2971/What's Wrong With Emi... redux

What's Wrong With Emi... redux
Date of Scene:	12 March 2026
Location:	Dorms #1
Synopsis:	Emi and Hinoiri have a little heart to heart about what comes next.
Cast of Characters:	Emi Hoshino, Hinoiri Kirara
Tinyplot:	The Nightmare Nexus

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Emi Hoshino has posed:
A little while back in Kirakirafantastica...

Still chagrinned over being a pony, Emi had spent the night with Hinoiri and Runa's company. It was, true to Runa's prediction, a long night. There were a lot of 'tests' she had to run. A lot of those involved working with Emi to try to connect her to the dreamscape under Runa's watchful eye, and there was a lot of frustration on Emi's part when that failed, over and over and over again. The good news is that she seemed to be in a lot less pain trying it here than what she experienced back home in Tokyo.

The end result is that Emi did not manage to connect to the Dreamscape, but that Runa was able to assess and better diagnose the actual problem.

It seems that in his escape from her Dreamscape, the All Subsuming One somehow, despite being in her dreamscape qas it was, was able to direct a powerful blast of dark energy from outside of it into the border between Emi's dream and Kyoto's broader dreamscape, severing her from it. Worse still, though she's free of dark energy taint, there exists a sort of ... scar tissue created by the dark energy and her own negative emotions that's apparently at least a little to blame for her inability to get to the dreamscape.

... and, of course, Emi might be a little afraid of it. The implication is there that this is not helping any, even ifs not said outright.

And so they returned from Kirakirafantastica very refreshed and spa-happy, but also, with something of a diagnosis and a potential plan for treatment: one has to confront the negative emotions within and face them.

Runa had quietly talked to her about an approach to dealing with this, and to Hinoiri's eye, Emi did not look even a little bit excited about it. If anything, it made her look more uncomfortably anxious that at any time Hinoiri had ever seen her.

Even so, they emerged from their trip to KKF refreshed and better off than they had arrived, and at least Emi had some kind of plan, right?

...well, it's been a little bit, and Emi is an idiot, and she's finally invited Hinoiri out with her. Gonna go see a movie, she said, and then talk.

It is clearly one of those things she needs to work her way up to, and so she meets Hinorii standing out front of the movie theater, all gothed up and ready to go.

She looks... not exactly happy, like there's something gnawing at her and she's just not -quite- there to talk about it all just yet. Of course, that's why the movie.

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara was, admittedly... well... Listen, she got it. Facing ones demons SUCKED! She hated it. Every time she had to face her inner demons? She always felt very, very upset about the whole thing. It made her feel angry at herself, angry at the world, annoyed that she had them to begin with. It made her feel foolish to even have such weaknesses. Like, please? Why couldn't she just magically solve all her problems by snapping her fingers and being done with it, like some kind of impossibly amazing badass who just never had flaws, or mistakes, or issues, of any kind?

Because that wasn't realistic, that was why. But it didn't stop her from thinking it from time to time. And life didn't work that way. You didn't get to just like... have everything go perfectly the way you wanted them to go (in this case, having them be easy and being flawless and perfect and whatnot).

So when Emi got the talk from Runa about her own issues... Hinoiri had kept her mouth shut. She didn't spill the beans to anyone else. Sure, Rashmi knew, but... It was just them. She'd actually not harassed Emi in a while, even. Given her time to work through things. Letting her cope and plan on her own. Until she got the call.

So it wasn't long until there was the sound of the motorcycle and then the flaming pony-turned-human came barreling down the road, skidding to a stop and... "YES! Beat the maps app by two minutes!"

IT WASN'T A RACE!

"Hey, Emi! Figure out what you want to see?" she asked as she parked and locked up her helmet, sliding off the bike and quickly unzipping her jacket, before walking over and offering the other girl a high five.

Emi Hoshino has posed:
Emi still can not believe that whole 'pony turned human' thing, even if she's now been a pony herself a couple times! She still finds that weird as heck!

Your Friend Is a Unicorn.

