#source talk

[multiplicity-positivity]

Here’s some positivity for introjects who are connected to their source!

There’s no one true or correct way to be an introject - introjects come in all shapes and sizes, and may have a wide variety of ways in which they view their source! Whether a factive, fictive, faitive, objective, conceptive, songtive, or something else, it’s okay for introjects of all sorts to like their source of feel connected to it. If you’re an introject who is connected to your source, this post is for you!

❤️ Shoutout to introjects who identify with their source’s name, gender, pronouns, sexuality, or other identities!

🧡 Shoutout to introjects who kin their sources!

💛 Shoutout to introjects who identify with their source despite having never directly seen or interacted with it!

💚 Shoutout to introjects whose source is their special interest, hyperfixation, or one of their favorite things!

💙 Shoutout to introjects who roleplay or otherwise engage with the world as their source!

💜 Shoutout to introjects who are source divergent or who don’t identify much with their source, but are still deeply connected to it!

❤️ Shoutout to introjects who like being referred to as their source!

🧡 Shoutout to introjects who are tired of their relationship to their source being policed or dictated by others!

💛 Shoutout to introjects who distanced or disconnected from their source, only to reconnect with it later on!

💚 Shoutout to introjects who often feel ostracized or left out of plural spaces because of how they view their source!

💙 Shoutout to introjects whose relationships to their source are intricate, nuanced, or complex!

💜 Shoutout to introjects who go through phases or waves of feeling more or less connected to their source!

Introjects may not literally be their source, but that doesn’t mean they are morally obligated to abandon connections to their source altogether! Introjects can and often do have a wide range of opinions on or relationships to their sources! It’s okay for introjects to love their source or feel strongly connected to it. You’re still just as valid and cherished as an introject, a member of your system, and a member of the plural community just the way you are!

We hope every source-connected introject who sees this can have a lovely day today. Please treat yourself with the kindness and gentleness you deserve, and don’t judge yourself too harshly for how you view your source! Rest assured, you will always be welcome in our spaces without the expectation to change. Thanks so much for reading, and take care!

[pluralprompts]

Prompt #1,512

Factive A is a factive of a musician. No, they're not a factive of a rock musician, or a pop musician, or a country musician... Look, why don't we all just stop guessing at genres? Factive A's source hasn't even been alive for several centuries! Sheesh, for how well-known they are, you'd think people would guess their source much faster!

[fossys]

sometimes ppl we follow on here reblog art of my source n its so fucking funny bcs its like hey!! I know that guy!!! Like personally!!!!! hes in co right now!!!!

[demonicgod]

Huh... I don't know why it took me this long to realize it but a lot of my memories involve being in someone else's body. Like, possessing people.

Love being a stereotypical demon just ignore the fact I don't have horns /j

[dadzawa004]

something I wouldn't change for the world [a ramble post from aizawa]

this was made when I was very emotional and sensitive about my source, and i wanted to share it since it's a little personal and hopefully wholesome to some. [Ramble underneath the picture.]

You know what's one thing I'd never give up for the world for? Someone by the name of Mic. (You may, or may not know) him but he is also from my source (my hero academia). And he isn't like what you see online. He isn't the YouTube videos you randomly see when searching his name. He isn't the fanarts or playlists or what you can read on Wattpad or any fic on the internet. He was my Mic, someone who I grew up with and loved all my heart. The day we got married was they day I wouldn't forget. It was one of the happiest days of my life and to see his smile was something that I never wanted to stop seeing. He was the one who I saw every morning. He was always the cuddler and always wanted my attention. And even though for someone like me, someone quiet and introverted and just.. me being me. How could someone so handsome, energetic, full of positivity and excitement fall for someone like me? Growing up together was a bit tricky considering our polar opposite personalities. I wouldn't know how to tell my 15 year old self that I'd be putting a ring on his finger at 26. And no matter how much I said that I 'didn't' care for him, he is the only person who was there for me. When I just wanted to get my work done and be alone, he would want my attention, hug me, praise me for the smallest things I did etc. I wouldn't change that. Not for anyone. He was my mic, my bestest friend, my partner. And the day we split apart (I was formed into the system) was the day I wish I could go back to. I don't regret being here, honestly there is so many people that I would love to talk to each day here. I made friends, I've lost them, met alot of people. But if you were to ask; "where would you like to be now?"

