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

[Lisa's... largely feeling better herself. She knows the things she did - the things she said - in the Disturbance are still there, and that she can't run away from them. She's walking toward them, strictly speaking, as she walks in with Junna; she knows what they're here for. But she's buoying her mood with her girlfriend anyway at the moment, so there's not much to be done for having to pay the piper. It helps that the piper in question is both understanding and upfront, too. If Junna had just asked her - or even just let her know ahead of time "I'd like to talk about things tonight" - she'd be more nervous. But... she trusts Lisa enough that they're going to try to have at least a little bit of a night out, interspersed with the dialogue that must occur. So she wants to return that trust with... as much stability as she can manage, although she's not sure how long she'll be able to continue to provide that. She knows that she's got a lot to answer for.

And yet... once the nightmare ended, it's been a largely pleasant month. Setting a course for her future together with Junna did a lot to keep her positive, and the simple fact that nothing's exploded in the week since then has kept her from spiraling too much. More evenings with Junna are... admittedly also helping.

So as they walk in, Junna carrying drinks for them both, Lisa's eyes aren't quite clear but her face is calm enough. She takes in the room for a long moment, gaze locking on the cues briefly, before she sets her own things down and turns back to Junna.]

Nah. I kinda-sorta know the rules, but I haven't played before. I don't think I even knew this place was here. What about you?

Mm-hm. My dad taught me to play when I was about eleven. We... both got pretty competitive about it. [She looks sideways at Lisa, and then Junna cracks a smile -- and she laughs sheepishly. She knows she can get competitive; it's not quite a character flaw, but it comes with taking things seriously.] Don't worry, I'll keep it in check.

[She walks over, then she takes a pool cue. There's a second where she's checking the balance of it. Then, she nods with satisfaction. She puts a little chalk on the tip, before handing it over to Lisa. She starts preparing her own, after.]

I've played since then. In middle school and after I moved. I've played here a few times and I know the owner. [She tilts her head to the side.] It's... I guess, I just feel relaxed when I do. It's good for getting me to not think of things. I... well, I hadn't come since December, though.

[Which is its own admission: this was a way she takes care of herself, and she'd stopped.]

[This is new information for Lisa, and she files it away for later. She... wouldn't have expected to hear about Junna's parents right now? So it's interesting, even besides wanting to know more about her anyway. But she nods, grinning.] I'd hope so! I won't be a very good match at first, so give me a bit to figure out what I'm doing. At least one, no, two games before you try to take me seriously. [She holds out the relevant number of fingers, laughing.

But she watches as Junna examines the cue before bringing it to her, then returns for another; Lisa takes the one she's offered and examines it herself, not that she knows what she's looking for. Yeah, it's a lacquered wood stick, but... oh, it's. Oddly heavy for something you hold this way? Not imposingly so, she plays the bass and that thing's got some weight to it, but it's noticeable. She shifts her attention back to Junna as she starts talking again.]

If I'm any good at all, let's see if we can make time to come more, yeah? I mean, if I'm not any good, you can wipe the floor with me every once in a while, but... I'm hoping I can give you at least a little bit of a challenge, with some practice. And either way, it'll be nice to get out somewhere we don't go all the time.

Don't worry! Don't worry, I want to be sure you're a challenge before I really go all out. [That might not be the most comforting thing to say, Junna... but she laughs a little too. She nods, then she starts over towards the table. She puts the cue ball at the small, black circle where it belongs. Then, she looks at Lisa.]

This one's called 8-ball pool. The first thing we have to do is break the rack -- one of us shoots the cue ball-- [She taps the white ball with a finger.] --at the balls in the rack, here. They're a triangle. Then, we take turns. One of us will take stripes, one of us will take solids. Half the balls have a colored stripe, half are solid, except for the number. Whoever gets all of their balls in the pocket first can try to get the eight ball-- [She taps the black ball in the triangle, with an eight on it.] --into a pocket.

And that person wins. [And that concludes Junna's explanation of the rules. She... perks up and looks a little proud. Because she likes to explain things. She is Dreamer Sage, after all.]

Does that make sense?

Oh, thanks. Definitely feeling like I'm going to learn comfortably and without getting rolled over. [But she's smiling; even if it's true because Junna can probably only do so much to stall on purpose, she's certain Junna will try to give her a fighting chance.] We'll get there though.

