Therapy Session Take #1

[perfecttune]

WHO: Mari and you (OTA, characters are free to interact with others as well)
WHAT: Mari is hosting a therapy session! Come if you would like, or if you want to argue against it feel free to show up as well! This is more informal than it seems although she did invite some guest speakers.
WHERE: One of the large buildings that was most likely a common area for everyone, or just a super large bedroom.
WHEN: After First Crossing
WARNINGS Talk about death and violence, specific CWs will be in the text.

A message goes out on the server from Mari: Sorry for the delay everyone! I thought it best to wait a bit till after the meeting Kel thoughtfully put together for all of us! If you would like to come for the Therapy Session, please come to building X. If you would like to bring anyone or anything along please do! Special guest speakers/appearances include Makoto Naegi, Daniil Dankovsky, and Soo Won.

Mari put her tablet down and went back to straightening the chairs she was able to gather in a circle. Surely this would be welcoming? This way they could all see each other and seek comfort if needed... but just in case, she had set up private areas using curtains as a makeshift divider in case others felt the need for a one on one talk...

It still felt strange to her to not have refreshments so she had cups filled with water just in case, surely even if they didn't need to drink it still helped to make the session feel welcoming?

As people filtered in she would call out a greeting. "Welcome and thank you for coming! If you feel comfortable taking a seat please do so! There are also refreshments over there."

Comments

[urtitan]

[Talking in front of a group is easy for Frieda, used as she is to preaching to a crowd, but the hard part is how personal it is in this setting. Even now, only about half the group knows of her background, and the others mightn't feel even half as willing to be supportive if they did. But as always, Mari is a source of comfort, and she returns her hand squeeze.]

Thank you, Mari - also for organising this meeting.

[She really is a lot like Makoto, isn't she? That said, Frieda doubts everybody's willingness to use this meeting to the fullest and delve into what truly troubles them the most.]

[perfecttune]

I'm just glad it seems like some of us are coming. I think... in the long run this could be a good thing.

[Mari smiles and then her expression turns to one of embarrassment.]

Although I've never actually tried setting something like this up before. I wasn't sure how it would turn out...

[urtitan]

You haven't done this before? Then you should be proud of yourself for taking the initiative!

[She smiles brightly, really meaning what she's saying. Everyone who's taken action to do something for the group - Kel with the other meetings, Celehar with the communal altar back in the cavern, Need with the glowing garlands she handed out before the Crossing, and so on - has earned her respect for their care and consideration, and that goes double for Mari, who surely had to push herself out of her comfort zone for this.

When Frieda first saw her suggest the therapy meeting on the network, she didn't weigh in, unsure of how it'd be received and whether they'd be able to turn it into something beneficial, but now, she's glad that Mari went ahead with it. Even if no one manages to actually address what's weighing on their heart, there can't be any harm in a space existing for that very purpose.]

What gave you the idea, say?

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I'm sure someone else would have suggested it at some point if I hadn't...

[After all, everyone here was rather kind-hearted. In response to her friend's question however.]

It might sound a bit redundant... but it was to try to help Sunny...

[She glanced at the other girl to see her reaction. She would continue if she needed more explanation.]

[urtitan]

[Frieda's expression simultaneously softens and saddens, and she lowers her voice, casting a brief glance at Sunny to make sure he's out of earshot and otherwise occupied.]

...

It was hard on him, wasn't it? The Crossing.

[She struggles with herself for a moment. Mari can't remember her own toll memory anymore, but clearly, she was able to bear her father's anger despite the pain it caused her. Sunny wasn't - he broke down to the point of becoming completely unresponsive.

Of course, Frieda lacks the context of what the siblings' father was so furious at Sunny for, but be that as it may, Mari is only thinking of her brother again despite deserving comfort and healing too. She may be the older one, but Frieda is older than she is, and that, she reasons, gives her the right to pull her into a hug.]

You're so kind, Mari. I want you to take all the benefits you can from this meeting for yourself, too. Alright? And helping Sunny, or anyone else, is never redundant!

[perfecttune]

[Mari nodded, her expression soft. While she might not remember her own toll, she can clearly remember her brother's. Why there father had reacted that way to him was beyond her, but she wanted to try to help. After all, that was only one painful memory they had to give up so far. Who's to say that they didn't have more?]

It was. And even if he might not remember it anymore... I want to be able to help any way I can...

