week one | arrival

[marriagebroker]

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

Comments

[gamboler]

[ Simply, without affect: ]

You have a reason if it's something you don't want to do.

[poans]

. . . I shall remember those words.

[gamboler]

[ After a moment, he sighs. ]

Good. After all, if you give the wrong person the right reasons to use you, they will.

[poans]

Such is life in the City. I am quite used to being taxidermied, however.

[gamboler]

[ ,,,um ]

Beg your pardon?

[poans]

It is of little consequence. Pay it no heed.

[gamboler]

[ He WILL pay it heed, thank you very much. ]

If I may ask...what brought you here? I don't mean literally. As in...why did you sign up to participate?

[ He doesn't sound accusatory, but he sure does sound dismayed. ]

[poans]

['tis fortunate that he specified why, because the answer otherwise would've been feet.]

It was the first opportunity I came upon after realizing that I had the freedom to go wheresoever I chose. As there was no set destination in mind, I decided to stop here for a time.

[gamboler]

[ jesus christ ]

Of all places...you make it sound as though you just wandered in off the street. [ ... ] You...didn't, did you?

[poans]

[Whomst?]

That was how my meeting with the Overseer began.

[gamboler]

[ jesus christ x2 ]

So, the whole bit about making a wish, finding true love, making connections — you're actually not here because of any of that?

[poans]

There appears to be a misunderstanding. While I did not join the game for the express purpose of seeking love, I was drawn to stay for a reason. I simply happened to be walking when it transpired.

[gamboler]

I...suppose that's something at least. And our host wouldn't have indulged you if he didn't think you had a shot with someone here.

[ HE HOPES... ]

[poans]

[He thinks back to his meeting with Wei Wuxian, then what Edamura said to him.]

Mm . . . The premise of the game is founded on the concept of destined matches, after all.

[gamboler]

"Destined"? You think this is all determined by something like fate, then?

[ Just a bit incredulous. What if he doesn't develop feelings for his supposed destined match? ]

[poans]

Such is the game's claim. Whether it was determined by caprice, coincidence, or fate . . . it makes no difference to me.

[At the end of the day, the same fate will befall it.]

[gamboler]

[ ...Actually, maybe this guy would get along well with that Emanator of Nihility. ]

Well, word of advice for you, then — you should make it about more than "fate". What you want matters to. That includes "who", even if it's not who they picked as a match for you.

[poans]

You advise that I pursue someone, irrespective of the game. Will that not muddle the path we must all walk within this manor's halls?

[gamboler]

Not necessarily. I wouldn't trust some otherworldly television producers to find a match for you better than you can.

[ ...Well. If there was an exception to that, it might be this guy, but for now, Aventurine will give him the benefit of the doubt. ]

[poans]

[Yet he must wonder about the players who previously acquired happiness. How many trusted, and how many more walked their own paths?]

Does that skepticism extend to yourself as well?

[gamboler]

[ ...Yes, though Aventurine wouldn't trust anyone to find a match for him, not even himself— ]

Of course. Their algorithm can only go so far, and data and numbers have never been precise at understanding the nature of the heart.

[poans]

[Aventurine?]

You sound as though you speak from experience.

[gamboler]

Only the experience of hailing from a world with vast amounts of technology that has yet to manage what the producers here have set out to do.

[poans]

Technology, you say . . . How does the technology of this world compare to that of yours?

[gamboler]

Well...I wouldn't quite jump to rudimentary, as they did manage to get us all here from disparate worlds, but I didn't see a single spacefaring vessel on my way into the manor.