[The rules... seem simple enough, in the way of a game that's being distilled to its core tenets. Who gets stripes or solids? What happens if she hits the eight in early? What if you sink the cue ball? But those are probably all edge cases, meaning she should just try it first and let Junna explain whatever comes up. Hit white ball into colored balls but not the black one, sink colored balls, sink black one last.]

More or less! We'll try a game and see how it goes and how badly I end up mangling the rules along the way. How do I... hmm.

[She looks at the cue stick again, seeming to consider it in a new light. "Hit ball with stick" implies she needs to impact the ball with the part with chalk on it. How does she get the best power and control? Spear it with one hand on the end? Smoothly slide it? Can it rest on the table- no, probably not, it'd slide on the felt, wouldn't it?]

You'll probably need to show me how to shoot at least once, before I break something other than the rack.

[Junna grins sheepishly at that. She's trying!] We'll get there.

[She nods her head, then, at the request. Even if she's seen how to shoot pool on TV, it's different to hold a cue and do it. So Junna pulls the rack off the balls, setting aside. Then, she leans over the table, lining up behind the cue ball. She does it slowly -- fingers cradling it just so, and she runs the pool cue between them.] Hold it like this. And the first shot is to break the rack.

[She sucks a breath in. It'd be silly to miss the shot, here. So, she takes some care -- and then hits it. The white ball goes rolling into the triangle of balls. That sends them flying about the table. Junna stands back up, then she smiles.]

So... now the field is open. That means either of us can hit the white ball into stripes and solids, until one of us sinks a ball into a pocket. If you sink a solid ball into a pocket, you can only do solids after that, and I do stripes. Or vice versa, or any other combination. [She breathes out, then, and stands back.]

So... take your shot, Imai-san!

[Lisa watches Junna intently, trying to analyze her form. She only gets a little distracted because her girlfriend is cute when she's focusing like this; this is important to Junna, so it's important to her. It doesn't seem overly complicated, but that just means there's nuance she's not seeing. She can see Junna flexing her arm and shifting her fingers just so...

The solid thunk of the stick hitting the cue ball seems satisfying; she jumps when it strikes the rack and a dozen hard objects clack against each other. Nothing goes in, but it doesn't seem like it would. So from here, how would she sink a ball? This blue one's probably at a good angle, if she hit it just so-]

This is a math game. [It's slightly deadpan; it'll still be fun, but she understands now. She giggles, before she absorbs the rest and nods a few times.] Okay, got it. So I should look for the ones I'd have the easier time shooting several balls in of... hmm. [She studies the table, before shrugging; she doesn't see a better shot than the one she already looked at, and so she bends forward a bit over the table.] Oh, this gets hard when the other balls are in the way. Let's see... what if I... [This particular angle isn't too rough, and she manages to sketch a reasonable approximation of what Junna did, holding the stick in her right hand and cradling the end between her knuckles. But now she needs to figure out power... well, nothing for it but to try, right? It's not a long shot, so she'll juice it a little. Here goes-

The 2-ball rattles in the pocket before resting on the lip, where a stiff breeze really should push it in. The cue flies away across the table, contacting a few more balls before coming to rest. Lisa frowns at the ball defying gravity before looking back to Junna.]

Ah. I think I understand where the skill comes in.

Guilty as charged. [Junna laughs a little bit, with a sheepish smile. She is a nerd, and she plays a game that is secretly nerdy. Such is the way of 8-ball pool. She watches as Lisa leans in angles up her shot. She watches the cue fly across the table -- the 2-ball stopping short of getting into the pocket, and the other balls scattered.

Junna nods.] They're... a little hard to get in the pocket. You probably need a little more force behind it. Hm...

[She crouches over the table. She puts her stick down, lining up a shot on the 10-ball. Junna squints -- and that puts Lisa in her sights, too. She waits a moment as she considers. And while they're playing... there's something else she should ask too. So Junna exhales.] ...Can you tell me about it? About what you went through in my Disturbance?

[She takes her shoot. The cue hits the 10-ball, and then it flies across the table, towards the pocket on the center on the other side. But it just misses, and bounces off the edge.]

Ah, darn...

