I Got Smarter

[redlightgreenlight]

Who: Tiamat (Valdis) and Open with Some Closed
What: Thanks to Harvey, Tiamat has taken control of Valdis and is having a great time
When: Beginning of October (Valdis gets control back after about 2 weeks)
Where: All over
Warnings: People are gonna die. Also some general warnings about Tiamat being a chaotic, manipulative bitch.



Honey, I rose up from the dead | Erin and Max | CW: As Necessary

It’s a strange feeling, being entirely in control, not having to fight for it or watching the host make such a fool of herself. Yet when she takes a breath it feels good, invigorating. She never wants to let go of this feeling. She’ll have to eventually, but for now she’s not sure how much she can or should hide. Another breath and then she opens her eyes to see the changeling and the human. Of course they are here, why wouldn’t they be? They love her. She’s surprised that werewolf boy isn’t here too, but she’ll mess with him later.

“Max?” she whispers, “Erin?”

I do it all the time | Ash | CW: Tiamat being a bitch

Time to ruin some lives, break some trust and make people doubt themselves, starting with the lovestruck werewolf. The poor boy is so worried about losing love, likely been convinced it’s his fault in the past. Something fun to play with at the very least. She’s been awake long enough that she can act the part as much as needed. Until it’s not fun anymore or if she thinks revealing herself is better.

Ugh. Valdis was so much better at interpreting people because she actually had feelings, but whatever. Time to see where this goes. Hopefully Erin hasn’t blabbed all over the ship yet.

Tiamat knocks on Ash’s door, her voice quiet, vulnerable, “Ash, it’s me. I’m back.”

I’ve got a list of names | Open | Around the ship | CW: As Necessary

1) Chatterbox

This is the best life. Singing all the songs she’s heard over the years to anyone who might listen. Who knew having a body again could be so fun? Not having a body was very boring. But here? Here she can eat and drink and laugh and dance and just be whoever she wants to be.

Who knows, maybe she’ll take over this fucking ship and depose the Captain. She’d have to learn to run it first, but the idea has potential.

“Hey, you!” she calls to whoever happens to walk past, “Sing a duet with me.”

Somehow it sounds more like a command than a request.

2) Stan the Man

Tiamat is behind the bar, mixing drinks and testing them out, occasionally offering them to others passing through. They are actually good because Valdis isn’t aimlessly trying to get drunk and the Goddess of Destruction just wants to have a good time.

“Here, try this one.” She’ll slide a glass over, somehow she’s nailed whatever drink you might fancy.

If you are underage, it will be non-alcoholic.

3) Island Gems

She contemplates the jewels behind the glass cases, tapping her long fingernails against the glass. There’s power just beyond this unbreakable barrier, but try as she might, she can’t get through it. Special souls perhaps? What madness prompted their captor to keep these poor individuals from the Nothing and out of their own unique realms. Were they unique somehow?

She hums softly, trying to reach through the glass with her powers again. Trying to reach those precious souls. But. She. Can’t.

“Ugh,” she snarls, snatching up a chair and trying to break the case open.

The chair is what breaks.

“This is disgusting. What is so important about these souls.”

She wants to eat them.

4) Fate’s Design

Gambling? The last time she’d gambled she’d lost and been broken into pieces, but now she has a new body and it’s not like she can be broken again. The host’s body is pretty safe, even from murderous changelings. Mostly because people stupidly care.

She’s playing blackjack on her own, counting cards as she goes. It’s not a real casino and there’s no real money involved so it’s just an exercise in numbers. It’s getting boring though.

“Hey,” she’ll throw her arm around the shoulders of anyone who might wander in. “How about we play for some real stakes.”

Your soul. She wants your soul.

Yours is in Red underlined | Nobunaga and Siffleur | CW: Individual

Nobunaga | CW: Murder

This one is easy. He’s a fool, both in mind and title. He’s also a massive hothead who can’t even begin to fathom how stupid he is. He’s here on the sports deck, waiting for her as always so they can practice sword forms. Idiot. He’ll offer energy first as always, it’s just sword forms after all. Unless he already heard from Erin. Then he’ll probably be hostile and she’ll just get it over with. Worthless humans always bite off more than they can chew.

Siffleur | CW: Murder

Tiamat knows for a fact that Siffleur has likely already caught wind that Valdis is no longer in control. It’s not like she’s been hiding since Ash figured it out, there’s really no point in pretending. It’s not fun to pretend either. She sees him sitting in Sand Dollars, talking to his cursed mother again in that unsettling way. She slips into the seat across from him.

“Siffleur,” she says with a pleasant smile. “I recall you had a deal with my host.”

I check it once, then I check it twice | Ava and Peter | CW: Attempted Murder

She’d failed to destroy this relationship earlier, though it had triggered a very interesting rise in the strange unstable woman. Text hadn’t told her much, but Ava seemed to struggle with her husband’s death so much. Going so far as to want to blame others, but been unable to do so. Well. She’d come close enough the last time, she may as well try again. The annoying human spy could give her a solid boost of energy if nothing else, so she’d sent him a text.

