perfectmatch | week two

Okay, then. Why don't we start with toppings for one of us and frozen yogurt for the other and we can try to build them in two different ways?

[ Under Furina's watchful eye, Maya can't commit food crimes.

And she would never be like Yi Sang levels anyway. ]

[She has such serious opinions about food and such a strong appreciation for rich flavors, but Furina can still be caught eating like a starving college student from time to time, even in the manor. Life is full of the mundane and full of the little treats, both.]

So the end result will be products of both our envisioning... a true ensemble of flavor!

[Yeah, we'll go with that. Furina distributes the little fillable cups, intent on making a beeline right for all of the chocolate-adjacent toppings.]

[ Oh, there she goes.

Maya snorts a little, but opts to go for a fun color of froyo while Furina's hunting down toppings. Pink lemonade. Nice and bright! And mango! ]

[This is making me want froyo so bad...pity me...

Furina gets the cup loaded with any number of chocolates - white, dark, and milk - until she has a full tuxedo in the cup. She's discriminating, at least, picking only the things that look the most delicious.

And her eyes are certainly big enough for the endeavor...perhaps too big, because the vessel is more than lightly scattered with her choices by the time she's finished. She taps the cup a couple of times, nods when it rattles like a maraca, and returns to Maya's side.]

What a magnificent swirl you've produced!

[ Maya beams, proudly. ]

Thanks! And what a--

[ Oh. Wow. That's. That's so much. Even Maya's impressed. ]

So you're a chocolate girl, I see.

I have much more than one personal preference! [Furina states defensively. This was about cohesion, not about the only thing she likes.] I like other flavors! Fruits and whipped creams, for example, when layered with vanilla or lemon...

But tonight, the vision I wish to offer you is...a treat as rich as the blanket of the night sky! [Hm...or maybe, given the tuxedo coloration, a black-tie affair?]

Well, that sounds exciting! I do think that nights are beautiful.

[ Listen, Furina, there's nothing wrong with liking chocolate. She gets you, girl. ]

I felt inspired after spending a few nights in the manor! It's such a quaint little place; looking up at night has felt so soothing.

[We're not going to unpack Teyvat's fake-ass sky, dead moons, and threateningly descending celestial construct right now.]

What did you get? Ooh, it looks fruity! As bright and cheery as you are, Miss Maya.

Thanks, Furi! I went with pink lemonade and mango, because I thought maybe something tropical and exotic might be a really refreshing flavor to go with!

[ Yeah!! ]

But do you look like to stargaze, maybe?

I do! The unobscured night sky is phenomenal, and every so often, you'll catch something unexpected if you happen to look at exactly the right time.

[Thank you, animated short that released less than 24 hours ago.]

The city surrounding the Court of Fontaine is beautiful, but this place has a certain charm... I suppose it's so novel because it feels like my very first vacation with friends.

[And people for whom she may have...other feelings, but fire and foremost it's surprisingly how quickly others in the house have seemed to welcome her with friendly arms.

She steals a bite of Maya's froyo.] ...It's refreshing.

I wasn't done! I was thinking it could use some fresh fruit to go with it!

[ With a laugh, as she shakes her head. ]

But I'm glad you're getting good memories out of this. Even though it's a pity that it's your first vacation like that.

Is it? I think it's a glorious thing that this is my first. I don't know that I could find such a thing in all of Teyvat.

[It can't make up for 500 years or the sloppy way she stumbled into her new life, but if she had to choose... so far, this has been a stunning debut.

Furina clears her throat.] Should we make our exchange now? [Switching from toppings to froyo so their two combined concoctions can be completed before everything melts.]

Let's do it. Two minute time limit!!

[ Solemnly holding out her cup.

No time to enjoy making up for 500 years than a two minute time limit, right? ]

What do you mean, two -! You can't rush genius! [But the countdown, by this point, has likely already started. At least she's not going to be expected to figure out the temperamental and often cruel frozen yogurt machine.

And after the invisible countdown has finished, she returns.]

Time for the big reveal! ... Tada!

[Furina went for the fruit that Maya mentioned, of course, but she threw in some surprises, too, like a dusting of graham crackers as well as some popping fruity bubbles.]

I think you'll find I captured your essence and energy. [At least...she hopes she did. This is how she sees Maya, anyway.]

[ Yeah, Maya can't put her through it. But she has wrangled enough froyo in her time to make it believe, so with the aid of a spoon to redistribute some things, Maya reemerges with a chocolate-vanilla swirl with a bit of raspberry frozen yogurt near the top. And, so proudly-- ]

Same here!

[ It's even layered like a parfait! But she'll offer it back to Furina. ]

[The pop of color (and fruit flavor) is much appreciated. Furina squeals upon receiving her trade-off froyo.]

You truly have a vision! I can't wait to share our show-stopping creations together.

[Once they've gotten their (probably extremely expensive due to weighing a billion pounds) bowls of dessert comped by the production, they can go sit and watch the other people walking by.]

So... have you used your investigative wiles to get any of our fellow contestants to open up to you? [As long as she's not the one getting her tender bits exposed, Furina is very curious about Maya's work, and a little too bold in asking after it.]

I sure have!

[ BRIGHTLY. These bowls really do weigh a ton. ]

Makoto's more of an academic than an athlete and Odile likes cheese and Messmer really cares about his snakes--

[ She's full of stuff. ]

[Wow! Full of stuff, indeed.]

I knew Miss Odile didn't care for sweets when she turned down that spectacular welcome cake, but I had no idea she was such a cheese lover!

[Five seconds talking to Mesmer about the Salon Solitaire had definitely convinced Furina that he cared about his snakes, even if he couched them as merely an extension of himself, and Edamura's particularity about coffee did make him seem quite cerebral...]

As expected, people open their hearts pretty readily to you, don't they?

I don't know if that's entirely true. With Makoto and Aventurine, we had to make it into a method of competition and deals. You just have to learn what people will be willing to share, and what that will require. They're more likely to open up if you show you're willing to do the same.

[ Whether you really want to or not. ]

week two | dates

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