estoria | Dancing in September (Open)

Entry tags:

rock lee

Dancing in September (Open)

Who: Rock Lee and whoever!
When: Anytime between the 21st and 29th
Where: Around Cerealia
What: Rock Lee deals with odd dreams and elemental problems.
Rating/Warning: None? Will update if any come up?

A

[Early in the morning, Rock Lee can be found jogging around any section of the city. But as he jogs, he has a notepad open and is frantically scribbling in it, while dried tears are on his face.]

I must remember... every last past of that dream!

[Perhaps you hear him say that; or perhaps something more concerning is happening. He's not always paying attention to where he's going while writing, after all, so he may be about to run into something dangerous, or even collide into you!]

B

[Or you may find Rock Lee at a later point in the day, anywhere around the city. Regardless of where it is, the main thing to note is that several stalks of corn have started sprouting up around Lee. He looks around in confusion.]

Wh-what is happening?!

C

[Wild card! Feel free to come up with your own scenario, which doesn't have to be related to the event's effects. And for any of these scenarios, Lee could also be found at his jobs at the ramen shop or the gym!]

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[He doesn't want to lie to her, so his tenseness relents as he looks at her.]

W-well, the truth of the matter is... It is because of some unusual dreams that I have been having lately.

[ Which is what she was betting on - not that it wasn't truthful to say she'd feel better knowing. She does, however, grow slightly more serious at his answer. ]

Dreams? [ Oh, he isn't the only one. She knows what hers were like, but-- after a beat, ] What were they about?

W-well, these dreams... they were about home. [He looks away with a frown.] I was there, and my friends were there. Everything was pleasant. Even... friends I've made here were there.

[Then he settles his gaze on the girl.]

...One of them might have been you!

Me--? But--

[ Funny, how even though she had instances of that same experience, it still surprises her to hear that she might have made her way into someone else's dream. Eyes round, she falters, but a blink or two and she's composed enough to adjust her, 'why?' into, ]

... That sounds like a good dream.

[ Hence the peculiarity of his crying over it, she means to say; the tone of her voice is leading, questioning. (Privately, she feels some quiet warmth in her chest to have even that 'might have been' in a friend's pleasant dream. She tries to ignore it.) ]

[He nods softly.]

It was. I was sure of it!

[Then Lee pauses as he tries to remember the details of the dream.]

Hmmm... I believe that I was preparing to take part in a competition for ninja. And you were there... You were smiling and cheering me on! It - it was very splendid!

[ She can't help the way her expression softens with something a little bittersweet, and despite herself the corners of her mouth raise briefly before she stifles them. Tucking her head slightly, ]

I'm sure it would be splendid. I'd be glad if I could cheer you on at something like that.

[ Although she could theoretically get the chance, it does seem rather unlikely. Sobering again, she regards him with a recurring concern. ]

It's just... you seemed upset before.

[ Or that's what she took the tears to mean, anyhow. ]

Why is that, if it was a good dream?

[He smiles warmly at her praise, but then when she continues onwards, she manages to hit the nail on his head.]

Ah...

[Rock Lee reaches up with a hand and feels the dried-up streams of tears that line his face.

He proceeds to bow his head and look down at the ground as he speaks.]

W-well, it was a good dream. Many people I know were there and happy. E-even... certain other people... [He can't bring himself to say that they were people he knew were supposed to be dead. Like Neji.]

It felt so real. But... It was a dream. And it ended, like a whole world was fading away! And- and so many possibilities with it!!

[He winces, sniffles and whimpers as he balls up his fists in pain and frustration.]

[ It's bad enough to hear those things, to feel her heart twist so awfully for his sake, to know - with unfortunate clarity - how it feels to have something like that dangled in front of you and then taken away-- but that last sound is what makes her draw in a sharp breath as if it's physically struck her, her body automatically leaning in and hands coming up as though she might somehow be able to protect him from his own pain. ]

[ But it's not that easy and probably never will be, and though her hands hover, there's nothing much that she can do with them. If she were given to it, she might hug him; the sentiment is certainly there, but she has no propensity to act on it. Her hands fall after a moment, face strained with sympathetic anguish. ]

That--

[ She stops herself. 'I know how it feels,' she wants to say, because she does. After all, she's the 'certain other people' in her worlds - oh, but when hasn't she had to see something better than her own reality and know she'll never attain it? But she can hardly tell him that, and in her faltering pause, she curls and uncurls her fingers once, as if searching for the answer. Shoulders lowering slowly, she exhales, and the words she comes up with wind up being sincere. ]

... That doesn't mean you can't still be happy. [ Since when is she the one who won't give up? There's a lump in her throat to think of it. ] Or that something else wonderful can't happen. None of us know how things will turn out, but... we might still get a happy ending.

