Build a Bear ☼ | Group RP

In this RP thread, the Build a Bear Writing Group (all authors/characters) will participate by using bigger prompts/plots until we can no longer continue and/or the scene comes to a conclusion.

The writing support group is to help keep the writing juices flowing, and to free write in a way to help develop your characters. Try to keep it easy going, if you are stuck it is encouraged to share and help one another (in the main thread).

Important: If you start feel left out, or don't know when to bring your character in, please talk to the group in the main thread, and we'll discuss a way for your character to come in. This is what a writing group is for, to support one another!

ROLE-PLAYING RULES:
- Third Person POV
- Authors are allowed (2) characters in one plot.
- Do not control a character that isn't yours, unless approved by the author.
- R-Rating w/ no smut.
- Try to leave an open ending in your post // not a must, but encouraged.
- Tag the next person after you in your post, so they'll get a reminder that they're up next.
- If one member does not reply within 2 days, continue on with your turn.-

Posting Order:
1. She Said Poptarts
2. Audrey T
3. Bangarang!
4. potnia theron
5. floral and fading.
6. Hina;
7. aliens.
8. yennefer

Gary Stu & Jane Doe (you can control these characters like they're your own)

Jane looked at her watch and cursed as she rushed to pick up her file holder before leaving her office, there was 5 minutes before the first group session was expected to start. She ran through the list of things she had accomplished earlier in the day, she dropped off a list of foods in the kitchen, had set up comfortable chairs and tables in the main room, printed off a big map of the office building to stand just at the main entrance.

She and Gary, her co-owner, hired kitchen staff two weeks prior and had given them a list of snacks, and a lunch menu to make for the day, she hoped that the snacks were now set up on the tables in the main room. She wanted to create an environment where the individuals felt at home where they can help themselves to whatever refreshment was available.

When she reached Gary's office, she knocked before barging in, "Session starts now!" she exclaimed and trotted off to the main room to greet everyone.

Gary froze mid-sip of his coffee when Jane rushed in. He glanced around his room until his eyes landed on the clock and took a big gulp of his luke-warm coffee, "Oh sweet crackers!" he sputtered.

His glasses slid down his nose as he rushed up and grabbed his favorite pen, and whatever else was needed. He and Jane agreed to not write down everything like they were to record everything, this was a support group where they listen to one another and come to terms with whatever problem they had. If he was being honest, he was a little nervous to meet "supernatural creatures", afraid that he'd offend them with his ignorance.

That was not the image he wished to share with them of his character. He absentmindedly pushed his glasses up as he rushed out his office to catch up to his partner.

---

---

Gabriella Willow - Werewolf/Shifter

Gabby wrung her hands together, staring at the building's white door. Now that she was standing outside, she started to think that this was a bad idea. A community support group is not gonna help the fact that she's being chased by a group of bloodsuckers. She felt her stomach grumble and sighed, the paper she read did say that there'd be free food. Also it wouldn't hurt to take any leftovers with her when this thing ends.

"You have nothing to be nervous about," Gabriella told herself. Deep down, she knew that a new set of ears would help lift the weight off her shoulders. She couldn't exactly lay her woes on her pack, especially not after what they went through.

With her shoulders back and head high, she marched up the small set of stairs. She was an alpha now, and although she wasn't ready to be one, the role was thrust upon her. And that means that someone somewhere believes that she is meant to be one.

Besides, you never know Gabby, the group might sit in a circle, surrounded by a fireplace with cup of tea, and singing 'Kumbaya', she shook her head and snorted.

She didn't feel like she should knock or anything... it was a public thing, right? She made a face as she entered the building, peeking inside. The foyer was open and clean, and the further she walked in the more comfortable she felt. After looking at the map, she padded away to the washroom to 'freshen up' without making eye contact with anyone in the room.

Harlow Shaw - human in her mid/late 20s

Harlow was early. She usually was. The room she sat in was empty, just a circle of comfy chairs and tables set up with snacks and drinks. She thought, for a moment, to fill one of the little plastic cups with cranberry juice or grab a couple of cookies, but decided against it.

She was tucking her over-sized purse on the floor next to her chair when she heard the pattering of feet. Looking up, she watched as a young woman entered the room.

