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

[reluctants]

Ah..

[ Something about the answer seems to catch Illya off guard, leaving the girl to stare at the other with her mouth hanging open in surprise for a moment.

It takes a moment for her to realise that is happening, upon which she promptly shuts her mouth and then shakes her head. ]

D-Don't worry! You're not rushing me at all! [ It's the sort of thing that would probably be more convincing if Illya wasn't stammering and stuttering as she's saying it.. Alas. ] We can pick stuff at the same time, right?

[ She steps aside a little as she says it. ]

See, there's enough space for everyone! And there's so many colours of paper to pick from..

[darcangel]

There truly are. Which is your favorite?

[ Jeannette is looking over the pinks, herself....though she also keeps glancing at the silvers and blues. As opposed to Illya, she seems completely at ease. ]

[reluctants]

Um.. I like those too.

[ She points at the pinks that Jeannette is looking at right now. Of course Illya likes the cute and girly ones.

Though she doesn't stop there, since a moment later her finger moves towards a light purple - kind of a periwrinkle. ]

And this one? Though I was thinking that maybe I should get a brighter colour if it's for Tanabata..

[darcangel]

Hmm...I think your wish would want to be written on the color you like best.

[ She picks up one of the periwinkles and offers it to Illya for a closer look. ]

[reluctants]

[ Not wanting to be impolite, Illya does take the slip of paper from the other, staring down at it, like she's contemplating the other's words.

(Honestly, the colour probably isn't that important at all, but.. Illya has been so fussy with the recent changes in her life that she can't help but overthink it.)

After staring at the paper for a few moments, she slowly looks back up to look over at Jeannette. ]

Do you really think so..? [ Look, sometimes it's easier to trust someone else's opinion than your own.

Especially if they're so calm and seem to know what they're doing. ]

[darcangel]

It is good to know!

[ ....She did it again. She used the family saying in non-family settings. ]

--that is, yes.

[reluctants]

[ The initial answer does strike Illya as a little strange - but pointing that out with people she's comfortable with it is one thing. Pointing it out to a stranger? Please, she'd probably die from nerves.

And it helps that the other does correct herself a moment later, giving Illya the chance to actually understand what she's trying to say. ]

H-Haha, I see..

[ .. even if it's with a hint of awkwardness in her tone. ]

It seems like you know more about Tanabata than I do.. I'm usually not the one getting the papers and everything ready when we put everything up for it at home.

[darcangel]

[ No worries, awkwardness rolls off Jeannette! (it's one reason she's still Like This) ]

So you are new to the shopping....I am no expert, but if my small experience can be of value to you, I'm happy to help.

[reluctants]

Ah.. [ There's a slight moment of surprised staring at the way the other offers that so easily, but a moment later Illya is already quickly - though politely - bowing at Jeannette. ]

Thank you so much..!

[ Granted, it's just a small thing the other is offering her, but Illya can't help but want to be Properly Appreciative here!! Especially to a stranger! ]

In that case, um.. [ Her gaze travels over all the paper again before looking back at Jeannette. ] What kind of recommendations do you think you could give me..?

[ She may not be an expert, sure, but Illya still thinks she could learn plenty from the other! Especially when Jeannette seems kind of stiff way more confident than her, clearly. ]

[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]

[ .. 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.

[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]

[ 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!

[reluctants]

Everyone, like..

[ Her voice trails off for a moment. Jeannette did mention those in the heavenly realm, so Illya can't help but glance up..

Even if all she sees is the ceiling of the shop they're currently in, naturally. ]

.. like the people who died..?

[darcangel]

And the angels, and God.

[ Her voice trips a little with excitement over the word "angels". ]

[reluctants]

[ This is clearly not the sort of conversation Illya expected to have in the middle of a store.

Except instead of backing out - like some people might have done by now - she just seems to be taking all of this in. Maybe it's just since the other was so nice to her, so Illya would feel bad not seriously considering everything Jeannette says.. ]

God is with you?! [ She even sounds surprised.

(Though not necessarily disbelieving.) ]

That sounds like-- um-- [ How to word this. ] -- a lot!

[ Nailed it. ]

[darcangel]

Oh, yes. God is with everyone, whether you know to look for Him or not.

[ She raises a finger in a good-natured lecture. ] When thought of like that, doesn't every day become a miracle?

[reluctants]

.. I suppose so.

[ That's definitely the answer of someone who doesn't understand all she was being told just now, but wants to agree anyway for politeness' sake to a stranger..

But at least she's smiling a little at the other as she says it. Until Illya's gaze travels back to the coloured paper, her eyes growing wider in surprise. ]

Ah, I almost forgot why we were here..! I should quickly buy some of there and then go back home! [ Before she has to explain she was out extra long because she was talking with a stranger about God.. ]