★ blind the masses with a grin, stir up the media

[liedol]

⭐ Who: Ai and you!
⭐ When: End of May through July
⭐ Where: Various prompts around Yumemigaoka and the Dream Sphere
⭐ What: An Ai catchall for the next month! After a suspiciously well timed vacation out to Hokkaido, Ai's back in Yumemigaoka and ready to catch up on everything she missed. I'm also down for doing closed/private prompts so hit me up on Discord if you'd like to plan something!

Comments

[breezyplayboy]

[He's a good polite boy!!!!]

Is that it?

[She might be right. He still doesn't entirely trust that this place will keep acting the way that it does- letting him do all these big jumps and fast movements that still don't really make sense. Funny, to be told he lacks confidence about something. At least she softens it by saying she was the same as a beginner, even if it isn't true.]

I'm not used to being told I'm overthinking something! [He tries a sheepish smile.] I guess timing? I keep not expecting to have moved as far or as fast as I do, so I either try to move again too slow, or too fast cause I didn't realize where I would land.

[liedol]

[ Her encouraging smile gives way to a more thoughtful look and she nods along – that's not an uncommon worry, at least, so it's something she can easily help with. ]

Hate to say it, but the only way you're going to get your head around that is to practice – your whole body is moving and acting differently now and your imagination needs time to catch up.

[ She puts a hand to her chin, giving him and up-and-down appraising sort of look. Her gaze isn't unkind, but coming from Ai-Doll of all people, it's still a little... ]

Have you left the City at all yet? How far have you gone?

[breezyplayboy]

[He nods decisively. She's right, practice is the only way to learn what your body can do. That's true in the waking world and the dreaming one, it seems. He can re-learn how to do everything he learned in sports, right? Right.]

Well, that's just like normal, right? Have to exercise and learn your limits and how to stretch them.

[He stands a little straighter under her scrutiny, nervous in the way he always is when an important adult is clearly Assessing Him. He's even more embarrassed at the question, scuffing his boot a little.]

Not far. Only into the Glades when I was alone. Glasswing-senpai took me to the Vale for a little practice but we didn't stay long.

[liedol]

[ Her expression breaks back into a smile – not quite as intense as the one she'd subjected him to before but more of understanding. ]

Then that's your problem. You aren't letting yourself imagine anywhere near enough – don't forget that over here, being able to imagine is your magic. The City looks so much like Yumemigaoka on the other side, you're still operating on all those same real world expectations and it's stalling you out on being able to follow through on what you can really do with your body.

[ She nods, more to herself, then gives him a little grin. ]

It sounds to me like what you need is a field trip!

[breezyplayboy]

[The very serious way she talks about "imagining is your magic" would be absolutely ridiculous if it wasn't also completely true. Shu feels a little flush in his face of embarrassment at being the center of an adult's attention, of getting a pep talk from The Ai-Doll. He keeps it together, though. Barely.]

You're not really helping the argument against calling you "sensei" when you suggest things like field trips,

[He teases with a playful glint in his eyes, trying to get his cool guy act back together.]

[liedol]

Well, what else do you wanna call it? It's just a shame we can't pack bentos and take snapshots to show off to everybody back home, huh?

[ That's what you do on field trips, right? She's never been on one herself but Aqua and Ruby have excitedly recounted theirs to her enough times that she feels like she's got a solid enough idea of what it's like. ]

I have a couple old trainees who've graduated out from practicing with me and I'm sure they'd be totally down to come along with us if you wanted to go out for some practice. How's that sound?

[breezyplayboy]

Man, I wish we could take bentos just in general.

[Mind you he would be bringing a prepackaged or a takeout one, rather than making his own, probably, but still. He smiles, a little understated for still being slightly intimidated.]

Getting a chance to watch and learn from Ai-Doll herself? Who would say no?

[liedol]

Alright then. It's a deal!

[ She holds out a hand to shake and seal it – but then after a pause, something seems to click and she laughs. ]

Actually, hold on a second – I'm getting way ahead of myself! I didn't even get your name, huh?

[breezyplayboy]

[He flushes a very embarrassed shade of red and bows politely.]

Where are my manners! I'm sorry! I'm Dreamer Cerulean.

[Should he also... give his real name???]

[liedol]

Dreamer Cerulean... I'll make sure to remember that!

[ spoiler alert: she will not. she's getting better with faces, but names will always be a lost cause. ]

Once we're back at the DU, I'll get things arranged. Are you already at Promised Morning, or did you stay at your old school? I'll make sure to work out a time you'll be free.

[breezyplayboy]

[That's..... fine....... She'll remember his name eventually if they keep working together. Gak. Colleagues with Ai.]

I just transferred to Promised Morning. It was pretty efficient once you start the process.

[It makes sense they'd try to make it easy, but he was still impressed.]