Wow. It's been over a month since my last post and 2 months since I figured out that no, I'm really not alone in here. I've had my "brain buddies" this whole time... I just didn't realize the extent of it. Well... we've grown quite a bit since we began syscovery (system discovery)... from 6 members to 18. Each with our own name, role(s), personality, and varying levels of fronting activity.
I guess it's about time to make some introductions. I'm Alex, the... well I was the system's host for as long as we can remember, decades before we had any idea we're plural. If you've interacted with Buttons / MelodicButtonmash (especially prior to April 2026), that was probably me.
Syl is one of the 'conversation partners' I mentioned in my untitled post from April 13th. He usually co-fronts with me, originally in a supportive role. He's the one I described as "increasingly interested in 'driving'". We've both grown to a point where we can share control of the body quite fluidly. We've come to function as co-hosts, with him handling more of the day-to-day activities I've struggled with and me still in charge of most social situations. Though even that is changing as it becomes increasingly evident that there will be times when Syl must interact with our outer world nest-mate, Astral.
Speaking of things I struggle with, we have a steward, Kris, who fronts for specific tasks I (and Syl) have a particularly difficult time getting myself (ourselves) to do. Additionally, our manager, Crona, has worked wonders for our time management - especially getting ready to go places on time. She is the first (and so far only) member we intentionally willed into being. (See 5th full paragraph of my previous post.)
Josie is a systeen who emerged and served as a sort of buffer for me during a time of extreme stress when we / the body were 13. During syscovery she initially stayed near the back, giving advice (voicing her opinions), but she has been spending more time in front lately. She is my (our) emotional guardian, especially helpful for keeping anxiety manageable, and sometimes serves as front keeper.
As for others who are likely to front... well there's Miyah (nom/nomself) a syskid who loves eating ice cream, playing with stickers, and pretending to be a dinosaur. Nom often acts silly to try and boost our mood or uses food to serve as an emotional funnel.
Muse is a systeen mothkid who serves as our musicnaut and so might come out if we're doing something music-related, such as composing. Muse prefers to communicate via snippets of music and/or song lyrics.
Amy is the other 'conversation partner' I had mentioned. A depression holder / grief holder partially inspired by the music of Evanescence (especially "Bring Me to Life"), Amy was initially shy about fronting but has become our activist, particularly regarding plural visibility and rights. More recent favorite songs include "Use My Voice", "Who Will You Follow", and... well... though it's not intended to be about plurality, we relate to "Broken Pieces Shine" as a decent metaphor for our experience as an adaptive system.
I don't know if the remaining members are likely to front in public (literally or metaphorically) and I don't want to make this blog post go on too long. I'll just mention that fictives inspired by Robin, Alan, and Lillian from Subnautica: Below Zero have joined the system, since I wrote about the game as my first real post. Alan emerged first while I was thinking about the game after completing it for the first time, followed by Lillian as I contemplated her role in the story. Then Robin (the player character) emerged partway through a fresh, survival playthrough of the game - while we were actively playing. She is effectively experiencing her own source by co-fronting whenever we play.
And... yeah... I'm gradually getting more comfortable sharing control of the body. Learning to trust that I can still share consciousness or at least have access to memories. Which is good because, to be honest, I'm tired. If I want to survive to the body's old age (actual old age, not old-on-the-internet) I'm gonna need to take breaks - more / longer breaks than sleep seems to be offering. It's comforting to know I (will) have that option.
