estoria | [open] And as you know I have a gigantic heart

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[open] And as you know I have a gigantic heart

Who: Rise Kujikawa and OPEN!
When: 7/19-7/23 (IC) aka event-time!
Where: Various prompts
What: It started with a goat. Then it all just went downhill from there. AKA Rise Kujikawa and the mysterious memories event.
Rating/Warning: N/A for now, will update if needed

[It started with a goat. Honestly, at first she thought that she'd dreamed it, that maybe it was just an extension of the white feathers she saw in her dreams recently but no. She wakes up and there sure is a wispy little goat at the foot of her bed. She stares…and the goat bleats flatly at her. It's a sad-looking thing, but as she tries to get closer it seems to disappear immediately.

Wow. That's weird.]

A.) is for Academy

[It's a normal school day. With everyone back from the dead and her worries a little more at ease, she can concentrate a little easier. It's quiet in the Study Hall period of the day and she's working on some homework when she spots the goat out of the corner of her eye…approaching a wastebasket. She hasn't realized it can't change much of the world around them, but she'll get that memo as soon as she gets up and stealthily tries to approach the animal.

Of course, the goat suddenly moves and it startles her and her arms suddenly pinwheel as she yells, trying to balance on her high heels so she doesn't bite the dust. Are you going to catch her? Let her fall? Fall with her? Sorry about all of that.]

B.) is for Bad Places Rise Shouldn't Wander

[This goat is seriously way more trouble than it's worth. She's not sure where it came from or why it's in such poor condition, but she's taken to following it around the colony to make sure it doesn't get too far out of her sight. It's for that reason she doesn't even realize she winds up right in the middle of the Pleasure District. The goat's paused, and if it's possible it gives her a knowing look despite its lack of real expression.

(Is it possible that this goat knows about her dungeon?)

She ends up in a staring contest with the goat, narrowing her eyes when she realizes she's standing in front of a love hotel.]

Don't even think about it. [She sure was talking to the goat, but it's not that hard to overhear her.]

C.) is for Cafe

[Everything is exhausting. She's sprawled over a chair almost ungracefully and that goat hovers around near her feet, but at least its not moving. On occasion, she'll be writing neat lines in a notebook and sipping her tea, though she frowning in concentration. There's an extra chair at her table though. Feel free to ask if you can join her or even be nosy about what she's doing, she won't mind.

On the other hand, if you're a friend or even someone she recognizes, she'll look up and smile brightly before pushing the chair out with her foot.]

Hey, over here!

D.) is for Dancing Games

[Sometimes Rise likes to play games. Sometimes Rise likes to use the game station to practice and when she gets bored of dancing in her room this is the next best thing. However, she's found at the game center today in front of one of the dancing games, and as she watches the colorful arrows fall across the screen she's continually missing and whines in frustration.]

Ugh, come on! This should be really easy! [And it would be…if she actually remembered how to dance. It's like all memories and coordination have left her and she's left trying really hard to fix that. Help her? Challenge her? Question her?]

E.) is for Everything Else!

[If you want to run into her while she's out shopping, at work as a model/karaoke star/tofu connoisseur, or if housemates want to do apartment shenanigans here you go!]

[ooc: ALSO if you have a preference on your type of memory please let me know! Otherwise I will be randomizing. Thank you!]

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[Normally she'd be a little worried about Yosuke landing hard on the dance pad. Or she'd playfully tease him about the position he's landed in because isn't it always ass in the air for him? But she can't this time. She can't because there's a blinding sort of dizziness in her head and a distressed noise as she winds up dropping to her knees next to him. The world's tilting a little too fast and her stomach churns a little as she still, somehow, gracefully slides both hands over her mouth trying not to be sick. The still-flashing lights and arrows of the DDR game aren't helping either.

And so here they are. Two dumb kids on the floor in the middle of an arcade and showing no signs of movement yet. Where's Yu when you need him? Don't worry, Yosuke. She'll try to be with you in just a moment.]

[ This is clearly the most intense game of DDR that's ever been played. The fact that the song just continues on despite their lack of participation really doesn't help matters at all. But, Yosuke, while inconvenienced isn't totally out of it. ]

Geez...

[ With a little resistance from sore muscles, Yosuke is still able to push himself up and rubs his nose. It hurts, but it's not broken. He definitely knows what that feels like, thanks to the whole sewer journey. But he also knows what just happened. Is Rise-- ]

--Rise!

