perfectmatch | week one

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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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Exquisite! Even if it is abandoned by not having a nice full tea party to accompany it...

[It would be a good way for them to chat, too, if there was a full spread. Furina is still hung up on this idea. She can't just invite people to "explore the grounds" this girl did, but a party... Who doesn't love a tea party?]

Won't you indulge yourself by trying some, too?

A full tea party, huh...

[She looks thoughtful at that, even as she reaches for a plate to cut a slice of the cake as well. Sure, she'll indulge too. Why not?]

What all would that consist of? Maybe we can cobble something together!

[Ringo will now have the privilege of being on the receiving end of a full High Tea description, which Furina delivers with some animation as she gets her slice of cake. Their venture across the grounds is temporarily forgotten, though perhaps her butterfly attention will flit back to it in time.]

Though this cake could still be the pièce de résistance, there'd be a full assortment of foods to support it. Little sandwiches, fruit, non-pareils, macarons, and enough tea for everyone to have their fill for the entire meal.

[And the more tea parties she's able to have with her acquaintances... her fellow housemates...her potential friends... the more she will remember them as heartwarming get-togethers and not harrowing, deadly dances.]

[She is eating it up, honestly. Metaphorically, obviously, as she literally eats some of this cake.]

I see...

[Huh.....

Her brain is in the same place as Furina's, unknowingly (and without the background of having survived some harrowing tea parties).]

Sounds fancy, but also like a lot of fun! Let's bother the Overseer for a proper tea party for later. We can make sure everyone can have some!

[What a brilliant idea! Ringo makes socialization look completely effortless. Furina still has to remember to invite people individually sometimes.]

Splendidly clever! We could invite the whole estate, as long as anyone doesn't intend to show up and rain on the parade.

[Party poopers will be banned.]

If we request it from our host as an opportunity to "get to know one another," [you can hear the air quotes,] it would be impossible for him to deny us.

[Not the party pooper blacklist... Ringo looks tickled by the idea, grinning.]

I like the way you think! You're right, he'd totally have to agree if we frame it that way.

Alright, we'll do it! It's settled.

I'm Ringo, by the way. Nice to meet you, partner-in-crime!

I'm not usually the one securing support funding, but I've picked up a few tricks here and there. It's all about presentation.

[Furina looks down at her finished cake. She knows that if she puts the plate down on this general buffet area without immediately taking it to be cleaned, it'll sit here forever. On the other hand, they have an accord to investigate their lodgings. Of course, her time is very valuable...just agreeing to spend it with someone should be priceless.]

I'm Furina. I'm as charmed to make your acquaintance as you are to meet me. But this isn't crime! We are organisateurs.

[Ringo laughs at that, but it's laughter in delight at the confidence and the situation more than anything.]

Well, you've got that right. I'm definitely charmed. You've got pizazz, Furina!

[Ringo can already tell Furina is a character, and that is exactly how Ringo prefers her companions to be.]

Partners-in-organizing, then? It doesn't really roll off the tongue as nicely. ... Maybe just "partners" for now?

[Ringo rather instantly reminds her Navia, confident and outgoing and with her easy slinging of the term "partner" around. And pretty, too, that shade of green being one of the most striking and unusual she's ever seen.]

"Partners" it is! This business arrangement will be the envy of all. Now, I wonder if we should also have him provide entertainment to captivate everyone's attention...

[She doesn't know if everyone will talk without having something to talk about. And she's thinking about herself, too. A task or topic provides a better opening than cold reading.]

Perhaps that will be easier once we know what the estate has to offer?

Oooh, you've got this on lock!

[Ringo, for all of her protagonist nature, is not much of an organizer--that was always Figue's specialty. But it's a relief to know Furina's got it figured out, and with what seems to be a sort of cheerful confidence, too.]

Mr. Overseer seems pretty eager to help us find love and all, so I'm sure he'll have something or other. Still, I'll do some brainstorming too.

[With her cake finished, Ringo sets her plate aside without thinking twice about it, and tilts her head.]

What would you find entertaining at a tea party? You're the local expert, after all.

[Though she may not always act it, Furina knows when to lock in. She may not have been a good leader, but managing things like this is...different. It's only possible with everyone's cooperation.

The plate does get set down (to definitely be forgotten when they inevitably wander away rip) so Furina can dedicate all of her energy to considering.]

