meadowlark | @clarke.griffin & @lance.sweets

@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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I worked in major crimes at the FBI headquarters in DC.

[Job buddies!!! Also omg finally someone else who presumably knows some psychology, though what Will said earlier was already a good indicator he knows at least generally what he's talking about.]

And that's a real risk, yes, though it's also one that could easily come up with a Displaced who just chooses to tell someone about all of this. We can't really control those sorts of variables, and it comes down to balancing mitigating risk with doing harm, which this entire issue seems to fall more on the latter side of.

It really should, and hopefully we can come up with one that can be put into place.

[He isn't extremely confident that anything he suggests, no matter how reasonable, will hold any weight, but now that there are more people in agreement there's some potential for negotiating.]

Edited (even fancier) 2021-01-19 23:55 (UTC)

Coincidentally enough.
DC.

I'm not familiar with your name, so I'm assuming it wasn't the same DC.

( Not that he's memorized every employee, but in terms of the people in his field he's fairly familiar. )

You say 'we', but I get the impression it isn't open for crowdsourcing.

Probably not, but 'not the same DC' is still much closer than people normally get with this sort of thing.

If you mean in coming up with something, crowdsourcing is welcomed. However, if you mean in terms of making the actual changes, the system as it is relies on people playing their part.

[So in other words, if enough people want a change, they don't need to wait for permission.]

Maybe we can commiserate over the vending machines.

( While the world burns around them in a fit of chaos because apparently not only are alternate worlds real apparently those worlds have alternate realities and he has magic powers.

But the third floor vending machine was a million years old and you'd think the government could afford to replace them.)

Long live the revolution?
It doesn't sound as good in English.

It's kind of frightening that that is something apparently interdimensionally universal. They're so bad, and one of them has started eating all quarters more recent than 1964.

It really doesn't. Loses all the drama.

I think I know that one. The last time I used it, it asked me why I don't visit anymore and why I wasn't married yet.

That's worth putting up with for the mini-muffins, though.

Do you mind if I ask you a controversial question?

Sure, though I may or may not answer.

[Depending on if it's joke controversial or legit controversial.]

Blueberry or chocolate chip?

( It's a very serious question, Lance. )

Blueberry, no question.

I thought you were going to ask something really controversial, like if muffins are a meal or dessert.

Do we need to confine muffins to a labeled box? I feel like that's nobody's business but the muffins'

I would agree, in a perfect world without muffin judgement. Is your FBI less likely to shame an agent for eating muffins for every meal? Asking for a friend.

You really don't want to know my department's opinion on food, trust me.

That bad?

Exceptionally so.

That's very ominous.

[Should he ask? He's not sure he should but the curiosity is so there.]

Very ominous, and probably better left that way. In a public forum, at least.

I'll take your word for it.

What's your name?

Will Graham

( The real test over the mutuality of their world — as if the discussion about his brain didn't circulate enough, being recently arrested under the assumption that he's the Chesapeake Ripper would do the trick. )

[Nope, no recognition at all ~~due to handwavy rp times~~, but now he knows which anonymous goes with which name. Mostly. For this conversation, anyway; he'll have to do like, writing analysis for the others to sort out who's who, which he actually can do and will give him something to distract himself with.]

Nice to meet you, Will, even if the circumstances could be better. I'm Lance Sweets, though that was obvious, but you know.

[Seemed wrong not to add it.]

I appreciate the sentiment anyway, thank you. Hopefully once I'm out you can prepare me for whatever trouble I've just gotten myself into.

( Tired sighs cannot possibly be heard through text, but rest assured he's making one. )

For what, sharing your opinion? You should be fine, don't worry. I've been far more annoying and I'm still here, much to everyone's dismay.

I have to imagine you were a little more established before you started annoying the powers that be.

A little, though I also did it on a far grander scale and haven't stopped, so I think it balances out.

(no subject)

cognitivus - 2021-01-21 05:25 (UTC) - Expand