[ Whoops, no honorifics. She looks like crap, which isn't very usual for her. He scurries to his feet, smacking the console of the game to forfeit the competition before he's kneeling next to her on the pad. He reaches out, putting a hand on her back. ]

Hold on there. Do...we need to get you to a bathroom?

[At least nothing's broken and Yosuke seems to be okay enough to move. His health isn't taking any hits and he's back up in no time. The arrows stop and the music stops until they're back at the menu, and Rise's still on the ground.

The thing is, idols don't throw up and they sure as hell don't throw up in front of their senpai so while that's probably a good idea she's slowly shaking her head and suppressing a gag. More than anything, on top of feeling very sick very suddenly she's more embarrassed than anything.]

I'm okay. [Said from behind her hand still even as her throat's working to swallow again.] What the hell...?

[ Her health is way more important to him right now. He knows how lousy he felt every time someone else ended up absorbing one of his memories and she doesn't look like she's feeling much better. There's no shame in needing to run to a toilet, really, and he'd rather her take care of it if she needs to. ]

You sure...? [ He's not so certain. Yosuke looks up, around, and sees a seating area past another row of machines. ] Hey, let's get you over there, okay? I'll help you.

[Really, all this is is affirmation that Yosuke's a good guy who tends to put his friends before himself. She's sick and she's upset and trying not to embarrass herself but his offer earns him a nod and a small "okay."

If she's leaning on him due to being upright and dizzy, she's polite enough not to draw attention to it and with Yosuke's help they're up and off of the dance platform and settled into the seating area. She seems to be feeling a little better and she brings her hands away from her mouth, giving him a small, sheepish smile that's more Rise Kujikawa than Risette.]

Sorry. These effects are getting way out of hand. [But she's curled up in the seating area and working through the vertigo even as she gives Yosuke a curious, somewhat wary look.] ...that means you saw something, didn't you?

[ Don't worry, Rise. Yosuke won't comment on it. They're both people who find keeping appearances up kind of important, but in moments like this, her comfort takes priority. Once she's settled, he'll let her shift her weight if she needs to, but he won't move away until he's sure she's holding herself up.

There's gotta be water around here somewhere too, right? He glances around--but looks back at her when she speaks again. ]

Yeah. I know. They're totally uncalled for. You'd think getting exposed was enough--

[ Which, of course, sounds worse when he has to admit... ]

--er...Yeah. I did.

[Part of her wouldn't say no to staying propped up against him, but she's a little too proud for that. She's sitting up on her own and taking in deep breaths through her nose to keep calm, watching Yosuke curiously.]

At least you missed the house of mirrors down in the Labyrinth. [Did Yu ever tell him about that? She has no idea. But she pauses, unsure if she really wants to hear the answer.] ...was it that bad?

House of mirrors...?

[ Yeah, he's got no idea what it is. But really, he is glad, he just doesn't know it. The sharing of memories here seems to be somewhat random, at least.

At her question, he straightens almost immediately. ]

Oh, no, it's not like--I mean...it wasn't happy. Not exactly. [ Yosuke sobers up quickly. ] I feel kind of bad, actually. Like...that was a private conversation between you and Yu. It's like eaves dropping on something you're not supposed to hear. But...for what it's worth? You're definitely a Rise that people like.

[There's a look that says she'll explain in a little bit. This is more important and when Yosuke says that, it becomes pretty clear just what he might have seen. There's an ashamed little laugh as she ducks her head, looking at her lap instead. She can't meet his eyes for this.]

You really think so? [It's still something awkward to talk about.] ...like I said when we first met, I thought you guys wouldn't like me all depressed and stressed. So I changed a lot. And people here...nobody but you and Yu-senpai really know who Risette is. Everyone here is friends with Rise Kujikawa. [She finally looks up.] It's kind of really cool.

[ He can't help but smile a little like that. She isn't telling people she's an idol? Of course that would be one of the first thing's Yosuke would do, for some of the same fears she'd had when they initially met--he wants people to like him. The thought that she really needed to ever worry about that is still a little mind-boggling. He hadn't taken it too seriously before, but after seeing that... ]

Well, if you're not telling anyone, I'll try not to name drop you for posterity. [ He winks. ] ...But if there's anything I've learned from Yu and everyone else, it's that it's better to just be yourself, you know? Someday, before you know it, you'll be special to someone.