[She watches as Junna lines her shot up, the brief look up at her making smile, before the gentle reminder of why they're here comes across, and Lisa nods slowly, cautiously.] Sure. There's kind of a lot, so... please be patient with me? And stop me any time if you have questions. [Stop me any time if you think I need to, she doesn't say but seems... clear in the briefly hesitant look on her face, and the unease in her stance, hands tight on the cue. But both pass, and she relaxes a little. She's already chosen to trust Junna. She just needs to stop worrying and immerse herself in it, right?] From the outside, the Disturbance was set in Promised Morning - we came in through the front gate, and the entrance proper was the front doors. Outside was the only safe place.

[Hmm. Junna hit that kind of hard, didn't she? Then distant shots- oh.] Math and physics game. [-she grumbles good-naturedly, shaking her head as she analyzes. The fact Junna didn't aim at the ball she left sitting in the pocket seems significant... oh. Maybe it's there to be an easier shot for later. Does that mean she ought to aim for solids...? She starts to walk around the table to assess as she continues to talk.]

I... tended to rest sitting under a big tree, on a blanket, like I was having the world's lamest picnic, and I ended up in my school uniform while I was out there. Like I belonged. It felt... really weird with Rhodonite's hair, but eh. [Her eyes unfocus, briefly, and she stops moving; it takes a second before she comes back to herself, with a slight, tender smile.] Amane-kun and I talked at one point, a little while through it. He's... he's a good kid, Junna. I'm a little envious you had someone like that guiding you. But I was having a bad day and I really needed a pick-me-up, and he just... let me vent for a bit.

[Lisa pauses; what about that orange one? That seems easy enough. She moves to take her shot, focusing quietly and lining it up, aiming for finesse over power this time. There's a solid sound as her cue strikes, and this time the 5-ball drops into the pocket, the cue ball bouncing gently away and stopping shortly away.] Oh! That's good, right?

Sure. I will. [And that agreement... that's both for Lisa's stated request and the unspoken one. If she thinks Lisa needs to stop for a break, she will. She looks at her thoughtfully for a moment and then she listens, and she's quiet for a second. It takes Junna a moment to steel her resolve, hearing the Disturbance described. She knew it would be difficult to do so, but it's another thing to hear it. But... she's had a therapy appointment already. She's started talking about it. She wants to focus on Lisa -- and she needs to hear, so she stops imagining it.

So she nods, encouraging her to go on. Though, at Lia's remark, she cracks a smile. She is a nerd.] Also guilty as charged. [She doesn't mention she left Lisa's shot alone so she could finish it later. Taking an easy set-up would just discourage her.

Then, she looks up, and blinks as she hears what Lisa describes. "Like I belonged."] I... I see. I'm glad you found a spot to rest. And I'm glad Amane-kun was there for you, too. He... really is. I'm lucky, too. I worry I let him down or--or that he thinks he might have messed up, as a Mentor. But... [She glances to the side, and then looks back at Lisa. No, focus on her.] ...Ah, no, let's hold on that thought. What... um. What did you talk about? If you don't mind saying?

[She's quiet, though, as Lisa lines up her shot. Then Junna beams when the 5-ball drops into the pocket. She does a little fist pump.] Great shot! That's very good. So, now, you're only doing solids and I'm doing stripes. So I can't go after the 5-ball that you set up earlier.

[She tilts her head, then she smiles.] And you keep taking shots until you don't pocket a ball. So... you get to go again. Just remember, solid balls only.

Ehe, thanks. And solids only, got it. [She's happy Junna is happy for her, but she doesn't feel like she knows what she's doing enough to be excited quite yet; she'll probably get a little more competitive as she understands what she's doing, but for now she's not a total failure at this, and that's a start.] And me again. [Blink, blink.] Which makes the expression "running the table" make sense. Eep. I guess I should be happy I got another turn.

[Which... feels like a metaphor for her life at the moment, as she looks for another shot. Not the 2, she'll save that for an emergency. Maybe the- no, not the 8, that one doesn't count, right, right. Hmm.]

We... well, honestly, those text messages right before you disappeared really, really messed with us. With me especially. The moment you stopped answering me, I ran off to your dorm room, and when you weren't there, I... um, I was already panicking, but I freaked out. I ended up calling him to see if he'd talked to you, and we called Senpai- [no, he called Senpai, she wouldn't have been able to understand me-] and then we went in after you, even before your Disturbance actually... formed?

