week two | match ceremony

[marriagebroker]

Tonight, we're back in the courtyard. It looks similar to last week with the slight exception, there is now a plush couch near the stage, and a single lantern already lit above the stage. There's still food, drinks, all sorts of things available for the contestants to snack on and enjoy.

On the stage is Wei Wuxian, looking presentable in his hanfu for today. He's busy twirling his flute in hand as he waits for the contestants to show up and find their places, and when they do he'll extend both arms out, welcoming the cast.

"Second match ceremony! You're exempt from a black out tonight because you've already found one of the matches."

He'll gesture to that couch from earlier, which seems to be The Special Seat for Ringo and Furina to sit at if they'd like.

"Now, we know how this goes so let's not delay anymore! Team Wangji, it's your turn to announce your matches!"

Comments

ARRIVALS

[marriagebroker]

Each contestant has been given a full wardrobe to pick out their fits and dress all fancy for the ceremony tonight. Use this comment to show off those fits! And greet other contestants! And just... vibe. This is the place to vibe.

[hexensabbat]

[Wow it's time!! I have a Ringo fit this time since I'm not mobile for this one.

She'll hang with the squad before she and Furina are sent to The Special Seat, so she can admire everyone's fits.]

We've totally got this! It's gonna go great!

[crimsin]

[ Here's your resident vampire once again. He's giving off more :D :D :D energy than normal. Dare we say there's a bit of a glow? Surely not! ]

Let us hope luck is on our side tonight, oui?

[ordimame]

[once again, Edamura is here to be the least fashionable out of everyone present. he's chosen a nice blue suit this time with a soft red tie, once again nicely cleaned and pressed, even if the outfit itself doesn't have him standing out!]

[he only drank until mildly buzzed the night before so he actually looks FRESH AS A DAISY!! far less nervous than the week before, though. it helps that it's not his week to choose]

[nrangel]

[ Serpilia is reusing her dress from her date with Verso. Waste not want not and all. Just sitting there trying her best not to look hungover. She's cleaned up well despite the dull throb of a headache. ]

Being in the hotseat really is different, huh?

[reverso]

[I can't find a decent image of this fit so here's a gif instead.

He seems in good spirits, despite his following remark.]

Should have probably had less to drink yesterday... [To be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for today... Oh well.]

[embellwish]

[ Lavender and gold for today's hanfu! Her hair is half pinned up, decorated nicely with ornaments and wisteria.

She's not hung over.... just a little out of it, like she's still waking up, even if it's the evening. Someone took a nap before this!! ]

[scooptimistic]

[ Maya's here, like she didn't have one hell of a hangover when she woke up, dressed in a darker violet dress to bring out her eyes. ]

Considering how many choices changed from first week, this is going to be interesting...

[irreversal]

[ Even for having partied all night and passing out on a couch, Shoko looks fine! Maybe even genuinely well-rested, and not just covered up by the makeup team.

Since they're all outside, Shoko is smoking. Sorry. ]

Time sure flies. It's already this time again...

[beatmatching]

[ runs in from mobile to drop off luka's fit. he had absolutely nothing to drink last night because he is a professional! ✨️. ]

[enscene]

[Furina is out of her usual blue for this evening ceremony after stumbling out of the manor and making a quick pitstop at the honeymoon suite to change.

The coffee she has clutched in one hand like a lifeline is the only potential indicator that she did, in fact, rage at the rager that she herself put on.]

Ah, so we'll be safe either way...while it would be fair of me to take some of the credit [gremlin giggle,] I don't think you all will need the extra help in the slightest.

[phenomerom]

[ Gotta give points for consistency. Rom is once more ambling in dressed in gothy finery, his usual top hat included. A little nod and a tip of the hat to anyone whose eyes he meets. ]

It'd be nice if things turned out as well as they did last week.

[gamboler]

[ Rather than showing up in his customary greenish-blues, Aventurine shows up wearing a striking red ensemble today. He's looking as unbothered and confident as ever, but there is just a little extra brightness in his eyes today, a genuine smile wearing through more easily than usual. ]

Fortune likes to keep its victims in suspense, but I have a good feeling about how things will turn out today. Let's see if we can beat last week's record...

