marriage broker (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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perfectmatch2025-06-09 09:00 am
marriagebroker) wrote in perfectmatch2025-06-09 09:00 am
Entry tags:
week two | dates
Kiss the girl~!
Or guy.
Or person.
Or Messmer's snake.
Or guy.
Or person.
Or Messmer's snake.
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Oh, yes, it is. I'm happy to get the chance to rest. But really, what I do sounds so mundane compared to yours.
[Mundane is all in the eye of the beholder. Monsters threatening the lives of Expeditioners have been his reality for many years now.]
You mean to say you really deal with the supernatural? How can you "clean up" ghosts if you can't see them?
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Easy, especially when Verso gives him such a nice question to answer right afterwards: ]
I can see them, of course.
[ And it is right after he's dropped that dramatic line that their delightful waitress stops by to drop off their order: two adorable lemon tarts, a black coffee, and any drink Verso might have ordered for himself.
As a bonus, a pair of Hello Kitty headbands are included. 'To better suit the mood,' their waitress emphatically chirps before scurrying off in a hurry. ]
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Verso ordered something sweet and fizzy, as is his wont. However, with such a dramatic line produced from Rom, he can't help but blink. He asks-]
You see gho-
[And then their server arrives, bearing their order and Hello Kitty headbands. This is a double surprise, and his mind has to adjust to the rubber-banding of these two different notions presented to him back-to-back.]
Sorry, hold that thought.
[Picks up a headband. Inspects it. ...Hands it to Rom?]
...Here you are.
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[ Rom, meanwhile, has zero problems with this mood whiplash. Ghosts and Hello Kitty are a perfectly palatable combination in his book, so he accepts his drink, the tart, and then the headband without missing a beat.
After a brief, thoughtful hum, he puts it on the crown of his top hat. It looks ridiculous.
Then he looks expectantly towards Verso. He's going to do it too, right ... ? ]
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Of course he's going to do it.
He takes his and puts it atop his head. They both look silly. Verso is clearly trying not to bark out in a laugh, the corners of his lips twitching.
Verso instead tries to affect a stare.]
How do I look?
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You look wonderful. Ah, though ...
[ After a pause, he glances over Verso's shoulder to meet the eyes of the chief cameraman and give him a Look. A silent 'you better capture this,' before he looks back to Verso. ]
Would you try doing this?
[ And then he is going to do kitty paws with his hands. ]
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One that Verso will willingly walk into. He won’t even ask why.
He lifts his hands and forms… the kitty paws.]
…Like this?
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[ Behind Verso, the chief cameraman is giving an extremely enthusiastic thumbs up. Which he's about to take as a 'Mission Complete!' before -- the cameraman gives him the gesture for 'keep going.' ]
Ah ... [ The emphatic, almost furious gesturing continues. ] ... one more thing. Would you try saying 'nyaaa' while doing that? [ And, well. It's not like he has much dignity anyway, so. He'll serve as the example. ] Like ... nya~
1/2
This is definitely being used for entertainment fodder. Maybe it’s equal parts embarrassing as well as humorous, and maybe that also equates to endearing to anyone who watches? Because, yes, Verso can see those little exchanges between Rom and the camera crew; he’s not blind.
But also he notoriously just rolls with things, especially when they’re silly. So.]
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Yes, perfect. Thank you for indulging me.
[ Because, geez, he could have pulled off that first bit subtly, maybe? The second was really pushing it. Might as well come clean. Slipping the ears off his hat and putting them aside, Rom finally gets to fetch his coffee to take a sip. ]
It just seemed like too good of an opportunity to pass up -- it'll do big numbers, you know? Someone so handsome doing something cute like that. All your loving fans out there should thank me for the service.
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He shrugs, hoping the cameramen are happy, and then goes straight for his tart.]
Numbers... what do you mean by that? [ ... ] The people watching? You really do care about putting on a show, don't you.
[He could tell with the way he told his story just moments ago, as well.]
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[ #always hustling #get that bread
That said, he actually does lower the intensity of his usual greasy conman shtick just a notch; even he doesn't have infinite stamina after all, and surely he's allowed a breather after netting the production the valuable gem of nekomimi nyan nyan moe-ojisan Verso. ]
The wider an audience I can reach, the better the chances of finding someone who'll need my help. And for people who don't believe I'm the real deal, the showmanship will at least keep their attention and maybe get them to spread the word -- even if it's in mockery, reach is reach. [ The coffee's good. Better than he expected from this establishment. A sip before he lowers the cup. ] It's tough making a living, isn't it. Regardless of what one's job might be.
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It sounds like, to him, that beneath all the goth and performative weirdo vibes, Rom might actually prioritize... helping people? And that's admirable, despite the resignation centered around a tiring job.]
It can be, but the grueling work is usually made worth it when you love what you do. Do you? It's definitely unique.
