video: un; apparition

[unphase]

[Tinya's sitting in her sunroom wearing a white dress with Moonlight in her usual place on the armrest, watching everyone carefully]

I realize this may be a...painful topic for others, but has anyone considered a memorial garden for those we've loved and lost along the way? The world I was in before this had one and it was rather nice to have somewhere to go to leave flowers, to reflect on our losses.

I'm more than willing to spearhead this project if others think it would be helpful.

[she takes a deep, steadying breath, then continues]

I also find myself in need of a sensei. I'm fairly advanced as far as martial arts go as I came in third during the Trench-wide tournament about a year ago and I've only gotten better since.

Anyone who was interested in training me would have a good chance at bragging rights should there be another such tournament. I only want to learn from the best, so that I can be the best.

In both cases, please let me know your thoughts.

Thank you.

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[Video] un: secondtolast

[icanhearscreams]

[She might not be expecting a kid (well, a young teenager) to respond to this, but here he is.]

... A garden might be nice. I... there's a lot of people I know who need to be remembered. Maybe not... all of them specifically loved by me, but... someone cared about them.

[unphase]

[on the contrary, Tinya is entirely used to teenagers having a say in things. the age of majority in her galaxy was fourteen, after all.

and she recognizes him, which makes her general air of gloom lessen into a smile]

Yes. That was my thought exactly. There are...those I loved. One as a man and one as a brother. Both are now gone.

I dislike the notion of only carrying them in my own heart. There should be a place where they can be remembered.

And I've talked to you before, haven't I?

[icanhearscreams]

I think so. It's been a while, though.

... There's a lot of us here who have fought. Who have lost people. It's been longer for some than others, but the feelings don't really go away so easily.

[unphase]

It's probably my fault we haven't spoken in a while. I became too accustomed to things staying the way I expected them to be. This has...shaken that belief.

No, they don't. Especially in a place like Trench when found families can be even more powerful than one's blood family can be. I know it's like that to me, the only blood family member I felt close to was my grandmother. It's almost impossible to survive here without found families.

video | un: sds

[fogsong]

...a memorial garden might be nice, Tinya. [ She's lost a few people in the last year but the recent loss of Wesker has cut at her deeply. ] I wouldn't want one that reminded me of a graveyard, though.

[unphase]

No. No. Not like a graveyard at all. Back home, when someone dies we create elaborate gardens to memorialize them as a precursor to them finding the Mistress' Eternal Gardens. So it would be a garden, something everyone could go to and feel glad about remembering those they've lost. That they were here, they were loved, and they will be missed.

I've never made such a garden before, not on my own at least, but...the losses of Wesker and Sasuke so closely together...I want somewhere to go where I can remember the good times and wish them well on their journeys. If that makes sense?

[icanhearscreams]

No, it's... fine. I've had... a lot going on.

... I don't have any blood family that I'm close to. ... I didn't know my adoptive family was adoptive until about a year ago. But I'm not all that close with my adoptive family either.

[He wasn't with his sister. He should have been, but he wasn't.]

But here... mm. I don't know. I imagine some people can, but... it does help. To have people.

video; un: kolchek

[hearuthinking]

A garden sounds kinda nice. I think I'd like that.

[Merwin, Joey, and Clarice deserve some kind of memorial]

[unphase]

So have I, but I don't consider than an excuse for myself losing track of friends.

The only one I was close to was grandmother, Winona. My mother, Winema--she has what she wants. She's the President of the United Galaxies. The only thing she doesn't have control over is me. Not for a lack of trying.

[private]

If I may...why did your adoptive family stay silent?

It does help to have people. Especially in times of loss.

[fogsong]

I get it, Tinya, I think that makes a lot of sense. I usually just visit the ocean when I wanna... talk to them, I guess. [ Wesker and Rose. Sasuke and Nico and Joseph. ] If you need any help with this, I'd... You know I'd be happy to. I can't promise a ton of my time, I'm pretty much always busy, but I'll make room for this.

[unphase]

[she beams in gratitude] Thank you. I was hoping it could be for all of us.

And it wouldn't be any maudlin funeral garden, either, it would be planted with flowers blooming from early spring to late autumn. I...well, I don't know much about gardening, but I'm willing to learn. If it means we have someplace kind to remember those we've lost.

I'm Tinya. I've seen you around now and then.

