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

Theater Kid's March Comes in Like a Lion

⭐ Who: Junna Hoshimi... and you!
⭐ When: Throughout March!
⭐ Where: In Yumemigaoka!
⭐ What: March catch-all!
⭐ Warnings: Junna's grappling with some heavy stuff, so... threads could get into parents not being great, some homophobia, and other things. There's also some implicit sleeping together (nothing NSFW though) in the Lisa and Junna thread, if that's a thing you prefer to avoid!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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.

I was sure you wouldn't, Imai-san. [She's pretty sure she is turning using Lisa's last name like that into a flirting routine. Oh well.

She watches and listens at the same time. When she sees the cue ball roll into the pocket, though, she can't help but wince. But, she keeps quiet. Despite her flirting, her focus is on what Lisa is saying. She puts that first. And it's a heavy thing to consider. It's something she has grappled with too, if for different reasons. Does she want to be a Dreamer? Is Dreaming what she thought it would be when she started?

She freezes up for a second. It's hard for her to consider for herself. What could she possibly tell Lisa, when she can't get her own act together?

But that's not what Lisa asked for. She needs to be heard. Junna nods, then.] I have trouble with it too. I felt like... like I'm betraying people close to me to doubt that. But that's not true, is it? It's okay to be unsure. I'll stay by your side, and you can take all the time you need to find that answer.

[Then, there's Lisa's question. Junna smiles a little apologetically then.]

That's called a scratch. There's a few ways to get one. I thought we'd cover them as they come up -- and some of them depend how serious you're taking it. This is a friendly game, not a tournament, though. [So they don't need to worry about the edge cases. Or when Lisa did one because she was too upset to hit it right.

She looks at Lisa, then walks over and pulls out the cue ball.]

A scratch means it's my turn. You have to pull one of your sunk balls -- your choice -- in the middle of the table. And it means I can put the cue ball where I'd like. It can give the other player a big advantage.

[Lisa's also starting to notice that. But she's not exactly in a position to keep putting on airs as she sees that cue ball heading for the pocket, so she lets it go as she talks. She's... okay, still. Junna's still being patient and understanding, sure, but she also seems interested to hear everything, which... yeah, she asked, but it's still a little surprising? She also, of course, sees that hesitation.]

It isn't, but... it doesn't make me feel any less like I'm running away. Zeke-san said this is kind of his and Senpai's and the other adults' fault, for looking like they can handle whatever comes their way and putting crazy expectations on our backs. He said it was okay not to know, too. So... I do want to think about it, but. I have time. We have time. It's a little comforting to know I'm not the only one that doesn't have the answers.

[She lets out a breath. It's... this is like therapy, on the days therapy actually works and something doesn't go horribly wrong almost immediately and the whole session feels wasted. But it's going over Dreamer stuff with another Dreamer, who can understand what you're going through in a way a civilian really can't. She's coming to appreciate the difference, as the knot that's been in her stomach since the third week of February slowly, gently comes undone.

She's also coming to appreciate that putting the cue ball in the pocket was really bad.] I have to put a ball back and you get a free drop? Ew, that's... bad. I take it you don't really come back from those without your opponent doing it at least once or twice.

[It's not a question, as now she's pretty sure she's behind despite sinking the first ball, pulling the 6 back out of the pocket and dropping it onto the spot.]

Yeah. [Junna smiles back at her, even if it's a bit of a sad smile. She wishes she did have the answers -- but, really, that's the whole point. Maybe Zeke s right about that.] Me, too. We'll just... take it slow and give ourselves time.

[It's different when they can talk to a Dreamer about aspects of Dreaming. That's something she hasn't encountered as much -- but sometimes, a person who can't do Dreaming can't understand what they're going through. She looks back at Lisa -- and then she nods, at what she says.]

...You usually don't. [There's no point in pretending otherwise. Junna doesn't plan to play so hard that it's discouraging, but it isn't a good outcome. She takes the cue ball, then puts it where she's lined up a shot on the 9-ball.] It can let someone set up the table the way they want. They still need to be good, but... it can let your opponent do a run out. That's when they sink all of their balls right away.

[She hits the cue ball, which sends the 9-ball into a pocket. Then, she looks back at Lisa.] It happens when you're new to it. Controlling the cue ball is hard. I, um, sent it flying a lot at first.

[She tilts her head to the side.] So, you... eventually got to the bottom of the elevator?

[Time... they have that for now. But when the next Disturbance comes - it will, it always does, as sure as the sun rises in the morning - will she have made a decision? Probably not. She may never. But... it has to be enough to have started. To seek the answer and learn from the journey. That... has to be enough, right?

......ugh, Dreamer philosophy. She drops that train of thought, grimacing at the pool table instead. She's already got something headache-inducing in front of her. She's well behind now, and while that's not surprising it's now a hole of her own making.]

