Poem: "Damask Speaks"
Jun. 24th, 2013 09:29 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithThis prose poem is a character overview. It makes a good introduction but could be considered spoilery. It belongs to the series Polychrome Heroics in the Terramagne setting. If you don't like spoilers, start with "Cut to the Quick," which is the origin story poem.
"Damask Speaks"
I am Keane. I came into being with Mindflare twisting through my thoughts like a knife. I take the pain and channel it to protect the others. I look nothing like the body I wear -- dark skin and hair instead of lighter, stocky instead of slim, male instead of female. I am myself anyway.
I am Mira. My first thought was to hide, to occlude, deceiving Mindflare as he worked. I spin illusions in the open air. I am the moon to this body's sun, straight white hair and ice-blue eyes. I am a woman drawn to women: this much of me is truth and not illusion.
I am Clarity. It was mine to understand Mindflare and act to block his goals. My gifts concern the thoughts and emotions. I am neither masculine nor feminine, but androgynous, and it is not flesh but intelligence which attracts me. Sometimes, though, it is hard to tell where I end and others begin.
I am Ham. I was born fighting, made to strike back against Mindflare. With my mind alone I can lift and throw things. This body is wrong for me. I am tall and muscled, black-haired and olive-skinned. I am handsome, too, a man who wants and is wanted by men.
I am Clement. I came forth to fix what was broken by Mindflare. I heal what damage I can. I do not mind hiding my auburn hair and softly padded shape inside this shell. It is only the hearts of men that I desire, not their bodies; but men do not care much for a man as awkward as myself. So perhaps it is better this way.
I am Maze, and not Maisie. She who was born in this body, died under the onslaught of Mindflare's power, leaving only memories behind. My birth was less bloody but more violent, made to deal with the aftermath of the attack and the hovering superhero Savoir Faire. I handle the social obligations, fake being Maisie because it is expected. I keep everything secret and safe. It helps that I look like her: the same tinted skin and lovely feminine form. But my eyes are green to her brown; my hair is short electrum-blonde, not long curls of honey. I still desire men, I think, but it takes me longer than it did for her. I hardly know who I am, but this I know: I am not Maisie. I am someone new.
We are Damask. This is our story.
* * *
Notes:
This character was inspired by a comment under my "Stacking vs. Not Stacking" post. I thought, gosh, that would make a terrific superhero. So Damask is a six-person multiple system in a multiracial female body. I also thought it would be fun to start at the very beginning, with the origin story, so "Cut to the Quick" gives a subjective view of that. It will take a while for the members of the system to discover each other and their respective powers, learn how to get along, and find their calling.
Multiple systems are people with more than one soul sharing the same body. This can happen in a variety of ways. Some multiples are healthy, others not, just like any other group of people -- although the proportions are skewed because extreme trauma can cause splitting. Below are some resources on this topic.
"MPD for You and Me" and "Rude Questions for Looney-Brain" are two excellent nonfiction comics by Loony-Brain, a multiple. They present an excellent overview of what it's like to share a body and have people think that makes you a freak. There are some great discussions about being multiple, writing multi characters, and multi abuse too.
"Multiplicity: The Missing Manual" is a big wiki section about various kinds of multiples, their challenges and solutions, and related topics. "The Layman's Guide" similarly talks about the nature of multiple life. "Healthy Multiplicity" is an archive of websites and other resources by and about plural people with a positive view of their condition. "Understanding Multiplicity" is a guide written for college students, more open-minded and supportive than most materials.
"Astraea Glossary" lists some terms and meanings related to multiple systems, their experiences, and related matters. People use different terms and that's okay. Often a term has special positive or negative meaning for certain people; it may fit some but not others.
Here are some tips on how to treat a plural person. I don't know if it's written by a plural person, but it aims for non-judgmental and practical advice.
What used to be called Multiple Personality Syndrome is now called Dissociative Identity Disorder. Some people consider this reasonably accurate; others find it inaccurate or at least incomplete as an explanation of multiple systems. An official reference is included here for sake of completion. Trauma can cause splitting, so there are resources for "DID and Healing."
