Twelfth ♠ Anonymous Text

[save_the_souls]

Who: Allen Walker (anonymous)
Broadcast: Text, Anonymous
Action: Nope.
When: Today

[Things have been going well for Allen the past month. Very well. And while that was certainly a good thing, he couldn't shake the anxiety that it meant something was about to go horribly wrong. Because you know, because it usually did for him. ]

[So he here was, trying to at least put a few of his fears at rest- especially after this latest round of augment malfunctions. Just what if the next round of malfunctions were less benevolent in nature? In truth - he didn't really expect any good answers. There almost never was when he sought out help. Still, there was always a chance. And at least he'd feel like he was doing something]

[The text post that is put up is anonymous, purposefully typed out not to sound like his own wording.]

i have a question.

is there anyone here who knows about stopping or containing demons or things like them? specifically possessions.

thanks.

Comments

[unconfines]

Depends on the demon! And on the mage. And a whole mess of other things, really.

[Age, experience, mental states. How afraid or angry they are when it happens.]

Most demons want a leg up in our world, but don't know what to do with it once they have it. It warps the person, a lot of the time, body and mind. Really spectacularly insane, and even more spectacularly ugly, if you can believe it.

Smarter demons are different. They keep things together easier, pretend better. A Pride demon might have control of a mage for ages and even their closest friends might not realize. Not until the really demony stuff starts to happen, anyway. Patience doesn't last forever, even when you're not so great with time as a concept.

[A small delay, and then:]

Like I said before: messy.

[save_the_souls]

[ That does indeed sound messy, and worrying. Especially the whole warped part. But he reads it all, and reads it carefully. ]

so...no matter what in the end, the demon eventually warps the person in body and mind. just some types of demons take longer than others.

And there's no way to cure it, i take it.

[unconfines]

The only way to split up a demon and its host is to kill it.

You probably don't need me to guess what the easiest way to do that is.

[save_the_souls]

...Chop off the head?

[yeah. he's heard that one. A lot.]

[unconfines]

Or burn them, or gut them, or whatever else strikes your fancy.

Never let it be said the templars aren't creative.

[Oops, did he get a little bitter there? The fun thing about text is that it's a little bit less— in your face.

Not that he thinks abominations should be running about willy-nilly, necessarily, but maybe that forcing an apprentice to fight a demon with no warning or support is a bit like setting them up for failure.]

[save_the_souls]

[There's a pause on his end]

...it sounds brutal, and sad. But if there truly is no other way...it's better than keeping them around for experimentation.

[Which after the Second and Third Exorcist projects...he honestly wouldn't put it past Central to do just that.]

[unconfines]

Maybe.

[Text also allows him to smother most of his reaction to the possibility of experimentation. There's an entire argument to be made about how mages are essentially set pieces in the Chantry's grand grasp for control, but he doesn't have the energy or inclination to start it here.]

No offense meant, but you seem awfully agreeable for someone with a demon in their head, even given our four-or-five minute acquaintanceship. I'd assume that asking about how to get rid of it would be something it objected to, anyway.

Or maybe it's the demon that's agreeable! That would be a twist, wouldn't it.

[save_the_souls]

I'm the one in control right now, not the demon.

[just making that clear]

my augment helps subdue it, so my condition doesn't worsen. but the augment's already malfunctioned a few times on other people, so i want to come up with another plan in case the malfunctions become less harmless.

[unconfines]

[That's exactly what a demon would say, is his incredibly charming initial reaction to the first message, but... well. It's a little bit of a personal point, all of this. He has restraint somewhere, sometimes.]

Can't help you there, sorry.

[A short delay, and then:]

But if you do run into someone with the sort of magic that can do something like that, and they need a little extra oomph for the spell, I'm your mage. Or I can be one of them, anyway.

Just an offer.

[save_the_souls]

[See Anders, it's judgmental thoughts like that that make him go anon. GOSH YOU THEDOSIANS]

really?

thank you. i'll remember that.

[unconfines]

Well, it's only fitting, isn't it? Natural enemies, and all that. I'd rather see a demon chased out than left to mooch in your head.

[Setting aside his own (potential) experience, he's seen the way possessions end, lost friends to Harrowings and temptation. It's not something he'd wish on anyone.]

Good luck with your problem.

[save_the_souls]

i suppose when you put it that way, it makes sense. i'd like to see it chased out too.

thanks again.