#identity confusion

[aventurineswife]

Aventurine, Ratio, Boothill and Sampo got body swap with reader

“Today, you're me and I'm you”

Tags: Aventurine x Reader, Ratio x Reader, Boothill x Reader, Sampo x Reader, Platonic, Body Swap, Humor, Chaos, Identity Confusion, Transformation.

Warnings: Mild language, Slight violence(?), Confusion and identity crises, Possible mild awkwardness from body swap dynamics, Some references to body-related discomfort, Potential for humorously exaggerated reactions to new forms.

Aventurine never expected the day would come when his flawless, sophisticated appearance would be swapped with someone else, especially not with you. One moment, he was standing tall in his usual impeccable outfit, the swish of his coat echoing his poised elegance, and the next, he was you—dazed, confused, and staring down at an unfamiliar set of clothes.

The first thing Aventurine noticed was how strange the sensation of your body was. It was… compact, not the tailored form he was used to, and the clothes? The fabric didn’t fit him properly. He could feel his heart race as the disorientation set in, something he was not accustomed to.

You, on the other hand, stood in Aventurine’s body, completely overwhelmed by the sophisticated cut of the clothing that clung to his frame. The peacock feather glimmering in the hat, the soft thrum of anticipation in his chest—his body seemed to hum with a strange energy. Even his glasses—rose-tinted—felt like an alien accessory on your face.

In his new body, Aventurine felt the power of his manipulative charm. The confidence that had always been there, hidden beneath a smile, now flowed effortlessly. He stood straighter, the sharp wit in his mind already beginning to work. He gave you a charming grin. “It seems that fate has decided to have a bit of fun,” he said, his voice smooth and playful, though his usual cryptic flair seemed less effective in this unfamiliar form.

You couldn't help but chuckle, noticing how his charismatic aura still somehow seeped through, even in his temporary state. “This is… odd, but not completely unbearable, is it?”

Aventurine’s lips quirked, “Strangely… no. But I wonder how you’ll fare with my usual responsibilities?”

The two of you were forced into roles you never would have imagined for yourselves—he in your body, you in his. As the day wore on, Aventurine quickly adapted, using his newly acquired form to charm his way through meetings and strategic discussions. He realized how much of a game his life was. But it was your mind that guided his movements, your hand that touched the fabric of his destiny. And for a fleeting moment, he wondered how it felt to live without always having to manipulate the outcomes.

Meanwhile, you—now in Aventurine’s body—fumbled through things that were second nature to him. But there was an odd comfort in the sheer elegance of his every action. You realized something deep about him—the effortless way he controlled and guided people with nothing but his presence.

It was a strange experience, a dance between you both as you swapped the roles of puppeteer and puppet, your understanding of each other shifting in ways you hadn’t anticipated.

It didn’t take long for Ratio to realize that something wasn’t right. One moment he was basking in the glory of his intellect, dictating profound ideas about the importance of eradicating ignorance and spreading knowledge across the universe, and the next, he was—well, you. A flurry of thoughts rushed through his mind, as his expert control over his own body was suddenly gone.

The disorientation was almost maddening for someone so precise in both mind and form. He blinked—your eyes were not his, yet they still glowed with the same fiery determination that burned in his own. But it was the body that truly threw him off: clumsy and strange, foreign yet intimately yours.

He stood in your body, his fingers brushing unfamiliar fabric as he tried to make sense of the new sensation. His usual air of superiority faltered. “What kind of bizarre cosmic trickery is this?” he muttered to himself, brushing back strands of his newly acquired hair that felt too soft compared to the usual texture of his wavy violet locks.

Meanwhile, you, now inhabiting Ratio’s body, were struggling to keep up with his monumental intellect. His brain was filled with theories and facts, some that you could grasp and others that you couldn’t, like trying to read a book in an entirely new language. But there was an undeniable rush to the experience—a strange feeling of empowerment, to feel like you could accomplish anything, if only you could access all of it.

Ratio, in your body, was much less composed. You noticed how his personality started to crack when his usual confidence faltered. He paced back and forth, mumbling under his breath, trying to figure out how he could regain control of his situation. "This is utterly... inconceivable," he grumbled. "And what are these emotions? How do you function with this incessant need for... for... connection?"

