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;

[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."

[happyends]

There's a slight dip of her head into a nod at that statement. 'Quite concerning' really is one way to describe it - and actually not too far off from what Madoka is feeling. She's seen a few horrible things back home too, and although she's glad she was saved from having to see it thanks to Maru, she's more worried about what this might mean. What it could lean to.

"I wonder if it's all going to be okay eventually.. Even the adults all look so worried."

[pleple]

Most of the children here are already suitably traumatized to be alright, but certainly not all of them.

"Violence in a situation like this is troubling. It will be fine, but... there ought to be a lot of discussion." Or they could all just take over different train cars and break down into tribalism, but that seems unlikely at this point.

[happyends]

"Yeah.. I-I mean, we have no idea if that person isn't going to do that again.."

And from what she's heard, what Xue Yang did really was bad. But if there's someone going around by themselves deciding to punish people, that feels doubly bad.. After all, what are their standards for punishing people? There are other people on the train who have killed before.

.. Like the girl standing next to her, judging by what Madoka has seen, right..?

That thought makes her grip on Ple Two's hand tighten just a little, even though nothing could take Ple Two away from her side right now.

"That's scary."

[pleple]

It's not a functional system - hopefully, though, it doesn't come up again. But the more people crammed into this small space... especially some of them knowing each other...

Ple Two squeezes back.

"Whatever's happening to them should stick with them," she says quietly. Hopefully it's deterrent enough.

[happyends]

She slowly nods. Madoka grows quiet, and it's hard to tell if she's thinking really hard about something, or if she just has no idea what to say in this situation at all. She tries really hard to be optimistic, but in this sort of situation it's hard even for her.

".. Do you maybe want to go sit down together?" There is a blanket fort going on now, after all. At least they'd be slightly more comfy.

[pleple]

Either way, Ple Two is happy to let Madoka have the time she needs - and not good at thinking of what to say herself.

"...somewhere soft... sure..."

[happyends]

"Okay.."

Thankfully somewhere soft is not hard to find with all the blankets and pillows that have been thrown all over the place. Thanks, Tony. Madoka is sure to find a spot that's a little out of the way though - mostly since she doesn't want Ple Two to have to deal with too many people if she's not up for it, but.. honestly? Right now Madoka isn't too sure whether she herself can deal with too many people. Everything feels too uncertain for it.

What she does make sure of, however, is to scoot as closely as possible to Ple Two once she's sitting down on some pillows. She's practically glued to the other girl's side like this. Madoka considers putting her head on Ple Two's shoulder, but doesn't do it quite yet.. Would it be going too far? She's not sure.

[pleple]

It seems like a lot of... fluff. Ple Two understands that this is distressing, but she's not sure hiding in a pile of bedding is what will comfort her, at least.

It keeps them all together and feeling safe, though, and stability is what they need to maintain. She's far more conscious of Madoka's closeness than anything, when she leans in, though, heart pounding.

Ple Two carefully reaches her arm out, and wraps it around Madoka's waist, and turns a little red as she holds her close. "...better?"

[happyends]

At least that arm around her waist makes the decision a lot easier. If Ple Two doesn't mind that right now - and can even initiate it, on top of that! - then it probably isn't too bad to just be as close as possible to the other girl right now. Because that's what Madoka wants right now.. and what she needs too, honestly, in order to feel a bit comfortable again.

So she does settle in a bit more against Ple Two's side, leaning into the hold and letting her head rest on Ple Two's shoulder.

"Hmm.. A bit." She doesn't want to lie and say she's fully better right now. But it is most definitely helping. ".. Sorry. It must look weird that I'm so worried.." Since Ple Two seems to have things together a lot more right now.

[pleple]

That should be a pretty clear sign. Whatever she needs to do to comfort Madoka when she's hurt, and scared.

It's not like Ple Two isn't nervous, but surely those with authority will work it out, right?

Madoka resting against her is comfortable. It warms her. She has to think about how to respond. "I... am probably not worried enough," she says quietly. "Violence is... normal... to me."

