yumemigaoka | Theater Kid's March Comes in Like a Lion

Ah--sorry... [She was shocked enough she didn't really think about it.

But then realization sets in more, and she looks down for a second.]

...It's like this for celebrities. If she didn't want this public, it shouldn't be. But--there's people who don't see it that way. It's awful...

[It takes Junna a second to realize that Olruggio really did forget what they were talking about. She stares in mild disbelief for a moment -- and then she shakes her head. Well... maybe that means he isn't as disappointed in her as she worried. She hesitates, still.]

I... wanted to say thank you, for saving me, in the Disturbance. And... that I'm sorry. For--for not listening to you better. And... for what it put you through.

[She looks awkward, for a second, then she does a short bow.]

I-I'm very grateful.

I think I needed you to hear it. I... it came out in a- [fit of rage-] bad moment, a week ago, and it's been in my head ever since. It felt right. But... any time you need a reminder, I'm right here.

[Lisa's confused for a moment when Junna pulls away a little, before she realizes what she's asking, and... a mischievious smile comes to her lips, for the first time in almost a month.]

I said when I let you in in the first place, right? As long as you like, and I'd go as fast as you're comfortable with. [She backs off the playfulness a little bit.] If you want to stay a while longer, or even for the night, I'd be happy to have you. I'd like that, even. I'm not going to be able to stay awake for a proper sleepover, but, well... I'm not ready to let you go just yet. I'll understand if you say no, though.

[In the back of her mind, she knows this is... pretty forward, for her, and she tries to figure out what possessed her to offer. But she realizes after a moment that it makes perfect sense. Partly that there's no reason Junna needs to leave if together is where both of them agree they belong; and partly that she recognizes Junna is probably going to be what helps her sleep tonight, one way or another. Even if she has to steal her hoodie for the night and send her home in one of hers so she doesn't catch a cold-

-oh. Oh, she's in deep. Her face flushes as she realizes what she casually decided she'd do for a little piece of mind. But it's also been long enough since she offered in the first place that an astute observer wouldn't think to associate it with the earlier comment... oops.]

I only speak when I am sure I am right.

[ And she smooths down Junna's hair some more. She'll hold her friend as long as needed, as long as it takes to carry some of the burden. It's not wrong, to share a weight. It makes it bearable. ]

Then how about we go grab some food or something? My treat, what with having a paid job outside the DU and all.

[As ever, one must wonder how Zeke keeps going with so much energy -- but you know the old saying, "Get a job doing something you love and you'll never work a day in your life."]

I'm glad you said it. Later... um, later--I want to hear about what happened for you. If you're okay sharing it. If not, or if you need some time, I--I understand. I totally understand. [She exhales.] But I want to do better when there's something I think I should talk about. For me and for you. But, um...

[She smiles a little more.] ...Right now, I think we both need something else.

[Then--then she catches the mischief in her smile, the playfulness in her voice, and it's a relief to see that look on Lisa's face. But it also makes her turn a brighter shade of red, and it gets a laugh out of her that has more happiness than in awhile. And when she looks to the side, briefly, it's not because she's ashamed. She's just embarrassed, in a good way.] Well...

[She looks back at her girlfriend, and she tries to not think about the way her heart's pounding in her chest. It's a good thing, though. She hasn't felt like that in weeks. She's trying to logic it out, and that's not really working. She already made her choice: if she's told to pick, she picks Lisa. So after a moment's hesitation, she reaches her hand up, resting her fingers on Lisa's cheek.]

It was lonely and cold in the Disturbance, and I'm not alone here. And I feel warm whenever I'm with you. S-So, ah... [Her cheeks feel like they're on fire, now.] ...I-I want to stay with you tonight. And I don't just want to fall asleep next to you.

[There's a brief pause, while she's looking into Lisa's eyes. Junna's lip trembles. Then... she promptly ruins the smoothness by blurting out:] I-i-if that's okay, if I misunderstood the situation it's fine, r-really! W-We can just have separate cold showers and I-I'll sleep on the floor!

[Sorry, Lisa, even after facing her despair manifested in a dream space, she's still kind of a mess.]

[Junna blinks with surprise -- she didn't quite expect the invitation, but...

Actually, that sounds great. She shouldn't mention what she's eaten so far, but it's been "bland cafeteria food" and "a granola bar." She smiles, then.]

That... that sounds great. Thank you, Zeke-san.

[Junna pulls back after a second -- and then wipes at her eyes. It's a little reluctantly, but she wants to look at Jeanette. She smiles a little more, then.]

Thanks. I... needed to hear that. I've been trying to not beat myself up, but--ah...

[Well, Jeanette saw that Disturbance.]

I'll tell you, yeah. I need to. I'm... not sure I want to, but I definitely need to, and it'll help me get my thoughts about everything in order. And you're right - it'll be hard for us if we're not willing to talk to each other about the messy stuff. Definitely later, though.