My... [oh, she doesn't know what to call Clorinde] friend is a seasoned member of the Tabletop Troupe, so if we had anyone like that here, we could play a "roleplaying game." But I doubt there are any Game Masters as experienced as she is... Perhaps a different sort of game! Or a talent show.

[Oh dear. Not a "My hesitation friend". Ringo knows better than to jump to conclusions over that, but. Well. She can't help it. She's jumping to some conclusions over that.

... Still, Furina seems so charming. Not at all like her ragtag bunch of devil summoners who couldn't make friends if they hit them in the face.

How curious.]

A talent show! Now there's an idea. We'd learn a lot about our fellow contestants by learning about their talents.

And it sounds super fun!

[Don't perceive her, Ringo, that's scary.]

Who knows? [Furina stretches out her shoulders, subtly shifting into a more work-focused posture and mindset.] Showcasing what's sure to be an eclectic [positive? negative?] array of talents might help someone in the audience recognize their perfect match!

Do you already have something in mind?

[Positive AND negative eclectic...]

Oh, hm... talents... [She contemplates that very thoughtfully for a moment.]

... Not yet! But I'll come up with something by the time the talent show rolls around. I can't resist giving it my best shot too, after all.

[Hmmmmm]

I bet you've already got something in mind, though. Since it was your idea.

I'll be waiting to see what you come up with, so ensure you don't showcase a disappointing talent, partner! Though you would be competing against my prowess if you also chose to sing.

[Knowing who the other singer in the cast is, this is kind of a darknono moment, but Furina's oblivious to all of that... though she does know, now, that he's an idol.]

If only the right music for the job came along in the library... I'd need a piece worth practicing. [She sighs, heavily enough to move her whole shoulders.] I'll give it some thought.

Me, a singer? Yikes, no.

[She laughs a little at that at her own expense, shaking her head.]

It suits you, though! Now I'll definitely be looking forward to your showing. Lemme know if you need help finding something like that. I'm not very musically inclined, though, so who knows if it'll be that helpful.

Hm... I have rather strict standards for the pieces I choose to accept. I should also consider whether the public would like to hear me perform it or not. Do you think you could take on the challenge of satisfying me?

[Thereby giving Furina the chance to take others' opinions into consideration, if it's a song that others find pleasant. Never mind that the distinction between pleasant to listen to and vocally challenging enough to warrant a competition prize is quite cavernous.]

[In truth Ringo doesn't know anything about music. Honestly, as an AI, she is the least qualified to be looking for music in... any way.

She can strive for humanity in a lot of ways, but creativity is one thing she'll never have in that sense.

... But! Far be it from her to back down from a challenge.]

Won't know 'til I give it a try, right? Let me give it a shot. And if I can impress you, then...

[Hmmm...]

Let's do something fun. Just the two of us.

[Thinking about that made me so sad but also made me think of the "can a robot write a symphony" meme...]

So, you're competing for my time? Actually, I guess that's what we're all doing. How novel!

[She's probably only half-consciously aware that this also counts as asking her out, after a fashion.]

Then it's a deal! I'll review the best piece of music you can find just like I would any submission for my repertoire.

[It's okay, so is Ringo or she would've been much blunter about it. For some reason, this is just what felt right in the moment.]

Can you tell me the sorts of things you like, at least? Having a bit more to work off of would help a lot. Especially since I get the feeling we come from very different worlds.

Oh, it takes all kinds... mastery presents itself in every form. But... given that you're learning, I'll give you some leads. [It's a very magnanimous gift for her to narrow things down like this. Furina does have very high standards, cultivated from having seen and heard just about every possible creative endeavor under the sun, but she also has a distinctly clear passion that hasn't dulled.]

You can never go wrong with a crowd-pleasing showtune! Ah... or an aria expressing a pivotal emotional moment! As for my range, I'm a soprano, though I can perform at lower registers.

[Very magnanimous and she will take any and all hints because Ringo is not too proud to know when she needs them.]

Got it. Okay. Okay! I'll get to work, then. Gimme a little bit of time, Furina, but then I'll show you what I've picked out!

Sure, sure. I guarantee we'll be too busy getting the ball rolling on other things to even think about putting on a show for the next week, at least. Take all the time you need.

...

At least, all the time you need within the next four weeks! Haha. We are on a deadline.

[And boy what a first week they had after this!]

[So they are.

Ringo considers that, and grins.]

Trust me, I'd never keep you waiting for too long, partner.

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week one | arrival

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