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

Gladly. [ Honestly, seeing a smile from Junna does wonders.

....Perhaps, once Junna has seen her fight more, she can ask Junna about what Lisa said. About how she does not need to be given official command to become a leader and help everyone do their best. Junna reminds her of Angel-sama, so perhaps Junna is also wise. ]

[Junna nods, cheerfully. She doesn't know quite what problems those might be... though, what Jeannette said about her Angel... well, she has to wonder.

Then, she stands up from the bench, and dusts herself off a little.] Well... I think I should take another couple laps around the lake. I'm working up the courage to go talk to Lisa.

[ A soft smile. There's that kindness again, worrying about people. And how much worse must it be when it's someone she cares for so deeply.... ]

I pray it goes well. For the courage is there.

[ She points at Junna's heart. You've got this, friendo! ]

You'll be in good company, you know. I took a bit off too, when I graduated, to get myself under control. [Amane's was... really a whole year ago, huh? How time flies, and yet nothing changes.] Senpai and Zeke-san can help get the suits off your backs for a bit, so let them. If anyone has to ask what happened to you, they don't need to know. Tell them to take a hike. [It goes without saying Lisa was always going to close ranks around Junna, if and when something ever happened. She's more than confident the rest of the Dreamer Union will, too - she's one of them.] I hope you don't change your mind when the first eight places we look at are dirty, too small, and in back corner alleys, and they still want four hundred thousand a month, though! [But her tone is faintly teasing. They'll find something. It'll just be annoying.

The slightly more timid voice from Junna catches her attention, though, and she focuses, letting her speak without interrupting her. Normal fears, normal insecurities. Normal worries she shares too. She can handle normal. She does normal.]

It's okay if your nerves get the best of you. That definitely happens to all of us. Some of us a lot more than average. [Her warm smile quirks; Junna knows how Lisa is.] I've got your back, and I'll hold your hand. Anytime you need me.

[That smile yields to a squawk of indignant surprise - not at the kiss that follows, but at the promise Junna's appropriating a hoodie. It's not that she doesn't have those in her closet but-]

Hoshimi-san, how scandalous! -pfft, I kid, I kid. Go for it. I'm stealing yours back, though. I was going to ask for it anyway if you didn't decide to stay the night. I... figured I'd need something. [That admission... doesn't sting as much as she thought it would, but thinking on it, it makes sense. She just asked for actual physical Junna to stay with her to keep her nightmares at bay, of course she would have asked for a security blanket if that didn't work.] Let's see if anyone notices. I think the only pink thing I own is, ah, not for public consumption? That's more Rhodonite's color. [A beat, and she shivers.] Hopefully we get lucky and we don't have to answer any questions on the way out, but yeah, breakfast sounds good. Or, uh, that might be lunch now?

[Junna smiles back. Even if the nerves are apparent; she won't feel 100% until she can talk to her. And maybe not after that, either, depending how it goes.]

Th-Thank you. I'll... do my best. And thank you again, Jeanette. I'll talk to you soon, okay?

[ Jeannette nods. Or maybe it's a goodbye bow? ]

À bientôt!

[ .....a goodbye bow while speaking French. sasuga i guess ]

Yeah... it seems like a good idea. I'll--um--I'll work at it. I mean. I'll work at not overworking myself for a few months. [She looks at Lisa, for a second, and she smiles a bit more when she hears her get protective. And she doesn't doubt that others will, too. At least, she doesn't now; sometimes, when she's in a bad state, her brain doesn't cooperate with the trust she feels in others.] I'll tell them to take a hike. And I'll point them at Zeke-san, if they have questions.

[Then, she laughs a little. Dirty, too small, in bad locations, and too expensive. They'll have their work cut out for them. Junna nods, though.] We'll have to look. And we can figure out our budget and look at finances and everything. [Which feels kind of incredible, now that she's said it aloud.

She quiets down, though, and she smiles. Then she nods.] I'll take you up on both of those.

[And then she grins.] Maa, maa, Imai-san~. I might need to ask you about that pink piece of clothing later. [She pokes her gently in the side again.] My hoodie's yours. I'm not worried about people noticing, though. [She shifts, sitting up -- pulling covers up to cover herself -- and stretches the other arm out. She yawns, too, and looks down at Lisa.] I think it's lunch, by now. What would you like?

[She starts reaching over to the nightstand, for her glasses. Quick, Lisa, if you look, you get the rare sight of Junna without her glasses!]

Edited 2025-03-09 19:32 (UTC)

[A goodbye bow! Junna finds that delightful. She waves, beaming.]

Until then!

[And then... it's off to laps around the lake!

To build up courage!]

[ Illya actually expected to find Junna at the Dream Union. But when she stopped by the medical area, she got to hear that Junna was already not there anymore - which made the girl quickly run out of options to find the other. Maybe Junna is at home? It would make sense if she's resting after all that..

