AUDIO | UN: 🐟 WANDA

[explosion]

[ posted in the early hours of sunday 8 may aka mother's day.

it's not on brand for wanda maximoff if she doesn't make a post every blue moon about something sad.

today, it's one that she knows she has no business making. but today's a day that she wishes she was spending in westview with billy and tommy, and after seeing them in a portal only a few weeks ago…

the wounds are a little fresh. so is her loneliness. ]

Can you still celebrate Mother's Day even when your children are not with you?

[ her voice is low and her accent is thick and shaky. wanda's trying to keep her composure. this isn't meant to be as upsetting as it sounds. wanda had her script perfected, her inflection decided upon in her rehearsals in front of the mirror. but the star of wandavision's final cut isn't as clean and perfect as she wishes it to be. ]

Comments

( audio | un: salvatore )

[prescind]

You should. It doesn't make you any less a mother if your children aren't here.

( nadia wasn't here but he'd bought katherine flowers and a card for mother's day because she was still a mother. )

audio

[explosion]

[ ah, that familiar voice.

wanda can't help but brighten at that. stefan had seen her boys, after all. wanda can't hide from him like she can many others. he's seen them in the flesh and how they brighten even the darkest of dreary corners.

it has a little weight coming from him, especially, well... especially since he has such a loss. ]

Do you really think so? [ she sounds hopeful. ]

voice; un: lady

[dohaeris]

[oh...now sansa misses her own mother. it would be nice if she could tell wanda about her, and the fish sigil, and perhaps wanda will feel better if she could talk about her children, too.]

Wanda? It's good to hear your voice. I--haven't heard of a mother's day, but I know what it is to miss your family, and if you'd like to be celebrated with cake, and perhaps a new dress, I have some.

voice

[explosion]

I could never take a cake and dress away from Lady.

[ since, of course, everything is for lady, surely. but wanda sounds upbeat and amused—and she feels very touched that alayne would even wish to do something of that nature for her. ]

Do you like cake?

audio ; un: a.solo

[hopesparks]

I think you can. But you don't sound like you want to.

[ The sadness in her voice resonates with him, and he thinks it's because he imagines his mother saying the same words. They were separated so often that he wonders if she ever felt this way whenever she had to leave her children behind. ]

audio

[explosion]

[ he's not wrong. wanda wishes to celebrate, but there are a few caveats to her celebration. what's required is her sons, and, well... they're not here. wanda's tired of celebrating alone. ]

I want to, but... I don't know if I want to.

[ it sounds so utterly stupid when she says it aloud. ]

It's not the same when you're alone. [ she pauses for a moment and considers even asking her next question. and when she does ask, she sounds a little amused. ] Does that make sense?

audio | un: graham crackers

[possessum]

( Mother's Day. It's been a few years since he was brought from his home world — first to the Dream that was Deerington, and now to the Nightmare that is Trench — but Peter.... hasn't thought of that day, in all this time. Hasn't been reminded of it until this very moment.

He almost doesn't (can't) reply. His own wounds aren't quite so fresh, maybe, but this topic presses against his scars and digs in. It aches. He can't hide that ache in his own voice when he finally does reply, the way his words tremble at the edges. He's nineteen now, closer to a man than a child, but his voice sometimes still feels so small. )

I forgot all about Mother's Day. I haven't— ( Something hitches, pauses. Peter swallows, and his words shift, tone softening. )

How many children do you have?

audio

[explosion]

Two. Two twin boys who couldn't be any more different if they tried to be.

[ although she is a strong telepath, she doesn't need to stretch across the distance to know that perhaps answering him rather than pointing out the tremor in his voice may be what he needs. her voice, despite the topic at hand, is strong and amused—a very stark contrast to how she first posed her original question.

she sighs quietly. ]

It's not a fun day, is it? You don't need to answer.

Video; UN: Filledwithsunshine

[onebadapple]

Oh, I've never heard of this holiday. If your children are not here, I think you should still celebrate. They're your children, aren't they? I'm sure they love you very much and miss you.

I'm so sorry your children aren't here though.

Video

[explosion]

[ wanda doesn't hesitate to switch to video. if Filledwithsunshine has the confidence to video, then she should, too. and she has such kind words to share—truly the epitome of sunshine.

she gives her a small smile. ]

Thank you.

[ her eyes shine with unshed tears. she smiles. ]

I hope they don't miss me too much. I would want them to be like your username—filled with sunshine, not stormy clouds.

Audio | UN: rosestorm

[thunderingcourage]

It's not always easy. But I've still celebrated mother's day and father's day, even after I lost them both. I'd like to think that it would make them happy.

Audio

[explosion]

[ ah. wanda hadn't wished to think of mother's day when it comes to iryna. she has missed her for too long—and had wished for her to appear in westview and be the grandmother wanda wishes she could always be. but to know that there is someone else who understands how difficult it is, well... wanda dislikes anyone being in this club. ]

I think they would be happy, too. [ there's a smile to her voice, even if the volume she speaks at is low. ] I'm sorry you lost them both. My brother and I would always celebrate with something small. [ she shakes her head, despite it not being seen. ] I don't know what to do for my mother this time.

voice | un: kd6-3.7

[obeir]

Once you become a parent, you're never not one, right? I'd say you could still celebrate if you'd like to.