Sometimes the members of a system have trouble getting along. Keane becomes the system scapegoat.
United Front Boot Camp explains how the members of a multiple system can learn to function in a healthy manner. There is nothing inherently wrong with being a plural person; it's only a problem if headmates can't cooperate enough to handle everyday life. Here is a look at system governments.
"Does It Work?" explores how to tell if you are a plural person. "The Power of Naming" touches on similar territory in discussing who has the right to decide that.
"Beginning Communication, Building Safety and Trust" offers ideas on how to create a healthy relationship among headmates within a system.
Dragon's Roost has some links about plurality and this archive. Here is an archive for the related concept of soulbonding.
This page lists many stories by and about multiple systems.
"Some Stuff on Integration/Fusion/Becoming Singlet" bylb_lee explores resources on integration for people who wish to pursue it, and a discussion of how fraught that choice is. This author also has a huge list of plural links here.
"Damask Speaks"
I am Keane. I came into being with Mindflare twisting through my thoughts like a knife. I take the pain and channel it to protect the others. I look nothing like the body I wear -- dark skin and hair instead of lighter, stocky instead of slim, male instead of female. I am myself anyway.
I am Mira. My first thought was to hide, to occlude, deceiving Mindflare as he worked. I spin illusions in the open air. I am the moon to this body's sun, straight white hair and ice-blue eyes. I am a woman drawn to women: this much of me is truth and not illusion.
I am Clarity. It was mine to understand Mindflare and act to block his goals. My gifts concern the thoughts and emotions. I am neither masculine nor feminine, but androgynous, and it is not flesh but intelligence which attracts me. Sometimes, though, it is hard to tell where I end and others begin.
I am Ham. I was born fighting, made to strike back against Mindflare. With my mind alone I can lift and throw things. This body is wrong for me. I am tall and muscled, black-haired and olive-skinned. I am handsome, too, a man who wants and is wanted by men.
I am Clement. I came forth to fix what was broken by Mindflare. I heal what damage I can. I do not mind hiding my auburn hair and softly padded shape inside this shell. It is only the hearts of men that I desire, not their bodies; but men do not care much for a man as awkward as myself. So perhaps it is better this way.
I am Maze, and not Maisie. She who was born in this body, died under the onslaught of Mindflare's power, leaving only memories behind. My birth was less bloody but more violent, made to deal with the aftermath of the attack and the hovering superhero Savoir Faire. I handle the social obligations, fake being Maisie because it is expected. I keep everything secret and safe. It helps that I look like her: the same tinted skin and lovely feminine form. But my eyes are green to her brown; my hair is short electrum-blonde, not long curls of honey. I still desire men, I think, but it takes me longer than it did for her. I hardly know who I am, but this I know: I am not Maisie. I am someone new.
We are Damask. This is our story.
* * *
Notes:
This character was inspired by a comment under my "Stacking vs. Not Stacking" post. I thought, gosh, that would make a terrific superhero. So Damask is a six-person multiple system in a multiracial female body. I also thought it would be fun to start at the very beginning, with the origin story, so "Cut to the Quick" gives a subjective view of that. It will take a while for the members of the system to discover each other and their respective powers, learn how to get along, and find their calling.
Multiple systems are people with more than one soul sharing the same body. This can happen in a variety of ways. Some multiples are healthy, others not, just like any other group of people -- although the proportions are skewed because extreme trauma can cause splitting. Below are some resources on this topic.
"MPD for You and Me" and "Rude Questions for Looney-Brain" are two excellent nonfiction comics by Loony-Brain, a multiple. They present an excellent overview of what it's like to share a body and have people think that makes you a freak. There are some great discussions about being multiple, writing multi characters, and multi abuse too.
"Multiplicity: The Missing Manual" is a big wiki section about various kinds of multiples, their challenges and solutions, and related topics. "The Layman's Guide" similarly talks about the nature of multiple life. "Healthy Multiplicity" is an archive of websites and other resources by and about plural people with a positive view of their condition. "Understanding Multiplicity" is a guide written for college students, more open-minded and supportive than most materials.