"Uh...hi?" Harlow rose to introduce herself, but the woman didn't slow down to talk. She seemed determined to get somewhere else. With an embarrassed little shrug, she sat back down and pulled her phone out of her pocket instead.

What are you even doing here?

Harlow waited for the text message to ping back to her before responding.

You're here to meet people in your community.

She hit send and watched as the message doubled.

I changed my mind. Can I leave early?

That one she deleted. The answer was, of course, No. She'd committed to this and she was going to stick to it. Even if that meant sitting in a room alone, texting herself like a loser.

She looked around the room again, hoping someone else would show up soon.

Jaylah - Dragon/Human Hybrid - early 20's

Jaylah grasped the piece of paper in her hand, her eyes scanning once more over the address, the hybrid felt like she had been walking for hours. Looking up she finally saw the building she was meant to be heading to. A relieved sigh fell from her lips as she walked toward the door. However before she pushed it open she was beginning to have doubts. Should she really be doing this? Will this group really help her? Should she be telling others of The Prophecy and what the Seer had seen in her future.

As she stood there she also wondered what the people in this building would do to her, she wasn't a human, well she was but that was only half of her the other half was a dragon. Due to her being half and half she had inherited some dragon traits form her father such as fangs that peaked over her bottom lip, hard, defined features and narrow eyes that were different colours, one was brown like her mother and her other was silver showcasing the dragon blood that flowed through her. She must admit she was relieved that she didn't inherit the random clusters of scales that decorated her fathers face. Well she hadn't yet, there was still time as she hadn't fully discovered her abilities or powers yet. The beauty of being a hybrid.

Taking a deep breath and throwing all caution to the wind she opened the door and walked inside where she was greeted by a man and a woman racing around looking for things.

"Uhm... Hello?" she greeted. The woman looked up from what she was doing a smile spreading across her face.

"Hello dear, are you here for the support group?" Jaylah nodded her head, "Ahh right, right up those stairs first door to your right, I think there is already a woman in there waiting," with that the woman went back to racing around Jaylah didn't stay to watch instead she moved up the flight of stairs and entered the first door on the right. Surprised that the woman down stairs hadn't even flinched at her appearance.

Entering the room she was hesitant but told herself she had to be strong and do this, it may help her. She saw the a woman sitting on on of the seats phone in her hand, the brunette took a seat.

"Hello," she greeted, "I'm Jaylah."

---

Lenora 'Lenny' Macintosh - Human - 23 years old

Lenora was running.

Thank god I went with my converse's she thought to herself as she bobbed and weaved through people. The young woman had gone to her car this morning to find that it wouldn't start, she had sat in it for several minutes cursing it's wretched name hitting it and trying so hard not to burst into tears at the uselessness of it. Slamming the door she had tried to hail a taxi but to no avail, it all seemed they were going in one direction and had no desire to stop, and the bus was all too far away so she knew what she had to do.

Lenny always thought herself as some what in shape but she was sadly mistaken, she hadn't been running all that long and already her legs were burning and her breath was coming hard and fast.

"Lay off the food Lenny," she scolded herself as she continued to avoid as many people as she could. "Excuse me! Coming through!" she yelled out which thankfully made most people move out of her way but out of the corner of her eyes she noticed several people giving her the stink eye. She didn't have time to concentrate that, she had to make the thirty minute walk to where she needed to be in twenty so she was running as fast as she could. She didn't even bother to wait for street lights, which was a dumb move on her behalf but thankfully she hadn't been hit.

Finally she came to doors of the building, looking at her watch she had made it in perfect time, a record for her, however now she had an overwhelming desire to throw up and her legs felt like jelly. Doubled over she tried to catch her breath, once the nausea passed she straightened up and walked through the door. There was nobody in the foyer. there was a note however on one of the desks.

Support Group

With an arrow pointing toward the staircase, walking up she followed until she came to a door that had the same note on it, walking in she plastered a smile across her face.

"Hello," she greeted hoping like hell she didn't look like a nut job that had just clambered in off the street. There was a man and woman taking between one and other, another woman on her phone and one other female who most certainly wasn't human sitting quietly. "I'll be right back," she said not sure if anyone cared before walking toward the bathroom to straighten herself out.

