JP - A Hoodie from Riley

Riley slipped away from the conversation wanting to check on Loreen before heading out. Walking up to her room he opened the door.

Loreen was just sitting on the bed, looking lonely and bored because she knew if she left the room someone might yell at her or call her some nasty name. Her fingers fiddled with a little rubix cube that River had gotten her while they were out, just mixing it up and solving it over and over again.

"Hey just wanted to check on you to see how you are feeling" Riley greeted with a smile.

“A bit bored, honestly,” Loreen admitted as she set the cube aside. “Am I going to be allowed to walk around or explore or anything without getting…uhm…told I’m something horrible?” She asked.

"You're more than welcome to walk around it's just some people might have harsh feelings" Riley admitted "I'm going to be heading to the underground today would you like to join me?"

“Would they…welcome me there?” Loreen asked, picking up the cube again to keep her hands busy. She could still see the anger and hurt on Tzeitel’s face and wondered what it was she had done to earn such a look. A part of her wanted to know, but she was also very scared to find out the type of person she used to be.

"To be fair not many people know what you look like" Riley replied " we only know because we've fought you first hand."

“Oh…uhm…what should I call myself then?” She asked, worried.

"Whatever you'd like" Riley suggested with a smile as he patted her head.

Loreen would have to think on this. “Okay…” She blinked at the patting. “What does that mean? What you just did?” Everything was till so new to her now.

"It's a way of showing affection" Riley explained "just like a hug or kiss."

“What’s a kiss?” She asked, confusion written all over her face. A hug she was familiar with since Riley and River had been giving them to her, but a kiss was a mystery. This whole affection thing was perplexing to her, honestly.

Riley blushed, " it's when you press your lips against another person's lips."

“That doesn’t sound sanitary.” She frowned.

"Well you don't do it with everyone, just those close to you that you care for and trust" Riley added.

“I see,” She shifted in place and looked at the wall. “I’m scared to know what I did to make everyone hate me so much…”

Riley pulled her into his lap and hugged her "I'm not going to lie it was some bad stuff some of us went through worse than others" he admitted "however you and the old Loreen are two different people. You may not be able to change the past but you can change who you are now.",

She froze for a moment in Riley’s arms, but slowly relaxed and leaned on him. “O-okay…” She whispered, trying to fight back tears.

"Trust me when I traveled the multiverse I lived with plenty of lives filled with regret" he replied holding her for a while, memories of a log cabin and a feral version of his friend coming to mind. "why don't we eat up with the others and head to the underground."

“Underground…right…” Loreen shifted in discomfort and hugged herself. A part of her was not very keen on going down there yet. “Food sounds nice, though.”

Riley chuckled “food first then we’ll head to the underground.”

“Käärijä won Eurovision 2023- Loreen stole it!” Piritta bellowed.

Loreen jumped and went back to hiding under her blankets. “Maybe I don’t need food!”

"How about we get some drive thru then" Riley said coaxing her out of the blanket.

Loreen grimaced and got out of bed, struggling to get some boots on. “I…I dunno if it’s a good thing for me to leave the room…uhm…”

"You can't stay in the room forever and I want to make sure you're healthy" Riley replied.

“Ruotsi, anna Euroviisut takaisin!” Piritta could be heard shouting.

Loreen shifted in place. “Okay…” Her voice was barely above a whisper. She was being hated and berated for things she couldn’t even recall doing. She was being blamed for things she didn’t remember doing. What could she do if she was going to be met with cruelty everywhere she went?

Riley went to his room and grabbed a hoodie "here you can wear this to disguise yourself."

It took her a moment to get over the shock, but Loreen pulled the hoodie on and instantly seemed to feel better. "Th-thank you," she managed to say.

"Anytime" Riley chuckled while petting her head "I know things are confusing right now but I'm going to be with you every step of the way to help."

“O-okay…” Loreen said with a sheepish smile.

"CHA! CHA! CHA!" Piritta sang.

Riley rolled his eyes and they left the room, stopping so he could kiss River before heading to the van.