Following that other one... [video]

[runs_on_batteries]

If there are any kids- both big and small- who don't want to be alone right now, I'm making hot chocolate and blanket forts in the dining room.

Also, bring a blanket.

Comments

[Action]

[madcuriosity]

[Alice has her blankets around her shoulders and Dinah in her arms. She's in a nightgown, a new one she actually finds comfortable not the hideous things the train provides.]

Mr. Stark, I-I brought a blanket, I've never made a blanket fort before.

Re: [Action]

[runs_on_batteries]

[Tony was there with all the extra blankets he could find in his sleeper's hall closet. He'd left someone else in charge of the cocoa so he could help with the kids directly.]

That's alright. I'll show you how. You have a really pretty nightgown. My daughter would've loved something like that. Did someone make it for you?

[goingthroughaphase]

[ Well she certainly isn't going to be much sleep tonight. And seeing Tony's offer over the terminals has her heading for the dining car. If he's going to be putting this together for people, he might need some help.

That's the only reason she's going, of course.

Placing some extra blankets she'd...borrowed from her sleeping cabin aside, she then goes to find Tony. ]

Need a hand, Mr. Stark?

[runs_on_batteries]

[He has several piles of blankets around him and has started instructed the kids how to set them up. When he spies Kitty, he gives her a smile. It's not quite as bright as it normally is, but the effort is there.]

Hey Kitty. Yeah, I'd love some. I set out in the kitchen the cocoa mix but I could also use some help hanging these blankets up.

[blue_ice]

[ Kaiba is here in his simple orange flannel pajamas with a shining blue duel disk strapped to his arm, hard at work pinning up some blankets. His friend caused this mess, so it's his responsibility to help clean it up. At least, that's what he's thinking.

He hasn't had any luck finding the guilty party, so his expression is a little distant. Atem's reappearance and immediate justice had stirred up so many conflicting emotions. He respected the pharaoh, but that brand of justice was terrifying. As he'd heard that chilling voice, and seen the face of a comatose man, knowing from experience exactly what types of terrors were happening behind his eyes...

He sighs, closes his eyes, and places a card on the disk. A holographic silvery-blue dragon shimmers to life in the corner of the room, stretching its wings. Kaiba smiles at the questioning looks. ]

Don't worry. That's the card that scares the spirit the most. Atem knows better than to cross my dragon, so no one's getting hurt here.

[ ...a little white lie, but he has the dragon stretch cutely and yawn with a few button presses. It's here to entertain. ]

[hotheadwarmheart]

[Now here was something Lea could help with. He put on his best confident smile and stepped up near the dragon.]

And I've got a Keyblade. It's a weapon that's specially made for fighting the darkness. So with his dragon and my Keyblade on your side? That shadow guy won't dare come anywhere near here.

[He summoned his Keyblade and shouldered it casually. Its translucent blade glowed and shimmered with a warm light, contrasting the dragon's cool silver-blue.]

[dredefulchilde]

[Joss sits, bent over his cocoa and very quiet. Uncharacteristically so.]

[runs_on_batteries]

[Tony comes over and sits next to Joss. He doesn't say anything at first as he puts an arm around him. He figures it must be really awful to see a murder after having been murdered not that long ago. He couldn't imagine the horrors the kid must be seeing in his mind.]

I'm not going to let someone hurt you.

action;

[bridgetothefuture]

[Sam isn't the best at comforting. He's not the best at talking to people, often doesn't know what to say, and doesn't like getting close to most people physically besides that.

But he shows up in the dining car all the same, thoroughly disgusted by the sideshow that was a person broadcasting a murder with no thought for anyone who might come upon it unwillingly.]

...Here's to some of the kids not having witnessed anything.

[He doesn't sound so convinced that's realistic, though.]

Re: action;

[runs_on_batteries]

[He looked over at the man he didn't recognize. Was this who he'd been talking to earlier?]

Let's hope there were a few who missed it.