"Astraea Glossary" lists some terms and meanings related to multiple systems, their experiences, and related matters. People use different terms and that's okay. Often a term has special positive or negative meaning for certain people; it may fit some but not others.
Here are some tips on how to treat a plural person. I don't know if it's written by a plural person, but it aims for non-judgmental and practical advice.
What used to be called Multiple Personality Syndrome is now called Dissociative Identity Disorder. Some people consider this reasonably accurate; others find it inaccurate or at least incomplete as an explanation of multiple systems. An official reference is included here for sake of completion. Trauma can cause splitting, so there are resources for "DID and Healing."
Sometimes the members of a system have trouble getting along. Keane becomes the system scapegoat.
United Front Boot Camp explains how the members of a multiple system can learn to function in a healthy manner. There is nothing inherently wrong with being a plural person; it's only a problem if headmates can't cooperate enough to handle everyday life. Here is a look at system governments.
"Does It Work?" explores how to tell if you are a plural person. "The Power of Naming" touches on similar territory in discussing who has the right to decide that.
"Beginning Communication, Building Safety and Trust" offers ideas on how to create a healthy relationship among headmates within a system.
Dragon's Roost has some links about plurality and this archive. Here is an archive for the related concept of soulbonding.
This page lists many stories by and about multiple systems.
"Some Stuff on Integration/Fusion/Becoming Singlet" by
lb_lee explores resources on integration for people who wish to pursue it, and a discussion of how fraught that choice is. This author also has a huge list of plural links here.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2013-06-25 02:54 pm (UTC)Yay!
Date: 2013-06-27 06:41 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2015-07-30 02:25 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2013-06-25 04:51 am (UTC)Ooo...
Date: 2013-06-25 05:01 am (UTC)I like the idea of having more than one of a kind, especially if it's going to Bechdel neurovariant characters by putting them together and having them talk about something other than their mental state.
I'm just imagining the look on some poor supervillain's face when he shows up with two thugs and thinks he has the heroes outnumbered, only to find out the odds are more like, what, twelve to three?
Re: Ooo...
Date: 2013-06-25 10:44 pm (UTC)In BTU, people with powers aren't uncommon, and like in Terramagne, they often just become super park rangers, super accountants, whatever. Superheroes, however, come in two very distinct flavors: the big-time, and the small-time. The small-time are not recognized by the police, are often viewed as troublesome vigilantes (and indeed, there are problems with some vigilantes doing things like trying to assassinate a corrupt politician, being overly brutal, etc.) and don't get paid. The big-time are sort of like reality television; they're supported by the society around them, but it's a media circus, and all their costumes and monologuing and such are enhanced for drama and entertainment purposes.
My system superhero, who goes by the costume name of Tank. They started small-time as a blue-collar worker in Chicago, then lucked into the big-time with the team Law and Justice... until they were forced to come out multi to avoid blackmail, at which point Law and Justice kicked them to the curb, leaving them in a huge pickle financially and occupationally.
What do you think? Enough room to mesh?
(no subject)
Date: 2013-08-03 11:33 am (UTC)*bounces about* Yay for a new series! (I find the older ones a little intimidating when the poems are all spread out the way they are even when I have landing page links to guide me. :/ *pokes her brain*)
Thank you!
Date: 2013-08-03 05:12 pm (UTC)That's good to hear!
>> I kind of wish I'd read them the other way around now to see how that would've affected my reading of the poem. <<
You can always go back and reread them later.
>> *bounces about* Yay for a new series! (I find the older ones a little intimidating when the poems are all spread out the way they are even when I have landing page links to guide me. :/ *pokes her brain*) <<
Sorry that the big series seem daunting. There's another recent one, Walking the Beat, on the Serial Poetry page.
Re: Thank you!
Date: 2013-08-03 08:02 pm (UTC)Exactly. ^-^ Not when I've got the ones I've read still fresh in my mind, though. (Are the three I read the only ones up on DW or did I just manage to miss you posting the others completely? I wouldn't be surprised by the latter. ><)
Sorry that the big series seem daunting. There's another recent one, Walking the Beat, on the Serial Poetry page.
