Theater Kid is Experiencing a Long December

[thestarknows]

⭐ Who: Junna... and you!
⭐ When: Throughout December!
⭐ Where: In Yumemigaoka!
⭐ What: A December catch-all! I'll have a couple open prompts but hit me up if you want a different prompt.

Comments

Gift-a-thon, Week of Christmas (open)

[thestarknows]

[Junna is prowling about the Dreamer Union headquarters... in search of friends, acquaintances, and coworkers. She has a bag over one shoulder and she has a mission. It's time to give people gifts. And thus, when she spots someone:]

Oh! Pardon, do you have a moment!

[There's a smile, then.]

[deadwishes]

[Tsukasa stops but he's not entirely sure she really meant him but hey, it's Tsukasa she's getting.]

Yeah?

[thestarknows]

Amane-kun! [She smiles brightly.

She... still has trouble telling them apart. Also she spent so much more time around Amane that--that she tends to mentally default to them.

And she speaks quickly:] Hold on just a second! I have your present!

[deadwishes]

[Sometimes Tsukasa will correct people. When they were younger, Tsukasa rarely did. It was pretty funny. Getting older, though, he did it less. It wasn't a matter of maturing but well, Tsukasa didn't think Amane liked it as much anymore.

Yet Amane is ignoring him and if he has his gift then Amane can't ignore him! Perfect.

He puts on his best Amane act and smiles.] For me? You got me unprepared!

[thestarknows]

Oh, it's okay, don't worry.

[The world is a stage and people are but players in it. In this case, Junna doesn't know what part she is playing, though. She brightens and nods, before she opens the bag.

There's... a few wrapped presents inside. There's also a lot of plastic zipped bags, with some homemade holiday cookies. She pulls out a small present first, which is neatly wrapped, and hands it over.]

Merry Christmas! I hope you like it. [It's a box, with the telltale jingle of plastic parts.]

[deadwishes]

[One day, Junna, you will have something wonderful come your way because of this nonsense.

It is so tempting to open it right now because Tsukasa loves opening things. He's a Christmas fiend. But he has respect for the fact this is Amane's gift.]

Do you mind if I wait? Christmas gifts should wait until Christmas day, right?

[thestarknows]

[There's a blink, but only a brief one. It makes sense.

She nods, cheerfully.] Oh, yes, of course! Though...

[She pulls out two ziploc baggies, which have about half-a-dozen iced Christmas cookies each. She hands them over.]

Maybe don't wait on these. I made a set for Tsukasa-san, too.

[deadwishes]

Oh, even for Tsukasa? I'll make sure he thanks you properly!

[This is the act of a lifetime.]

That was real nice of you~ I'll definitely make sure you get your gift! [Amane seriously better have her gift or this will be awkward.]

[thestarknows]

Thanks. Hopefully he likes them! I'm not sure what kinds of cookies he prefers, but...

[She cracks a smile.] I guess it's hard to dislike cookies, right?

[Then, Junna nods, though there's a laugh too.] Don't feel any pressure, though! I know it's busy this time of year.

[thezekeinator]

[As usual, Zeke has shown up at the DU despite not technically being a part of it.
Also he's duel-wielding giant candycanes. Ignore that.]

Hey! [Completely ignoring what she'd said, he breaks into a huge smile.] I heard the terrific news! Congratulations!

[thestarknows]

Ah-- [Junna blinks at him.

She's both recovering from the thought she'd give a gift and trying to think of what the news would be.]

Thank you! I think. What... what news do you mean?

[thezekeinator]

[Zeke points at her with one of those large candy canes. It doesn't hit her face, but don't mind how close it came.]

Someone, or rather a couple someones, have become a capital-I Item!

[thestarknows]

[Junna reflexively steps back. Even if it wasn't going to hit her... reflexes!

There's a blink, though -- then realization -- and then she smiles.]

Ah--ah, yeah! I... guess word's getting around, now. Thank you, Zeke-san.

[thezekeinator]

Straight from the source, and I'm tickled pink! You two make for a terrific match. The Zekenator approves!

