Agency Override

The agency override is a strange device. It subordinates the agency of the victim to that of the wielder. In practical terms, that means the the will of the wielder will apply first to the victim, then their own.

Imagine, for example, that your friend asks for a ride home from the airport on Tuesday night. You will consider their situation and needs and, if conditions are right, you'll agree. Your desire and will comes first but you can consider doing things that someone else wants. In a sense, you are "subordinating" your desire (stay home on Tuesday) to theirs (drive to the airport on Tuesday).

Come Tuesday night, you are faced with a choice. Do you honor your commitment? Most decent people will, but if you decide not to, you've allowed your will to win over your friend's. In all cases, you are the final decider as to what actions you take, even if the people around can influence or manipulate you.

With agency override, suddenly someone else's will is a higher priority than yours. This does not need to be communicated; it simply is. If you want to watch a movie and they don't have any objections, you watch a movie. If you want to watch a movie and they want you to make dinner, you make dinner without a second thought, as though you had personally weighed both options and decided on making dinner yourself.