perfectmatch | the truth booth

[Verso’s dressed for the occasion this evening, hoping to look sharp enough to offset the small thrum of anxiety buzzing beneath his skin. (Nico helped him pick it out!) Wei Wuxian seems as energetic as ever, and he tells himself to borrow the positive vibes of everyone around him; their Overseer and his truth booth partner alike.

As they reach the start of the path, he gives Wei Wuxian a little appreciative nod, clears his throat and straightens his jacket sleeves, fiddling with them slightly.]

Well. Here goes.

[An askance look at Nico. It's no grand surprise that they're here today, but all the same...]

How’re you feeling?

[ Nico wouldn't let them go to the booth in anything less than their best, naturally. He's here in his customary red with pops of black and gold. The sun may have set, but as ever, he's exuding brightness and warmth.

The smile he gives Verso is one of easy confidence. ]

Excited. A bit nervous, if I am honest. There are a lot of answers hinging on us.

[ Still, he offers Verso his arm. ]

Shall we, merle?

[Nervous and excited. Yeah, that sounds about right. Plenty of the group’s strategizing revolves around the outcome of this little truth booth excursion, and there’s a part of him that doesn’t want to disappoint. And yet Verso reminds himself that Nico no doubt feels the same way, and he nods, hooking his arm with his proffered one.]

Let’s.

[He looks down the path, steeling himself. Tells himself that the stage fright always passes mid-performance — and though this is no instance of him playing music in an opera house, the sentiment still stands.

So. Time to walk!]

I should tell you that every step I take right now would’ve been… heavier without your support and friendship. So, thank you for that.

[ Time to walk! Away they go. ]

Mon ami... you do not have to thank me, I am glad to do it. I have been of the opinion for some time now that what you need the most is someone to share the burden.

[ Goddess knows they both have more than their fair share of that, but that's why you have friends in the first place. To make moving forward more bearable. Less lonely, less crushing. ]

I should thank you for letting me close enough to do so.

[It’s a lesson he had learned once, then shattered it to pieces — only to have to pick those pieces up, perilously, and learn that lesson here a second time. Maybe now it’ll stick. Throughout the length of this last week, especially, hope has not been a dying ember in his heart, but a little halo of light keeping the worst of the darkness at bay.

Hope to wish for a proper future, maybe. Taking these steps towards the booth feels like a strange culmination of this realization, now manifested, but he’s just overthinking it. Trying to find meaning and parables in every little thing; guess certain family traits still stick to him like glue.]

…of course. You make it easy, in some ways.

[Nico’s always been one he found easy to speak with, always supportive, even if Verso had not always been the same, keeping up his masks and walls by default.

Well. Not one to linger in sappy sentiment, he adds-]

After all, who else is to share the embarrassment with me if this whole thing blows up in our faces? Hm?

I am glad to hear it.

[ As ever, Nico has the benefit of years on his side, and despite how he may carry himself, they were not easy or necessarily good times. He knows very well what it's like to trust, to fail, and to endure the struggle of trying again.

He's said it from the start that he thinks he and Verso have a lot in common. It goes far, far deeper than a love of music. They're damaged souls, at their core. Nico has simply already had the time to heal. ]

Ha! If this fails then I will be certain to throw something, just to add to the drama.

[ He leans over to add conspiratorially, ]

Truth be told, I think our odds are good.

[Music was just the starting point, wasn’t it? They do indeed share similarities that Verso had always thought that, on paper, made them a suitable match in the eyes of the showrunners. But beyond mere practicality and getting a sense of the game itself, he is glad that this ended up equating to… Well. An actual friendship and connection.

Because Nico’s right. They’re both damaged souls; Verso is just still learning how to stitch those wounds back together.]

Oh, I want to throw something, too. Or maybe fall to my knees and start crying dramatically?

[…Always easy to lean into the jokes, though. His smile bends a little more at Nico’s conspiratorial comment.]

But I think you’re right. I give us… what do you think? An eighty-five percent success rate?

At least eighty-seven. Do not be stingy.

[ Said with a laugh as they go, Nico bumping shoulders with the other man. It is nice, he thinks, to come away from this experience with so many new friends. And for those of them who forge connections a little more slowly, like the man on his arm, he hopes that they come away with something that makes this worthwhile.