Not your fault, really. I'm just already struggling incredibly to keep up with online reading nowadays, so while I try to read people's newly posted pieces at least vaguely within a decent timeframe I'm not yet at a point where I'm comfortable going through big backlogs as well. The fact that a lot of your poetry stands fine on its own is actually pretty helpful to me since I don't mind reading things out of order where I can. ^_^ And hopefully I can get caught up this month. That would be lovely.
That all said, have you ever considered compiling some ebook collections of (parts of) the bigger series? I don't know if it'd be worth your while to do, though, so mostly I'm just curious what your thoughts are on that as an option.
Re: Thank you!
Date: 2013-08-04 04:49 am (UTC)Fair enough.
>> (Are the three I read the only ones up on DW or did I just manage to miss you posting the others completely? I wouldn't be surprised by the latter. ><) <<
I think those are the only ones I initially posted on DW. Others may have been posted first to LJ and then ported over here. You can find the whole series listed under Polychrome Heroics. "Through the Haze" and "Headmates" are the other two Damask poems; the others are about different characters.
>> Not your fault, really. I'm just already struggling incredibly to keep up with online reading nowadays, so while I try to read people's newly posted pieces at least vaguely within a decent timeframe I'm not yet at a point where I'm comfortable going through big backlogs as well. <<
That's understandable. A lot of my poetry appears first on LJ, and then I echo it over here with an import at the beginning of the month.
>> The fact that a lot of your poetry stands fine on its own is actually pretty helpful to me since I don't mind reading things out of order where I can. ^_^ And hopefully I can get caught up this month. That would be lovely. <<
Yay! Some series are more sequential and others are more episodic. I try to make the individual poems as coherent as possible though.
>> That all said, have you ever considered compiling some ebook collections of (parts of) the bigger series? I don't know if it'd be worth your while to do, though, so mostly I'm just curious what your thoughts are on that as an option. <<
When a series concludes, I plan to make print and ebook editions if possible. Prior to that, getting a single-collection printout is one of my donor perks.
mpd/did as healthy
Date: 2014-09-28 09:43 am (UTC)Thank you for sharing this work.
Shira
Tell Your Story Date (aka MEOW Date): 28.9.12014 H.E. (Holocene/Human Era)
Re: mpd/did as healthy
Date: 2014-09-29 08:47 am (UTC)Thank you for sharing this work. <<
You're welcome!
Plural people can be healthy. Damask aren't there yet, but they make a lot of progress through the series.
I don't write a lot of prose poetry, but once in a while it fits the content.
Re: mpd/did as healthy
Date: 2014-09-29 09:37 am (UTC)I'll be interested to see how Damask progress(es?). To Community, Shira 29.9.12014 H.E.
Re: mpd/did as healthy
Date: 2014-10-01 06:10 am (UTC)Re: mpd/did as healthy
Date: 2014-10-01 06:40 am (UTC)p.s.
As a friend finds MEOW too militaristic, I am changing to TellYourStory -but it seems that the LJ s/w does not allow namechanges, so I may register a new account here.
Sorry for ranting
Shira
Date Universelle: Dimanche, 1 Octubre, 12014 e.H.
http://universalcalendar.eu5.org/
Re: mpd/did as healthy
Date: 2014-10-01 06:53 am (UTC)0_o That sucks.
>> As a friend finds MEOW too militaristic, I am changing to TellYourStory <<
Nothing wrong with militaristic if that's what you want. It's your blog.
>> but it seems that the LJ s/w does not allow namechanges, so I may register a new account here. <<
I think you have to buy one.
Re: mpd/did as healthy
Date: 2014-10-01 07:45 am (UTC)Yes, but I want to make an impact, and I am not sure I can do that without listening to 'more moderate' heads.
And I feel so tired of going it alone. Of of feeling alone.
Peace,
Shira
1 October, 12014 H.E.
Re: mpd/did as healthy
Date: 2014-10-01 08:00 am (UTC)Re: mpd/did as healthy
Date: 2014-10-01 08:05 am (UTC)hugs
s.
