Big Mama sits everyone down at the round dinner table, Jennika across from her, and the other children scattered at random chairs. Scylla is sitting (more like crouching, her feet are flat on the chair,) next to Crollo, who is sitting next to Big Mama on the right. To the right of the Rion Children, sits Theo, and to the right of him sits Tenzu and Miko. To the left of Big Mama sits Venus, Splinter, Aarav (who just showed up, for some reason,) and Willa. Sheena is sitting next to Jennika.
“So…” Big Mama starts. “Who would like to start? Jennika?”
Sheena purses her lips, but doesn't speak. Her arm moves under the table as if she's grabbing Jennika's hand.
Big Mama raises an eyebrow at her second eldest, tilting her head. “This meeting is about you, Jenny. You’re hurting, clearly. We, as a family, have not been as attentive as we should be, to you. And that is an issue. So, we should talk about it.”
Crollo nods vaguely, clearly off in his own head, as Scylla kinda shuffles oddly in her hair, tapping on her kneecaps. Miko, stretching their paws a little, looks over at Jennika.
“Kiddo, we’ve been looking at your blog. You’re clearly not okay. And you’re listening to the anons, who are telling you outright lies. We’re… sorry you feel that your siblings aren’t listening to you,” Miko says coolly, whipping Scylla’s feet out from under her so she’ll sit properly in the chair. Scylla gives a surprised yelp at that. “But if you’re feeling hurt, you need to tell us about these things. Not bottle it up.”
“Yeah… we’re worried, dude.” Crollo says softly. Everything he’s done lately has been soft. Quiet. “And I know this is stupidly hypocritical coming from me, but you gotta tell us stuff. We do care about you, a lot. And we’re sorry we don’t listen to you. Right Scy?”
Scy blinks for a minute when everyone turns to look at her. “Uh. Yeah. We’re… sorry, Jen.” It does sound genuine, despite her general demeanour. Which is very rare, coming from Scylla.
Splinter and Aarav say nothing, understandably. They’re just here for the pancakes Big Mama is going to make later. Sheena also doesn't speak, continuing to silently support her wife the best she can.
“We’re sorry we don’t listen to you, and that we screw things up, and that we don’t take care of ourselves.” Venus says. “We don’t mean to make your life so difficult.”
“Yeah.” Scylla mumbles in agreement.
Jennika’s brow tightens in frustration, her jaw setting angrily. It’s an expression Big Mama has seen on her quite a few times, her eyes dark and stormy as she tries to control what little anger is still festering after hers and Theo’s fight.
Theo keeps eating the leftover pancakes that Big Mama provided early. Slowly. Almost comedically.
“Jennika, do you actually believe any of the things you were told?” Crollo asks. “From the asks, I mean. You really can’t believe anything they say, sis, I’m serious. They’re… mean.”
“They’re just a buncha bullies, Jen.” Scy adds. “They did this to Crollo, they did this to Shiro, they did it to like, half my friends… You can’t listen to them.”
“They did it to me.” Splinter hums. “And I know I’m not exactly part of the family conversation, but I have been in this situation. These people will lie to you, Jennika. Try and get in your head, which you have clearly allowed them to do.”
“Exactly.” Crollo points at him.
Aarav sneaks over to Theo’s side and steals a pancake. As does Willa. Theo glares at them in mock offense.
Jennika stares at the table for a bit, until Sheena puts her hand on her back, and her expression flickers slightly.
"It's different when they're things you've already told yourself beforehand."
Everyone goes a bit quiet for a second, some in concern, some in… quiet agreement. Theo mumbles, “Yeah. I know.” and Big Mama feels her heart squeeze.
Scylla can feel barbed wire wrapping around her throat, tears burning at her eyes. It’s her fault, is it not? She just had to be argumentative and stupid and stubborn.
Crollo bunches his hoodie in his hands. If he wasn’t so damn scared, he would just tell her why it wasn’t her fault, any of their faults, but no. He had to be a coward.
Sheena's eyes shine with unshed tears, feeling as if she hasn't done enough to help Jenny. She takes a deep breath and lays her head on Jenny's shoulder, trying to provide more comfort.
By far though, the parents in the room feel the most guilty. They should have taken care of their daughter, should have paid more attention to her.
Just because a pillar is the strongest, does not mean it does not need the support of others.
A vaguely translated proverb that come to mind. One Big Mama’s own mother told her when she was young.
“Do you really believe all of that?” Scy mumbles.
“...Well.” Jennika, her expression what would usually be considered stone-faced, though to her family reads as contemplative, a little pained. “Clearly no one cares about how much I try to help. I try to get you guys to help yourselves and you just brush me off.”
Every one of her siblings is generally at a loss for words. None of them are exactly… fantastic with emotions. And expressing said emotions.
“We’re sorry you feel that way, what would you like for us to do to change that?” Miko says, their voice soft.
“I don’t know. Listen to me? Actually talk about your issues instead of doing the literal dumbest shit possible?” Jennika sighs a little. “And please, Scylla, for once stop getting up while you’re healing and being an idiot? Perhaps?”
Scylla tries really hard not to simultaneously cry and joke about her being fairly sure she can’t die. Fell 20 miles from a space ship and only lost a leg. And feeling in her lower back. And a good half gallon of blood.
“Okay.” She manages to mumble out through barely held tears and intrusive thoughts.
“Well, one of the things you tell us to do all the time is go to therapy…” Tenzu hums. “Maybe we could all go together? As a family thing?”
“Ah yes. Family bonding.” Crollo mumbles, Theo laughing a little at that. Even Sheena manages a smile.
“...That sounds good.” Jennika nods. “At least you guys wont be doing dumb shit.”
“Okay. That sounds good. Right, Arachne?” Miko looks over at Big Mama, who nods.
“I can get in contact with Xio.” She hums.
“Yes.” Everyone cuts Theo off.