[She did smile as she gratefully accepted the hug, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. Once again, Mari was more concerned about the others.]

I'll certainly try my best to reap the benefits as well... only if you do so too. And thanks... other's might say I'm a tad overprotective... maybe even obsessed with helping Sunny... but I'm glad to know that other's agree with my line of thinking...

[urtitan]

I'm a big sister, too. Even if not all of the others understand how you feel, I always will.

[Another reassuring squeeze, and she lets go of her.]

And don't worry about me! I'll do my best, rest assured.

[She flexes her arm - where did she pick up that gesture? (It may or may not have been a Captain Spaceboy comic book.)]

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Thanks.

[Mari giggled at the familiar reference.]

Been reading Captain Spaceboy with Sunny huh?

[Belatedly Mari realized she had never asked Freida about her own siblings... she had been so focused on finding Sunny at the time.]

What about your siblings? How many do you have? And do you get along well with them?

[urtitan]

[She laughs and nods - and when Mari asks about her siblings, her whole face lights up.]

I have four siblings! Urklyn is just a year younger than me, and he grew over my head already! We've always been close; I can't even imagine my life without him.

[He was seriously concerned when she decided to inherit the Founding Titan, even attempted to convince her otherwise... and sure enough, his fears came true.]

Dirk is fourteen, and oh, he has a temper! I have no idea where he gets it from; our parents are both mild-mannered... though I suppose mother can get irate sometimes! He's still a good boy, though - he gets so intensely interested in things!

[It warms her heart that, despite his onsetting puberty, he'd still hold her hand and hug her without reservations.]

My sisters are twelve and ten - Abel and Florian. They're both such dear girls, but recently, Abel's been wanting to spend more time with Dirk, so Florian's been clinging to me and mother... she's still a child, but Abel's growing up. Of course, Dirk feels too grown-up to keep company with her, but when Urklyn has no time for him, he does!

[Do you regret asking yet, Mari? She could prattle on and on about her beloved siblings. (As for why her sisters have boys' names, that's a question for the author and/or translator.)]

[perfecttune]

[Mari's own smile brightened as she listened to Freida talk about her family. It was clear that the other girl loved them all just like she loved Sunny. And she would never get tired of others talking about those they love!]

It sound like you have a very lively family!

[She did tighten the hug in a reassuring way.]

I'm sorry that you were separated from them...

[She didn't want to be insensitive so that's the best way she could put it. For better or worse, she and Sunny had both ended up here and could see each other. Poor Freida didn't have that... so Mari would just have to try to make up for it the best she could. Maybe she could convince Sunny that they could all hang out and do something together?]

[urtitan]

[Frieda returns the hug in kind. For all that she's been feeling apprehensive about intruding too much on Mari and Sunny's family relationship with how she's been doting on them, she now has her agreement with Kel to give her justification!]

It's alright. After all, having one's loved ones here is a blessing and a curse, isn't it?

[Not only because it means their death, but because of the looming oblivion, the loss of even their last memories. Harbouring the same concerns as Mari, she's quick to add some uplifting words:]

You and Sunny have been making the best of it, though - and Kel, too!

[Mari and Kel have put these events together, and Sunny has been doing his utmost to contribute in his own quiet way! With how little they have left, all of that matters.]

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That's true... and please! Never hesitate to join us!

[Mari looked a little sheepish before continuing.]

I'm not sure if I've ever said... but it nice. Having another girl close to my age I can talk to... It's almost like having a sister.

[urtitan]

[Hearing those words means the world to Frieda, and she beams.]

That makes me so happy, Mari. You can rely on me with anything, I promise you that!

[Mari must be around the age Frieda was when she inherited the power of the titans and the memories of the world, and she really couldn't say whether they were more alike before or afterwards. Frieda was a child with big ambitions, wanting to overcome the curse her uncle and grandfather hadn't been able to and to lead her people outside the Walls... it was only after she realised the truth of the world that she became calmer and more withdrawn, focusing on the only thing she could do: Instill the values of people, love and compassion in her people.

Mari is just a normal person, without millennia of memories in her head, and yet she sometimes seems to have realised that same truth: That only goodness and kindness make life beautiful and worthwhile in a world full of cruelty. Of course, they've both left their worlds behind now, but aren't those virtues still needed even here in the afterlife? Mari's gentle presence shines like a star in their small community.]