perfectmatch | week one

Entry tags:

week one | arrival

The characters will arrive one by one, in whatever vehicle suits them the best to the front of estate. It's a beautiful estate filled with plants and trees and little ponds and all kinds of little hideaways. But it all cumulates at the main house, where they will be dropped off and greeted by a familiar face who stands outside the house and welcomes them in. They will be able to bring one suitcase with items and clothes as well as their pet(s?).

The main thing to notice when you step into the house though is that cameras are everywhere. Despite the many little hideaways of this house, there's no privacy whatsoever. Oh well!

When everyone is gathered together, the host from earlier will greet everyone with a merry:

"Welcome, my affection seeking friends! This is where you'll be staying the next few weeks. Find a place to settle in and get to know each other! I'll be around, in case you need anything."

He genuinely seems to mean it, at least?! But that seems to be it, he'll slip away in the meantime and leave you all to it.

A few things to note, of course:

There is only one "bedroom" which is a large room, with a closet full of futons to roll out and use in said room. Sleepover time!

There is an extra, extra, extra, extra large futon for Messmer.

In one of the rooms of the estate, there is a lovely piano ready for use. Feel free to ask for more instruments, if you'd like.

The kitchen is filled with food of all kinds and modern appliances so folks can cook whatever they'd like! There is also a bar in the kitchen, stocked with alcohol.

In the living room, there is a screen showing everyone's profiles. It is touch screen, so feel free to swipe through!

There is, of course, a banner in the living room reading 有緣千里來相會 (which, for the keen-eyed, translates to "Fate brings together those that are a thousand miles apart"). This was definitely written by the host.

There is a welcome cake.

Boom Boom Room | Property Damage
Truth Booth Voting | Match Ceremony Voting

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[ He doesn't need to be told twice. He definitely has cultivated something of a sweet tooth in recent years, and this is an occasion worth celebrating, isn't it?

Of course. ]

Sure, I'll join in. How's the flavor? Did our hosts go all out for their esteemed guests?

[ He asks just to make conversation, even though he's already cutting himself a slice. ]

[Furina places her hand over her heart.]

It's so light! The fondant is not too thick; it comprises a mostly whipped frosting with light fruit flavor... very sophisticated! Out esteemed host must have found quite the accomplished patisserie.

[She actually holds Wei Wuxian in pretty high regard...for now.]

[ Such an impassioned description of cake...how could he resist? Without further delay, he grabs a fork and slides into the seat next to her. ]

You've set my expectations quite high with that description! Let's see if it lives up to the hype...

[ He takes a bite, chews it thoughtfully for a moment, swallows...all for the drama. The suspense. ]

[Any confection would pale in comparison to Escoffier's truly top-tier creations - Furina still misses that such delicacies are beyond her reach now - and it takes a specifically exquisite treat to impress Furina. She keeps an open mind, and it allows her to enjoy more pedestrian masterpieces like this one as well.

She knows what he's doing when he delays to build anticipation. He's about as skilled at it as the twin magicians are when it comes to stoking drama before the reveal. So she'll reward it like a rapt audience who can't stand the suspense.]

Well? You can't keep me waiting forever!

[ the way this tag makes it sound like escoffier died and took her pastries with her

After due time has passed for drumming up the suspense, he cracks a slanted grin, offering a little flourish of his hand in her direction. ]

I'll hand it to you. You really didn't oversell it. This could rival even the most decadent of dessert in the Golden Hour...I'll give if a nine out of ten.

[ There's always room for improvement, of course. ]

[it's so sad about escoffier sometimes i can still hear her voice

Furina puts her hand on her hip cockily, looking satisfied and rather confident.]

I would never inflate my evaluation of a sweet! [Most food, really. She has plenty of opinions on other dishes as well.] I'm glad you agree.

After this cake, I assume we'll mostly be left to our own devices.

I didn't hear anything about a personal chef on location...but all the better for searching for "the one" if "the one" for you would be someone who knows how to cook.

[ Leaning forward just a little bit, resting a his head in his palm as he takes another bite. ]

That being said, this might be the ideal time to mention I'm quite handy in the kitchen.

[She's watching his body language a little, seeing just how casual he is about the interaction. What confidence...!] Oh? What a surprise! I'm glad we have at least one accomplished chef here, especially since it sounds like you might be offering to make a culinary offering now and then. I would just need to increase the portions and I could make a meal now and then.

[She's under no illusions about her own cooking, but the meals Furina makes herself have become a bit of a comfort food regardless, for their ease and versatility. It is an earnestly made offer, though not a delusional one.]

Do you have a specialty?

[ Despite all appearances to the contrary, Aventurine isn't picky about his cuisine — in the end, all that really matters is that something is made well, no matter how simple or complex it may be. This is true of his own cooking as well, though given her detailed praise of the cake, he might just feel compelled to add in an extra ingredient or two if (when) he cooks for her. ]

Not in particular. I cook whatever tickles my fancy in the moment, though if I had one...I do make dishes from my home from time to time.

[ They're distantly nostalgic, and the ingredients are hard to come by, but...it's his "specialty" as much as anyone's, he supposes. ]

What do you like to cook? We'll simply have to make lunch for one another, one of these days.

