April catch-all ♫

[traceofeffort]

⭐ Who: Lisa and you! Yeah, you, I see you on your phone over there, come on, sing along! Junna will be along for at least one of these, I expect, You'll Know.
⭐ When: All through April! Especially earlier in the month, though.
⭐ Where: Asagi Public Library, DU HQ, Tsubaki Department Store, the park, and probably other places too
⭐ What: After last month's roller coaster of emotions, Lisa's doing her best to keep her head and embrace her vision for the future, with everything preparing for adult life entails. She's also got some slightly esoteric shopping to do.
⭐ Warnings: Early in the month, nothing, for once! Tooth-rotting fluff, perhaps. Later in the month, Lisa will be somewhat less cheery for Obvious Reasons.

Comments

but not as sweet as you | closed: Junna | Yotsuba Park, very early April

[traceofeffort]

[Lisa has made no secret that she's been really really stressed the last month or so, and while Junna has been gently helping to soothe it away, it's... not quite so easy to escape from everything. That hasn't stopped her from trying the one thing that seems to work about seventy percent of the time: a date. The typhoon - and Ai's media frenzy - threw her plans off just a little, but mercifully, there's still flower viewing to be had, and there's always more flour and sugar and food coloring. The larger problem was keeping her roommates out of the cookies after she'd finally finished a batch!

So after finding a free day once the park was relatively back to normal and their lives were settled, Lisa's down at Yotsuba Park, a big red blanket set out under a cherry tree, pale pink petals swaying in the light breeze but holding strong for a little longer. It shouldn't really surprise anyone that she owns a picnic basket, which she's loaded up with lunch and snacks and a thermos of tea. But even if she hadn't brought it, she's... pretty sure she has everything she needs. It's still a little nippy, so she's wearing her pink hoodie over a warm, long-sleeve shirt, and she's dug a long, cream skirt out of a drawer that she's pretty sure she hasn't worn in over a year. Her shoes are already neatly set at the edge of the blanket. She has her scarf with her but she's not sure it's quite that cold, so it sits atop her handbag.

She's... not sure what she was expecting, honestly? Yeah, it's a picnic in a pretty place in the spring. It's a tradition. But also... it's a tradition she didn't really have much place in her life for until now. Who would she have spent it with? Despite making the cookies every year, it's not like Lisa ever actually had a group to go with. Last year she'd shared them with Amane on a blanket over a chat, though she'd kept a bunch more in her tote to hand out as pick-me-ups. This year, though... she's coming to realize it's not entirely about the flowers themselves. It's about having someone to look at them with. Someone to share a moment with. Sometimes that's classmates, to spend time together and chat about nothing and have a memory of better days. Sometimes that's friends, to build a bond and enjoy the company of people that you like being with; she'd gotten that feeling with Amane, even if the mood of the day itself was still somber. It'd been a memory to cherish all the same.

Today, it's a different category, and she's excited for hanami for its own sake for the first time in a long time. Today, she's with someone she wants to share everything with. Her time, her heart, and her future. Today, she's with her precious partner, and even though there are couples, families, and friends across the park, happily chattering and laughing and having a good time, she can very easily tune them all out. Today... today is for her and Junna. And she's going to enjoy herself, no matter what. Which brings her to look up at the girl in question with a soft smile from where she's sitting, legs folded beside her. Simple, uncomplicated joy keeps her tone light and affectionate.]

Join me?

[thestarknows]

[Junna has never been on a hanami date before.

Oh, she's done flower viewings, of course. She did them with her family when she was younger -- she can remember the curry her mother made and brought along even now. She did them with school friends in middle school, and can remember clacking together bottles of ramune and talking about what plays they wanted to be in. The cries of "so pretty..." and the feeling that, one day, they'd do this with someone special.

But that "one day" was a nebulous thing. Junna wondered, sometimes, if she ever would.

And now she has. She's standing up, still, with her brown hoodie and a long skirt on. She's just taken her shoes off, leaving her in light blue socks. She puts her shoes down next to Lisa's, then looks at her. She also looks at the basket and the thermos, sighing happily. It still feels impossible, on some level. But here she is -- here they are -- and it's real. How did she ever get so lucky?