Peter. I need to talk to you. Please meet me in the Library.

Oh! Look What You Made Me Do | Wildcard | Open | CW: Many Options

Want to meet Tiamat the very nerfed Goddess of Destruction? PM to discuss or just go for it! She’ll be all over for a bit.

Comments

[maximumcake]

"Valdis?" Max is sitting close enough to the bed it's a miracle he hasn't already just gotten in under the covers with her. But, upon hearing her speak, he flings himself atop her, arms squeezing tight. "I'm so glad you're okay!"

[crushed_pearls]

Erin puts a hand on Max's shoulder; her expression is stony, her emotions a mix of concern and a sort of building, pre-emptive anger, something she's calling out of a reservoir inside her.

Let her be wrong about this. Please.

"Back up, little brother," Erin murmurs. Her voice is hard and low. "Please."

[redlightgreenlight]

"Max, I'm so sorry. I...Crichton."

There's a tiny pause as Erin doesn't react the same way as Max. The changeling has apparently picked up on something, the woman could taste auras, so Tiamat supposes that her aura is different enough that it would be noticeable. The human isn't a threat, but Erin could be.

"Erin?" She adds a little sorrowful pain to her voice. "What's wrong?"

[maximumcake]

Max sits back up, eyes wide with alarm. He trusts Erin. If she thinks something is wrong, he believes her without question. Much as it pains him, he does back away, his gaze darting from Valdis to other places in the room, landing on the sword... that hasn't started glowing yet. He can suddenly taste his pulse in the back of his throat.

"Erin...?" He echoes barely above a whisper. What is wrong?

[crushed_pearls]

Without even thinking about it, Erin slides into a protective posture between Max and Valdis. Her hand strays to Bifrost, there on her back again, even if the idea of getting into a fight right now makes her raw body scream in terror - gaining her wings back had been...

...Hurtful...

"Max, did Valdis tell you anything about...a sleeper, that she's unwillingly involved with?"

Head focused on Valdis, ignoring her question, because if the answer is what Erin fears it is, and Max didn't know already, she wants him out of here before this parasite can spin the narrative.

[redlightgreenlight]

The changeling seems pretty convinced, and unfortunately Valdis hadn't exactly been shy about informing Erin and Siffleur about the potential issue. She'd also told Ava, but that woman is on the list for later. Damn.

"I wouldn't...I'm not Harvey Erin! The daggers were poisoned and he...stabbed me...I..."

She turns away from both of them, burying her face in her pillow, sobs racking her shoulders as if she's remembering what happened. Her best bet is to play to emotion instead of logic, it would be quite annoying to have to kill two people right away.

[maximumcake]

Max's eyes go even wider. "A sleeper? N-no. What?"

He backs away, shaking his head in disbelief. No. This isn't like Valdis. This isn't her. She wouldn't weep into a pillow like that, she'd reach for him, and for Erin. She's strong, dignified, and she radiates her love like a forcefield around her people. This isn't his Valdis.

[crushed_pearls]

In a loud, clear voice: "Daisy, if Max and I don't leave Cabin 105 in an hour, kill Valdis. Take her down hard."

In a much softer voice: "Good morning, parasite. Let's talk. Max, you...might want to leave, but I won't make you."

[redlightgreenlight]

The sobs stop immediately and are followed by a very put upon sigh.

"You do realize that I can simply kill Daisy right now if I wanted to, don't even have to leave this very uncomfortable bed."

Tiamat sits up, but her gaze seems amused that the changeling would think that would even work.

"Yes, Maxy, you might want to leave. I have a feeling Liz wants to have a little chat, maybe make a few threats. She likely has enough sense to realize that killing me only hurts Valdis, so you don't even have to worry about the Erik thing happening again."

[maximumcake]

Max is trembling like a leaf in the autumn wind, his eyes growing wet with the first signs of tears, but his gaze hardens on the face of this woman who wears his love like a perverse mask. How dare she bring up Erik here and now? That was different and she knows it.

"I'm gonna go," he croaks, "So you can do what you need to do, Erin. I trust you with my life and hers." Just like in Japan, this was always the way it was supposed to be. Erin fights, and he gets himself to safety. That's still the plan. He can't be used against Erin if he isn't here.

"Valdis, if you can hear me, I love you."

[crushed_pearls]

Erin waits in stony silence for Max to leave, her head trained on Valdis's body and the parasite puppeting it.

Once the door closes, she speaks, hard and low: "You've got your facts wrong. I'll kill us both without a second thought, and I know you can feel it on me. You're probably thinking I can't stay on the board, not when I know enough that I might be able to gin up help to put you back in the box. Fair enough. But let me put this on the table: I'll sell you a head start. Interested?"

[redlightgreenlight]

"Oh, yes. I know all about your impulsive and violent tendencies, how you like killing to prove a point. She dislikes that about you."

Tiamat stretches her arms, keeping her attention on Erin.