So it's only by total coincidence that Illya does manage to spot the other girl when she happens to walk through the part. Her eyes go wide with surprise, since she definitely didn't expect to see her here. And yet it's-- ]

Junna-san..!

[ Illya didn't manage to get far enough to find Junna in the Disturbance, making this the first time she's even seeing the other since that whole thing happened the other day. She's running over to the bench the other is sitting on, but it seems like Illya can't even find words for a moment. She just stares at Junna, looking so worried, her mouth opening and closing without saying anything.

What can she say, after all? It's not like she can ask Junna if she's alright. There's no way she's alright after that.

So after thinking for a moment, Illya settles on another honest truth to say instead. ]

I-- I'm so happy to see you..!

[Junna looks up with surprise when Illya calls out to her. Her eyes widen a little bit. It's nice to see a friendly face, even if there's also that feeling of shame after knowing she must have also put Illya through her own fears and anxieties made manifest. That's a guilty feeling she can't quite shake.

She hesitates for a second as Illya gets closer, staring back at her -- like her brain doesn't quite catch up to the situation. But, she smiles after a moment, even if it's a little small still. She looks tired after everything.

She lifts a hand, in a wave.] Hi, Illya-chan. I... ah...

[She hesitates for a moment.] Thank you. I'm-- [She does a short bow.] I'm sorry, for everything you had to deal with because of me.

[She keeps being told to not apologize. And the apologies keep coming out, anyways.]

[he leads the way out of the department store, though the crowds aren't too ridiculous once they get out of the electronics department. But even walking around, there are little pockets of people chatting while looking at their phones. It's clear that the news is getting people to talk and talk a lot]

This is... Really bad timing for everyone at the DU. I can't imagine how Yoshino-san is going to handle this after...

['After Junna's own Disturbance.' Which goes without saying but isn't any less uncomfortable to point out. And seeing all these people talking about how 'Can you believe it? And when she was a teenager too!!' was giving him second hand anxiety on top of it]

Are you texting Lisa-san?

[Junna shoots someone that's talking about it loudly a glare as she passes, before she looks back up at Keiwa. She nods, though -- there's a moment where she flinches. This is bad timing, and it brings feelings of guilt from earlier in the month back up. She hesitates for a second, then tries to push past them.]

...I'm sorry. [It's said quietly.] It's terrible timing. We'll... just have to try to help, right?

[Then she looks up and nods, as she walks.] Yeah. And Amane-kun. I feel bad asking if they've seen, but... they should know.

[If Zeke knows one thing about Dreamers, it's that they're susceptible to food.]

[Including himself, of course.]

So what sounds good? I'm not parked far from here if you want to hit the road for someplace.

[...at some point, he needs to figure out if he's really the only Dreamer around here who both owns and drives a car.]

[Junna definitely can't drive. Alas.

She blinks -- then she brightens up a little, because she's not had a chance to ride in a car in awhile. She considers, even, what might be nearby in driving distance.

But, she settles on an old comfort food:] Ramen?

[For a moment, he almost considers playing things off and going on his merry way. After all, the poor girl looked wiped out, and the last thing he wanted was to stick them in an awkward conversation when all she wanted to do was rest. He, of all people, knew how incredibly annoying that could be.

But then she gives him that smile and makes space for him to sit, and he follows suit, leaning his bike against the bench as he settles down next to her. He's quiet as he lets Junna sort through her thoughts, noting the flinch once she mentioned her ban from Dreaming, and... well, he can't blame her. After what just happened, he's sure any mention of Dreamer activities was bound to be awkward for her.

A small laugh escapes him (one that almost sounds natural) as he shakes his head, hoping to cut the tension a little.]

Lucky. I was stuck in a bed for a week after mine. Not that it really had anything to with the Disturbance, though...

[As Junna probably knew well enough, after visiting him in the hospital and all!! His laughter dies down as his expression sobers some, and his hands twist a little in the fabric of his pants.]

... If you don't wanna talk about it, though, that's fine. I'm sure there's tons of people who've bugged you about it already as it is. And I know how annoying that can be.

[Seriously, if he hadn't been recovering from heart surgery, he probably would have opted to hide out in the park too, so he really can't blame her. Still... the irony of that statement's not lost on him-- isn't that how they wound up in this situation to begin with? He's quiet for a moment or two more, before finally:]

But... if you do, I'm here to listen. [A beat, and then, with a slight, sheepish grin] Though I don't have any cookies to offer, unfortunately.

Small blessings, huh? [Junna laughs a little, though... it's a bit weak. She nods, with the memory of visiting him in the hospital. It's funny that the circumstances are reversed, she supposes, even if there's a sense of embarrassment that she forced those circumstances.

She hesitates for a second, and she looks up. Junna blinks -- and, well, if anyone would know how it can be frustrated to be bothered about it, it would be Amane. She hesitates for a second, though.

