Accidental Video - Backdated To Mother's Day

[sos_pilot]

Type: Video
Sender ID: perfpilot (Della Duck)
To: Public
Subject: missing another mother's day
Warnings: Sads!


[ The feed turns on abruptly, with the image jostling - as Della had violently thrown the device on her bed and not realized it turned on. Everyone is treated to her yelling mid-rant, as she kicks furniture and stomps about, pulling at her hair. ]

- Missed it AGAIN, and this time, it's not even MY FAULT! How is that FAIR?! Haven't I done enough? Why can't I just... why? Is this someone's sick idea of a joke?! Am I just not... allowed to be with them? In any world? In any universe? Why? Why? I... I just...

[ Her voice breaks, and she sits on her bed, burying her face in her hands. After a moment, she shuffles, and pulls out a piece of paper from her jacket. From this angle, it's difficult to tell, but it could be a drawing of three little duck boys. She runs her fingers down the image, and then begins singing softly.

Fair to say a good number of people here know Della as an adventure-loving nutjob. But here and now, her voice is filled with genuine love. ]

Look to the stars, my darling baby boys,
Life is strange and vast,
Filled with wonders and joys,
Face each new sun with eyes clear and true,
Unafraid of the unknown...
Because I'll face it all, with you...

[ Then, out of the corner of her eye - which may be tearing up - she spots the device. And can guess what happened. ]

... Aw, phooey.

[ With a swallow, she reaches over, and weakly smiles. ]

... So. Uh. Anyone know any good jokes?

[ ooc: if you'd like to tag della but not interested in something this depressing, feel free to hit me up for a quest-starter! ]

Comments

[sos_pilot]

[ When she does get here, her eyes are slightly red from previous crying. But she's trying to look chill, waving a little as she approaches. ]

Hey. I'll keep any joking to a minimum, promise.

[ She's trying to sound cheerful, but it's clear she's worn out. That any attempt at lightheartedness is a desperate defense mechanism so she doesn't fall apart. ]

[wherethereislight]

[He looks her over for a moment. How she tries to maintain her composure.]

Do what you feel is necessary. [He turns with a wave of his hand, expecting her to follow. He'll lead her to one of the boats currently docked. Painted as black as the hedgehog himself, it practically blends into the night.] We're going to be investigating a cave, just off the mainland.

[sos_pilot]

[ Shadow the edgeboat, she thinks, but she mercifully does not say out loud.

After all, she's grateful! An adventure? Hot dog, that's just what she needs! She begins to lighten up. ]

Shadow, you're a man after my own heart. Let's set sail.

[wherethereislight]

[It's called the Dark Abyss, get it right. If he bothers to say the name.

His back is to her, but he's rolling his eyes at the approving gesture. Climbing onto the ship he goes, looking back to make sure she gets on without issue.

This boat is pretty bare bones, with only what is essentially needed. There are three rooms, though two are locked. One with a window blacked out, the other, one can see boat supplies being kept inside. The third, open and unoccupied. Literally, there's no furnishings at all. On deck, there are some nets set aside, big one and some small scoop nets.] You know how to set the sails?

[sos_pilot]

[ Gee, cozy little place. Could use a plant.

Again, she keeps the sass inside. Bottle it up for later on a sunnier day.

She rolls her shoulder, ready to do whatever's commanded of her. Might be best for him to do the thinking for her. ]

Yeah, I do. My main talent is the sky, but I actually know all about sailing ships... my twin brother is a sailor, and never did a day go by where he didn't ramble on about boat safety.

[wherethereislight]

[It functions and that's all that matters. ]

Raise the sails then. [He hasn't modified anything, so if she knows the general stuff, there should be no issue. Shadow will head to the helm of the ship as long as Della doesn't run across any problems. The engines on this boat aren't top class, but it'll get em going, the sails helping with the rest.]

[sos_pilot]

[ And there are no issues as she raises the sails! She keeps quiet, for the most part, but she does wind up humming that same song, just for a little bit. ]

[wherethereislight]

[His ears twitch when she starts to hum.

...

He says nothing as he steers the ship out to sea. He can't claim to have experience with this. He's the last person anyone should seek comfort in. He just conviniently had a task to do that she could come along and distract herself with.

They don't travel very far to reach the island in question. Nothing about it really stands out, and perhaps why most people overlook it. The cave itself doesn't have anything that made it stand out from any other old cave. Though the ceiling will eventually open up to the sky above.

Shadow will turn off the engine, letting the ship drift beneath the opening.] Lower the sails. We wait. [He says while walking onto the deck.]

[sos_pilot]

Ah, so you picked the one time you knew I'd be quiet.

[ A very light attempt at a joke. But it's the only one she'll pull, otherwise just giving a nod of understanding, ready to be as patient as the hours require, following right behind him. ]

[wherethereislight]

Not that quiet. [His tone is neutral, not meant to scold, just stating facts. Or maybe he's humoring her, who knows.

He looks up as the moon starts to shine into the cave. As it does, the cave starts to light up. Closer inspection, it was just various critters moving about the cave walls, and beneath the water's surface. They create an interesting affect inside the cave, where it felt like they surrounded by a night sky full of stars. The main attraction though, is gradually swiming it's way into the cave. Like a galaxy, moving through the water.]

[sos_pilot]

[ Now, Della hates the ocean and thinks everything underneath it is icky and gross. (So yes, living in this game has not been fun for her.) And she does initially wince at the sight...

but as her eyes adjust to the light, and she sees how much more related they are to the sky (and space) than to the sea, her body begins to relax. Her eyes trail all over the cave, even trailing a little bit of the wall so she can 'touch' the stars.

