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

[serpentinthegarden]

Anthony bobbed his head. People were chatty when drunk. It was an affliction he also suffered from, wine loosened tongues. He looked to his glass and considered setting the rest of that liquid aside. If he finished all that he could end up a weeping drunk mess.

"Just so you are aware. I wouldn't want to encourage you to get into trouble."

[chenqing_player]

Wei Wuxian on the other hand doesn't look like he's even close to slowing down.

"I'm used to trouble. But I won't actively pursue anything. If something just happens to fall into my lap, I might run with it."

He doesn't necessarily expect to encounter information but it never hurts to be alert and aware.

[serpentinthegarden]

"Its a good idea to keep your eyes open."

And what the heck, he raised his glass to Wei in a toast. Vowing this would be his actual last sip of wine but it felt right to share this sort of conspiratorial moment of friendship.

"If you find anything out will you let me know?"

[chenqing_player]

He raised his glass with a grin, "You'll be my first call!" He took a sip and then realized, "Except I don't have your number."

He reached into his hoodie and pulled out the black cell phone as he took another sip of his wine. "Is there a database or something of everyone who has visions or we just sort of find each other through these meetings?"

[serpentinthegarden]

"There's the network the Bureau setup for us but..."

He held out his hand for the phone and input his name and number in the address book. It was simpler to do it himself rather than having to spell everything out. Anthony then handed the phone back while reaching for his own.

"Who knows if we ought to really be using it. They are probably tracking it. Then again they could be tracking these too."

[chenqing_player]

"Honestly, if its something they set up..they probably did it just so they could track us. Why else would they do it? I'll trust my phone over anything they give us any day. And I'll stay off their network as much as possible."

There was no telling just what kind of reach the Bureau had but Wei Wuxian was going to hope that his phone wasn't compromised in some way. If the Bureau was looking at his private stuff they would have quite the eye full.

[serpentinthegarden]

"That might be for the best but I should at least try to watch the network."

He grumbled and readjusted his seat so his legs could stretch out annoyingly into the walkway.

"I think I have been avoiding it too much. The others use it so often... I'm sure there is a great deal I've missed out on."

[chenqing_player]

"I guess I can check it once in awhile just to make sure i meet some of the others. I imagine a lot don't even bother with these support groups, right?"

Wei Wuxian wants to meet as many of the others as possible. It will be good to have others he can trust for when he does get another one of the visions.

[serpentinthegarden]

"They do seem to be pretty empty for support groups but can you blame the other Different from not showing up when the Bureau are using white boards and kindergartner getting to know you games."

About then the waitress wandered back over to their table and Anthony paused in their conversation to pull out his wallet and slap down some bills for what they had already ordered.

"Now if they would ever start giving us any answers. I think everyone would be there."

[chenqing_player]

"It's hard to go to a support group if you don't trust the ones running it. Kind of defeats the purpose in a way.."

Wei Wuxian was fumbling for his money when the waitress arrived, finally finding it after money was already put down.

[serpentinthegarden]

He waved Wei off as he put his own wallet away.

"Don't worry about it. This is my treat. I've enjoyed talking to you and hey, maybe it will help brighten your day week just a little bit."

[chenqing_player]

He smiled brightly as he shoved his money back in his pocket. "Thanks. It definitely makes up for the nightmare. I didn't expect a new friend out of the ordeal." He loved meeting new people and he's enjoyed being with Anthony so it all has worked out. He's glad he decided to come to the group.

[serpentinthegarden]

Anthony smirked too, matching that smile. After all making new friends was something he was up for too, even more so if they were going through the same sorts of things. No one who hadn't had one of those memories could possibly understand how jarring the experience was.

"It is nice that something good has come out of all this mess. One last toast?"

He picked up his glass just once more... He had thought that two or three times now but this time he meant it.

"To new friends."

[chenqing_player]

"To new friends!" He picked up his as well and held it up, clicking it gently against the other man's glass.

He hoped he would get to spend time with Anthony again soon and perhaps discuss more upbeat topics then the Bureau. He lifted the glass to his lips and finished it off.