But the remark about the cookies gets a more genuine laugh out of her.] It's okay. You can give me cookies later. [That's a joke. (Probably.)] I... well, I was going to come talk to you. I, um...

[She looks down.] ...I'm sorry, Amane-kun. I should have talked to you--or Lisa, or... or someone, and just let it build up forever. And now, it's... [She frowns.] ...I let you and everyone down.

[Well across the city, a brunette in a pink hoodie sits in stressed-out silence with the TV on the news, her laptop on YumeTube, her tablet on Yumegram, and her phone- ah.]

Already hyperventilating about it thanks dear <3
Probably heading to the DU shortly but I'll text you back
Don't do anything I wouldn't do

[-and then her phone conspicuously goes into do-not-disturb and tells Junna so.]

[he jumps, then quickly;] It's not your fault! I'm sure everyone else would say the same thing. After all, how would any of us have known, right?

[no one here has premonitions (ha). There really was no way of knowing that Junna's Disturbance would have been followed up by something like this in the Waking World. It just-

Sadly;] It's just bad luck...

[nods] If you want, I can message Amane-kun and Tsukasa-kun about it. It'll be faster that way.

[a pause]

Is everything all right at home? We probably have a program or support available at the DU if there's anything happening that you need help with.

One person can't be expected to carry all the burdens in the world, and knowing when to ask for help is part of gaining maturity. It's not a personal failing to be unable to manage everything on your own.

[he huffs slightly in laughter] ... None of us are, really. That man is the picture of... How do the kids put it? He's simply "built different".

Y...yeah. It's bad timing, it's not... it's just coincidence. Still, that's... It's hard to not feel bad about it. [She exhales, a little shakily. She frowns for a moment -- looking down at Lisa's text. She grimaces, before she taps out a reply.]

I'll need to make sure she's okay later. Ah-- [She looks up at Keiwa, then blinks.]

Could you? That'd help.

[She sends it even though Lisa's DND is on. She can see it later.]

I'm sorry.
Text me if you need a hug. I'll be at the DU too.
Love you.

Ah...

[Junna hesitates for a second. She looks to the side. It's not that she doesn't trust him, or even that she doesn't want to speak of it. But despite making a decision, this is something that's still not really resolved for her. She hasn't made any real progress.] ...My parents want me to be a Dreamer. I want to, too, but--they want me to focus on it. Over acting, and... everything really.

[Then, quieter, and looking back at him and carefully gauging his reaction:] I've also... I'm in a relationship with Lisa. And--ah--they don't... know who I'm inclined to be with. And I'm not sure they'll understand. I never told them, and I'm still working up how, and... if it goes badly, that might be that.

[So, yes: problems with her family.

After a moment, though, she cracks a smile.] Yes. Just so, built different.

[Lisa nods, as Junna seems to find her footing and agrees to keep an eye on things. On herself. It's good to think that you have things under control, and better to say it. But it's better still to say that you're going to do something, to someone who will call you on it (gently and without malice) if you don't. She's... coming to learn that, too, and it's a lesson she can share.

But by the time Junna starts in on the teasing, Lisa's face flushes scarlet; she'd hoped she wouldn't be called on that one. She keeps forgetting how forward her girlfriend can be at full strength-!]

L-later. Much later! [To her credit, she only squeaks a little, then giggles when Junna goes for her side again.] You're very bold this morning. I like it! [Lisa dissolves into a full-on laugh; the embarrassment passes. The fact that her mind went to "later" and not "no way in hell" doesn't escape her.] I have no idea what to do for lunch. I'm hungry, but I'm not sure I really care what I eat, as long as I'm not making it? You can pick something.

[.....Lisa may be looking respectfully as Junna goes fishing for her glasses. Ugh, her girlfriend is too cute, she can't. But it's also been ten seconds and she's already missing her warmth. She is so cooked.]

[Junna starts laughing too when Lisa laughs. She actually stops grabbing at her glasses to cover her mouth, getting a brief case of the giggles. Then she laughs, wiping at her eyes for a second. And she looks back at Lisa -- and smiles a little when she realizes Lisa is looking. Respectfully.

She finds she doesn't mind.] ...well, someone did a lot to boost my confidence. And, ah... I know what -- who -- I want, and even if I'm nervous about how that will go... [She meets Lisa's eyes. (She thinks. Lisa's a little blurry, now that she's sitting up.)] ...It's a little easier when I've got that resolve.

[Then, she reaches back for her glasses.] Maybe we could... [She trails off. Her eyes start to go wide.]

[Her hand roots around the night stand, desperately. Wait, when they were--

Where did she put--

Her eyes are widening more and she stares at Lisa.]

I-I-I can't remember where I put them. Help.

Theater Kid's March Comes in Like a Lion

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

[not here]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

1/2

2/2