the quiet, not-quite-there observer of their happiness, accompanied all along by Teddy. Who is not really Teddy. He looks perfect, and he smiles, and he is basically the perfect boyfriend. But the essence of Teddy, his soul, is completely absent. He's a high-functioning doll for a mad man.
And then Teddy returns from his own kidnapping to find that Billy is crazy and that he's been replaced. When he tries to reach out and snap him out of it, Billy will lash out at him, violently against the idea of this old, imperfect, human Teddy ruining his perfect existence. This Teddy is real, which means he can die. But since Teddy can't die in Billy’s reality, then he can't be allowed to be real. Therefore he has to kill the real Teddy so he won't die. It's backwards logic, but he's insane and possessed, so who expects logic to actually work?
Billy will be stopped, obviously- killing Teddy for real would be going past the point of no return. Once this happens, the spell will wear off and everyone still affected will realize what's been going on, though not necessarily who was responsible for it. Billy will remain possessed for a while; not as violently insane anymore, but people can visit him and he’ll try to create another miniaturized “perfect” scenario for them to try and make up for shit he’s caused - for example, Teddy's mother showing up for dinner despite being dead/not in Luceti. This can go in basically any direction and will be really personalized, so it's an option for people who don't want to be altered by the spell itself but still want to experience the effects in some way. It won't affect characters personally, just the scenario around them and Billy, and it'll be very temporary.
What Can Happen in this Perfect Life?
A lot, basically. Those affected by the magic will believe that Luceti is a paradise, and they have no problem with living within it. The world within the barrier has everything they need, and there's no war, kidnappings, or experimentation. Families can be toyed with, altered, created. Whatever would make the affected character happy, chances are it can exist. They could have different personalities, different families, different histories, even powers if they wanted. Whatever their little hearts desire. For example, Cassie could be alive, and her dad could be alive, and she has Jonas or Nate or whoever hanging on her arm. Someone who desperately wants a child could find themselves with a baby. Almost literally anything they want.
These changes have to be acceptable within game rules, obviously, so I'll have an official sign-up, and people can use this post to plot what'll happen. If there's any conflicts in what's okay or not, I'll let you guys know. Additionally, characters can be involved in the same perfect life together, if they both agree to being affected in ways that mesh. For example, if Aang and Katara wanted to be together and happily married, they would both have to sign up with that reality in mind. Aang can't just believe that they're married while Katara remains unaffected and confused. The perfect world is more or less limited to those who are a part of it, and those outside the spell's influence won't be dragged in unwillingly.
These effects will be available for roughly one week; they can wear off early or last the entire time, whatever the individual players want to do. If the effects wear off early, the characters will be disoriented and confused about what happened, but otherwise free in every way. They can remember both lives or forget the alternate to whatever degree is desired.
I'll have a thread below for questions, too.
What We Need from You
At the moment we need a few things from people who want to take part in this.
1) Who's going to be involved in Billy's magic intervention, and when would be a good time for it? He'll have to do something between now and then to make it happen, mind, but that shouldn't be too difficult.
2) Who wants to find crazy!Billy and accidentally trigger the spell? (His CR is preferable for this bit, as they'll probably need to specifically mention Teddy in some way.)
3) Who wants to be affected by the House of M's changed reality? Sign-up! Discuss! Ask questions! Plot together and indulge in your perfect lives whee.
4) Who's going to take Billy out? (Natasha Romanov has been volunteered for this previously, so if she's still game for that, then we're good here!)
5) Since Wanda required Professor Xavier in order to give everyone exactly what they wanted, I have to play around a little bit more with this part. In lieu of lacking an actual telepath, Jessie has kindly offered her empath dude, Hisoka, and with that as well as Billy’s powers and his knowledge of the characters involved, we can still roll with the “whatever you want” scenario.
When is this Happening!?
Tentatively, the first week of October is when it'll start. From the 1st to the 7th would be the duration of the spell, the confrontation would be on the 8th, which would mean Billy is out of commission when I go on my hiatus. If these dates conflict with enough people, it can probably be bumped around, but that's what works best for me.
