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

[traceofeffort]

[Lisa squints. Jeannette, what are you holding-]

It. It... does...... [Nope, can't ignore it-] Jeannette, what is that?? Are- are you advertising today?

[...She is trying very hard and Lisa appreciates that but the girl's going to get herself thrown out.]

[darcangel]

It is good to know one advertises at a job fair!

[ She clearly worked really hard on this flag, too. The images are painted but the hems are very intricately stitched. ]

[traceofeffort]

[........oh no-]

That's correct! But... what job are you advertising? I know you're looking for people to join your... army... but some of the people here aren't even Dreamers, you know? So the regular people in the library could think you're trying to stage an uprising or something. You might be better served advertising this in particular at the Dreamer Union instead of here.

[.......]

Definitely use the flag though. Hard work is important, when applied correctly.

[darcangel]

Your point is sound. But I should like my dear and good friends, the people of Yumemigaoka, to know they can call on my army for any Dream Sphere trouble. Even if they simply worry their dreams have been ill of late, we will protect them!

Still.... [ She thinks. ] You are right there may not be many Dreamers.

[ Then she perks up. ]

So I shall take the flag to headquarters afterwards.

[traceofeffort]

[Lisa tries to think for a moment of how she can put this gently... then decides she really just needs to be blunt, with a soft sigh.]

This is a job fair, though. People are coming here so they can figure out how to make money and move forward in the world. It's why I'm here, I need to figure out how I'm going to afford a place to live. And the army isn't going to help with that. It's just going to make people have more questions. And, like I said, make them question Senpai and Yoshino-san and you, at a time that none of those people can really afford a distraction, you know?

[darcangel]

[ Blunt works! Blunt, with an explanation of impact, definitely works. Jeannette listens carefully, as this is advice bestowed by a dear friend. She looks somber. ]

You are saying...my presence harms these dear folk, not helps them.

[ She bites her lip, thinking. What can she do for people in such need.....

wonders recent grad who ALSO doesn't have a job, but this ain't about her, apparently. ]

[traceofeffort]

I'm saying the audience matters. Advertise with us at the DU building, get some experience under your belt leading us. And then when we get through Disturbances faster, when Nightmare fights are cleaner, when we can take care of Torments before they get worse, you can point to those things. You can say, "we did that, talented Dreamers under my tactical guidance, and we need more talented Dreamers," and people might listen. Right now you just sound like the world's weirdest gang, when people are walking past trying to find somewhere to make a living that isn't two days a week at Tomoe.

[darcangel]

[ Jeannette sighs. Lisa makes sound points, as one might expect from her dear friend, who has become such a fine Dreamer.....but it all seems so backwards. An angel recommended her, and that should be enough! Yet it is not.

So. What is the best strategy moving forward? ]

Then I shall raise this flag at the Dreamer Union, and while I am here, help people find good jobs. It would be a waste to have come all this way and do nothing for them.

[ JEANNETTE AREN'T YOU A RECENT GRAD YOURSELF

WHO DOESN'T HAVE A JOB

JEANNETTTTTTEEEEEE!!!! ]

[traceofeffort]

That's... well, that's a start, and I think people would appreciate it. It'd help with your reputation, too, and...

[Lisa pauses. Blinks, thinking about something, and someone else that isn't here. Then her gaze turns a little sharper.]

Wait. You just graduated too, right? What are your plans now? And your answer had better not be "live off my Dreamer Union stipend!" I can't even make Christmas cookies with that, there's no way you can make a living with it!

[darcangel]

Ah....

[ ....


...........

......Oh, this pause is probably troubling, she should say something! ]

Fear not. My needs are not so great.

[traceofeffort]

Your stomach will disagree. Jeannette, how are you going to keep the lights on if they tell us to stay out of the Dream Sphere for a month when a Disturbance breaks something!?

[Lisa immediately jumps into concern tinged with anger, but she recognizes her friend doesn't deserve that, and she pulls back, taking a deep breath.]

Sorry. But I- I really don't think that's a good idea. You've got to have a safety net if something happens, and you won't be able to do anything fun without disposable income. I don't want you to get into trouble because you can't afford to live your life, you know?

[darcangel]

Jeannette cocks her head. Lisa's anger, she knows, is really Lisa's kindness, so she's touched more than anything. It's true that she's focused solely on how to form her army ever since she mis-sent that email, and had so many good talks with people (even if none of them understood what a proper army was). She still has a roof over her head, so she hasn't given much of a thought to anything else.....

....but that is spoiled and self-absorbed, isn't it. She cannot impose on her parents' goodness forever. Jeannette loves her family enough that she's happy to stay living with them so long as they permit, but she is not a child anymore. She must do her part to support them and Pierre, as well!

Yes, Lisa is right, Jeannette decides. She does need a job.

For her family.

(Jeannette.)

As for what sort of job...."Is there not full-time work to be had at the Dreamer Union?"

Maki works there. As does Zeke, does he not? Surely there must be some way Jeannette can be of use, and earn money while showing the wisdom of her army idea! Thanks be to God for this plan!

[traceofeffort]

Lisa takes a second to cool off, keeping her mouth firmly shut. She's being too hard on Jeannette, and she recognizes frustration at herself that's bleeding over. But it helps her to see the gears turning in the other girl's head. Maybe... maybe it was worth it, and she takes a breath, trying to push her normal, cheery-ish expression onto her face. The question that follows is a fair one, and Lisa nods, that smile turning a little more genuine.

"There is," Lisa agrees gently. "But most of that work is... I don't want to say unskilled," even if she's thinking it, "but since it's not specialized, Director Yoshino can only offer so much in return. And it means you don't have any work-life balance, either. If something's going down at the Dreamer Union, you're in the middle of it all day and all night."

She's silent for a moment, seeming to glance into the distance. She knows the city well enough that she knows where the DU building is from here, and that's the way she's looking, as if the structure itself is the cause of her problems. Maybe it is, not that she's going to voice that to the girl she's talking to that really doesn't deserve yet another helping of her issues.

"It's not a bad idea, and it's probably where I'm headed, too," she eventually finishes, tone carefully neutral. "Just... make sure you know what you're signing up for, yeah?"

[darcangel]

Jeannette listens, honoring what it seems to be taking Lisa to tell her this. When her friend is done, she puts a hand over her own heart, solemn. She does not know what that glance towards the Dreamer Union was about, but one thing she cannot afford during this time of transition for both of them is to be even more of a burden on her friend!

"If that is the cost of protecting my home," she vows. "I pay it gladly. Knowing I could be of service and not acting is what would truly cause me misery!"

She and her angel have that in common, she suspects, if it is not too bold of her to compare herself to such an exalted being. Her dear angel works tirelessly, for otherwise she would regret the steps not taken forward. Jeannette is so small, and can only do so much. But she has a power few possess, and with that power, she can make the world a better place for others. This is not a curse, but a blessing.