But even if you don't, if we play at the same general accuracy from here I still lose. Yeah, can't do that in the future... math and physics and now statistics, this game is mean! [She gives Junna a look that screams nerrrrrrrd loudly enough to be heard outside.] I guess it just means I need to practice, though. But this one's probably out of my hands from here.

[She sighs softly, shaking her head and letting her smile reassert itself as her attention drifts again.]

Yeah. The bottom of the elevator went to a bunch of hallways with a bunch of... I guess club rooms? Every room you found had a poster for a production outside - a movie, a play, something like that. And if you popped your head in, a pile of students dragged you in and frantically asked for your help to repair this costume, build this set piece, paint this backdrop. Every time you fixed something, two more things would need doing. Nothing was ever finished, nothing was ever ready. The show couldn't go on. And if you refused to help, well, they're Torments, and you were made to regret that decision.

[She doesn't seem to have a lot of emotions wrapped up in that statement; she only got caught up with them a few times before she learned the pattern and figured out how to sneak away.]

[Junna smiles a little sheepishly, when Lisa realizes that she's in trouble. She hesitates for a second -- should she have told her it was fine? Did she play too hard? But--no, the way Lisa calls the game mean and all but says 'nerrrrrd' tells her it's fine. She laughs.] I'm not arguing with you. It's a lot more than knocking balls around a table. But, you're doing really well, especially for a first timer. I've got a few years of practice on you.

You're gonna get there, trust me. And... learning to play is fun, on its own. [She smiles a bit more. Then, Junna starts towards another side of the table. She listens, though, and she makes a bit of a face. That... that sounds...

She sighs.] That's so on the nose that it feels unfair, Lisa.

[But there's a look in her eyes, too. That's her; that's exactly how she feels about everything. Finish one thing, two more pop up -- always having something she has to do, always feeling like she's treading water. Junna looks back at the table, sucks a breath in, and then she leans over. She looks at the 14-ball, which hasn't been touched much so far. She hits the cue ball -- and she gets the angle wrong. The cue ball goes flying..

...hits the rail, bounces up, and then hits the floor with a clatter.

Junna's eyebrow twitches.]

Y-You were saying about if I get a scratch?

Mm, learning is fun. Getting wrecked feels bad, sure, but I'm enough of an adult that I understand you're a little better than me. So I'll work on it. Everything through practice, yeah? And I get to take some time off with you as a bonus!

[She sees that initial look as Junna moves around the table, and giggles softly. But before she can throw out a quip, she sees that darker turn, and she checks a bit. It was on the nose, and now that she's looking for it, she's starting to understand the look she's seeing. Junna's thinking about it. Overthinking about it, maybe, but either way, she should probably cut that off. It's fine if the hydra of responsibility presents itself, you just need more and capable hands to slay it, right? She opens her mouth to say something to that effect-

and Junna shoots, the cue ball pops, and Lisa's startled by the solid thunk of the ball as it hits the wooden frame of the table as it rolls. She's not even thinking to catch it; instead instincts from Rhodonite assert themselves, and she jumps back lightly, gently bumping into an open patch of wall as she lands. The ball falls to the ground, not having been at risk of hitting her in the first place, but... that's not how combat reflexes work. Oops. She does see the eyebrow twitch, though, and thinks better of laughing, sympathetic smile on her face as she bends to pick it up.]

I said I would need at least one or two of those to have a fighting chance. That's one. If I keep running my mouth while you're shooting I might come back that way, but that'd feel mean. [She pauses, a more serious, worried frown on her lips for a moment.] You okay? I'm not psychoanalyzing you on purpose, I promise, but it's... kinda part of the deal. So I know it's gonna be a little hard on you.

Mm-hm. [Junna smiles and nods, her head tilted for a second; it makes her ponytail drift to the side, too, when she tilts her head. She looks happy with what Lisa said; it's something she thought too.] I was thinking that. It's another thing we can do together. And... ah, you know, my dad taught it to me. So... it's kind of important to me, too.

[But then she sends the ball flying. Lisa dodges -- not that she needed -- and Junna lets out a laugh after a second. That wasn't very skilled of her. She looks embarrassed, but not really bothered. She pulls the 9-ball out of the pocket, putting it back in the center of the table.]

I'll have to be careful. [There's a pause, though. Junna's quiet for a second, and she looks down. She's trying to be honest with herself, and the truth is that's a little hard for her to do.]

...I'm okay. [She sighs, softly, then looks back up.] It's... I can't quite shake feeling like it's my fault. I know it's not, I know it was a Disturbance feeding on me. But the way it used the things I'd think or feel... [She shakes her head, then she looks back at Lisa.] ...I want to hear, though. If I don't, I'm going to wonder.

And that's... that's worse for me, I think.

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