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... unique, yes. [ Cutting the tart into more manageable pieces gives him something to do with his hands as he gives a thoughtful hum. ] I'm glad I'm able to do what I can, and I've found a process that works for me. But you could also say I was born for the job. I doubt there was ever any other path for me.
[ Finally spearing one of the pieces on his fork, he looks to Verso. ]
I don't think I've ever thought about it that way before. You must have a lot of love for your own work to frame it like that.
vague e33 spoilers!
That said, he's paying more attention to what Rom's telling him than the actual state of their food. There's something... tired, again, in those words. Definitely resigned, like it was a fate unavoidable. Verso wonders if "I like my job, I like helping people" isn't quite nuanced enough to describe how Rom feels about it.
In certain ways, he can relate. He shakes his head.]
I don't.
[Bluntly.]
I'm only an Expeditioner because I had no choice. Learning to fight, how to use Chroma in a weaponized way... that was all because the world was falling apart. And defending myself was necessary if I wanted to survive on the Continent.
[A pause. Thinking about what else he wants to say.]
Before any of that... I was an artist. And I did love it, for a time, until I didn't. But I kept painting, and... I was unhappy. But I didn't want others to see it, because it was expected of me.
[His gaze lifts to Rom, an unasked question there: Is he happy, or just accepting?]
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Did you feel any relief, then? When things started falling apart and gave you the excuse to put down your brush. [ At least he doesn't just leave it at that. There's a brief pause before he continues placidly. ] Ah, only briefly, I mean. Things certainly sound rough where you're from, not the sort of situation that anyone would be happy about. You don't seem the type heartless enough to rejoice over something like that. But. Hm.
[ A pause to eat the piece of tart. It's good, even if the quality of the food's taken a backseat in his thoughts at the moment. ]
I'm not much of an artist, but I've heard [ from legends of ghosts and spirits ] the passion and drive it takes to succeed in that field can drive people mad. Having periods where you simply need to step away for a while sounds normal. Those must have been high expectations placed upon you, if you were forcing yourself to paint because of them.
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It's clear Verso isn't offended by the question, but he does take a moment to reply. Did he feel relief, if just for a moment? He isn't sure — he's not sure he's ever been that honest with himself, because his mother had gone missing at the time, and he'd have been a terrible son to feel even a glimmer of that.]
I don't know. [ ... ] That's like making a wish: "I want to stop painting for a while", and regretting it soon after. "Sure, but the world will fall apart to make that happen."
[Wry. Monkey's paw — if only he knew the tale.]
My parents were both influential painters, so yes, you could say that. But what about you? Are you relieved to be here, stepping away from your ghost-hunting work? Are you here because you wanted the break?
[And Rom's still wheeling and dealing in garnering "numbers", so he wonders.]
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[ His eyes narrow a little, lips pressed together thinly for a moment.
But he'll drop that matter there. He has to consider how to answer Verso's question, after all. Rom idly fidgets with his fork for a second, looking at the Hello Kitty design on the handle. ]
... you asked if I can see ghosts, Mr. Verso. I can, and they're more common than you might assume. Plenty are docile and can simply be ignored, but it's still dangerous for a spiritualist to grow too complacent. So -- I can't imagine myself on break for too long.
[ In other words -- even here, he considers himself on the clock in some regards. He stabs up another slice of the tart before grinning across the table. ]
Ah, but not to worry, there aren't any here with us right now. So this date is turning out to be a nice little break. Thank you. And if any do happen to appear, I'll be sure to protect you.
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I'll take your word for it. You're the ghost expert; but it really does sound like you're kept busy, and all the time.
[Whether that's good or bad, he still can't quite parse.]
Still, if I see a haunting in my future, I'll be sure to let you know. That said, do you mind if I ask you something more specific?
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He'd just popped that piece of tart into his mouth, so he chews and washes it down with a sip of coffee before nodding. ]
Of course. What is it? Ah --
[ An annoying waggle of the fork. ]
If it's regarding my working prices, rest assured that I provide my services at a very reasonable rate. But I wouldn't be opposed to applying an extra special discount as a cross-promotion for the show if you insisted.
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Nothing like that! But rather... for someone who distrusts wishes, isn't it strange for you to be a participant on a show where the prize is a wish? And a powerful one, at that.
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Making a wish is like signing a contract, in my experience.
[ No, he's not going to explain what his experience was. A sip of coffee before he moves right along. ]
A contract isn't dangerous on its own. It's only when you sign one without reading it thoroughly -- without learning of the terms and costs -- that it can become disastrous. And I've come here prepared to play along and pay the appropriate cost, if my wish might be fulfilled. ... don't you feel the same way?
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I do, but I was under the impression that the "cost" was just to win the game.
[Is Rom dubious about that? Maybe it's wise to be.]
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[ Yes, he's staying careful, though. Once burned twice cautious, as the saying goes. ]
And how are you finding it so far? This game that we need to win to have our wishes granted.
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