Video

[sos_pilot]

 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! ]

Comments

[Action]

[helborn]

[Way better church.]

I've been to an interdimensional place like this. Hell, my boyfriend's a werewolf and spends most of his time on four legs rather than two. Who am I to judge?

[He does crouch down slightly so he's not looming over her.]

It's nice to meet you. ... I was thinking about the announcement you made. It's really nice for you to do that kind of thing.

... Also the last mission I was on we helped to break down a lot of the metaphorical walls between the human sector and the rest of the alien sectors on a space station. So that was pretty great!

[sos_pilot]

[ she's decided she likes this kid.

With an amused expression on her face, and maybe a little laugh, she holds out her sewing kit and begins to dig inside.]

Well, well, well! In that case, I think I might have something that suits you...

[ She finally fishes one out - it almost looks like a yin-yang symbol, except it's fists punching the moon and sun. ]

Master Of Missions badge! That's pretty impressive handiwork for a newbie! If that's how well did you the first one, we're gunna be pretty grateful to have you around for the next one!

[helborn]

[He takes the badge carefully and laughs a little. That's pretty cute.]

Our missions tended to be... really long. Like five or six weeks long. Oh - hang on, let me put this away before I lose it, I'll put it on my bag later.

[He reaches into thin air, his hand disappearing into what seems like nothing before coming out without the badge.]

Anyway... I just spent about three years hopping between worlds. I think. ... Time between worlds is screwy.

[sos_pilot]

[ Della raises an eyebrow about that fancy trick. She'll have to ask about that later. ]

Huh... and here I was thinking inter-dimensional-travel was my specialty. From the sound of it, seems like you could teach me a few things instead.

[helborn]

Oh... I mean, we didn't do it... on purpose? Usually? We were sent by the forces playing a game against each other, but also helping worlds. I didn't really care about whoever 'won' the game, I just wanted to make sure people were better off.

I did pick up a bunch of neat skills on the way, though.

[sos_pilot]

Hey, that's the best way to look at it! Helping people should always come first and foremost.

Now, keep bragging. What kinda skills we talkin' about here?

[helborn]

Well...

[And suddenly there's a large Siberan husky in front of her, wagging his tail. He's got some scarring on a back leg, but seems just fine with it.]

[sos_pilot]

[ Della nearly jumps! And also jumps to the wrong conclusion. ]

... You can create dogs?!

[helborn]

[It's worth noting that Casper isn't there anymore.]

[Although now he is again.]

Nope, I can turn into one. It's good for just kind of chilling out.

[sos_pilot]

Oooh, you're a shapeshifter! Or a werewolf?

[ ngl, she does think 'ability to create dogs out of thin air' would be a cooler power, but she'll keep that to herself. ]

[helborn]

[Hecan’t, but a friend can. It’s hilarious.]

I guess I’m a shapeshifter? Not a real werewolf though, just an honorary pack member. I’ve kind of stopped trying to classify myself for the most part - my mom’s a goddess and I’m a demigod, but I’m just... me. I’m whatever I am, and on most days that just feels good enough.

[sos_pilot]

Hey, another god-person on the train? Wow, we're really racking them up lately! You've got the perfect attitude about it, though.

[helborn]

I’ve had time to adjust to it. Once things settle down at home I want to make good use of my godly powers and go to university to get a degree in grief counseling. A lot of my powers are death-related, so I think it’ll help.

[He glances down at her leg and smiles a little, pulling up his pant leg to reveal ivory-colored metal.]

I mean, I could have used therapy when this happened. Or at any time, but...

[sos_pilot]

[ Della's eyes widen, and then she laughs, holding up a hand for a high-five. ]

I can't believe I met a fellow 'minus one leg' club member before I met another duck. But hey, I'll take it!

[helborn]

[He gives her a high five and a weak chuckle.]

Yeah. Not the best club to be in, but he - we're still around and that's what matters, right?

[sos_pilot]

Darn right. And, let's be real, yours looks way better than mine.

[helborn]

The children of a forge god do pretty good work, yeah.

[sos_pilot]

I'll admit, I was tempted to visit my god-pals once I was back on Earth to see what they could do for this, but... I've gotten pretty attached to this thing.

Aside from literally.

[helborn]

[He snorts in amusement.]

Yeah. Do you have any issues with yours? Mine... can get smelly at the knee joint when I forget to clean it.

[sos_pilot]

Nah, no major issues - and if there are any, I know who to go to! Have you met Eight?

[helborn]

Uh... no. I haven't. Should I have?

[sos_pilot]

She's a girl with octopus tentacles for hair... and can turn into one. But she's really good with tech! When I got a big hole in my foot, she fixed it up in no time flat.

[helborn]

Eesh. How'd you manage that?

[sos_pilot]

Oh, it was no biggie. A pal got a new weapon so I had him try it on me!

[ not a single biggie. ]

[helborn]

... Della, you should be more careful...