You couldn’t help but laugh, the voice of his frustration amusing as you adapted to the newfound power in his frame. "You’d be surprised. You’re not the only one with a brilliant mind," you teased, trying to sound as intellectual as he would, though your unfamiliarity with his erudite style made it come out a little more playful than you intended.

As the day passed, Ratio found himself forced to engage with your responsibilities while you, in his body, tried to handle his lofty ideals. By the end of the day, there was a shared understanding—he couldn’t fully comprehend your world, and you couldn’t fully comprehend his—but both of you walked away with an invaluable lesson in perspective.

Boothill, a creature of vengeance, had always worn his identity like a badge of honor. The weight of his mechanical limbs, the edge of his cowboy persona, were all his own. But when the body swap hit, he was taken aback. One moment, he was sharpening his guns, preparing for another bounty hunt, and the next, he was staring at his hands—your hands.

"What in tarnation...?" Boothill growled, his voice now awkwardly foreign in a body he didn’t recognize.

Meanwhile, you found yourself staring back at Boothill’s signature red scarf and rugged cowboy body. The weight of his mechanical limbs felt heavy on your frame, the sheer force of his presence almost overwhelming. His boots felt too big, and the sensation of his long white hair flowing past your shoulders was a bizarre, disorienting thing.

Boothill didn’t quite know what to make of this. You had his body now—his cybernetic enhancements, his unwavering drive for revenge. But it was your mind guiding his movements. At first, you felt like an imposter—this wasn’t you. But as time went on, something within you clicked. Maybe it was the gun in your hand or the thrill of the chase, but you began to move with a kind of dangerous fluidity, just like Boothill.

“Guess I’ve got no choice but to walk in your boots for a while,” you muttered, the words coming naturally despite the disorienting feeling of someone else’s rage bubbling inside you.

Boothill, in your body, was even more frustrated. Your form wasn’t accustomed to the mechanical precision of his body. His mind was sharp, always calculating, but now, trying to function in your body, it was more difficult than he anticipated. “This is absurd. I can’t feel the gun as well, and this body is too... soft. How do you stand it?”

"You’ll figure it out," you shot back, spinning Boothill's gun expertly. "But I don’t know if I’ll last long with your anger burning through me."

The two of you spent the day navigating the harsh world of vengeance from different perspectives, each of you learning something valuable about the body you had stolen—Boothill about your resilience, and you about his need for closure.

When the body swap hit, Sampo barely even flinched. After all, he was used to change, used to the chaos. But waking up in your body was a new experience for him.

The first thing Sampo noticed was how small your body felt compared to his usual tall, lean frame. His light skin, dark blue hair, and mismatched gloves didn’t seem quite so impressive when he looked at himself from your perspective.

He grinned mischievously, “Well, well, looks like the tables have turned. I’m you now, huh?”

You were less than impressed, standing in Sampo’s body, feeling the weight of his charm press against your every thought. Sampo was a master of words, a smooth-talker who could convince anyone to buy into his schemes. But you now realized how tiring it could be to maintain that façade.

Sampo reveled in the new body, instantly seeing the potential for profit. His eyes sparkled with mischief as he casually walked around in your frame. “Oh, I can already feel the gears turning, ready to hustle someone out of their last coin.”

Meanwhile, you, stuck in Sampo’s body, tried to keep up with his unpredictable and slippery behavior. “I don’t think this is the time for business, Sampo. We need to figure out how to switch back.”

But Sampo only laughed, “Don’t worry, I’ve got it all figured out. For now, though, I think it’s time we made a little profit out of this situation.”

By the end of the day, both of you had adapted in your own ways—Sampo, using his new-found ability to talk circles around people, and you, beginning to understand the fine art of deception. As always, Sampo made everything seem like a game—one that you were now reluctantly part of.

[multiplicity-positivity]

Here’s some positivity for identity-less headmates!

For many system members, having a solid or even partial sense of self can feel nearly impossible. Whether traits and interests fail to stick, dissociation-related issues complicate the process of forging an identity, or anything else causes difficulties with having an identity, many headmates may find that they can’t or don’t want to have much of an identity at all. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this! And this post is for those headmates with little to no sense of identity!

