yumemigaoka | December Catchall!

December Catchall!

⭐ Who: Shinsha and YOU!
⭐ When: Througout December

1. HOUSEPLANT HOSPITAL

⭐ When: Early December
⭐ Where: Camellia

[Now that it's officially winter, all the potted plants that spent the summer on sunny balconies have been brought indoors... so if your succulents are looking sickly and your philodendron has peaked, you're not alone! Bring your haggard houseplants in to Camellia to have them assessed by Promised Morning Academy's Gardening Club president, Shinsha! Even if your green thumb is withered and brown, they won't judge you... too much.

Shinsha has set up their plant clinic at a quiet table in the corner of Camellia, the charmingly retro cafe/flower shop located on a side street at Moon Bunny Market. They're sipping a cup of coffee (black with just a pinch of sugar) and trying not to look too disgruntled about the fact that Amane put them up to this. They haven't gotten any better about saying "no" to things they don't want to do, but they are becoming a little more sociable, so... progress?]

...That plant is dead. You need a priest, not a gardener.

2. CHRISTMAS SHOPPING

⭐ When: December 15th
⭐ Where: Koubai

[Even though Pure Candy's indefinite hiatus was only announced this morning, the big music shop in Koubai is quick to capitalize with a large display of fan merchandise, ready for the Friday afternoon rush of students on their way home from school for winter holidays. Sure enough, there's already a crowd forming on the sidewalk outside the music shop, so Shinsha is forced to trudge through the gutter snow to avoid them. Shinsha can't really enjoy the idol group's music after knowing how much pain it brought to Mio Kasuga, but they can't exactly tell her fans about that. Hopefully, if Mio-san ever returns to making the kind of music that she wants to make, her fans will still be there for her.]

Still... it feels wrong.

[Shinsha mutters to themself before turning back to their last-minute holiday shopping. Christmas is a romantic holiday in Japan, and a family-oriented holiday overseas, but Shinsha has neither a romantic partner (ugh) nor any close relatives... but it might be nice to give gifts to Sensei and a few friends.

Friends... they have some of those now, don't they?]

3. DREAM SPHERE

⭐ When: Late December
⭐ Where: Reflection Glades

[Cinnabar doesn't - can't - come here often. The Reflection Glades are warm and sunny, a welcome respite from Yumemigaoka's winter gloom, but even a relatively safe part of the Dream Sphere isn't entirely free from Torments... and if Cinnabar fights here, their mercury will poison the vegetation, leaving dead zones that persist for weeks. But this time of year, the Torments are unusually quiet, so Cinnabar can risk enjoying one of the few truly nice parts of the Dream Sphere. There are flowers here that have never existed in the real world, untouched by the seasons.]

It's beautiful...

[Belatedly, Cinnabar realizes that they aren't alone. Embarrassed to be caught off guard when they're supposed to be an experienced professional Dreamer, they begin to stammer.]

I-I'm sorry! I didn't realize that anyone else was here!

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[Lisa's face falls at this proclamation. She's brought in the small rosemary plant she'd picked up, ah, right about six weeks ago, at the counter just over there. While there's been one successful harvest - the initial one - it's just kind of... suffered? Some of that is Lisa forgetting to take care of herself and so this herb's been even further back on the priority list, and some of it is just honest mistakes. The result is that it's... not looking so hot, to the point even Lisa can tell her poor herb plant is in a bad way. Lisa is also in a bad way at the moment, mind!]

N-no, Akashi-san, don't tell me that! You've gotta help me with this, I definitely can't let Amane-kun see this plant like this!

[There's a touch of mild panic in her expression that she isn't afraid to show them. Surely it's not that important... right?]

Ah... I see. So you got the plant here...

[While rosemary isn't well suited to Yumemigaoka's chilly climate, it's a common enough kitchen herb that Lisa could probably find a replacement plant at a grocery store... but that wouldn't ease the pain of seeing something suffer when it's supposed to be under her care. Shinsha is a little too familiar with that feeling. The strain in Lisa's voice hints that there's more going on than a sickly houseplant, but Shinsha is better at dealing with plant problems than people problems. Still, sometimes the two overlap.]

...Then really, it's Amane's fault anyway. This pot is all wrong for rosemary - it has a pretty design, but it's made of glazed ceramic that won't allow water to drain properly. Rosemary prefers dry soil, so a plain terracotta pot is best, especially in the winter when it won't be growing as quickly.

[Some of her tension drains away at their straightforward explanation - even if it throws Amane under the bus a little bit, which she'll come back to - and her fretting is replaced with visible confusion.]

Wait. Hold on a second. The, uh. The pot matters? Soil, I get, water as directed and don't drown the poor thing. Sunlight, sure, it's been by the window. Was, um, I supposed to re-pot it?

