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

[greaterspeed]

The hungry mobs are being very polite today, but y'know what they say. Safety in numbers!

[a wink before he snickers]

I mean, I don't see how making me drop off his meal wouldn't damage that image of him either. Is this some sort of dominance play? [he makes an odd gesture here, holding his hand out while staring at nothing, but coupled with what he just said, it probably makes sense to someone] Maybe I should be worried...

[does he even know how to be worried?]

[traceofeffort]

[Lisa snickers herself; she spends enough time on Y to recognize that meme.]

Yeah, that's about it. [She briefly puts on a haughty tone.] He wouldn't deign to engage with the common folk for something as simple as ordering lunch. Nay, he has the power to demand to be served his lunch, even in such a far-flung, uncivilized place as this. What savages we are, having to debase ourselves by going to Tomoe for lunch on our breaks!

[A pause; the affect falls away.]

...think he heard me?

[greaterspeed]

It's okay, if he does try to start something I'll just drop his rice bowl. [NIKKI-]

[he laughs, then gives her a wink] Nice Impression! I don't know the guy but that sounds super convincing for someone who would make poor little me walk through crowds to pass him food.

[he snickers] 'Debase ourselves by going to Tomoe for lunch', that's pretty good.

... Oh, is it that scary looking dude over there? Wait, I thought the impression was a joke, it's looking way too accurate now. [but he'll have to tempt fate to drop off the food though]

[traceofeffort]

Oi, don't lose your delivery rating for me. I'm a big girl, I can handle getting yelled at by the mean guy. But yeah, that's him. There's a reason I didn't feel bad letting loose a second ago.

[Lisa winks back.]

I was inspired! What can I say? Sometimes you just get a feel for the vibes. Good luck, you may need it.

[greaterspeed]

[he gives her a quick salute before jogging over to give the intimidating hungry man his junk food. It's a pretty unassuming exchange, considering the 'drama' leading up to it. Once the food's been handed off, he folds his bag under his arm and jogs back over to where Lisa is]

That wasn't too bad. Maybe the big guy's just hangry.

Now that that's out of the way... Gotta admit, this feels a little like deja vu. How you feeling?

[traceofeffort]

Maybe! I still don't want to talk to him, though. [Lisa shrugs, accepting the topic change with a slight tint of unease to her smile.] As for me, I'm... well. I'm not okay. You already knew that, though, I just pretend really well. But I'm... getting better?

[There's a long moment where Lisa looks out the window, one arm across her chest, seeming off-balance.]

I got so used to hiding things... and now between Junna and actually having friends I want to trust, I can't really do that anymore. [She glances at Nikki pointedly; but her tone softens all the same.] My side still hurts, you know. I appreciate what you did, back then. But I'm still not entirely... happy about it.

[greaterspeed]

[he raises an eyebrow at the 'getting better' comment, but gives her a completely innocent, no-hijinks-here smile when she gives him the side-eye]

As long as you're getting better about reaching out to people and not getting better at hiding things. [then he grins brightly]

Hey, I did ask first! [a laugh, though he cuts himself short so as to not disturb people] And I wouldn't have done it if I was worried about you being angry at me afterwards. Between you being mad at me or just standing aside and watching you burn yourself out like that?

[he gives her a lopsided smile]

I'd rather you be mad at me.

[traceofeffort]

This would normally be the part where I put on the "who, me?" face, but... mm.

[Lisa takes a breath and lets him finish. She knows much, much better than to try and hide it from Nikki specifically. So she focuses on keeping herself as calm as she can manage.]

I'd rather be mad at you too. Not that it means anything to say it now, instead of when I'm actively going off the handle. I'm trying to be better. I know I'm not there yet. I don't know if I'll ever get there. But... I'm trying. I'll probably be mad at you again. But- [she pauses, shakes her head, then adds-] thank you, Nikki.

[greaterspeed]

[he listens, oddly patient. No fidgeting, no looking around aimlessly, but genuinely, actively listening. Even though Nikki has only known Lisa for a short amount of time, he can tell this is important. There's a warm smile for a moment before the usual confident and mischievous air seeps in again]

Nah, no problem. No thanks needed, really. The important thing is that you recognized that there's something wrong, y'know? It would really suck if I kicked you out of the Dream Sphere only for you to... [he gestures vaguely] Not notice.

That would make this conversation way more awkward.

[thumbs up]

Getting to your goal, one step at a time!