[happyends]

"I.. I really don't think there's something like not being worried enough."

Granted, Madoka is horribly biased when it comes to just wanting to comfort the people important to her as much as possible. She'd say pretty much anything in order to make anyone else think even slightly less negatively about themselves. But in this case there's a basis of truth to it, since--

"I mean.. Isn't it a good thing when you can keep a cool head in difficult situations..? E-Even though the reason you can is a little sad.. I still think it's pretty amazing that you don't feel scared like me."

Re: action;

[runs_on_batteries]

He was just finishing a quick bit of instructions (probably not actually quick, but quick for Tony) to one of the kids about how to hang a blanket when he catches sight of his daughter hurrying toward him.

Dropping to a knee, he caught her in a fierce hug. He'd been so worried about her! It might not have seemed it as he was making himself busy with organizing the distraction for the kids but he wasn't nearly so calm internally. He drew back at her question and put a hand gently to her cheek. "I'm fine. What about you? Did you see it?"

He wasn't going to let her out of his sight! Screw independence, she was going to get wrapped in bubble wrap and armed with a missile launcher.

[happyends]

Hey, as long as it's a pink missile launcher..

She gratefully accepts the hug though. Madoka really needs it right now. Even though she may not have seen the video, the situatio is still worrying and scary enough for her to want to find some comfort. And who's better to provide some than her dad? Even just being held by him makes everything a bit better.

Madoka shakes her head at the question - though lightly, not wanting to lose that touch on her cheek. "No. Maru made sure I didn't."

(She really isn't mentioning that to get her cat pal some bonus points with her dad, but it's a nice side-effect anyway.)

"But.. do we really have people on the train who'd do these kinds of things..?"

[runs_on_batteries]

It might not be the intended outcome, but Tony looked in Maru's direction and made a mental note to go thank him before the night was over. He'd gotten over his dislike of that strange cat. He still wasn't the biggest fan that there was some boy in her bed, but he was fairly convinced he'd put enough fear in him that nothing would happen.

Maybe he should see if one of her roommates would spy for him too. Hmm. Ple Two was in her room, wasn't she? He liked her.

He shook his head at her next question. "We won't for long. I'm going to make an example of whoever this person was so that it never happens again. You're safe here."

[happyends]

Usually 'make an example of' might not be the most comforting way to put it when talking about something that seems to involve a cycle of revenge to begin with. But it matters less when it's her dad that Madoka is talking to here - and of course she has faith in her dad of all people. He'll figure out some good way where no one has to get hurt and everyone can be safe. If anyone can, it's Tony.

"You're going to be safe too though, right, dad?" Sure, she knows. He's Iron Man. He's cool and tough and all, but could anyone blame her for worrying all the same, considering the situation? "I don't know what I'd do if you'd get hurt.." Especially now he's her only father left here.

[runs_on_batteries]

"Of course, sweetheart. Of course. I'll be safe and I'll make sure everyone else is too." He ran his hand gently through her hair. He offered her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, kitten. No one messes with your dad." He playfully ruffled her hair. That remark gave him Mufasa flashbacks but whatever. He could totally pull off being a big lion with his cub.

He looked around the room and wondered what he could do to help get her mind off things. "What would be something fun we could do together? We could dance or go make some cookies or.. I'm pretty good at braiding hair."

[happyends]

"Okay, dad.. I believe in you."

It might sound like a slightly meek answer, but it's mostly since this whole situation still has her kind of on edge compared to usually. It doesn't have much to do with any lack of faith in him - when he says that he'll be safe and keep everyone else safe too, she immediately believes him. Of course she does. Her dad is amazing.

It's his question that makes her stop to think though, until he comes to that last suggestion. It pretty obviously has her interest, since she looks at him with big eyes.

"Are you good at that?" Her hair is starting to get longer with how long she's been here now.. Not to mention it'd just be a relatively relaxing thing to do with him right now. "I.. I think that might be nice. If you don't have anything else to do right now."

