ratherbelocky | .006 Δ ["Anonymous" Text]

[Or, well, actually, this text isn't anonymous. It's simply that the ID number it displays doesn't match anything in anyone's previous contacts--as if someone's perhaps got his meddlesome paws on a brand new 'Gear.]

So there's a thing I've noticed, in the months I've been here. These anonymous posts, the ones asking for advice? They get a lot of answers. Seems we've got a lot of folks willing to help out around here, or at least to talk and commiserate, but it always seems to be a one-off deal; the person who's anonymous, most of us don't get to hear from them again, see how they're doing, and if we're anonymous ourselves, they can't contact us, either. It's like dancing some kind of intimate foxtrot and then never seeing your partner again.

But I found out something interesting. If you go to any Pokémon Center or PokéMart and tell them your Gear's broken or missing, they'll just hand you a new one free of charge. And if you happened to be lying, well. Then you've got an extra Gear unconnected to your main one.

What I'm saying is, there's an easy way to maintain privacy and anonymity on both ends while still checking in with someone you've spoken with before. Obviously, this is great to know for prank calls - and you're all welcome in advance for the April Fools idea - but I'd like to pose another option to those guys who want to help:

What if there were some kind of system in place for people to just talk about what's eating them multiple times with the same person, without ever having to know who's on the other line?

Now, I'm by no means a professional - not in this field, anyway. I'm not qualified to be a therapist and I haven't yet heard of anyone here who is. That's not what I'm suggesting we do here. But there are people willing to just listen, and to share their own experiences without judging, and that can be real useful to people who are working through tough things.

Here's how I'm imagining it'll work.

1. Folks who are interested in doing the listening contact me here by filling out the form at the bottom of this post. I vet them, and if it seems like it'll work out, then they grab an extra Gear, send me the number, and come up with their own codename.
2. I make a list of who's available and their numbers.
3. People looking to be listened to without exposing themselves, they contact me anonymously, and I'll redirect them to one of the folks on the list. After that first contact, they can just get to their listener directly without going through me as a middleman.
4. Conversation happens, everybody profits.

"But, mysterious and probably handsome anon," I hear you ask, "why do the people interested in helping have to out themselves to you? Who are YOU, even, to ask that and put yourself in charge of this whole thing?" And my answer is, there's got to be some accountability here when things this heavy and private are on the table, and I'm willing to be that guy. I'm also happy to reveal my identity privately to anyone who asks; I'm only maintaining anonymity here for those who don't want to know who they're talking to, for whom talking is easier like that.

Anyway. If listening to other people's problems sounds like your calling, I'd like you to fill out the following little survey:

If there's enough interest, I'll set something up within the week. In the meantime, let me know what you guys think.

And I guess you can call me Nathaniel.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Perfect. I'll put you down, and if we get a lot of kids calling in--[Which he both hopes for and doesn't, because it's fucking him up how many kids are in a position to need it.]--I'll make sure you have a couple of them, and I'll float the idea of a group meeting past them, too.

And, hey. If you ever want to expand your support network, feel free to ring me up. Your list for question #4 is pretty similar to mine.

If you do, feel free to ask for me. I'm no stranger to having done messed up stuff.

[He almost protests and says that he never said he did that stuff, but whatever.]

We'll see.

We're holding off until she beats Falkner. I told her I'd buy her lunch.

... The guy drives me nuts for dumb reasons, okay?

Is it the bird thing? Tell me it's the bird thing.

[His voice is muffled again, because his face is back in his hands.]

Yes. It's the bird thing.

[And a bit more clearly, now.]

He thinks he's the best, that his birds are the greatest because his dad was some great Flying-type trainer and he inherited some of those Pokemon. That doesn't make him better at all. I guess since he's the first gym leader he has to go easy on people, but... ugh. Maybe I'll see if he'll battle me again with some tougher Pokemon once I get more badges, but he just rubs me the wrong way. Maybe he understands Flying types well, but it's not the same as knowing their instincts firsthand.

... And his air show is kind of lame. It's not like what I do at the circus.

Well...for the house, we always posted fliers! I know fliers for this kinda thing are probably gonna be waaaaay different than those for a festival, but it's still an idea! Anyone whose a part of this could put up some fliers in the Pokemon Centers or something! That way it's not just out on the streets, but its still in places where lots of trainers passing through will be able to hear and read about it.

It's fitting, from where I'm sitting. As far as I can tell, an experiment of this nature hasn't been attempted here before. You're not just leading by example; you're defining the field for those who might someday succeed you.

1. Name Lightning Farron
2. Age ~~522~~ 22
3. Do you have your own support network here? Yes
4. What sorts of things are you cool talking about? War (between gods, humans, or a combination of both), change of species, ~~not being able to die~~, being cursed, revenge (failed or successful), and whatever else comes up. I'm good at listening.
5. What sorts of things are you NOT cool talking about? Family death

Sounds like you're from a more magical world than I am. Could be a good perspective to have.

This is a question I'm asking everybody, so don't think I'm singling you out or anything: How stable is your support network?

No pressure, right?

That sounds pretty good to me, though. Leaving something behind for others to build on later. Not that I got any intention of ducking out in the near future, but it's still kinda nice to think about.

I've found very few who have any kind of background like mine.

More stable than anything I had when I first got here. Girlfriend and friends.

Honestly, I'd pay good money to see you kick his ass in some kind of fly-off.

And you're sure they're enough to hold you through this kind of work? It's gonna be rough. Lots of kids who need it, in particular.

Yeah, good idea. Doubt we can post anything at "Mom's" house, but the Centers and maybe even the Marts after that? Should be fair game. Too bad there isn't a good way to provide incoming people with some kind of welcome basket...

If I ever get a chance to, I totally will. ... And hey, it's not like I've really got stuff to go back to, so maybe one day I'll unseat him and take over his spot.

What you're arranging here is what I do as a job back home. Comfort and listen to those who need it so they can learn to be at peace with themselves.

I did it just fine without a support network back home. At least I have one here.

Well, all right. If this's your job, I guess you know yourself best. You got a codename ready for me?

[It still kind of hurts to hear that, but, well. If anyone understands, it's York.]

Wouldn't that be something. Hey, wonder if you could just make your own Gym, anyway. Maybe an unofficial one if that's not kosher.

[That's hard to think about, so let's go with something easy.]

Claire.

[Totally going with the legal name only two people in this place know. Yep, nothing will go wrong with that one.]

[Like 'Nathaniel' has any room to talk.]

Claire, then. You need any help getting another Gear?

[They can talk about it later. If he keeps saying it casually it'll stop hurting, right?]

[This is totally an okay way to deal with things shh.]

Maybe. It'd be fun, at least. And probably an easier way to get some of my Pokemon to max level other than slowly fighting wild Pokemon or sparring with each other.

I bet you'd get a lot of interest from the other folks who've come in here. I know I like seeing us transplants running our own businesses and such.

Yeah. I'm not sure if it'd work as a business, but...

[He shrugs, even if York can't see it.]

It'd be interesting. It's been a while since I fought a Trainer that's not a native.

No. My sister left hers. I figured out how to format it a while ago. I had a feeling I'd need another one.

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.006 Δ ["Anonymous" Text]

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