[He came closer and held out his hand.]

Tony Stark.

[hashtagparkerluck]

[ Yeah, Peter's in this boat for a multitude of reasons so he's just gonna settle next to Tony. ]

S'up Mr Stark?

[runs_on_batteries]

Super. It's just a bowl of cherries in here.

[Tony started to put an arm around Peter before pausing, wondering if it was welcome right now. He was aware his kid sometimes had issues with being touched.]

Uh, do you want a hug?

[Action]

[swansongs]

[He'd been in space. He'd faced monsters. And yet he was still shook up. Monsters were one thing, they were fantastical, but talking about murder and punishment and all of that, and not just talking about it, was something else entirely. It was real.

Which was why he ended up in the dining room, a blanket tossed over his shoulder.]

I know I'm not exactly a kid, but. I brought a blanket. Haven't made a fort since I was like, eight, though.

Re: [Action]

[runs_on_batteries]

Just channel your inner child and you'll be fine.

[He gave Dyme a weak smile and a pat on the back.]

We're going to need some creativity since all these chairs are bench seats.

[He'd go get Dyme a drink in a few minutes, but he was trying to gauge how shaken up the boy was.]

Action | OTA

[shockinglycaffeinated]

Telli arrived with an armful of blankets and her cane hanging off one arm. The video from the hooded figure hadn't disturbed her because of the content, instead it had been that she hadn't felt violence in the Force during either incident and she relied on it to tell her when danger was present.

She imagined most of the kids on the train would show, and while she wasn't sure she was that skilled at comfort, she was willing to make any snacks that were requested and to fight if that figure showed up.

She nodded to Tony as she dropped the blankets on one of the tables, asking "Do you need help?"

[myblueskies]

He sees his roommate and moves over.

He is one of the lucky ones who had managed not to see the video but he can tell what it was about by all the shouting and talking. It's very scary and sad but he's come here to try and help everyone!

"I can help too miss Telli!"

Action - Dancer

[mtsilver_conquor]

[Eva, Princess at her side, slips in long enough to a - get her own hot chocolate, and b- leave Dancer in the carriage.]

It's not as good as Princess, but if anyone wants to pet Dancer, they're more than welcome to.

[There's a trill of concern from the red pokemon as she settles near the edge of the table, feathers fluffed a little but otherwise, she's docile and willing to allow people to pat her or sit next to her.

That said, if someone looks partially distressed or worn down (or just because), she will hop over and start preening hair like a particularly fussy mother.]

[blue_ice]

[ Oh, what a nice bird. It was the only of Eva's team that he hadn't spent much time with yet---her trainer clearly needed time alone, so he'd try to greet the bird. He offered his hand and smiled sadly as she fluffed. ]

...Dancer, huh? Hey.

[Action]

[callmegladio]

He hadn't seen the ICP message about hot chocolate. He'd wandered to the kitchen on his own and saw people heading up to the dining areas. Curious, he followed.

What he saw... didn't really surprise him. But made him sad. Had so many really seen the same thing he had? So many kids...

Gladio was glad he'd managed to get rid of the damn ICP before Noct and Prompto had been able to see it. Looking at the haunted expressions around him, he was glad he'd been able to spare them the same.

Re: [Action]

[runs_on_batteries]

"Hey, you, tall guy," Tony called, with a slight smirk to his lips. The smile didn't reach his eyes like usual, but he was making an effort. He had one of the clothes lines from the laundry room holding the blankets up but it wasn't quite high enough to work correctly yet. "Don't just stand there, pin this up a little higher for me."

When Gladio got closer, he asked in a lowered tone. "You and your boys okay?"

[Action | OTA ]

[marriedanidiot]

[ Nerdanel quietly arrives with hot chocolate, and her son's silver harp, so old and well loved, wound about with enchantments for preservation and for music.

She is not one of the Arafinweans, skilled in mind. Nor is she her golden-voiced son. But she is a mother.

