yumemigaoka | ★ my genius, flawless idol for life

Hm, did you? [ Casually, like she isn't suddenly boiling with anger a little bit. It's bad enough that girls who do modelling and idol work get blasted with this kind of thing from every corner when they're working but Illya's just a regular girl minding her own business. Can she really not relax even then? ] That sounds like a pretty tacky magazine to me.

[ She gives a disapproving huff just to really emphasize it and then leans in again, her tone a little gentler. ]

If you heard a boy saying he didn't like one of your friends because of how she looked or because she'd put on a little weight, you'd think he was really mean, right? The kind of boys who get stuck on those kinds of things aren't the sort of boys you'd want to get interested in you in the first place.

It's usually less... Everything. When I'm not the one being punished.

[It's just said casually, because Connor forgets it's maybe not... super? Common knowledge that he's currently being punished. It's his own fault and he's been exceedingly well-behaved recently, so he's a little annoyed about his current PR blitz, but not enough to do anything about it.]

I like my job.

[But maybe that's just because he doesn't know what not having this job is like. He's been on television since he was six years old.]

[... oof. Never a good sign when even Ai doesn't know what's going on, but the situation as of late-- Crimson, the instability, the Disturbances-- really has become nothing but tangled threads. Hanako rubs his chin a little, trying to wrack his brain over the events the past few months.]

Mm... come to think of it, the Vale didn't reattach itself until after Mio-chan was rescued, either. Maybe it was just how it all timed out, but... you're right, that does seem a bit too convenient for it to be all a coincidence.

[A small detail pops into his head as he continues to think, however, and he glances up at the grey, frosty sky. Maybe it was too insignificant to even comment upon, but...]

Actually... call it a hunch, but... there were a lot of intense storms during the summer, weren't there? I mean, more than we'd usually expect in Yumemigaoka, anyway. Considering how the Vale usually is... it couldn't have bled into the real world, could it?

[Considering there were earthquakes when both Mio and Ango disappeared, it's not like these Disturbances hadn't influenced reality in one way or another. Though on the subject of Ango...]

It's weird, though... aside from the earthquakes, nothing out of the ordinary happened when that old guy went through all of his stuff. Heck, October was pretty normal after everything that was going on.

[He throws his arms up in mock shock.]

Oh, the scandal!

[He might now be making a little bit of a scene, but that's fine. It's for the bit.

He leans an elbow onto the table, similarly conspiratorial.]

Favourite trashy christmas movie?

[ So immediately she clearly didn't have to think about it; ] The Little Match Boy.

[ It's very pointedly not a good movie and has absolutely no resemblance to the fairy tale it's supposed to be riffing off, save the presence of a little boy and some magic matches but Ai loves it unreservedly anyway, entirely because the titular Little Match Boy had been Aqua back when he'd been poking his nose into child acting. He's beyond embarrassed by it now he's all grown up but... come on, what's a mom supposed to do other than rewatch it at least once a year? That's her baby out there!!! ]

I don't know if I'd call it trashy but it's definitely a little too sweet, you know? But I think that's perfect for Christmas.

It did...? [ She sounds... a little disappointed, almost?? The sort of tone your mom might take when you have to gently break it to her that you don't believe in Santa anymore. ] I guess it does land a little different when you spend as much time on the other side as we do...

[ Still. Even if you see plenty of magic in the Dream Sphere, that doesn't mean it should vanish from your life in the waking world too. ]

Do you not even have fun going out and doing shrine visits and everything with friends?

Well. My folks spoiled it for me.

[No secret to Ai, there -- Zeke doesn't get along with his parents in the slightest. The stodgy, traditional, responsible pair had struggled enough with their chuuni son at the best of times; when he donned a skirt to prance about in the Dream Sphere, that had been the end of it. Ironic that he'd taken up a government job, which they would have approved of...]

Going there just reminds me of them.

Oh yeah, I know the one. Watching it definitely raises your blood sugar levels. Almost dangerously. Kid was cute, though. Wonder what happened to him? He'd be, what--

[He starts counting on his fingers, and then ultimately gives up.]

--old now. Well, child star old.

[ The noise she makes isn't quite a proper laugh, but it's close enough. ]

Well, you're already way ahead of most people. From what I hear, getting paid to do something you like these days is basically a miracle.

