001: Lemon Balm

[fun_thementalist]

[ If Gen can, he will try to specifically ping skyglider, spikeyheaded, retrieves, and mortal_son. He hasn't used the journal before, though, and I'm not sure it's a mechanic that's even impossible. This post is for everyone to reply to, but if you want to say his ping was successful - it's up to you if you want to ignore it! mortal_son obviously will. ]




Hi there, lovely strangers -

are you all doing all right?



For the rest of you, if you have something to get off your chest - sometimes getting it all out is far better than bottling it up. Perhaps especially under *these* conditions ...

Comments

Sender: Cloud Strife

[spikyheaded]

Under what conditions exactly?

[fun_thementalist]

Well, without putting too fine a point on it … the conditions where our dreams seem to become really very real.

I’m sure we all have things we’ve seen - or impossible things we fear! - that we don’t want suddenly appearing and shouting boo.

[spikyheaded]

That's all it was though. A dream. No need to make a big deal out of it.

[fun_thementalist]

A big deal? No, that's not what this is. Unfortunately nightmares can be ... pretty common.

Dreams are real here, however. That makes what's common and personal - dangerous and public. Which certainly isn't *fair*.

But if I had money for every time I complained life isn't fair ... I'd be richer, but still need to handle it anyway.

[spikyheaded]

[He's still not sure what to make of that nightmare. Parts of it were memories sure, but it started deviating midway. Things that he'd never encountered or seen. But it wasn't as if he was going to talk about it to someone he'd only just met. And through the journals too.]

I'm handling it fine. Even if others saw it, it's still my business to deal with.

Sender: Seto Kaiba

[blue_eyed_obsession]

What, are you a therapist or something? FYI, I don't need one and most the people here are lost causes.

[fun_thementalist]

No, I am - perhaps fortunately or unfortunately - not a therapist. No matter how well versed in the mental arts I had been.

So I’m *entirely* unqualified to say if anyone here needs therapy … however, I’ve found just venting to someone who’s not ‘emotionally invested’ can be quite cathartic!

Certainly we’ve all lied to a friend to keep them from worrying. Wouldn’t it be nice to avoid that?

[blue_eyed_obsession]

You know the easiest way to avoid that scenario?

[Wait for it]

Don't have any friends.

[fun_thementalist]

As much as I can sympathize with your reasoning behind that very creative life-hack, I must unfortunately inform you that it has drawbacks that outweigh the benefits, my dear.

Though you don't need to take my word for it - we aren't friends yet, after all, are we? ^_~

[blue_eyed_obsession]

[That is some grade-A sarcasm right there. Even Kaiba can't help deriving some amusement from it.]

I haven't noticed any. [Drawbacks, that is.] .. and you can keep anything resembling a term of endearment to yourself, even if it is insincere.

We sure aren't.

Sender: Martel Yggdrasill

[untwisted]

You're quite right! And all you need for that is someone to talk to.

[fun_thementalist]

Exactly my point! Even if you don’t know each other well - sometimes that can be *more* helpful. There’s no need to be concerned you’re worrying a friend, hm?

[untwisted]

Exactly! And if you want advice, they may offer a new perspective. Or we can just forget it if you just need to get something off your chest.

[fun_thementalist]

It never hurts to gain a new point of view, a different way of looking at things. If a lot of your friends are similar to you - you might actually lack that kind of outside perspective.

You're certainly very wise, my friend!

[untwisted]

That's a good point. You and your friends may have gone through a lot of the same things together.

Aw, thank you. But I've just learned a thing or two over the years, that's all.

sender: kor meteor

[spirialink]

i agree! everyone should have someone in their lives who's wiling to listen and understand them

[fun_thementalist]

it's true - though, not everyone is so lucky, and I recognize that.

plus ... even I'm guilty of sometimes just wanting an ear to listen, which isn't ... 'invested', ykwim? someone who won't worry about what I'll say.

[spirialink]

mmmm i get that! my friends say i'm meddlesome because i stick my nose into other people's business too much

[fun_thementalist]

there's definitely a fine line.

some people here - read the other replies? are far too combative to the idea of help at the outset. they've got to figure out I'm harmless. my concern can't hurt them, you know? no matter how defensive they are.

others - can be gently coaxed into the idea that I can listen.

different people require a different kind of touch. but I also know that I won't be able to help everyone. I just need to do the best I can.

[spirialink]

[Kor was familiar with the kind of people Gen spoke of. The kind of people who are hesitant to ever accept the help of others willingly, sometimes even balking at the idea of letting people into their hearts. They were people that Kor dealt with on the regular in his line of work.]

i know it can be scary to trust people sometimes, especially if you've been hurt before but

you should never be afraid of someone wanting to help you

sender: riku OH SHIT i forgot i was gonna respond to this.... if it's too late just lmk

[retrieves]

i'm okay.

[a lie, but y'know.

a pause.]

have we met?

[fun_thementalist]

no we haven't, I'm sorry for reaching out of the blue like this.

my name is Gen ... ... it's nice meeting you even with the, um, unfortunate recording and all

... I definitely wouldn't be all right after yk?

[retrieves]

it's okay. i just wasn't expecting it, is all. it's nice to meet you though, Gen.

[he doesn't respond for a long time, and Riku takes a deep breath on his end of things before releasing it slowly.]

it was just a dream. it's not like any of that could actually happen anymore anyway -- but thanks for the concern.

[fun_thementalist]

the pleasure's all mine ^_~

...

just because something can't happen, doesn't make it any less frightening! that's pretty much the majority of my nightmares, impossible things.

even though they *couldn't* happen - when I was getting those nightmares over and over again for a while ... well, it's difficult to talk about, isn't it?

[retrieves]

... yeah, kind of.

[this person really hit the nail on the head.]

sorry you have experience with things like that. no one should have to deal with it.