With him.

[potato-head-kids]

Positivity post for introjects who hate their source:

You don’t have to be, resemble, or enjoy your source. You’re here for a reason. I’m happy you exist /platonic

Sincerely: a system who doesn’t like South Park but saw some memes about it and got a Cartman fictive 😅 brain thought we needed an anger holder I guess. He’s really trying to change from how he was in source, and we figured he’s most likely not the only one in that kind of situation

[scpwiki-official]

sometimes if i was good i was allowed to wander

[richierambles]

my opinion on IT ships

what??? richie tozier himself is giving hys opinion on getting shipped with his friends??? more likely than you think ;3 basically i was bored and currently procrastinating switching out so our academic can study (hate my life get me back to derry yall</3) BUT ANYGAY XD here we go ✨✨✨

Reddie: 7/10 I have a complicated opinion on this one. The fandom loves it, and as a concept? Sure it's fucking awesome. BUT. I've had a Bad experience dating an Eddie fictive, I won't say much besides that our old host (hate his ass) basically forced me into that relationship just bc he shipped reddie and that caused a shit ton of trouble 😃 But anygay I still ship it as long as I myself am not part of the relationship XD (I'm. actually writing a reddie fic rn. XD)

Stenbrough: 7.5/10 Another fandom favorite! The way I see it, they'd be sweet af. Like, healthiest relationship ever been. What's wrong with it then? The same thing as reddie, Belle (our Bill fictive, mtf, she/her, misgender and/or deadname her and imma be after your ass<3 and not in the MrsK way) got forced into a relationship with a Stan fictive, but it went So Much Worse than mine for some reason TwT And welp I still ship it but kinda eh-ish (the 0.5 it has more than reddie is bc im not in the ship XD)

Benverly: 6/10 I need y'all to know, I'm talking about IT 2017, not about the adult Losers. Adult benverly get a 9/10 at least, but teen benverly? I don't see it. I don't think bev is ok enough to have a healthy relationship, and I'm pretty sure they'd end the same way as most highschool sweethearts - breaking up. Though, I'm pretty sure they'd be sweeter than stenbrough for the time they lasted

Billverly: 3/10 1. POOR BEN????😭 2. In my exomemories they actually tried it and broke up (in good terms) like 2 months later so- nah they don't work XD

Steddie: 9/10 Stan x Eddie not the ST one 💀 our system's steddie are dating, another system's steddie are ALSO dating, and I can tell you they're a super healthy and sweet relationship. Basically the best one, but the fandom doesn't almost make content of them which sucks ass 🥲

Stan x Richie (idk the ship name 😭): 8/10 YES. I remember having crushed on Stan for So Much Time. Like. Not as much time as crushing on Eds (nor that big of a crush) but almost there. Stan is just so pretty ok XD

Bike: 2/10 2 points just because of the ship name, Mikey is aroace and I'll die on that hill<3

Bill x Eddie: 5/10 If we're talking about the book? Fuck yeah. If we're talking about the movies? Fuck no.

Bichie: 10/10 This is just because of my half-requited crush on Belle. Literally just because of that. I don't even make/read content of it. I've just been crushing on her for like 9 months that's the entire reason for this ship 😭

Connor x Richie: 0/10 No. Nothing else to say. Connor, at least in my exomemories, was a fucking ass and doesn't deserve me<3

Poly Losers Club: 1/10 We're Friends, poly feels weird 😭 how would even a polycule of Seven people work??😭 (no offense to people who are in polycules just. too many people with too many different sexualities. i can't see it XD) I'll still admit, I've consumed content of it just because I couldn't find what I was looking for in the other ships' tags TwT

Platonic Beverly x Richie: 100/10 PLATONIC, romantic would be weird af but PLATONICALLY dating Bev is awesome she's the best<3 (If anyone's curious, yes I'm platonically married to our system's Bev XD)

If y'all wanna see my opinions on any other ship, just ask! Or on anything else tbh, I love rambling about my source XD

[introject-userboxes]

opinion on source talk userboxes, requested by anon

requests open!!

