Ceter

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A ceter (pronounced see-ter or seh-ter) is a headmate, person, introject, or other internal presence that has some similarities with, but does not qualify as a typical system member or alter for said system.

Ceter was created to be an alternative umbrella term for 'alter' for headmates that did not fit the internal definition of an alter. It can be used as an alternative term for any other term referring to headmates.

A ceter can be any applicable form of headmate. Introjects, non-introjects, fictives, factives, f*cktives, fragments, NPCs, purposefully created headmates, doubles, masks, servitors, and any other kind of headmate you can think of can count as a ceter. A headmate who fits none of these descriptions can also count as a ceter.

Any origin or type of system, collective, median, or plural folk can have ceters and/or be ceterian.

History
Ceter was created as a term due to the coiner not finding a suitable term to describe some of their headmates. Ceter was made to act as an umbrella term for any headmate that doesn't feel definable within the terms 'alter', 'facet', 'NPC', or any other specific term. The self-shipping community, as well as other systems who described similar experiences to the coiner, were inspirations to this term's development.

Usage
A headmate may decide to label themselves or another headmate a ceter if:

(NOTE: Non-ceter headmates can and often do have these traits and don’t identify as ceters. Personal discretion is necessary.)

- This headmate rarely or cannot front, cofront, directly influence front, or directly control who fronts.

- This headmate may always or almost always be fronting or cofronting, and may never truly 'leave' the front space.

- This headmate can think independent thoughts and has an independent presence, but does not function as an independent person/identity.

- This headmate often or always follows scripts when given to them.

- This headmate follows and/or prefers scripts, but can function without them.

- This headmate fluctuates from being an NPC to being sentient.

- This headmate is consistently and/or strongly influenced by the feelings/personality of another headmate, avatar, or other headmate.

- This headmate feels similar to a tulpa/willogenic part/another intentionally created headmate, but was not created intentionally.

- This headmate only exists when directly thought of or referenced.

- This headmate does not have an innerworld appearance, voice, or any other definable features, but is still present.

- This headmate seems to be created for a temporary purpose, or is explicitly temporary.

(NOTE: Ceter is a term meant for systems & plural folk to identify themselves or a headmate with. It is not meant to be a definition given by any external force. Someone outside of a system or headspace cannot define anyone in that system/headspace as a ceter.)

NPC
A ceter is not necessarily an NPC. Ceters can have the ability to function independently, and many ceters function without scripts and can think for themselves. However, a ceter can be an NPC, or have NPC-like traits.

Fragment
A ceter is not necessarily a fragment. Ceters can have a very broad, expansive personality, and can exist for a myriad of complex functions. However, a ceter can be a fragment, or have fragment-like traits.

Soulbond
A ceter is not necessarily a soulbond. Ceters are not always introjects/fictives, and are not necessarily formed out of a bond with a character. However, a ceter can be a soulbond, or have soulbond-like traits.

Tulpa & Willogenic Headmate
A ceter is not necessarily a tulpa or a willogenic headmate. Ceters are not always intentionally created or kept around, nor do they always take energy to maintain or develop. However, a ceter can be a tulpa or a willogenic headmate, or have traits of both or either.

The word was derived from the Latin prefix Ceter, meaning 'other', 'rest of', and 'remaining'.

Flag Symbolism
The bright red represents the system's collective innerworld and familiar headmate structures, while the teal represents a state outside of internal normality and change. The golden hourglass with the bright red and teal circles contained within represent the bond a system as a whole can have with their ceter(s), and the reciprocal relationship between familiarity and something new or groundbreaking.