TCP: RECOVERY SESSION

[Pichi2214]

I would go with they/them for pronouns since we're a collective after all, seems just like the most inclusive ones for all of us
As a name my mind only gives me something like Fuzzy or Fuzzball, but I don't know if anyone else would agree to that name
Aaand for a communication device, the sleeping cap that was suggested a few posts ago seems like a really fitting and cute idea for us!!

[RedGreenBlue]

Why not She when referring to the body, but They when referring to the whole?
Can't speak on behalf of the name or domains other than saying i'll stick with them since they were my original suggestions.
And yeah, the sleeping cap. It's cute! And might have a synergy bonus?

[King-Clod]

Domains or Community and Paranoia.
Name? Schmatte.
Hat? Yes.
Pronouns? How about genderfluid? We alternate based on who's talking, maybe? Something like that.

[1011686]

I like Sombrous, but I feel like it's better with another syllable maybe. Somberous.
As for domains, hm. I kinda want to go for something more concrete, like endurance and silence.

[Pichi2214]

Since I forgot to add domains to my post I'll post again:
For domains I really like the concept of sleep/rest for us or just generally something calm/comforting/relaxing, based on the patchwork and quilt theme
If not that then I'd go for connections/bonds/community, since we started out with a clutter type and forming a close to connection to them and our future TCPs and our TCPs with each other seems to be like a big goal for all of us

For the second domain I kinda also feel like anxiety/paranoia/fear would be fitting, also based on our distressed spider friend, so I'm seconding King-Clod in that regard

Also seconding King-Clod with genderfluid! I feel like they/them as our general pronoun would work, but other pronouns can be used based on the specific person talking

[AceOfNothing]

I like the idea of Comfort and Paranoia for domains, the almost contradicting themes fit well.
Pronouns I don't mind Genderfluid, but They/Them makes the most sense I think

[cosmo]

You are SOMBROUS, a collective god of PARANOIA and COMMUNITY. Your motifs are EYES and PATCHWORK. You use any pronouns, but default to they/them under most circumstances.

---

GIVE: Sleeping cap

Alto picks up the sleeping cap and, with some prompting from you, puts it on. Immediately, her eyespots glaze over with a strange blue sheen and you both become aware of each other in a sort of "meeting room" the cap created.

Alto stifles a click of fear as she sees you looming over her.

ALTO: You're... bigger. Than I thought. You'd be.

She sounds a little intimidated but continues on.

ALTO: So what do you want? You- you said you wanted to make a quilt... together... with me. I liked that idea but...

Alto clenches her fists.

ALTO: You keep breaking your promises! I don't understand why you are so kind one minute and so thoughtless the next! Did you even mean what you said or were you just saying what you thought I wanted to hear?

[King-Clod]

"I'm very sorry about that, we're still getting the hang of things ourselves."
"We're a collective, which means I'm one voice of many in this... host body."
"Our temperament might differ depending on who gets to do what, but..."
"I promise you we want the best for you and love you dearly. Some of us are a bit bad at showing it, though."
"Once we get used to each other and this situation, though, we should be more consistently kind."

[nonexistentPumpkin]

>"Patience, patience. We can only do so much moment to moment, and due to our nature we have a tendency of getting ahead of or behind ourselves. We're many people working together, each eye you see on us is a different person. It takes but one eye to input a CREATE command, and while the rest of us could theoretically prevent said eye from doing so, we believe we have more important things to do than argue with ourselves and leave you in silence. Eventually our voices will reach a harmony and you won't need to worry about us being inconsistent in our behavior, but this will take time."

>"And yes, we meant what we said, although..."

>TEACH: Metaphor

>"...We were referring to making you a family, which is something that will also take time. We could also make an actual quilt with you if you so desire, quilts are indeed nice."

>"Perhaps we've been too hasty in our attempts to welcome you to existence and reassure you this is only the beginning, that things will improve and change and decline and improve again and-"

>"...We're doing it again aren't we. We should give you some time to process all this, and let you get back to us at your own pace. We'll add to this space station a place for you to rest and perhaps a place to blow off some steam, and then once you feel like talking again you can put on the cap. Until then, we'll (hopefully) be quiet."

[RedGreenBlue]

"Yes, that's to be expected..."

"Think of us not as one person but as a whole league of people inside one body. Our thoughts, decisions, and emotions are all separate from one another, and as a result we have difficulty agreeing on and carrying out actions."

