#mental shields

[starswhogaze]

Thought it would be interesting to draw Elain's mental gates.

💜🌿

[asktheheirofslytherin]

Can you tell when someone is skilled at Occlumency and does it make you more suspicious of them? Have you ever seen something in someones mind you wish you hadn't?

It depends on their intent. At times someone who is skilled will choose to lock me out of their mind entirely, or else passively have enough walls up where the complete lack of any thoughts coming from them is notable. I recognize in that case they are a skilled occlumens and are keeping me out. In these cases it is either a) they are being interrogated and their primary objective is to keep me out at all costs or b) they are known to me as an exceptionally powerful individual with particularly strong passive shields, in which case it is annoying, but not usually concerning. Bella can fall into this category, as does Eagle and, unfortunately, Albus.

Other times - in the case of attempted deception, it can be harder. They do not want to attract suspicion by suddenly locking me out entirely - it would make me more suspicious. No, these people have partial walls, certain facts, feelings and memories hidden in vaults, and then leave the harmless, useless information out in the open. Many a time I do not even know they had trained in occlumency - they keep it hidden. It takes time to weed these people out. Luckily there are not many people who have achieved this skill level, and most, such as Bella, are loyal to me.

[imlisaok]

This isn’t foreshadowing, but I thought it was interesting nonetheless.

So we know how Feyre got past Tarquin’s mental shields; she used his own power against him.

“I became that sea, became the whisper of waves against stone, the glimmer of sunlight on a gull’s white wings. I became him---became that mental shield.” pg349, ACOMAF

But what about the time she slid through Lucien’s mental shields? (I don’t believe for one second Lucien---or Tamlin either, for that matter---have not trained their mental shields to avoid damaeti, especially considering Rhysand repeatedly states how deadly and dangerous they can be.)

“Those words, the look he gave Lucien and the way Lucien lowered his head---my temper was a burning river in my veins. Look up, I silently beseeched him. Push back. He’s wrong, and we’re right. Lucien’s jaw tightened. That force thrummed in me again, seeping out, spearing for Lucien. Do not back down---

Then I was gone.” pg 95, ACOMAF

and then...

“I could have sworn I beheld two burned handprints on the wood, peeking out from beneath my napkin. I prayed neither of them noticed.” pg 95, ACOMAF

Her temper was a ‘burning river’ and she ended up leaving two burned handprints on the wood. Coincidence? I think not. In that moment, I believe she summoned some Autumn Court magic (because let’s not forget Lucien is not exclusively from the Day Court and does have some fire abilities. At least I think so? haha) and used it against him, like she did with Tarquin.

I’m not sure if I was the only one, but I always wondered how she’d slid into his mind. I do think her powers were all over the place at the time, but it just seemed too simple.

It’s far more subtle and less controlled, but that’s understandable because her powers were still fresh at that point.

Anyway, that’s it. lol

[britishsass]

Had a thought: if nash's mind is extra dangerous to jump into because of not having any shields that ties in with the state of the psychic 7. Esp Ford whose rebuilt shields are probably more mental offenses and horrible horrible mental worlds that do things like disable your powers and have death traps that require you to have gravedigger ford dig you a grave to hide in to escape & over such inescapable situations thab actual working while in his mind shields so the visitor has to do ALL it

Ooh, totally.

The 7 have very... Strange shields. Like, Lucy's is like patchwork. Cassie's is a thick layer of honey that takes time and energy. Compton's is more like an actually normal psychic shield. Bob's shielding is thorny but aimed more inward to keep him from reaching out. You explained Ford's. And Otto-- Well, he's got a full separate space for what he shows others! That's less shielded. On the other hand, his real mind is basically hidden behind vault doors.

[britishsass]

Mental shields hc: some psychics can extend their shields to others or put a mental shield around another person or manage their shields for them a bit. Raz learnt to do this! He buffs his little siblings mental shielding before shows! All the psychics in his family except for queepie know how to do that and help the younger ones out with shielding. It's not enough to snap someone out of psilurium poisoning but it can help prevent mind control or falling back into psiluroum delusions etc

Oooh, I like your style, my anonymous friend! Very nice ideas there :)

[britishsass]

Raz turning down his mental shields for boyd and then going straight to edgar and ending up feeling like hes in high school for some reason though

This completely makes sense.

[britishsass]

Raz probably has to turn down his mental shields occasionally just to figure out what things are in a mental world, like plotwise and stuff, but usually he just uses context cues

Oh, definitely. I think he had to tune them down at least a little to get through Milkman Conspiracy.

You should've seen how I pulled that one off. I was completely just getting lucky. Accidentally missed every housewife segment, got randomly able to just bypass the entire maze section. I think I also just missed grabbing garden shears and the watering can.

Me playing the Milkman Conspiracy was akin to watching a sim tryinng to get around a plate on the ground. It was a disaster, but at least a little bit funny.

Also, I will say, I missed some of my favorite lines in the game-- I love the housewife g-men, but just. Could not find them until after I finished the level and the g-men were gone u_u;;

[britishsass]

More experienced psychics being able to prevent their mindscape from changing the outfit etc of others but they still usually get the info dump. Raz being aware of this and turning down his mental shields in millas dance party a little to het a bit of the ibfodump on how to do the thibg

I think that's an interesting thought-- so like, the people in Milla's dance party would just get info on "this is how you levitate darling! :D" and not the full makeover even though she has definitely thought about doing it. I didn't think about how the other person's mental shields would factor in, but I totally agree that they would have some impact!