Filtered from the Bureau - text

[consortofalderaan]

I have a proposal I want to make.

To put it diplomatically, I do not think the Bureau-run support groups are helpful. Meeting others dealing with new memories of past lives is good, but the way the Bureau runs their meetings has no other benefit.

I am a therapist; this is an area I’m well trained for.

But I would like to know if this worth pursuing.

How many would be interested if we started our own support group, completely separate from the Bureau?

Comments

[smilingarmor]

This is an excellent idea! And if you're looking for a space, I just so happen to have one available. One with much nicer atmosphere than any place the Bureau hosts their meetings, if I do say so myself. We'd likely need to provide the snacks ourselves much of the time, but I suspect we can do that better than the Bureau's meetings too.

[consortofalderaan]

I'm glad to see this generating interest.

What place do you have in mind?

I would prefer it to not be someone's home. A person's home should ultimately be their own safe space and inviting people you may or may not potentially do not get along with into that space, even for a good cause, disrupts that safety.

[consortofalderaan]

I've noticed that about the Bureau's attempt as well.

Their presence there really disrupts the trust the facilitators of the meetings should be fostering.

As for a place that feels comfortable, I can't lie, that will be difficult to find. Renting a community center for a night is cheap, but not very inviting. Renting our own space that is more comfortable would be expensive.

I have ideas, though I'm not sure many would agree with them.

But overall, the comfort and safety of the people who want to participate is my priority.

[traceofeffort]

Mm, right. And it's good that we have someone that knows what he's doing leading the operation. I'd probably just run it like a big mixer because I don't know any better. So I'm looking forward to something I can get more use out of.

Oh, before I forget - let me know if you want to pool money for refreshments, I'll pitch in for that. If I have to drink dollar-store powdered lemonade again I'm going to take the whole bucket and dump it in the Hudson. I know it's not a HELPFUL complaint, but it's been stuck in my head for a while.

[not_as_i_do]

Well, you know where I stand on the subject.

[seawalled]

That'd be lovely, I think. And I'd be willing to help if you needed. I've done community outreach and organized a few things back home over the pond.

[consortofalderaan]

Oh really? I would love your help. That kind of experience is invaluable.

What did you do before, back home?

[smilingarmor]

Not my home, but my business; I happen to run a small theater on the West Side, and there's a lounge downstairs that's generally not in use Monday-Thursday. It's out of the way of any productions that might be rehearsing, and quite a comfortable place, even without music and cocktails.

[seawalled]

Oh it was general office work, the job. Nothing massive, standard typing and phones and emails ... But I helped out at soup kitchens, organized food drives, stuff like that. A lot of collecting volunteer names and putting schedules together. People said I had kind of a knack for it.

[she thinks of the few memories she's seen of her other life so far, and hums a little in thought]

Wonder if it wasn't bits of that other life peekin' through.

[consortofalderaan]

I have your support.

Do I have your valuable volunteering commitment?

[consortofalderaan]

Not powdered lemonade - noted.

[consortofalderaan]

That would be good for Monday through Thursday.

Is there a process for renting it out?

[consortofalderaan]

I think those skills would transfer well to what we are trying to do here.

I do wonder if any part of my life now is a reflection of the life I had before. But I'm not married to a queen of a planet, I'm not involved in politics, I've never been to space. A fun thought experiment, though.

[not_as_i_do]

Depends on the sort of things you'd like me to help with, I suppose. We both still have our own practices to attend to, after all.

[seawalled]

Well, then, once you get things to a point where you need 'em, I'm all yours.

The queen of a planet! Whooh, I really do think I got one of the more boring lives, compared to some of you lot. Magic, space, angels, demons ... it's all very Hollywood, isn't it?

[consortofalderaan]

More a listening ear to hear about a larger plan.

[consortofalderaan]

Space is certain an industrial revolution idea. But magic, angels, and demons have been part of literature for quite some time.

And there's nothing wrong with a life not so exciting.

[neverjedi]

I think a lot, maybe even most, of it's psychological. It isn't that it's not... fancy or is shabby. It's feels like it's cold and a little ominous. Does that make sense?

I think a community center could work as, at least, an interm step. Or a conference room. Just something with upholstered furniture and something on the walls....

[not_as_i_do]

That, you most certainly have. Over drinks or coffee? Dinner, even? I can get us some pretty good reservations at places with private tables. Perks of having a couple of clients in high places.

[seawalled]

[his subtle correction of her comment to more classical origins makes Ellie think that her possible future boss is certainly an intellectual. not quite into the realm of posh, but someone who thinks education matters. she files that away for interview purposes so she'll remember to be a bit more formal]

Awh, no, never said there was. I just ... it makes me feel a bit apart, sometimes, you know? Apart from the apart, boy, maybe I should be payin' you before I say stuff like that.

[smilingarmor]

Well you would need the landlord's permission for one thing, but since that landlord is yours truly, that's already taken care of. Though I would of course put it in writing before everything is settled, just to prevent any trouble.

And I can put you in touch with the fellow who actually operates it as well. Given that he'd be making money without actually having to open the restaurant and bar on those days, I have a feeling he'll be agreeable, so long as everyone behaves themselves at meetings.

[consortofalderaan]

Dinner. That should provide us enough time to discuss all that we need to. I am free any evening this week.

[OOC: action spam?]

[consortofalderaan]

Sounds like something that would be good to bring up in a group session.

[consortofalderaan]

Civility and respect from all participants would be required, of course.

Can you explain the lounge a bit more? Can we move tables and chairs to suit our needs?

[smilingarmor]

So long as we put them back the way we found them after the meeting most of the furniture aside from the barstools can be moved around if we like. Though there are a few heavier couches along the walls that would likely be more trouble to move than they're worth.

It takes up roughly 2/3 of the theater's basement, and has enough seats to accommodate about 100 people as a restaurant. Rearranged, it might be a bit less, but it should still be quite enough for our needs.

There's even a small stage with a microphone that could serve well if anyone needed to address the whole group.