video/action

[sos_pilot]

[Video]

[ Della's face pops up looking... well, like everyone else - exhausted physically, mentally, and emotionally. She smacks her beak a bit, before speaking. ]

... So. That sucked.

[ Fully aware that's the understatement of the century, Della draws a breath, and tries again. ]

I think we could all use a nice, long breather after everything... and, gosh darn it, as Train Mom, that is my sacred duty. Hugs? Head on the lap? Head-pats telling you that you did a good job? A shoulder to cry on? Venting out all your feelings without judgement? I'm right here.

[ She slaps her chest, then slaps a small sign on on the sports/gym car. It reads

EXHAUST PILE WITHIN

But as she does this, Tidus enters the scene - Della jumps, surprised, almost forgetting his presence.

He just smiles, holding up two cups with steam coming off them, then addresses the video feed as well. ]

We're also making big batches of cocoa too. Any of you that're gonna stress bake? There's room for that room - s'long as you don't need a nap first.

[ It's a small chide though, his smile small but sympathetic. ]

I've gotten out some incense pots from the supplies - you guys who got your head thrown into a blender by that aash-- uh, that jerk, [ he takes a swift glance at Della, then back ] --it'll help you relax. Just some, but better than nothin'. I'll set some off in Momma Duck's air nest, but if you're not doing great and you think you need a pot? Tell me. Raven made a lot of good stuff for good nights sleep if you need any in the medcar, too.

... So, yes. Cocoa. Incense. Hugging. And if you want to sleep with friends for a couple nights, we got air beds and extra pillows in here. Nobody has to get up and go until they feel ready.

And if that's not enough, that's fine too. Maybe next month we do something a little more organized, if you have any suggestions - movie night, sleepover night, big eat night, whatever, I'm listening. And I'm here for you.

[ Action ]

And inside the sports gym, the pair can be found. They have a few airbeds blown up, but there's more that still need airing up if you pop in straight after their message. There's also a tremendous amount of pillows. If you want to help, get blowing, and make these airbeds look nice and comfy!

The transgate from the standard coach has mysteriously been moved to the sports gym's outer hallway. Who did that? But it makes it easier to bring in the cups of hot chocolate from the kitchens, and for anyone who wants to bring snacks to do so. Take a seat, remember to bring your sleeping bag and whatever else you want. Plushes, your own musical instrument to offer some de-stress medication of your own with a melody.

And there's an area where small incense pots burn away, a gentle mist rising up. It won't heal the mind completely, but it will offer it some peace. And if you're worried about nightmares, a few of Raven's sachets and teas are available.

So come get a mom hug. Come and offer hugs. Just come and get something out of the company, whatever it is. Tidus and Della - and others - will be here to give a hand.

The life you had might've been fake, but the people around you aren't.

((OOC: consider this a mingling post, where everyone is free to tag everyone else! be the comforter, the one offering comfort, both, whatever!))

Comments

[sos_pilot]

As promised, Della had made herself comfortable in a little nest of pillows. Up close, she looks even more exhausted than she did on screen - she's actually lost a couple of feathers, but it's not terribly noticeable. She's sipping on hot cocoa, looking forlornly at some papers around her lap - crudely drawn images of her kids, the one she drew in her world, and the ones she's drawn here on the train. Alas, she lacks photos of the real thing, though at this rate, it may not be long until she goes to the shop and sees about getting some.

But! As she hears footsteps, she lifts her head with a smile, and immediately opens her arms. She may need to have hugs as much everyone else does. Whether you're lifelong friends or this is the first time you've ever met her, she won't hesitate.

"Hey."

It's not much, but it's a start. It's up to you where things go.

[blue_ice]

"I made it."

He'd had help, but...

Seto drops down with a somewhat heavy thud in front of her, but he's fine. Time to give mom a hug, and as he peeks over her shoulder he spots the drawings.

"How are you holding up?"

[sos_pilot]

She holds onto him, but this time it's a little tighter - perhaps afraid she'd "lose" him like she lost her memories of him.

"... I'd lie, but at this point, you'd see through me right away." A weak smile. "I'm... not feeling great. And I know a lot of it wasn't even my fault. But we both know heads don't quite work that way."

[blue_ice]

"I know."

Seto holds on, wishing he had a way to make these pesky complicated emotions go away. But the best he can do is ride it out with her, and so he rests his head atop hers.

"For him to completely rewrite who we are...it's one of the worst offenses there is. I want to go back for revenge sometime. But he couldn't completely suppress us, right? You still found me. And...given time, you would've found them on your own too."

[flatteries]

"Hey," Inigo responds in turn. His voice a little more quiet than usually, but it's more out of consideration for the other people in this place, moreso than anything about his own mood. There's a smile on Inigo's face, after all, even if it might not stretch from ear to ear.

"I promise, I promise I'm here for the hugs too," he holds his hands up as if it's supposed to be some sort of peace offering, "but.. you know. You said we had to talk later, and I figured that if I didn't come to you first, you'd hunt me down."

And there's nothing more terrifying than Della on the hunt. Please.

