Theater Kid's March Comes in Like a Lion

[thestarknows]

⭐ 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!

Comments

[deadwishes]

[There may be a line but Tsukasa sees a friendly face and he's immediately siding up to her, no hellos or anything as he's going through her box of books. Yes he should say hello, yes he should not just go through her things, but it's obvious she's getting rid of it so it should be fine, right?

It's what he's going with!]

Ah, you've got a lot of stuff here!

[thestarknows]

[Sometimes, Junna can't tell the difference between Amane and Tsukasa. But sometimes... sometimes, she's pretty sure.

Like when he comes up without so much as a "how do you do" and starts rooting through her box of books. There's a whole lot of textbooks; several old novels -- two copies of Dracula, some old science fiction, one with a large bearded pirate on the cover; a number of old, well-worn plays; and some manga .]

...Hi, Tsukasa-kun. [She laughs.] Yeah, I'm... trying to downsize before I move out of the dorms. See anything you like?

[deadwishes]

[Never let Amane know he gets confused with Tsukasa. It'll ruin his day. But at least she can tell when it matters. Like right now.

If Junna told him she thought he was rude, he would back off. Probably ask why she thought so and try to understand but since she's just laughing, he's got no idea he was rude.]

You have a lot of good stuff here. [He picks up one of the science fiction ones.] Junna-san likes science fiction?

[thestarknows]

[Junna feels a little (...okay, a lot) bad about that.

She peers into the box, at the title. It's an older one titled Legend of the Martian Robots. It looks like it's from the 1980's, judging by the art on the cover and the yellowed pages.]

I like most things... ah, it's good to read a lot of different things. For being in plays. It makes a more authentic performance!

[deadwishes]

[He's flipping through the pages as if that's really going to do much for him to know more about the book. But he is actually reading a bit here and there. He's a pretty quick reader...when he can decide to focus long enough on it.]

That's pretty smart! You really put a lot into your plays, huh?

[thestarknows]

Mm. [She nods, cheerfully. She always likes talking about acting. Even if it's a little complicated after the Disturbance.

The book is a bit cheesy though. It's about overdramatic androids having adventures on a fantastical Mars.]

It's important. If I'm familiar and well read, I'll be more convincing. And it's fun, too, to live in a character's head.

[deadwishes]

[It seems she's doing okay now. It's been enough time since the Disturbance, he knows. But this will be good. he'll tell Amane.

This book is absolutely up Tsukasa's alley. It will take him over a month to read because he cannot sit still long enough to read but he'd read it and love it.]

Wow, you really are passionate about acting. Is that what you wanna do now?

[thestarknows]

[She considers that one for a second. It's... a little complicated.

Finally, there's a nod. Even if her answer is a bit more wishy-washy.] Yes. I think so. I'm... not sure, I suppose, after the Disturbance. I really love doing it. But I also got burnt out doing it so much, and..

[Junna sighs.] It's complicated.

[deadwishes]

[He blinks at her answer.]

Too much of anything is bad, y'know. But that doesn't make it bad. Like when I get tired of donuts, I just take a tiny break, and then when I have one again it's really good!

[These two things are not like the other but listen, this is what he's got going. He offers her a smile.]

And maybe you find something else you like. You know a lot of stuff so I bet you could!

[thestarknows]

I know. Um, better than I did a few weeks ago. [Disturbances have a way of making teachable moments.

There's a pause -- then she laughs a little at mentioning getting tired of donuts, then coming back to them later. It's not the same... but she gets his meaning just the same.]

I see what you mean. I did do, for a month and a half, only Dreaming, practice for the play, and school. That probably wasn't enough variety. Along with other problems.

[deadwishes]

It sure wasn't. Everything just crashed, huh? [that is not a very sympathetic way of wording what she went through but listen, he's not known for his gentle words. still, he means it all nicely. he thinks Junna is very nice. she should always feel good.]

When do you rest? I know you're supposed to be all grown up now but even grown ups take naps or watch something they like, yeah?

[thestarknows]

Mm... yeah. Everything just crashed. [Junna nods her head, her eyes glancing downward. It's a little harshly said, maybe, but it stings to think of. How did she let things get that bad?

She looks up at the question.] Back then... I didn't, really. I would go most of the day. I only stopped working when I had plans, went to see someone. Or when I came back to sleep.

There were other things, too. But... [She sighs.] It burnt me out enough that the other problems in my life hit me harder.

[deadwishes]

[He listens to her, without interrupting. Which is quite the feat for him. But it is something he's capable of doing. Especially since Junna is a good girl, he thinks. And you had to treat girls with respect. That's what he was told and he always kept it up. It wasn't hard when they were good like Junna.]

You're a hard worker! [He leans up to pat her head like she isn't the older one. But he likes headpats and he just thinks everybody else must like them.] That's not bad. But it's your life, right? And you only get the one. [He nods resolutely.] Yeah, that's good advice, I think.

I'd like you better smiling, too. Everybody would!

[thestarknows]

[She cracks a smile at the head pat. Amane has done that too. It makes her feel a little better, even if she can't quite pin down why.] That's true. I do only get this one life. I should try to enjoy it more.

[There's a moment's pause.] I doubt I'll ever stop working hard completely, though. But taking breaks would be smart.

[She smiles, then.] Thanks, Tsukasa-kun.

[deadwishes]

Some people work hard! And the world needs people like you. Which is why you can't work hard all the time. Get it? [Tsukasa, you are the younger one here.]

You're welcome, though. Amane was really worried about you. I wanted to make sure you were okay, too!

[thestarknows]

That makes a certain kind of sense. [It's kind of circular logic. But hey, it's also a compliment in a way.

She does get an apologetic look about Amane, though. She knew it must have been rough and she could see he was worried. Hearing it from his brother just makes it more real though.] I'm sorry I worried him. And I'm sorry if I worried you -- or gave you a fretting brother to worry about.

[deadwishes]

[It is a compliment but also Tsukasa works on his own logic. He absolutely meant it as a compliment, though.]

Amane worries about everything! It's okay. [Tsukasa hadn't been too stressed out about Amane worrying because it's all his brother did.] I knew things would work out and they did. You gotta believe in this stuff.

[thestarknows]

I... did notice he worries. [She smiles a bit at that. Junna laughs -- though, she hesitates when he says that he knew it'd work out. She tilts her head.]

You did? What... made you think so? Just a feeling...?

[deadwishes]

[that is a very valid question, Junna. one that Tsukasa does not have an answer to.]

Things just usually do? I don't know! Even if something bad happens, I think good stuff comes with it too!

[thestarknows]

[She blinks. She's not sure what she expected. Just... faith, then, she supposes?]

I should try to think more like that, maybe.

[deadwishes]

[faith and just being like Tsukasa...]

You'll definitely worry less! Things always work out even if it doesn't seem like it.

[thestarknows]

Well... I should try to worry less.

[A beat, then she laughs.] I doubt I'll stop worrying entirely, though.

[deadwishes]

Probably not. But we need people like you, right? There's people who have to worry and people who don't. I think, anyway.

[thestarknows]

[She blinks. She didn't really think of it that way. But she's still feeling a little down on herself.]

That's... true. Worrying about things sometimes has its advantages. Just, try to not worry all the time, I suppose.

[deadwishes]

But you have time to learn. And you already know what you have to do.

So you're going to be okay. Maybe one day you'll worry a lot and we'll just tell you to calm down.