November catch-all ♫

[traceofeffort]

⭐ 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.

Comments

[traceofeffort]

A few people. A few specific people, for a couple years. It spread, and for a while it was my whole class. My whole year.

[Her expression is dark. In a very real sense, waking from her Nightmare was only the beginning for Lisa, and she's still recovering from the trauma even now. It's a heavy burden, let alone a burden to drop on someone else. She doesn't even want to drop this on Junna, although that's... her being scared of what Junna will think about her, more than anything else. But... she can't hide this when Illya's dragging it into the light. She won't keep hiding.]

I might... be overthinking it a little. But this... this is the reason I have my Sandglass in the first place. I couldn't handle it. It... messes me up, makes me jumpy. I don't trust people right away, and I have a hard time opening up. [A tiny, self-deprecating smile.] Not that I need to tell you that, yeah?

[reluctants]

[ Yikes.

That.. is bad. Really bad. It's not like Illya has a ton of friends either at school, but it's not like she's ever really picked on either. It's more like there's a distance between herself and the other people - but she thinks she doesn't mind that, compared to what Lisa is saying here. She can't even imagine enduring people saying that stuff to you, let alone a whole class..

She blinks, her eyes a little watery. Just because she's feeling that bad for the other, as empathetic as Illya is, and too young to hold that feeling in. ]

That's.. [ She shakes her head. ] They're-- They're wrong, Lisa-san. They're mean! How can all of them together pick on just one person?

[ It's so rude. Illya could never! ]

I understand feeling bad because of that, and-- um, I also understand it making it difficult to trust other people, and stuff like that, but.. you have to know I definitely think they're super wrong!

[traceofeffort]

I spent a lot of time wondering that, too. What I'd done to deserve it. [There's no cheer in her voice. It's... well-litigated, but that doesn't mean she's over it.] I never did figure it out before Those Girls disappeared, and it all slowly... stopped. But the damage was done, you know?

[She trails off again for a second as Illya passionately declares her opinion. It's... perhaps not surprising, but the strength of the denial definitely is a surprise. Illya really feels that strongly about it? About her? It's... that's weird. But- who is she to tell someone else how to feel? That's... that's not how that works. Can she accept it, though? That's not entirely her decision either - if it's what Illya thinks, it's how it's going to be, right? So Lisa takes a deep breath, and tries to smile. It's... faint, a little lopsided. But it's honest.]

That's a bold statement, Illya-chan. I appreciate it, but... are you sure? That's a lot of faith you're putting in me.

[reluctants]

[ The usage of the word disappeared is pretty wild there, but Illya can't ask about it right now. Not when there's clearly something way more important to say here.

Something like-- ]

Why shouldn't I?

[ It's said so plainly that the young girl really must be thinking this way. Else she would have thought more about it. ]

You've always helped me, Lisa-san. Wouldn't it then be really mean of me to have no faith in you?

[traceofeffort]

That's never stopped anyone before.

[It comes out just as fast, but she visibly cuts herself off. Illya is honest to a fault, so this... this has to be how she feels, right? So Lisa... starts to unwind, slowly.]

That's super mean of me, I'm sorry. I just... like I said. Um. [She cuts off for a second before shaking her head, a more honest smile coming out.] Thank you. Really. I know I'm being really extra right now, but I'm happy to hear you say that.

[reluctants]

I'm saying it because I'm not a mean person!

[ She huffs a little bit. Not that she thinks Lisa is the mean person here, despite what the other is saying about herself. No, the thing Illya is instead contrasting herself with are all those other people Lisa spoke of.

They were clearly mean for doing what they did to someone like Lisa. Illya feels so strongly about it that she's even doing the impossible - practically having given herself a compliment just now. Gasp. ]

So make sure to remember that, Lisa-san! Especially if you feel bad! There are people who believe in you now! If hearing that makes you feel happy, then just-- um, just ask me to say it whenever! I will!