[Lisa's green thumb is more like an image she found on Pinterest. She's trying? The orchid she tended over the summer gave her false hope.]

Normally it would be fine, but plants can be a little touchy in the winter when they aren't getting as much sunlight. It's alright, though. I expected that this might be a problem, so I brought extra pots.

[Shinsha spreads a clean sheet of old newspaper across the table, then carefully extracts the rosemary from its current pot. As anticipated, there are signs of root rot at the bottom, so they carefully trim the unhealthy roots with a pair of scissors before packing it back into a plain clay pot filled with loose soil. They move with the confidence of experience, so there's very little mess.]

There. It should start to rebound in a few weeks.

[Lisa watches carefully with a tense breath, listening to Shinsha's simplified explanation for her gardening-impaired self and mostly absorbing it as they tend to her rosemary. It's delicate work, and she finds herself impressed with their steady hands, as she calms down. She wouldn't have been sure what to look for on her own without Google to help, but looking now, there's a visible difference between the parts they trim away and the parts they leave alone; she commits it to memory, nodding faintly, as they work it back into a new, more usual pot.]

I'm so glad... thank you so much, Akashi-san. I'm glad I came to an expert! [She grins at them, briefly, before sobering a bit.] I know it's not really important, but... [She doesn't want to burden them with too much information, so Lisa visibly pauses to consider her words. Then, a little more softly:] I didn't want to look like I couldn't handle something simple like this.

If it's important to you, it's important.

[Even though Amane certainly wouldn't blame Lisa for accidentally killing a plant, she must still feel like she's letting down someone who put their trust in her... Shinsha is all too familiar with that feeling.]

You shouldn't feel bad... we've all been under a lot of stress lately, right? Plants can seem fine until they suddenly start to wilt... I guess people are the same way.

Don't I know that. It's been... a long few months. [A sideways glance, and a small, knowing smile.] For myself and this child both. It's done well to put up with me this long. [Her eyes sparkle faintly as she looks back to Shinsha.] But we'll keep growing. It'll be okay, now.

[A breath.] I think you're budding just fine too, despite everything... bleh, the metaphor's getting a little strained. Um, but you seem to be doing okay, yeah? You feel a little... different.

[Shinsha smiles a little too - the metaphor may be a little overwrought, but they still appreciate Lisa's effort to speak to them in terms they intuitively understand. But what does she mean by different?]

I... I do?

[They nervously push loose hair behind one ear.]

Well... I joined the Dreamer Union... I'm sorry for telling you earlier that I wasn't active as a Dreamer. I... was afraid that people would judge me when they found out about my powers. But after everything that happened with Mio-san, I couldn't just pretend that I wasn't involved anymore.

[Lisa blinks, before waving her hands in front of her.] Oh, no, no, don't apologize for that! That's not what I meant anyway, but... I'm glad you were able to make a change. Anyone that wants to judge you over that is wrong. [Said with zero hesitation or room for argument. She mentally takes a step back for a moment before continuing more softly.] I'm also, ah... I'm happy you feel that strongly about what happened, if that's not too weird to say.

[She lets out a breath.] Maybe it's just me, but I feel like you wouldn't have been willing to do something like this, when I met you over the summer. Standing out here and dealing with people who are, ah, not exactly Gardening Club material. You're more... open isn't the word... approachable? That might be closer.

I... I suppose you're right.

[Even just a few months ago, Shinsha wouldn't have been able to help strangers with their plant problems, and they certainly wouldn't have taken the risk to save Mio. It wasn't that they were cold-hearted or uncaring before... they always wanted to help, but no one ever asked. That must be what Lisa means by "approachable."]

So... if there's ever anything you need help with, even if it's not related to plants... you can ask me.

[Lisa's breath catches in her throat. It's... when was the last time someone told her that? And meant it? It's such a small thing, something Shinsha probably doesn't even recognize, and yet... She swallows, and her answering smile is radiant.]

Count on it. Thank you, again. And... if there's anything I can do to help you, please let me know, as well. [She opens her mouth to continue - to downplay herself, most likely - but thinks better of it and just lets it fall shut again, for a moment. Her gaze turns a little contemplative.]

So. A Dreamer, huh? I knew you had to be, since you go to Promised Morning, but... Oh, you don't need to tell me anything if you don't want to. It's just nice to know there are people that I can trust to have my back, if I meet them over there.

...It's alright. I was afraid of hurting others in the Dream Sphere, but I've learned to be more careful.

[Oddly, their control over their mercury manipulation abilities has improved more in just a few months of being a part of the Dreamer Union than it did over years of fighting alone... or maybe it's just that their anxiety has decreased a little.]

