Tobi & Aldan: PEP TALK

<%Soloxius> Tobi takes his seat next to Aldan as everyone settles in to rest.
<%Soloxius> (Tobi) Hey, champ. You holdin' up alright?
<~Kafei> Aldan looks over to Tobi, frowning.
<%Soloxius> Tobi speaks quietly, exhaustion plain in his gentle smile.
<~Kafei> (Aldan) ...O-Oh, umm... I... I'm...
<~Kafei> He looks down at the burning ivans before him.
<~Kafei> (Aldan) ...I'll um, I... I'm... fine...
<%Volmise> (You're gonna hate me but the second Tobi uttered the word "champ" this was my first thought: https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/525222963071418371/568606733573029910/Father.png )
<%Sharu> (hahaha)
<%Soloxius> (admittedly, idgi)
<%Eusine> (I don't get it)
* Retrieving #Alunia modes...
<%Volmise> (...HOW.)
<%Soloxius> Tobi holds up a hand, palm up. Figuring he's going to rest and recover anyway, he expends just a hint of power to make a small fire, to warm Aldan.
<%Soloxius> (Tobi) Those flowers can do this... without doing anything.
<%Soloxius> (Tobi) I'd call that a pretty major scientific discovery.
<%Kyoji> (oh my god, maribelle is still alive, stop flirting)
<~Kafei> (Aldan) ...!
<%Sharu> (Everyone is thirsty for Aldan)
<~Kafei> Aldan looks up at Tobi, his ears drooping, and his expression tense.
<%Soloxius> (Tobi) And the theoretical applications are numerous.
<%Eusine> (I only learned what the new definition of thirsty means last month or two)
<~Kafei> (Aldan) T-Tobi...
<%Soloxius> Tobi snuffs the fire, but rather than returning his hand to his own side, reaches over to pat Aldan on the shoulder.
<~Kafei> (Aldan) ...D-Do the ends... justify the means?
<%Volmise> (Eusine, I wish I were in whatever bubble you live in because you seem so innocent sometimes.)
<%Volmise> (Like legitimately god I wish that were me.)
<%Soloxius> (Tobi) ...
<%Soloxius> Tobi frowns.
<~Kafei> (Aldan) I put you in danger... all of you. To embark on a quest that I didn't have the full context for... and now we may never even escape this island. W-We might... each end up in a grave like the one we saw earlier.
<%Soloxius> Tobi snorts and chuckles.
<~Kafei> Aldan looks indignant for a moment.
<%Soloxius> (Tobi) I'm.. I'm sorry, bud. I don't mean to mock your worries, but.. we are absolutely getting out of here alive.
<%Varna> (I don't know what gives me more whiplash, Vol, you saying that or me seeing why you would and agreeing)
<~Kafei> (Aldan) H-How can you be so sure...? Th-they... they didn't.
<%Soloxius> (Tobi) And it's a job, y'know? You're paying us for this job. We haven't died yet.
<%Soloxius> (Tobi) We've faced things way more dangerous, believe it or not.
<%Soloxius> (Tobi) But the reason I'm sure is because, uh...
<%Soloxius> He points to himself.
<%Soloxius> (Tobi) I can burn my way outta here, given enough time.
<%Soloxius> He points to DB.
<%Soloxius> (Tobi) She can lull practically anything to sleep, or charm animals, with song.
<%Soloxius> He points to Ixtera.
<%Soloxius> (Tobi) She can cure practically any wound, any illness, given some time.
<%Soloxius> Teruo.
<%Soloxius> (Tobi) ...he can beat monsters down with just his fists, even better than I can.
<%Soloxius> Mei.
<%Soloxius> (Tobi) She's a goddamn genius. Potions, alchemical fires, inventions.
<%Volmise> (Astri: And she's our emotional support animal.)
<%Soloxius> Astri.
<%Kyoji> (vol pls)
<%Volmise> (<3)
<~Kafei> (I'm pretty sure Daizakk is your emotional support animal)
<%Eusine> (Wait a minute)
<%Soloxius> (Tobi) ...I'm not sure of what all Astrianne can do, specifically, but she's got some interesting skills with electricity that could be useful.
<%Soloxius> Daizakk.
<%Soloxius> (Tobi) Look, if all else fails, Daizakk can hammer a way out for us, through a wall, ceiling, the floor, you name it.
<%Soloxius> He turns back to Aldan.
<~Kafei> (Aldan) It all sounds so impressive when you say it like that... but we're up against nature itself. What person can claim to have ever bested nature? It is the force to which we all inevitably succumb...
<%Soloxius> (Tobi) So you see, we've got all the best and brightest here in this cave. If anyone's making it away safe, it's us, here.
<%Soloxius> (Tobi) I met the personification of fire, if that helps?