It's a complicated situation! And there's a lot of people here. Madoka would understand if someone else needed someone as important as him right now.

[runs_on_batteries]

Tony leaned in and kissed her forehead. "I couldn't ask for anything more than that."

Stepping back, he grinned watching how his sweet daughter so clearly wanted to say yes but just couldn't quite let go of the worry that she was overstepping her bounds. He didn't know what he needed to do to help her gain more confidence, but he nodded encouragingly. "Of course I am. Haven't you figured it out?" He teased lightly. "I'm good at everything. Go find a comfy spot and I'm going to go over there to see if anyone brought a brush. Alright?" There were a bunch of girls and they were having a slumber party. Someone had a brush! He knew how these things worked!

[happyends]

At least the fact he's still on for it makes her smile a bit. Sure, with Madoka being Madoka she would have done her best to not be disappointed if he had to do something else, but it would've been impossible to completely stop that emotion. Now she doesn't have to feel it at all though - instead she just nods.

"You're right. You are good at everything." It's not even sarcastic or anything. Tony is great at enough of things that she feels like she can flatter him with it. Her dad is great, after all.

And with those words she does as he says - wandering off to find a comfy spot to sit on some pillows, pulling her ribbons out of her hair so it falls down over her shoulders.

[runs_on_batteries]

It isn't long before he's found exactly what he needed- a brush and (bonus!) a small mirror. He paused to request someone bring out another cup of cocoa for Madoka, but otherwise, he came back to her quickly.

He chuckled as he came back and saw how eager and cute she looked waiting on him. He doubted he could've loved this sweet girl anymore even if she'd been his biological daughter. She was immeasurably precious to him. Sure, it made him a little bit of a bear to deal with regarding her safety, but it was motivated by care.

Sitting down behind her, he handed over the mirror. "Here you can watch and see if I make you look goofy," he quipped. After a brief pause, he leaned closer to whisper, "I promise I won't!"

[happyends]

Honestly, the nicest thing about this situation is absolutely Tony's attitude. It almost doesn't feel anymore like the incredibly strange and disturbing events of earlier today even happened. It's like that was just a nightmare or something with how - in comparison - normal this feels now. Him acting all goofy like that is enough to instantly put her in a better mood.

So there's a tiny smile as she takes the mirror and holds it.

"I know you wouldn't." Although that's more Madoka having just a little bit more faith in Tony than he necessarily deserves rather than her knowing that there's no way Tony could bear pranking her like that for more than two seconds before guilt would start to roll in. "I'm sure you'll make it look cute.. I haven't had braids in a long while though."

[runs_on_batteries]

Sometimes incidents like this are what help make it all so clear where priorities should be placed. He didn't always give her time to the people who deserved it the most. Pepper knew that more than anyone and it was something he regretted. Now that they were in middle of a big mess, he could only think of the girl he cared about the most.

"We should make sure you get your braids more often," he suggested. He could make this small commitment, couldn't he? It wasn't sure a huge portion of his time and would give them one more nice reason to always be checking in with each other. As he gently brushed her hair, he asked, "Do you want pigtails or one braid?"

Whichever she wished, he accepted easily and went right to work. He had to keep reminding himself not to go too fast though. This was supposed to be a bonding time, not just a rush to get her hair fixed. "We haven't touched base in a while. If we ignore tonight, how have things been for you lately? Are you okay?"

[happyends]

Madoka is such a terrible liar. It's evidenced once more just now by the way she's quiet for a moment after he asks that last question. It's a telltale sign that she has to think about what to answer to that, and it's not just that she has to think since she's not sure of her mood. It's more her trying to determine what the best thing would be to say here, considering how little Madoka wants to bother other people. Even her own dad. There are so many things she kept secret even to her parents back home, after all.

"I've been okay.." She then answers. It's not a total lie, since it's not like she's miserable, but there are quite a few worrisome things that have been on her mind. "It was a little weird though that all of a sudden we weren't able to talk to each other earlier this week, right..?" Back when the translator function on the train started malfunctioning. "Do you think something like that could happen again, dad?"