Much to be said about the niceness of early server (I'm on Zam's 3rd stream, so when a good amount of people have their dragons but others are still hatching them) TF!Graecie and TF!Sausuge, and how at first glance it's a friendly, welcoming, thing but when you pay more attention you can see some of the ways they're unintentionally upsetting people or causing discomfort.
I say this as a person who genuinely sees myself reflected in these characters, I'm also an extroverted optimist who loves talking to people and dragging them along with me on little adventures. I don't think they're trying at all to cause issues, but there's moments where they've arguably put so much effort into being the kind friendly face, that they've actually skipped the step of considering how someone else feels. I think this is a very realistic aspect of their characters, intentional or not, becuase it is very easy to lose track of the effects of your actions if you're paying too much attention to the intent behind them.
They're undeniably two of TF!Zam's closest friends, being pretty much the only people she actively seeks out. However, they even do this to her sometimes. One example being after they visit the tower with Sniff and Legs to show Zam the diorama of the solar system. Zam is conflicted, she got herself a little worked up over the idea of seeing her home planet only to be disappointed by only a replica, and at the same she feels silly for having gotten so worked up in the first place. Sniff notices something is up and decides to sit with her and make some conversation about her home, this was I think a very smart move by Sniff (both as a character and an improv choice made by the cc) as it provided a calm environment to allow Zam to speak about something that could be upsetting her without forcing her to talk or pushing her into a place where she feels like she has to claim to be okay.
This conversation wasn't perfect, Zam was still a little clammy and tight lipped about Mars but it was at least calm, there wasn't as much pressure on her to be okay in that moment. She wasn't being asked "Whats wrong? What do i need to do to make you feel better?" Which can be a difficult question to answer when you feel like a burden on the people around you, which I'd argue that kind of self doubt is a core part of tf!Zam's character. Instead, she was simply allowed a floor to speak.
When Graecie noticed Zam was still sitting with Sniff outside the tower she was concerned and walked over to ask if she was okay, this is sweet and very kind, but she almost immediately assumed Zam was tired and said they should go rest somewhere. When Zam said she was okay and a little uncomfortable with them spending the night in the capital, Graecie and Sausuge both brush her off. And I think its important to note that, while they both had good intentions in this scenario, there's a difference between brushing off someone's worries and reassuring them.
Overall, I think tf!Graecie and tf!Sausuge are incredible characters, and i really enjoy the energy and passion they bring to the server. I think using them to think about and consider certain behaviors, especially in the context of tf!Zam and around people with social anxiety, is really interesting. I think Zam choosing to play a character like this has been really cool and has provided a good way for people like me to see from a perspective that's very different from our own lived experiences, and has helped me realize that even in my own attempts to be kind and friendly towards others I've probably accidently pushed a boundary or made a situation worse just becuase I was more worried about my intentions being kind than if my actions were truly the best way to approach a scenario
Anyway. I love you The Flight SMP <3
