"The thing about possession by the Vex, Tango, is that you won't remember anything afterwards. You're just a body to obey Their will. And I don't think you've really understood that so far," Cub said.
"I mean, I do, I get it, I've seen what it does to you, but-" Tango sighed.
Cub offered him a Vex mask. "Put it on, Tango. This time, you're mine."
"Yes, yes, of course, I-"
The mask was on his face before he could finish speaking. It was a strange feeling, where his head felt suddenly empty and devoid of thought. He found himself laser focused on Cub, as if somehow he knew he was his master today.
"Very good. You know how to obey. This pleases the Vex," Cub said. "Now, come with me, Tango. I've got work for you to do."
"Yes, master," Tango said, trailing along behind him.
-
It was strange to be aware, but unable to remember. Well, he remembered things if Cub asked him to, but for the most part, he simply moved when Cub said, did whatever he said to do, was simply existing in his own body as it did Cub's bidding, both unable and unwilling to intervene.
The Vex were heavily present as a storm cloud in his mind. Along with the cooing voices when he seemed to please them, there was this sense of disassociation. Of the Vex simply puppeting his body. It felt very strange, but also very peaceful.
He didn't have to think. He had no pressing issues about Decked Out flooding his mind. Indeed, his mind was calm and quiet, stilled by the simple act of obedience. Perhaps he should do this more often. It wasn't often he was able to switch his brain off so completely.
-
They were sitting under Scar's tree when Tango was released. It was mid-afternoon, and the sun was out, shining in tangled waves through the leaves and reflecting across the water. The mask sat in his hands, lifeless, and he stared for a moment, coming back to his senses as his body was still and unwilling to move.
"Wiggle your fingers or toes, that'll get you back to right again," Cub said.
Tango focused on that. Wiggling his fingers. He could do that, right? Wiggle his toes? They were simple enough. He could do that, even though his brain felt like mud and he felt like Cub had asked him to dance a tango or something.
He felt Cub move a little closer to him and gently take his hands in his. "Just squeeze them gently. You can do it, Tango, come on."
Cub was squeezing his hands, as if showing him what to do. Having his hands move did seem to jolt something in his brain and he thought about squeezing his hands back.
"Yeah! Yeah, that's it! You're doing it, Tango!" Cub said.
Tango felt something of the fog lift, and he smiled a little. He sensed Cub shifting closer. A hand cupped his cheek, and he closed his eyes as Cub kissed him softly, nothing more than sweet sensation to wake him up. He turned his head to look at Cub after he'd pulled away, feeling a little better.
"Hey, there, Cubby," Tango said.
"Hey there, Tango," Cub said. "The Vex are very pleased by your obedience today. Well done."
"Thanks. I can't say it was all down to me if I was possessed, but I'll take it, sure," Tango said. "So will it be like that in the dungeon then? For what I have planned? They give me the hood, I become possessed, and obey their every word?"
"I'll need to tweak the spells a little, but yes, that's how it'll work. As a safeguard against you using knowledge the players shouldn't have access to, which is what you wanted, right?" Cub said.
"Yeah, yeah I did. It's not that I don't trust myself, but better safe than sorry, right? Takes the subjectivity out of it," Tango said.
"Of course, of course. Now, do you really want me to rig it for amnesia? Because if you're using this as your way of playing Decked Out without playing Decked Out, me wiping your memories seems counter-productive," Cub said.
"You think so? Well, I mean, mostly I asked for it to be sure I'm properly in the moment, you know? Totally focused on them and only using whatever knowledge they give me. I'm not meant to be anything more than a body they can feed to ravagers or whatever, you know? But if you think the amnesia's too much, don't include it, I don't really mind. You're the one making the hoods," Tango said.
"It's not that it's too much, I'm just not sure it's really worth it for you if you never get to remember any of your dungeon runs, you know? What if I ran the dungeon with you, and some absolutely amazing shit went down, and when I went to talk to you after, you didn't remember what happened? Like, that's not what you want at all, you get me?" Cub said.
"Ohhh, yeah, you're right, yeah, no, cut the amnesia. You make a good point there," Tango said.
"Alright, will do. Give me a couple of days and I'll have another one for you to test," Cub said.
"Sounds great. Now, have you got any food on you? I'm starving," Tango said.
Cub laughed and handed him some cake. "I brought only the best for you, Tango, here. Enjoy."
Tango smiled, feeling much more grounded into his body as he took a bite of the cake. Was this plan stupid? Sure. Was it going to result in him dying many, many times? Probably. Would it be worth it? Of course it would be.
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