"Yeah, we're seeing 'Dolly'." A horror movie about an evil doll apparently. Of COURSE its a scary movie. Of COURSE. There will be slashing and blood and screaming. All things Emi likes.

She grabs Hinoiri by the arm and all but drags her inside with her. Toatlly not gonna hold hands.

There was an awkward high five at least. Tickets are bought (where did she even get the money??? Does one even want to know?) and then she's on her way to the concessions, definitely not talking yet.

Movie first. THEN conversation.

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara had no qualms about scary movies, heck, she... actually, she was obnoxious with them. They just didn't really scare her. Considering Emi had seen things like, dragons in Hinoiri's world, and knew that Hinoiri had done science projects where she explored who knew what? Maybe that was why.

But let's be real, in a real horror movie? Hinoiri would be the first to die, because she'd back sass the killer and then get killed for it.

Walking with her, she crossed her arms behind her head, grinning over at her, talking as they walked. "Dolly, huh? Real original name, at least..." Movie hadn't started and she was already sassing...

Emi Hoshino has posed:
"Don't make me shush you," says Emi to Hinoiri as they settle into their seats with popcorn and soda to spare. She's amused, though, all the same.

The movie is violent and creepy -- but Emi doesn't seem anymore scared than Hinori would. She's absolutely enjoying herself, though, and it's been a little while since she made herself go do anything fun.

Not surprising, that. Emi is far too serious and responsible for her own good.

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara stuck her tongue out. "As if I'd listen." She, admittedly, probably would. She wasn't a jerk. She was just a butt.

Still, none the less, she couldn't help but smill as she went to take her seat, eying the screen and relaxing in her seat...

It was good to see her friend relax, finally. And she wasn't exactly the best at relaxing, either. In fact, she kind of sucked at it. She was notoriously bad at it, even!

Hence, racing the maps app.

She only wanted some gummy treats.

Emi Hoshino has posed:
Gummy treats are good! Emi even steals some from her.

The movie is okay, at least, but no doubt Emi side-eyes Hinoiri all the way through in case she starts clowning on it too much. Just in case, see.

Eventually, when its over, she heads out with her to the nearest ramen place for a snack, trying to find the words to talk about what she needs to talk about.

So far, she's struggling.

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara was did make a few snorts, a few snickers... a few giggles. And at one moment she almost face palmed. "Oh my gosh why doesn't he just *walk out the door*? Who's that dumb?" she asked. "The lights are out, why go down there when he can't see? Does he WANT to die?" she asked, rolling her eyes. "Dumbass..." she muttered.

But she, mostly, kept her sass in check. Mostly.

Of course, after... as they were walking? She glanced to Emi and... "Take your time. It doesn't need to be rushed," Hinoiri said with a smile.

Emi Hoshino has posed:
"...I'm sure I have no idea what you're talking about," mutters a flustered Emi. She does NOT like feeling seen.

... which is no doubt part of the problem.

Finally, after getting some ramen in her belly on top of the soda and the popcorn and the hot tea she now has, she says it.

"..apparently I'm going to need help. I have to dream. And then people have to go into *my* dream borderland and reconnect me to the dreamscape," she pinches the bridge of her nose.

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara gave a small nod, her hands in her pockets as they walked. She, unlike her ramen filled friend... was totally chill and just reveling in the discomfort to the goth. She, someone who gave off delinquent vibes herself at times but was not, in fact, the kind of girl to miss class and actually had (some might call it DANGEROUSLY) good grades, had noooo problem letting Emi wriggle on the hook like a worm.

"Mmmm hm. You don't say. So, when's a good time for that, and where you wanna do it?" she asked without skipping a beat. "I'm pretty sure there are like... a dozen people who would be totally down to help," she said with a smile.

"And we all need help now and again, even I do, now and again. So nothing wrong with that. How does this work?"

Emi Hoshino has posed:
"...yeah, but this means letting them into my dreams *unguarded*." She does not like that. Not one bit. She doesn't want people seeing her too clearly, too deeply. She much prefers to be like a dream herself: hazy and mysterious!

