video; @falcon

[wingedman]

Hey, everyone. I'm Sam, and some of you might have seen me around the Perimeter Guard facilities. I happened to notice that there's a lot of fellow veterans here, and I was thinking that some of you might be interested in an organized time to just get together and hang out. For those of you who know what my day job is, I promise this isn't connected, and I'm not trying to get you into any support group - although you're always welcome at group sessions if you work for the Guard.

This is just a chance to get together and drink a beer or two, or the beverage of your choice, with people who've been through the same kind of thing you have. If you're from Earth, think of it as a VFW kinda thing. If you aren't from modern-day Earth, then it's just an opportunity for soldiers of all sorts to get together and shoot the shit. It'll be at a bar, so, you know, you can play pool or watch the game or whatever you wanna do. And if you wanna trash-talk different branches of the service, then I'm sure there'll be some of that going on, too. Just keep in mind that at the end of the day, we all got more in common than not, whether you're Army, Marines, or someone who flies in space. You're all welcome to come.

Next Thursday, 7 pm, the Riverview Bar and Grill. You got any more questions, feel free to ask.


[ooc: I'll be posting a mingle log for this next week! If your character was a soldier or member of any kind of military back home, you're welcome to come and hang out. :> ]

Comments

text; @maverick

[deploy]

Chairforce doesn't even get a mention.

Typical.

[wingedman]

Didn't wanna set myself up to be the butt of any jokes.

[deploy]

I'll make sure to wear my VIP badge.

So no one forgets I'm a Very Important Pilot.

video | @arcarius

[angelic_archer]

[Alec looks nervous, probably looking like a kid compared to the beings Sam's used to speaking to as a veteran. He keeps thinking of what Clary said, rubbing the back of his neck as he begins to speak.]

Are the group sessions open to people who aren't part of a recognized branch of the military too?

[wingedman]

[Sam remains relaxed, calm, and friendly; if he's judging Alec for his age (and he isn't, he's seen kids barely older than him bleeding out in Afghanistan) there's no sign of it.]

As long as you're part of the Perimeter Guard, yeah. I got some signs up in the breakrooms with times on them. They're for anyone who needs help dealing with trauma in their lives, whether it's something you experienced back home or here. If you need help with other things, I can give you a referral to a civilian therapist, too.

[angelic_archer]

My friend and I are part of the Guard. I saw the signs but I wasn't sure if we'd be welcome. We fought in wars, but it's kind of complicated. [Which is an understatement considering how weird most beings would think those wars were.]

My culture doesn't believe in therapy. I didn't know where we'd start to get help or even talk to people who might - [Sometimes Alec hates that he can't find the right words for things. Magnus or Izzy would know to say. Jace would probably deny that they need help.] It's never the same for anyone, but someone who isn't going to freak out over what happened to us.

[private: text: un scavenger.rey]

[talentedscavenger]

Be careful with that. There might be some groups that don't get along well with others.

[wingedman]

Oh, I'm aware. There are some people like that from my world, too. Anyone's welcome to show up, just as long as they play nice. If they don't, then they have to leave, simple as that.

[talentedscavenger]

Good, I didn't want you walking into danger.

If you need help dragging someone by the name of Hux, let me know. I'll take great pride in doing that.

Or Kylo Ren.

video; @scientia

[coquere]

Hello, Sam. I have indeed seen you around, though we have not spoken yet. I am Ignis Scientia, new to the Perimeter Guard. I am unfamiliar with your Earth, so I'm uncertain what VFW means.

[wingedman]

It's short for Veterans of Foreign Wars - basically, a group of former soldiers who want to hang out together and talk about their experiences or just...whatever, really. It creates a feeling of community for people who're used to having a support network around them, because once you leave the service, that's the kinda thing you start to miss the most, in my experience.

[coquere]

Fascinating. I'm uncertain if such a thing was in place for the soldiers in Insomnia, but I can see the benefits.

[he debates for a moment, thinking. Finally, he switches to a private setting]

[Sam]

There is an issue of timelines in this place. Have you had to counsel anyone who came from an earlier point in time, but received news about something that happened later? For example, the news that their land would be at war in the future?

[you know, completely hypothetical scenario]

text; un: thunderbird

[tanker]

I'm in. If you need help organizing, let me know.

[wingedman]

Thought you might be. I'll give you a shout if I need anything.

[tanker]

i'm so predictable

also, if you need some discreet supervision, just in case things don't go down well, i can't really get drunk, so i can keep an eye on things

video; @jb.barnes

[anotheroldsoldier]

You sure this isn't a ploy to get a bunch of us in a room talkin' about our feelings? [He's smiling wryly, though, so he's almost definitely teasing. He can't help himself.]

I'm sure I could use a drink right around next Thursday.

[wingedman]

Hand to God, I promise. [Sam just grins as he raises the hand that isn't currently holding his phone in what would be a solemn swear if he wasn't so amused.]

Was hoping you might be interested. See if you can drag Steve along, too. I'm sure he could use some socializing.

[Because what Steve couldn't use social interaction? Bucky knows this truth better than Sam does.]

I'll spot both of you a round.

video; un: ilikehorses

[shoplifter]

What is that? Veterans?

[She's heard off and on about army and marines and whatnot, but in limited supply from any time she'd overheard Reavers talking about typical dangers in their profession. Also, hello, how's it going Mr. Wingman? Just stalking the network in my free time like a sneaky snake.]

[wingedman]

Soldiers. People who've fought in wars.

[It's okay, he keeps an eye on Laura's posts, too. Partly to make sure she's doing okay, but also because of the sheer entertainment factor.]

[voice; @hot.damn]

[circumitus]

This an attempt at building some camaraderie with us?

[wingedman]

It's just what it says on the box. Anyone wants to come and be social, they can. If not, nobody's forcing you.

un: n. romanov

[latrodectus]

Funny how modern day earth always means modern day America. They call it the WIAC where I come from ;)

[wingedman]

[The username gets a raised eyebrow, and Sam mentally adds another name to the constantly changing roster in his head.]

Sorry, I didn't check Wikipedia first. Calling me on being America-centric is legit, though.

Been here long?

[whosthemonsternow]

Think you can handle a space Marine

video; un: b.rocks

[billyrocks]

It's good to see there are meetings like this for soldiers to talk to each other. We didn't really have anything this organized in my time. Usually, you just sat at the bar, talked, and found out the other man was a soldier in the middle of the conversation. That, or you didn't talk to anyone at all.

I'm not a veteran, but I had a friend who was.

[He can't help thinking how gatherings like this came too late for those who were born in an earlier time. But it wasn't like anyone was to blame, except maybe time itself.]