yumemigaoka | January Is a Tough Time for Theater Kids (Catch-all!)

[Tycoon nods absent mindedly]

You too, huh? Careful you don't catch a cold. [speaking from personal experience... What a time to fail a hunt]

Maybe we should say they dreamt some up? [he rubs his hands together, trying to warm up] Tea sounds like a good idea right now, since I'm not wearing a fur coat anymore.

[his tail is also too short to actually wrap around himself. Unfortunate, really]

Yeah... yeah, I'm going to try. Hopefully my body will listen. [She laughs a little, though. Even if it probably made her feel all the more tired and off-kilter.

Then, there's a nod -- and Junna reaches over, where a table is set up. She grabs a thermos, and hands it to him.]

One dreamt up tea, for you! It is warm, and that helps. Especially without the coat. Good flavor, too!

Just remember to stay warm and get lots of rest. [there's a pause, before he laughs softly] Though the second part is a lot harder to do than before.

[is it really 'restful' if they're dreaming like this when they're meant to be resting?]

Thanks! [he takes the thermos of tea and hovers over it carefully, enjoying the warm it provides]

... Truthfully, I can never tell if the food here smells nice or not. Maybe it's just the nature of dreams.

Mm. It is. There's a lot to do -- ah, here and in the waking world. [She rubs her eyes a little. She's pushing herself too hard and she knows it.

But that's not stopping her.]

Me either. I feel like it always tastes nice, actually, but... that means it's all the same too.

[Tycoon tilts his head curiously (worryingly?) and carefully nods at that second part]

The food here is always nice and interesting but like you said. There's something about it that always come off being the same... It's a little odd, but not in a bad sort of way, at least.

[he takes a sip of the tea]

Is everything okay? You seem a little worn out...

[Tycoon has a reason for the shivering and sniffles, even if it's not a particularly good reason]

Mm-hm. It's... well, it's a reminder it's not real, I suppose. Or... a different kind of real, maybe.

[Philosophers can have a field day with how "real" the Dream Sphere is.

She looks up, though, with surprise. She blinks -- and then she smiles and shakes her head.]

I'm all right. I'm... in a community play. It's rehearsal season. So that, atop everything else, well... I'm burning the candle at both ends.

Oh-! [Tycoon's eyes light up, genuinely excited for her] Congratulations on getting in the play! Does Lisa-san know about it yet? Or Amane-kun? I'm sure they'd be excited to go support you.

[but his joy for her simmers down a little when she mentions that she's working hard here and in the waking world, his frown partly hidden behind his visor]

You should probably focus on your rehearsals. No one would blame you for taking a break from Dreaming for that. [pause] Though you have to wonder how Ai-Doll manages to pull it off. Maybe she does stamina training...

Thank you! [She brightens up, smiling for a moment. Even as stressed as she is, she can't shake off the excitement of getting a part. Her eyes light up, even, just talking about it.] I'm going to surprise Lisa... but I did text it to Amane-kun. I'm going to try to get everyone tickets to opening night. It should be in March.

[She shifts a little, though, and looks to the side.]

Ai-Doll is amazing. I wish I could be as strong as she is. And... [She sighs.] No one would blame me... except me.

That's good. Amane-kun would probably sulk again if he was left out...

[Keiwa here, just casually offering a little too much insight into some people's character without realizing it... Maybe.

He stops when he hears Sage's comment. Like any normal(?) person, Tycoon can't help but worry]

It's not good to overwork yourself either. [he gives a lopsided smile] It would probably- No, it would definitely be something Zeke-san would yell at us about.

You have a good point. [Like... when he found out about her and Lisa. Though--that was nice, too.] I'm going to make sure he doesn't sulk.

[She blinks -- then she smiles a little, too.]

I know... I know. I'm trying not to, it's just... hard to stop when we really do need the help.

[She hesitates. She can't really stop, can she? Junna looks to the side for a second.] I'll... try to balance it better.

Well... [there's a soft laugh at that] He'll find something else to sulk about if he really wants to. My cousin is sort of the same; she won't easily admit to being happy but she'll let you know when you've upset her. Just... Keep him in the loop.

[Tycoon nods understandingly]

It's something we all need to work on. Zeke-san gave me an earful about it during the last Disturbance about that too-

[he has a sudden coughing fit, shivering as he holds his thermos of tea up to his face]

True enough. But... he means well, too. [After all, it wouldn't make him sulk if he didn't care. She smiles a bit -- and then her eyes widen a little at the coughing fit.

She scoots closer, though she stays quiet until he's done.]

...Are you okay? [The topic of Zeke's recommendations is briefly forgotten.]

[the coughing fit ends in a sneeze that he reflexively covers with his sleeve]

Y-Yeah. I might have caught a cold this month. [you don't say...]

It's... [sniff] It's not contagious here, probably. But it comes and goes? Maybe because I'm not thinking about it all the time. Something about 'mind over matter' here.

[maybe he ought to learn how to make items like Ango does. That seems helpful...]

Having it follow you into the Dream Sphere is extra unfair.

[She reaches over, patting him on the shoulder. Then, she smiles a little -- thinking of the advice she just received. Maybe this isn't playing fair.]

If you need to rest, don't forget to do that!

[he blinks at that last part before laughing a little]

I was! But... It gets a little dull just lying around. Since I was just sleeping anyway, it wouldn't hurt to come to the Dream Sphere once or twice to help out, right?

I definitely understand that... and it's good to get out. And I won't lie that we could use the help.

[She smiles again.] Just promise you'll take a break if you need it, okay?

Well, I'm still technically in bed...

[there's a quiet laugh]

I've been falling asleep before I have time to spin the Sandglass, so maybe the fact I can do it now means I'm getting better. [pause] Or that the medicine is working.

Oh--oh, well... yes. That makes sense.

[She laughs a little, before she blinks -- and then she nods at him. That does seem like improvement.] I think that means you're getting better, one way or another. Whether the medicine or on your own!

[he's been quietly sipping on the tea to warm himself while they talk, but he sets his drink down as he nods cheerfully;]

Here's hoping!

Yosh... That's enough of a break. [he swings his arms and does a couple of little hops to warm up] I'm going to go do one more sweep before calling it a night...

You should probably head to bed too. Don't worry, you can leave the Torments here to us.

[Junna smiles a bit, and then she stands up. She puts her thermos down.]

Mm. Yeah. I should... and I've got rehearsal soon. I... [There's that guilt, though, gnawing at her. Can't she do more?

She tries to push it down.]

...Thanks, Tycoon.

January Is a Tough Time for Theater Kids (Catch-all!)

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