week one | match ceremony

[marriagebroker]

Today's Match Ceremony starts the moment the sun goes down. They will be led to a courtyard on the estate, filled to the brim with lanterns of all kinds and plush couches and chairs for them to sit on. The place is lit bright by the lanterns and the vibe is very cozy. There will be a few camera crews lingering around, ready to catch sight of the contestants as they settle in and get comfortable. There is also food and beverages, some alcohol, some non-alcoholic, for everyone to partake in.

In the center of the courtyard is a stage, hanging above it are eight lanterns, none of which are lit up. Wei Wuxian stands in the middle, dressed to impress for tonight's festivities. In one hand, he has his flute, in another, a cup of huangjiu. He lifts it merrily, giving a laugh before knocking back the alcohol and tossing the cup away. (A staff member nearby catches it, thank god.)

"Welcome, everyone! To your first match ceremony! I am your humble host and we're here to see if chemistry can happen, even under duress~!"

A staff member nearby grimaces at that. It might be the same staff member who caught the cup. It's fine, the producers won't punish him. Probably.

But characters will notice that there is a podium next to the stage for them to lock in their answers.

"For those who are new to this, let's talk about how this works. First, I will call up one of the members of Team Suibian and they will go to the podium over here, make a choice of who they think their match is, and together you will press your hands to the podium to lock it in."

He gives a hum, twirling the flute in his hand a few times before grasping it by the end and using it to point at the contestants.

"As a result of your choices, the lanterns above me will light up with however many perfect matches you've chosen. It is your job to figure out which of the choices made tonight are indeed perfect matches. If you aren't able to get any of them right, you will get a black out. Which means, someone will lose their wish. Don't do that!"

He'll let his warning hang for a moment before smiling, tapping his shoulder lazily with the flute and then grinning broadly.

"With that, let's get started."

——

Each character of Team Suibian will be called in random order, under the selections top level. Feel free to react there!

After the matches, the results top level will reveal how many are right!

Otherwise, feel free to use this log for any reactions, catherding, whatever you want for the match ceremony.

Comments

[anathemaw]

[ against all expectation, Messmer actually wore something nice. He is technically a prince, after all...

on the other hand, meeting expectations exactly, he's simply sitting quietly by himself with his snakes, looking like he's ready for this to be over already. ]

[scooptimistic]

[ Time to go scoot over there beside him.

Smiling like she has full faith he's not going to be last! ]

[anathemaw]

Maya.

[ she's on his blind side, but the higher snake is gazing at her expectantly. What is it!! ]

[scooptimistic]

Messmer.

[ Hi. ]

I'm looking forward to this!

[anathemaw]

I expect as much of thee.

[ Maya seems to come at everything in life with arms opened aggressively. ]

Thou'rt confident in thy match, then.

[scooptimistic]

Oh, I have no idea who it is.

[ Wow. ]

But just think about how much closer we'll be to figuring this out once the results come out!

[enscene]

[Whoa, hey.]

You look glum.

[anathemaw]

Such is my mien.

[ translation: i always look like this ]

There is naught to do but wait.

[enscene]

[That's not true...what about all of those slightly-smiling expressions...?

There is naught to do but wait, so Furina flops down into her seat (a different chair from his) and offers him a cup of water (because that's good manners when approaching someone at a party).]

Didn't the conversation last night perk you up a bit?

[anathemaw]

[ stop im fighting for my life....

he's vaguely annoyed that she stepped right over his "I'm fine" response, but accepts the water regardless, delicately holding the slightly-too-small cup in his bony fingers. ]

I spoke not of mine own discomfort, but all of thine. Had I known my words then would be so misinterpreted, I would have held my tongue.

[enscene]

[Well, she can swallow her own foot sometimes, but as far as Furina's concerned, it's possible to have a dour expression most of the time and to still have spirits that can either be soaring or lowered.]

I think it's sweet that they reached out to you. What do you think about forging the bonds of friendship here, since you asked me when we first met?

[reverso]

[woah sir???

Verso has a wee bit of nervous energy in him, and he's going to exude that by being friendly as per usual.]

Someone looks very fancy today. [positive!]

[anathemaw]

[ a slightly nervous Verso... how novel. Messmer remains stony-faced. ]

I was born a prince. [ it's a flat comment, offered as explanation for said fanciness. ] The years hath been long since I wore such apparel.

[reverso]

Son of a goddess. [He didn’t forget that detail from when they first spoke. How could he?] I guess that would make you something like royalty.

Does it feel strange to wear something like it again?

[anathemaw]

Aye. She is both god and queen of the Lands Between.

[ miss marika truly has it all...

He pauses at the comment, evidently thinking on it. ]

... As thou sayest. I did not imagine wearing them again 'ere I returned from my station.

[hexensabbat]

[He looks like one of the fancypants demon lords... /pos?]

Looking good, Messmer!

[anathemaw]

[ THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HE IS... in spirit

Messmer just huffs, closing his eye and not sparing an answer. His looks don't matter... ]

[ordimame]

[. . . handsome tho?? THE SNAKES ARE WEIRD HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT THOSE BUT???]





[he really owes Messmer an apology]

[anathemaw]

[ he feels someone staring at him... Messmer's eye drifts in his direction, as do the gazes of his two serpents. ]

Speak.

[ordimame]

Uh. . .!

[snaps to attention real quickly upon being acknowledged]

You look. . . nice!

[anathemaw]

...

[ he's not flustered by this comment, if only because he still doesn't really know what to make of this little awkward man. It's like getting a compliment from a talking squirrel. ]

Thy flights of fancy have left thee, I presume.

[gamboler]

Oh, so you do clean up nicely.

[ He had his suspicions! ]

[anathemaw]

[ this guy... one of the snakes twists to look at him. ]

Mine appearance is of no import.

[gamboler]

[ He offers a polite bow of his head at the snake at least?? ]

Oh, but it is. Surely you must know that, or you would have just shown up in your pajamas.

[anathemaw]

[ one point to aventurine for being polite to snakes. ]

Thou knowest my meaning. Mine intent is an appearance proper, not one that mayest catch thine eye.