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

[poans]

[He is a wuss.]

Assigning numbers to a connection is . . . unideal.

[hexensabbat]

So's picking a perfect match in front of a crowd, but you did that much! C'mon, it's just a guesstimate. A vibe check.

[poans]

[He did it, because Yingying brought his name up first . . . ]

For what vibe are we checking?

[hexensabbat]

How much you think the producers would put you and Yingying together. Algorithm, vibes, gut feeling--whatever you wanna call it.

[poans]

. . . I have naught to say.

[hexensabbat]

[.................]

Yeah, I guess I should've expected that. Oh well.

[poans]

However, I believe you and Miss Furina share a certain amount of compatibility.

[hexensabbat]

Yep, seems like it to me! Of course, it's just the first week so we still need to get to know each other better, but...

[Hmm. How to put it.]

I think I'm really curious about how she sees the world.

[poans]

Miss Furina wishes to experience the world as herself with a clear reflection. Something I believe you, as one who stands for the "preservation of humanity," can see value in.

[hexensabbat]

Right.

She told me she wants to write her own story, alongside whoever ends up being her match.

That's what I wanna do too, for as long as I'm able to exist as Ringo.

[poans]

. . . Truly, an ideal match.

[hexensabbat]

Yeah, maybe! We're still just getting to know each other. But I'm excited for it, so that makes the whole thing worth it.

... Hey, you did a good job picking up there this week. Next week, let's hear you weigh in more on these discussions, okay? And not just about other peoples' matches.

[poans]

[Excited, is it.

He looks off to the side. On the one hand, the burden of choosing won't be on him next week. On the other . . . by the time he decides to weigh on, the discussions may long be over.]

[researcherstory]

[ Go girl give us nothing. ]

Allow me to rephrase. What about Yingying offers you a "certain definition of ease", and do you believe such a thing could be taken into account when deciding who may be able to cease, or even join you on, the wandering you've found yourself amidst?

[poans]

I believe my reason from the ceremony sufficiently answers your question.

[Perhaps he wasn't eloquent enough to get his points across, which would be par for the course. It would've been better if he'd kept his silence. Only . . .]

Like you, Miss Yingying walks with purpose. I imagine wanderers like myself are drawn to the meaning in her path as she glances both ways before crossing. Id est, where my feet take me has no bearing on the trajectory of Miss Yingying's journey.

[researcherstory]

[ No, he was too eloquent, Odile may have understood but did everyone else? Not a chance. This is a little better. ]

Then I would say your pairing is unlikely. You seem in need of someone who might grant you a light within the dark unknown that lies ahead, rather than a scent which surrounds and lulls you unto complacency. There is nothing wrong with the latter [ before Yingying's Feefees are damaged ] but for you in particular, o' wanderer, a respite is as transient as falling leaves.

[ In the end, he will need to move forward. There is little use in watching the back of someone who looks both ways, but not behind her to see if he still follows, wobbling as his path may be. ]

Are my words unsound?

[embellwish]

[ ....... ]

Do you think of me as so distracting, Odile?

[researcherstory]

[ ...... ]

I believe you know well of yourself, Yingying. The way you move, speak, and draw others close to your side -- is not unlike the fairy you and I spoke of, at least as far as folktale goes. Though they tend to lead travelers astray for fun.

[embellwish]

Lead them astray for fun... what a wicked fairy I must be!

[ Her eyes crease, and her smile is serene, laugh soft like petals. She seems genuinely amused, not hurt. ]

You must think I want to lead him around as I please then, right?

[researcherstory]

[ She... seems amused, which is well and good. Odile folds her arms into her sleeves. ]

Without ill-will, should you seek to lead him at all. I only mean to say that, from his words, it would seem more that he might look from afar. Hardly your fault if he is unable to turn his feet any.

[embellwish]

Uh-huh, uh-huh....

[She enthusiastically nods along with Odile assessment. Wow, she seems to have such a crystal clear image of the kind of person Yingying is, what she would do, what she might want for Yi Sang. It's pretty fascinating. Rather than push back against it, Yingying continues enabling her to talk through her viewpoint. ]

Then, you must also believe than he won't change?

[poans]

["You have nowhere to return to, and you’re dragging that tottering body along?"

Her words don't hurt. Rather, they leave him feeling hollow, reminding him of the crack there. No matter how many rests he takes, the petals will fall through the cracks between his fingers, and he will continue to bleed and limp without an end in sight. Odile affirms the truth of his futile existence; he has neither the thoughts nor voice to refute it.

Yingying speaks. Her warmth is there, and he knows it, too, will soon fade. He simply closes his eyes, allowing his silence to speak for him while Yingying and Odile fill the emptiness.]

[irreversal]

[ Just gonna... let Odile and Yingying do their thing . . . ]

...Hey, remember what you said yesterday?

[ About Yingying being luminous? ]

[poans]

To what words do you refer?

[He uttered quite a few. Too many, in fact.]

[irreversal]

That you thought Yingying to be - luminous was the word we were saying back and forth. But you also said that everything's lost its luster to you.