DAMIAN ALVAREZ ☼ HUMAN

Damian’s been sitting on the stairs outside the building for thirty minutes, trying to find some excuse to get him out of this that his Mom might buy. It’s not even that she’s forcing him to be here; he just doesn’t want to deal with that self-inflicted guilt and paranoia that his Mom might be disappointed in him for bailing.

The thing is: Damian doesn’t feel like his problems are worth going to any kind of “support” for, community or otherwise.

He’s not quite depressed, he’s just not happy either. He’s not sure there’s any other way to feel about being stuck in a fish bowl, but he doesn’t feel like he needs help even of the talking variety. Not because he’s above it, but because he knows his problems are so small that they’re practically nothing in comparison to other people’s. He’s pretty sure that if he goes in there, he’s just going to end up with an overwhelming amount of shame for being so self-absorbed that he feels like he even has problems.

No matter what, he knows that he’s going to feel guilty for either choice so it doesn’t even matter which way he goes. But in the end, he can handle his own internalized angst better than he can handle the self-imposed penitence of telling his Mom that he actually went and got coffee instead of attending the community support group.

So after another minute and watching a frazzled woman walk into the building after catching her breath, Damian stands up with a deep breath and begrudgingly walks to the front door. Dios, ten piedad. He’ll just stay out of people’s way and vague his way through so everyone doesn’t have to wonder why he’s even here if his biggest dilemma is really that he doesn’t like where he lives. Which, Damian will admit, is essentially the headache if he thinks about the root of it.

He hopes, at the very least, that the damn coffee is decent as he sits down in a chair away from the people already there.

Damian isn’t much into the habit of making assumptions so his eyes flit from one person to another on the other side of the room without a second thought until his attention ends up on the snack table. He considers it for just one moment so he has something to do with his hands, but ends up deciding that he doesn’t want to be the first one up there because it would draw unwanted attention. So he opts to read the motivational posters on the wall in English and then translate them to Spanish for the hell of it until the actual group starts.

Anona Langford | Werewolf

Anona's anxiety was triggered over the sound of her growling stomach. She was hungry, and the snacks that lay on the table in the back of the room were more than appealing, but, anxiety be damned, she didn't want to be the first one up. She looked around at the others, who were just as much in their own little worlds as she was, and decided that this support group was probably the stupidest idea she'd had in a while.

Thoughts ran through her head and she instantly dug her hands further into the pockets of the denim jacket she always sought comfort from. The motivational posters - for the supernatural and human alike - were annoyingly positive and a little too fake for her liking.

Is this everyone? She frowned as she watched the group leaders chat eagerly among themselves, clearly discussing everyone in the room. This can't be everyone.

Ellie Fields - Human
Ellie took in a deep breath, watching from her seat in the room. She had been sent to this community center, to this support group, to help her deal with her encounter with a ghost. Or whatever the hell it was. People had come and gone, passing through the lobby, not paying her a second glance, but she was alright with that. She was used to dealing with her problems on her own, at least when Noah wasn't on her mind. Ellie immediately looked up at seeing a stream of people going into the room she was supposed to going in, the room where the support group would meet.

Inhaling deeply, Ellie followed the others into the room and was a bit stunned at how many people were part of the support group. Mentally shrugging it off, she walked over to the closest chair, slipping out of her jacket and hanging it on the back of her chair as she sat down. The metal chair felt cool through her shirt and she revelled in it as she closed her eyes. Even though there were others in the room. it was oddly quiet. Maybe it was because no one knew what to do or how to start the meeting.

ORION TURNER - WARLOCK

Orion stood at the front of the building, a lit cigarette dangling from his lips. He always smoked when he was anxious, and getting out of his apartment had been quite the chore for him. His roommate had jokingly told him to go to the support group that had been advertised and, dammit, if Orion needed the help. He was done trying to pretend he was fine with his newfound powers and discovering he'd gotten the warlock side from his deceased father.

He took a drag and removed the cigarette from his mouth, flicking the ashes and closing his eyes. Getting there had been quite the step, but it was actually going inside that posed the biggest problem. He didn't want to go in, but knew he needed to. He didn't want to hear other people's sad, pathetic stories, though he knew it would help ground him even a little. There were so many things Orion didn't want to do, but knew he needed to go through with them for his own sake.

With a deep breath, Orion flicked the butt of his cigarette into the road and stepped into the building, following the staircase to a spacious room where people sat in various seating. The first thing he noticed was just how spaced out everyone was, as if each of them had some sort of contagious disease. Oh boy, he thought to himself, inching into the room.

