voidtreckernet | video/action

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[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!))

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Ryo is seated on a pillow, blanket draped over his shoulders and Lagos tucked into the pocket of his robe, when Thanatos passes by. He knows Thanatos isn't quite there - he hadn't really been during the last day of the mission, and if Ryo himself hasn't recovered, he can't expect Thanatos to have done the same - but...he can't act like nothing is wrong. Thanatos is his friend - in the illusion, Thanatos was his brother - and seeing him checked out like this hurts. He can't stand it.

He doesn't have the energy to handle this - not really - but that doesn't stop him from speaking up. "Thanatos?"

Thanatos stops his floating, some mugs with the last dregs of hot cocoa in his hands. He might as well be a moving statue with how blank his expression seems to be. (Some statues have more emotion than he does.)

"Did you need something?"

Oh, this isn't nearly as bad as Ryo had thought it would be.

It's worse.

He locks eyes with Thanatos and his breath catches in his throat, mind going as blank as Thanatos's expression. Words fail him- he's already tired, he doesn't know what to do, and he can't think- an awful silence stretches for just a moment too long-

Broken, thankfully, by Lagos, who has decided that the awkward silence is good for nobody and once again makes his opinion known with a loud rattle. Hey, Mort! What's up with your god? He's acting weird, even for him!

It's enough to snap Ryo out of his shock and leaves him with a flash of inspiration. "I-I think Lagos wants to talk to Mort, and...I don't want him yelling when everyone's trying to rest. Will you sit with me for a bit so they can talk?" It's not even close to a good excuse, but it's all Ryo can come up with right now.

Thanatos waits, not blinking when Ryo locks eyes with his. Sometimes mortals need a moment to think about what they want.

"Mort's not here. He's in the cabin. If you have a message, I can pass it along to him after my duties here are finished." That's probably not what Ryo and Lagos wanted to hear, but if Thanatos doesn't have Mort with him, there's no reason to sit down and talk in his mind. "Is there anything else I can help you with?"

Mort isn't with him - since when does Thanatos not carry Mort with him? Even Lagos rattles in alarm - this is not good, and Ryo needs to do something!

The problem is, he can't think of what to do, aside from one thing. "Can- can you go get him, please?" Maybe Mort can help, if he can just convince Thanatos to start carrying him again.

Since Thanatos thought that it would be best to protect Mort. He'll be safe in the cabin. Death doesn't need friends or company. That's not part of his fate or responsibilities.

"Is it that urgent?"

It's Lagos that answers with one very loud, long rattle.

Ryo translates. "Yes."

If it's really as urgent as the both say it is, Thanatos will just shift locations right then.

However, he walks back into the gym with Mort in his hands. He's still being a little considerate of those resting. Thanatos holds out Mort towards Lagos and waits.

Exhausted though he is, Ryo still startles when Thanatos abruptly disappears into starlight and a loud bell toll. He is never going to get used to that, is he.

But there's no time to dwell on it - they likely only have moments until Thanatos returns, and Ryo gently removes Lagos from his pocket and sets the companion on his lap. "Remember," he says quietly, "I can't understand him, only you. I need you to find out what's going on."

Lagos rattles an affirmative. Don't worry. He's got this.

Thanatos returns, walking across the gym, and Ryo is relieved to see Mort is with him - he'd honestly worried that Thanatos would forego fetching the mouse entirely. Lagos, on the other hand, gets right to work. Mort! What's going on with Thanatos? He's being weird and it's starting to scare Ryo!

There's nothing different about Mort's appearance, but somehow, he seems depressed. His squeaks are muted and curt, as if he is also struggling. Thanatos is like when he came back to work after his Sisyphus assignment. He is focused on doing only his job right now.

Mort doesn't say it aloud, but he doesn't know what to do. Thanatos is broken. He needs to be fixed. But how?

"Is that all?" Thanatos asks when Mort goes quiet. "I'll return Mort to the cabin, so he's safe."

Even though Ryo can't understand him, even he can still hear that Mort sounds wrong - too quiet for as lively as he usually is. When Lagos relays the message, it's all Ryo can do to try to keep a neutral expression, and he knows he doesn't entirely succeed. He'd broken. Thanatos had broken, and he needs to fix this, but he doesn't know how, and-

And Thanatos wants to put Mort back-

"No," Ryo says, too quickly for it to be anything but desperation, and he scrabbles for a reason, anything to make this sound plausible, anything that could help, and he's fighting exhaustion and grasping at straws but he has to try- "I-I need you to keep him with you." Why? Why? He needs a reason- "In- i-in case- Lagos needs to talk to him again." Oh, this is terrible, but now he's committed and he can't stop. "I don't want you to keep having to make trips. And- Mort's safer with you than he is alone."

And maybe, if Mort is with Thanatos, he can help, because Ryo sure as hell doesn't know what to do.

Lagos picks up on that worry (because it is blatantly obvious, c'mon Ryo) and starts back up with Mort. Will he listen to you if you talk to him?

Thanatos looks at Ryo. "Those in my cabin are trustworthy and would do nothing to harm him." And anyone who tried to grab him would only cause Mort to fall apart until Thanatos returned. It's like Chthonic companions have a built in defense mechanism.

Mort seems to match Thanatos annoyance. What does Lagos think he has been doing? Abandoning him when things went bad in Jinnjar? He has been talking to him, featherbrain!

"... Ryo, why is Lagos upsetting Mort?"

"I know, but he's still better off with you." It continues to be a terrible argument, but he's a bit stuck, and exhaustion has completely forestalled his ability to think on the fly.

Lagos, never being one to deescalate a situation, takes offense at Mort shooting down his attempt to help and fires back. He didn't ask if you'd been talking - he'd ask if Thanatos would listen, cheese butt! And Thanatos left you in his room, so obviously you haven't talked enough!

Ryo just...closes his eyes for a moment. Of course it's getting worse. When does it not get worse? This is his godsforsaken life aboard this train: things continually getting worse. "Because he's Lagos," he says, deeply exhausted, "and he needs to remember what he wanted to talk about." Please get back on track, Lagos. Please.

Mort squeaks ~~FITE ME!~~ that Lagos implied it and is rude to think he hasn't been doing everything he can to help Thanatos out. And of course Thanatos listens to him when he talks, but Thanatos is still Thanatos!

Thanatos lays a hand on Mort's head and brings him closer to his chest. That also creates more distance between the two Chthonic Companions.

"Whatever Lagos's wants at the moment, it doesn't seem urgent or important enough to rile both of them up while everyone else is trying to rest." These two are causing a ruckus, and they are probably getting stared at. "I need to get back to work."

Yep, Thanatos is walking away and taking Mort with him.

This may not be going well, but it is certainly going. Ryo sighs as Thanatos pulls Mort away. "Alright." He can't really argue with that logic, and at least Thanatos seems to be keeping Mort with him. It's a step, right?

(Every time he tries to help Thanatos, things end up worse than before. What is wrong with him?)

"I think," he says quietly to Lagos, after Thanatos has left, "that you owe Mort an apology. For upsetting him, and also for calling him cheese butt." By the gods, what is his life?

Lagos grumbles - Mort started it! - but eventually acquiesces. Yeah, yeah, Ryo is right. Next time they see each other, he'll apologize.

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