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

ota~

[consider8]

My Safe Place

In one corner of the gym, there is a hot cup of cocoa sitting by itself next to a bucket. Periodically a magenta tentacle will extend from within the bucket, loop itself around mug, and pulling it into the bucket. This was nice. Eight was happy to be resting in the container and enjoy the company of the people nearby. The incense and people playing music is a nice touch. This was a welcome return to form and a happy moment to be with everyone.

Our Safe Place

If there was one thing that he friend showed her is that being completely on one's own was missing a lot of the experiences of others. So, she's now taking this chance to approach people. "H-Hello... would you like a hug...? Or perhaps we could share some time on a pile of pillows" The offer may be awkward but the intention was sever.

[subcircuits]

Devero doesn't say anything in response to her awkward invitation. He just opens his arms to her with a faint smile. Come on in, kiddo.

[consider8]

"Deevo!" She chirps, giving her buddy a warm hug.

[subcircuits]

Oh no. That's adorable. His faint smile warms and widens, and he squeezes her as hard as he dares for a long moment.

The smile stays as he releases her and straightens back up. "How're you holding up, Eight?"

[consider8]

For a mercy, she had been resting in her bucket for a while before approaching Devero, so she's not quite as broken down as she could be. One would probably notice her tentacles aren't as lively as they usually are.

"I'm alright. Tired. I think I overdid it during anchoring." She smiled, leaning into Devero to rest. "How are you?"

[subcircuits]

This one would definitely note it-- if he wasn't so wiped himself. Still, he wraps an arm back around her shoulders and lets her lean on him if she needs to.

"You too, huh?" he says. "I feel absolutely wrung out." He chuckles self-consciously and adds, "I keep drifting off in weird places."

[consider8]

Ahaha... "...the other day I fell asleep mid-conversation..." She wasn't proud, but between anchor to anchor, she felt like he could relate.

"I even tried coffee." That was... an experience.

[subcircuits]

"You didn't!" he gasps. It's a tired gasp, but still, that playful humor in him is evident even if it's muted. He leans down a little to confide, "I keep falling asleep on Koumyou Sanzo. Just--" His hand slices through the GSL sign for sleep and he makes a 'zzt' noise. "--conk right out."

Ooh but that leaning was not a great idea. The room tilts around him and he straightens back up, swaying a little. He has to actively recollect himself before he can manage, "Did it help at all? Because I'm chugging pots and it is not helping."

[consider8]

"I did!" She responded with full sincerity. Whether or not she knew he was joking or if she was answering earnestly is a bit hard to determine. But either way, what did it matter? She chuckled lightly, "Maybe its him...? He seems pretty calm all the time..."

She notices the sway and though she is a small thing, she has enough in her to begin to tug him in the direction of a pillow pile. "Hm... I dunno if I like coffee..." To be fair, she tried it black, no cream or sugar, and it was probably overcooked. She doesn't know how to coffee, lbr.

[subcircuits]

"You've never seen him in one of his kitty-headphones-and-hover-skates-at-full-speed-down-the-halls' moods, I see." He says it with absolute fondness. Koumyou Sanzo can be a menace, but he's Devero's menace. Granted-- "We're all pretty subdued right now, though, him included."

He does not resist. Like a kitten tugging along a 115-pound dog, he lets her guide him over to the nearest pile, which he all-but-collapses into with an unceremonious groan of relief. "It's an acquired taste," he says once he's arranged himself. "Not my favorite, honestly, but it sure wakes a person up.

"...Er, usually."

[consider8]

"It's been so quiet on the train lately. I feel a bit bad..." Even tired as she is, she wants to work and perform chores. But even someone as stubborn her must concede when her body is this exhausted.

She falls with him, letting his collapsing form pull her forward. Her giggle is the only clue her falling was intentional. Were she had the energy she'd be kicking her feet out, but alas.

The pillows felt good and she was welcoming the warmth of his presence. "It was bitter. Which is weird because I like coffee ice cream..."

[subcircuits]

Oh no. That's adorable. Dev's deeper laugh joins her giggle, and he scoops her in against his side lightly. Not a restrictive hold, she can wiggle or roll back out easily, but an invitation to snuggle down if she's interested.