He needed to find some place to sit, any place. Standing for too long meant gaining looks, but sitting also meant gaining looks. Orion didn't want to talk to anyone, not when he'd just arrived, but wasn't that the point of a support group? God, he hated how conflicted he was.

Exhaling through his nose, he decided to pinpoint another that definitely didn't want to be there, choosing to sit by a boy looking at the motivational posters and sitting away from everyone else. Smart move. He could feel his knees shaking slightly as he stepped over to him and tentatively took a seat, ready for the boy to scoff and move; despite the fact that it wouldn't hurt Orion even if he did.

ANDRASTE MITHROLITHE // TIEFLING

Andraste Mithrolithe was, she assumed, late.

It was the morning after she’d pulled her ship up to the docks, the sails of crimson billowing in the wind before they were reigned in and the flag was pulled down from the mast – despite everything, she was trying not to come across as hostile or menacing this time. That night she had knocked tankards with her crew, knocked heads with others at the bar and come out victorious in one, or perhaps two, fist fights.

So naturally, she felt awful.

As she stood in front of what she thought was the blandest building she had ever seen, she tightened the bandages wrapped around her hands and checked that she had everything dear to her. Even whilst battling a hangover and sore fists, she was never one to be careless or forgetful – and never one to ignore orders from her crewmates, even if she was the captain. Their insistence that she come here and talk in some… support group was enough to push her to the doors of the building and away from anywhere else where she could drink, steal or haggle her way to good fortune.

Scarlet silk rope? Check. It was tied haphazardly around her waist where the belt of her trousers rested and it served no purpose other than familiarity.

Hipflask filled with rum? Check. Even her crewmates couldn’t convince her that smuggling alcohol into a support group was a bad idea, Andraste was only convinced it would only serve her as a help and not a hindrance. Anywhere she had to talk about feelings, thoughts, goals only warranted alcohol more, not deterred it.

Lucky charm? Check. A shell with a pearlescent outer coating and a golden inner that hung by a thin chain from her scarlet rope. One of a kind. Andraste was convinced it was the only thing that stopped her ship from sinking – a good luck charm from the sea itself.

With a sigh, she pushed open the front doors to the building. She only looked at the map situated at the doors briefly, but her sense of direction and her skills with navigation hadn’t failed her so far. Soon enough, she entered the room her silvery eyes glancing over the entire room – the snack table, the positivity posters and, most importantly, the other people. As Andraste had guessed, not many looked like her, save for the one who had few draconic features. Many were human, or humanoid, a mix of men and women all looking for support.

They probably didn’t expect someone like Andraste to walk in, so she walked over to the snack table, grabbed two cookies before she sat down close to two rather anti-social guys and one girl locked to her… device.

Perfect. She wasn’t the type of forced politeness anyway.

Gabriella Willow - Werewolf/Shifter

Gabriella locked the washroom door behind her and when she turned to face the mirror she cringed. Boy, do I look rough, she thought and tried to comb her fingers through her hair. Although she hasn't had a proper shower in what seemed like years, she was thankful that her hair wasn't completely matted in dirt. She had washed her face some in the lake, and other than that she was decent enough. She huffed when her finger snagged in a hair knot, she decided to just wet her hair to make it easier to braid.

She hoped that her family was doing alright with the La Push wolves, there was only one person who knew where she was, and that was her second. Normally she wouldn't have left them all alone, but they've been wolves longer than the other pack, and there hasn't been any trouble with them. The only thing they asked of them was a place to stay and rest. Food they can get, hygienic wise ... well they could find a lake. She and her pack had agreed that they didn't want to ask anymore from La Push pack, especially knowing about the trouble they'll eventually bring.

Gabby let out a heavy sigh, thinking about the trouble she didn't want to cause. She tossed her braid behind her, and looked up. It was when she didn't cringe at her appearance, that she opened the door ready to face the world, or rather... the room full of other beings. There weren't many people when she first entered the room but she did take a good while in the washroom, maybe others decided to finally join the party.

She turned a corner and literally bumped into another person, she apologized with a quick smile before continuing on her way.

---

Jane called for attention, and smiled when eyes landed on her. She nodded before introducing herself and Gary, who smiled with a wave.

