Dual Modes [Me]

We've discussed several times recently with Boss or Gracelyn that everyone in our system seems to have (at least) two 'modes'. We have the behavior you normally get with that alter, and then their other behavior that you get just sometimes. The second behavior set isn't another alter, but just a different way the same alter reacts.

Now, for myself, I have a lot more that two modes, but I'm also out more often and have been around for more time. For instance, I'm a mother, an employee, a girlfriend, a teacher, depending on where I am and what's required of me. But most alters only come out in certain situations or realms, and thus could have only one behavior mode. Yet they've mostly developed a second aspect, which gives each more depth as a person.

Silent One - Active and Inactive
Silent One is usually the last one I'll use for examples and comparison lists, but this is the most vibrant example. In its original mode, Silent One is completely catatonic - thus its name. It will give a minimal response to the strongest of stimuli, which usually involves pulling away until the stimulus stops. And that's it. But as its world became a safer place to exist, Silent One developed an active mode, in which it behaves like a tamed-but-not-domesticated beast. It sniffs and growls and investigates its environment.

Paul and Baby Paul
Describing Paul as having two modes is cheating a little; he's a multiple system within our multiple system. But generally, Paul is a fairly typical boy, though he can slide in age from 8 to 14 years old. But after he had been coming out for a while, he also started sliding to ages 5 or 2, and as Baby Paul he has a different set of behaviors. He's pretty a mostly non-verbal tot who is much more afraid of the world than Paul is normally.

Kiara - Happy and Sad
I think this is more just how her personality is, because my daughter was the same way as a little girl. But when Kiara is happy, she's very happy - and everyone around her will be happy, too, if she can charm them into it. But when she's sad and pouting, the world is a dreary dark place. She does depression as enthusiastically as she does happiness.

Sam - Bratty and Sexy
When we are not in a scene, Sam is very mouthy and snarky. She teases and makes fun of everyone - and laughs so enthusiastically that they generally forgive her and laugh along. But when we are in a scene, she usually is much less mouthy. She is much more sexy and sensual as she processes the pain and sensations.

Rubi - Sadist and Masochist
This one really comes down to Top or Bottom. As a bottom, Rubi is very reckless with our body, and pushes as far as she can take. She glories in the pain and suffering she's going through. As a note, she's much brattier than Sam when bottoming, actually. But as a top, though Rubi will still push her play partner almost as far as she would push herself, she has a much more pronounced streak of responsibility.

Gracelyn - Grace and Lynn
Gracelyn actually is a combined alter from two previous alters. Lynn is our 'den mother', our Counselor. She comforts people who are crying and also keeps notes on our schedules and needs, and she talks to Boss about how our systems are working. Grace is the 50's housewife type that does our housework and handles makeup and dressing up and such.

Cherish - the exception
I don't see two aspects to Cherish. She is the simplest of our alters. She desperately loves Boss and wants to do whatever makes him happy. It's possible that he does see two aspects, and he'll tell me. But in everything, the overriding emotional drive is loving him and trying to please him. So perhaps Cherish's 'turn' is coming. Maybe she'll evolve a second aspect before long?

That's all the alters, but there's one other duality to touch upon. We, as a group, identify pretty strongly with the primal, base side of us. We've chosen the coyote to identify with, and that primal basic behavior is a 'flip-aspect' for our entire system. Several of us tap into that primal energy - Rubi in her painplay, Sam in sex, Paul in his puppy play, Kiara when playing puppy (not the same thing). Obviously Silent One, and Me overall. I don't see any of the animal energy in Gracelyn, but I could argue that Cherish's simple acceptance of being owned is connected to that.