yumemigaoka | 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. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh yeah, they're not just gonna throw you out there on your own! Most newbies team up with a mentor who will look out for them while they're getting the hang of things.

[Ango skipped out on the formal mentoring, and his unofficial mentor is more of a drinking buddy, but it's still good to have a wingman. All the Dreamers he's met so far are people he'd be proud to have at his back.]

Ya know, I was in a lot of fights before I became a Dreamer, but I always fought by myself instead of joining a gang. Even when I was older, I tried to deal with all of my problems on my own. But it wasn't because I was a real tough guy... it was because I was scared to ask anybody for help. You came all the way here to get help, so I figure you're already a whole lot braver than me!

[ There's a slight pause.

Then something shifts in Illya's expression - making her look a little bit more openly sceptical. ]

Sir, I don't think you have to try to flatter me that much to get me to join.. [ C-Calling him out?! Calling an old sappy man out?!

At least it's a sign she's getting a little less nervous and a little more comfortable here, if she's actually getting the spunk to do so. Not that she's sounding rude about it, more just.. well, making an observation. ]

I mean, there's no way someone who can't fight can be braver than someone who fights all the time. That's not how it works.

[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!

[ 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. ]

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!

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.. ]

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!

[ .. 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.

[Ango gets the feeling that he's being bullied by yet another middle schooler, but at least Illya is cute so he really can't get mad about it. He may be an old fart, but for once he kinda feels like he's being a decent adult. Maybe Ango is mentor material after all?

...Well, he wouldn't go that far. But if anybody ever makes this kid cry, he's gonna whoop their ass.]

Well, you've gotta want to do the right thing before you can actually do the right thing... right? So you're like, more than halfway there!

.. I'll remember that.

[ Look at her saying that so seriously. As if Ango just imparted Words Of Deep Wisdom upon her. Like he's a True Sage.

At least it's not like he said anything bad to a very impressionable young kid, right. ]

So, um.. I guess I'll go in there and sign up, I suppose.. A-And then try to do my best from there.

there's a fork in the road (open)

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