Sitting down, she begins to play, soft lullabies to comfort and to soothe, the musical version of a hug.

She's also available for actual hugs, if people want ]

Re: [Action | OTA ]

[laurefindil]

Glorfindel will show up and play with her on his flute, radiating the warmth and ease that was given to him by the Valar's gift.

[Action]

[sobothersome]

Maru had followed where the others had gone. Madoka held in one arm, her blanket wrapped around her. Madoka's Girlfriend was with them.

He stepped into the dining room to find more than a few people already there, so he gently set Madoka down, and then moved off to the side to drop down himself. He sat on the floor, quiet. He hadn't seen as much as others. But he'd seen enough. And that had been more than enough to make him feel sick to his stomach.

But he could see Madoka's Dad and knew Madoka would want to go and see him, so he sat quietly and waited, absentmindedly chewing on the nail of his thumb.

[happyends]

Madoka may have avoided seeing any of it, thanks to Maru, but it's still hard to miss what exactly is going on with so many people talking about it. So of course she has to go see her dad first when she notices he's in the carriage as well and then talk to her girlfriend, but the moment she's done with that, Madoka is quick to return to the side of the one who helped her out to begin with.

"Maru.. I'm back." She gives him a thin smile. It's weak, but at the very least it doesn't look totally fake or forced as she moves to sit down to him - really close to him, to a point where she's practically just leaning against his side. "How are you..?"

[Action | OTA]

[tinkerheart]

[Fëanor did not respond to the previous video. He couldn't. That would be the most hypocritical thing he did on this train and he has an ounce of self-respect left. But this was evil. Both of those things were evil. How fitting that out of the all people involved he only knows the murderer. How fitting for a Kinslayer...

For the love Eru, don't we have Council to solve such problems?!

Even if the very concept of trial by Council brings but memories of his own judgment by the Valar. Not something he really likes to remember but the truth remains, he did hideous things, they were right to punish him. How they did it, ah, that's something he can argue with. At least he got his chance to explain himself. Even if they ignored everything he said.

But this? This he has too many words to describe it, none of them pleasant. Both for the murderer and the one claiming to dispense justice. None of them anyone should hear.

So instead, after that second video, he just goes to the dining -- bringing all the blankets he could collect from their cabin -- to ... do something. Probably, cocoa. He makes good cocoa. Just ask Peter Parker.]

Re: [Action | OTA]

[laurefindil]

"Are you going to be all right?" Glorfindel asks quietly, coming back in from the kitchen. He offers Feanor a pastry.

[adropofsunlight]

[Rapunzel just seemed out of it, for the most part, unsure as to what she had just witnessed and being very unsure just how to handle it.

It was just awful. So when she heard the word of people getting together so they don't have to be alone Rapunzel figured she might as well do the same and hopefully find people there she knew. So with her blanket, Pascal and a frying pan in tow she made her way there.]

Do you need help with anything? [Her voice didn't have its usual luster and seemed a little drained more than anything. She was still taking everything in after all.]

[callmegladio]

Not me. [Gladio gave her a gentle smile, just like Rapunzel's voice, his smile wasn't as wide or happy as it normally would be. It didn't reach his eyes.

But he did lift a hand to gently rub the tip of his index finger under Pascal's chin.]

How're you two doing?

[He didn't need to ask if she'd seen it. He could tell. She had the same haunted expression as everyone else.]

OTA

[laurefindil]

Glorfindel shows up, he does not have a blanket, but he does have an enormous bin of pastries, and a satchel full of sweet smelling flowers. He has his healing energy cranked up, which will help anyone feeling mentally fragile, and bolster their spirits.

"Would you like a pastry?" he asks you. "Or a flower?"

[bloomingdespite]

...I don't suppose I could convince you to give these to the kids who actually need them?

[Considering that Wester is still very visibly a teenager, has also very visibly just come off a crying jag in the shower, and is curled up in a corner wrapped in a blanket... the answer is probably no.]

