Day 8535873368 and I still don’t fully understand the difference between being a fictive and being fictionkin
At least from a linguistic perspective I understand the difference between being akin to/ having kinship with [x] vs actually being [x] but in a practical application sense (especially in regards to myself and my headmates) I couldn’t tell you which experiences fit which identity
For example, if you’re an alter in a system, you’re only kin with one specific character and you have the same name as they do, are you a fictive by default? Or are you required to fully identify as that character to the point of, well, rejecting your physical reality? As in, do you have to believe that there’s no distinction at all between yourself and your associated canon character to be a fictive (and if you’ve established a life for yourself in your present circumstances how is that possible?)
I’m not sure how much this actually matters but I’m curious and don’t want to be mislabelling my experiences in any discussions
Fictives are walk-ins. Fictives appear in an already living body in this world fully aware and conscious of their identity as a certain character. There is no doubt or period of discovery, they simply are fully that person. Even though they may exist and participate in life on this earth, they have no separate earth identity, but remain fully their fictional self.
Fictionkin are ‘reincarnated’, either literally or metaphorically/psychologically speaking. Fictiokin are born into this world as human babies, unaware of who they were in the past. They have a human identity separate from their previous identity. When they become aware of their past self there is a period of self-discovery and questioning. Even after a fictionkin has fully accepted their fictional identity, it does not replace or interfere with their new earth identity, it is simply a new part of it.
Examples:
Cloud is a fictive. He lived in a place called Midgar, growing up and becoming a Soldier, before eventually becoming an eco-terrorist mercenary. One day, he wakes up, and finds he is sharing the body of a kid named Steve on the planet earth. Cloud can speak to Steve, use Steve’s eyes to see, and use Steve’s body to interact with the world of earth. Cloud is not Steve. Cloud remains Cloud with his full personality and experiences from the world of Midgar. He has to get used to things like gasoline, and using the internet. He has no other name besides Cloud.
Jill is a fictionkin. She was born on this earth, and grew up here, as a fairly normal, if geeky kid. When she was 14, she played a game called Final Fantasy 7. Jill didn’t understand why, but the game struck her right in the heart, and after playing it she had nightmares and strange thoughts. Everything seemed familiar in the game, especially the character Cloud. Jill starts having strange thoughts, like distant memories of actually *being* Cloud, and doing things like in the game. Jill wrestles with this thought, thinking she can not possible be a fictional character, but doesn’t know why she is having these thoughts and feelings. Eventually she discovers fictionkin online online and realizes there are other people who have the same feelings she does. She accepts that she is fictionkin of Cloud. She is still Jill, and will always be Jill, but now she also remembers being Cloud and has his feelings and thoughts too.
