there's a fork in the road (open)

[reluctants]

⭐ Who: Illya and you!
⭐ When: July 1st, before the thunderstorm kicks in!
⭐ Where: Out around Yumemigaoka
⭐ What: Illya's waffling about being an active Dreamer. Maybe help give her advice?


(1. tanabata - in the store)

[ Though the stores may only have started stocking the supplies for Tanabata today, apparently someone already noticed them being there pretty early on. Illya is pretty into the idea of Tanabata, after all, and she does want to make a wish..

.. which is why you may find the girl in the store, staring at the coloured paper and the bamboo. Something seems a little off about her though, like Illya is deep in thought, despite.. just staring at what are basically just crafting supplies.

Whatever she's thinking about, she doesn't seem to be paying too much attention to her surroundings. She turns without looking, bumping right into you when you're either standing next to her or trying to pass her - though she does have the decency to immediately look embarrassed after briefly startling. ]

Oh, sorry..! Um, you-- did you also want to get some stuff for Tanabata..?

[ Is she trying to make some awkward small talk to make up for the bumping-into-you thing? Absolutely. Or maybe she's trying to distract from how out of it she seemed a moment ago. ]

(2. hesitation - near the dreamer union headquarters)

[ Later that day Illya can be seen somewhere else entirely. In fact, maybe you have actually seen her there before, if you go near or into the Dreamer Union headquarters often enough. It hasn't been for too long yet, but for the past few days this girl definitely has been hanging out near the building - seeming to walk closer to it, only to shake her head and walk back.. after which the pattern repeats all over again.

The same thing is happening today. Seems a little weird, huh? Maybe you'd like to go ask her what's up, regardless of whether you know or don't know the girl acting so oddly. ]

Comments

[hanamane]

[He cackles a little as she practically throws his hand back at him, her reaction being just as he expected it to be. Maybe he really should dial it back on the teasing now, but she was making it so darn easy! And it's not like he could try that sort of stunt on some of the other Dreamers he knew, given how much older they were than him...

But then she goes and says that, and... in a way, it sort of stings, just a little. Granted, maybe Amane should be glad he's acting different enough that she assumes Hanako's an imposter rather than his actual self, but... did she really think he was nice back in the Waking World? They hardly talked at school, and, sure, he shared the cab with her that one time, but they were going in the same direction, so it's not like he was going out of his way for her or anything. She didn't know him, not really-- no one in the Dream Sphere did, save for a scant few people-- so for her to make that judgement, however benign... he wasn't really quite sure how to feel about it.

But of course, he's not going to let any of that show on his face as he makes a show of scrutinizing her, his thumb and pointer finger propping up his chin as he pouts a little.]

Oh? This is the second time you've compared me to this "Amane-san". Is he really that great of guy? I mean, I'm plenty nice too, y'know.

[She never said you were "great", Amane, calm urself a lil]

[darknesshotpot]

[Ango laughs - this brat is sharp! He figured her for the shy and sweet type, but maybe there's delinquent potential in her after all.]

Heh, it really doesn't take that much bravery to fight. You just have to be dumb enough to get yourself into trouble, and after that your fists will know what to do!

Anyway, I don't really do that much fighting in the Dream Sphere - there are other Dreamers who are way stronger than me when it comes to kicking ass. My specialties are sneaking and hiding! There are all sort of Dreamers... some people stay far back and cast support spells, some people heal their teammates, some people fly around and scout for enemies... it takes all kinds!

[liedol]

[ With more tact than you might have expected considering her high energy cheeriness, Ai makes no comment on Illya's silence and avoids drawing any attention to her as she chatters away to everyone passing by. She skips the elevator – she has a feeling it would be like putting a jittery cat into a carrier to take it to the vet – and directs them up the stairs and over to a quiet lounge just off the hallway. True to her word, there's nobody else around. ]

Right! You can take a seat and I'll get some snacks and drinks ready. Is there anything you'd really like? I can see if we've got it!

[darcangel]

Well, if you like this purplish paper....

[ Jeannette roots around in the supplies and comes up with - ]

What about this silver pen for writing your wish? It is a paint pen, so the letters should be clear. Your paper will look like the starry sky.

[reluctants]

[ Talk about a total callout over there.

