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

[gempathizing]

[ It takes a bit for his reply to roll in. Partly because it takes some thinking. Partly because he's tried to not think about most of it. Partly because Steven is starting to psych himself into wondering if there's a More Right answer people are looking for when they ask him this stuff. ]

Well. If there was never a war at all I probably wouldn't exist. There was always gonna be some baggage to deal with there. That's just how it is.

These days I'm... I guess I AM doing what I'd be doing back before I was allowed to go on missions, if that counts. Only with a better handle on my powers. You know, putting my feet up for a while.

[ That's a nice way to not have to say he's apparently the only person in Beach City who can't figure out what to do with themselves. ]

[bringinghopewithme]

[a kid near the end of his childhood with no education who can't even speculate about his own identity without a war is 'just putting his feet up.'

It's real fortunate that this conversation is happening virtually because Bunny has a moment where he either wants to cry or punch something.]

And now you're stuck here. Being forced to fix someone else's problems, when you've already been doing that - how long?

[he'll punch someone over it, eventually.]

[gempathizing]

[ So not the right answer, maybe. ]

That was only like two years. And some change. The Diamonds did a lot of the heavy lifting that last year. We took the training wheels off for them remembering their manners and everything.

[ He means it as a joke even if it is perhaps slightly true.

Because the important thing is, the Easter Bunny is nice. This is going right into the niceness tank. Steven's metaphorical pockets are filled to the brim with people being kind and invested and concerned on this very Rig, which is a weird boost in these shock collar, corporate cake party, everyone's been kidnapped times.

He will support them if it turns him into a shriveled up raisin of a teen by the end of this. ]

Look, it's gonna be okay. Okay?

With everything going on here, I think "me having to do stuff I know how to do already" can stay pretty low on the list. If it even belongs on the list in the first place. Because I'm fine keeping it off.

[bringinghopewithme]

Hey now. You're not wrong, but I'm the Guardian here. I'll tell you when things are gonna be okay.

[He's frankly usually hesitant to SAY things will be okay. Sometimes things do not end up okay, and it's irresponsible to tell a kid that if there's a possibility it won't be.

But he's got to say something encouraging, and that's always the challenge of directly interacting with his charges, instead of just working in their background.]

As long as we're working together, 'okay' might take a while, but we've got a good chance of getting there. Any bumps on that road to 'okay' though, let me know, willya? No need to be shy about it. We're all on the same road here.

[He just sounds so much like he's used to NOT asking for it, even in impossible circumstances.]

[gempathizing]

Sure. Totally. Thanks. All part of the teamwork lifestyle, right? Everyone has problems sometimes.

[ He can just about convince himself he's not lying to these responsible adults when he says he'll totally talk to them. And he would absolutely believe himself if he wasn't already starting to feel bad about it. He's really pulling people away from bigger, real problems and lying to their text message faces once they're there. The web that never stops weaving. ]

Not to go off track or anything, but the capital letter in Guardian says "very official title". Can I ask about that?