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

[no_applause]

Padme arrived late to her first support group meeting. Her planning meeting had run late, but that was unavoidable. She slipped in and found an empty seat near the back of the room, gently setting her bag and coat on the chair next to her so she wouldn't interrupt anyone. She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees as she listened to the official speak. The more she heard, the more questions she had. But by the time he was done speaking, there was one thing pressing on her mind.

Raising her hand, she stood and cleared her throat quietly. "Excuse me, I have a question. Please pardon my ignorance, because this is my first time attending one of these meetings. How is any of this happening? Is anything being done to find a cause or solution? This sort of aid is appreciated, but it will only go so far if the underlying problem isn't addressed."

[not_as_i_do]

Martin turned at the sound of a new voice. The Different were really appearing in droves this month - he couldn't help but think that Mr. Martin must be popping some serious antacids right about now.

"They're pretty close-lipped about details at the Bureau," he said with a wry smile. "The most any of us have ever gotten is a variation on 'we're working on it', but maybe we're just not asking the right questions. They've been 'working on it' for a couple of years now, from what I've heard."

[no_applause]

She frowned, looking incredibly concerned as he spoke. "Well that is simply not acceptable." Gesturing to the faces around her, she looked up at the Bureau official before returning her gaze to the older gentleman who'd spoken. "How many of us are there? Is anything being done to help everyone beyond these meetings?"

If that was right, she was incredibly unimpressed. She'd hoped they would have at least had some semblance of organization or some plan for finding out the why and how of the situation. She might be new to the situation but that wasn't going to keep her from stepping up and trying to help.

[not_as_i_do]

"They say there are Different all over the world, but here in New York, I'd say ... maybe a dozen or so? I've met most of them. A friend of mine is a therapist, and the two of us have an idea for something that could be a wider system of support than ... this joke."

He reached across the aisle and offered his hand. "Dr. Martin Whitly."

[no_applause]

She nodded, understanding. "That's very admirable. This group doesn't seem to be the most effective way of helping those of us being effected by this. I'm glad to know there are others who feel the same and are working to find a solution."

She smiled brightly, reaching out to shake his hand. "Padme Naberrie. It's a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Whitly."

[not_as_i_do]

"Nice to meet you, too," he smiles. "I haven't been a part of this as long as some - only since this past summer - but I can share what you can start to expect, at least."

[no_applause]

"Thank you. I'd appreciate any information you could give me." Her smile turns a little apologetic. "I'm afraid I may have irritated them with my questions. But I prefer to know what I'm getting into."

[not_as_i_do]

"Irritate them all you want, my dear," he said, his smile only seeming to grow at the thought. "Knowledge is power, isn't it? As for what you're getting into, there's a fair amount. More than they tell you when you get that little white card, that's for certain. Have you spoken to anyone other than at the meeting? Used the Network yet?"

[darkforcerising]

Anakin had noticed Padme right away, though he tried his best not to think of her as Padme- she just looked, and he later realized when she spoke up that she sounded like the queen from his memories. He shouldn't assume, sometimes people just looked and sounded very similar.

He waited until the meeting was over to screw up his courage - to just see - and change seats. He took the on another Different had emptied.

The facilitator's back was turned and he was talking to another attendee.

"They don't give good answers, do they?" he said. The answer the facilitator had given was as generic as the one Mr. Martin gives when you first get hit with your memory.

[no_applause]

Padme was frustrated with the entire experience. Were these meetings meant to help? She was left with more questions than answers and the official didn't seem very keen on answering any of them.

She'd been tucking her notebook back into her bag when she felt someone sit next to her. Sitting up, she was pleasantly surprised to find it was a rather handsome young man. She smiled, though she let her frustrations show in her eyes. "No, no they don't. I'm afraid I may have irritated them."

[darkforcerising]

Anakin couldn't help smiling back, because that smile from Padme was just so familiar. But he quickly tried to tone it down.

He lowered his voice, so as not to attract the attention of the facilitator.

"You probably got a note next to your name," he agreed, though he tried to make it sound more humorous than ominous. "These really aren't the place to look for answers... there are... other ways."

[no_applause]

He had a nice smile. As interested as she was in any information he could give her, she couldn't help but notice that.

Her own smile shifted to a smirk, "Is that supposed to frighten me? I've been standing up for people my whole life. I'm sure there are plenty of similar lists out there with my name on them." Taking his cue, she lowered her own voice, angling her body to face him more fully. "There are? Please, tell me. I want to understand what's happening here."