"Well, that's your hint, there," he says. "Next time try it with cream and sugar. ...Maybe not as much as you'd need for ice cream, though."

He tucks his other arm behind his head and heaves a sigh. "Try not to feel bad," he adds, swinging back around to that part of the conversation. "It means we're all letting ourselves recover, as we should be after all that."

sorry I never got the notif ;;

[consider8]

While she will allow the closeness, she breaks a bit of distance. While she was comfortable with expressing some physical affection, she was still getting to know Devero to be too close.

"Ohh... like milk and sugar boba?" While she might not have tried coffee with cream and sugar, she could relate it to things she had tried.

Her tone quiets and her eyes lower. She hates being idle especially when there is work to do. It bothers her so much that were it not for the physical exhaustion taking her to sleep, her agitation of needing to do something would be keeping her up.

our safe place

[myblueskies]

Romeo had made his way to the gym when miss Della and mister Tidus had made their announcement. He had been trying to help everyone the last day or so and he thought this was a great idea!

He was tired, though he hadn't been one of the anchors and a lot of very scary and sad things had happened. So when Eight offered a hug he nodded, bouncing over to her.

"I like hugs!"

He liked hand clasps better but hugs were nice too.

[consider8]

It had been a while since she saw Romeo, though perhaps that was because of the days spent in Diagad. She smiles at him widely and drops to one knee so they could be more level. Her hug is warm and tight, if a bit sticky.

[myblueskies]

He hugged her back, he doesn't mind that it's a bit sticky. He's just glad to see that she's alright!

"I'm glad to see you! I hope you didn't get hurt or anything in that city!"

[consider8]

"Vee~" She squeaked, happy that he was worried for her. "I'm okay. Just tired. I was an anchor for a lot of people, you see." She pulled away to look him over. "Are you okay? Did you go to that city?"

She hoped for his sake that he wasn't, but... well, if he did maybe he had somebody looking out for him? That would be good too.

[myblueskies]

"Oh wow you worked really hard!" That anchoring had looked tricky, no wonder she was so tired.

He nodded, "I did! I was there but I wasn't an anchor, I was helping people get to the park. Did you see the animal children? They were helping me find all the kids that were scared and lost!"

[consider8]

"Hmm!" She gave him a big smile. "Good job! You and your friends helped a lot of people."

"How many kids were you able to find?"

[myblueskies]

"Lots!" He smiled, "A lot of them were really scared but they were brave and all got to the park!"

Which was the important thing. "I'm glad we got everyone home safe!"

[consider8]

She reached down and rubbed his hair. "And you were very brave to make sure they were lead to safety."

"I'm glad we were able to get them home, too. It was getting a little scary at the end, don't you think?"

[myblueskies]

"It was really scary!" He nodded, "But we all worked together and everyone tried so hard!"

No wonder they were all so tired! "So it's a good job miss Della and mister Tidus organised this for everyone!"

[consider8]

"We did!" Eight smiled. She was proud of Romeo. Though everything went crazy at the end, at the very least they were able to get most of the people off of Diagad before it was closed.

"They did a great job, didn't they?" Eight looked around. Before everything she wouldn't have had as much appreciation for all of this, but their previous world... changed things. She had more context on the meaning of what things like this was for. That understanding made engaging with it that much easier. "You know~" she winked with a sly smile. "I think there's still a bit of cocoa and a pillow pile with our name on it. Why don't you go pick out a spot and I'll come back with some cocoa for us?"

[myblueskies]

He grinned at that. A pillow pile and cocoa sounded perfect. He nodded at her. "I'll pick out some good pillows!"

It was good to be with everyone, to see everyone be themselves again and all be back safe.

Even if everyone was really tired.

[consider8]

Eight indeed was very tired and yawns a few times in the process of fetching cocoa. She reaches down and offers him a cocoa -- five marshmallows because she's feeling generous -- and settles down next to him.

"This is nice. Back home I didn't have a chance to enjoy something like this until recently. Did you do things like this?"