Support Group - March 2021

[tramitem]

Who: OPEN (Including to all the new characters who app throughout the month)
What: Bureau Run, Non-Mandatory Support Group
When: There are meetings at various times during the week, whatever works for your character between 8 am and 10 pm
Where: There are meetings at various locations around NYC, whatever works for your character
Rating/Warnings: We ask that players put appropriate warning labels in the subject lines of their threads as they become necessary


There’s a generic spread of food on a table off to one side of the room: donuts, muffins, bagels, and cookies; coffee, lemonade, water, and because one of the Different asked for it, hot chocolate. Maybe you’re hungry enough to try it—it’s free after all.

Or maybe you can’t stomach anything, given the event you’re attending.

The space is a local rec center. The beige-painted cinder block walls and the fluorescent lighting are a terrible combination. Maybe they are reminiscent of the public school you attended in your youth?

Why are you here? Curiosity? Maybe the Bureau official will say something that will help you make sense of things? The meeting was interesting—who knew there were so many people like you, receiving memories of a past life? The group was led by someone from The Bureau—the Department of Medical Services. Some people are staying in their chairs and chatting—they must know each other from previous meetings. Some of them are gravitating towards the food.

How do you feel about tonight? Has it helped you come to terms with the dream of memories you’re having? Maybe it’s time to talk to others, get an understanding of their experience.

Comments

Re: CW: violence depicted in memory link

[darkforcerising]

Anakin was there on a whim. He was always at these meetings on a whim, when he remembered he was looking out for Different who were just a shade different from the rank and file that seem to eat up whatever was offered in the Bureau's tight-fisted hand.

He'd noticed that Martin was there tonight too, but stayed clear of his friend because of Anakin's purpose - to look out for new people.

But tonight something else happened.

He felt something odd through the Force and only later, after Anakin had time to think back on it, would he realize it was the sudden rush of many different emotions all at once. It was the number and suddenness.

And then of course Martin started laughing. Anakin knew then that he was the source of it.

But a weird feeling in the Force didn't prepare Anakin for Martin talking back to the facilitator, or when Martin started asking others to get involved.

The first thing Anakin tried was to get Martin's attention with a look. A look that said a mix of 'What the hell?' and 'Are you okay?' though whether or not Anakin was successful or not was not readily apparent.

[not_as_i_do]

Martin didn't really think much of saying anything - it seemed a valid enough concern, after all, now that he really understood how useless these sessions were for him.

He caught Anakin's expression, but took it in stride, smiling. "Do I have donut crumbs in my beard again, dear boy?"

[darkforcerising]

Martin was not getting the hint. So Anakin stood up.

"I want to leave, and you're my ride, so-" And without saying anything more, he shouldered his backpack and started heading towards the door, hoping Martin would get the hint this time.

[not_as_i_do]

"Whu--"

His mouth froze in an 'o' of surprise, eyebrows raised as he watched Anakin move for the door. It took a moment for his brain to process what was going on, and he got to his feet, scurrying after him, one hand dipping into his pocket for his keys. Once they were outside the meeting room, he reached out and caught Anakin's arm - gently, just enough to slow him down.

"What's going on? Why are we leaving?"

[darkforcerising]

"To get far enough away from any Bureau person so we can talk," Anakin said. He'd slowed, but he kept pressing on. On so they could get out of this building and somewhere where they could talk.