(no subject)

[printfogey.livejournal.com]

Er. This ficlet would be better if the idea hadn’t been blatantly stolen from Terry Pratchett. Oh, well.

Title: Loophole
Rating: G
Media: Fic (I should post some new art some time, too)
Characters: Sogeking, Usopp
Word Count: 299
Prompt: Mind Control



Sogeking can only be whatever Usopp imagines him to be, and he’s always imagined him as a pure, selfless, confident hero who will not intrude where he’s not wanted. And so Sogeking stays put deep inside Usopp when he’s not called for, knowing Usopp trusts him not to cross the boundary unasked. It’s the hero’s way.

But now, a terrifying new enemy has taken over young Usopp’s regular mind, as well as the minds of young Zoro and young Robin. Horrified, Sogeking at first only watches as his friend/host/creator attacks his own crewmates in concert with the other two, going all out and using his dirtiest, cleverest tricks, his most forceful attacks. Of course, the confused crew can’t retaliate in kind, trying and failing to knock the three out harmlessly.

When Usopp aims an Atlas Comet at Chopper – an attack that wouldn’t just hurt the reindeer badly from this short distance, but also blow him into the sea – Sogeking finds himself surging forward without even thinking, seizing control. And he dons the mask.

He wrenches his arm away, totters for balance, then turns and shoots the enemy instead. Yelping with outraged surprise, the mind-thief sends pain right into his head, then easily takes Sogeking’s mind over. But now the regular Usopp, freed from control, pushes Sogeking away and also attacks the mind-thief. The enemy’s full attention’s on just the two of them now, and that’s enough for Zoro and Robin to break free as well – and because of that, for the Strawhats to finally take the mind-thief down.

It's over. Everyone's safe. Yet Sogeking knows something between them has changed forever. Maybe he had little choice and the best of reasons – but the covenant’s been broken, the balance upset. And it’s no longer so certain who among them is truly in control.

Comments

[naye]

Oh, my. Very interesting ficlet indeed! No matter where the idea came from, seeing this with Usopp and Sogeking is very, very cool!

[printfogey.livejournal.com]

Thank you!! :D

Awesome! Go Sogeking!

[mishagirl.livejournal.com]

Nicely done! I like how it mixes the "yay! Victory!" With "Uh-oh things are different now".

I love terry pratchett too btw...but I don't think I've read the book you took this from! (I've only read the witches books and I think 2 involving death).

Re: Awesome! Go Sogeking!

[printfogey.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I felt I kinda had to end it on that uncertain note or it would have been nothing but a rip-off (it's still mostly just a rip-off). Glad you liked it!

It's from Carpe Jugulum, one of the Witches books. It involves vampires. Heartily recommended!

Re: Awesome! Go Sogeking!

[mishagirl.livejournal.com]

OOo!!! I haven't read that one yet! I'll ask if my friend can loan me his copy tonight (I have to assume he has a copy...he is a huge fan!)

Did you see the Hogfather movie? Or the other one with Tim Curry?

Re: Awesome! Go Sogeking!

[printfogey.livejournal.com]

Haven't seen either of those movies - which is the other one? - only the animated versions of Wyrd Sisters and Soul Music.

Re: Awesome! Go Sogeking!

[mishagirl.livejournal.com]

It was Color Of Magic...Tim Curry was that ambicious wizard guy. Oh and the guy that played Sam in Lord of the rings was the tourist. Both Color of Magic and Hogfather were really good but kind of slow. I really liked Death in them. (And I think I perfered Hogfather better overall).

I LOVED Wyrd Sisters...Granny weatherwax holds a place in my heart. I've only read Witches Abroad and what was the other one Magic Rites or something?

I am dying to read Soul Music...(pardon the pun).

[tonko.livejournal.com]

Oh, now that's cool. And you packed a whole scenario into just under 300 words.

And even though the last bit is kind of "uh-oh", like mishagirl said, I'm not too worried, and more really, really curious.

[printfogey.livejournal.com]

Thanks.
It was very hard to be that concise! (Though that's usually the case when I write something for this comm or onepieceyaoi100.) I kept having to strike out stuff and had no space to describe, explain or even name the generic enemy.

I'm curious too.

[printfogey.livejournal.com]

Wow, really? Thanks, I'm thrilled to hear it!! (But it's so ridiculously ripped off from Carpe Jugulum, though!)

You know, at first I was going to have it be Doflamingo, but... when I thought about it, I wasn't sure if it would work. Because Doflamingo only seizes the muscle control, doesn't he? He leaves your will and intentions intact, it's just that you're powerless to stop your body from doing what he wants. I'm not sure if an extra, hidden personality would be more able to deal with that than the regular one.

Though only Oda knows for sure how Doflamingo's powers work, and if something like that happens, I'd be very much pleased! ^_^

[mishagirl.livejournal.com]

Ahh I always assumed Doflamingos powers essentially hacked into the part of the brain responsible for muscle movement and such...so therefore mind control....but you are right it might just be a sort of 'dance my puppets!' sort of power!

[printfogey.livejournal.com]

Well, I've assumed pretty much the same as you, so it is a form of mind control, but so far only that part of the brain has been shown to be affected, leaving personality and will intact but helpless, blocked off from the muscles. But maybe Doflamingo can do more than that.

[shayera.livejournal.com]

COOL! I haven't read whatever this is from, but it's a really interesting idea, and one that could definitely be expanded upon... :D

[printfogey.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :D

[leaper182.livejournal.com]

I hadn't found this one, but daaaamn. Given our recent discussions, I know that you mentioned that Sogeking would never step in unless "summoned", but to see him here working independently of Usopp's wishes -- even if Usopp himself was mind-whammied at the time -- is worrying. The hero took it upon himself to intervene when Usopp wasn't himself, and more importantly, when Usopp didn't request aid. Who's to say that next time, Sogeking might step in to "help", and things take a bad turn? Or Usopp loses more of his control?

The last sentence really sets up a nice dilemma -- who's in control? Usopp or Sogeking? How do Usopp and Sogeking feel about it? Is there more of a divide between the two now, whereas before, it was halfway between a mental conversation with himself, shading into a split?

The kinds of fics that stir questions are lovely to read because of all the thinking they cause. :D

I don't know how my muse and I are working out these days, but would it be all right to flesh out what happened in this fic into a longer story, crediting you for the idea? Not only is the idea of Sogeking stepping in when Usopp has been mind-controlled really "OOH.", but the mental image of Zoro, Robin, and Usopp fighting as a team (even though they're mind-whammied) is intriguing as hell...

*blush*

[printfogey.livejournal.com]

Well, to be honest the bit about Sogeking only appearing when called for is only my personal fanon. That's what he did in the Perona fight, and it's the only time we've seen Sogeking as a separate entity. But that doesn't guarantee that it's a general rule of conduct - that's just the way I've tended to interpret it. It's an assumption you can use or not as you see fit.

You put some good questions! ...If only I knew the answers. ;)

I'm not planning to do anything else with this idea, so yeah, feel free to run with it if you want to! If anything results, all I ask for is a credit for the original idea, while making clear it's still all your own thing. Though by rights you should point out I nicked it from Pratchett in the first place!

(Speaking of which, it's not the main theme in Carpe Jugulum, just a subordinated, but still interesting plot element. As it's about vampires, mind control, and how to resist it, plays an important role in the book.)

[leaper182.livejournal.com]

Will definitely credit, and make the notation about Terry Pratchett. :D

It may be your personal fanon, but it sounds like a really plausible idea, which is why I like it so. <3