[angel-wings-and-quiet-things]

Sometimes, I wonder if waking up tomorrow back in my source would make it all better. I'd have it all, you know? No more system, no more BPD, just... yeah.

[multiplicity-positivity]

Source Separation for Introjects

Hello - it’s time for me to make a post here based on my own experience. We get asked occasionally how to go about source separation for those who are interested, and in our system, I (Cecil) am the only one who has achieved this to the degree of which I feel confident enough to write this post. So here we go.

I’ll format this in the way we’ve been formatting our other informational posts, because I’m fond of the question-and-answer format.

DISCLAIMER: The information shared here is from our own system’s experience. And particularly my (Cecil’s) experience. No two systems are alike, and further, no two introjects are alike either. What worked for me may not work for you. I am not trying to portray any information as absolute truths - only my experience with source separation as I understand it.

What is a source?

In plural contexts, a source refers to the person, character, concept, or item that an introject is based off of. Introjects are headmates who arrive in their system with an identity already based off of something outside of the system. An introject’s source is whatever they are based off of.

For example, my headmate Ralsei is a fictive based off of the character Ralsei from Deltarune. Therefore, the Ralsei character in the video game is my headmate’s source. My own source is Kim Kitsuragi from Disco Elysium.

What is source separation?

Source separation occurs when an introject aims to distance themselves from their source and form their own identity outside of their source in the process. Source separation can be small, like enjoying an activity or media that your source was never interested in. It can also be greater, like changing your name, appearance, and other identifying features.

Even recognizing that you are not your source - that your source exists outside of yourself and that you are your own person - can be considered source separation. In this way, source separation, even to the smallest degree, can be healthy and beneficial for many introjects.

Why should I separate from my source?

There are a plethora of reasons why an introject may choose to separate from their source. Whether being compared to their source brings them pain or anxiety, they have difficult exomemories to bear, they want to focus on improving themselves or simply wish to have more agency over their lives, there is no clear set of reasons why an introject should separate from their source. The purpose of this post is not to convince introjects that they must separate from their source - rather, my goal is to explain a bit about what source separation means to me.

How do I source separate?

Introjects may distance themselves from their source in a plethora of different ways. No two introjects are alike, so one introject’s method for source separation may not work for another. That being said, here are some ways that I have separated from my source (written with general “you”s).

1. Recognize that you are not your source.

You are not your source physically, mentally, emotionally, or in any other capacity. You exist outside of your source. If your source suddenly vanished or ceased to exist, you would still be here. You are capable of thinking for yourself and making decisions that your source wouldn’t necessarily make. For me, this first step was crucial. For some, this level of source separation is enough for them to live happy lives. In our system, Ralsei is comfortable still identifying as and with Ralsei from Deltarune, while recognizing that they are not literally their source. For me, though, this just hasn’t been enough.

2. Make small changes… consciously.

After I first learned I was a fictive, I found myself drawn towards things that my source was known to enjoy. Once I decided to try and separate from my source, I started branching out with my interests and tried exploring new things without holding myself to the standards set by the character I was based off of.

You might choose to try baking, coding, rock climbing, building puzzles, or anything else that speaks out to you. Don’t let discomfort deter you from trying something new - it’s normal for things outside our comfort zones to be uncomfortable. Experiment with your likes and dislikes, favorite things and activities, and all sorts of things - don’t let your source or your feelings about your source dictate what you’re capable of enjoying. Finding things to be passionate about can not only help you separate from your source, but enrich your life in the process.

3. Make larger changes, and lean into them.

After you’ve managed to find a few ways to distinguish yourself from your source, if you’d like, you can make bigger changes. This may include changing your name, experimenting with your gender and sexuality, altering your appearance, or finding other, lasting ways to make yourself different from your source.

