Question about demons...

[neurawkward]

As far as Supernatural's mythology is concerned, does anyone remember if demons have the ability to possess dead bodies? Or, say the person being possessed is injured (broken arm, leg, etc), would the demon be able to work everything normally

Comments

[phaelsafe]

I think the person has to be alive for them to be possessed, but if that person is injured or killed, the demon can maintain the body w/o any kind of limitation. The only reason Meg didn't die was because she was possessed. The moment the demon left, she passed on pretty quickly.

[neurawkward]

Thank you kindly! I was pretty sure that was the case, just wanted to verify it so as not to, ya know, write anything dumb :)

[laurie_ky]

Didn't one of the Seven Deadly Sins possess a hunter after he made him drink bleach. I'm pretty sure the gang considered him a dead man walking. He kept trying to get his hunter wife to come out to him.

Laurie

[neurawkward]

Ah, crap. Would you maybe consider it a technicality kinda deal? Like, a person can be possessed as long as there's some sign of life? Or do you think any body can be possessed regardless?

As far as I can remember, I don't think it's ever been firmly established on the show. And it's only concerning a minor detail in my story (probably), but I just wanted to get things straight.

Maybe I could just make crap up and say only really powerful demons can possess dead bodies?

[laurie_ky]

Babe, you can do anything you want. If you think it's slightly different from canon, just make a note about it

[neurawkward]

Hey! Sorry it took me so long to get back to you - the past couple days of work have sucked so hard I haven't even tried to go online. I have been crashing :(

Somehow, the thought that I could just throw in a little disclaimer never occured to me :/ I'll just do whatever works best, and see what happens from there.

Thanks for the research! I totally forgot about consulting the wiki! That shall make things much easier, indeed. <3

[ghostyouknow27]

Castiel was able to possess a stabbed Jimmy, and I think the "rules" for demon and angel possession are fairly similar and/or equivalent, except that angels require consent.

[ghostyouknow27]

Oh! And Ruby possessed a girl with significant brain damage, which says that she must have been injured somehow. Most people don't lose all brain activity just 'cuz.

[neurawkward]

Occasionally, I feel like I lose all brain activity just cuz :/ But I digress.

Still not sure how I'm gonna go about this, but I think I'll at least stick with "cannot possess if dead". I'm just wondering if - like the case with Ruby - they can override any previous injury. Like, would a demon possessing a dude with two broken legs be able to walk (or maybe he'd just be walking around on two broken legs since they don't seem to feel it)?

[ghostyouknow27]

I did say "most" people. :D

I've always been a bit unclear on that, too. It seems like the bodies must heal from some injuries (or Ruby's stomach would have been sliced 4evah in S4), so, I think if the body's still alive, the demon can run around and do whatever. If the body's able to heal from an injury, it does. If the injury's too severe, the human dies the minute the demon leaves.

Maybe it would be like those people who are born with that disorder that doesn't let them feel pain? They run around with all kinds of injuries, though I imagine really severe breaks would prevent locomotion? Like, if the bone was poking through the skin, the muscles/ligaments might not be working like they're supposed to, even if the person doesn't feel any pain?

[missdestiel]

Yes, they can possess dead body's. Like ruby did in season 4.