[anathemaw]

[ messmer is here, once again lurking grimly (as he always does) and once again actually wearing something formal. He doesn't look that bishonen, though. That artist is very nice to him. ]

...

[researcherstory]

[ Odile arrives dressed different than last week, yes -- with a gown that better shows her slender curves up front and long gloves to match. A simple emerald pendant hangs around her neck.

...

It is different, but. Not bad. She supposes. Even if she keeps playing with the tips of her gloves. ]

SELECTIONS

[marriagebroker]

Characters from Team Wangji will be called up at random to make their picks. They'll press their hands to the digital scanner as described by Wei Wuxian. Once they've locked in their picks, they'll have to go and sit with each other for the rest of the ceremony. Better not be awkward!

Feel free to have your characters react to these picks, as that's half the fun.

Luka

[suibian]

[ Wei Wuxian is here and ready2go. He feels invigorated. It might be because he keeps saying the word Wangji. But whatver. He's going to get to the stage and get ready to for the first pick which... happens to be Luka! ]

Alright, let's get started, shall we? Luka, tell me who you're picking!

[ Which means Luka stands up and turns to... Maya, of course! ]

"I hope you'll forgive me for doing what I do best. This is an expression of our hearts and mine was made for performing."

[ is he sorry. nah, he's not.

don't ask me how he got some of the crew to play along so he isn't singing acapella but maybe there are some alien stage hands now, idk. it's not a full song at least, so there's that! he's mindful of the time (only the time)

and music even if he's only singing the parts below enjoy or just kill him and me.]

"On rainy days, on lonely days
Fill me with your bright color
I’ll be better to you if you will be with me like this

On nights I want to rest, even on busy mornings
Prepare a place in your heart for me to rest
I’ll be better to you,
if you will share that heart with me

Now I believe
Lalalala I sing
I wanna say your name like this
Please hold my hand and walk with me

—Maya." [ was that too much? it was probably too much! he'll hold out his hand out to maya if she hasn't run out of the studio by now, with a smile (it's a real one. )

Though Maya, of course, has something to say as well.

Because her pick was also Luka. ]

"I'm still not that great at this sort of thing, but somehow, it's hard to leave you alone. There's a you beneath it all that I'm seeing more of, and I've got to say that I really like him!"

[ And off the two go to lock it in! Aw, that was... sweet? Yeah. ]

Nico

[suibian]

[ And after that... performance, let's get to something more normal. Like our resident vampire!

Wei Wuxian claps his hands and beckons for Nico to come forward and make his choice. ]

Nico-gongzi, you're up!

[ And Nico comes forward to pick... Aventurine! ]

"I call him mon étoile, you know. “My star.” I was struck by the way he shines, no matter how dark it is around him. He is so charming and sweet, and I would very much like to burn brightly with him, together."

[ Wow... that's also very sweet. My star, huh? Well, lock it in, star boys. ]

Serpilia

[suibian]

[ Next up is Serpilia! Wei Wuxian does a little spin before pointing at her with his flute, hamming it up a bit. ]

Serpilia! I've heard you're something of an angel. I don't know what an angel is but that's pretty cool!

[ Ok.

Anyway, Serpilia's pick is Edamura. ]

"I think our start was just a little bit rocky, so I'm glad you reached out and explained yourself better. You're a pretty good guy, and I'd like to spend a little more time with you regardless of if we're a match or not."

[ Wei Wuxian looks pleased about this. For Reasons. Don't worry about it. Either way, lock it in, cuties! ]

Messmer

[suibian]

[ Now it's time for Wei Wuxian's Favorite Contestant. Does everyone know Messmer is Wei Wuxian's fave? Eh, well, now they do because he straight up says — ]

Messmer! My favorite contestant! [ Yeah. ] Come, make your pick.

