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

[gamboler]

Unless something emerges in this coming week to change our minds, then that might be the play. The question is deciding who to send...

[ A thoughtful pause. ]

We'll know much more about each other in due time. Personally, I think it might be a little amusing to send Miss Serpilia and Mister Luka, but if I had to choose at this exact moment...I have a good feeling about Miss Shoko and Miss Poppy.

[scooptimistic]

I wouldn't want to make someone go into the Truth Booth twice in two weeks, even if Luka would be fine with it...

[ Just. No. ]

But I was thinking about them too. Or Verso and Nico.

[gamboler]

[ They can let Luka rest, even if Aventurine would love to see the chaos... ]

I thought about them as well. [ A beat. ] Which would you think the safer option is? Based off your intuition and observations.

[ It's evident to all of them that Nico and Verso get along so well, and logically, Aventurine can see the sense in them being matched, but he also...

It'd be a shame to send them out of the house so soon if they are a match, that's all. ]

[scooptimistic]

[ Based off intuition and observations alone... ]

I think either one is a valid option, or Ringo and Furi. But given how many times Nico and Verso's names came up in discussion yesterday, I do think we should consider them. If they're a match, we've solved one of the lights and that removes them from quite a few lists. And if they're not, then they're both up for consideration again.

[hexensabbat]

Yeah, you think so?

[Hmmm!!]

I could see it! They seem like they've got a good thing going, and Poppy was so confident about picking her!

[U GO, POPPY]

[gamboler]

She did, and Poppy seems like the type of woman whose opinions aren't easily swayed.

[ There's also the fact that she seems relatively, well, normal, and after what Shoko had told him about the other night...he can see the sense in a match like Poppy for her. ]

Between them and yourself and Miss Furina, which do you feel is more likely?

[hexensabbat]

Ehhhh...

[... Hm.]

Equally likely, I think! Same with Verso and Nico, for the record.

[beatmatching]

[ when he's returned from his reading session in a cozy fit. ]

The odds of us being a pair is only about six percent, it's a bad bet.

[gamboler]

Isn't that true of just about any pairing? Miss Yingying aside, that is.

[ At least Luka has at least one potential match eliminated for him. ]

[beatmatching]

Are you saying the rest were non-random?

[enscene]

Hmm, but they didn't choose each other...

[The audience will probably want to see some hopes and dreams get dashed next week, let's be real.]

That's too much leaving things up to chance for me. I'd be far too nervous.

I would, however, find it agreeable to send the two demoiselles. Miss Shoko would put Miss Poppy at ease in that gazebo.

[gamboler]

Maybe we'll wind up so certain of our choices we won't even need Truth Booth to confirm them for us. Wouldn't that be something?

[ ...Yeah, even taking his luck into consideration, that's not going to happen. They're due for some drama, and he's more than willing to bet they'll get it this week. ]

And what about yourself and Miss Ringo? I think you have a good shot in there, as well.

[enscene]

I don't think I'd like to leave the fate of everyone's wishes up to my potential mistake or bad luck.

[Though Furina's typical demeanor is quite confident, and she's been projecting good fortune on the entire group with flashy, charming showmanship, it seems his proposal has touched on something she doesn't want to be responsible for championing.

When he asks about Ringo, she nods.]

Obviously, we get along, or I wouldn't have chosen her...I still stand behind my pick, but it would be good to be sure, wouldn't it?

[phenomerom]

Nothing personal, Mr. Aventurine [ yes, correct name this time ], I would also vote against Mr. Luka and Miss Serpilia. However ... [ what's the word he's looking for ] ... interesting their dynamic might be, it's hard ignoring the fact that their match was chosen purely by chance. As much as we know you have faith in your luck, I'm not so sure about the good fortune of our group as a whole.

I'd rather vote for Miss Shoko and Miss Poppy or, say, yourself and Miss Maya.

[gamboler]

[ He doesn't really see any reason why Luka and Serpilia would make a good match, but he does enjoy a chaotic option, even if it's not what he'd really vote for. A lot can happen in a week, though...who knows? Maybe by next Thursday he'll be the drama. ]

Oh? [ A lifted brow. ] You think Miss Maya and I might have a shot in there?

[ Not that he disagrees, he'd just like to hear Rom's reasoning. ]

[phenomerom]

Oh? I wouldn't think it's a particularly strange opinion to hold ...

[ His delivery is as languid and hard to trust as always, but it's not like he's just saying it for the sake of saying it. There's some thought behind this: ]

You're both bright people with plenty of initiative. And even if the exact details behind your mannerisms differ, there's something to be said for two people capable of pushing each other forward. I wouldn't claim to be any sort of love guru, but I think it's plain to see that the two have some sort of chemistry together.

[irreversal]

[ Shoko had pointedly kept herself out of the 'ranking' conversation just now, but maybe Aventurine will pick up what she's putting down when she says: ]

There's a long time between now and the next Truth Booth.

[ A long time for things to come to light, like they had at the feast the other night. ]

[gamboler]

[ ...A fact which he is all too aware of, really. Truthfully, it was bearing on his mind when he made his choices, how precious little anyone here knows of him. Both a blessing and a curse, really. ]

Mhm. I don't doubt that the producers have some...plans in mind for us to ensure bonding in the coming week.

[ Damn, maybe he should have volunteered to go to the Truth Booth first after all. ]

We shouldn't get ahead of ourselves in counting our chips, when there are still hands waiting to be played.

[irreversal]

[ She nods. ]

I was surprised by the hand you did play today, though.

[nrangel]

Not loving the way you said "a little amusing" there. Come on, now...

[gamboler]

Oh, don't be like that! I didn't mean anything unkind by it, only that it might be an amusing strategy, that's all.

[crimsin]

[ He might have caught those glances earlier, and so after people have cleared off a bit, he meanders over. ]

A moment of your time, mon étoile?

[gamboler]

[ Ah — he'd been meaning to catch some time with Nico himself. Not to discuss anything particular, but he's realizing he doesn't need a reason to want to spend time with someone.

The nickname ensures his smile reaches his eyes. ]

Sure, I'm all ears. I've had enough time at the table today.

[fireball]

Well, we certainly aren't sending Serpilia up with Luka.

[ Crosses her arms over her chest. Huff!

... followed up by an eep. ]

But, uh, I wouldn't have picked Shoko if I didn't have a good feeling too, so...

[gamboler]

[ No one here has the heart of a gambler like him! It's...

Actually probably very good, they don't need any more of him. ]

You seem the type to follow your instincts. Is that a fair assumption, Miss Poppy?