#this is me abiding my time before CN 2.3 gets teased

[ihaveforgortoomany]

Greetings Comrade! Proceeds to flesh out the dumb au running in my head.

Heres a more complete layout of the Possessed! Vertin AU (maybe another name) (this is long)

Didnt expect a squad swipe lmao. Generally I imagine everyone more or less come out alive since its Vertin, even if shes being possessed by Arcana and has assess to her skills she wouldnt be able to properly utilise the mass power of Arcana

(So think Engima's statement on humans attempting to use the ritual initially, like overloading a household appliance: here Vertin is a tiny light bulb hooked to a plane's engine. Arcana made Vertin use Schneider's gun, while probably a way to manipulate Vertin, I think Vertin is limited in Arcane range)

(Also it draws out everything and yes I spent too long thinking about this au)

So uh heres a couple stuff on that battle between Vertin and the suitcase. (Not all because thats 60+ people and we know not everyone is there and its a surprise attack)

Most severely injured: Madam Z (no one goes unscathed, well mostly) Sonetto, probably the main team so think Regulus and Druvis

Scenerios: (i think if its Arcana shes probably gonna mess with everyone because its Arcana)

(If you have Schnieder alive in this scenario then Arcana is deffo recreating that scene again but ten times worse)

Idk why this thought has been running around but: Kakania hostage situation, because ofc Arcana can manipluate probably the most unstable member of the suitcase Isolde and therefore force everyone into a stalemate.

(This is bordering fic wow) consider this the scene in Book 6 but Kakania's life is on the line, maybe shes disarmed and coincidentally her gun ends up with Isolde and Marcus is there. (Yeah i write essays not fics so do what you will).

Arcana possessing Vertin probably just gives her access to all her trauma so probably threatens Madam Z with it (Breakaway Incident stuff).

Outcome Im suggesting here is that Vertin is restrained, and as a last ditch attempt to save Vertin is AS, since we know multiple ppl can enter the same one with Lilya and Sonetto doing that training one in Book 4 - this is Mesmer Jr's part in this.

(Why not immediate execution? Remember this is pandora's box you are threatening to release, its no longer 5 or so people, is much much more and more sources and abilities available - a stalemate between the suitcase and Foundation is agreed to attempt to save Vertin or execute her if anything goes wrong)

This becomes basically a Persona plot (or PTN Black Ring or Limbus the Sinner's memories when they approach a Golden Bough) , enter Vertin's mind and eradicate Arcana in there. Maybe the AS takes the form of Three Doors, probably have Sonetto, Regulus maybe Lilya and / or Matilda enter. Maybe go all crazy and say they meet the voices (the Old Man and Grandma) chilling out in there, maybe their existence retains shreds of Vertin holding on. Maybe in memory both Matilda and Sonetto find out the truth to the Breakaway Incident.

Im an optimist! They do remove Arcana (ofc she doesnt die) but this is a pyrrhic victory. More is lost than gained, whatever happens next is unclear, whether Vertin will be sane or Team Timekeeper could be restored. (Ill leave it open ended enough maybe someone can transcribe this plot into a fic, because deffo I cannot)

Have fun

Greetings!

I offer the possessed! Vertin AU (inspired by @cheemken 's AU and ideas on Twitter)

Arcana already wants Vertin for some reason so this post 1.9 is an AU that somehow Vertin is infected during that final battle and slowly loses to Arcana.

Kinda the Manus infected Vertin possession by Arcana where she slowly infects Vertin, like the subtle infection where only people like TF, Madam Z, Sonetto and probably Mesmer Jr and Matilda notice personality changes in Vertin until right in the middle of Foundation Headquarters all hell breaks loose. Maybe a critical point with Constantine bringing up the Breakaway Incident that finally sends Vertin over the edge.

Consider an all out battle with suitcase and co. Plus the threat of a higher up using the Scorching Heart Incantation to just eliminate Vertin as she becomes the greatest threat to the Foundation.

(Vertin gets the Manus drip ofc ofc)

Outcome? Up to you.

(I really can go really angsty with this, like Sonetto getting injured by Vertin probably will send her over the edge)

But again up to you 👍

Bites you, hard.

Comrade, what the fuck is this? (Starts thinking about the outcome)

You know me, lover of Slight angst and hurt/comfort.

On the POSITIVE side, like the good ending, Vertin is able to get out of Arcana's possession. After the whole fight against everyone in the suitcase - final boss style, Vertin's connection with Arcana breaks because Arcana wants it to. Much like with Schneider, after having destroyed so much, injured so many people and ruined everything for her and the others, she is released.

There's Sonetto lying on the floor, holding the wounds caused by Vertin's arcane skills given by Arcana, deep wounds I must add. There's Mesmer Jr in a corner, unable to participate because she doesn't trust her Arcane ability and then there's Matilda, unconscious maybe alive maybe dead, the reason why Sonetto is still alive is her.

And there's The Foundation pointing their guns at Vertin, there's Madam Z unable to do anything, there's Tooth Fairy with a face worse than simple pain. Everyone has no idea what to do, then, she gets taken by the Foundation.

The people in the suitcase are being taken care of, Team Timekeeper no longer exists because there is no Timekeeper, they become soldiers of different branches of the foundation. There's a couple of dead bodies in those. Those who tried to get close to Vertin to stop her never made it too far, the healers are doing their best to bring them back, healing the wounded and treating the traumatized.

It's a mess, really. And Vertin is sealed until they're able to take care of Arcana, and maybe, she might not be released.

But it's the good ending, because she's alive and despite what has happened, there's still a silver chance to repair what has been broken, to severe that connection with Arcana.

And perhaps the deaths of her close friends, Matilda who gave her life away (we all know that if she had the chance to save Sonetto she would jump), she would feel insanely guilty.

As for the bad ending, however... Not a lot get the privilege to live. Vertin doesn't go back because she's Arcana's priced pawn, and she needs her for more moves. So they're gone, most of them either way. The British branch of the foundation in shambles, those who managed to survive are trying to save Vertin. It's too late though, Vertin will never be the same as long as Arcana has her claws around her.

It's the end.