(no subject)
Date: 2014-10-31 09:15 pm (UTC)Thank you!
Date: 2014-10-31 10:06 pm (UTC)I'm happy to hear that!
>> It reminds me of some of my more interesting disassociative episodes--bipolar can mimic other disorders, and disassociation is a favorite trick with my brain. <<
I'm one of the odd quasi-multiple folks. That is, my own personality is cohesive yet distinctly faceted -- I'm rather a different person in professional mode than in private mode, for example, but I don't lose memory across the lines except for state-dependent access issues. But I'm also a shapeshifter, and an author with lots of characters. I have entire universes inside my head. So yeah, not really a singleton here.
I also have friends who are plural people, several of whom have helped me make the Damask storyline both accurate and plural-friendly.
>> I wish Maze didn't have to pretend! She should be allowed to be herself. <<
Damask does deserve that opportunity for openness. However, it's going to take a long time to reach. If you start at the beginning, everything is very confusing, then when they figure out what's going on, they're very covert about it. Later on, clues start leaking out and some people are noticing, but nobody's put together all the pieces yet or if they have they haven't said so. Eventually someone will, and then Damask will have to deal with that.
>> With all the different hair colors, I wonder if maybe they'd all like to play with hair chalk? <<
That is a brilliant idea! Regular dye wouldn't work very well, but chalk doesn't actually affect the hair and washes right out. They would probably love that. I'll jot it down; feel free to request it at any relevant prompt call. Tuesday's theme of "winning without defeating anyone" is especially apt for headmate issues of any kind.
Re: Thank you!
Date: 2014-11-01 02:50 am (UTC)I saw! I got up to, what, them figuring out they had superpowers before my migraine hit. The memory gaps must cause a lot of problems, plus they don't seem to have the whole 'WE ARE PACK' imprint my brain gives every single facet of my personality. It must SUCK for them.
LOL, if I remember to get online I will! :p
(no subject)
Date: 2016-09-24 02:50 am (UTC)I'm picturing this, starting from the top, as follows. Each headmate's self-description is done as a voice-over by a different actor, while a montage of protagonist's-eye-view scenes, where we see thon interacting with others *as" thon's unique self, is shown. The
monologuemultilogue culminates in all of them together saying the last two sentences above, while onscreen we see the headmates get merged/superimposed from left/right/top/bottom of screen, and Damask's body steps forward. I just wish I had the contacts and cinematography skills to manifest what i see so clearly in my mind, in the real world!Wow!
Date: 2016-09-24 07:42 pm (UTC)Re: Wow!
Date: 2016-09-24 09:01 pm (UTC)voiceover / montage
Date: 2016-09-27 01:05 am (UTC)I'm delighted that I could describe it clearly enough so that you could!
(no subject)
Date: 2017-02-09 11:01 pm (UTC)I'll have to pass on to my headmates that we now know where the Damask poems start. Also, that is a really great superhero origin story, and though we know it is a bit of post necro, we're squeeing. And we look forward to reading more of this series to see how people get along.
Also, you found resources that even we didn't know about and we've been out since 2007 or so. Holy crap. Please do accept this crown of awesome.
-Jace
Thank you!
Date: 2017-02-09 11:23 pm (UTC)Yay! I was meaning to give you the link; the Damask poems appear at the top of the main Polychrome Heroics page.
>> I'll have to pass on to my headmates that we now know where the Damask poems start. Also, that is a really great superhero origin story, and though we know it is a bit of post necro, we're squeeing. And we look forward to reading more of this series to see how people get along.<<
Thank you! Comment as you feel inspired. It doesn't matter when something was posted.
>> Also, you found resources that even we didn't know about and we've been out since 2007 or so.<<
Wow! I had help from several friends who are multiples, after it became clear (yet again) that "reliable" clinical references aren't. It takes material from the horse's mouth to write accurate portrayals.
>> Holy crap. Please do accept this crown of awesome. <<
*grin* *settles laurel leaves carefully onto hair*
Re: Thank you!