[darkforcerising]

"With them-" Anakin's smile dropped for real this time as he glanced towards the facilitator. His look was completely sober.

So far, he'd not heard of anyone being... harmed directly by the Bureau for anything related to these memories. Strange things happened to them, but he wasn't sure it was direct malice.

But there was always a first time.

He was suddenly very worried for this bold young woman who looked so much like the person in his memories, and yet he had no confirmation of her identity. But still, he was concerned.

"Some of us have been... gathering information. But not the kind you talk about in present company." He hoped she caught on to the hint he was dropping - they could talk, but not here.

[no_applause]

How clandestine! It immediately raised red flags in her mind. The fact that he didn't want to talk there meant that the Bureau couldn't necessarily be trusted. She'd already been getting that vibe but now she read that message loud and clear.

Giving him a nod, she smiled brightly. "You know. The coffee here leaves a lot to be desired. I saw a coffee shop around the corner that I'd love to check out. Would you like to join me?"

[phdmotherfucker]

Harleen was impressed at the woman who boldly stood and asked every question that she had bit her own tongue on for the last month. The appointed facilitator deflected with practiced ease, offering vague assurances that the Bureau was aware of concerns and working to make improvements, before changing the topic entirely.

She made a point of seeking the woman out after the main meeting was finished and everyone mingled around coffee and stale baked goods.

"You'll find answers a bit thin on the ground, I'm afraid." She smiled and offered her hand. "Harleen Quinzel. Nice to meet you."

[no_applause]

Padme was visibly displeased with the non-answers she'd been given. She worked with diplomats on a regular basis, so she knew when she was being tactfully blown off. There was something more here, she just needed to find out what.

She was pouring herself a cup of unfortunate-looking coffee when the other woman approached. That smile was easily returned as she accepted the handshake. "So I'm discovering. Padme Naberrie. It's a pleasure to meet you, as well. Have you come to many of these?"

[phdmotherfucker]

"Twice a week for the last month, when all this started for me." Harleen poured a cup of coffee for herself just for something to do with her hands. "It hasn't helped at all, which I'm sure is no surprise."

[no_applause]

"That many?" Padme didn't even try to hide the surprise in her eyes. "If I may ask... If they don't help, why do you continue to come?"

[phdmotherfucker]

"Partly because there's nothing else to do about it. Partly because sometimes I meet someone here who is actually helpful outside of the meetings." Harleen unthinkingly took a sip of the coffee and immediately regretted it. She grimaced as she forced herself to swallow.

[tobodlygo]

James waits until the woman has been summarily deflected and dismissed by the session leader, watching her intently.

"I'm sorry that didn't work," he says, sitting down next to her. "Fab execution, though."

[no_applause]

Padme is clearly irritated by the non-answers of the official. She's worked with diplomats and politicians enough to know exactly what they're doing and she doesn't appreciate it. She sighs, pushing her hair back from her face as she composes herself.

The voice draws her attention. She looks up as the man sits next to her, giving him a smile. "Thanks. I'm beginning to think they don't want us to ask questions, which just makes me want to ask more."

[tobodlygo]

"You too, huh?" Jim grins, already liking the no-nonsense approach Padme's got going on.

"Not going to lie to you, I absolutely want to go and research pretty much everything they've told us about, even though it's slim pickings. James. James Kirk, nice you meet you," he offers his hand to her.

[no_applause]

She laughs, easily returning that smile. It's always nice to meet like-minded people.

Shaking his hand, she nods. "Padme Naberrie, nice to meet you, too. I want to do the same. I don't like not knowing what's happening, especially something as troublesome as this."

[tobodlygo]

Padme? Interesting name! Jim nods as he files her name away into his 'important' folder.

"Ha, mind of a scientist! I'm hoping that I'll be able to either get them to give us more info, or that we can actually do some studies into what's happening. I can't tell much from my own experience just yet. It seems like there's veterans here with more memories than just the one we got... "

[no_applause]

"Oh, I'm no scientist." She grins, "My background is in political science, actually." Thus, she knows about information gathering and how untrustworthy people can be.

She likes the way he thinks, it's good to know there's someone else there who's questioning things as much as she is. Pursing her lips, she nods. "I think you're right. It seems as if more of these so-called memories emerge as time passes." She pauses, tilting her head at him, "How are you going to try to get more information from them? They don't seem very willing to share."