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]

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?"

[no_applause]

She couldn't help but chuckle at that. While she didn''t typically endorse irritating people, occasionally it was a valid tactic. She'd used it to good effect during debates. It put people off balance and they sometimes slipped up.

"It certainly is, and I'm generally not a fan of withholding information from people who need it." She shook her head. "I have not. I've never really been one for social media. Why?"

[not_as_i_do]

"Most of it is noise, people reacting to how this all affects our daily lives, but occasionally someone will find something." He wanted sorely to tell her about the private channels and their mysterious information source, but didn't dare do it within earshot of anyone from the Bureau.

"Let's just say that there are things that come up on there you won't get from the Bureau, and leave it at that while we're here," he said, with a significant yet sideways glance at the group moderator.

[no_applause]

She nodded as she listened, glad to have someone giving her any useful information at all, at this point. The network was something she'd heard about, but hadn't paid much mind to, yet. Perhaps that should change.

His glance was noted with a miniscule tilt of her head. "I understand. Thank you, that's all very helpful. Perhaps we can meet for coffee sometime and you can tell me more about the network?" She works in politics and understands full well that walls have ears and even low level officials spread information.

[not_as_i_do]

"I wouldn't mind that in the least. My work takes me all around New York. Here, I'll give you my phone number, and you can text me when and where you're free to meet."

He reached into his pocket for a much-used but well-kept leather business card case and pulled out a card, then dipped back in for a pen and scrawled his personal cell number on the back. The front read clearly: Dr. Martin Whitly, MD. Stuyvesant Cardiothoracic Suite, 2019 17th Street Suite B, Manhattan.

[no_applause]

She smiled as she took the card. "Thank you. Allow me to do the same."

Turning, she extracted her own metal business card case from her bag, as well as a pen. Slipping one card free, she jotted her number on the back before passing it to him. Hers read
Padme Naberrie
Public Information Officer
United Nations
405 E 42nd St
New York, NY 10017