I did this by changing my name and experimenting with my gender. I also am toying with the concept of otherkin, and am questioning if I even experience the world in a human way. While I still use my source’s pronoun set, I also am comfortable with neopronouns, with a keen interest in xe/xem/xers. This is different from my source, who used exclusively he/him pronouns. By steadily making changes about how you behave, view yourself, and interact with the world around you, you can further distinguish yourself from your source and develop into your own individual personhood.

4. Understand personhood is complex and identities are fluid.

You may wake up one day feeling more like your source than other days. This isn’t a sign that you haven’t been successful so far at separating from your source. Progress is not linear, and this goes for those attempting source separation as much as anything else. Be patient with yourself - recognize that making these changes will take some time getting used to. It may take weeks, months, or even years for you to reach a degree of separation from your source that brings you comfort and joy. Please don’t give up if it’s looking hopeless. A little patience and self-compassion can go a long way in this regard.

And there you have it. Of course, in my experience, being able to speak openly about my source separation with my system’s therapist has helped this process go much more smoothly. If you have a therapist in your life, or someone you trust who you can talk to, speaking with them about your process and how your separation is going may be incredibly beneficial. Journalling and keeping track of your progress in other ways can help give you hope when you worry you haven’t been capable of making much change. In the end, it is up to you as an individual to decide how to separate from your source and how much separation you hope to achieve.

Do I have to separate from my source if I don’t want to?

No. While at least some amount of separation is certainly healthy (see: step 1 of “How do I source separate?”), no one should ever be required to separate from their source if they’re not ready or if they don’t want to. This post is not a plea to convince introjects to separate from their sources. Rather, it is a rough guide for those who are already interested in or curious about this process.

Questions or comments may be directed to me, Cecil. Full disclosure, I am in the process of attempting to fuse with another member of my system. Therefore, that member (Margo) has been present with me as I wrote this post. Fusion doesn’t destroy alters, though, so if you have any questions we can still collectively provide a response, even after our fusion. We’re going to be undergoing a name change soon - so if you hear back from Corrie - that’s still me. That is the name Margo and I have chosen for our collective, shared identity.

I hope this post will be beneficial for those who are interested in source separation. Remember to take things slow, don’t hold yourself to unrealistic expectations, and show yourself kindness and compassion along the way. If you want it, source separation is certainly possible! And we wish you all the best as you attempt to distinguish yourself from your source.

(Image ID:) A pale orange userbox with a cluster of multicolored flowers for the userbox image. The border and text are both dark orange, and the text reads “all plurals can interact with this post!” (End ID.)

[pluralprompts]

Prompt #568

Several introjects of the same being somehow find themselves inside their source self's mind. Now they must adjust to a new life as a system while also adjusting themselves to their new – old? – life as their source.

Bonus: at least one of them is questioning in the background if they still count as introjects if they're back in their original body now.

[fossys]

any other alters have like. for lack of a better word multiple 'stories'?

like for me, i have my more canon accurate variation of my memory, which is. complicated n weird n would sound insane if i tried to word it bcs of how much it breaks the space time continuum

and then i have the variant of my story, which keeps some of the same elements but is generally meant to be a story that could take place in fully normal order without weird. time shenanigans.

but the thing is i have memories (detailed) of both of these like. they both equally happened to me. not like one before the other but just variants to get me to the same place logistically.

ive heard people talk about this when they have multiple sources but im curious if theres anyone else with just one source that has this as well?

[mellohiscave]

Someone just told me that they didn’t regret trading me to end a war and they’d do it again- that fucking hurt do I mean nothing? I don’t know anymore? The disk war fucked me up, and JUST as i started to get better from it I was traded again, and told that I was worthless- am I worth less? I don’t know anymore I just hurt

[devotedflowers]

Being a TECHNICALLY a doctor who fictive is so funny. It’s like ok yea I fucking guess I am, but not a single sourcemate would even know who I was. All this has done for me has given me hyperspecific source trauma and a deep seated obsession with the 10th doctor.

[c4ndystarz]

even though im ace i still get all the bitches. it came with losing my eyes