[unphase]

I can't go to the ocean. That's too much of an...actual graveyard for me to feel comfortable with it. Something beautiful, that's what I'm used to. What I think they deserve, something which could be---could be added to. When more are lost.

I was hoping you'd say that. You really are the sister I always wanted, but never had. If...if you were open to it, I'd--. Well. I'm probably presuming too much.

[fogsong]

Just remember: they're not really gone when they're out there. They're just... away. [ That's how Sharon has been getting through it, clinging to the knowledge that Rose is out there, being a squid-mom and taking care of the squid-babies and helping them get to shore. ] But I get it. I... I really do.

[ Hold the phone. ] Out with it, Tinya. [ Warm but firm. ]

[unphase]

On one level, I know that. On the other...we were told that when people left, it was a glitch in the system. So were they still there? Were they back home? They wanted us not to know for sure. That way, we were more easily controllable because no one wanted to be trapped as a glitch in the system. That's one of many reasons why I hate those who were in charge.

[Tinya draws in a deep breath and lets it out] I was wondering if you'd be interested in a familial blood bond. Don't say yes or no right away, I want you to think about it before giving me your answer.

Video; un: darkness

[survivalthroughhate]

If you need a teacher, I shall be happy to offer. I can confidently say I am one of the best fighters in Trench and I have been tutoring a number of people for a while, which allows me to adapt to what styles a student needs to best learn.

[He paused, a thoughtful expression coming to his face.]

A memorial garden would be.....nice. There used to be such a thing around here if I am not mistaken but I don't know if anyone actually still does any upkeep on it.

[hearuthinking]

I don't know shit about gardening, either, but it sounds like you got a pretty solid plan.

I'm Jason. Nice ta meet ya.

[Private]

[icanhearscreams]

I don't know. Maybe they were ashamed.

Maybe my adoptive father just gave up parenting entirely after his wife died.

[fogsong]

Just remember: this isn't that world. For all that his place can suck, we at least have some idea of what happens to those who leave and they're not... trapped or tortured or... used against us.

[ Oh. Oh. Sharon wasn't expecting that. ] ...can I ask why you would want a bond with me? I've always been kind of wary of them. I don't know much about the types of bonds but... to bond with me would be to experience the type of hate I feel.

[Private]

[unphase]

That's awful. Both that he lost his wife and that he stopped bothering to be a parent to you. The first, that couldn't have been helped, but the latter? That's on him. He shouldn't have done that.

(CW: PTSD)

[unphase]

I know. I might have...maybe some kind of PTSD where the other world is concerned. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop and then when it doesn't, I get even more tense because I keep expecting it.

I can take it. [Tinya says gently] But, seriously, think it over and let me know. No pressure either way.

[unphase]

Thank you! I know there's a lot I need to learn, but I don't know...I simply think it's important. [a rueful laugh] So I'll need someone to teach me.

Nice to meet you, too.

[unphase]

Really? That's great--and I accept. I could also really use some lessons on armed combat, that part of the tournament I didn't do so well at. I'd like to do better next time. [a warm laugh] I always want to do better.

I suppose I'll have to check around. If there already is one and all it needs is someone or someones to get it back into shape and maintain it, that would be helpful.

[fogsong]

I can't say I'm an expert on recognizing PTSD in someone but... You kind of have some of the hallmarks. The first step is recognizing it, though. The next is working on it. [ She believes Tinya will get there, though. She's got a lot of faith in this woman. ]

I'll... Okay, I'll think it over, Tinya. Maybe do some research, too. I don't know much about the bonds beyond the basics.

(CW: mental illness)

[unphase]

Yeah. Some of my teammates have it--those who were lost for a year. So yeah. I recognize them, too. I just wish...[she sighs] I wish this place had some kind of mental health specialist. I can't help thinking it would be really helpful, but the poor person would likely be overloaded the moment they arrived.

Okay. And that's fine, I know it was kind of an out of left field request.

[Private] cw: suicide

[icanhearscreams]

... I think he just didn't know how to be a parent. My birth mother went to him because he was her teacher. I don't know how that conversation went. And even if I were in my world, there's no way I could ask, either. Not anymore. Not from her side at least.

I didn't know she was my birth mother until right before she killed herself. It was... needed to win my adopted sister's battle, but it's not like I ever got to talk to her about that sort of thing.