[ Some of them, anyway. And she's not about to say she isn't counting herself. ]

Edited 2016-09-28 05:14 (UTC)

[Lee glances up as she speaks, missing her gesture. Her words alone do wonders for him. His eyes and expression light up, and he smiles lightly at her.]

N- Namine-san... [He sniffles lightly as he nods.] You are right! If we do our best and work hard, we will earn such a happy ending. It is in our reach!

It really is possible to be happy... After all, just knowing you makes me feel so happy, Namine-san!

[ There's lingering concern in her eyes even as he seems to perk up, and it's a little bittersweet to see how much he does. She's spent such a long time learning to live with undesirable outcomes, and yet-- the idea of suggesting he look at things that way too turns her stomach. No, he's always been the optimistic one, and it feels as though some great and terrible imbalance in the universe has been righted as he seems to cheer up. ]

[ So despite herself, she musters a hint of a smile in return. There's a certain wryness coupled with a faint sort of-- sadness, almost, but it's still a smile. ]

I hope so.

[ And she really does. That last bit, though - most of the complicated things she's feeling get replaced with other complicated but slightly less unpleasant things. It's touching, of course, that he would say that, and she knows that he means it. (Because... when doesn't he mean it?) Her breath catches in an almost-laugh, brows drawing together in spite of the lingering upturn at her mouth. ]

I'm not sure I understand why. But... knowing you makes me happy, too. You're always so kind, and so brave, and so determined. Someone like you--... you deserve the chance to have a good life.

[ So as far as she's concerned, he's already earned it. ]

[Her smile helps to brighten up Lee's demeanor, further restoring balance to Lee's universe. Sometimes, she seems so sad, and with all the time he's known her, Lee cannot begin to understand why. Instead, he only strives to help her to be as pleased as possible through this friendship.]

You really think so? Thank you... thank you so much, Namine-san! I am glad to have made such an impression, and to have made you happy! Y-you yourself... You are very gentle and kind and supportive. You always know what to say!

[Lee then nods as he confirms something.]

If I do deserve a good life, then you deserve a twice... no, four times as great life!

[ Even as her ever more shy smile warms her eyes, as her cheeks color slightly with touched flattery, there's still the same undercurrent of sadness that's always there. It's not always so apparent, but at that last portion of his words especially, it lurks behind her eyes. She shuts them for a moment as though to beat it back, smile still sweet despite herself. ]

... And generous, too. I forgot to say that one.

[ Her voice is oddly soft with it, as if it's half to herself. Eyes open again, one side of her mouth quirks higher and somehow it's less of a smile than it was before. Her words are no less sincere, however. ]

But... yes, I really think so. The worlds need more people like you. So-- don't stop being you, okay? [ Or rather-- ] Don't ever lose that light.

[ After all, it's hard not to look on the bright sight when he's usually so stubbornly trying to drag everyone into it. What she really means is, ]

And don't lose hope, either.

[Lee sniffles, emotionally struck by her words, and he nods earnestly.]

Namine-san...! [He calls out her name, packed with emotion.] Yes. I promise to do my best! My light and my hope... I will hold onto both of those things with my very life! I will not let you down!

Let us all carry strong hopes with us! [He says with a bright smile, as he offers her a thumbs up.]

[ There's a fondness in the shape of her mouth as she regards him, head slightly tilted. She is not the person he is, and it has always been harder for her to remain optimistic against the odds, but that's precisely why she feels so certain that he needs to continue to be who he is. So even if she isn't always wholly in agreement with the way he views the world, even if she thinks he could stand to be more discerning sometimes, it only feels right to make sure Rock Lee keeps being Rock Lee. ]

[ To that end, she raises her hand to give him a thumbs up in return, barely able to contain her quiet laugh. ]

I'm sure you won't. I believe in you, Rock.