[She's happy that being a little silly - a little forward, a little more willing to reach for what she wants - can make Junna happy. She'll take as much of that as she can get right now. Then Junna pulls out the time-honored Uno reverse card and cranks Lisa's request up to twelve, and the hand on her cheek will be able to feel her face turn cherry red, screaming internally. This is what she wanted! This is exactly what she wanted! But having her desires repeated back to her like this is going to drive her crazy! Once again, her wonderful, understanding actress girlfriend is putting on a show with her and she's feeling woefully underpracticed! So she starts to nod, too embarrassed to form words at the moment, before Junna seems to... catch herself, and backpedal halfway out of the city. Lisa blinks, but after a second, she can't help herself: she laughs brightly, reaching out to grab her girlfriend's cheeks and hold her attention. If they're still on the same wavelength for something like this, they'll be okay.]

Stop! Stop, stop, Junna! You- you were right the first time! I'm way too self-conscious to say it out loud, and I didn't want to sound super needy, but... yeah. That's what I was hoping for. [Her eyes are sparkling, with affection and amusement both.] You are so cute when you get flustered, though, I hope you know. [She lets out a breath, shaking her head gently.] But... I understand. Not being able to call you and hear your voice sucked more than I thought it would. So. Yes, please stay with me tonight. I'll be right here to keep you warm and safe.

[Just to make absolutely clear. No room for doubt. No misunderstanding.]

Later. [Junna agrees, with a smile. She doesn't want to put that off for too long, but right now -- right now, they need to let themselves be happy.

Oh, except Junna's about to have a full on nervous meltdown, and her mouth is opening and she is absolutely about to ramble more in Lisa's general direction. About nothing. But then her brain short circuits -- mercifully cutting off her backpedaling -- when Lisa's hands rest on her cheeks. She sputters a little when Lisa laughs, but then she smiles at what she says.

And she laughs, too, her eyes meeting Lisa's. And she puts one hand over one of Lisa's hands, on her cheek.] I'm cute when I'm flustered? That's so unfair to point out. [She calms down, though, her smile softening, and she nods her head back. Not being able to talk, not being able to see each other. There's the little, traitorous thought that she caused Lisa that hurt--but she banishes it.] I-I'm glad. I'm really glad.

[Then, she closes her eyes and leans forward. She puts one hand on Lisa's cheek, then leans the rest of the way in to kiss her.]

Edited 2025-03-07 22:33 (UTC)

[ Jeannette already has a hankie half-out. Do you still need this...? ]

My angel does the same thing, Junna. You are in the grandest company.

[ You know the look on her face she got when she mentioned the St. Catherine's books when they shoveled snow?

Take that look, multiply it by some incredibly exponential power.

That's what she looks like when she talks about her angel. ]

But going this far into someone's personal life is too much, even if they are celebrities.

[there's a quiet, concerned hum] There's no way Ai-san wouldn't hear about this... Ah, wait, wouldn't this put those kids in danger though?

[it doesn't look like they've mentioned any names (illegal anyway) or put any faces up, but still... If people already being this nosy about just Ai, what would happen to the kids being talked about?]

Maybe we should check in with the Union about this...

[Yes, please. Junna takes the handkerchief and wipes at her eyes, gratefully.

Then she looks up -- and she blinks her eyes. Her angel... right, the conversation from yesterday...]

I'm glad to hear it. [She smiles, after a moment.] You're... really close to her, aren't you?

It is. It's--this isn't right. I hate this.

[There's a flicker of fear, then. She didn't even think of that, at first. It could draw all sorts of attention to those kids.

She looks at Keiwa, and nods quickly.]

...We should. They--they probably know, but... we can't risk her children getting bothered. [Or worse.]

Knowing her is my greatest treasure.

[ Platonic things to say about somebody. ]

[Super platonic. Junna blinks... then she smiles.]

...I'm glad for you. That's... a very valuable feeling.

[She might be thinking of a certain someone when she says that.]

How blessed we are to have hearts that cannot fill. I can love my Angel dearly, and have room for my good friends.

[ Hug. You are brave and good and kind and strong no matter what you think of yourself, Junna! Jeannette believes in you!!!! ]

If...you don't mind....I should like that to include you.

Mm... yes. Yes, we're lucky. I-- [There's a blink, and then a bit of relief. It's wonderful to think she didn't drive a friend away.

Junna nods, quickly.] I'd like that very much, Jeanette. [She hugs Jeanette back.] Friends, then, through thick and thin!

I'll give them a call, but considering this is on the news...

[he frowns at the TV screen as he pulls out his cell phone, looking worried more than disapproving. The damage is done, the only thing they could do was try and help mitigate it. But between the two of them, one's a freshly graduated high schooler and the other is a university student that was wrapping up his own studies]

...

[and now he waits for someone to pick up... Or he would. But after a few seconds, Keiwa lowers his cellphone and shakes his head] I'm just getting the busy tone.

...I bet everyone's calling. [Junna's lips tighten, feeling a scowl coming on. She fights it back. Getting angry in public won't do much. It certainly won't help Ai.

She looks sideways at Keiwa, then pulls out her phone. She... isn't sure who she would contact, though.]

...I hope Ai-san is okay. I can't... imagine what this would be like.

[The cheer is infectious; admittedly Lisa's just happy she's convinced Junna to stay, purely because it means both of them will be able to sleep tonight. Sure, they can talk until they do fall asleep, but... even if she's out like a light, it'll be okay. Zero regrets.]