"Now, I hope everyone is feeling good, and maybe... ready to get this over with?" she joked.

There was an awkward cough that made Jane feel like a cheese-ball but didn't cower away. "OK, well, maybe we should start introducing ourselves then." She looked around the room and her eyes landed on a female seated in one of the chairs provided.

"Let's start with you...?"

Harlow Shaw - human in her mid/late 20s

"Oh! Me?" Startled, Harlow did a quick glance around the room, seeing all faces turned to her. "Um...okay. Hi. I'm Harlow. I live...in the neighborhood. And I'm here because a lot seems to be changing around here. It's been happening pretty fast and wreaking a bit of havoc and I'm kind of freakin' out a little. I thought it might be good to meet some of my neighbors and gain a little perspective."

Harlow was one year into her claims adjuster job when the world seemed to have gone topsy-turvy. Suddenly she found herself living with vampires and werewolves and pixies and all other manner of what she previously thought were imaginary creatures (she wondered if that was considered an offensive term). It was taking some getting used to and her job had certainly become a lot more interesting.

"Also, I'm a human. I don't know if that's something I should say or...?" Harlow looked to Jane for some kind of guidance.

"Whatever you're comfortable with, Harlow."

"Right. So, yeah, I'm human. And that's it. Someone else can go now, please?"

Jaylah - Dragon/human hybrid - early 20's

Jaylah sat silently watching as the rest of the group began to filter in, she studied each and everyone of them her thoughts wandering as to what they were all here for, support of course, but for what. However the brunette's thoughts were cut short when the lady, who's name tag read Jane spoke up, the hybrid turned her attention to the female who began speaking.

Once she had finished she spoke up assuming it was her turn as she was seated beside her.

"Hello I'm Jaylah... I'm a human-dragon hybrid hence my appearance, I live in the neighbourhood and came here because my mother thought it could help me with what is going on in my life... Being that I have set a Prophecy in motion and a seer told me that I was going to be betrayed by someone I know... I don't really have anymore to say so I guess it is the next person's chance."

Jaylah's eyes darted around the room as she sat there, she couldn't help but pick at her fingernails, the first girl who had spoke had been human and then she instantly felt like disappearing, she didn't feel like she fitted in her, instead she sat in silence and waited for the next person to speak.

---

Lenora 'Lenny' Macintosh - 23 years old

Lenny had been walking around to enter the bathroom when she had bumped into someone, she had only just been able to apologise before the person disappeared back into the room where the rest of the guests were. Lenora entered the bathroom looking at herself in the mirror quickly straightening her windblown hair and splashing water on her face to try and calm the colour in her cheeks.

"You can do this, all you have to do is introduce yourself and tell them a little bit about yourself and the situation you're in. That's it," she told herself trying to psyche herself up about what she was about to do, she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket but chose to ignore it, instead she exited the bathroom and walked back out into the room taking a seat and waiting her turn to speak.

DAMIAN ALVAREZ ☼ HUMAN

It doesn’t particularly bother Damian when a boy sits beside him. He kind of wishes that he hadn’t because now Damian feels somewhat obligated to converse since that’s the whole point of this group-thing, but he’s not all that bothered by the boy’s overall presence. It probably helps that he doesn’t seem that interested in socializing either, though. Damian isn’t sure if that makes this better or just more awkward because he can practically feel the boy’s nervous energy rolling off of him in waves, and he’s never been the most empathetic person.

And it still doesn’t bother him when a woman with horns and a tail sits a chair away from him. The only thing that bothers him about her is that she has cookies and he wants coffee, but he still hasn’t worked up the motivation.

The only thing that’s truly starting to bother Damian is how out of place he feels. The guilt he anticipated feeling during the entire thing is starting to creep up on him as Jaylah talks and he looks around at everyone else. If he had more courage and fewer fucks to give, he’d get up and walk out before his turn came around. He doesn’t want to admit, out loud, to a room full of people with real problems that he’s actually just an ingrate. It’s no one’s fault that he’s like this. He just wants to go home and never come back now.

But then it happens. Damian’s slouching in his chair, arms crossed, trying to metaphorically disappear in hopes that they’ll just ignore him, when Jane’s attention shifts from Jaylah to him. He feels like he’s in fifth grade again and he’s really not impressed by the call-on-the-kid-very-clearly-trying-to-avoid-it technique. “And what about you?”

