I can get back up however many times it takes [OPEN]

[determinationtofist]

⭐ Who: Hibiki Tachibana & You!
⭐ When: Throughout October
⭐ Where: Out and about in Yumemigaoka or the Dreamsphere
⭐ What: A lot of post-disturbance aftermath, trying to wind back down after that, etc etc. Please plot with me for things or how your character intends to approach Hibiki afterwards if that's something they'll do.

Comments

[determinationtofist]

U-Uwah...

[ To say that Hibiki is surprised would be an understatement... but come to think of it, it kind of makes sense. That modicum of sense allows Hibiki to slow her thoughts and sit back down. ]

Ehh... really? I mean, I know there are plenty of Dreamers who look pretty different, but...

[ Hibiki tilts her head at Karen. She's right, she can't think of anybody she's seen in the Dreamsphere... ]

[smalltall]

[The taller woman nods.]

I doubt you'd find any more different then me. I....well..

[A frown comes to her face.]

I've made no secret of how much I hate my height. It probably seems so unimportant to anyone else, but it defines almost every part of my life. I won't go into all the ways it does, I did not ask you here to have you listen to me complain. Just know its almost always on my mind.

I am certain this is how I ended up the way I am over there. It made my 'dream' come true. I'm not tall there. I'd say even you are taller then her...rather, me.

[She pauses again, but doesn't allow herself to look away. Her hands gently rest on her sandglass.]

And the truth of the matter is that you've met me as a Dreamer numerous times. I did not tell you for concern of how you'd react, but I believe now it is more important for you to know you can trust your friends. So I won't hide it from you anymore. Or anyone, for that matter. I have already filled out the paperwork to become an official member of the Dreamer Union.

[And yet she doesn't come straight out and say it despite saying she wasn't going to hide it anymore. She must still be feeling a little hesitation.]

[determinationtofist]

[ Hibiki listens, her head still tilted in confusion. Someone she's met lots of times, shorter than her, only now becoming an official member of the DU...

...Hibiki's eyes widen, and finally the pieces that have already been laid out start to click together. ]

Wait... wait wait wait wait...

[ Hibiki squints at Karen, as if examining every inch of her face... and suddenly she's reaching forward and putting her hands on Karen's cheeks as well, squishing them a little. ]

Wait...

[ Said for what, the sixth time now? Hey... didn't someone say that they wanted to meet up with her and tell her something? ]

...No way.

[ She's starting to piece it together, but it looks like disbelief is serving as one final barrier... ]

[smalltall]

[Karen shifts a little uncomfortably in her seat when things start to come together. She didn't expect Hibiki to be angry with her, she didn't seem the type of person to do that. But as she'd said, she was still worried about the reaction. After spending so long playing pretend, would she even be considered a trustworthy person?

Her eyes go wide as hands reach for her face. She had no idea what was going through the other girl's head.]

E..eh...eh?!

[Its tough to even find words to describe the shock she feels from the sudden cheek squishing. She sputters in a futile attempt to even speak, and finally manages to get herself under control enough to do so. Her words are slightly muffled due to face squishing, though.]

Its.....well, just look at this! Remember it?

[She hastily digs into her pocket, and takes out her keys and, more specifically. her rather distinct keychain. Shaped like the same gun that Hibiki had seen so much on the other side, and placed right next to Karen's Sandglass, it should be all the evidence needed to put the final piece in place. But she isn't going to just leave it at that. She smiles, awkwardly due to the situation.]

I'm sorry my cheeks aren't nearly as squishy as LLENN's are.

[determinationtofist]

[ Hibiki remembers. She definitely remembers seeing that keychain before... and she had drawn the connection to her little pink friend, but... ]

L...

[ Only now... only now does she realize just how much more of a connection there was... or rather, is. ]

LLENN-CHAN!?

[ It's worth noting that Hibiki still hasn't stopped squishing Karen's cheeks... though this time it's because the revelation has shocked her so much that she's uh, forgotten to let go. ]

[smalltall]

[It was likely that everyone else in the cafe would at least glance at the sudden outburst, but with no context as to who was being spoken about, it wouldn't be a big deal. The way that Karen was having her face squished would probably be a much bigger attention grabber.]

Y..yes, that's right.....

[She gently places one of her hands on one of those powerful cheek squishers.]

C..could you...maybe..let go?

[She takes a moment to compose herself.]

I am LLENN. You would have found out eventually, but I wanted it to be from me personally. That is why I knew about what you were going through. I wasn't just there, I was in the room with you. I would have told you right then and there, but I didn't think you needed anything else on your shoulders.

[She gives it a moment to all sink in and, hopefully, let her very squished cheeks have a second to themselves.]

As for my reasons for keeping it a secret, there are a few but I will start by stating I am not ashamed of LLENN. She is part of me, and a part I wish I could be more like in the real world.

[determinationtofist]

O-Oh! Right!

[ Fortunately for Karen, Hibiki does release her cheeks from their squishing. Not as squishy as when she's LLENN, but still pretty squishy she thinks.

Still, it's quite a lot... she already knew that LLENN was older than she actually looks, being around Hibiki's own age... and a college student, right? Something that Hibiki might've been perusing as a possibility if she weren't still, y'know... in High School. ]

Whoa...

[ She's honestly still a little amazed. She's listening, sure, but a lot of it is sort of just washing over her... mostly because a lot of stuff now makes a lot of sense, and more importantly, it's not like this is a bad thing... if anything, it just means that she and Karen were way closer than Hibiki thought.

But that last part about wanting to be more like that in the real world gets a proper reaction out of Hibiki. ]

Eh? You... wanna be more like LLENN-chan?

[ Well, who wouldn't wanna be such a cute little girl? But... she can't help but tilt her head at that. ]

[smalltall]

[Much better. Her cheeks could only handle so much assault! The response to the news puts her at ease. She isn't being treated like some sort of weird person, and Hibiki doesn't seem angry about it. Things would be slightly different from now on, but it seemed her choice to be honest hadn't made her an outcast.]

I understand it must be a bit to take in. I've given a lot of thought to what it means to become someone else entirely on the other side. But I think I've figured out why it happens. LLENN is everything I want to be. Its not just my height. When I am her, I can talk to people and not feel awkward. I don't have any problem starting a conversation. LLENN is confident, talented, and cute. None of those are words I would use to describe myself in the real world.

[She might be being a little harsh on herself. At the very least she was good at most things she tried. But everyone is their own harshest judge.]

So what I really mean is I want to be more like that in the real world. I know I'll never be little and cute. I have accepted that.

[She smiles, an embarrassed expression on her face.]

I hope you're not disappointed finding out you have one less friend then you thought.