Actually... um... there is something that you could help me with. Amane suggested that I get a part-time job here, but...

[Shinsha looks worried for a moment, but manages to continue with their usual deadpan expression.]

...But I have no idea how to dress like a cute and trendy flower shop employee. I have an apron, but... maybe... maybe a hair clip?

[Learned to be more careful sounds like the understatement of the decade, if they're that serious about it... she's going to have to remember to be particularly positive if she's ever covering them on the other side. She files that away for later though, as they do ask her for help almost immediately. She pauses at the specific request, though, and visibly thinks it over for a moment.]

Cute and trendy, huh...? You're right about the apron, and I don't want to mess with that too much - if we do too much to it, you'll just be uncomfortable wearing it. Something like a hair clip or even a headband might be fun, though! I could definitely see it. I- [Eyes bright, Lisa reaches for Shinsha's hair to get a feel for the texture, but halfway there she realizes what she's doing, her face flushes, and she jerks her hand back like she's burned herself ~~again~~.] E-excuse me! I got carried away. U-um... may I examine your hair, Akashi-san? I want to, ah, see what kind of texture it has. See if a clip would be too rough on it. I-if that's okay! [And now she's overcorrecting. Sorry she's like this, Shinsha.]

Ah...

[How long has it been since anyone touched them so casually? Sensei would often pat their head when they were young, but at 18, Shinsha is practically an adult now... Shinsha has been trying very hard to be an adult for the past few years, so they never really had a chance to be a teenager.]

I - I don't mind.

[As flustered as Shinsha is, it's almost comforting to know that even friendly, likeable people like Lisa get anxious, and that everyone feels awkward and inept sometimes.]

I don't really know much about hairstyles, though...

[That much is obvious from Shinsha's appearance - their long reddish-brown hair hangs limply in front of their face, with pieces hacked off unevenly when they start to get in the way.]

[She lets out a breath; she hadn't really expected to be told no anyway, given the situation, but it's very much about the principle of the thing, and she wouldn't have pushed if they'd objected. Smiling softly and nodding, most of the tension back off her face, Lisa reaches up again. This time, hand shaking just a tiny bit, she gently takes a bit of Shinsha's crimson hair between her fingertips. She doesn't shy away from their face, but she's focused on her inspection now that she has express permission. From a casual observation, she'd thought it would be a little brittle, but as she examines it now, it's... decently cared-for, just not styled whatsoever, as they add in almost the same moment. Maybe needs some conditioner. Do they-]

Do you cut your own hair? I was afraid it would fray if we put something in it that bends it, but I think it'll actually be okay. There's a lot you can do with this, I think! Mature, trendy, playful, you've got options. Long hair is a great place to start from.

[Her free hand twitches toward her handbag, but she pauses; she wants to give Shinsha her full attention for the moment, and she'll figure out what to actually do with it after.]

Um... I've been cutting it myself for a long time. Sensei - my guardian - is bald, so he only knows how to use clippers...

[They shudder slightly at the memory of Sensei's horrible haircuts. Of course the orphanage had female staff who could have cut Shinsha's hair or taken them to a salon, but... none of them were willing to indulge Shinsha's crossdressing nonsense. It was only thanks to Sensei's intervention that they were allowed to have long hair and wear skirts.]

...What would you recommend? You're a lot more fashionable than I am. I don't think I'm mature or trendy or playful, but... I might like to try being those things.

[Lisa already knew the answer was no when she asked the question, but hearing it from them gives her a little bit more context. It explains a lot, but it also gives her some insight into how what Shinsha has to work with. That is to say... perhaps not a whole lot. That's okay, though, that's what she's helping with, right?]

I'm no cosmetologist, but either I can try to do it myself, or I can take you to one of a few places I think I can recommend, if we want to make a change that needs it to be shorter. I'd like to at least clean up a few bits, but we should make other decisions first, yeah? So with that in mind... the other question is, how much are you willing to tolerate?

[She doesn't know if they really need the explanation, but she may as well make sure they know what they're deciding.] It's kind of the same problem as the apron - if we make it super cute but high-maintenance, you might not want to put in the effort all the time. But if you do something easy, even if it's not going to turn every head in the market, it'll help you feel like you can make a change that people will notice. [For effect, she finally reaches into her bag and pulls out a red (of course) scrunchie, immediately followed by a somewhat plain, metal hair clip, offering both for Shinsha to see. Has Lisa ever even worn this hair clip...?] Even something like a ponytail can still be mature and elegant, and it'll help keep your hair out of the dirt. And it also takes two seconds, so you can change up your look more or less at will.

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December Catchall!

1, not sorry;

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