[ Not that she can really talk... ]

Anyway. Leave all this with me and I'll see if I can't handle things. Leave your manager's name and number with me and I'll get in touch to let them know, just in case they've got plans too. But I promise, you don't have to keep worrying about this anymore. I'll come up with something.

[ She hums to herself in thought. ]

It's... possible. But summer this far north can turn that bad just because the air's a little wrong — it could be connected but I don't want to start chasing shadows. Not when there's already so many things that're strange as it is.

[ Like the absence of strangeness when it came to Ango's Disturbance. Or maybe there had been something strange and they'd all failed to notice it. There's so many unknowns and too little information to establish a pattern.

With any luck, things will stay that way. ]

... You were there fighting the Night Terror with everyone else, right? And you remember how that Disturbance felt. Did you ever feel anything like that before the Disturbance opened up?

Edited 2024-01-05 20:19 (UTC)

Who knows. [ blithely casual and noncommittal. ] If he hasn't acted in anything else, it could be he wasn't even a child actor — it could be that his mom or dad worked on the movie. Sometimes when it's a really small production and somebody drops out, you just end up casting whoever's available who can kind of do the role.

[ For all that she says she's not really an actress... this is a pretty flawless act. ]

But you're right. He'd probably be... hm, about twenty now? [ Purposely overshooting for plausible deniability. ] So he'd be all grown up. It's funny to imagine, huh?

Eh, I'll let you pick the music. I can always use exposure to more music. It's... professional development, let's say. [Read: you pick, and if she hears something catchy she'll look it up later to steal.

She thinks longer on how to prioritize her learning for Dreams, though.]

I'm kind of the opposite - I've been working solo - kinda badly - but my magic really isn't... made for that? So I need to learn how to work together better, even before I start thinking about collab moves. That doesn't mean I don't want them! I super do. But I need to work on some of my basics first, or I'm going to get smacked in the face before I can do the cool stuff... or one of you will because I missed something, and then I still can't do the cool stuff. [The comment isn't as self-deprecating this time - just an open acknowledgement of what she needs.]

Twenty? Yeesh. [Suddenly, he feels himself aging.] Let's hope you're right and he's just some random kid that walked on set, because that is a career that messes you right up.

[He briefly looks around himself for something, but comes up empty-handed.]

If I had a drink right now, I'd toast to him. Here's hoping you made it out unscathed, kid.

Chances are pretty good he's probably doing fine! Not a lot of people stick with acting for that long if they started as a kid. With any luck, he's working a super boring nine to five job at at office somewhere and he doesn't even remember the movie in the first place.

[ Which would probably be Aqua's ideal outcome here, come to think of it. ]

Or who knows? He could be right here in this line somewhere. You never know for sure how or when people are gonna pop back up.

[ The smile she'd been wearing thins just a bit. Not enough to look like pity or distaste — she knows full well how much that can sting when it lands but she's not going to insult him by wearing a thoughtless, clueless smile in the face of an admission like that.

Finally, she gives a quiet hum. ]

I guess that would suck all the fun out of things. [ There. That's neutral enough to not sound like she's giving him a condescending a little headpat, right? ] But the good thing about being an adult is getting to decide for yourself what your traditions are.

[ She flashes him a grin. ]

Getting comfy in bed's just as good as anything else!

[Misfire full-body shudders at the mention of a 9-to-5.]

It's bleak when your best outcome is an office job... [He scratches the back of his head and looks around the room.] Now you've got me wondering if he is in this line now. Almost like you're in on something.

[It's less an accusation, more of his imagination running off.]

Heh. Can you imagine?

[ Ai's smile is encouraging, as is her answering nod. ]

That's good! The first step to learning is really nailing down where you need to improve. This'll really help me along in working out what we want to focus on and where we want to get started.

[ Lisa's better than she thinks she is, at least as far as Ai's seen — but being overly aware of her flaws can be just as much of a detriment as being totally blind to them. Hibiki's main problem is going to be balancing teamwork — she's explosively good as a solo attacker, but that isn't going to carry her in situations where 'hitting something harder' doesn't always solve the problem. ]

For now, I'm thinking we'll start with a couple smaller scale Torment hunts after the holidays and we'll see how we work together in practice so we can nail down our problem spots. Sound good?