Damian sits up rigidly because now he knows everyone’s attention is on him. This is literally why he didn’t get himself a cup of coffee even though he desperately needed the caffeine to get through this. He’s too tired for this, he’s too embarrassed for this, and there’s a tingling and tight feeling of pure annoyance in his chest. He’s just not sure who it’s directed at right now because it’s not as if Jane magically knew he’s all angst and self-hatred. It comes out under his breath, very nearly inaudible except maybe to the boy beside him, “Por el amor de joder.” before he takes a deeper breath to speak up so the group can hear him.

“Uh… I’m Damian. I came because, long story short, I’m not happy with where I am in life and because my Mom told me I should. So here I am.” Damian starts to slide down in his chair again as he fades off. But there’s an odd sense of anticipation in the room still, set by the two that went before him, which makes Damian cringe when he says a little quieter, “And I’m human. Painfully and awkwardly human. Next.”

Ellie Fields
Ellie almost laughed at the boy saying he was awkwardly human. That one phrase was relatable. Noticing that she was next, the girl stood up, trying her best to ignore the all eyes gazing her. "My-My name is Elizabeth Fields, but my friends call me Eliza or Ellie, I prefer Ellie though." She said a bit nervously. Her hands went to the sides of her pants as she breathed in deeply before continuing. "I'm obviously human, with no powers whatsoever, but awhile back I witnessed a girl, one a friend of mine found, communing with what she said was a ghost. The girl claimed to be psychic and since I was skeptical about that, my friend signed me up to get me to at least acknowledge that anything Supernatural is real."

Her heart was beating fast in her chest as she finally finished. She glanced around at everyone before smiled faintly. "That's about all I can say, I guess. So... who's next?"

ORION TURNER - WARLOCK

Despite the nervousness coursing through his body, Orion couldn't help the soft snicker that escaped when he heard Damian's muttered words. He had the exact same sentiments about the group and potentially being called out. "De acuerdo," he muttered under his own breath, not knowing if Damian would actually be able to hear him. He then listened closely to the other speaking, figuring there was more to it, but understanding why he didn't want to give too much away. It seemed no one was, and Orion didn't want to be the one to break the little cycle, but he knew - of course - that he had a... habit of oversharing when nervous.

The fact that Damian was human nearly had Orion scooting away, but he kept himself rooted to his seat, even going so far as to plant his hands on either side of his chair to keep from doing so. Nowadays, he was never sure how humans would react to who he was, despite the fact that he hadn't even said anything. Orion still didn't want to face the potential of being judged in a damn support group. It wasn't what he was there for.

Orion grew so lost in his thoughts, he didn't hear the next person going until Jane called out to him, her eyes boring into him. Shit. His mouth suddenly felt dry, his palms sweaty. "Um." He stood up without thinking, knees practically knocking together at that point. "I'm Orion... Turner. I'm- I guess, uh, I'm a warlock. I just found out that stunning piece of news from my aunt who was close to my deceased father. Apparently," oh God, he was oversharing, but he couldn't stop himself. His mouth was a fountain and his words were the water, "my father was evil. Really evil. Now I have to be like him and I'm trying to come to terms with that, but I don't want to be like him and my family is trying to get me to be, and yeah, that's why I'm here. Could- could someone go next so I stop talking?"

He sat down roughly with his head buried in his hands. He desperately wanted to leave now, but couldn't find it within himself to look up to actually do so. It felt like all eyes in the room were staring at him, even though he knew that, in reality, they probably weren't actually. He just needed to remind himself that it was all in his mind and, oh God, he should've dragged his roommate along with him.

ANDRASTE MITHROLITHE // TIEFLING

The longer Andraste sat in her seat, the more she hated being at the support group. The longer she listened to everyone else's problems - apparently painfully human problems, whatever that meant - the most she wanted to stand up and leave. Perhaps she'd sneak some cookies on the way out, but the longer she looked at the door the more it seemed like a welcoming friend beckoning her closer. She tried her hardest not to eye anyone when they talked, because she knew how strange her eyes were to human - she had no iris or pupil after all, just a block of silver where the whites of the eyes should be. Again, she was doing as much as she could to not come across as hostile, or threatening, or scary, or anything alarming.

