video; un: otoproxy [backdated to August 22, before the rainfall]

[ends]

[ as tempting as simply using text would be to send out what amounts to little more than an advertisement, Otonashi comes to the inevitable conclusion that the subject requires more care than a faceless message. despite sporting the “perpetually exhausted” look, the redhead on the video feed offers a warm, weary smile. ]

Right, hey... I figured this is as good a time as any. I pitched an idea a while back about an informal, survival support group. I know for some people, this place is a respite... for other people, it’s hell.

[ those parameters, too, are subject to change from month to month. taking a deep, steadying breath, Otonashi forces himself to maintain focus on the video. ]

No matter how you see it, one thing is true for everyone: you have to connect to survive. That’s easy for some of us, but all of us have stories from home, and not all of them ... make this whole “hey, go touch other people” thing very easy.

I want to hold meetings around the 20th of each month in the Level 2 community center, after the moons’ effects are gone and before anything else starts up, since... that seems to be the trend. There are no requirements to join. This is a way for people to look out for each other... either as friends or as a mutual way to get needed chroma, no strings attached if you’d prefer that.

[ brushing at one of his eyes, he glances over to a small, paper enclosure with a few origami animals in it, deliberately placed in the feed: a paper bunny, a frog, a cat, and a few others that are more difficult to distinguish. ]

But I want everyone to know that they don’t have to fight alone. We’re all sharing this world whether we like it or not. I’ll be offering “SSR club patches” for anyone who wants them, and... origami animals in honor of someone who isn’t with us anymore. And food! A season’s end meet-and-greet picnic, maybe with marshmallow toasting and campfire stories. Something easy to start. I’m open to having one this month if people are interested, even if it’s a bit last-minute...

So, please consider it. If you’re alone and you’re feeling lost, then... come, and don’t be for a while.

Comments

[suspecteverything]

[It's the idea of the post and the pain he can hear in the voice behind the message that initially draws Jules in. Really, the idea is a good one. He'll have to keep an eye on this and potentially leave things to help them. Or something. He's not one to openly be involved. It's for that reason that he starts his interaction with a question that probably doesn't seem even remotely important.]

Is that what those decorations are called? Origami animals?

[ends]

Yeah. To be honest, I didn’t know anything about origami except that it existed, but... The library had a few how-to books on it. I think she would have liked them. Her own little pet display.

[ after she had sent him an exhaustive list of animal names, he’s confident she would have had some reaction to the little paper creatures, if she’d been around to see them. ]

If you like them, I’d be happy to try to make you one, too.

[suspecteverything]

That's more than I knew. Never even heard of it before. It's what, paper?

[Pretty low tech for what his world usually does, but he girls would probably adore them.]

text; un: aoi_totono

[yabaleys]

will there be tomato juice?

text; un: otoproxy

[ends]

uhh, I don’t see why there couldn’t be tomato juice ... would you like it if there was?

[ he exactly hadn’t planned on it, but he’s open to suggestions. ]

[yabaleys]

yes
aoi will come if there's tomato juice

video | un: stormflower

[sleepinglotus]

I've adjusted to it despite my original reservations and... issues but I know from experience how difficult that can be for new arrivals. I would be more than happy to help out with this.

video; un: otoproxy

[ends]

I’ve got my own hangups about the way the world works, but... I figured most of us do.

[ but the world is unforgiving and cares not for people’s backgrounds: it’s comply or suffer the consequences. ]

So I wanted to do something about it. I’d be happy to have more people on board, it’s kind of an undertaking for just me to run. [ him, with his multiple jobs and engagements... ]

Just curious, you think trying to have an opening meet-up even if it’s last minute is a good idea?

[sleepinglotus]

Some thrive in this environment. Others, less so, and I do think they get forgotten sometimes.

[Ren thinks it's a fantastic idea.]

I do. Last minute is better than nothing and it seems like you've put a lot of thought into this.

[audio | @hot.damn]

[circumitus]

What, um. Makes this a "survival support group", exactly?

