001: Group Introductions - TEXT

[tarnishedavenger]

[During a lull in the party, Armstrong taps out a quick message to the network. Not that private one, he doesn't trust it. They can answer whenever they like, so long as he gets an answer. The trick would be wording it.]

So, we're all in this for now. You've had your welcome cake, but you can't meet everyone in a party, no matter how hard you try. But, since we've all been encouraged to sign up with Jorgmund, I figured now would be a good time to get some introductions done. Talk about any specialties we might have.

Share information that we feel comfortable sharing. This isn't to pressure anyone or to force out any dark secrets.

[Not where watchful eyes can see, at least.]

Besides, I prefer doing this to making a cute information sharing game.

So, please, make your own threads within this post to keep everything organized.

Comments

[likeits1999]

alive people usually just mean alive years cause they don't know you're a vampire. vampires mostly just wanna know how long you been dead cause it's a power thing. some of my friends were like dude kevin if this was old timey times, ten years old isn't even old enough to like go outside. but it's modern times now so they gotta deal with me.

and nah dude no worries, it happened back home. which was still not great on account of how crazy shit is back there right now, but at least i didn't get shock collars for my birthday.

[ Vampire problems may be pretty awful, but there's something weirdly comforting in chattering about them. He understands it and feels sort of in control. ]

[gempathizing]

Whoa. So you're like a baby for vampires. I kind of know how that feels. Without the vampire part. I'd hate having to keep track of all those numbers.

[ It's like 3 numbers. But so many numbers aren't fun just on principle. If there's one "normal" teen thing Steven does, it's not care for math on principle. ]

It sounds pretty crazy if not having a shock collar birthday makes it up to the "at least" department? Are you doing okay?

[likeits1999]

yeah lol my friends kind of freaked out about it a little when i said so.

but yeah i'm ok dude. like things suck out loud, but i gotta deal with that. plus i guess i can't worry about home too much cause i can't get back there right now, right? the thing that's most important right now is making sure we get through this stuff.

[ Okay is perhaps an overstatement. Kevin's tired and stressed and has been on emotional labor workhorse duty lately. ...But this Steven kid doesn't need to worry about that, he obviously has his own problems. ]

[gempathizing]

Right? That's what I'm saying!

And I mean, if you ever decide you DO need to talk it out to stop worrying so much, I'm totally happy to listen! Don't even worry about it. We should all be here for each other. And I guess the mandatory relaxation time is supposed to be for that kinda thing anyway? But it's also important to make sure we don't forget to focus what's going on now. Since it might try to kill us.

[ It's like looking into a text message mirror. Steven holds an unshakable sense of solidarity in one hand and hypocritical concern in the other.

Just focus on the current disaster and everyone involved in it and push down the personal stuff! Now they're speaking his language. ]

[likeits1999]

hey i appreciate that. i usually don't talk about what's going on with me a whole lot, but i've kinda had to some this last couple days and i guess it has helped a bit.

[ He's spilled some of his latest pile of stressors to people like Stacia and Saturday when they indicated they wanted to know. It's been weirdly cathartic, when he can get over the guilt of problem-dumping at all. Other peoples' problems matter, his he should just be able to swallow on his own so he can help them better. Right? Right. ]

that goes for you too. if shit gets heavy and you wanna talk about some of it i'm probably down for that.

[ Steven's really fast to offer to listen, and maybe he's fine, but maybe he could use some listen of his own. Kevin wants to leave that door open. It's what he does, it's the least he can do when other people might need help. ]

[gempathizing]

Call me biased, but I've had a hard time finding problems that talking couldn't help out with.

Thanks for the offer. I'll keep that in mind if I ever need it.

[ Steven doesn't plan to need it even if he does need it. Truly they both exist on a similar brainwave.

That doesn't make it less nice to have, though. Because it is. It's just plain nice. ]