Junna smiles and nods.] I'd love to. [She sits down, next to Lisa -- so close she's brushing up against her. She looks at the basket, then back to the cook.] I can't wait to see what you have for us.

[She tried to not peak. Surprises are important.]

[traceofeffort]

[Lisa just grins.]

Well, I have you, and you know, that's probably more important to me than anything I've cooked in a long time. But affection doesn't feed people, does it? Sooo I have sandwiches! And some potato salad, and a couple other things... I made us tea, too, since it's still a little cold. And junk food, but you knew that already, that was a project.

But... I'm happy to just enjoy the day until you're ready, too.

[thestarknows]

[Junna laughs at that -- her cheeks reddening when Lisa flirts with her. It's nice to see her girlfriend in top form after everything. And it's nice to see her girlfriend in top form all on its own, too. She smiles, then she shifts -- legs underneath her.] If affection did feed me, I think I would never be hungry.

[Then her eyes widen a little bit. It's a good assortment! And it's a little hard, for just a second, to decide what to do. But they don't need to rush eating. Part of the picnic isn't eating. So Junna slides over -- and rather than stick her arm around Lisa, she leans her head against her shoulder. Today, she wants to be the little spoon.

...It's easier when she's sitting and she isn't a bit taller than Lisa.]

Cuddles, first. Then snacks. Then more cuddles.

[traceofeffort]

Then I'm doing something right. [Said with the same grin but completely seriously.] But until then, I'll feed you the old-fashioned way.

[She's happy to see Junna relaxing. Yeah, she's had some time to decompress, and she seems to be benefitting from her therapist the way Lisa... sometimes does from hers. But it's reassuring to see it for herself. And so when Junna slides in next to her, Lisa's heart melts, and she puts an arm around her, sliiiightly dopey twist to her grin.]

Ask and you shall receive. Or... don't ask, and just let me take care of you. That's fine too. That's always fine.

[thestarknows]

Mm. [That's a satisfied sigh from Junna. She looks up at her, and takes the hand of the arm around her. She snuggles in against Lisa. She smiles to see that slightly dopey smile. Lisa might get self conscious about being sappy. Junna has never minded.]

You do take good care of me. [She squeezes Lisa's hand, but her eyes shift to meet Lisa's. She looks thoughtful. She'd said it without thinking. But now that she has...]

You have for a long time now.

[traceofeffort]

[...she hasn't even taken anything out of the basket yet and she already feels like she's getting a sugar rush. Lisa's no longer worried about the scarf; she's got all the warmth she needs, relaxing as her partner shifts closer.

When Junna responds to the honest comment with... apparently honest consideration, her grin doesn't quite disappear, but it shifts into something gentle and less overt, as she collects her thoughts.]

I don't have that many things to hold close, you know? I think I said this before, but I'd have always had your back, even if we never... [She trails off and glances to where their hands are connected, somewhat meaningfully, before she shakes her head minutely.] Since we are, though... of course I'm going to be careful with the things that are important to me. And if I dote on you a little in the process, well... nyeh. No court will convict me.

[It's a lame finish, but she's still smiling, as she leans her cheek in against the head on her shoulder, indeed a tiny bit self-conscious.]

If I have anything to say about it, I'll keep taking care of you for a long time to come, too.

[thestarknows]

Mm. I know what you mean, I think. Even if we'd not started dating... you were already important to me. But-- [She squeezes Lisa's hand, looking down at their joined hands. And then she looks back up at Lisa, and smiles -- leaning against her without any hesitation. No, she wants a cuddle right now.]

But, as you say. And even if a court tried to convict you, I'd file a very strongly worded motion.

[She laughs, and then she looks back at at the basket in front of them.] I want that. And to do the same, of course. But...

...it's nice knowing there is someone to take care of me. And let someone take care of me, too. I've had a bad habit of not letting people take care of me, until you came along.