[She takes aim at a red ball across the table, to put in a corner pocket; she's not confident since it's so long a shot, but she doesn't see anything else she wants to risk right now. With a long, only slightly shaky breath out, she taps the cue, and it hits but the 3 doesn't quite get there, stopping short and resting against the wall. She shakes her head slightly and backs up, heading back toward the table Junna had set the drinks on to take a sip. If she's going to be running her mouth all night, she should. Probably take care of her voice.]

Mm, nope. Ah, so when I caught up with him in the courtyard, we... kinda talked about some of the stuff that was bothering you. He felt like there was more we could have done for you before everything went bad, which... you already know how I feel about that. But, um... he had to remind me again that I'm. That I'm enough as I am. That you chose me, and if anyone has a problem with that, they can stuff it. [Her smile is... a little more fragile for a moment.] And then you had to remind me again two weeks later, so. I, um, don't learn very well in a crisis.

Mm-hm. It means you're doing a good job! [And -- well -- if Junna's going easy on her, it's only so she doesn't get discouraged. Junna knows a game of 8-ball that goes badly can end up feeling like you got stomped on; the only way that Lisa is going to get better is getting to progress. And she wants it to be a distraction. And, really, she wants Lisa to have a chance to like it. Something they can do together -- another thing they can do together -- would be really nice.

She looks up, though, at the mention of the text messages. She remembers those; it's a little... distant, still, because of how panicked she was. There's a brief glance to the side. Then, Junna nods, and looks back at Lisa.] I... I can imagine. I wasn't... um... I wasn't doing very well, when I sent those. And I--um. I guess I'm not... surprised that you got there before it formed, fully. When I was inside...

...I don't know. It felt like time wasn't working right, for me. I remember it, but it's like remembering a dream until people got inside. [She gets quieter.] I'm sorry I worried both of you so much. But... um. It's okay to need to hear something twice. Or ten times. I need to hear things multiple times, too. It doesn't reflect badly on you. And I did choose you. And... you did come for me, too.

[She watches the 3-ball roll and come to a stop. Then, she nods, and takes stock. Her eyes settle on the 10-ball she hit before. She considers -- then she shakes her head.] ...Mm, no. I think... ah-ha. [She spots where the 13-ball rolled. Junna brightens up, then she hurries over towards it. She leans over the table -- and lines the cue up, sucks in a breath... and takes her shot. It hits the 13-ball, with that satisfying clack.

And the 13-ball rolls off towards a pocket, and lands inside it. That makes Junna perk up, smiling, and she stands up straighter.] I'm glad I've still got it.

[She has a feeling that Junna is going easy on her, but... not actively throwing going easy, just. Working harder for it. So she's not complaining. She's still giving her a fighting chance, but it's fair enough that it's fine.]

No. No, you weren't. [It's a gentle statement, but with the weight of three weeks of stress on top of it.] You don't need to apologize for that, though. You were stressed literally out of your mind. And... I'm still a little disappointed in myself, but it'll get better. I'll get better. [Lisa smiles more naturally.] I did come for you, even if it took me a while. That. I'll come back to that, I have... feelings about that, and I haven't even gotten into the school yet.

[She collects her thoughts while Junna thinks about her shot. What's next... yeah, the hallway, but that's boring. But after that is... the elevator. Hnn. But she's pulled from her planning by Junna running over to the other side of the table and quickly planning and taking her shot... oh, and it went in.]

Oh, nice shot! I guess I'm going to have to push myself, huh?

Edited (forgot half my tag, oops) 2025-03-16 23:03 (UTC)

I know. I'm... trying to stop apologizing for it so much. [Junna admits that, quietly. It's asking Lisa to call her on it, because it's not healthy for her to keep doing that. She knows that, too. She looks at her girlfriend -- and she smiles, when Lisa smiles more naturally at her. She nods, then, and looks at Lisa. She considers for a second.

Then, back down at the pool table. She starts to move around -- actually closer to Lisa, though it's to line up another shot. This one's on the 10-ball, and she considers it for a second.] We'll both get better. Together. And you just might have to push yourself. I don't want to make it easy for you!

[She looks sideways at her girlfriend and smiles, before she leans over the table and lines her shot up. She could go for an easier one, but with this being against the rail, it gives her a challenge. She probably can't do this in one shot. It'll give Lisa another turn. She squints, as she starts to consider the best angle -- doing a half-dozen little adjustments with her stick.]

...What came after the school?

