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

[reverso]

[Is that a small victory? He can't say. Does it provide some comfort to this man, who seems lost in his apathy? He also can't say.

He hopes it might, just a little. It's only day one, after all, and they need a small amount of hopefulness to get through this.

Anyway, Verso straightens and reaches out a hand. This is probably not a welcome change — handshake?]

I do say. My name's Verso, by the way.

[poans]

[It's a change. When was the last time he shook a hand? How many more will he shake in the weeks to come? Does it matter? After a beat, he grasps the proffered hand for a mild shake.]

I am Yi Sang.

[reverso]

[Handshake mildly received. It's progress.]

Nice to meet you. Tell me a bit about yourself, Yi Sang.

[poans]

My name is all I have to say. What do you wish to hear?

[reverso]

[h-help]

...Um. You're something of a philosopher, right?

[According to the profiles. Maybe according to Ringo, too, depending on the timeline.]

[poans]

[Help is scarce between the two of them . . . ]

In certain definitions of the term, I could be thought of as such.

[reverso]

[🫠]

Mon dieu. [He's really going to have to try with this one.] But how would you define you?

[poans]

[Pardon, Verso.]

If you've perused the dossiers as I believe you have, the answer to your question also lies there. I am whom I match in the mirror . . . a taxidermied reflection.

[reverso]

[That is SO cryptic, sir. And yet it bothers him, somehow, that term. Taxidermied reflection.]

Yourself, but not. [Meant to resemble the real thing, harkening to what was. Oh. That's why it bothers him.] Why would anyone describe themselves that way?

[poans]

[Yet himself all the same.]

When the world empties, it comes to a still. It can neither go back nor move forward, yet is preserved in the moment.

[reverso]

[More metaphor.]

That's not the world you or I live in, mon ami. Not for these four weeks, anyway.

[poans]

How, then, would you describe the world we are in now?

[reverso]

A blank page. Or a stage for a new tale. Forward movement for many of the people here.

[Those who hope to find romance, or earn a wish. And change the course of their lives.]

[poans]

[To fill the emptiness anew . . . ]

And you? Do you count yourself among the many?

[reverso]

[Wry. Plainly.] For these four weeks.

After that? My wish is for someone else’s sake, if that’s what you mean.

[poans]

[Now that's a true surprise.]

Were they unable to participate for themselves?

[reverso]

I don’t know. I didn’t ask.

[It’s Complicated.]

I’m taking things into my own hands. Maybe that makes me thoughtless. Selfish, even. But I think it’s worth seeing through.

[poans]

[It sounds complicated. Yi Sang has nothing to say to that. Only . . . ]

When the time comes for the miracle, will you tell them?

[reverso]

No. I don’t think I’ll be seeing them again.

[He doesn’t think that’ll do anything more than harm, never mind the impossibility. He’s not sure he could face her, anyway…]

But maybe, when the show’s over, I can record a message. …Which might be a moot point anyway! Isn’t all of this… “broadcasted”?

[poans]

[He doesn't understand. Is this an attempt to divert with levity?]

Your tale comes to an end when the show concludes. Will you still have a voice to utter your message then?

[reverso]

[Divert with levity? Would Verso ever do that?????]

Who's to say? Where I'm from, the Expedition team used to leave journals for the ones who would come after them. Their last entries, though sometimes hard to listen to, were... I don't know. The most enlightening.

Could be something like that.

[poans]

[Who, Verso? No way.]

This expedition of yours . . . Does your enlightenment concern it?

[reverso]

My enlightenment? What do you mean?

[poans]

I merely wish to know whether your reason for walking this far is related to the expedition.

[reverso]

It... [A pause.] I want to help someone from it, yeah.