That's pretty much the gist of it! Sign-ups and questions below! If I missed anything or need to add/amend details, I'll do so.
Questions
no subject
I'd be happy to have him set off crazy Billy as well since he's sure going to be worried about his magic bro, but I totally understand if you'd rather spread the awfulness around. (Same for the taking him out. Basically, please give me all the brain-breaking awfulness you like, I just don't want to be an awfulness hog.)
<3
no subject
They could have the argument either this Monday or the Monday following, which leaves room for worrying and planning said intervention. Thoughts?
no subject
That would sure piss Loki off, then worry him a lot. Particularly if we can say OH THERE WAS LIKE A 99% CHANCE IT COULD HAVE BLOWN UP. Or something. Maybe? Thoughts?
no subject
He'd also feel proud enough of his success that Loki bitching at him for it would irritate him a fair bit :|a
no subject
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
no subject
Because that's totally what's gone down in my head but I never asked you before.THIS KID. WHERE DOES HE NEED TO BE.
no subject
I like the idea of Billy hiding him away somewhere - heck, even keep him around in the spare room of his and Teddy's apartment, since no one goes there - and checking on him every day to see how the perfect world is going. Once the spell wears off and everyone snaps out of it, Hisoka could either be rescued or just let himself out. Or of course I'm open to ideas if you have any!
no subject
I don't know that we need to arrange a formal rescue. XD I mean, it's sweet and everything but he just lives downstairs. >> He'll probably be pretty seriously pissed off at Billy afterwards though. But they were never really destined to have longterm CR so..! :D
no subject
and yeah, Billy will forever apologize and not expect him to forgive him or like him ever again |D;
no subject
White spaces are amazing shut up.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
no subject
no subject
It's a paradise for the character. It's heaven. Who would want to go anywhere else?
Re: Questions
Is there anything folks would be interested in doing with that? Or is that a kettle of fish best saved for another day? I am 100% open to suggestions.
no subject
/grabby hands
no subject
How shall we have it then? Is Wanda going to appear aged up to be le mother, or WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?
no subject
I had a thought that Billy would want to see what House of M was like, since he's heard about it- basically he'd want to know what it was like to grow up with Wanda and Tommy as a family together. So the twins would have Maximoff as a last name and call her Mom and act like TRUE BROS and yes. Shikki and I already talked and she's interested in that, so if you want to give it a try, it could be fun!
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
no subject
no subject
Really, it's up to you. Whatever would change about her life in Luceti in order for her to be happy.
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
(no subject)
Re: Questions
So YJ blatantly shows her being able to detect the presence of magic as it is part of a device controlling a person's mind pretty much naturally. And since House of M is all magic, I figure she'll be able to sense that this isn't a regular Malnosso shift or something--BUT PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.
With that in mind, she might try to individually reverse the effect for one person (Robin), with success or failure completely up in the air. Of course this isn't really like anything she does in YJ, and I'm trying to figure out the logistics of how it would work/what might happen if there's a fail/if the magic would resist/etc. So any input or anything would be really great, or if it would mess things up that would also be good to know, lol.
no subject
Well obviously the success or failure of trying to reverse the spell would be up to whoever's character you're trying it on, so assuming you have their permission first:
The magic that's holding the spell together is primarily the Life Force, which is a level above Billy's (who's already kinda godmode), so it's... pretty ridiculously powerful. However, the fact that it's spread across the village, and Billy is inexperienced, PLUS the barrier makes it weaker than usual, means it isn't what it would be in canon. Since he won't be sleeping and he's really unhinged, it'll also progressively get less effective as the days pass, which is why it can start wearing off on people before it's actually dispelled.
Basically this means that the longer the spell is in effect, the easier it would be for someone to either break themselves free or, in Zatanna's case, break it with conflicting magic. So she's welcome to give it a shot, and it'll get easier to do it the later into the event that she tries it.
Hope that helps!