Though I'm sorry you're separated from your children. I can only imagine how difficult it must be.

[ While it's unfortunately very unlikely he'll ever have children of his own, being an android, he has developed some surprisingly paternal feelings toward some here and back in Deerington. Enough to be able to empathise, at least. ]

voice

[explosion]

I would like to think so. I was only a mother for such a short time.

[ and yet her children had aged twelve years within the span of a week. wanda wishes they had twelve years together rather than only five days. it's one thing she wishes for the trench to give her. ]

I know many of us don't trust the Trench, but… I hope it will give me them one day. That's all I want for Mother's Day. Just a moment with them again. It's very hopeful for a place like this.

Voice | un: mister_hatter

[payingfordeliverance]

...at home, there was a certain young lady who always addressed me as her big brother. However, after her mother passed ten years ago, I came to see her as my daughter.

[Not at all the same sort of situation, and it's not as though he ever told her how he felt; it would have been far too forward. Still, as far as Break is concerned, a parent is a parent is a parent, and this is something he and Wanda have in common in this place. He has an enormous pile of kids to look after here, but none of them are Sharon Rainsworth.]

I think that, if we had had such a holiday in my own world...we definitely would have taken the time to honor her memory every year, all the same. Your mother is always your mother even if she isn't there anymore, you know? And -- your children are always your children.

Voice

[explosion]

[ wanda feels a slight rush of shame. she had stopped acknowledging both mother's day and father's day after the destruction of her childhood home and the loss of both parents. it wasn't out of any desire to forget them. it had been too painful to celebrate them when they had been stolen so cruelly from both she and pietro.

she hadn't realised she had held onto that pain and anger until she asked her question. ]

Even when you may never see them again?

[ she doesn't mean for her voice to be so small. wanda can control many things, but this appears to not be one of those things. ]

un: AMMAKO (handwriting)

[brushy]

Always.

There is a Mother's Day?

handwriting

[explosion]

[ it's a good thing wanda is the scarlet witch. she decides to match handwriting for handwriting. it's something different. ]

Yes. It comes around every year in May. It's been around for my entire life.

Do you celebrate something similar?

audio | un: Da Silva

[rosae]

( Rose hadn't even thought of it, until now. Dates have been swept aside in favour of the rush of other things as of late, but.... the realisation is sobering in more ways than one.

And her heart aches for the other woman. She realises how fortunate she is that her own child is here with her — changed, nine years older than she was when Rose last saw her, and catching up on that lost time is strange, like getting to know someone new in its ways. But she's still her daughter. Still her Sharon.

And Rose hasn't forgotten the absolute nightmare that was being without her here. Constantly searching, worried, grieving. Thinking she'd lost her again. She'd been sick from it, every single day. )

I don't know if I could. I don't know if I could even get out of bed.

( There's a soft smile there in her voice, but it's certainly nothing but a sad one. Her eyes are moist at the mere thought. )

I'm so sorry.

audio

[explosion]

[ even when wanda doesn't mean to, she hurts other people.

she's aware it's an extreme conclusion. but after everything she's endured over the last handful of years, this is the lesson that she's taken away from it. sometimes, she thinks it's best billy and tommy are somewhere else. perhaps somewhere that's a touch nicer than the walking chaos wanda brings.

but she doesn't wish to think like that today. there are three hundred and sixty-four other days to dwell on that. ]

I'm sorry. I sometimes forget today is not the happiest day for a lot of people.

voice; un: ushiromiya

[entreats]

[ .. talk about a topic Ange hasn't thought of in a long time. Until now, anyway. It brings back such vivid memories and overwhelming thoughts that - for a moment - she considers not replying to the post at all. Just ignoring it, scrolling past, moving on with her day.

But on the other hand, maybe she should talk. If not just to prove that she's stronger than the feeling that threatens to take hold of her when she thinks too hard about that day. ]

If you want to, then why not?

[ Ange's voice is steadier than Wanda's own, though her tone is still slightly soft, especially by Ange standards. It makes her tone not really sound harsh here, though she's doing her best to not let much emotion slip in either. ]

voice

[explosion]

I have no answer. [ wanda chuckles lightly.

it's so ridiculous! here user ushiromiya is, asking her a very logical and simple question, and wanda has no answer. she has no bullshit answer, either. her children are not here. wanda has never celebrated mother's day as a mother herself. she is afraid of doing it wrong.

perhaps she does have an answer after all. ]

Actually, I might have one. But you might think I'm silly for it. I do.

(text) | un: wrench

[wwrench]

Doesn't make a person any less of a parent to be away from their kids, right? I'll bet you could find plenty of people in the same boat right now, too. Not to mention kids missing their own mothers.

(text)

[explosion]

[ the last thought just makes her sad. ]

I think I've accidentally kicked a kettle of fish for some people. But maybe that's not a bad thing.

