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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

An interesting research topic, Ringo. Especially to use as a conversation starter.

[ Girl, please. ]

I have not kissed anyone in decades, nor do I feel a pressing need to in the near future. It was enjoyable in my youth. I would not be wholy adverse to kissing again, should the want arise. But I won't be participating in any social games that require one to do so in order to further an objective, whether that objective be to win a game or bet, or to seek the embarrassment of others, so you can leave my name off the invite list.

[ Is that thorough enough, Miss Two Months Old. Her height suits her age. ]

[........ not really the answer she was expecting or wanting.

There's a pause as she processes that, head tilting to one side.]

Don't take this the wrong way or anything, but... what're you here for, then?

No offense taken. Our host asked me the same thing.

[ And to her, she'll give the same odd answer: ]

I am taking steps to prevent myself from becoming someone else. [ ... ] Someone I don't wish to turn out like, even in this old age of mine.

[ It isn't explicitly for love, nor a wish, just... something else. ]

[... Huh.]

Sounds complicated. If I ask for more details, are you gonna be cagey about it?

Because I'm curious, but it's only day one. It's fine if it takes a little more time for backstory talks.

I will be cagey about it, yes.

[ See her in like, week three over some drinks maybe. Work hard on that social link. ]

What answer would you give, if posed the same question about kissing?

[Alright! Note to self: try again a little bit later, after they've gotten to know each other better.]

Oh, that's easy. It's a very human experience, yeah? Sometimes a messy one, sometimes one with a lot of meaning, from what I understand.

And given the premise of this place is finding matches, it feels like a good opportunity to try it out.

A very "human" experience indeed. Then your profile information is correct?

[ About her age, and...

...

She has to ask her what an AI is but that is put on hold for a moment. It's better to ask this way. ]

Yep.

[Without hesitation, popping the 'p'.]

I've only had this particular form for those couple of months. In other words, lips are still a pretty new feature.

Wonderful. Leading into my next question, then. [ ... ] What form did you take before?

I was part of a big amalgamation of data! Didn't really have a personality like that, though, so "I" is doing some heavy lifting in that sentence.

When I was given this body and personality, that's when me as Ringo was born, more or less.

[ An amalgamation of data. Odile considers Ringo, hand to her chin as she studies the young woman. Not unlike... a book come to life, perhaps. ]

Congratulations on your new life then, Ringo. Have you been enjoying it so far?

Thanks!

[Sincerely and cheerfully.]

It's been a blast, honestly! Humans get to do all of the fun things. Once I got used to the hardware limitations of a body like this, it's pretty much been one great thing after another.

[ "Hardware limitations" okay. ]

And the not so fun things? Granted, every experience is a learning one if it's new, but some are less pleasant than others.

Ha, yeah. You should have seen my face when I learned that this body has the same amount of nerve-endings to experience pain as a regular human's body. Like hey, what gives?

[She's still in good humor about it, though.]

Still, it's not an experience I would've had without becoming Ringo, so I'm still grateful for it.

You can think of it this way, then. Every one of those nerve-endings can experience pleasure too.

[ Not like-- in a sexual way or anything, mind, just in general. Is how her tone presents it. ]

What's been your favorite thing to learn so far, living as we humans do?

[Thankfully Ringo is too oblivious about innuendos to make one here.]

Oh, that's easy! Eating! Humans are excellent at coming up with all sorts of food. The tastes, the temperatures, the textures! What variety!

[Damn. Food's some good shit.

A beat.]

Oh, yeah, and meeting all of my companions back home. [DON'T SAY IT LIKE IT'S AN AFTERTHOUGHT.]

[ The afterthought is what makes her chuckle, a quiet thing that ends with a sigh. ]

Your priorities are in order, Ringo. Food is one of mankind's wonders -- at least, according to a companion of mine. I'm certain yours were more than happy to treat you to a worthwhile experience all the same.

[ Even if they WERE second on her list of favorite things. If they didn't know before, they will now!!! ]

Have you experienced a wet sock yet?

Actually, they're all so picky. You wouldn't believe how hard it was to come up with meals everyone liked.

[She huffs, but it's fond.]

Honestly, like children, the lot of them.

[............. wait]

A... wet sock? No. Why? Should I have?

[ .........................................................

Two wolves are inside you. One wants to see a talking newborn's reaction to a wet sock. The other knows that if you say she shouldn't want to, she might anyway and you still get a talking newborn's reaction to wet socks. Both of your wolves win. ]

I wouldn't suggest it. But it is an experience every human can claim ownership of.

Huuuh...

[... She considers this very seriously for a moment.]

It doesn't sound very pleasant, but... guess if it's one of those universal experiences, I'll have to try it one of these days.

[ Both of your wolves win. ]

Please do. You'll be glad you got it out of the way in a safe environment, and also wish you'd never done it in the first place.

[ A perfect universal experience. ]

More pleasant ones I would suggest... Smelling old books, standing shoeless on a warm beach, and petting an angora rabbit.

Hmm, like eating that eel sandwich.

[A solemn nod. She understands the vibes of "you'd wish you'd never done it".]

Those things sound nice, though! Shame there's no beach around here. Wonder if standing on the edge of a lake would have a similar effect. I gotta get as many experiences in as I can while I'm here!

[ An eel sandwich... That does sound unpleasant, and yet now Odile is curious. She'll have to try it sometime. ]

The lake might prove muddier than pleasant, but there's no harm in experiencing that either.

[ The way she words that, though... Hm. ]

... Will you be unable to experience much once you leave?

Hmmm! Dunno, really.

[Ringo grins a little, spreading her hands.]

I was created to save the world, and then I did that, and now I've still got the body and the personality, but I think Ringo was supposed to be temporary.

It's kind of unclear if that's still the case or not, so I'm gonna enjoy what I've got while I've got it!

Personhood seems to be a matter most difficult for those who once lacked their own. [ And for those who don't remember it. ] I believe at this point, you might as well decide yourself if you'd like to continue to be Ringo -- which it seems you do -- rather than allow someone to say you can't.

[ Like, who can say she has to go away? Rude honestly. ]

smooches

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