"There do seem to be a few things you are confused about. One. I don't care if you are on the board or not, I had no intention of killing you. Two. You see that very dark and dead sword over in the corner? The last of its light went toward defending her soul from me, she has no more reserves. Killing me only ensures that she will never return to you. Three. The only one who can put me back in the box is my host."

[crushed_pearls]

"...No. You're not bluffing, but you're not sure either. Who knows what happens if you die like this? The ship might weaken you instead, or even eat you entirely." Erin's more affected than her hard voice lets on, squeezing Bifrost's hilt, but her rage is in her grip, held so hard as to crack. "You're not like me. I'm just crazy, you're almost a person, parasite. So let's. Cut. The. Shit. I'm willing to back off on one condition: you don't touch the youngbloods. No murder, no violence, no soul draining, no head games. Leave the kids alone."

[redlightgreenlight]

"You'd let me run rampant on the ship as long as I leave the children alone?"

Perhaps she shouldn't be surprised by that, the woman always had a soft spot for several of the young passengers. She looks away, considering.

"They were never on my list, so I suppose you have a deal. But I will tell you one more thing, if I even get a whiff of Daisy in the same space as me, she's dead. What's more, I will kill Crabb, Ylva and Cassandra in the same breath."

She's curious as to how far she can push Erin, but she is not bluffing either.

[crushed_pearls]

"I'll let her know, just in case she's not listening." A shuddering breath; Erin's arm trembles, and she squeezes the hilt harder. "I know I'm not the kind of witch who can do this right. Valdis and I will talk after she's done beating you bloody. I have faith in her, but you? You're just a dead thing butt hurt that all anyone ever gets is a lifetime - no more, no less. Have your tantrum. I'll be waiting."

[redlightgreenlight]

"I am a goddess, Erin Peters, and I currently have the powers of an Angel of death, I don't think I have anything to be 'butt hurt' about."

She can feel what is either fear or anger, or maybe both, coming from the changeling and she scoots closer to place her hand on Erin's arm.

"Your confidence in Valdis is touching, she can hear you, you know. If you have anything else to say?"

[crushed_pearls]

Erin pulls away violently; Bifrost half-clears its sheath before she stops herself, breathing hard. "Don't. Touch. Me. Parasite. You don't get that privilege. You don't get anything."

[redlightgreenlight]

Tiamat smirks and scoots closer again, rising from the bed to put more pressure on Erin.

"Are you afraid of me?"

Not Here/For Daisy

[maximumcake]

Max keeps himself together until he gets far enough away from Valdis's cabin that he doesn't think she'll immediately hear him. Then he crumples to his knees in the middle of the hall, presses both hands to his lips and lets out a strangled wail of anguish. Valdis! Valdis?! Where has she gone? What's going on? He doesn't understand--but Erin does.

Valdis still didn't tell him everything. Why? Why? The question slithers in his belly like a poisonous eel. He's hyperventilating, and getting dizzy from it, but he can't calm the nervous rage racing through him. Valdis said she could handle it. She said to let her do it her way. He should have fought back harder. He should have been stronger so she could have let him in on this, too. Whatever is going on, he's helpless to do anything about it. He said he'd protect her but... he can't.

[hadnoright]

Erin drawing Daisy's attention pays off in one way, at least: she's still listening when she tells Max to leave.

It's not hard to find him, not between the wail and her familiarity with his scent. She near-skids across the floor as she drops to her knees in front of him, hands finding his arms almost immediately.

"Max. Hey. Hey. Breathe."

[maximumcake]

He collapses against her, face pressed into the space between her shoulder and head, drops of his tears catching in her hair.

"D-did you hear it?" That's all he can say. Because he doesn't think he has the strength to explain if she doesn't know what's going on yet.

[hadnoright]

"I heard enough. Something's taken Valdis over," Daisy murmurs, as her arms loop around him. There's a weird, twisted guilt curling its way around her stomach. The timing is such a horrid, grim coincidence, just for one, and worse than that is the fact she can't do anything.

If it were just Valdis losing control of herself in the much less literal sense, she'd at least stand a chance of putting her down. But the body snatcher was right—she could kill Daisy from across the ship, if she wanted.

"...I'm sorry. If I could do something— I would."

[maximumcake]

"Y-yeah," Max says, with a hiccupping sob. "S-she's... I don't know." And that hurts too, because Erin seems to know about this and he doesn't.

"I know." His fingers tighten in her clothes. "I know. I... I feel so helpless, too."

[hadnoright]

"At least Erin noticed, could've been a lot worse otherwise... but. It does mean this— it isn't like. Before." Like her, and the others from her cruise. "There'd be an easy way to fix that."

So long as they could've gotten the jump on her. Daisy knows well how, if a ghost from the ship possesses someone, all you have to do to boot them out is kill them. But whatever this is... she doesn't know. She doubts it's that simple.

"...but there'll be something. There has to be." She can't be all grim and pessimistic now, for Max's sake.

[maximumcake]

"There has to be," he repeats with cold vehemence. "We have to find a way. I promised her. I promised I'd keep her heart safe."

His hands tighten painfully around Daisy's back. "Am I a coward for running away? I... I feel like one."