[She takes her shot. The 10-ball goes alongside the rim of the table, before it flies into the opposite rail. It bounces off it, knocks a couple of balls that roll across the table, and then comes to a stop. The 10-ball is now in the clear, at least, for a future shot.]

That's all I can ask, then. [She nods.] We'll get there. And I'll get better at this, too. You're not going to take me down without a fight!

[Lisa watches with a grin; Junna says that, but is pushing for it anyway. But it looks like she's about out of time to woolgather, and she tilts her head, as Junna sets up for later. She takes up her stick again, but she doesn't hurry to take her shot.]

An endless hallway, that eventually looped in on itself. Students lugging stuff around forever. But... no real danger. Everything's okay on the surface, even if you can tell things are stretched to breaking. I don't remember where we found it, but there was a door somewhere. It... went to an elevator. Longest ride of my life, and of course there were Torments... A Torment I swear was Zeke-san, and another that I'm pretty sure was Hibiki-chan. And one I'm thinking was Nikki. They... they weren't super dangerous, but they surprised me. Chaosbringer-san showed up once, and...

[She's got her next shot in mind, on the purple ball, but she can feel her anxiety surging. Maybe... maybe it'll be fine. Lisa takes a deep breath to steady both her heart and her hands, before leaning in front of the table. The shot won't be easy but it shouldn't be too bad either-] ...and the Torments turned into me, and Amane-kun, and Senpai. And the one of me said- [She adjusts her grip, slides the stick through her fingers experimentally a couple times.] -"I made a mistake once, and I've ruined my self worth because of it," like a statement of my issues distilled down to a handy one-liner. [She twitches, but she shoots anyway. Instead of the smooth thunk as she strikes the ball, there's a dull sound as the tip strikes off-kilter and the cue lists sideways, drifting to a stop after a short trip. She stares at it blankly.] I- I shot her. I was so pissed off, not only did this random Torment start spreading rumors, but it wasn't even right. I told her, "I trusted the wrong people and they glued my self-worth to my desk, flushed it down the toilet, shoved tacks in it, and cut it to ribbons before setting it on fire and letting it burn for eighteen months."

[The butt of her stick falls to the floor with a small bounce.] Then I shot her again.

[Junna grins at Lisa, when she says that. She is competitive, after all -- and she likes the spirit. And, besides, she likes it when Lisa shows spirit like that. But, she does fall quiet as Lisa explains more. Her eyes widen as Lisa describes the elevator. One full of shadowy Torments, of--of versions of Dreamers she knew. And there's a moment where Junna flinches, her eyes hurriedly breaking contact and looking away. She can't stop the intrusive thought from coming to her head:

How could I put them through that?

No--no, it wasn't her. It was the Disturbance, taking all of the worst thoughts and feelings, and magnifying those. She looks back at Lisa, with a shaky breath. And then she nods. Her voice is quiet.] ...my worst days, when I'd be so scared of letting you -- you, Amane-kun, everyone -- down, that's the sort of thing I'd tell myself I deserve to hear. I know you wouldn't say that to me. And I...

[She looks back at Lisa, and her eyes widen as she listens to what Lisa says. What she said to them and what she did. But what was done to her, too; the bullying that she was subjected to in middle school. Junna lays her pool stick on the table and walks over, then she puts her hands on Lisa's shoulders.]

The people who did that to you were wrong. They didn't see you for how amazing I know you are. They're... [Her cheeks redden. She doesn't usually use rough language, but she's absolutely livid at people she never met. And never wants to.] ...they can go to hell.

Edited 2025-03-17 02:40 (UTC)

[Even as her pulse starts to pound in her ears, Lisa sees Junna flinch and turn away, and she feels bad for causing it. But she knows, in her heart, it's not on her. She's too deep into her story to immediately stop, but she hears Junna comment, feels anger flare at her comment just after, but... she keeps going. When she finishes, her already-complicated feelings have Junna's emotions stacked on top, and she just... needs to vent. Reaching to lean the stick against the table, she shakes her head, her voice suddenly a low growl even as tears gather.]

I would never. I'd rather die. I know you know that, but I need you to understand. I... [The anger recedes somewhat, taking a bit of the pain with it.] I lived with that for so long. The voices in my ear, telling me I wasn't worth it. I don't... I can't do that to someone else, Junna. [Lisa... lets out a long, ragged sigh.] You're the only person I've told on purpose, you know. Zeke-san found out by accident, then, and I'm not even sure he was listening. Or he was politely ignoring me. Senpai and Illya-chan have hints.