[Action]

[hotheadwarmheart]

[Honestly, Lea's seen worse things. And more than that, is confident in his ability to fight shadows if need be.

He wanted to help though, and thus fished out the extra blankets from the storage space in their room and brought them along to contribute.]

So, um... could you use an extra pair of hands?

action;

[happyends]

(For Tony)

Once Madoka is dropped off in the dining room by Maru, she's quick to start looking around - after all, there's on particular face she's looking for in the middle of a situation like this. (A situation she's slowly starting to piece together from various fragments of conversations she can catch from around the room.)

Thankfully it's very hard to miss Tony with his kind of presence, so it doesn't take too long before she's running up to him.

"Dad.." She isn't quite sure what else to say. But with how much Madoka hates focusing on herself, the only thing she can think to ask is-- ".. Are you okay..?"

(For Ple Two)

There's one other person she's sure to check up on. Even though it probably should be the other way around, considering Ple Two is the one who has to be used to seeing awful things, considering her circumstances. But Madoka's only way to deal with this situation is by heavily focusing on others.

And thankfully it's not too hard to find the other girl when they literally showed up here together thanks to Maru's little rescue action. Without saying anything just yet, Madoka just silently grabs Ple Two's hand to hold it.

It takes another moment before she even says anything. "Everyone seems really upset, huh..?"

[pleple]

Ple Two has seen war; seen a city destroyed by her master's machinations. Ple Two wasn't stunned by the display of gruesome violence, although it was certainly distasteful. The only thing upsetting to Ple Two was the relative peace of her home destabilized.

Someone else was apparently dealing with that.

Holding Madoka's hand seems more important now, and she leans closer. "...it's quite concerning... after all."

[so_dark_a_road]

[ Curufin brings a couple of blankets and his flute. ]

Tony, I know how to build a couch fort, I've had lots of practice in childhood and in one of my worlds. I'll play some soothing music, too.

This is a damnable situation. [ You can tell how disheartened he is, after all his efforts to befriend Xue Yang with the hope of persuading him to the side of reclaiming his own life and soul. ]

[runs_on_batteries]

[Tony reached out and gave Curufin's shoulder an affectionate squeeze when he came close. He offered the best smile he could muster, which wasn't that bright.]

Then you're in high demand here, my friend. This would work better if we had chairs with high backs instead of these bench seats, but maybe you can figure something out. And your flute playing is always welcome.

[He did sigh at the reminder.]

I've been told the person who did this might not have been aware of it. There are certain people here who 'host' other entities. This might be one instance of that.

Creed - OTA; watch the temper

[thebetterweapon]

Creed had been woken up by the booming voice, and then had witnessed on the ICP what was going on. When Tony's comes through, Creed moves silently to the dining car. He grabs a crate, flips it over, and sits on it, leaning against the wall. For all the world, he looks like a lazy feline, one fat and content. But his claws are out, and while his eyes are closed, his senses are wide open.

Anyone comes close, he cracks open one eye slowly. He'll keep an eye out for the kids, but if anything comes close to threatening... Well. He's got a reputation for a reason.

[runs_on_batteries]

Tony noticed the man against the wall looking like a gargoyle, protective, menacing, and silent. He understood that feeling very well, but even hardened men could use a little bit of support.

He opted for coffee instead of chocolate as he brought a mug over and held it out to Creed, clearing his throat to get his attention. He also had a cup he was sipping from that smelled faintly of alcohol and bust mostly coffee.

Misa, action, OTA

[sensitiveapple]

After going, and removing everything from her stomach, she stumbles into the dining car, looking pale and not so good. She's not feeling well at all. That scene had hit her hard. She's really only here to get something to settle her stomach, but she'll stick around.

She finds a corner to be in, and wraps her arms around her knees, not realizing that she's weeping. Being an empath sucks, a lot, and she would like to give the ability back now, please.