[Behind his goofy grin and thumbs-and-candy-cane-up is sincere delight, because he truly does think they make for a great pair! Two of his favorite Dreamers partnering up like that? He can't ask for better news!]

[thestarknows]

W-Well, thank you! I think we do, too. But... I have some bias.

[Junna smiles a little at that and she brightens up.] I'm glad everyone's been supportive, too.

[thezekeinator]

Are you kidding? Of course people are supportive! We couldn't ask for better.

[Looking up at the ceiling for some reason, Zeke grins. A bit dopey, at that.]

And having a partner who understands the whole Dreamer biz is the ideal. I'd call it a necessity, myself.

[thestarknows]

[Junna laughs again -- she still sounds a little sheepish. But... given everything with her parents...

An older figure approving means a lot.] Well... thank you. Really, Zeke-san, it means a lot to me.

[Then a blink -- and a nod.] I didn't think of that. But... it's true. It's hard to explain what it's like to someone who doesn't or can't do it.

[olruggio]

[Olly is no longer working under a deadline... Is what he wishes were true. The fact of the matter is that he has other commissions to complete: posters, web pages, even more architectural lighting now that people were aware he was in town and they could bully speak with him face to face. Ironically, it feels like the DU is one of the few places he could get his thoughts in order for a couple of hours.

Thankfully, his sponsors have some semblance of mercy and have given him a holiday break. By which we meant that none of the deadlines are in the two weeks that span Christmas nor the New Year. Yay]

Hm?

[he looks up from the notebook he's been scribbling in to look at the young girl that called out to him]

...

[there's an annoyed groan as he rubs the bridge of his nose] Of all the things to have become a habit...! [a sigh before he pushes himself up in his seat so that she knows he's given her his full attention] Yes, what is it?

[thestarknows]

[Junna has a brief look of... well, confusion on her face. She didn't expect that response. Granted, she doesn't know Olruggio, but... she hesitates for a second. Then, she puts on a more practiced smile, and walks over.

Her hand goes into her bag. Out comes a small plastic bag, with a half dozen small Christmas cookies inside. Sugar cookies, with icing to give them that "festive look." She hands it over.]

Merry Christmas.

[olruggio]

[he stares at her for a moment before sighing quietly, recognizing the confusion and... Not doing much to fix it. Then comes the the little present and if Olruggio didn't feel bad about his previous attitude he certainly feels a bit of guilt now]

... Merry Christmas.

[he takes a moment to rub sleep from his eyes his face. He does make an effort to look less grumpy at least. She's clearly doing this to be nice but-]

You're not planning on giving these out to everyone at the DU, are you? [he thought ovens were uncommon in Japanese households...]

[thestarknows]

Enjoy!

[Junna borrowed the ovens at headquarters...

...but maybe she won't mention that, given the response. Though--though he does look like he's trying to be less guilty.]

Just the ones who are here today. So... yes, sort of. Things have been stressful lately, so... a little pick-me-up.

[olruggio]

[he taps his pen against his notebook - though on closer inspection, there's no writing lines and it's covered with sketches so maybe it's more apropos to call it his sketchbook instead - before putting said pen down with a sigh]

You know there is such a thing as 'over-achieving', right? [that said, he (finally!) gives her a wry smile as he takes the little bag of cookies] Not necessarily a bad thing, but what were you going to do if there was fewer people here than you had expected?

[thestarknows]

[She does a little double take. Maybe he's an artist -- and then she looks back at Olruggio. When he smiles like that, she smiles back.]

I'm too busy to consider if I'm an over-achiever. [That's an attempt at a joke.] But... if that happened, they keep for about a week, and there's a couple of charities I could have given them to after a few days. I didn't plan it too thoroughly, though.

[olruggio]

Heh.

[as a workaholic, he gets it]

You could always leave them at the front desk or in the breakroom. Some of us wind up coming in after hours to finish up some work. [pause] Or 'get to the other half of our work' might be the better way of putting it. I doubt there's very many people who would be willing to turn down sweet snacks.

[thestarknows]

You've got a good point. The break room is a good idea... I know when I'm here later than I planned, I'm glad when there's something free to take there.

[She nods. It's good fuel for the midnight oil.]