And it's probably not like Lisa needed any confirmation that she was right about this whole thing, given that Illya was being kind of obvious in the first place, but the girl's reaction makes it super obvious all the same. Her head lowers a little bit, her eyebrow knitting together into a worried frown - making her kind of look like a guilty dog. Indeed, guilty as charged about keeping something to herself here.

And while it's hard to resist the cookies, the thing that's more convincing to her is the idea that she might disappoint Lisa if she doesn't talk. Lisa, who has been so nice to her the entire time. Who has helped her before.

Wouldn't she feel bad if she knew there was stuff Illya didn't want to say..?

.. but just saying it isn't all that easy either. It might be why the young girl's gaze now drops fully, staring at her shoes like they're the most fascinting thing in the world as she kicks a little at some dust on the pavement. ]

I..

[ She's starting to speak. Slowly.

Even if she sounds very reluctant and shy about it. ]

I actually.. um.. I had my Awakening the other day. [ Only a little bit ago, really, which is why she's out here hesitating right now, rather than having done so earlier. ] But I-- I don't know if I should really be a Dreamer..

[ It feels embarrassing to admit. Especially to someone as amazing as Lisa - no matter what Lisa might think or say about herself.

What Dreamer says this sort of stuff, after all? The fact she's hesitating at all feels like proof she isn't true Dreamer material. ]

[reluctants]

.. he helped me out. He was kind to me.

[ It's the sort of thing that's probably pretty easy to see as pathetic. Being helped once, and then immediately seeing that person as a great person for it - like she just isn't used to being offered help at all.

But that's not it. After all, even if Illya's parents aren't around, her aunts are always taking care of her at home. Other people are nice to her too, even out on the streets.

It's just-- she wants to treasure them, every single one of those moments of kindness. She doesn't want to take them for granted.

Even if it's a little sappy, and a little embarrassing.. It's why she mumbles those words a little, unable to look Hanako in the eyes as she's saying them, a faint blush on her cheeks.

It takes her a moment to pull herself back together enough, this time actually looking at Hanako as she addresses him. ]

S-so, if you really are nice too.. Then what are you going to do for me after startling me like this, h-huh?

[reluctants]

[ She would sputter about potentially being seen as dumb here, but thankfully she seems to be focusing on the more serious part of all of this. Even though she was a little more snarky a moment ago, it's not like she isn't actually listening to what he's saying - and realising just how much serious help he's offering her in the first place.

After all, he doesn't even know her. This is the first time they're meeting, and yet.. he's offering her so much of his time here, explaining all this. She's got to appreciate that much, rather than rejecting all of it and running away. ]

So.. do you really think I could be a Dreamer without ever fighting anything up close..?

[ It sounds like that's what he's saying.

But she just wants to make sure. ]

[reluctants]

[ Illya sits down with all the grace of a duck trying to flee a rapidly approaching human - probably even nervously wiggling back and forth while sitting on the chair, like there's a whole lot of nervous energy within her that she doesn't really have any other outlet for. ]

Um..

[ Her gaze flutters over at Ai, hesitant. Is it really okay to ask, even if Ai is being so nice.. and so radiant.. ]

Hot chocolate, maybe..? I-If it's not too much to ask for! [ Especially while she doesn't even know yet whether or not she'll actually join in the end.

Though - at the very least - she's determined to keep sitting on this chair, rather than rushing out while Ai is busy grabbing everything for them. S-She should at least hear Ai out! ]

[reluctants]

[ .. wow.

Jeannette really is good at this. Illya thinks so, anyway, as she stares at the pen with big eyes. ]

I hadn't even thought about that yet..

[ Special colours for paper? Sure, her mind did arrive there, but she hadn't even considered you could use something other than an ordinary pen to write. ]

You really are good at this! Woah, if you're this good at giving advice already, then your own tanabata slip must be the most beautiful one when it comes down to it..

[darcangel]

[ A modest little giggle. ]

Hardly. I just think....wishes are like prayers, aren't they? And prayers are a special, precious thing. So it is good to make them lovely.

[reluctants]

Like prayers..?

[ She repeats those words - with some surprise, like she hadn't thought of it. Sure, it makes sense when the other lays it out like this though, and Illya slowly nods without really questioning the idea.