🌫 Shoutout to headmates without names, who can’t ever settle on a name, or who have a name that they really don’t like, connect, or identify with!

☁️ Shoutout to headmates who struggle to find hobbies and interests that hold their attention!

💨 Shoutout to headmates without passions, who often feel empty, unmotivated, or uninspired!

🌫 Shoutout to headmates who desperately want a more rounded out identity, but who haven’t been able to learn anything about themselves!

☁️ Shoutout to headmates whose trauma history has left them feeling like they have no identity or sense of self!

💨 Shoutout to headmates who have no appearance or physical characteristics!

🌫 Shoutout to headmates who are void, mist, fog, static, or whose identities are grounded in the fact that they have no identity!

☁️ Shoutout to headmates who are content with having no identity or sense of self!

💨 Shoutout to headmates who mask as other system members or others outside their system in order to give themselves temporary identities!

🌫 Shoutout to headmates who are symptom holders for dissociation, or for whom dissociation is so bad that they just don’t have an identity at all!

While not having an identity at all may feel confusing, frightening, or disheartening, we want to let you know that it’s okay to just exist as you are. You don’t have to have a well-rounded, steady sense of self in order to be loved, cherished, and cared for! You are a valid and important member of your system just the way you are, and you don’t have to change or adopt any sort of identity in order to be deserving of kindness and respect!

We truly hope you can find that kindness from the headmates in your system and others around you, and can in turn show that kindness to yourself! Know that it’s okay to not want any sort of identity, this doesn’t make you a bad person or less of a member of your system! And if you do wish your identity was more solid, we have full faith that you will be able to achieve this in the future. We hope you can take care of yourselves, and have a great day!

[pluralprompts]

Prompt #1,423

"I don't know who I am," they admitted, voice barely held together enough to keep from cracking. "Do... do you know? Can you tell me?"

[identitypacks]

Promo post!

Welcome to identitypacks, as the name suggests we provide 'identity packs' which are suggestions of things you can use to start discovering your own identity!

This is NOT a 'create an alter' blog. This blog is also not just exclusively for systems, anyone with identity confusion can request something from this blog.

[nikitasys]

Plural culture is instantly doubting your own identity whenever you're talking to someone who knows you're a system & they give you The Confused Look™️

'Wait, am I being weird right now, or is someone else being weird, or is someone influencing me enough that it looks like I am being weird but really I'm not being weird I'm just being myself-... WHO THE F*CK AM I ANYWAY ?!'

— Kita, host/caretaker

[the-cesspool-collection]

do yall ever get your identity inspired by things around you, whether it be gender or just how you exist

we try to be really concrete with how we identify so as not to confuse everyone, but sometimes you look in the mirror and it influences how you feel and think about yourself

even your likes and interests, your gender and sexuality, it makes you feel like you’re extremely fluid or constantly switching, like a puddle?

songs, media, like overwhelming consuming you. could just be an extreme interest for a minute but its really confusing, yeah?

i mean the best thing about being able to be anything, identify as anything, call yourself anything, is you can. the worst is.. well so many options and empty space, such a void sometimes

i feel like a lot of systems can relate, no matter what kind of system you all are or what your origin is

but you know everyones trying their best, even if theres one alter who feel like its their sole duty to confuse everyone in the system. you know who you are.

one day at a time..

[forphysicsandimagination]

I keep thinking about two lines from two pieces of media I like. They’re said in different tones and in way different contexts, but they fit together for me so strongly:

“But I’m not a girl. I’m a shark!” - Nimona from the movie “Nimona”

“It would make it harder for me to pretend not to be a person.” - Murderbot from “Artificial Condition”

Nimona is a shapeshifter. She can turn into anything she wants and she does it instinctively, effortlessly. She claims over and over that she’s not a girl or a boy or anything for long. She’s Nimona. And that’s what she says when people ask what she is. I desperately want that freedom. That fluidity of my body. The ability to look however I want and change it save for one or two key features.

Murderbot is a construct comprised of robotic parts and artificially grown tissue. It’s sexless and genderless and has expressed distain at being forced into human categories regarding either of those things. It’s severely autistic coded and thinks humans are dumb and it doesn’t *want* to be a person. Not in the way humans want to. It hates being perceived more than anything. I don’t want people to look at me or notice my existence. I don’t want to be a person either. I want to be a masked construct, just out of the perception of others and not really thought of as a being.