You're always cute, of course. But I call 'em as I see 'em. [She shakes her head, though, and grins back, letting Junna go. Which may have been an invitation, as Junna leans in, and... while part of her is still a little uneasy, she's pretty sure they're okay now. Not perfect - they have a long way to go before Lisa will be confident nothing is broken and they can go on like they were - but for the moment, Junna feels safe with her, and Lisa doesn't want to keep punishing herself for something that, outside the Disturbance that was making her nothing but depressed, doesn't seem as big as deal as she might have been making of it? They'll talk things over, both of them will go work with the therapists they likely both have now, and it'll... it'll be okay. It will be okay, right?

Lisa closes her eyes, closes the gap, and tries her best to burn the memory of Junna's lips into her mind again, wrapping her arms back around her girlfriend. She wants to stockpile as many happy memories as she can get. The moment won't last very long, as late as it is, but she's learning again that every second is precious.]

Edited (HTML fail) 2025-03-08 02:04 (UTC)

[However long it lasts, Junna's grateful for it. There's a lot of ways she feared this could go; there's a few ways that she hoped this could go. She didn't expect this, but... this feels like a great outcome. There's more for them to work on, more for them to talk about, but that's a good thing in its own way. They have more ahead of them, and when she came worried she had pushed Lisa away, that's all Junna hoped for. Being close with her for a night, though, is more wonderful than she expected.

And, unsurprisingly, she sleeps soundly in the end. And, for once, she sleeps late too. It's already nearly 10:00 in the morning when she wakes up -- not that she sees a clock. Her green eyes blink open, and she feels more rested and less tense than she has in weeks. Since Christmas, probably. Even if, well, some things are new. Like--

Oh.

Like the fact she has her arm around Lisa's bare shoulders, and her forehead is against the back of her head. Junna starts to turn red in the cheeks at that, shifts a little, and pulls the covers up around them both. Then, with a moment's hesitation, she leans over and kisses Lisa on the shoulder. And waits a second, to see if she stirs.

But she's starting to get a silly smile on her face. Did she really--did they really...? The Disturbance, for the first time in almost a month, isn't even on her mind.]

[Lisa doesn't even remember falling asleep last night, as morning comes and begins to go. Doesn't remember waking up with little-n nightmares, either, which is... new, for the last little while. She's just... warm, and comfortable, and refreshed, as she vaguely recognizes something's shifting, but she doesn't want to wake up yet. Five more minutes... or maybe an hour, it's just so peaceful...

...that wasn't her moving the sheets, though? What did she...?

Last night comes back to her at about the same time as she feels an increasingly-familiar pair of lips on her shoulder, and she shivers, stirring but not quite coming to yet. That's. That's definitely Junna behind her; she realizes this makes her the little spoon and, while that makes perfect sense given their builds, somehow feels... unsatisfying? Maybe they can take turns, she wants to do the holding too. Uh, wait, this isn't what she's supposed to be doing. Junna's clearly more awake than she is, but not so awake she's bothered to get up. So that's... okay. It means she'd been right last night: the two of them would sleep better if they were together than apart.

.....she can't really put off actually getting up much longer, can she?]

Good... [Lisa yawns, careful not to stretch and hit someone as her eyes finally open.] Mm. Good morning to you too, Junna. Did you... sleep okay?

[Her tone is soft and languid; she's going to need a bit longer - or something a bit more startling - to fully wake up. But that's fine with her; she's happy to take all the time she can steal right now.]

[Junna keeps smiling -- she probably won't be able to stop for awhile yet -- and she ends up curling up a little so she can lean her head against Lisa's shoulder. She is a little taller than her. For her, that's delightful; she's normally on the shorter end, and being the tall one is rare. It's a delight.

But realizing Lisa is up, too, means she's coming back to reality enough to have a conversation.] Good morning. I, um. Y-Yes. Great. I slept great.

[Lisa's idea about what would make sure they slept well was completely on point. Her voice is soft, too; she's a little more awake, but she always awoke quickly. And the smile is practically evident in her tone of voice, even if Lisa isn't looking right at her.]

What about you? That--um. [She laughs, and it's not embarrassed or forced.] That was really... um. Wow.

[Her command of language is lacking at the moment.]

[If Junna's in a good mood, Lisa's not going to complain, and the young woman continuing to make herself comfortable on her shoulder is... surprisingly reaffirming. Also adorable. Even if she knows better, though, something about the way Junna's talking...]

You make it sound like I did something. But... mm. I slept pretty well too. [Clock... eh, can't see it, but. Light in the room-] Not as long as I thought.

[There is a difference between being a morning person that's up early for her 6 AM run under normal circumstances because she set an alarm, and being a morning person that's functional relatively quickly after waking up. Lisa is not one of those, and is rapidly finding Junna is. This is... dangerous. Still, she makes no effort whatsoever to actually move, relishing the feelings a little longer. Even through the haze of still being half-asleep, the sensation of skin on skin is enticing.]

I could... get used to this. Shouldn't. Want to, though.

Theater Kid's March Comes in Like a Lion

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