She may not be particularly religious herself, sure, but she knows that it means a lot to other people. That prayers really are a special, precious thing. ]

Is that how you view wishes..? Tanabata must be a really special holiday for you then.

[darknesshotpot]

Yep, absolutely! If you've got long range powers, you can just shoot lasers at stuff from far away!

[He mimes shooting finger guns, complete with "pew pew" sound effects.]

Hell, I wish I could do that! I dunno exactly how it works, but it seems like Dreamers usually have powers that fit their personalities... so if you don't like fighting then you'll probably get long range or defensive powers. Pretty useful stuff!

[reluctants]

That would be great..

[ .. though Illya sure hopes that her kind of personality means she'll get those sorts of powers. She could imagine it giving her a power like invisibility just to get away from it all, but then she'd feel guilty for not contributing at all..

Long range sounds a little bit like a safer compromise.

Her mind seems to linger on the thought for a moment, given her silence after she says that, but then she speaks up again. ]

Um, you know.. You sure know how to be convincing about all of this, sir. [ Because he's actually got her thinking about doing this now!! When a few moments ago she would have been fine with fleeing away from this place for life, honestly.. ]

[hanamane]

[He stares at her for a moment, the disbelief clear across his face, because of all the things he was expecting her to say... that certainly wasn't it. It'd be one thing if he startled her by accident, sure, but considering he did it deliberately...]

... Is this a shake down? What sort of question is that?

[But... it IS true that he did veer a tiny bit overboard with his teasing just now, and from what he knew of Illya back in the Waking World... she was already kind of a wreck without the Dreamer stuff to add along with it. It's not like Amane particularly cared what she thought about him, but... the fact that those little actions of his back in the Waking World colored her opinion of him that much was sort of... touching, in an odd sort of way. Though if helping out was her only criteria for a nice person, then...

He leans back a little, giving Illya some (probably much needed) personal space as he hums under his breath in consideration.]

Weeeeell... if it's favors you want, I guess I can do you a solid and show you the ropes around here.

[He grins, almost in a leer, as his Sandglass knife materializes within his grasp, idly tapping the flat side of his clear, red sand filled blade against his cheek.]

You're a newbie, right? Lucky for you, I'm plenty experienced when it comes to this place, so I wouldn't mind helping you out just a little.

[This seems... more vaguely threatening than nice, Hanako, but okay--]

[traceofeffort]

[The indecision on Illya's face is clear to read, and it makes Lisa feel like a little bit of a heel - maybe she shouldn't have pushed her? She opens her mouth to tell Illya to stop, but she's beaten to the punch by...

.......oh. Well, that certainly explains a couple things.]

Not feeling like it's quite so amazing, now that you're part of the club, huh? [It's quiet, and she's trying not to tease her.] I know you're not really excited about it, but... congratulations, even so. Whether or not you want this power, it's something that can help you connect to people. Even if it's through being anxious about it together.

[darknesshotpot]

Haha, you don't have to call me "sir." I'm Ango!

[Although he'll take being called "sir" over that other bratty middle schooler who calls him "grandpa"... he's not even 40 yet, damn it!]

Don't worry, you don't have to be a Dreamer if you don't want to! But it's pretty fun, and you get cool powers, and...

[Ango breaks into a grin.]

And they pay you real cash money to sleep! Can't beat a union job!

[liedol]

Hot chocolate coming right up!

[ There's a fancy little hot drinks maker she'd gotten from some sponsorship or other and donated to the office, so she taps away at a few buttons on that and gets it whirring away with a cup of hot chocolate. While that's in progress, she digs around in the cupboards and fishes out the remains of her Golden Week snack restock – a box of milk cookies – and makes her way back over to Illya, setting the cookies and her drink down before taking a seat herself. ]

Here you go...! It's a little hot right out of the machine so give it a minute, but go ahead and help yourself to cookies while you're waiting. This is your first time at the DU, right?

[darcangel]

Not so much as Christmas, or Easter. But....yes.

[ She smiles at the tanzaku paper. ] It is a time to be closer to those in the heavenly realm.

[ jeanne honey your catholicism has sprung a leak!!

it's leaking all over your cultural shintoism!!!! ]

[reluctants]

[ The girl stares at him, before slowly - so slowly - saying: ]

.. really..?

[ Granted, the hesitation is mostly because she sure didn't expect someone to offer that up to her so readily, for one.. And maybe it's also a little bit just the way Hanako is saying it over here. Yeah, that does kind of seem like a threatening way to offer that, especially after the girl already got startled in the first place.

On the other hand, it's not like she wants to look a gifted horse in the mouth right away. ]

I do have a lot to learn. [ At least she can admit that. It's just the truth, after all, so.. there's not too much shame in it, right? Especially when things can get dangerous here, and not just because of Hanako himself.

Her hands shoot up, nervously preening at her own bangs, like she has to get the nervous energy out somehow. ]

So if you could help me learn a little bit more, then.. um.. I'd be grateful.

[ And she'll try to forget all about that startling incident from just now. So generous, right. ]

[reluctants]

[ Even though Lisa is - obviously - just joking, it's like the girl's expression drops even further when Lisa first says that. After all, it's not like any of this has changed Illya's mind about other Dreamers. Being a Dreamer is still great, that's not the problem.

The problem is her.

And now she's just worried that she's making Lisa feel worse too, and..

The young girl's gaze is still clearly aimed at her shoes, but she sniffs, like she's on the verge of tears, even with her eyes partially hidden behind her bangs when her head is tilted like this. ]

T-That's not it. People like you.. they're still amazing.

[ Nothing can change that in her mind. Not even anything Lisa says, since she thought the other was great even in the face of her insecurities they talked about before. ]

That's why it shouldn't be me. [ Because she's the one that's not amazing. ]

[traceofeffort]

[......that feels wrong. Violently wrong, almost, and something in Lisa's heart lurches. Never mind that she's making Illya cry, which is probably going to get her put on a watchlist somewhere, this is going to make her cry. She opens her mouth to say something, reaching out a hand-

-and closes it again, that hand balling in front of her chest. Does she have the right to say anything, the way she is? Does it mean anything if it comes from someone that doubts herself every five seconds? That admitted as such to Illya last time they talked about the subject at length?

But. Illya... still thinks she's cool after all that, so maybe she can say something. Maybe she needs to.]

Illya-chan. Why shouldn't it be you? The fact that you even came here is a good start - you're willing to do something. And not just... [Her expression dims, and she looks away from the other girl.] ...run away from it.

[reluctants]

[ .. another slight pause, and then: ]

I think I'm a little too young to already start worrying about money..

[ Called out once more, Ango. Even if Illya's way of calling him out is apparently very, very mild, since there's no harshness to her tone at all. If anything, it sounds more like a gentle correction, and she even adds: ]

.. mister Ango, sir.

[ That's-- Well, at least she's attempting to meet his request to just call him by his name?

Let's keep it at that. ]

I just-- I-I want to do the right thing.

[reluctants]

[ The girl does pull the drink closer, though it seems that she's obedient enough when it comes to instructions that she doesn't drink from it right away. Instead she just blows on it a little, like she's trying to help it cool down.

But even as she's in the middle of doing so, she already nods at Ai - and then pauses her blowing so she can actually answer the other. ]

Yes. I've seen the building before, but this is my first time inside..

[ It's more just that it's hard to ever fully miss the building if you happen to pass by on the street, honestly. ]

I, um.. [ .. she figures she should offer up at least a little bit more information with how kind and welcoming Ai has been so far, so even though she shyly bites her lip for a moment, Illya pushes herself into speaking on. ] I never thought I'd ever be inside.. since I never thought I'd ever be a Dreamer.

[reluctants]

[ Illya was clearly completely unprepared for this sudden catholicism.

Not that she thinks it's weird, mind you. Illya may judge over some things, but not over this. Instead it looks more like the young girl's brain is working really hard to process what she's hearing here. Like she's just.. taking a moment to buffer..

... ]

So you're spiritual!

[ Apparently that's the conclusion she came to. Yes, that really took all that buffering. ]

I don't think I've ever heard anyone talk about it like that. [ That's mostly because your family isn't that spritual, Illya.. In any sense of the word.. ]

[darcangel]

It is uncommon, but I find it a great comfort.

[ Also, no denial on the "spiritual" front. ]

Everyone is with us, in our hearts!