[sos_pilot]

"Hug first. Then talk." And they would talk, that was a promise. But right now, with her memories "fresh" and ten years of being touch deprived brought back to the surface? She needs hugs.

So she grabs his hands and pulls him in.

[flatteries]

It's not like he's going to protest or move away, so it's very easy to drag Inigo into that hug. He even moves his arms to wrap them around her in turn, moving so he's on a bit more of an even level with her too - just to have the most comfortable hug possible in this moment.

"You could've just told me if you wanted a hug from me, you know! No need to set up this whole cuddle party excuse for it." Of course he knows that's not it, and that Della just wanted to make things more comfortable for everyone - but it's a nice way to make a slight joke and keep the mood relatively light for a moment.

[blitzcheer]

"Wanna talk about them?"

He's beside her, bumping shoulders, his cup of hot cocoa in hand and already looking over the collection Della's got going. An offer, even if there isn't much to say, the little time Della's gotten to share with her kids.

But she misses them, clearly, and he'll always be an ear if she needs one.

[sos_pilot]

Della takes another long sip before answering Tidus, not looking at him, but then not really looking at anything.

"... I know it's not my fault. I know I had no control. But... forgetting them... makes me feel like an even worse mom than usual."

[blitzcheer]

Tidus's brow furrows, a sigh eventually escaping him that's exasperated.

"All these powers these superpowered jerks get to have is so...lame! They just think they can wipe our memories and make us forget everyone."

He huffs. "You deserved to punch that rainbow disaster in the face. Twice. As a mom. My favourite mom."

How many moms does he know? Shh, doesn't matter.

[consider8]

Eight is so tired she practically skips every other step and has to catch herself as she walks, but she wasn't about to let this opportunity go. In fact, there was something that she wanted to say to her and now was just as good as time as any.

She hugs first, a full embrace before anything can be said. No time for talking. Only hugs.

[sos_pilot]

There's no disgust or hesitancy from Della anymore, despite Eight's tentacle-head. If Eight doesn't wanna talk, Della won't make her. Instead, she gives her a tight squeeze with a little smile.

[consider8]

"Ms. Della..." She whispered, her voice weary but relaxed. "There's something I wanted to say to you."

[myblueskies]

"Hello miss Della." Romeo looked exhausted but it didn't stop him holding out a tray of very mishapen cookies, he had been too tired to make them look too neat. They still tasted yummy.

"It was a really good idea." This was the perfect thing to help everyone's spirits get back to normal.

[sos_pilot]

Della didn't hesitate to take a cookie, but then she slowly took her time eating it, wanting to savor it.

"So were these," she says after a few bites. "I needed these soooo much."

[averyusefultray]

There's a lot of work that went into this. ANd it seems to be helping. She recognizes some of what Della is doing as her own tendencies. WHich are probably bad habits but she's not planning to stop any time soon.

Still, it does worry. "Are you managing alrright?"

People who are okay don't look forlornly at pictures, generally.

[sos_pilot]

Della lets out a soft little chuckle. It's a fair question.

"I don't know," it's an honest answer. "... But I appreciate the ask. My mind and heart are kinda scrambled, I guess."

[subcircuits]

"Hey."

Devero actually sits beside her before anything else, groaning like he's in his hundred-tens as he sits his worn-out body down. Even sitting, he feels like a giant next to her, as tall and broad and generally thick he is. The arm he lifts in side-hug invitation may engulf her.

But maybe, right now, she could use that? He sure feels like he could.

[sos_pilot]

She leans into the side-hug, using her own arm to return the gesture. Of course it's not as strong or big as he is, but the sincerity is all the same.

"You sound like you could use a nap. Or a hundred of them."

[sizedoesntmatter]

"Hey, how you feeling after everything?"

For Yugi he could understand it being a lot for obvious reason. He himself saw what his life could have been like in a sense and he honestly hated it. Friendless and alone. Not being happy at all. But it made him appreciate what he had.

But he went over to give her a hug, even though they were offering, Yugi did it more for her than for himself.

[sos_pilot]

She gave him a good squeeze with a sigh. "Not great. But I'll get there, again, eventually... thanks to all you guys."

[killer_rhythm]

She looks at least as wiped as Haneul feels. "Hey."

[sos_pilot]

"Do you wanna sit, or do you wanna hug?" A little chuckle.

a week late without starbucks it's fine

[fivemilesdeep]

Ryo is probably too tired to be up and walking around (really, there's no probably about it - anyone with eyes can see that he should be resting), but that hasn't stopped him from trying to check in on people. He sees Della looking a bit sad and heads her way, only to be greeted with a smile and open arms. He smiles back, exhaustion-laden but still genuine, and sits next to her, hugging her back as the blanket that had been around his shoulders drops to the floor.

(He may be clinging a bit. He may be in desperate need of a hug. She may be able to tell.)

"Are you doing okay?"

[sos_pilot]

Cling away, Ryo. She may be clinging back too. It just feels so good to hold and be held again.

"Depends on how you define 'okay'," she admits with a sigh. "But I'll be better. Soon."