Date: 2017-02-09 11:49 pm (UTC)When we were first figuring things out, and let's be honest we're *STILL* figuring things out years and years and years later), one of us left a letter, introducing himself and very politely asking for others to please do the same and leave him descriptions of themselves. We were on an assistive device with a Braille display at the time and a folder structure like any computer has pretty much. But we wanted to organize letters into threads, so what he did was he labeled his first letter with a number. Then everyone after him used a number and a letter. Like 9, 9A, 9B, 9C etc. And if he replied to anyone, it went 9A1, 9A2 etc. Actually! It was very much like the comment outline format on DW!
Thank you for all the awesomeness you do.
-Jace
(no subject)
Date: 2017-11-29 09:44 am (UTC)Thoughts
Date: 2017-11-29 10:28 am (UTC)Yay! Welcome to the series. This is actually the beginning of the whole Polychrome Heroics setting. It started with Damask and grew from there.
>> to be honest due to brain being medicated(for pain) almost all the time...<<
Bummer.
>> my reading will be slow going, but so far I am definitely enjoying...<<
That's okay. Take your time. You have enough material to last a long while!
If you feel like dropping by here on Tuesday there's a Poetry Fishbowl then when you can leave prompts for new poems.
>> Thank you for the brain and soul food~ :) <<
*bow, flourish* Happy to be of assistance.
(no subject)
Date: 2020-05-11 02:46 pm (UTC)Mira weaves illusions, does that also mean that she's a Master/Mistress of Lies? Or are her illusions purely visual-based?
Clarity is a telepathic empath?
Ham is telekinetic and already has a basic grasp on his powers?
Clement has healing powers? Or is it more like healing magic?
Maze is the one who is out in Front the most, if she handles the social obligations of the world? Or are there moments where she wishes she could also backseat drive? Is she the only one who doesn't have inherent powers? But then again social skills and secret-keeping can be its own superpower.
Continuing onto the next poem :)
~Angel
Thoughts
Date: 2020-05-11 07:59 pm (UTC)He uses it as fuel. Pain is energy. A few people -- even here -- have the ability to harness it. You'll see more of that later.
>>Aww, Keane is this universe's Hulk then? <<
Both of them are what's called a "system scapegoat." Most multiple systems have a member who is essential but unpopular, and it's usually the one who is concerned with survival, because they don't care about social niceties. Hulk and Keane have different methods but the same job.
>> Does it get better for him? <<
E...ven...tu...ally. :/
>> Mira weaves illusions, does that also mean that she's a Master/Mistress of Lies? Or are her illusions purely visual-based?<<
They are external seemings rather than mental impressions, light and shadow and phantom sounds.
>>Clarity is a telepathic empath?<<
Yes: telepathy, empathy, truth sense.
>> Ham is telekinetic and already has a basic grasp on his powers? <<
Correct. Ham is another of the more survival-oriented headmates, which can make life challenging. He handles combat -- and as with Hulk, has a bit of a hair-trigger at times.
>> Clement has healing powers? Or is it more like healing magic? <<
Healing as a superpower, not healing as magic.
>> Maze is the one who is out in Front the most, if she handles the social obligations of the world? <<
Yes.
>> Or are there moments where she wishes she could also backseat drive? Is she the only one who doesn't have inherent powers? But then again social skills and secret-keeping can be its own superpower. <<
That's basically it: Maze got the lion's share of "ordinary" abilities from Maisie, making her by far the most equipped to handle everyday stuff. This is sometimes a bone of contention.
Each headmate got a similar amount of 'mass' or 'energy' but the superpowers make it more concise. Maze has a much wider diversity precisely because she didn't get the concentrated version.
Wow, very appreciated
Date: 2023-03-26 04:21 am (UTC)We've always gotten backlash for trying to share plural resources just because of myths about multiplicity. We are making a list for our friends and are very appreciative of this article.
Thanks!
Re: Wow, very appreciated
Date: 2023-03-26 05:08 am (UTC)Bummer. Yeah, the stigma is very bad and very dangerous.
>> We are making a list for our friends and are very appreciative of this article.<<
I'm happy I could help! Mine is just a little list for writing purposes, though. I recommend an expert: