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

[namethattune]

Siebren has spent a good amount of time since the mission traversing the train, helping with food deliveries, picking up slack on chores, and making sure no exhausted teammates are stranded in the hallways.

Evidently Seto is one of the latter, and he can't help but smile at the weak excuse. "And you had not thought to ask for help?" Still, he offers his son a hand up.

[blue_ice]

...ah, it's Father. Seto has the sense to look a little sheepish as he glances up at Siebren and takes the offered hand.

"Della's called everyone up to the gym. And she's..."

Well, this could be awkward. He pauses a moment before continuing.

"She's like a mother to me. I can't ignore her. But I underestimated the length of the walk."

[namethattune]

He had heard the announcement and thought the plan a good one - if multiple people need tending, it's easier to keep them all in one place, and a number of them would certainly find comfort in the contact.

He raises an eyebrow when Seto explains his relationship to Della but does not comment. Now that he knows about it, it makes sense: Della is certainly the motherly type, and Seto had been lacking in compassionate parental figures in his life. "Then perhaps we ought to get going, before she comes looking for you," he says, helping Seto to his feet. "I would be happy to help you walk, though if you fall again, I reserve the right to carry you."

[blue_ice]

"Thanks."

Seto doesn't need to think. Doesn't have the energy to. He just positions himself at Siebren's side, nods tiredly, and resumes the slow trudge to the gym. It's comforting to have him near.

"Are you...all right? I don't remember much from that last day, but I seem to recall you being. Pretty serious."

It's the gentlest phrasing he can muster.

[namethattune]

Siebren wraps an arm around Seto's shoulders, offering the gentle support he had promised. He is capable of carrying Seto, certainly, but he would prefer his son not fall in the first place.

Then Seto speaks, and Siebren cannot say he is surprised.

"You recall me being Sigma." There is no use in sugarcoating it, and no need to around Seto. He already understands. "I do not have the fortitude to anchor as you and the others did, and so I chose to hold the line. Sigma was necessary."

[blue_ice]

Seto balances his own arm on Siebren's back, leaning on him a little. It's fine. He can make it to the gym this way...

...he responds to that matter-of-fact statement by pressing closer, squeezing into a half-hug.

"You've always protected us," is Seto's answer to that. "I trust you completely. I...wanted to make sure you knew that, because coming down from that must be. An experience."

[namethattune]

He cannot help but smile at the hug and hugs him back in turn, squeezing him back around his shoulders just a bit.

"I did, but...thank you. It is always good to hear that." There's truth to those words - more than Siebren knew before he spoke them. "And it is, yes. Fortunately, I was back on my feet before we evacuated." It is a subtle yet terrible joke, and it is also the truth; while Sigma could have handled a crush of humanity. he would have disliked it immensely, whereas Siebren was able to tolerate it.

He lets the conversation settle a few moments before continuing. "It is the first time I have ever chosen to be Sigma when the situation did not necessarily require it." He has not had the time to truly consider the ramifications of that decision - or rather, he has chosen to spend the time on other pursuits, namely helping the exhausted anchors get enough food and rest to recover.

[blue_ice]

Seto settles in to listen. He'll be here for his father, no matter what...just hope he doesn't mind that Seto's slowing down a little. It's tough to keep the energy up.

But more importantly, he leans on Siebren in an attempt at comfort.

"You chose the most efficient route when efficiency was crucial. But if you're worried about this being some kind of slippery slope, don't be. I won't let that happen. We won't."

[namethattune]

Siebren will allow Seto to set the pace - Seto is the one who needs assistance here, after all.

He shakes his head - he has not made himself clear. "Would you believe I am not worried? This is the first time I have chosen to be Sigma without the decision being...forced, in some way. I had the option to continue to herd people to evacuation, or to evacuate to the train myself, and I chose to hold the line knowing full well that Sigma would be required for me to succeed. It is...freeing, in a way I had not expected." Sigma had begun as a coping mechanism necessary for survival on missions; that he could now be an option, one tool in a set, is a development that Siebren had not foreseen.

[blue_ice]

Seto is surprised but gratified to hear that. Siebren's doing well for himself! That news seems to perk him up a little, so excited that he nearly stumbles. But he's fine. Everything's fine.

"Now that's more like it. You cracked the code. Now I'm seeing the family resemblance a little clearer."

He smiles knowingly. Hah.

[namethattune]

He does not know what response he had been expecting, but it is not that. He steadies Seto. "Was the height not enough to see it?" He snorts, but cannot help but smile himself. "Do not worry, you will inherit the nose soon enough."

[blue_ice]

"I hope not, I like my nose," Seto grumbles, but there's a smile in his voice. He's content to walk in silence the rest of the way, but his heart feels lighter for it.

"But...in all seriousness, I'm proud of you."

[namethattune]

Siebren just laughs at the sass, quiet but content. "Surely it is not that bad." He is absolutely teasing.

In the subsequent quiet, the compliment settles. "Thank you," he says quietly. "That means quite a bit."