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

[ordimame]

[. . . ack]

No no, it. . . was always meant to be a temporary gig.

[a small exhale, and Verso might note a bit of irritation in the knit of his brow]

I wouldn't have minded working there for longer, though.

[reverso]

[He does, even if it's hard to know exactly what to attribute it too.]

Wait, so what it is that you actually do? Are you more than just a mechanic?

[ordimame]

Oh-- uh!

[hmmm. Shoko had used the word "freelancer," and he supposes that works well enough]

I'm a freelancer, of sorts. I work odd jobs around the country. Though right now, I'm taking a vacation and traveling the world to taste the coffee from a variety of countries.

So being an airplane mechanic was one of those odds jobs.

[nodnods. that sounds believable!]

[reverso]

[It is, actually! Believable enough.]

Oh. So we have another rolling stone among us. That’s good to know.

[Oh, how’s this for a conversion starter:] What’s your favorite kind of coffee?

[ordimame]

[WHEW. THANK GOD. HE IS SAFE FOR NOW]

Another, huh? You'll have to tell me about your travels one day.

[assuming Verso is talking about himself! Edamura thinks that he is]

I prefer a nice, strong robusta. The increased caffeine content helps me focus, too. And out of those, I think I like the robusta from Brazil the most.

[reverso]

[For Now]

Huh. [Brazil whomst] ...Have you checked out the kitchen? We're well-stocked, and you might find something of interest in there. Maybe we can look together.

[ordimame]

[smacks one fist into his palm]

Yeah, you're right! Let's raid the cabinets and see what we fine. With a budget like this one, maybe they even invested in some high-quality beans.

[reverso]

[Quality beans... Verso is nice enough to avoid making another bean joke.]

Then let's go, fellow bean enthusiast.

[Verso would never consider himself a coffee enthusiast, but he is now. Just for the sake of getting to know a fellow contestant.

To the kitchen they go!]

So tell me, do you like being a freelancer? I imagine it gives you plenty of freedom.

[ordimame]

[it's Edamura's lucky day and he doesn't even know it]

Oh?

[a small tilt of his head as they walk, mouth curving into a frown as he searches for the best way to put it. did he like being a. . . "freelancer?"]

[. . .]

Some jobs are better than others. And I suppose the freedom is nice. . .

[. . . . . . .]

But when I'm done with my travels, I'm. . . thinking about finding a long-term job and finally settling down somewhere.

[reverso]

[The kitchen greets them shortly, wide and clean and spacious. Verso will not recognize a fancy coffee maker for what it is, but he will recognize a French press if one's available. (and not just bc it has french in the name, i swear)

And surely if Edamura looks around, he will find some very quality coffee stored away somewhere!]

Getting tired of all the wandering? I can understand that.

[Boy does he.]

Sometimes you just want to rest.

[ordimame]

[there is a French press! that's what Edamura is going for first, hands extended to move the machine towards the center of the counter so they can use it. though. . .]

[sometimes, you just want to rest]

[. . . those words bring him pause, gaze affixed on the coffee maker in front of him]

You're a traveler too, right?

[just a hunch, based on their conversation thus far]

[reverso]

[Yes, the French press. A man of taste!

He watches him, curious, leaning against the island in the center of the kitchen.]

...I am. [Verso can't help wonder at that pause, but doesn't ask.] An Expeditioner in title, but I've spent many years wandering.

[ordimame]

[he had a feeling some part of Verso might understand. . . instead of just paying lip service to the idea. but he still asks--]

Have you gotten tired yet?

[reverso]

[He absolutely gets it. He feels that tiredness deep, deep in his bones, even now.]

...Yes. I'm very tired.

[He sighs, and while not quite somber, he says the next bit in a resigned way.]

After these four weeks are over, I'm finally going to get a proper break, at least. Can't complain too much.

[ordimame]

[hah. a small, empathetic smile. . . though he does note the resignation in Verso's tone. how is he supposed to interpret that one. . .? ]

Good.

Though I hope these next four weeks are a break, too. Of sorts.

[reverso]

[It's messy and complicated, it's probably fine. He is truthful in the fact that he needs to rest, at least.]

They'll be what we make of it. I'm sure we can manage a few days of relaxation now and again.

Is that mainly why you've decided to come here? Vacation?

[ordimame]

[his smile brightens a bit]

I'm already on vacation, so. . . not exactly.

But I would like to meet new people and make new connections.

[reverso]

Simple as that, huh?

[Even Verso, cagey man that he is, is not immune to the power of people and connections.]

And yet... possibly the best reason among us.

[ordimame]

[a slow blink]

You think so? But. . .

Isn't everyone here for that same reason?

[reverso]

No, mon ami. Some are just here for the wish. Some just want to win this game. Others, I'm sure, want to be swept away in a whirlwind romance with the love of their life, but not necessarily make friends with everyone.

[ordimame]

[. . . THE FAKE WISH???]

The wish. . . the extremely vague and nebulous "wish" that likely can't be granted by the production company's means?

[reverso]

[h-help]

Uh… yes? That one.

You have your doubts.

[ordimame]

Yes. . .? The production staff isn't made up of genies.

[wishes don't just GET GRANTED at the snap of someone's fingers]

[reverso]

Maybe they are!

[It’s a joke, but also it isn’t.]

How else would they have brought all of us here? It’s probably not an easy task.

[ordimame]

Air. . . planes?

[???? how else do people travel long distance?]