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

[beatmatching]

The Garden raised me with care. Games like hide and seek, I think it's called? Were part or our enrichment.

[ that's an answer of a sort. ]

[scooptimistic]

[ "Enrichment"... sounds like cultivating kids, rather than letting them be kids. ]

What's the Garden?

[beatmatching]

[ with a smile: ]

Is this the second part of my interview?

The Garden, Anakt Garden formally, is where I was raised. It's a school that prepares humans to become idols.

[scooptimistic]

This is just my natural curiosity!

[ For once. ]

So it's entirely an idol-based school? Is being an idol that big a deal for the Segyein?

[beatmatching]

Then you still owe me one.

[ his smile eases into one a little less rigid. ]

That's correct. The Segyein were generous enough to keep a few humans alive after they won the battle for Earth. Music is one of the ways we're able to repay them.

[scooptimistic]

I know, I know. Next week.

[ But wow that seems...

... "Generous"? ]

I see. What if someone doesn't want to become an idol?

[beatmatching]

That's not allowed.

[ the book he was reading before rests on his lap and his fingers thrum the cover in a melodic rhythm. ]

The method Segyein use to discipline their humans vary. My father was particularly strict, but that's why I'm so successful today.

[scooptimistic]

Not allowed... huh.

[ ... ]

I'd ask if you ever wondered if you'd do something different, but I guess if that's all you've known...

[beatmatching]

Mmhmm.

[ he's glad she gets it and that he doesn't need to explain more than that. ]

Maya, you said you came here for me. Why?

[ and nature, but he is not nature so he is ignoring nature's feelings. ]

[scooptimistic]

To check on you. I don't think you were hurt or anything to be one of the last ones there, but I thought I could also be wrong. Rare, but it happens.

[beatmatching]

[ pfft. he exhales, light. ]

You're not wrong.

I'm not hurt or anything close to that.

[ there's a pause here as he debates whether to say what he was feeling. ]

But that almost makes me wish I was so you would comfort me~.

[ mostly airy, but- ]

[scooptimistic]

[ A very slow eyebrow raise. ]

I appreciate your honesty, but that would just make me worry and then I might wrinkle prematurely.

[beatmatching]

I don't believe you~.

[ the worrying? the wrinkling? ]