video

[sos_pilot]

[ The video is late at night - not too late to wake a bunch of people up, but it's definitely different than Della's usual videos where it's an earlier time. Not to mention she kinda... looks like hell. Bags under her eyes, all the usual signs of exhaustion - but it's more than that. She actually looks emotionally beat up. ]

... Hey, guys. I figured I owed a bunch of you an explanation about my behavior last mission. Look, I know a lot of the time I'm all "woo, adventure, let's beat up monsters, yeah!" everywhere we go, but last time I was more... out of control. Not listening to anyone, still trying to fight even when I was literally falling apart... and I am sorry. I shouldn't have to make you guys worry more than you already have to, especially in the middle of a dangerous fight.

... Here's the deal. All of you are amazing, you have to know that on some level. You've got super powers, you've got metal bodies, you've got magic, and even of those of you who are about to say "Oh, I'm just some ordinary human" - you're not. So many of you have amazing abilities with your weapons, brilliant minds that have led kingdoms and companies, you're all wonderful, and should be so proud of yourself. I'm proud of each and every single one of you.

... And all I can do is land a solid punch every now and then. Back home, I... I was on a team. My family. They all had their own special talents too, and when I finally came home, maybe some part of me wondered... if they really needed me after all, since they'd done so well without me for ten years. And now, here I am, and I can't even do the one thing I at least KNOW I'm good at, being a pilot. Here, I'm just... me.

[ She sighs, taking off her pilot's cap to run a hand through her hair. ]

Dang, I didn't mean to ramble. Just... I'm sorry. I'll try to make sure it won't happen again.

... 'Night, guys.

[ For anyone wanting to check in on her, she can be found in the lower-carriage of the library, wordlessly thumbing through her copy of the Junior Woodchuck Guide, though not really reading it. ]

Comments

[flatteries]

[ There's a few small sounds in quick succession as she starts hugging him like that. It mostly kind of sounds like a surprised 'ah' and then an 'oof', but then he just lets out a deep breath, even as he allows her to pull him in. ]

Della, it's fine-- I didn't want to bother you with it when you're obviously having a hard time yourself, you know?

[ He's a big boy! He can deal with it! ]

[sos_pilot]

Always bother me with your problems! I... That was so unfair, I...Oh, Inigo...

[ To be reunited with his mother, only to have less than a month with her, with no warning at all? If that happened with someone she was reunited with... she didn't know if she could recover. And he smiles? That makes her feel worse.

The tears start up all over again.]

[flatteries]

[ Oh no.

He's feeling it again. He's feeling the tears again. Sweet Naga, he just made her cry all over again! Of course panic instantly sets in, even as he's stuck there in her embrace. ]

A-Ah! Della, no.. Please don't cry for me! Please, I--

[ He sputters a few more words before finally managing to form full sentences again. ]

Maybe mother just went home! A-And in that case.. I'm glad! She should be back home, with father and her baby!

[sos_pilot]

Shush! I'll cry all I want!

[ If he refuses to cry about it, she'll just have to cry for him! Ain't nobody gunna tell Della what she can and cannot cry over! ]

[flatteries]

[ Inigo opens his mouth to protest..

.. but then just closes it again. He knows there's no winning when it comes to Della. She's just too powerful. She'd never give in.

So instead he just tries to hold her tighter, as if that may make up for the fact that he made her cry. ]

.. just know I'm fine, then. [ He mumbles. ] Or that I'm going to be fine. This isn't the first time something like this happened on the train. And it won't be the last.

[sos_pilot]

... That doesn't make it any easier.

... So when it happens to me... I expect you to not only cry with me, but cry for me.

[ She may be lightly kidding. Just a bit. She sniffles, wiping her cheek. ]

[flatteries]

I can't believe you're telling me to cry.

[ Inigo is trying too. Trying to go along with this, trying to lightly joke too, even though his chest is starting to feel tighter by the moment. He pats her back a little. ]

I'll make sure to tell everyone it's all your fault the next time I end up crying.

[sos_pilot]

I'll happily take the blame.

... For real, though... Don't be afraid to come to me for anything, and everything. No matter what, no matter when.

[flatteries]

[ He opens his mouth. Then shuts it again, like he's unsure about whether or not to say it.

In the end he probably opted not to say it, considering what he does say doesn't seem to be something that needs much thought. ]

As long as you do the same, Della. I wouldn't want you to be walking around with these sorts of thoughts all by yourself..

[sos_pilot]

I'll try. I promise, I will try.

[ She saw that hesitation, but knows she can't pry more out of him without hurting him further. So instead, she touches his shoulders, making him lean down.

She smooths down his hair, and gives him a motherly kiss to his forehead. ]

[flatteries]

[ Inigo easily leans down. She hardly even has to apply a lot of pressure to his shoulders - he's already bending right down the moment there's a hint of those hands there, like he knows what's being expected of him.

And then there's that small kiss on his forehead, and.. it does feel familiar.

It's exactly what Olivia did when they met each other again on the train. Like all mothers out there share some motherly instinct, knowing exactly when they need to do this sort of thing, even when it's not with their own kids.

Inigo feels his eyes starting to well up with water, and he sniffs.

(He misses her. He misses her already.) ]

T-Thanks, Della.

[ He says, in that typical teenager I'm-about-to-cry-but-pretending-I'm-not kind of tone. ]

[sos_pilot]

[ She can hear the break in his tone, and pulls him into another hug.

She doesn't say anything - she doesn't feel she has to. As of right now, she's his own kid as much as if he hatched out of an egg. She's not going anywhere. ]