[Citadel Courtyard] Mind Over Matter (Fubuki)

by **Ronas Dermir** on November 3rd, 2013, 11:39 pm

Ronas did not know what to do. The girl was hugging him, telling him that apparently "Cassandra" was a good friend of hers when she was alive. He vaguely wondered how long ago that would have been, and where that would have been. And apparently, the shifting eye colors was a trait of the Vantha, which Kouri must have also been since she'd admitted that she could shift it as well, although she'd lost the ability when she died. Ronas just nodded, hugging the ghost girl back. "Perhaps not, but at least the memories are still a part of you. And as long as that is the case, this 'Cassandra' will not die. I cannot speak for your abilities as a Vantha but, even though it requires conscious effort to do, sometimes we must hold onto these important pieces of ourselves. Lest we lose them to the ravages of time."

Ronas shook his head at Kouri's words. Despite being a ghost, she was clearly still a young girl in terms of her thinking. Her mind was caught, it seemed, in the thought processes of a child, unable to truly progress into that of a grown woman, no matter how long she had been alive. It was sad, in a way, to see this. To see a child forever trapped in what must be a terrifying world, sometimes clinging, sometimes lashing out. It made Ronas wonder what he would be like, had he died here or in the Testing Grounds. Could he wander the world, incorporeal? He did not know.

"It is in the past, Kouri," Ronas intoned, gravelly voice gentler than was typical for him. "And I cannot explain. Not without destroying the reputation of the Knight I was sworn to protect. It is rarely a fair thing, duty. Sometimes it requires of us that which we can never undo. That would would rob us of much, and leave us with nothing." But nonetheless, Ronas would obey. He would always obey, for better or for worse.

In any case, the girl seemed to be content with his offer to reattempt possession. With a giggling laugh, she charged at him, bowling him over with surprising force and leaving the shaven-headed soldier prone on his back with a giggling ghost girl hugging him. Ronas was not sure how to react to that, other than to take a deep breath and try to prepare himself. It had been a long time since Ronas had smiled. A very long time, not since Syliras, not since... he briefly wondered if that memory would come forth this time. Nonetheless, the girl's form faded, as she entered through his pores, and this time seemed to go straight for his primary form, rather than reaching for the bright lights that represented memories and thoughts.

Ronas felt somewhat strange, as though his very form and essence were being displaced. It was not necessarily a painful feeling but it was unpleasant, like feeling of being dunked underwater, with the lungs burning and the eyes trying to water and he could not feel his arms he could not feel his legs... Ronas knew he had to fight the urge to just push. If he did, the possession would fail a second time, but instinctively he could feel his spirit trying to reject the foreign presence. With deep concentration, Ronas attempted to subsume his own consciousness. It would be easier for Kouri to possess a clear mind, an empty mind.

"Close your eyes, clear your mind."

The mantra repeated, over and over, as Ronas focused on his breathing, on his heartbeat, on any feeling he could still hold onto in the outside world, so that he could push all other thoughts out of the way. He could feel the tendrils of Kouri's soul grabbing hold of his astral, and briefly he wondered what would happen should he detach his astral form from his body. Would it be instantly possessed? Regardless, he continued to clear his mind, pushing even that thought away, until all the lights winked out, one by one.

His mind was clear. Kouri would have to do the rest.

by **Fubuki Kouri** on November 4th, 2013, 7:00 am

In the mind...

The world went dark for a few ticks as Kouri felt her soulmist wrapping around Ronas' astral, taking over his control over his body. Powerful possessors or spiritists could share control over the host's body, but Kouri was still far from that yet and Ronas was no spiritist as far as she could see so for now, she would be in charge of everything. Ronas could only guide her through mind-speak and try his best to not kick her out of mental-defence.

No significant memory leak happened, only flashes of Kouri's past moments briefly showed themselves to Ronas. So brief and swift, it would be really easy to miss them. A happy girl being held by her mother and a girl singing together with her father were two of those flashes.

A bright light filled her vision as usual, Kouri concentrated in keeping her calm and let the light washed over her and Ronas.

Reality...

She opened her eyes, twitching her hands to get a feel of her corporeal body. Kouri lifted 'her' hand to caress at 'her' face, gruff, skinned, not her own smooth misty soulmist body. She examined both of her hands and they were much tanner, bigger, and masculine. She had succeeded, the hard part was over, what came next would be harder. She needed to maintain control.

The ghost girl grunted, her voice sounded a lot deeper than her high-pitched one. First, she tried to fumble her way into a standing position, her feet desperately trying to keep coordinated. Being an ethereal with no heed to gravity made her lost her 'human' sense of balance after a while, especially with her unskilled possession power.

After a few more tries, she finally stood up. Alright! We did it! Now, what can I do, Sir Ronas? I know! Let's try your magic! Do you have any magic? Oddly, almost all of the people she had ever possessed were mages in some way. Cyrus, Anna, and Kriemhild were among them so the activity of 'possessing' and then 'doing magic with the host's body' became a figurative schedule for her possession training session.