I’m going through some sort of identity and gender crisis and I’m not sure if I’m a girl. And all I can think of are these two characters who emphatically don’t want to be what people say they are and think they are. I want to be like them. And it’s confusing because there are feminine things I love and I’ve been a girl for so long that I don’t really know anything else. And I’m a scientist; I need data to compare to and I have nothing. I just keep going back to these two characters, wishing I was either of them. Not really a girl. Not a boy either. Just me, whoever the hell that is.

[cat-doggy]

I think I'm having an identity crisis again

Seriously tho, what even am I anymore?

[our-inspire-verse]

I've been super aware of switches and who's fronting lately. I can recognize who's voice is whos, various memories and feelings and body language. I can even almost pinpoint how people talk based on where in my throat or chest they're using my bodys voice

Its taken me probably about 2 years to get to this point and its taken documentation, constant asking myself questions and so much patience

These questions include

Who am i

What names do i resonate with

What do i look like inside

Where am i from

What do i remember

What is familiar about where im at, and have i fronted here yet(often asked at work or in my current home)

How do i know the people around me

Do i particularly like or dislike something

What are my base emotions (alters cant be boiled down to singular emotions necessarily but some tend to experience one more than others and it can help section them off)

How old are they

How many are there

Can they speak or are they semi-verbal, mute, or do they talk in ways that arent words(some use music or animal noises or just communicate telepathically)

There are loads of other questions and its not like i go through the entire list every time but things like this have helped me figure out a lot more about my system. It's about who affects what, what triggers who, and how everyone navigates the world and why.

This may not work for everyone but im hoping this resource may help someone

[mikhaila-bobersky]

Identity crisis Philipenis

Got banned from Reddit for two weeks for this comic.

[multiplicity-positivity]

hey have yall (including viewers of blog, not just mods) ever experienced this thing where you're not sure if theres a new alter, or if someone already there just has a new identity?

it feels kinda silly, cause like, guys, changing ur identity won't help us avoid the irs :P

Hey, we (and specifically I, the host) have definitely experienced this. It happened a lot more before our syscovery (I used to think I was Ralsei fictionkin before learning about my alter, Ralsei, for example). It doesn’t happen nearly as much these days, but it does definitely still happen to us from time to time. It can be tricky to tell whether a particular alter is discovering a new kintype, gender, sexuality, or other aspect of their identity, or if there actually is a new alter that we’re interacting with.

We also experience this sometimes with like, well established alters who have been in the system for a long time. Like occasionally I’ll be like “wtf am I werewolfkin? Am I actually mlm and not a lesbian??” But in reality I was just cofronting or blending with Toby and just didn’t notice lol. Usually when we start having thoughts like this, one of us will speak up to clarify the situation.

So yeah, you’re definitely not alone in experiencing this. And as always, if anyone who reads this wants to share their own experiences with confusing new identities for new alters or headmates, you’re welcome to share.

[pluralprompts]

Prompt #2,006

Headmate A came into existence at a confusing time for their system. As a result, they have no idea what their origins are – but as they search for answers, they must grapple with an even bigger question: could they be okay with never knowing why they exist?

[thehousehold]

Author: Valentine

You know what’s the hardest thing about identities and figuring out identities? It’s figuring out if otherkin/therian identities are okay for us to use. I’m an alter within a system and I happen to be human but I sometimes feel or have traits that are seemingly demonic, so I think I may be otherkin.

But then we have some alters who identify as an angel or a fox or what have you. Would they be considered otherkin/therian since they are a non-human inside a human body??

We just have many questions because we don’t want to misuse a label we shouldn’t be but it creates a conflict for us wanting to label and understand our identity.

[ashersbraincell]

I identify with my real name like an experiment participant would identify with they number/letter code istg

Like yeah sure it’s something people refer to me as, something I respond to, but its not ME, yk?

[thrivingwhilemultiple]

Stories of healing, perseverance, and hope… I’m T.W., we’re the Motley, and we are thriving with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID).

[venuscxre]

Another day of identity crisis y’all (im actually gonna jump off a cliff)