[ With an authentically weary smile: ] If he's here right now and he's been lining up for all this time, then I guess the nine to five didn't exactly work out like I was thinking it would.

[ That and — come on, Aqua, you see her at home all the time. You've got better things to do!! ]

[ There's a slight nod when Ai asks her that question. It's a little reluctant, but it is true. Illya would never stand for anyone mistreating someone she cares about, even if she'd have to timidly stand up for them.

.. the next part, however, doesn't seem so cut and dry. ]

But what sort of boys should I get interested in me then..?

[ Granted, this isn't exactly the sort of thing they normally talk about.

But that's the trouble with Dreamer business - you get so caught up in it that there's hardly ever time to talk about anything else. Like regular girl problems Illya may be having at her current age, especially with media everywhere being so oriented to blasting specific messages at girls her age.. ]

Do you think I should get boys interested in me? [ In.. general, Illya???

(Sorry, Ai, she literally has no one else to talk about these things with, apparently.. You are the mom now..) ]

[Completely oblivious, he's just playing along at this point.]

Hey, it means he's got enough cash to spend on a frankly lethal amount of cake, right? That's not too shabby.

[He says that when he's here, aggressively without that much cash.]

Or spending the time with friends. Or even here. Since I don't actually work for the DU, I can just hang out and chat! Talk people into New Year's Torment runs! Not on the day, of course. [He quickly holds up his hands to forestall that objection. The deal remains good!] Honestly, I'm at peace with what happened. It sucks, but nothing's perfect, yeah?

So long as I don't catch you actually doing any work then that's fine with me.

[ she didn't QUITE turn on the mom voice there but the threat of it was absolutely audible. She'll be keeping an eye on you, buster!!! ]

Honestly, things are so dead here when it's just the skeleton crew, I wouldn't complain about having someone to chat with when I'm in. I'll bring the snacks if you bring the coffee?

[ Of all the places to be having girl talk... is what she would think if this was anyone except Illya. The impression she gets is that... there probably aren't a whole lot of other people and especially not other adults Illya gets the chance to have talks like this with. It's a little sad but it's even more worrying — it means she could pick up influences from anywhere and she clearly already has been.

But that's fine. Ai's had a lot of practice being an encouraging senpai and a doting mom. She's a good enough substitute for the job.

Gently but firmly; ] I don't think you have to if you don't want. You've already got a whole lot on your plate right now, huh? So I think it's okay to focus on all that stuff if that's what you decide is the most important for you. You're working hard and doing your best at being a Dreamer, right? Are you having fun with it?

[His shoulders slump when she pokes holes into his weather theory, but... well, she had a point there. It was definitely too easy to connect dots to things that probably were mere coincidences, after all.]

That's true. We probably don't want to start going all "Crimson faked the moon landing" about this if we can help it.

[But then Ai mentions the Night Terror, and his posture stiffens ever so slightly. He took great pains keeping certain things off of that report (and making sure the others did the same), although there was no telling what may or may not have slipped through the cracks. Thankfully, though, it seems that she was more interested in Ango's overall Disturbance in general, and after a heavy moment of silence, he finally responds, voice quiet and tentative.]

... yeah, I was. And yeah... I do.

[It had been something he had been meaning to discuss with her for a while, ever since the first Disturbance, although with everything going on, he couldn't find the right time-- until now, that is.]

You know about how I was on the one mission to find Crimson, right? Where she went and kicked us all out and told us not to come back? Well... I noticed something. In both Mio-chan's and the old guy's Disturbances. It felt a whole lot like how it did when we stumbled upon that weird gazebo place she was hiding out in. That weird... super-real but not-real feeling.

The old dude and I had wondered if maybe what we've been running into with her is her own Disturbance, possibly. It definitely feels the same, and if Crimson's as good at working with the Dream Sphere as they say, then it explains a whole lot about why no one's noticed it sooner.

[And Hanako and Ango were going to look into it further, but then SOMEONE had to have a midlife crisis and send their demonic sakura waifu against folks!!!]

Works for me! [Here's hoping he hasn't secretly set Ai up to bring, like, carrot sticks and celery or something. Zeke eats his vegetables responsibly already, dangit!] Not that I plan to let you spend too much time here if I can help it.

★ my genius, flawless idol for life

continued cw as above

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