[ Letting her hand fall, she lowers her shoulders along with it, exhaling. Funny, how she feels a little better about those dreams, herself. ]

So no more tears, alright?

[ Of course, she'd not begrudge him the opportunity to weep further if he needs to, but-- she means only to encourage him. ]

Y-you did the nice guy pose! [He says that excitedly with a sniffle, as he wipes his tears away.]

In the face of that much conviction, in addition to our hearfelt friendship... I will gladly halt these tears of youth! [He balls up his fists in determination and nods.]

Thank you for your help, Namine-san.

I did. [ She says so brightly enough for all her remaining softness, prepared this time for his reaction to the gesture. Nodding her approval, ]

Thank you. It's much better to see you smiling.

[ Ah, but she remains the honest creature that she is, and she has yet to tell him everything she ought to. So after a moment she sobers, though not by much; placid, she adds off-handedly, ]

While we're on the subject, I should probably tell you-- you're... not the only one who's been having those sorts of dreams lately.

[Lee's smile grows brighter at her compliment, sparkling slightly, and he flusters a little. But then he looks more thoughtful at her next words.]

...Ah, I am not? Who else could be having these sorts of dreams, Namine-san?

[ She manages not to be too ashamed of herself for not having said it immediately. Looking only slightly grim, ]

Me. ... I've been having them for a few nights now.

[ Her lips purse subtly; mostly, she's just glad they haven't manifested into anything genuinely horrible yet. Dreams are only dreams, after all, no matter how good or bad. ]

But if both of us have been having the same kind of dreams, I wouldn't be surprised if there were others. That's... the way things seem to happen around here.

[Lee looks at her with immediate concern.]

Ah... I see. [Then he nods.] You are right. Often, these odd happenings occur to many people at a time. So, there must be others!

[But the concern does not fade from his face. After she helped him, he wants to help her.]

May I ask you, Namine-san, if it is alright... How are you feeling about this?

[ It's one thing to talk about how this has effected others but something else to talk about how it's effecting her, and she falters, caught. She hesitates, and after a moment moves her shoulders in a faint suggestion of a shrug. Her best efforts go into not wilting too noticeably. ]

A little like you were.

[ Only without the tears, and with more ability to overcome the feeling of loss. ]

The things I saw... I doubt they'll ever happen. But I-- [ 'Have already come to terms with the cessation of my own existence,' would be a bad thing to say here, so she does not. ] -- I never expected that they would. I'm-- doing alright.

[ No use being bitter about it, right? And after all, the future could still be... better than she fears, perhaps. (She shames herself into thinking that purely because she asked him to think similarly.) But it doesn't matter, because, ]

I'm content with the way things are.

The way things are...?

[He repeats that to himself as he ponders Namine's contentedness. It's then that he realizes that he knows practically nothing about Namine's world or her situation there. He wants to think optimistically, though, and he is not quite sure if this contentment is with the way things are in Cerealia or back home. So he asks tentatively.]

Here, in this world?

Yes.

[ That's the easy answer, and a truthful one. There's still a little catch in the way she says it, as if she was pleasantly surprised to be able to respond in such a way. Yet here again comes her honesty, and she cannot help but look very slightly somber as she adds, ]

And in my own worlds. It's... for the best.

[His smile fades in the face of how somber she seems, and he worries about something being wrong.]

Ah! I apologize, Namine-san. I am not sure if I understand. [But first, he picks at another thing that stands out to him.] Did you say your own 'worlds'?

[ She perks slightly at the question; clearly that's the easier choice for her. Much better to have to answer that than anything else. ]

I did. Where I come from, there are many. There are... plenty of them out there everywhere, that is, and that's where we all come from, but-- I think maybe worlds are usually farther apart than mine are. I'd been to and lived in a few different worlds before I ever came to this one, and they were all much smaller and closer together than everyone else's seem to be.

[ Her lack of choosing a specific world (singular) to call 'hers', however, might be telling. ]

I see. That is very interesting... I never knew that one could have access to so many worlds! [He pauses as he thinks about her worlds.]

And you have even lived at several. It is good to travel often in one's youth! May I ask, which world feels the most like home to you?

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