I would hope that no child is missing their mother, but I know that's a rather naive thought. I wish this day was as simple as the cards make it out to be.

video - un: 30hotdoglimit

[stilljustyou]

( Frisk hesitates before responding. They've seen how sad parents can be without their children. And... it's been hard to be away from the person they consider their own family now, too. )

... Uhm - someone... told me that you can still buy stuff for your Mom and Dad on holidays even if they're not here.

So, even if they're not here - it'd be good to still have a special day for you.

video

[explosion]

[ wanda meets video with video. if 30hotdoglimit can be brave, then she can be, too. ]

Do you think so? [ she smiles softly. ] I've been a little afraid of doing that.

audio, un: daughter-sea

[seaboard]

I do not know any such custom, but... if your children are like mine, they will want you to remember their love, even so far away.

audio

[explosion]

[ that's what wanda hopes for. that's what wanda hasn't quite allowed herself to embrace: that she can remember tommy and billy today and it doesn't have to be so sad. even though she and pietro were quite bad at remembering their parents with happiness, perhaps she can try and start a new tradition.

quietly, she asks, ] Did the Trench bring you here without them, too?

audio | un: valravn

[warminded]

I am... admittedly unfamiliar with "mother's day", but the people of the City — of my city — believe it is important to celebrate the lost. Perhaps even more so than those who are still with us.

[And for all Felwinter is attempting to give some measure of reassurance, his voice is terribly flat and unemotional. Not for lack of emotion; he's just never been good at being expressive in any sense. There's a brief, awkward pause as he wonders whether he should offer sympathies, and how. In the end, he decides against it.]

You are no less their mother for their absense, just as they are no less your children for yours.

[Because that is what matters.]

audio

[explosion]

[ he really wants to make her cry, doesn't he?

wanda chuckles—not out of amusement. it's the kind that signals (to her, at least) that he's touched something that she hasn't quite allowed herself to put into words.

she considers what she wants to ask. wanda wants to believe she has celebrated pietro, vision, mama and papa... but she knows she hasn't. she's buried her head in the sand and refused to look back at what she has lost. there's just too much of it. ]

Do the people of your city ever get tired of celebrating the lost? Do they ever feel there's just too many who are gone?

Audio | ClickClickBloom

[onekindsoul]

I think so.

At least I've been celebrating it for years without my mom.

It's... I think it's just as important for a mom to do it too. To remind you of the bond you share with them.

Audio

[explosion]

I'm sorry you've had to celebrate without her.

[ she knows what that's like, even if wanda has refused to acknowledge the day since pietro died. ]

You're right. It's just terrifying. [ she laughs wetly. ] It should be such a simple day, yet it feels anything but.

text; un: shiro

[shiro2hero]

I think that's up to you. If you want to... you should. I know there are places in our world that have "children's day".

Maybe... something like that would help?

I'll probably be asking myself the same thing, soon.

text;

[explosion]

[ of all the things to be surprised by, wanda's taken aback by just how seen this feeling is. for once, she's not alone. for once, she wishes she was. (and selfishly, she's glad she isn't.) ]

Would it help you to celebrate children's day?

If it would, I would do it with you.

[creidim]

You're still a mother, nothing changes that. You should still celebrate if you want to. [ Luna offers a kind smile, even if it's a sad one. It's the deciding on whether to do that or not that's the hard decision. ]

I suppose it's much like any child can still celebrate, even if their mother's not with them. We celebrate it in March, back home.

[explosion]

I like that you celebrate it so early. You must set the tone for the rest of us. [ wanda chuckles.

despite her attempt at humour, she does appreciate what luna has offered her. that permission she's refusing to herself. everyone in the trench proves to be just as kind as they were in deerington. ]

I've never celebrated it before as a mother. It feels a little… [ she presses her lips together for a moment as she mulls it over. ] I was hoping they would be here with me so I could have at least one normal day.

audio: un; apparition

[unphase]

[by her time, Mother's Day no longer exists as a holiday. but a mother missing their children, that very much still exists]

...I take it that Mother's Day honors mothers? All mothers? [pause] Then any mother should be able to participate, even though our children aren't here. That doesn't make us not mothers.

audio

[explosion]

[ that's logic wanda can't argue with. it's partly her issue: she wants her children not being here to mean something else entirely. she wants it to mean that she's disqualified. ]

It is. [ that's the easiest part to respond to. wanda needs a few moments to let the rest sink in, to feel it. she doesn't wish to not feel it, not after apparition's kindness. ]

Are you a mother?

voice; un: clarke

[romancekiller]

[this kind of hits her a bit too hard thinking about her mom, the fact that she hasn't seen her for so long and might never see her if they even survive over the years in the bunker but she tries not to dwell on it too much]

I think you still can. We didn't really have anything like that back home but it seems like the type of thing you can celebrate even if your children aren't here.

voice;

[explosion]

[ that's what a lot of people are telling her. wanda, for all of the order she wishes to embody, wants someone to tell her what she wants to hear: that she's not allowed to celebrate, that she shouldn't. no one is abiding by her script. ]

Did you celebrate anything like it?