"Some of us have done this before, which is why we know all of this; for most collectives, however, just like you this would be our first time taking a visit to reality, as it may."

"Even though we are all separate beings in one body, there is one thing we can all agree on: we love you, and want to see you happy."

[Pichi2214]

Let us carefully lay down on the floor so that we're more on the same size as Alto and not towering above her (and maybe if she wants, even though I doubt she will trust us enough for this yet, she could hug us easier this way)

Also I just pretty much second everything said before, aka us being a collective and that therefore our mind can be very jumpy and chaotic, but that we want to try our best and work things out and that we are very fond of Alto and want to be there for her and make her happy as best as we can, even if we might struggle with this at times.

[seppawku]

getting down on her level is a great idea. besides filling her in on being a lot of people, i think it's important to. idk. make sure she knows that we're explaining what's up BUT that doesn't mean we don't still have a responsibility to be good to her and keep our promises. cos i don't want this to feel like an excuse

[Pichi2214]

oh yea! also seconding that we should apologize for being as chaotic as we are
And we should tell her our name!

[cosmo]

You carefully lower yourself to the floor, minimizing the height difference between you and Alto. Alto cowers as you move closer, but once she sees that you have not come to exact vengeance upon her for her outburst, she seems to relax.

SOMBROUS: We're very sorry about that, but please have some patience. We're still getting the hang of things ourselves. We're a collective of many people working together so our temperament differs depending on who's doing what. Once we get used to each other and the situation, though, our behavior should be more consistent. 

SOMBROUS: And yes, I did mean what I said before, though...

TEACH: Metaphor

SOMBROUS: I was referring to making you a family, which will take some time. We could also make you an actual quilt though, if you'd like.

ALTO: I understood what you meant the first time. But this is exactly what I'm talking about! You just keep putting things inside my head that I don't want or need without warning or permission! How can we be a family if you can't even listen to me?

SOMBROUS: I'm so sorry, Alto. I meant to provide and explanation but I don't want to seem like I'm trying to excuse our behavior.

SOMBROUS: I can promise you, we all want the best for you and love you dearly. We want to be there for you and make you happy, as best we can. Maybe we've been too hasty in our attempts to welcome and reassure you and-

SOMBROUS: We're doing it again, aren't we? We should give you some time to process and you can get back to us when you're ready. We can make somewhere for you to rest and-

Alto cuts you off.

ALTO: No!!! You say you care about me but you won't listen to me! I don't want any of the things you make and I don't need you to decide for me what I need! I just... I just need a friend. Why do you think I keep talking to you, you big jerk? I- I don't want to be alone.

[Orange Juice Goose]

Say something to the affect of "I'm listening"
Just sit there and wait. No commands. No more talking. Let Alto have the first moment in their life to actually ya know, think and get their bearings without something happening.
Though because we have so many eyes, don't over-focus them on Alto if they start showing signs of anxiousness. Just let them wander a bit to the side, maybe one or two look at one of the objects of interest in the room if it gives Alto more space to think.

[King-Clod]

Seconding OJG's suggestion.

[Pichi2214]

"I'm sorry, we won't talk us out of this any further, yes we did mess up and we are sorry about this. We won't do anything else now though, I promise that... so if you want to talk... and I really mean just talk with us, you can do that and we will listen to your words. We really do want to be your friend." also maybe add a friendly smile to that

This would be my suggestion as to what we could say, seconding that we shouldn't do or say much more, but just saying "we'll listen" seems kinda... rude? distant? like we're pouting? or something like that, so I want to phrase this all a bit kinder. And actually acknowledge that we messed up without trying to justify our actions.


I want to give her time to talk, think and respond, but also depending on how Alto responds if it is something like her agreeing to try being friends with us (or just generally... if she doesn't hate us now, I suppose) I think the first thing we should do is properly introduce ourselves to her, since I believe we didn't even tell her our name yet and like... as friends we should know each others names, right?

[RedGreenBlue]

"Well, what would you like to talk about, then?"

[victorianflorist]

"We're right here, and someday we can make someone just like you, once the limit raises of course. For now it's just us."

[seppawku]

promise her we won't leave, then! she has our full attention, and as soon as possible we'll make another tcp - we do need to be a good friend too, though. supporting only one-two sentence answers, honestly.. maybe ask her how she's feeling?