voidtreckernet | video/action

[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!))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"There's no need to thank me." Thanatos lets Della hug him, but he noticeably doesn't hug back. His expression doesn't even change. The fragile person who had cried in her arms doesn't seem present at all. (Neither is Mort.)

"Is there anything else the gym needs?"

"I was tempted to ask if there was anything you need, but I have a fair guess that you'd say no, even if you were lying about it. Especially if you were lying about it."

She also doubts he's going to spill his guts out to her if he's already putting up a front.

"But actually, I did want to tell you something. You might not believe me, but that's on you - I'm an awful liar."

Could it be called a lie if Thanatos doesn't realize what he needs? He thinks he needs tasks to complete, duties to give him worth and a purpose. He's wrong. (Also, he's a horrible liar even if he did try to.)

Thanatos waits for Della to stop speaking before asking, "... What is it?"

"... I was part of the group fighting Chaos. And, as it turned out, talking to him did way more than trying to kick his non-existent face in. And when I was trying to talk to him... I found myself remembering the talk we had."

She smiles up at him, gently. "It was thanks to you that I think we were able to get through to him... because I tried to treat him the way I treated you."

"... I don't understand." He had been falling apart, and Della had helped. Even if he was left shaky without a foundation to fight his illusions, that had not been her fault. It was all his. Thanatos should have realized that what he needed to be and do.

The vision of Diagad falling to pieces, the pain and suffering of the people and Chaos, it reminded Thanatos of what he felt trapped in that chest and what he continued to feel as he tirelessly worked through his assignments. "I failed my responsibilities."

"No one is at fault for what happened back there." She doubted he'd listen or accept what she had to say about this sort of thing, but she couldn't just let it go unchallenged either.

"Do you think I'd lie to you about something like this? I mean it. I thought of you when I was 'fighting' Chaos... and maybe if I treated more enemies like that, I'd come away with less scars and more understanding."

"I didn't say you were lying. I just don't understand. That Chaos and I..." Thanatos's voice wavers slightly. He was about to say that they were different, but that's not true. Chaos's pain reminded Thanatos's of his own. It was a magnitude of pain and anguish he could comprehend. It's something that might await him upon returning home if he can't find a way to travel back through time as part of his return.

Who had caused Chaos that pain? Thanatos is all too familiar with his, and the only way to make things "better" was to do his work wholly and completely.

"Understanding some people only invites more scars. Especially when they are selfish and known liars." He's not speaking about anyone on this train, not even himself, surprisingly.

"Maybe. But I think it's worth the risk." She offers a little smile at that. "And besides, I think you know me well enough that I'm a risk-taker." So she wasn't giving up on him. She'd check on him every day, if that's what it took to help him out.

"

"And I'm proof that the risk came with a cost too high and paid by others." Thanatos could have prevented suffering if he had just done his duty, didn't listen to Sisyphus's words or tried to ease fears he never had.

Thanatos seems to blink away his thoughts, settling back into detachment. "It's good that it worked out with Chaos, however."

Oh boy. Sounded like more of tragic backstory than just being locked away in a box.

"... Even if you tell me that, I won't give up on you. You know how stubborn I am."

Thanatos had to be locked in that box somehow. He didn't go in there willingly.

"Anyways, I'm fine. Is there something more I can help with for this event?" And he's going to be just as stubborn about helping out and follow the values impressed upon him. It doesn't matter how he is or what's going on; he must continue to do his job... even if he can't do his official job on the train.

With a sigh and a frown, she finally really lets him go. "No, we've got all the help we'd need... Though I would feel better if I saw you laying down in there and grabbing a mug of hot cocoa for yourself."

"My apologies, Della, but I do not need to lie down or have any hot cocoa. I will see if the kitchen needs any assistance then."

Or he'll find something else to keep himself busy. Rest is the last thing he feels he needs, the last thing he thinks he can have.

"Want and need are totally different things..." Della muttered under her breath, but otherwise, made no move to stop him, and headed back inside.

Sorry Duck Mom ;~;

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not here ooc