But. One, you're not at fault for that, any of it. Of course it'd suck getting through. You're too clever for your own good... and that shows in the way you protect yourself when things go wrong. That's what the whole Disturbance is, and you're going to have to get used to it. But it's not your fault. Two... you might be right about them, for better or worse. Last I heard, they were Dreamers, and they got caught up in a Nightmare. I haven't heard from them again. I'm happier that way.

[She takes a breath, and some of the cheer comes back into her expression.]

Three, I'm kind of glad I'm not the only one that gets nasty when she gets passionate about something. But I wouldn't have it any other way. And... you're kind of biased, but I appreciate it all the same. I just need to... internalize it, someday. [She shakes her head.] I feel like I've said it before, but. When you have so many voices telling you you're not good enough for so long, eventually you kinda... start to believe it yourself. It's going to take a while for me to see myself the way you do. I want to. Just... give me time, okay?

I know. I know you wouldn't. [Junna's voice is quiet there. It's a little vulnerable, too. She hates admitting that; it feels like it might be failing Lisa, in some way, to admit that insecurity.] I know, Lisa. You'd never hurt me like that.

[She blinks, though. The Disturbance was a defense mechanism, if a very warped one; taking things she thought and twisting them, something like the lies she tells herself to protect herself. It makes sense that it would pick up on the things that hurt. She looks down, then she nods.]

You're... you're right. I didn't think of it like that. [She exhales, then she looks up. She hesitates when she hears about the fate of those people who tormented Lisa -- and that's unfortunate, but she doesn't feel particularly giving. And then, at Lisa's remark, she smiles a little. Her hand squeezes her shoulder.]

If someone hurts you, I'm not going to be okay with that. [She smiles a little.] But... I know what you mean. I've got a few of those voices, myself. [That's something Lisa knew. She'd seen it, first hand.] I'll give you all the time you need. And... I'll tell you, when you need it, too. I--um. I'm glad you told me, too.

[She breathes out again, recognizing that Junna... doesn't quite understand, but her faith brings her close enough. Lisa's tone isn't heated anymore, though. Just... tired.] Not just you. Especially not you, but not just you. I can't- I won't do that to anyone. Maybe not even Them, if I ever see them again. [The emphasis is clear and Junna can probably guess who she means.] It started with Them, but it ends with me. [Lisa sighs softly, eyes briefly closing.] I'm sorry. I'm being really overbearing, just. I have strong feelings about... that.

[Junna working through what a Disturbance means is good - she's not just saying it, Junna is clever enough that showing her the secret will let her work out the logic and maybe help them see something they're too close - or not close enough - to figure out. She lets her ruminate on that, but since she's going to have another half a dozen examples by the time the night's over, she doesn't elaborate. Instead, she's... a little worried that Junna shares her mild bloodthirst for people she's never met, but at the same time, she can't really fault her.]

I'm definitely not asking you to be okay with that, either. I'm not going to be if something happens to you, it's why I went... a little crazy, the last three or four weeks. So I'm counting on you. And... thank you. For being understanding, and for being willing to keep an eye out for me. I never really- um, bounced back from any of that, until I found people that understood me and liked me for me. Until I found you.

[Lisa sighs, still with a happy smile as Junna holds her but with a growing unease.]

If I'm like this after one thing, I don't know how I'm going to feel in an hour when I'm closer to done and we're a game or two in. That doesn't mean I want to stop, but... I think I'm a little less okay than I'm pretending to be.

[Junna didn't understand. But she realizes, after Lisa says that. It's bullying anyone. Making anyone feel like she did. Junna's thought Lisa is wonderful many times; this time, it's more than ever before. She pulls her into a hug for a second.]

...I understand. Now. I didn't before. [She's quiet.] You're a good person, Lisa.

[She looks up, then, and she blinks. She hesitates for a second, and then there's a nod of her head.] I--I'm... glad I could help you with that. And I won't--I'm not going to go looking for them to yell at them, or something. I don't want to hurt people. But I don't think much of someone who would do that to you. [She hesitates for a moment, then she steps back, and she looks Lisa over for a second. She considers that for a moment... and then she nods.]