She winds up speaking again. ]

... I've been there, actually. To space. Flown among the stars. It ended really badly, but... for that brief moment... you really couldn't beat that sight.

[wherethereislight]

Well, nothing will happen in here. [He'll make sure of it. Shadow gathers the catching equipment and moves toward the edge of the boat. Looking below, searching.]

I've seen an aurora from space.

[sos_pilot]

Is that right? ... Really gives you a whole perspective on life.

[ She follows him to the edge, eyes on the water. ]

How small you are. How big everything else is. How much... of everything the world has to offer, and that one life can't grasp it all.

[wherethereislight]

[For him, time is no issue. Be it a curse or a blessing, his life is eternal. He can go anywhere, whenever he wants to. So he can't begin to try and understand someone with a finite amount of time.

...Someone like her.]

...What's your most memorable adventure to date back home? [Saying it's here would be too easy. He'll point at one of the creatures with a body that shined like a galaxy.] We're here for that.

[sos_pilot]

[ The question gets a good chuckle out of her, because how can she possibly choose? It takes a moment before she makes a decision. ]

... I have three sons. But Dewey was the first one who wanted to go on a solo adventure with me. With our Uncle Scrooge, we traveled to the Doomsday Vault. He was trying so hard to impress me, but he never had to. I'll always be proud of him and his brothers.

[wherethereislight]

[...Doomsday vault.]

What are the names of the other two? [He's eyeing one of the galaxy fish while they speak, recalling what the professor told him to get them to cooperate. In the bucket, he pulls out a jar covered in cloth. Lights dimly come through the cloth, and removing it reveals something like fireflies inside.]

[sos_pilot]

Louie, and Huey.

[ She watches him work, confused as to... what the work is and how it functions, but she'll wait for orders, not wanting to mess this up. ]

... Dewey's the showman, always loving to sing and dance. Huey's the brains, able to pop off so many facts. And Louie knows his way around people, good and bad.

[wherethereislight]

Hm. They complement each other. [He's going to tie the jar onto a rod, then offers it to Della.]

Hang this over the ship. Don't let the fish get to it. [Soon as those galaxy fish catch sight of those fireflies, they will start jumping excitedly for them. Be ready Della. He'll be grabbing a net to try and catch a few of them.]

[sos_pilot]

They really do. They get on each other's nerves and tease each other like any siblings... but they're also best friends, and know the best ways to help each other out.

[ Oh, ew, she has to touch the fish? Bleck. She digs in her belt, and pulls out her Dowsing Blade - since it's used more for treasure than to hurt others, she tries to do the same here, by swishing it around in the water to keep the fish away. ]

[wherethereislight]

...There will be dark days, but as long as they have each other, things will be fine. [Words that once assured him. Tomorrow will be another day. To try again. To have hope.]

Don't completely scare them off. [Don't worry Della, he'll be doing most of the fish wrangling. He lowers his net as one jumps towards the fireflies, catching it. He needs to move quick, the fish getting further tied up in the net the more it flails. Opening a compartment on the deck, he sends the fish down with a splash. A holding chamber for them. Two or three more should be enough.]

[sos_pilot]

[ Della nods in acknowledgement, slowing down her sword splashing. Yes, she can obey orders and do things in a calm, organized manner! It just doesn't come out all that often. ]

... They've got a whole family they can rely on for dark days. My brother, our uncle, cousins, the folks who work and live in the mansion, Uncle Scrooge's employees, their friends...

... They've got everyone they need.

[ Just not her. And maybe they don't need her. ]

[wherethereislight]

[There's a quiet sigh as he closes the compartment.]

But none of them are you. [He returns to her side, prepping the net.] Do you really think they have everyone? [Will they always be there? Or is there something only Della Duck can provide them?]

[sos_pilot]

[ But they didn't need her for over ten years. Why start now? What can she give them that Donald or Scrooge couldn't?

Ah, damn. If this keeps up, she'll start crying again. She doesn't want to burden Shadow with her tragic backstory when he's trying to help her out. She pushes a palm to the edge of her eye, trying to calm down. ]

... I'm definitely not them, that's for sure. [ A tired chuckle. ] For better or worse, there's nobody like Della Duck.

[wherethereislight]

[That's the thing. He doesn't know. He doesn't know if these are the words she needs to hear specifically. It just what seems right to him. If it isn't, he will adjust.

He tilts his head. If there was something to be said, it isn't his place to press her if she chooses not to say. What he will do, is reach to rest his hand over hers that was holding onto the dowsing blade. He can handle this without her assistance if she needed to step away.]

[sos_pilot]

[ And that does it. He's no Iblis Trigger, but that simple physical gesture triggers her - mostly because she didn't see it coming. She doesn't think he's a jerk, she just didn't expect him to be comfortable with it.

She doesn't look at him, eyes on the water, but the tears come, dripping off her face. ]

... Ever since I was a kid... I've gone adventuring with my uncle and my brother. It was some of the happiest times of my life... so when I got pregnant, I wanted my babies to have the same kind of life... only better. The world... felt so small at that point. That we'd done everything. So I wanted to give them the stars. I wanted to go into space.

But my brother objected. He said it was too dangerous, and now that I was a mother, I needed to ground myself and think more seriously. I thought he was being overprotective. I thought I knew better. And my uncle, the world's richest duck... built the ship in private. He planned it to be a surprise... and a trip we'd all take together.

But, shortly after I laid my eggs... I found the ship. And I... I told myself it was for my kids, but...truthfully... I was so determined to prove my brother wrong. To prove I knew best. And... because I wanted another adventure. I was... so selfish. So stupid.

... And as a result... I crashed on the moon. I lost my leg. And... I was away from my home... my family... my sons... for over ten years.