week two | dates

[marriagebroker]

Kiss the girl~!

Or guy.

Or person.

Or Messmer's snake.

Comments

[researcherstory]

You didn't ask.

[ Not that she would have answered, but still! He seems to have gotten an idea of her, which... is odd, but not uncomfortable. Not yet.

... Please wait while she either judges the kissability of their peers or just puts off answering. The tea is very good, very relaxing, though she wishes it was shochu now. ]

I suppose... I would not have minded if it had landed on... Verso.

[ He "looks good for his age" which indicates he's at least older than like, mostly everyone else, and so she isn't a cradle robber,

and other reasons. ]

[ordimame]

[yeah this is the kind of conversation one has after a few hearty drinks, isn't it?]

Ruggedly handsome Verso-san. [nods in approval] I can see the appeal. He's nice to look at, but there's a lot more to him than that.

[an alluring depth that Odile herself had spoken of, back when she was giving her opinion on Nico and Verso as a match. even Edamura would admit to being taken in by it]

[researcherstory]

Indeed there is. A shame he's likely to find himself in the booth this week, and then departing soon after should our thoughts be confirmed. I would have liked to know him better.

[ ... Truly a shame, about them both...

She takes another sip, then sets the tea down with a flippant tone. ]

That aside, I have never kissed a man with facial hair, and so I find myself curious to its feel.

1/2

[ordimame]

Hey now. . .

[he places his cup down and turns to face her, one hand curled into a fistpump]

Don't say it like that! We don't know for sure they're a match, so he might stick around for a while yet, you know? And even if they are, who says that's the end of things? Even if his heart does lie somewhere else, you'll still have the opportunity to get to know him as a person. As a friend! Isn't that just as good?

[DETERMINED. . . ENCOURAGEMENT?]

[. . .]

[ordimame]

. . . and that's such a weirdly specific curiosity.

[says the man who also has not kissed a man with facial hair and keeps himself meticulously clean shaven]

[researcherstory]

[ No, sorry, hold on. ]

Are you implying something of me by speaking of his heart, Edamura?

[ordimame]

No. . . not even a little bit.

[frowns!! he would never]

You sounded so defeated, so I'm just encouraging you to go for it. Shoot your shot! Whether he has found his match or not.

[in the case of the latter he just cannot encourage home-wrecking. . . (man who doesn't know poly exists)]

[researcherstory]

[ Edamura, every one of those words sound--

She shakes her head. ]

I plan to learn about him the same as any other. [ No "shooting shots" here!!!!!!! ] Have you taken a job as a journalist before, Edamura?

[ordimame]

[let him be her biggest hype man 8(]

Good. [getting to know him is, in a way, shooting a shot, right??]

And no. . . I haven't. Why?

[researcherstory]

You and Maya have a similar adaptive personality.

[ That's all. ]

[ordimame]

[oh. . .? sitting up a little straighter]

Do we? I never thought about it. . .

[lifting his gaze to stare at the ceiling, openly pensive]

She seems a lot more optimistic than I am, though.

[researcherstory]

That's because she is. But that doesn't mean she lets anything escape her notice.

[ She's charming in that way. And frustrating, but charming. ]

You also seem quite observant, even if you're stupid.

[ Please, girl, ]

[ordimame]

[hello?????]

That's a very flattering description of me. "Observant but stupid." You're going to hurt my feelings!

[no she is not]

[researcherstory]

I hardly doubt that. You've gotten used to my attitude already, and reply in kind. I imagine we are more alike than you think -- at least, as far as what we show to others goes.

[ Something they also share with Aventurine as well, which she'll make mention of in the future probably. ]

[ordimame]

[damn. got 'im there. he laughs when she comments on them being alike-- a sentiment he agrees with-- but. . . getting into that is dangerous territory, so he quickly moves on]

All joking aside, are you bringing up my similarities with Maya in a roundabout way of telling me to "shoot my shot," too?

[payback for him hyping her up over Verso??}

[researcherstory]

I am. If you are to encourage me to try my hand at something so ridiculous, I will expect you to do the same. We may report to one another about our success, or lack there of, at a later date.

[ When both of them fumble... ]

[ordimame]

[THE WAY SHE ASSUMES IT'LL BE A FUMBLE???]

. . . I did already ask to spend more time with her.

[he didn't say "date" but he did think it! her and Shoko!]

I don't really have any expectations. I just think she's nice. We could. . . I don't know. Have a good time together.

[. . .]

So I don't know how it'll go! But if you're that curious, I'll tell you.

[researcherstory]

[ Good man, taking initiative. Isabeau could learn a thing or two. ]

I will be glad to hear, since I am sorely lacking in entertainment otherwise.

[ Her own fault, since she isn't asking after everyone. Just Edamura really. Surely there are others to cheer on, with actual chances, ]

Now, if I may ask you a different sort of question, Edamura. [ ... ] When did you last take a vacation, and where?

[ordimame]

[oh my god]

You should be paying me if I'm keeping you this enthralled.

[said simply with another sip of tea]

. . . and technically I was on one before I decided to join this show. South Korea.

[researcherstory]

[ A sip of tea, amused. Her company is payment enough.



Also, South Whom. ]

... I see.

[ But in that "I'll take your word for it". ]

And what is South Korea like?

[ordimame]

[SHE ASKED???]

[but he laughs, having expected that follow up question]

I was in Seoul for a bit. The nation's capital. It's bustling. Busy! So jam-packed with people you can barely breathe while you're walking down the street.

[researcherstory]

[ Dryly: ]

How pleasant. You truly make it sound attractive, Edamura. I want to do nothing more than visit.

[ Not, good lord. ]

How is their literature?

[ordimame]

I take it you're really not a city person.

[he sounds amused]

. . . I actually don't know too much about Korean literature. Varied, I assume? Some good with some bad?

[researcherstory]

No, not particularly. Even the capital of Vaugarde doesn't sound so... stifling.

[ Suffocating. Ugh. So many people. ]

Also. You're useless. A city's literature is the first thing you should consume, Edamura, even before its food. How else are you to understand its people?

[ordimame]

[what the hell is Vaugarde]

Iiiii could always just talk to them?

[he is an academic AND YET. . .]