yumemigaoka | November catch-all ♫

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lisa imai

November catch-all ♫

⭐ Who: Lisa and ticketed attendees- wait, no, she didn't issue tickets, it's just everyone.
⭐ When: November, perhaps with backdated stuff as needed?
⭐ Where: Around town! Maybe in the Dream Sphere too, we'll see where things take us.
⭐ What: A certain bassist has Some Things on her mind and may require distractions. She still hasn't entirely wound down from the last Disturbance, but there are some... other issues also cropping up.
⭐ Warnings: Lisa-typical spirals, though it might be a bit worse than usual this month... Otherwise check headers, but should be fine.

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That might not actually be a problem. My parents were willing to give me a stipend for my own place when I started college. I just haven't found anywhere yet.
We're talking, like, less than half a million a month? Not that I HAVE that much but just to make sure we're on the same page?

[That would... probably not be acceptable rent anywhere in the city except maybe the swankiest apartments in Koubai. Right?]

Give me a few minutes to ask a few questions, and I will get back to you.

[A few minutes turns into slightly over 20, but eventually she responds.]

Well, the good news is that is under half a million. The bad news is that it is not much under it. My sister says the average rent, not including utilities, averages 400 thousand yen a month. I actually didn't realize she was giving up so much a month to let me stay here.

[Lisa lets out a low whistle despite herself, once Karen replies again. That's a lot. She could maybe get away with that - an upscale place is valuable for her parents' image - but she's going to have to push hard, and she might need to get herself a job... hmm.]

That IS high. 0_0
Then again, it's a competitive housing market, and Yumemigaoka is only growing, with all the Dreamer stuff going on...
That's not a no. But I need to think about it a bit, make a couple calls.

[She hesitates. Then:]

It's a bit of a long story but I really need to move out.

We're in Koubai, pretty close to the city center, so I assume that is what makes the price so high.

[It was pretty unreasonable a price for a single person to pay on their own, unless they were already wealthy. She was very fortunate to be able to live in such a nice place.]

If it isn't something personal, would you tell me why you need to move out? I understand if its something you don't want to talk about, though.

Oh. Not even that far from where I already am, then. That's kinda convenient. Makes sense too. [Although for a single, horrifying moment she wonders if Karen's sister owns the complex they're already in. That doesn't pass though, Karen's sister would have to be quite a bit older than Karen for the ages to work since they've lived there Lisa's whole life.

As for explaining... well, she can't really get away with letting it pass, after she's asked for a favor. She grimaces at her phone, before shaking her head softly. It is personal, but...]

My parents don't really agree with my being a Dreamer, I don't think.
Or at least we don't see eye to eye on it.
It kind of came to a head after Hibiki-chan's Disturbance, when I woke up screaming in pain.

[It was unlikely to be the same building. They would most likely have run into each other in the hallways at least once or twice. And while Karen was the youngest of her family, none of her siblings were a great deal older. Thankfully, it seems a case of crisis averted.]

You live in the same area? I suppose that would make the move easier.

[She would not have been surprised if she didn't get any response to her question, nor would she have been offended. But she did, and it brings up some personal feelings. Her fingers are tapping at her phone at a rapid pace the moment she finishes reading it.]

I understand that feeling. My parents don't know anything about LLENN. Not about the game I play, and not about her in the Dream Sphere either. I don't think they would be mad, but I still worry if the rest of my family would approve. They were shocked when I did something as minor as cut my hair.

[She hesitates for a moment, and then adds a single line of text.]

There is another option if you can't afford to move out on your own.

[Even typing that much gives her a tiny, singing empty feeling at the bottom of her stomach, that she's said too much, or that Karen really doesn't want to deal with this kinda stuff. Which is fine, she can deal with-

-oh. Well then.]

That seems like something really small to be fussy about. So I get why you'd be cautious about telling them everything else.
Sounds like you see them a little more often than I see my own parents, though. Which might be part of the problem.

[Then she sees Karen continue, and for a moment, she blinks at her phone. Her problem isn't necessarily the cost, but...]

That's an ominous way to put it. What did you have in mind?

[It seems that she had been accidentally ominous. She hadn't meant to imply anything scary!]

Sorry. I just meant that you could get a roommate. Split the cost. There are no one bedroom apartments in this building, so you could have your own space. Actually

[This time there is a longer pause before Karen sends again.]

There is another another option. If you really need a place to yourself, you could always stay in my spare bedroom. I don't use it for anything. Other then the furnishings its entirely empty.

[The hesitation came from the fact she couldn't believe she was even thinking of making the offer. She really had changed a little since starting to live on her own.]

Oh! That's a lot less ominous. Sorry, I'm a little twitchy right now.

[That comment is made while she ruminates. If there are only two-bedroom or larger apartments, that's... a lot of space, and thus a lot of money. It would explain the cost somewhat if they're actually decently-sized and conveniently located...

Then the other message comes in, and she stops. Reads it again. Blinks at her phone again. Wonders what she's done to deserve the friends she's making, and briefly clutches her phone to her chest. Things... might be okay after all.]

I'm flattered, Karen, but you barely know me. Are you sure you even want to offer?
I really appreciate it, don't get me wrong! But I just don't want to impose on someone when I really haven't done a whole lot to earn that.

[The response is completely correct. She really didn't know Lisa that well at all. She had no idea about her worries, her dreams for the future, or much beyond that she had been looking for a college. But she'd still managed to leave a positive impression.]

About that. We really haven't spoken much since the time we met on campus. But you still listened to me when I shared a lot more then you asked about. And I have seen you fighting hard on the other side for the sake of other people. Hibiki knows now, by the way. About who the girl in pink actually is. But I guess what I am saying is that I feel like I can trust you to not make me regret the offer.

[It's... not a lot to base a decision like that on. And yet, Lisa knows a lot about making decisions based on vibes, doesn't she. So she probably shouldn't throw stones.]

I'm glad to hear that about Hibiki-chan. She needs more friends that understand what she's going through.
I think *I* need more friends that understand what I'm going through. So, um, thank you. For saying that.
And I like to think I take everything seriously, except for the things I'm not taking seriously on purpose, you know?

[She doesn't continue for a moment. It's... a heavy decision to make. Her heart is screaming to go for it, but can she get away with it?

Then she realizes that the whole problem is that she doesn't have anyone to run life choices past before she makes them. So her biggest hurdle isn't... really there. What a mess. Lisa takes a long breath in, lets it out slowly, and looks at her phone, before setting her shoulders.]

I think I'm going to take you up on that, Karen-chan. If you'll have me.
We'll definitely need to talk about it some more first but
I just can't stay here much longer.

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November catch-all ♫

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