voidtreckernet

Hey, my train trekkers, my main men, my wonderful women, my koo-koo kids, and everyone and everything else in-between! This is Della Duck, reporting to you live from her cabin with a chance to feel super good about yourself! First, a bit of background info. In my world, there's an organization called - drumroll, please - theeeee...

[ She holds up a slightly tattered and worn-out book with several post-it notes on almost every page. ]

Junior Woodchucks! The BEST group ever for kids to learn all the skills under the sun and prepare them for all of life's challenges and beyond! When you accomplished something major, you earned a badge! And, no big surprise, I earned a lot of them when I was that age. And I feel like you all have accomplished SO MUCH! Whether here on the train, back home, or in other worlds we've been to, you've all got a lot to be proud of!

With that in mind, I decided to make you guys the Junior Woodchuck Badges you all deserved! I'll be going all around the train and handing them out! Even if you're a total stranger, I want to hear the things you're proud of! Because there are things we should all feel great about ourselves!

For example!

[ She fishes out some of the badges she's already made, and shows them one by one. ]

The first time you made a campfire! Or, making a new dish that's actually edible! Or putting out someone else's campfire that went wildly out of control! Master of treating injuries, making twenty friends, craftsman extraordinaire... And if what you're proud of doesn't exist in the guidebook, then phooey, I'll make it up myself! BECAUSE YOU ALL NEED TO LOVE YOURSELVES A LOT MORE!

... A-hem. See you around, guys!

[ if you'd like, feel free to go right to Action to meet her all over the train! ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[One kid does not look amused.]

That sounds stupid as hell.

[ Genre-savvy as Della is, she knows how to cut through the sass. ]

... So, what's the end-game here, kid?

First of all it’s Ken, not kid. Second of all, that’s what I’m wondering about from you. You hand out little badges, and then what?

I try to make people happy and feel better about themselves. What a crime.

[ She then cracks her knuckles - time to show the reason she's Louie's mom. ]

Let me take a shot in the dark here - you're someone who, due to your age, and maybe your height, isn't taken seriously by anyone back home. This annoys you to no end, so you make up for it by acting better than not only everyone else your age, but people older than you too. So the minute you see someone doing something kid-related, you desperately need to prove you're so above it so the whole world can see you as the charming, sophisticated, super smart and super cool adult you want to be. Doesn't matter how anyone else feels, you need that validation.

[ Eyebrow quirk. Hm? ]

[He looks surprised for a moment before huffing.]

... It's true that no one takes me seriously, though I don't spend time with kids my age. I don't need to prove myself to the world that I'm charming or sophisticated or cool, but I am smart. I just don't see the point in most kid things. There's more important things than that kiddie stuff.

[ Fortunately after her brutal murder, she does chill. ]

But instead of ignoring it, here you are. I think you're a little curious - and having fun IS important. Why would we even be alive if we couldn't smile and enjoy ourselves?

... To do the right thing. To fix things.

But aren't we fixing things so people can be happy again? Aren't we doing the right thing so others can smile?

... I'm trying to do the right thing because people can't just walk away from horrible things they did. That's what I was trying to do, at least...

[He can't help his voice from breaking a little at the end there.]

[ Oof. She can tell she hit a sore spot, and her demeanor instantly softens. ]

Hey... hey, it's all right. You don't have to justify yourself to anyone, and that includes a complete stranger.

Apparently I do, because you were the one who was pushing.

[Is he being a little sulky? Maybe. He glances at the closets in the non-training gym as he considers finding a soccer ball to kick.]

... But now I don't know. I failed, so...

[ Della could argue he started pushing first with his very first comment, but who would that be helping? She tries to take note of his surroundings, in case there's a chance to meet him in person.

Hugs are tempting. ]

Do you want to talk about it? We don't have to talk about it if you don't want to... in fact, we could talk about anything you want. I'll be your soundboard, you can bounce off anything you wanna.

... Sure. I'm just kicking a soccer ball around in the gym...

[ And she latches onto that distraction! ]

You like soccer? So do I! What position do you normally play?

Oh, um. I'm usually forward, though I don't mind playing whatever. I haven't been able to be on a team in a bit... I kind of miss it.

Maybe if we asked around, we could try to see if we can get enough people for a game sometime!

Maybe. I know the other Ken plays, too...

Couldn't hurt to try! Although you might need to be careful when I play... my kicks can be a little too strong.

[ She says with a wink, before angling the camera to show her metal leg. ]

Hopefully that doesn't count as cheating?

Um. I think that’s okay? I don’t see a problem with it.

Hey, kudos to you not freaking out about it!

As for me, I never had a specialty when it came to soccer. As long as I could kick, I was good!

Why would I freak out about it? It’s just a metal leg...

Kid, I'm liking you more and more with each passing second.

For the last time it's Ken, not kid!

Oof, right, my bad. And twice now.

[ She's got to make it up to him... then nods, making a decision. ]

All right. Here's my way of apology. Ken? I'm about to tell you something I've never told anyone on the train before. I've been here for a long time, but no one knows this. And I'm only going to allow you to say it.

Because you, and only you... will have the knowledge, and permission, to know the nickname I've had since I was young, that always teed me off.

You ready?

... I mean sure, but I'm also pretty sure everyone can hear you on here.

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