voidtreckernet | Following that other one... [video]

Following that other one... [video]

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.

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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.]

[Pascal at the question seemed to understand it and simply changed to a blue color indicating sadness. Rapunzel herself had stayed quiet for a moment to try as if she was trying to collect her thoughts and feelings.

Once she was able to she finally opened her mouth.]

I'm not...great so to speak. I mean what just happened is... terrifying.

[Gladio gave the little lizard a sympathetic smile and waited for Rapunzel to work out what she needed to say. And when she did, his smile became sadder.]

No, I guess you saw the whole of it? It was... deeply unsettling.

[There was no lying about it. It wasn't something he'd wanted to see today, but they'd been forced to witness it regardless.]

You shouldn't have had to see that, kiddo.

Yeah... Not intentionally. I admit I was just a little curious what was going on.

[And it was that curiosity that caused her to see it really. She shook her head slightly. That probably was true, but yet at the same time it reminded her that in reality some of what mother said had indeed been true. There are some very scary people out there in the world.]

But it's that sort of thing that sort of proves my mother was right though...

What do you mean she was right?

[He kept his tone gentle, but he was concerned. He didn't want her being afraid because of this. He didn't want any of the kids to be afraid. They shouldn't have to fear the people around them or the home they'd been making for themselves.

It made him more angry with the person who had done this. In one stupid broadcast they'd managed to shatter the peace they'd had there. Gladio hadn't realised just how fragile a thing it had been.]

My... mother always told me that the world was cruel and bad and that's why I should never leave.

[Sure here things seemed to be okay for the most part with missions being the thing that saw it from a different angle, but this was something else completely. She didn't know things could be this awful.]

[For a moment Gladio looked pained, hearing those words, and crouched down to bring himself more to Rapunzel's level (maybe a little lower) and gently took her hands in his.]

No, no Princess, that's not right. The world is a beautiful, amazing place. [He sighed] There might be some bad people. But there's so much good in the world, I know it looks bad now, but I promise... you're safe.

[She just nodded slightly. Though she hadn't really seen the world much beyond missions and pretty much the train for the most part she knew of at least some positives that she had seen. But the more she thought about it the worlds and missions especially the space one had been more of a negative side than a positive.

Maybe there was a way to see this in a balanced way?]

I-I know there are somethings on the train that are nice, but now it's the case of not knowing the good from the bad. I... want to see the good in everyone though, but... I guess that takes time.

... That's the world, kiddo. Light and dark and shades of grey. Good people can do bad things, and bad people can do good... No one's ever a hundred percent one way or the other.

It's how we live our lives. [He moved to take her hands in his and smiled, though there was some sadness to it.]

Be someone who see's the good in others. Who looks past the bad to see the goodness inside. That's a gift and you were born to shine. I know... I know something like today hurts, it's hurt a lot of people. But it's not common. And it won't happen again. Don't let a moment of darkness take away the light, kiddo.

I... will try at least.

[But it probably meant trying to find some understanding in certain things or simply talking to someone in order to do as such, but considering she knows nothing was not something she could do right away. But it has given her some thought for later.]

But for now focus on others, right?

Focus on whatever you need to help yourself get through this.

[Gladio gave her hands a gentle squeeze before he let them go and pushed himself back to his feet again.]

But I'm here if you ever need anything, alright?

Got it, but helping others will help me, I think.

[She had that in her mind, she wanted to help in her own way even if she didn't feel great.]

Helping others is a huge help. And they'll appreciate it I'm sure.

[She was a good kid. Brave too. He was proud of her for that. Even as uncertain as she was, Rapunzel was willing to push it aside to help others.]

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Following that other one... [video]

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