Macaroni. [She's dead serious about it. About her signature dish and about her offer to feed the whole household. There's even a hint of pride that might have been there before about a struggle meal she's trying to make sound like intentional comfort food.] It's versatile and filling, so you don't have to get sick of it if you mix up the sauces.

My go-to is tomato sauce, but I've been expanding the different sauces and pairings I try. Like a cream cheese sauce, or a seafood medley sauce... [Mm. Her thoughts drifted a little bit there.] I bake as well. My macarons are delightfully airy, and I make a layer cake that's perfectly leveled every time.

[ Time to establish an important headcanon about the existence of macaroni in Honkai: Star Rail... ]

Oh! A kind of pasta, if I recall, popular in some of the diners in the Golden Hour...I haven't tried it personally, but all the better if yours is the first. [ his first, wao ] I'll admit I've indulged in macarons before, however. My sweet tooth does have the tendency to get the better of me...

That said, I'd love to try yours sometime, if you're up for indulging my penchant for desserts. This cake will only last so long.

[the executive decisions we have to make about these games are just unhinged.

If she dwells too much on the very best sweets she's ever had in her life, she'll just end up missing Escoffier again. Will she ever again taste such a sublime gateau...?

Anyway, the lack of derision at her simple-but-filling homemade specialty bolsters her even more. She's done feeling shame about it, but she half expected that familiar feeling to creep in.]

But of course! I can make such an effort for my new housemate. We have plenty of time to fill. [And yet these four weeks are going to go by like lightning anyway.] What are some dishes from your homeland?

[ Escoffier, gone but not forgotten... ]

Sigonia-IV is a desert planet, so we didn't have much in the way of agriculture, you might imagine. [ Or...resources in general. Water in particular. ] What we ate was often simple and practical, meant to fill stomachs for long days under the sun. Cactus fruit with dried meats, thick stews and soup, and when we had an extra special occasion, a bowl of porridge with some figs and honey.

[ ...Not quite as glamorous as macarons, but he's still fond. ]

[She certainly can imagine. Sumeru's vast desert sits far away above Fontaine's sea, far away and yet still visible on the clearest day. Furina's never traversed it, but she knows life there to be difficult.]

Those all sound like things that could be shared closely. At least, big families seem to like making meals that everyone can share together.

[Not that she would know. Someone, quickly, teach her the power of potlucks. Her slight pause manifests in the next couple of words she speaks, the cadence of her voice gradually getting back up to speed.]

On the bright side, several of those victuals will keep pretty well... I doubt it would be beyond our friendly host's grasp to find some of them for you.

[ Okay but a cast potluck would actually be mega cute... ]

You make an excellent point. What is Mister Wei here for if not to cater to our whims? They might just make us fall in love faster, after all!

[ Not that he intends to woo anyone with cactus fruit and porridge, but it'd be a simple ask, to follow through on this offer. And he will — he's nothing if not a man of his word. ]

When I make a meal of it, you'll be the first to try. But as you said — these are dishes meant to be shared, and make a considerable portion...good thing the fridge is nice and spacious.

Hopefully, he'll also keep us on track and provide support... even if it's also under the guise of serving as a good officer against the production team's thirst for dramatic flair.

[Everyone in the crew has a part to play, even if the role is as themselves. She anticipates that Wei Wuxian is there to encourage them more than he is to sow chaos (lmao).]

Still, if you were to petition him with exactly what you just said to me, he'd look anti-romantic. I don't think he could stand for that. And since you're so good in the kitchen, I don't think I could stand for you being turned down! [Hehe, that last part is said rather cheekily.

I like to think this happened and THEN the favorite and least favorite foods dinner was planned by production...the Avenfurine impact.]

[ We are establishing the lore!!! Though days later, if he makes this assumption, he'll question his own wisdom upon seeing frozen maggots... ]

Well said. I think I have exactly what I need to make my case, Miss Furina. You're quite familiar with making a compelling argument, it seems.

[ First her cake review, now this...she could make a case for just about anything, he thinks. ]

[Just about.]

Oh, I mostly just listened to cases as they were presented. I'm no longer involved, but if it helps you share a piece of your homeland, then I pass my passing skill onto you.

[And quickly, to. Furina even speaks just slightly faster, the pace of her voice matching the speed at which she'd like to return to the actually interesting topic here.]

Don't forget! I'll be the first to try, Monsieur Kakavasha.

[ Ah. Right. He really should...wear a name tag or something, though it would have helped if the staff had just let him fill out his own profile like they did for others —

Anyway. A stiffness flutters over him, but it's gone in an instant, waved away by a dismissive flourish of his hand. ]

Oh, call me Aventurine, if you don't mind. It seems our hosts got a little carried away when filling out my details. Pay that name no mind.

[ There's no one around who still calls him that these days, so it'd be strange to start now. ]

Oh? Sorry, then. As you wish, Aventurine... I'll just pretend I never saw what was written on that profile.

[Though it's not as simple as she makes it sound, and she's a little too naturally curious to not have some interest in it. But she'll keep her nose to herself.]

All the more reason to enforce a name for yourself with that delicious feast!

[It seems they may still have plenty of food-related things to discuss, or gossip about other profiles that could come from this. Perhaps a good place to leave them?]

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week one | arrival

cake (let them eat it etc)

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