May Support Group Thread

[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

[consortofalderaan]

Bail had to nod. Elliott had a point. 'The Different' was a very alienating name to collectively call them.

"I have been better." Bail was honest, but he didn't elaborate. Talking about his experience required trust - which was what this whole meeting lacked - and Elliott was kind, but he was also a kid, not someone to dump his feelings onto.

"If the Bureau changed the name, what would you suggest for a replacement?"

[bearshermark]

"Hm," Elliott hummed, tapping a finger against his leg. "Maybe 'The Incarnates' or something."

He laughed, then shrugged. "Someone else could probably think of something better though."

[consortofalderaan]

That was a swing in the other direction, but Bail offered no criticism even if he didn't want to be called a god any more than he wanted a reincarnation experience. Either option, he was rethinking his entire understanding of the universe.

"So you believe you get memories of a past life?"

[bearshermark]

"Yes," he said, smile fading. "Though I know it isn't a popular belief. No one knows anything for sure yet, of course, but the way these memories resonate isn't artificial."

[consortofalderaan]

"Why do you think they are real?" Bail asked, calmly. He was curious what Elliott had to say about the memories.

"It might help me understand my own experience."

[bearshermark]

Elliott hummed, scrubbing a hand over his knee.

"Well," he breathed, with no earthly idea of how to begin to describe it. "My first memory was of Yggdrasil- The World Tree from Norse mythology- and every time I think about it, I just feel like.." His eyes lost a bit of focus, turning inward while he stared unseeing at the floor. "Like there's something.. connected?"

He blinked back to himself. "A-and the more research I did- the possibility that this is only one of nine worlds- combined with memories that feel real like no dream I've had ever had before. How I got this tattoo-"

And there it was, he could see parts of it showing through the makeup wearing off in his carelessness. Maybe he really did need to start wearing gloves. "I've been covering it up lately, but I just woke up with it a few weeks ago suddenly. Just there, like it's always been. I had it in my memories, too."

He took another breath. "I think.. everyone's a little scared. Maybe it is all in my head somehow, but until we know for sure, I really can't just dismiss them."

[consortofalderaan]

Bail would have questioned the appearance of the tattoo if he was speaking to someone who wasn't essentially a kid. It's what he did - question. It wasn't unheard of for younger people to have tattoos, but they usually didn't try to hide them if they had them. And even through the make up, that tattoo did look really well done. Bail didn't know any well established, successful, licensed tattoo parlor that would work on a kid.

"That tattoo just... showed up?" he couldn't help the question, he had to be sure.

[bearshermark]

"Yeah," he said, shrugging and staring at it. "It didn't hurt or anything. Just.. It kind of makes me wonder if it means I'm supposed to become that person again."

[consortofalderaan]

"The person in your memories."

Bail offered a sympathetic smile. He didn't have nearly enough experience with these memories to fully understand. But from what he had gathered - he was going to, rather soon.

"Do you want to become that person?" he asked calmly.

[bearshermark]

Elliott laughed, sitting upright. "No, that guy had a lot going on. Some of it seems like it was cool, but there's some parts that weren't, too. For a little while there, I was almost convinced I was a criminal back then. He's almost died so many times already, too. Seems like he lived kind of desperately."

He shook his head. "I don't know what would be expected of me if I did need to become that person, but I like the life I have now."

[consortofalderaan]

"Do you feel you can keep your identity of yourself now separate from the person you see in your memories?"

[bearshermark]

He blinked, head tipping. "I guess it's difficult. I feel like me in my memories, just... stronger with more resolve, I think. It's just that I lived in a different time with a very different life."