He gives a thoughtful hum, eyes turning to the booth looming a short distance away. ]

I think I would like to paint a portrait of everyone before the next week is up. What do you think? A good keepsake?

[He laughs, too, swaying a little performatively with the shoulder-bump. For what it's worth, it's nice that this conversation has made their walk feel like a casual stroll rather than an Impending Judgement, nearing with each step.]

Of everyone? That's ambitious of you.

[But doable for the most prolific of artists, the ones hit with a high dose of inspiration or mania. Sometimes both!]

But... that said, I can't think of a better keepsake to remember us by. Better get started as soon as we return, mon ami.

I have been doing this painting thing for well over half a millennia. I think I can pull it off.

[ With the utmost confidence. Perhaps a little too much confidence, as Nico is wont to do from time to time. He's just riding the easy atmosphere, leaning into it.

He'll probably find a way to make it work. ]

It is on the docket. For now... best to focus on the now, non?

[ They Have Arrived. ]

[When you're covered in paint and knee-deep in half-completed canvases a week from now, Nico, he will be kind enough to not remark on it.

But yes. They Have Arrived.]

Right. One thing at a time.

[Inhale, slow exhale. No matter the result... it'll be fine. Verso takes the first step up into the perimeter of the gazebo, gently unhooking his arm from Nico's.]

Moment of truth. Allez, c'est parti.

[Let's do this thing.]

[ Thanks for your vote of confidence in his painting ability. It means so much.

Anyway, Nico lets Verso go with a soft smile and a nod. ]

Whatever happens, merle, I am glad you were able to take this step.

[ Verso was brave after all.

He steps into place, ready to see what happens. Exciting!! ]

[ And then we cut to commercial!

This time the commercial is for saunas. One person portable saunas. Six person fancy saunas. Ten person extravagant saunas. They're all yours for a low, low, low price of someone else's money! ]

[ BUT THEN.

We're back! All is peaceful at the Truth Booth. Verso and Nico are waiting with bated breath (does Nico breathe?) and the screen comes to life in a blank white as per usual. There's cricket sounds on the evening breeze and everything seems to be still.

... ]

[ Just like that — the TV makes a soft buzz and Nico and Verso's pictures arrive on the screen.

And then...! ]

[ Doves, just like last time, spring from nowhere and circle the booth in delight before flying away. A burst of butterflies flutter through the open air as confetti pours down from the ceiling again. There is cheering again, from somewhere, and a happy sound of a flute on the wind.

Yes, once again, team, you've gotten a perfect match. ]

[The wait is so painful, why this. He feels like he's going to go flying out of his own skin with the build-up of anticipation, and not in a good way.

But then. Finally. The results come in. And-]

We actually did it.

[He is just briefly stunned, the weight lifted from him so immense that it's a little dizzying. He doesn't even get to appreciate the butterflies, doves, cheering... or the confetti landing in his hair.]

[ Nico was confident!! Also, what are a few minutes to someone like him, really? He walks over and gently plucks some confetti out of Verso's hair. ]

I told you, did I not? At least eighty-seven percent.

[He's still standing there a little dumbfounded, but slowly the realization dawns upon him, and the emotions soon to follow.

He cracks a smile, shaking his head.]

Both of us underestimated. [ ... ] Should have been at least ninety.

[And then, a bit more seriously:] Mon dieu. What a relief.

I am glad, too. We have safeguarded everyone's wishes, and hopefully made tomorrow a little easier.

[ He heaves a sigh, letting a tension out of his shoulders that he didn't even realize he was holding in. ]

How are you feeling?

[Which was the biggest concern, really, outside of his personal issues regarding making this walk tonight. The fact that their wishes are still safe is a huge relief.]

I'm... all right. It wasn't as bad as I thought it might be.

[(Because he has gotten some of his shit sorted by now.)]

Bit of a shame, though, being departed from everyone else. We'll just have to double down on visiting. Borderline annoyingly.

Oh, I am certain we will. You and I both have people we want to come back for, non?

[ wink wink nudge nudge give him the hot snoss. (Snake gossip.) ]

[as;kfa nico....

Even the casual jokey-ness cannot spare Verso of the slight flush across his cheeks, but maybe he's just skrunkly enough to hide most of it.]

Aha... yeah. Exactly that. [HE CAN HAVE THE SNOSSIP LATER MAYBE] We should get back and see how everyone's doing now, actually. I expect celebratory wine.

the truth booth

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