[dredefulchilde]

Joscelin curls up next to Misa and wraps his arms around her. Normally, he doesn’t initiate contact like this, but it’s not a normal situation.

[Action/OTA, angry WoL]

[sweetnessandfight]

Sarai...the usually cheerful Au Ra does not look happy right now. If anyone speaks to her, she will acknowledge, but her first order of business is...baking.

Baking cookies. Obsessively mixing together oatmeal, vanilla, sugars, eggs, raisins and cinnamon, flour, and smashing it together rather viciously. Taking all the anger she can't take out on its proper victim on what will, eventually, be cookies.

By the time she gets the first tray into the oven, she seems a bit more resigned, if not more calm.

"I am sorry these are not chocolate chip, but...I did not have the presence of mind to come with chocolate chunks."

[sobothersome]

The scent of baking cookies had him wandering to the kitchen. There, he found an angry lady doing nice things, which was kind of odd. He trotted in and with little effort he hopped up onto the counter, away from the ingredients, and watched her with tired, sad eyes.

"They smell good though. Even without chocolate chips."

Action

[bloomingdespite]

[Wester may not be a little kid, but as they stumble into the dining room, hair still wet from a shower, eyes red, and blanket wrapped around their shoulders, they certain look the part. They slump in a corner, sipping on Tony's hot chocolate and miserably looking at the scared children crowding the car, and curl up within their own blanket as they hug their knees.

If anybody tries to approach them, they startle, waving them away.] N- No! Don't worry about me, the... the kids need more help. I'm just a bit spooked, and... hot chocolate sounded good.

Re: Action

[sizedoesntmatter]

I wasn't going to ask for your permission to sit down.

[Yugi was only really here to check on certain people if they were there of course before he had plans to stay elsewhere. He had a lot going on in his head and he honestly needed the quiet when that came around.

But for now, he was just going to sit down whether the other liked it or not.]

Hey... how are you doing? I know it's not the best question to ask, I mean you obviously don't look okay... Want to talk?

[Video]

[deductiongeek]

[Conan appears calm as he opens the video call, but very serious.]

When you have time, I need to talk to you about something.

Re: [Video]

[runs_on_batteries]

I can meet you in my office, if you'd like?

OTA, arriving in the dining car

[sendiintheclown]

Showing up with Amira in his hoodie, Trowa looks at first glance completely calm. He is, however, not. There is a very minute tremble in his hands, though whether it is from the trauma of seeing that video or the rage over such brutality being broadcast to actual children is anyone's guess. "Need any help with the hot chocolate distribution?"

action | OTA

[sunbloom]

Itsuki hasn't really met a whole lot of people around the train yet, which makes today's events perhaps even more problematic. She doesn't really have a go-to for what to do if something shakes her, short of maybe her team... but she has a feeling her team won't be much better off, so she'll put that aside. Instead she sees the announcement of a hot chocolate and blanket party - such as it would be - and decides that safety, and emotional strength, in numbers might be the better plan. And beyond that, she's hardly the only younger person that might need reassurance, so... maybe she can help? Maybe she should help?

That thought brings her to the dining car with a blanket as requested, though she looks... alert but unsettled is probably the best description. Her first order of business, though, is to find whoever looks like they're in charge. That's probably the man she saw on the video earlier, so initially she'll make a beeline for Tony. "Ah, I saw the video... both of them. I'd like to help if I can?" That would probably be more effective a request if she sounded at all sure of herself, but it's there.

[myblueskies]

Once she is busy at work helping she will find a small weasel approaching, scrabbling at her foot to get her attention.

She might also notice that when the weasel is close to her she feels a lot better. There is a feeling of hope in the air, like things are going to be alright and it will be easier to be brave because of it.

Romeo doesn't actually know this girl, but he had noticed how much she was trying to help and so he approached her in case she needed help too. There were a lot of scared people at the moment and keeping their spirits up was important. He can do that whilst he's a weasel and so he is trying to help as many people as he can.