@clarke.griffin & @lance.sweets

[strove]

@clarke.griffin
Hi everyone. This is @clarke.griffin and @lance.sweets. We wanted to give everyone an update, as well as give a rundown on some things moving forward.

First off, I know some of you just made it back from the Aerie, while others have been back for a while. For anyone who hasn't heard yet, the Aerie was a separate world where everyone was brought to it and given a new life, new memories, and new relationships. It wasn't an easy place to live, and some of us have only gotten a headstart in coping with what we went through. Still, not everyone's figured out the particulars, and a lot of us just got our loved ones back.

Perhaps most importantly, while we as a group tend to have weird things happen to us, this is the first time that the entire collective world has had a shared experience like this. Many of us came from situations where we were more prepared for this than most of the population of this world. Even if you're new, I'm willing to bet that this is the case.

Being in the Aerie changed us. I believe Lance can put this better than I can, but it's important to remember that you're far from alone in any of this. I'll let him delve deeper into this now.

@lance.sweets
‘Complicated’ is not even close to a strong enough word for the situation we’ve all found ourselves in, and there’s not really any sort of established framework for how exactly to deal with it. We’re all going to be figuring this out as we go along, but there are some key points to keep in mind.

The first is to remember that, for any similarities or differences there might've been, the people we were in the Aerie are not exactly the same as we were here before, or are now. Some patience and understanding with each other will go a long way in navigating what's happened. Additionally, the way in which each of us--including the native citizens--deals with this will be different, and so it will help if everyone can remember that and have no expectations for what others might do or how they may feel, or in what timeframe those occur. There’s no right or wrong way to come to terms with everything that happened, and that includes reconciling two entirely separate lives; some may treat who they were in the Aerie as another individual entirely, some may try to blend the two, and some may prefer the person they were in the Aerie.

But as Clarke said, none of us are alone in this, and that’s something that shouldn’t just be sentiment. As difficult as it can be, reach out to others if you need help; likewise, check in on each other whenever possible. It's very easy, in the midst of something of this scale, for individuals to get lost in the chaos if there isn’t a concerted effort to make sure that doesn’t happen. On that note, we also have people here who had arrived only days before the Aerie began and so had no time to establish any sort of support network, as well as new arrivals who can’t be forgotten about in all of this.

For those of you who have just arrived, hopefully you've found the network; although you'll be anonymous until your IDs are registered, you can still participate in discussions and read through older conversations, as well as access the new arrivals guide and the information compendium, the latter of which I believe is updated but I may have missed something. It'll give you something to do as a distraction from the current situation, at least. Additionally, if you have questions or need something brought to you, someone may be able to help with that.

[Lance probably more with the former than the latter, since he's not entirely sure if he can even get into the safehouse right now and doesn't care to test it.]

@clarke.griffin
If you're looking at the arrival guide and noticing that we need some updates, they'd be welcome right now. I usually handle it, but I'm not of a mind to be able to do so at this moment. [Which will be apparent soon for a particular reason—but also, she was doing a lot in coming back from the Aerie. Clarke always has her hands full, but she also knows she has to make good on her "I delegate I don't do everything" word. See, Gene—she can commit to her nonsense.]

Finally, our group has a bar named Red Wings. Both @stephen.strange and I run the establishment, though it's going to fall mostly to me for the time being. If you would like a place to help you get started here, or even get familiarized with the world, Red Wings is a good place to get started. We offer jobs to all Displaced, and we're only staffed by Displaced, making it so that it's a place where you can settle in on your terms. [Unsurprisingly, she isn't mentioning any code of conduct or her firing someone rather publicly. No need to draw attention to it.] And if that doesn't appeal, we do give free meals (and sometimes drinks) to our own on a regular basis.

Right now, just as we've done before, Red Wings has been converted into a community center to provide outreach and resources to our community. If you come and help out, you'll still be considered an employee and paid wages for helping out.

As a note, I'll be in charge of operations for the time being. If you helped Stephen with any of his responsibilities, let me know. I could use some help. [The point being to take the onus off of Stephen. This is how they manage things.]

We believe that covers everything. We know this is a lot to digest, so please feel free to ask any questions. Lance and I are here to help.

Comments

[lifetothefullest]

Yes, though I'm not entirely sure how public they want to be about this knowledge.

[And at that last comment he... Definitely doesn't look behind him despite that he had just done so like ten seconds earlier and knows there's no one there. Jerk.]

You know, I almost felt sorry about my part in our last encounter, and now suddenly I don't.