[ Yeah, okay. So, Messmer will come forth and pick... Verso. ]

"Noble Verso. Thy trust and kindness hath not fallen upon a listener unaware. Thou standest apart from thy kin." [ His voice has a touch of apology to it, despite his words. ] "There is much yet unknown to thee. Let us speak once more."

[ Wei Wuxian looks pleased by this. Again for reasons. Dwbi.

Lock it in, fellas! ]

Yingying

[suibian]

[ Next up is... Yingying! Wei Wuxian claps his hands a few times and beckons her to the stage. ]

Yingying! I'm really excited to see who you pick.

[ He looooves her!!! Actually, at this point it's obvious Wei Wuxian just really likes everyone, isn't it... if everyone is his fave is no one his fave? The mystery.

Either way, Yingying picks Yi Sang, which isn't a surprise. ]

""In lake's surface, the moon reflects bright. Of the two, the sky's is prince of the night." See, I could be a poet, too. If I'm the spring, then you're the fall. Do you know what I'm trying to say? You're neither bright as the summer, nor bitter as the winter. But spring and autumn make for new beginnings — fresh blooms, and the plentiful harvest. The seasons will keep changing, and there will always be a new wish to make on the turn of the year, steadily moving the present from the past.

...I could say more, but you're a romantic without even realizing it, you know. My heart fluttered underneath the wisteria with you... so this time, I'll be the one to bravely ask you to not leave my side, sweetheart."

[ That's... so... cute. That's so cute. That's so cute!!!! What the hell!! ]

Ahhh!!!

[ Wei Wuxian is touched. Lock it in, lovelies. ]

Shoko

[suibian]

[ And the last person to be called up is Shoko! Wei Wuxian likes Shoko a lot, which is obvious with the way he calls her up. ]

Ieiri Shoko-xiaojie! My second favorite doctor! [ Wait, second favorite? There's no other doctors here though — ] My first is someone from home, unfortunately for you. [ Oh, okay. ]

Anyway, come up and make your pick!

[ And Shoko's pick? Poppy. ]

"For science."

[ Which then, Wei Wuxian pouts a bit about. Is that it? Really? ]

Say more!

[ After a moment, Shoko adds: ]

"And because I want to, too. Things feel... lighter, when we're spending time together. It hasn't felt that easy for me in a while, so maybe that counts for something."

[ Okay, perfect. Wei Wuxian claps again. Lock it in, girlies! ]

Finale

[suibian]

[ Which means now we have two people left. Which just happens sometimes when the math does math things.

Wei Wuxian will look sympathetically at Rom and Odile. ]

Come on up, you two. Lock it in for me.

[ He will get them treats later too. ]

RESULTS

[marriagebroker]

👀

1/?

[suibian]

[ We probably went to commercial break since the selections to now but thankfully, no foot massagers this time. Wei Wuxian looks positively giddy as he gets ready to announce if they've made any matches or not.

So, once again, there is one light lit. ]

Alright, let's see what the results are!

bean curd

[ordimame]

[Edamura is not the type to stand on countertops to get everyone's attention, but with those pipes, he doesn't really have to. with hands cupped around his mouth, he inhales deeply, and--]

LISTEN UP, EVERYONE!!!

[like a foghorn]

If you don't want to stick around and strategize, then that's fine! But I think it's better to get our thoughts out there while they're still fresh in our minds. So let's talk!

[. . .]

[ahem. a bit more at normal volume]

. . . Wei Wuxian asked me a question during our last interview that I've been thinking about all week. [where is he. looks for their overseer. points at him] He wanted to know what it was that I could offer to someone else. Truth is-- I don't know!

[a small shrug]

But I wonder if we should all be thinking that way. What do we have to offer everyone here? Maybe that'll give us a little more clarity, right?

Out of the remaining pairs from last week-- Aventurine-san and Maya, myself and Odile-san, Shindou-san and Messmer-san, Luka-san and Serpilia-san, and La Roux-san and Verso-san-- only two of them are right.

So! Which two?

[hexensabbat]

[i will offer up something useful in a moment




but first, Ringo's just whispering:]

La Roux-san? [to herself.

whomst?]