#i love parents that are also regressors!!! let adults have their tiny moments to cope!!!

[ember-owlet]

|| cg! dina x regressor! ellie headcanons ||

(or as we like to call ember's way of coping with the ending of the game after four years and wishing that they had stayed on the farm together) /j

content warnings: mentions of vent regression due to trauma ((stay safe little firelights, you can always come back to this when you're ready))

due to ellie's involuntary regression, dina would always have to be on alert around the house and farm. as long as JJ was somewhere safe and comfortable she'd be able to give her due attention to ellie, despite ellie desperately trying to force herself out of the headspace from guilt.

most of the time ellie's regression is due to her past traumas, bringing her to a heightened state of awareness and fear. however, dina is well equipped to bring down her little one when an episode arises, holding her close in her arms and grounding her; telling her that she's safe and no one will ever hurt her again.

dina doesn't mind at all being a motherly figure for her love despite the difficulties that come their way. wherever ellie goes, she goes.

one of the pair's favorite ways of grounding and reconnecting is through their shared love of music. there's no better musician to dina than listening to her baby play the guitar for her, and ellie thinks there's no prettier dancer in the world than her mama. dina would wrap her arms around ellie and sway with her gently, the two finding their own rythm to slow dance wherever they are, record player or not.

when ellie has time to unwind and voluntarily regress with dina she can be the silliest regressor ever. she loves to make her mama happy with jokes/puns that she used to tell joel. dina would always oblige, scrunching her face or rolling her eyes playfully at how awful they are.

these two unfortunately has zero filters when it comes to swearing. in this dynamic both the caregiver and the regressor are chronic pottymouths.

due to their height difference you can't tell me there wasn't at least one instance where ellie had put something that dina needed a little higher than she could reach in retaliation.

at this point in the story, despite her lighter headspace ellie still suppresses a lot of her thoughts and feelings. dina had found a nice middle by letting ellie doodle or write in her journal for her to look at later on to see what she needs.

however, as long as the topics aren't too heavy both of them love to rant and talk to each other about anything and everything.

ellie loves to talk about the things she's learned about dinosaurs, space, or the movies and comics she's scrounged up.

dina loves to talk about whatever is on her mind at the minute, her plans for the day or prospects of the future or past.

whenever dina is having a hard day where being her normal silly self is too much to handle ellie would put her arms around her mama, reminding her that they'll get through it together. she'd bring her drawings, snack foods and blankets to read outloud some of her favorite comics or bundle dina up to have them watch a movie together.

if dina ever takes the day for herself by leaving the farm she'd plan it far ahead of time, leaving little messages around their house and garden to make sure ellie is alright with JJ while she's gone. there would be cut fruit on the table and a prepped meal ready on the stove for the two to wake up to with a list of chores for the day and a note wishing them well and that she'll see her babies soon.