Possessed by Love
In four parallel universes, there exists a Babe, and each believes they're in a loving relationship with Honey. Beneath the surface, a sinister force is at play – a group of interdimensional demons with a toolbox of toxic relationship tactics will test the limits of love.
Long Description
In four parallel universes, there exists a Babe, and each believes they're in a loving relationship with Honey. Beneath the surface, a sinister force is at play – a group of interdimensional demons with a toolbox of toxic relationship tactics will test the limits of love. These demons are the puppeteers, manipulating Honey in each universe to sow discord and chaos among the Babes. As the story unfolds, the Babes and Honeys are navigating crucial life events, from romantic getaways to deciding to move in together and even contemplating marriage. At each turn, the demon-possessed Honeys employ their toxic tools to create tension and conflict, all while the Babes remain oblivious to the supernatural forces at work.
This is not for everyone.
This game is about toxic relationships, cruelty, emotional abuse, and what it’s like to be a bad person or a victim. There is no good ending. There are no redeeming qualities of the villains.
This is NOT a game for people who WANT to be cruel.
This is NOT a game for people who WANT to be abused.
This is an artistic experience of the grotesque.
This is for 2 types of players.
Players who are emotionally mature, understand how to handle bleed, enjoy intense emotions, can set and maintain boundaries, and want to experience the cognitive dissonance of being in an emotionally abusive relationship in the absurd environment of an inter-dimensional demonic possession scenario.
Players who like to be villains, enjoy the ludicrousness of evil, but are genuinely kind people who understand how to both give and receive aftercare, respect boundaries, proactively check in with players, and want to experience what it’s like to be in a group of inter-dimensional demons collaborating to ruin one person’s life in particular, you know, for funsies.
Goals of the game:
Challenging Conventions - Short form LARP often focuses on intense action, drama, feeling good, or telling a story. This game does not care about those things. This game is about the experience of absurd cruelty as either a victim or a perpetrator.
Emotional Catharsis - Feeling intense things is fun. Sometimes people want to cry. This is a game for people who want to cry - both in and out of character. When the game ends, everyone should have BIG emotions. With all the cruelty and suffering behind us, we can go back into the world with a lighter heart, drained of all those emotions.
Intellectual Engagement - Dramatic irony plays a role in this game. As Babes, players will need to consider how to justify why their character stays in this relationship with Honey. As Honeys, players will need to consider how to torment Babes within the boundaries set by the Babes. This balance of in and out of character thought is designed to create cognitive dissonance to stimulate intellectual engagement with the themes.
Social Commentary - Obviously this game is commenting on the dangers of toxic and emotionally abusive relationships. How do people end up in these situations? Why do people do the things they do? What are the traps of thinking people fall into? Ultimately the point is to gain more understanding through this play so that we can move forward with more compassion for those suffering in these situations in the real world.
EXCLUDED CONTENT
The following will NOT be included in gameplay.
Please review content warnings very carefully before signing up.
Structure
Safety Mechanics
Content Cards
Babes will write on their content card their excluded content items. The Babes can update these cards at anytime. After a demon confab, Honeys will read/re-read the content cards to make sure they are aware of the boundaries and will respect them. On the other side of the content card is an X.
If at anytime either player needs to stop game play, they may flip the content card to the X. At that point the players drop character and offer emotional support.
If help is needed, a player can hold up the card and a facilitator will come help. If a facilitator sees that the card is turned, they will come offer help regardless.
If at the conclusion of support, the players wish to continue, they may turn the card over to the exclusions. The Honey will re-read the content card, then play resumes.
The Content Card must remain visible and on the table at all times so that players can easily refer to the excluded content during scenes.
“Give me a minute”
To do a soft pause in gameplay, either Babe or Honey may say, “Give me a minute,” or tap the “Give Me a Minute” paper on the table. At this point both players will stop talking. The player who used the phrase may speak when they are ready for play to resume. This can be used to pause play for contemplation, check ins, or to take a break.
Check In Gestures
This is an emotional game. But we want it to be emotional. Check In Gestures are soft intrusions into gameplay to ensure that everyone is having a good time out of character. These are exceptionally important.
run at 08:00 PM
Players:- Susan Schmidt as Babe