[He's joking; he still definitely feels a little guilty.]

[plainsimple]

Perhaps you could ask them to message me.

[He's going to take a few moments to privately be quite pleased with himself before continuing.]

If only I could say you almost left a mark. My memory could be so short except for a reminder you left behind. But I suppose I did participate in provoking you.

[lifetothefullest]

I can ask them, sure.

[He doubts they'll be interested, but still. And okay, now he really feels guilty at that last comment--]

I rescind my past statement; I do feel sorry about that. It really carried over?

[He has the scar from Dean stabbing him, but nothing else from the Aerie; he hadn't really thought about the potential that the lightning damage might've remained for Garak.]

[plainsimple]

Thank you. And don't feel too badly. It's a rather lovely branching pattern, and as my people are quite private it will only ever be myself and Dr. Bashir who see it.

@lexa.trikru

[coalitions]

Oh?

[plainsimple]

Ah, my dear, how have you been?

[She's gonna be so smug. Garak's just gonna... prolong the inevitable by a few short moments.]

[coalitions]

I am fine. I see you have solved that concern of yours.

[plainsimple]

I am, as always, a problem-solver. Even when solutions to situations are not... entirely anticipated.

[coalitions]

Some solutions put everything else in perspective. You are pleased?

[plainsimple]

I am. If this is real, I am quite pleased.

And you?

[She does perhaps deserve that opportunity to gloat.]

Private

[coalitions]

Why would it not be real?

Private

[plainsimple]

The Aerie seemed quite real, did it not? And it was more coherent than this place, where we come in by means we don't understand, from multiple realities, and wind up with unprecedented abilities.

private forever

[coalitions]

Ah. You became lovers in the Aerie and not here?

private forever

[plainsimple]

No, no. My apologies for being unclear.

[Which he rarely apologizes for.]

We became lovers here shortly before the Aerie incident. I merely wonder if this world and our memories of who we are happen to be real, or more creations like the Aerie. Some things stayed the same, but other things were different and I have survived this long only by questioning constantly.

[coalitions]

Congratulations.

I think if that were the case, using that and the past other universe as an example, we would all have experienced our separate lives more closely together.

[lifetothefullest]

I mean I guess that's better than it could be, but still. Getting zapped by lightning is not the best experience ever, so I'm sorry you have both that memory and the reminder of it.

[Also he'll just... Not mention but note that last bit of that response. It's vague enough there are two main ways to interpret it and it could be either, but still worth remembering.]

[plainsimple]

I have had worse experiences. I have also had better. Perhaps we can agree that this means next confrontation, should one occur between us, I get to leave unharmed.

[They Were Roommates, Lance. With only one bed.]

[lifetothefullest]

Let's not go that far.

[Because Lance has no intentions of starting any fights, but if one happens then round two is so on.

also: omg they were roommates...]

[plainsimple]

In that case perhaps I should take care to strike first if opportunity suggests there might be need.

[He both means it and doesn't. Because he's straightforward like that.]

[lifetothefullest]

I seem to remember that you struck first last time too, you just missed.

[This is the weirdest, vaguest half-joking argument about something very serious, but it somehow is working.]

[plainsimple]

While advocating for you to surrender, and leaving the option open so you had a fighting chance in the Quarry to come. An error in judgment that I'll take some care not to repeat.

[He likes Lance, he likes this odd conversation, and he knows it's entirely possible an officer of the law and a spy/assassin will wind up on opposite sides again. Such is life.]

[lifetothefullest]

Turns out I didn't need the fighting chance because Aerie-me was an idiot.

[He's joking, but still. He got stabbed to death offering to try and help someone else not die in the midst of a battle royale murder event; that's pretty damn stupid.]

And I'm just going to pretend you didn't imply that such a situation would ever possibly come up again.

[But okay, jokes aside--]

Did you just get back with everyone else, or did you return earlier?

[plainsimple]

Somehow, despite lightning and being shot twice, I survived and have only just returned. Making it through things that perhaps I shouldn't seems to be my calling card, as well as my exquisite fashion sense.

[And he's not going to rule out any possible situations. He knows better.]

[lifetothefullest]

There are worse things to be known for, I guess.

[And okay, now it's time to actually make this private so he has any hope of getting his next question answered--]

[Private]

How are you doing with readjusting to being back? It's kind of a shock for a lot of people, especially at first.

[Private]

[plainsimple]

I am much more concerned for my roommate. He feels a great deal of guilt after shooting me.

[He's touched Lance would ask. But he has never admitted to not doing well before and he's certainly not going to start now.]