illyasviel von einzbern ☆ prisma illya (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
reluctants) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
yumemigaoka2023-07-01 09:48 pm
reluctants) wrote in yumemigaoka2023-07-01 09:48 pm
Entry tags:
there's a fork in the road (open)
⭐ 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. ]
⭐ 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. ]
no subject
... do you think I'm a nopperabō or something?
[Granted, his powers were very ghost-like, but this was definitely a first?? He does sound more baffled than upset by the accusation, though, because... girl, how did you even reach that conclusion....]
no subject
[ .. okay, but maybe not-- maybe not classical ghosts, Illya.
Still, it's not too hard to see how the imagination of a young girl may just run away to big conclusions like this when she's on edge, right? And when she has so very little Dreamer experience.. It just makes the danger seem bigger and bigger in her mind, until anything is possible.
Like him being a ghost. Congratulations.. This is who you are now.. ]
no subject
SOMEWHERE, CANON HANAKO SNEEZES]Yeah, but... not yokai or anything like that. [But then he pauses for moment, reconsidering that statement, and then:] Or... not really? I dunno, some of them look pretty supernatural-like, but at the end of the day, they're still just Torments.
["Just Torments", he says, as if they're nothing more than roaches or ants or some other pesky vermin that can be easily squashed, as opposed to the very real threats they were to both Dreamers and non-Dreamers alike.
Still, maybe it was a bit mean to keep teasing her, especially considering how nervous Illya already seemed to be back in the Waking World-- so instead, he just reaches out and pinches her cheeks, giving them both a gentle squeeze.]
Honestly, do I feel like a ghost to you?
[Despite the cropped gloves he has on, there's still a warmth in his hands, very much the opposite of the chilly touch one would expect from someone who was dead. (Which he isn't, for the record!!
at least not in this AU)]no subject
[ This is a noise that, initially, starts at something surprised the moment those hands land on her cheek.
And even though they're only tugging and pinching gently, it only takes a few seconds for the noise to increase in intensity and volume, going all the way to an: ]
AAAHH!!
[ Granted, it's a little more garbled than that, due to the fact that her cheeks are getting pinched.. but the general terrified sound is there all the same, and Illya starts batting at his hands like she's trying to get an insect off her.
It's only when - in the middle of that action - she accidentally manages to latch onto his hand with her own, leaving them holding hands rather awkwardly since the realisation that she's holding his hand makes Illya freeze in the middle of her panic.
But after standing there like that, seemingly frozen, a moment or two passing.. ]
.. y-you feel warm.
[ Apparently this was the sole way for her to arrive to that conclusion, huh. ]
no subject
Maybe he should probably be just a teensy bit flustered, given the fact he hasn't really held hands with a lot of girls his age-- but, if anything, he's more bemused by it all. Did it really take all that to convince her?]
Well, yeah, 'cos I told you, I'm not dead.
[And because Hanako just loves making more of a pest of himself, he shoots Illya a coy look, fluttering the fingers of his captured hand within her own.]
... though if you wanted to hold hands that badly, you could have just let me know, you bold thing ❤︎
[HANAKO OH MY GOD, STOOOOOPPPPPP]
no subject
Because with a screech - yes, exactly the same kind as a moment ago - she lets go of the hand this time. So quickly. Your hand is basically a spider now, Hanako, and she is letting go of it. Casting it into the fires of Mordor!!
.. okay, maybe nothing so drastic as that last thing, but the look on Illya's face seems to convey that sort of intention all the same. Just so startled and flustered and almost offended, all at once. ]
Y-You know..! For someone that's using Amane-san's face, you sure aren't as nice as him..!
[ Apparently he did convince her he isn't a face-stealing ghost.
But, you know, the logical conclusion of 'maybe this is Amane then' doesn't seem to have reached her yet.. Maybe it's due to all the fluster. It's cooking her brain. ]
no subject
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]
no subject
[ 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?
no subject
... 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--]
no subject
.. 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. ]
no subject
But... he couldn't be stuck in this mindset forever, and maybe if they took it slow and easy, it would be a boon for both of their self-confidences. Sure, it would suck not to go exploring in the more dangerous reaches of the Dream Sphere while he was with her, but Hanako wasn't so sadistic as to throw Illya to the metaphorical wolves so soon after becoming a Dreamer.
So when she agrees, that smirk of his turns into something more sunny, something more cheerful, the beam on his face so bright it practically glows.]
Great! [Boy, his mood sure shifts on a dime, huh--] So, when do you wanna start? Now? Later? My schedule's pretty free now that most of the older folk are off looking for that Crimson lady, so I'm ready to go whenever you are!
[He sure seems excited for someone who's still feeling a bit reluctant about training a Novice--]
Just call me Senpai!
[THERE it is]
no subject
On the other hand, she's also self-aware enough to know that if she promises him 'later', she'll just never get to it. She'll just avoid it forever out of nerves.
Maybe sometimes you just.. have to dive straight into the deep end of the pool, right? Without looking. Or thinking.
So Illya sucks in a breath, trying her best to be brave as she answers: ]
L-Let's do it right now..!
[ Her stomach is churning with nerves.
But she's doing it. She's doing it. ]
S-Senpai!
[ There you go, Hanako. Even you're being thrown a bone here. An overly genuine bone, considering the kind of innocent determined tone Illya says that in. ]
no subject
...well, he's not going complain! It felt weirdly nice being on the other end of that title for once, and the giddiness that rose inside him from it felt like a billion little soda bubbles. Heck, he might even brag about it later!! (Though whether or not he actually earned the moniker of Senpai is debatable)
With a giggle, he grabs at those nervously preening hands of hers, beaming towards her excitedly.]
Alright, let's go, then!
[But then he pauses, as if he's remembered something, and adds:]
Oh! But one more thing...
[He leans in, as if sharing a great secret, his expression turning both sly and a little mischievous.]
... you do know Amane has a twin brother, right?
no subject
[ Look at her standing there. She did allow him to actually grab a hold of one of her hands, but now she seems to have paused rather than having started to walk with Hanako, staring off into space like her brain is trying to put some things together here.
She did hear that Amane had a twin brother, yes, but he was in a different class, so she's never really met him before.. Which means she's technically still more familiar with Amane himself, despite the boy not being in class very often either. It's why her assumption had to do with Amane - or, you know, a ghost-stealing-Amane's-face, same deal - rather than his twin when she spotted the boy in front of him. Because surely Amane's twin brother isn't some cheeky Dreamer guy, right?
.. r.. right..?
Her eyes grow wide with surprise. ]
A-Are you saying that's you?!
[ Are you going to do this to your own twin.. ]