<%Sharu> (Coach tobi)
<%Soloxius> He indicates his bangle.
<%Soloxius> (Tobi) Ifrit himself gave this to me.
<~Kafei> Aldan closes his eues, and his eyes begin to tear up.
<%Soloxius> (Tobi) All that aside... I mean, Aldan. What person can claim to have ever bested nature? Really?
<%Eusine> (eue)
<%Soloxius> He indicates Aldan.
<~Kafei> (Aldan) T-Tobi, I... I'm sorry... I...
<%Soloxius> (Tobi) You made potions that can keep people safe in blizzards practically naked, dude.
<%Soloxius> (Tobi) That sounds like defeating nature to me.
<~Kafei> He shakes his head.
<~Kafei> (Aldan) ...I just... feel so incredibly guilty.
<%Soloxius> (Tobi) ...whatever for?
<~Kafei> (Aldan) A-And here I am, drowning your attempts to cheer me up in a sea of negativity. I really am sorry...
<%Soloxius> Tobi rolls his eyes and smiles.
<%Soloxius> (Tobi) Bear with me here for a second, bud.
<%Soloxius> He reaches up and pats Aldan's cheek.
<~Kafei> He turns, looking at Tobi without any words.
<%Sharu> (Then they kithed)
<%Soloxius> He reaches up with his other hand and uses his hands to push up the corners of Aldan's mouth.
<%Sharu> (fanfic ruined)
<%Kyoji> Mei holds back a snicker.
<%Soloxius> (Tobi) Repeat after me: I am Aldan. I am strong. I am smart. I will live.
<~Kafei> He raises an eyebrow, shaking his head to dislodge Tobi's hands.
<~Kafei> (Aldan) ...
<~Kafei> He takes a deep breath.
<~Kafei> (Aldan) ...I am Aldan... I am... s-strong... I am... s-smart. I will ... l-live.
<%Soloxius> Tobi moves his hands away, but puts them on Aldan's shoulders.
<%Soloxius> (Tobi) Good. Again.
<%Soloxius> Tobi gives him an intense look just over his tired smile.
<~Kafei> He refuses to comply, instead leaning forward and wrapping Tobi in a tight hug.
<%Eusine> (NOW kith)
<%Soloxius> (Tobi) ...ah, well, we'll work on that.
<%Soloxius> Tobi hugs him back.
<%Soloxius> And whispers into his ear.
<%Eusine> (DB) (Way to go, Tobi!)
<%Kyoji> (my friendship with maribee: over. now aldan is my new leading lady.)
<~Kafei> Aldan blushes, his eyes widening in surprise.
<%Soloxius> Tobi chuckles, holding Aldan tight.
<%Varna> (or, tobi visits the avenian gov't office and changes his name to lusineed)
<%Kyoji> (GOD)
<~Kafei> (Aldan) ...H-Heh... heh, heh... hahaha....
<%Soloxius> (wow)
<%Soloxius> Tobi just grins quietly. His grip loosens slowly, however, as his eyes droop.
<~Kafei> (Aldan) Th-thanks... I needed that... um... and... th-thanks for... sitting down to talk with me.
<%Soloxius> (Tobi) Hey man.. no problem at all... what else are.. friends.. for... snzzzzzzzzz...
<%Soloxius> Tobi straight up falls asleep in Aldan's arms.
<%Kyoji> (snrk)
<%Eusine> (Heh)
<%Soloxius> (what can i say, aldan is a fluffy boi and presumably comfy as heck to hug)
<~Kafei> Aldan releases Tobi, with the sleeping lalafell now pressed up against him.
<%Volmise> (Over here d'awwing.)
<~Kafei> (Aldan) ...T-...To... bi...?
<%Kyoji> (there's nothing d'aww about this.)
<%Volmise> (Maybe your imagination is broken.)
<%Eusine> (It's a scandal for MB!)
<%Soloxius> (Tobi) Snrkzzzzzzz....
<~Kafei> (She's not here.)
<~Kafei> (Aldan) ...
<%Varna> (oh, but her observant sister is)
<%Soloxius> Notably, Tobi is warm as heck.
<%Soloxius> (but i'm good with it there, if you'd like to continue, or have him talk to anyone else, or anyone else wants to chit-chat)
<~Kafei> Aldan lets out a soft sigh, gently using his arms to lay Tobi down. He covers him up with a blanket carefully as he begins to focus on getting some rest himself, though his brain has much to digest...
<~Kafei> (All right, we can move on!)
<%Sharu> (Okay!0
<~Kafei> \<>\ You wake up the next morning feeling refreshed, and ready to tackle the day's challenges. /<>/
<~Kafei> \<>\ ...Except nobody feels that way when they wake up. /<>/