It was starting to get really hard, though. No matter how much she opened her mind, she found humans could be especially infuriating without even trying. It was a human talent.

And the people running the support group were the best at it. The woman with the name tag 'Jane' had now turned her attention to Andraste. Most of the others had spoken - the various humans, the human-dragon hybrid, the warlock. And now it was Andraste's turn, the six foot tall freak of nature. The pirate queen. Jane asked if Andraste cared to introduce herself and it took everything within the tiefling not to say that she didn't really care for anything, at the end of the day. This was something she would soon forget.

She'd probably finish her hipflask after all this.

"My name is Andraste Mithrolithe and I, as you can probably tell counting that you are not blind, am not human." Not human was probably the most understated way to put it. The horns on her head, the reptile like tail from the small of her back, her empty silver eyes and dark red hued skin all gave it away. "I'm a tiefling, if you want to put a name to it," she added, showing off the row of almost pointed teeth as she spoke. She could see the way some of the others looked at her, some with curiosity and others with a silent anxiety or fear. It was how many reacted when faced with the unknown.

Andraste took the unknown in her stride.

"Basically, I am a notorious pirate - and also a successful one. However, upon finding the one treasure I had sought for years, I ended up losing it because some bastard thought it would be wise to double-cross me. I'm hoping his corpse fed the fish well, but now I am still searching for the treasure I had lost before. Hopefully the same doesn't happen again."

She wasn't going to go into her issues, how she did almost everything for her mother and her deceased father. That the only reason she was truly looking for this treasure was not for selfish reasons or piracy but because it was all her father had sought to find before his death. So she had declared she would do it for him, no matter what it took.

At least her father wasn't evil, she though as she sat down, giving one glance to the warlock nearby in almost pity.

Gabriella Willow - Werewolf/Shifter

As the others introduced themselves, Gabby started to think that maybe her story would be too much for these strangers. She didn’t want looks of alarm, nor pity. And she was positive that once she and her pack had enough rest, and gained more strength, that they’ll get their revenge.

The bloody scenario in Gabriella’s head blanked out when she heard the tall, tailed Pirate speak. She’s seen her family change forms, and witnessed supernatural powers, but she has never seen a being such as her. Gabby, to say the least, was intrigued. It might’ve been because the—Tiefling?—could be the only one who wouldn’t react so strongly to her case.

Gabby looked around and waited to see if anyone had any comments, or eager to share about themselves. When no one piped up, she cleared her throat. As by instinct, she straightened her back and lifted her head higher.

“Hi, my name is Gabriella, Gabby if you will, I-um, I’m a wolf shifter?” She made a face, “Like a werewolf, but the shift is painless and at will, don’t need the moon to control it. Um…”

Nibbling on her bottom lip, Gabby quickly decided on what to say next. “My family, uh,” she cleared her throat, and put on a mask. “My family—my reserve was attacked and burned by vampires; there are only 7 of us alive. I’m here, because I had a role thrust upon me and I can’t burden my pack with any more shit. I have enough anger and vengeance whirling inside me to destroy a city; I don’t want to build on that.”

Gary’s grip on his pen loosened, his hand slightly numbing as blood rushed through his veins. He coughed, and nodded. “Yes, keeping all your troubles to yourself isn’t a good thing for the soul.” Gary hoped that he was coming across as understanding, he was trying to but he was just a human. He couldn’t possibly understand what it was like to deal with other supernatural beings, or magic.

The silence was cut by a ringtone, of a song that almost made Gabby facepalm.

Harlow Shaw

"Crap!" Harlow muttered, fishing her phone out of her of purse and checking the caller ID. "Excuse me for just one moment? I need to take this."

She quickly stood and walked towards the refreshment table, turning her back to the group and whispering in hushed tones.

Jane watched as Harlow retreated before turning back to the group. Wolves, pirates, dragons, warlocks...this was turning out to be an interesting assortment.

The call only last a short minute before Harlow was taking her seat again. "So sorry. It was work."

"Is everything all right?" Jane asked.

Harlow snorted, stuffing her phone back into her purse.