It's so cool.

Okay, that's not QUITE the actual reason why.
Emi continues her hook-wriggling and grimaces, looking down at the table. Slurps some ramen gently.

"Soon. The sooner the better. I need to ask Mamoru for help. He's the only other person who can reliably take people to the dreamscape. We'll need to get a few people together and then I'll need to let them in."

She looks stricken.

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara gave a light nod. "I see. So, I take it you're scared we're going to see some terrible, horrible things in your dreams?" Hinoiri asked. She then reached out and patted Emi on the back. "I promise, no matter what. No matter what I see in your dreams, I won't think any less of you than I do now," she said, before smirking at her. Like the little brat she was.

"But like... they're dreams. Even if we see you in like... a world of rainbows and unicorns and a field of butterflies... they're dreams. It's all random stuff, not things that actually have to mean anything. Heck, I once had a dream I was a griffon and, while it was weird? It didn't mean I wanted to be one."

Emi Hoshino has posed:
Rolling her eyes at Hinoiri, Emi says, "Of -course- it means something. Haven't I taught you anything?" She reaches over and taps her on the nose.

"But what it means won't necessarily be clear and I have to take comfort in that. No. I soaked myself in misery and it manifests. They're going to see ... things." She casts her eyes down towards the table.

"A -griffon-? Don't they eat ponies?" she asks.

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara blinked a few times and stared at her, wrinkling her nose when she was tapped. How dare! But she held her tongue until she was done. "I... went to school with griffons," she said flatly. "Well, okay. Like. Rarely, there aren't a lot of magic griffons. But they DO exist. And sometimes come in. And ick, no? Why? Would they? They're just jerks, not like... Ew."

She did, however, think on what she said, before finally... "Are you uncomfortable with me seeing things in your subconscious? Do you want me to stick this out?"

Emi Hoshino has posed:
"...no," says Emi.

"You know me well enough that you can help figure out what has to happen in there. It's going to be weird. This isn't like a regular dreamscape. It's something deeper and probably more abstract -- but also insightful? I'm not comfortable with anyone monkeying around in my head but it has to happen. I have to sit it out because I'm going to be the dreamer." She doesn't like it at all.

"But it has to happen because I can't let my discomfort stand in the way of protecting Tokyo and saving Kyoto from Him."

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara nodded before she reached out and then stopped...

Finally, she just punched Emi, lightly, in the shoulder. "I get it. And for what it's worth? I'm... I didn't like opening up, either. I still don't always like opening up. I'm still scared to, a lot. I'm just a lot more scared of what happens when I don't. So I play it off. Because one of those is a lot scarier to me than the other. And when all of the options are terrifying? Sometimes, you just take the least scary one..."

"... And not the dumb one, like going down into the basement when the lights are out to check out a scary noise like an idiot."

Emi Hoshino has posed:
Punched! Emi looks aggrieved! Wounded! Then again, she -did- touch her on the nose so she deserved it.

"Yeah, well... that's pretty much the case, except in this case it's scary and out of my control: two things I don't like at all." She bites her lower lip. "I don't like how vulnerable I'm going to feel but its what has to happen." She leans over and goes to punch her back. Because she deserves it.

"You'd so be the first to die in a horror movie because you sassed the bad guy too much!"

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara was sure to only punch her *very* lightly... she figured she'd appreciate it more than a headpat. She snickered when she was punched back, rolling with it. "Oh, probably. I call it like I see it, and I'll be the first to admit I *really* need to work on it sometimes. I have almost got into trouble too many times for it."

"Almost gotten killed for it, even. But well... sometimes, a pony has to do what a pony has to do," she said, shaking her head. "So is the life of a studious one. We all gotta be vulnerable now and again, though. It's... for our own good. And makes us stronger, in the end. When the time comes? I'll be there for you."

Emi Hoshino has posed:
"...appreciate it, Hinoiri," says Emi, looking down and to the side. She isn't sure why she feels so choked up right now and she doesn't dare let it show.