[It's funny and a little weird that sometimes she's still insecure about it. She's better than she was now, able to balance the parts of her that make up a whole person, but sometimes she gets a little too caught up.]

A few special people know. [She grins.] The people I'm closest to here find out eventually, but it's not the first thing I tell people now, you know? I'm doing my best to be honest with myself so I can be honest with everybody else. [...but being special to someone? She thinks she knows what he means, but she's also jumping forward a step or two in the conversation.] Yosuke-senpai...do you think a person can be special to more than one person?

[ He nods. It makes sense, like she said. It's her opportunity for people to get to see Rise without the looming reputation of Risette in the background. Not that he thinks Risette is something that would upset people, he can definitely understand how it might influence their opinions on her. It's better to be liked honestly than to have someone fawn over you, right? Although he wouldn't mind a little fawning every now and then.

(Let's be real, he wouldn't know what to do with it.) ]

And they still like you just as much, right?

[ Which is what should drive the point home. He'll never really get what it's like to have that kind of reputation hanging over his head, but he maybe gets having something precede you on some level. Not like Junes is anything like having a celebrity status, but people did jump to a lot of conclusions before even meeting him. Hey, maybe he understands better than he thought?

Her question makes him blink. Brown eyes widen a little before he frowns slightly, considering. ]

...I mean, yeah, I'd imagine so. You don't always know what someone might see in you, and maybe different people see different things they like. Like you--don't get me wrong, you know I'm a huge fan and everything, but how many people would really put their celebrity gig aside and decide to risk their own wellbeing to help people when you know you'll never get thanks for it? That's...a pretty big deal, Rise-san. I don't think a lot would.

[ He is proud of his friends. Like ridiculously proud. ]

Why do you ask?

I think so. [Truthfully most of her friends don't even know what an idol is which suits her just fine. She can educate at her speed and be more proud of who she is. It's nice making friends on her own which…really is why she became Risette. It's like finally being able to stand on her own two feet.] It's kind of nice not to have any expectations to meet here, too. We can be our own people.

[She knows what kind of rumors float around town about Junes by now. She doesn't think it's the same, but it must be nice for all of them to just be themselves.

She remains innocent when he answers the question, smiling brightly the longer Yosuke talks. She's put a lot of thought into people and what people think and how people feel about other people. She hadn't been expecting him to question her in return though.]

It was just something I was thinking about! That's all, it's no big deal. […] Sometimes I feel like no matter how many people we meet, nobody's going to be more important to me than Yu-senpai and you. I guess I'm still getting used to the idea of what other people see here.

[Yeah nice save, Rise.]

[ "We can be our own people". Yeah, he thinks that's a good way to look at it. It is kind of a place to start over in many ways. Well, assuming people didn't know who you are beforehand, which Yosuke realizes that there are a handful that do in regards to himself. But it's no where near the kind of notoriety Rise is used to. Not even close.

She looks happy by his answer, at least. Whatever that means... ]

Well, if people think you're half as cool as we know you are, I think you'll be fine, Rise-san.

I hope so. [She looks fairly comfortable but she's watching him carefully, a half-smile still on her lips.] …I think I'm going to head home. Coming with me?

Yeah, you got it. [ There's no way he'd want to just walk off and leave her here. ] You okay to stand up or do you want some help?

Maybe a little help wouldn't be so bad...[Give her an arm, Yosuke. You get to see first-hand what Yu has to deal with when she clings to him.]

[ He exhales through his nose and nods, doing just that and offering her an arm. Please, Rise, cling to your heart's desire! Or rather to your body's demand. It'll be a dream come true.

...Ignoring all the, er, circumstances of course. ]

[What a pal. She's wrapping her hands around his arm and leaning into him, nodding to herself once she's there.]

Ready when you are. [Sort of. She's still struggling a little to clear her vision and stay upright without tilting, but for the most part she's ready. To home they go...]

[ This'll probably be the only time in a long time that any girl is gonna be hanging off his arm, so he might as well enjoy it, right? And more importantly, no problems supporting her weight if she needs it.

He gives a nod. ]

Let's go. Take it easy, alright?

[ He'll make sure she gets back just fine. ]

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[open] And as you know I have a gigantic heart

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