"I'm working on this insurance claim that's a little complicated," she turned to the group. "A couple of days ago a claim came in for a renter's insurance client. So I go over to apartment to check out the damage and make sure all the paperwork is in order, right? I walk into the living room and it's torn up. I mean, furniture destroyed, claw marks in the door and on the walls, real smashed up. So I ask the guy - the renter - what exactly happened. He said his roommate had, uh, 'wolfed out' unexpectedly because of some football game. So I said it was unlikely they'd be covered - because they're the ones who physically caused the damage, right? And he said, 'Shouldn't it be covered under 'acts of nature'?' And, honestly, I don't have a goddamn clue."

Harlow looked around the circle, eyes flitting briefly on the two wolves in the group, before landing on the woman (Jaylah, was it?) sitting next to her. "Over in the office, we've been trying to come to a decision all week, and we're not getting anywhere. But we can't just leave people in the dust, you know? I mean, they pay good money for renter's insurance, it's hardly fair that they can't use it, right?"

Jaylah - Dragon/Human Hybrid - mid 20's

Jaylah sat in silence as she listened to the others speak, she was startled by the other mystical beings that surrounded her, there was a pirate, a warlock, a were-wolf as well as the few humans that were also in the room, however she had nothing to say so she sat silently, not sure what else to say. That was when a woman entered the room, the one who had gone to the bathroom earlier

"It's your turn," she indicated smiling hoping that she didn't scare her or any of the others around the room.

---

Lenora 'Lenny' Macintosh - Human - 23 years old

Lenny nodded her head before she spoke, she looked around the room taking everyone in but within seconds she began to feel nauseous crowds were not her thing even though it was only a reasonably small crowd it was still enough to make her feel slightly dizzy.

"Hi, I'm Lenora, but everyone calls me Lenny... uhm..." she racked her brains to try and find words but she felt the nausea taking her over. Inhaling deeply she closed her eyes briefly before speaking again. "I'm human and suffer severe stage fright, but that isn't the reason i am here, the reason I am here is because I am engaged to one guy, a prince... but I think I might be having feelings for another... his nephew...." Lenny sighed and sat down. "And that is about it... who's next?" she could feel eyes on her and all she wanted to do was run away and hide.

DAMIAN ALVAREZ ☼ HUMAN

The more Damian listens to everyone talk, the more nauseous he feels. The churning in his stomach is a red ache full of anger, but he knows it’s at himself. He’s angry at himself because he can’t believe he ever thought his problems were worth coming to a support group for. He’s surrounded by people with deeper problems; problems that he’s not even sure he could handle without calling it quits because he just feels emotionally unstable and weak right now. He couldn’t even be amused when he heard Orion mutter a response back in Spanish.

When Lenny starts talking, he can feel the shifting anticipation even before Jane commits to her handpicked rotation and turns her eyes back to him again. So, abruptly and with a cringe, he stands up, gesturing vaguely when everyone looks at him because he definitely does not want to be asked if he’s okay. “Sorry, I just…really need a drink.” He almost wishes that vodka was an option. He also accidentally bumps against Orion lightly as he moves to walk between their chairs because he didn’t think to go to the left instead where there’s still an empty chair between him and Andraste. “Sorry,” he mutters under his breath to Orion.

He rubs his face hard with his back to the group when he reaches the table before he just stares at the food. Nothing really sounds particularly appealing at all and he doesn’t even have the stomach for coffee now. He just doesn’t want to keep sitting there. It’s too rude to walk out even though he wants to, but he can’t. He just can’t.

He listened to Andraste. He listened to Jaylah, to Orion, to Gabby. He listened to all of them talk and he’s never felt so little in his life. What’s he supposed to say? How’s he supposed to say “my parents divorced and my heartbroken mother uprooted me across country when my Abuela died and I don’t know who I am or what I’m doing and I’m miserable” after all that stuff about important prophecies, evil or dead parents, homes being attacked? He can’t. He knows he can’t. He wonders what they would all give for their problems to be as small and meaningless as his, or how angry it would make them if they knew. Then he wonders when he started being so goddamn self-absorbed.

Taking a deep breath with his eyes closed, he tells himself to at least just get through it so he can go home. It’s bad enough that he interrupted Lenny, no need to add to their ideas that he’s an asshole (which he knows he is). So he gets a cup of black coffee as quietly as he can and tries to slide back into his chair without pulling too much attention. It’s a relief that Jane lets him have that little bit of solace for now and skips to the next person.