Do you want to sit for a bit? Take a break from talking and finish the game out?

[The hug is reassuring and a shot of energy she sorely needed; the following assurance makes her snort, but she doesn't quite disagree.] Let's see if you still feel that way by the time the night's out. But... yeah. I've had some rough times, but I still have morals. I still have honor. I still... have hope.

[Lisa sighs, closes her eyes, and cants her head as she mulls it over, but then shakes her head.]

I'm... okay. If I take a break too often, we'll never finish. Or I'll give myself a chance to think about what's coming next. Besides, I do want to learn to play pool properly. [She glances back at the table, and remembers what she was doing right before her mood went south a minute ago.] Um, what happens now, though, before I go on? I definitely didn't hit anything, so I know it's not my turn, but. I didn't hit anything.

I'm not going to stop believing in you. [Junna smiles at her -- and she says it sincerely, and with resolve. Then she nods, and she gently claps Lisa on the shoulder; she turns, then, and looks at the table while she listens to Lisa explain more. What she says... it makes sense. They could end up not talking about this, if they're not careful.

She looks back at Lisa, smiles, and then she nods.] All right. Let's keep going. So... since you didn't hit any balls, it just means you didn't pocket one of yours. If you'd pocketed the cue or one of my balls, it'd be different. Or, um, send a ball off the table. [She laughs a little.] Try to not do that.

But... it means it's my turn. [She walks up, and looks at the cue -- and then she hits the 10-ball. It goes off, rolling into a corner pocket. Junna smiles and looks a little proud.

But she keeps from saying so too much.]

[She sincerely hopes so. She did some things she's not proud of and that she won't be excited to explain. Hell, she's already not excited to explain what comes next! But she waits a second while Junna tells her the penalty - nothing, somehow, - and then immediately pockets a ball. Lisa makes an appreciative "woooow" and claps politely.]

I can definitely tell you've played before, you have good technique. Or are you just trying to impress a pretty girl?

[It's terrible flirting slash banter, but it's helping to keep her mind from wandering too much, and there's a hint of nervous energy still in her voice she can't quite shake.]

Thankfully, Zeke-san is absolutely insane in combat, and I don't think I was ever in any real physical danger. He didn't ask me any questions... well, not about what I'd said. We just cleaned up the rest of the Torments- ah, right, still you, I'll wait a sec.

Maybe I'm trying to impress a specific very pretty girl. [Junna looks up at Lisa, standing up up again, and then she grins. She can do banter! She can do flirting!

She walks around the table, eyeing the 9-ball. It's not at a great position, so she wants to fix that... and give Lisa another turn. So she hits the cue -- and it hits the 9-ball, but it hits the rail and doesn't quite get into the pocket.]

Wasn't sure I'd make that... [She looks back up at Lisa.] I'm glad he was there. He's... something else, that's for certain.

[Lisa grins. Good.]

Well, then it's working. But I'm not giving up!

[But she sobers a little as she takes her cue back up and starts to look for another shot. That purple one isn't quite in a place she can reach... hmm, what about this green one...? Worth a shot. She starts to set up to aim at the 6, not overly far but not an easy shot to push into the corner.]

When we finished cleaning up, I said something about wanting to take less damage, and I said I couldn't be invincible like him, that was too many powers and I already don't have time to practice with everything I do have. And... [She takes a deep breath to stabilize herself; thinking ahead from the last time, she decides to just shoot now, and it seems to pay off, the 6-ball being driven into the corner solidly. But the cue ball goes into the adjacent pocket, oops.]

Ah, oops. Um. But Zeke-san asked me... if I wanted to be a Dreamer.

[The question doesn't cause quite the same reaction it did in the moment; she feels melancholy settling over her again, but not the sheer, blind panic for that one second, or the massive wave of uncertainty that'd washed over her at the time. Just... resignation. Discontent.]

It didn't... seem like a fair question, at the time. I was diving into your heart to pull you out because I was freaking out without you, and he wanted to ask if I wanted to be there? But... I understand what he means, now. I still haven't found my answer yet. [She shakes her head.] But I know I wouldn't have met you if I never started Dreaming, and I don't want to let you go in alone. So for now, at least, I have enough of an answer to keep me going.

[She... seems to pull herself out of a mental mud pit, snapping back to the game, if not completely.]

Um, right, what do I do now? I'm pretty sure that one is a penalty.

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