[Rey might have a more simplistic definition of what constitutes as a survivor, but some of the things he talks about hits close to home as someone with mega intimacy issues.

[If anything, at least there's a promise free food. Can't argue with that.]

video; un: otoproxy

[ends]

Moonlacing and chroma are necessary to survive here. But, like I said, that’s... a hurdle for some people. And it can cost people their lives if they don’t comply.

[ as much as he tries to keep his expression steeled, there’s a small break, a show of faltering in the way his eyes dart downward. ]

So if you want to survive, you can’t expect to do it alone. And that’s not even touching the other weird things that happen around here...

[circumitus]

Ah. Can see your point.

[She's almost turned to crystal on more than one occasion before needing to seek out aid.]

Relying on others wasn't really... encouraged, before. So there was a bit of a, um -- shit, what do they call it? -- culture shock, when coming here.

text; un: fireprince

[rediscovering]

This is a good idea. Make fliers.

text; un: otoproxy

[ends]

yeah, I thought about it. I figured I’d announce it this first time, then scope out newcomers, set out advertisements.

I’m no artist but I can at least get the point across.

are you interested?

[rediscovering]

not sure. but I'm surprised it's not a public service provided a long time ago. it seems crucial. like the next best thing to a welfare program, seeing as we have so little control.

Text un:scarletdevil

[remilia_scarlet]

I have no love for this world, but I will not deny that surviving in it has proven more difficult for me than it should. I cannot deny that your idea seems to have merit to me. I would not call myself antisocial by any stretch of the imagination, but that does change the fact I find myself frequently low on this accursed chroma nonsense.

text; un: otoproxy

[ends]

there’s no one reason why someone might struggle here. when I came up with the idea, it was because I’d met people that don’t know how to ask for help, or may not be the most socially graceful, but...

like I said. we’re all in the same situation. we’re sharing this world. there’s greater strength in numbers and knowing someone has your back if you’re low on chroma or you’ve had a bad month. so...

you’re in?

[remilia_scarlet]

In my case I am simply accustomed to not needing help. It annoys me to have to seek it out, particularly for something as commonplace as socialization. But I cannot deny I am frequently far too low on chroma. So yes, I suppose I am.

text; @Uecchi

[uenosama]

This seems to be a bigger issue than I originally thought. People disappear?

Also, I can lend you a hand. In organizing. I don't have any particular skills but I can carry stuff. It seems like this would be for a lot of people.

text; un: otoproxy

[ends]

the short answer is yes. people can disappear. I’ve heard they don’t retain memories from this world when they do... but I don’t know.

I’d be happy to have all the help I can get, though. I want to try to spread the word for newcomers too, to try to keep people from getting into trouble early on.

also, I’m sure you do have skills. I guarantee it.

[uenosama]

They don't retain memories of this place? How is that possible?

Well aside from guitar skills I don't have much really. Compared to what some other people have here

[Text; un: turntechGodhead]

[itsknighttime]

hit me up when these meetings dont include pity
they sound pretty fuckin cool but if were just going there in memorium then i can do that at home
if you say they dont include pity then i might pitch in

text; un: otoproxy

[ends]

it’s not a pity party, though I’m not going to police anybody that shows up and needs to cry one off or get their feelings out. this place can be rough. that’s not what I plan to do personally, though.

I know I cracked a little. sorry. I made all these animals for someone and I don’t have anything to do with them now, so I’d like to give them to people if there are any animal lovers out there that want them. I’ll just keep a few. like mascots, maybe? do you want one?

text; un: agatsuma

[depreciated]

You're a very thoughtful person.

[Soubi doesn't say he wants to be apart of this or anything but this guy seemed pretty helpful. It's commendable.]

text; un: otoproxy

[ends]

it's the right thing to do, don't you think?

I don't want people to suffer alone when they don't have to.

[ Otonashi leaves that statement for anyone who needs to see it, potentially including the person on the receiving end of this particular text. ]