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

[scooptimistic]

... Well!

Okay, this actually gives us a lot to work with!!

[ LET'S. POSITIVE. THINKING. ]

[researcherstory]

It does. We can narrow down the other two lights better, and from there figure the rest.

[ She's on board for the positive. ]

[scooptimistic]

Exactly! It means that we can rule out Yi Sang and Yingying, and also Shoko and Poppy, and we cleared Ringo and Furi, so that only leaves five potential pairs from the first week with two of them being correct! And from this week, we've ruled out... well. Everything today!

[researcherstory]

[ ... ]

Not that it makes it easier on some but, well. The heart knows better than the mind ever could.

[ What a sappy thing for MISS LOGIC to say, yeah yeah. ]

[scooptimistic]

In the end, learning the pairs doesn't change how people feel. It's an algorithm, and maybe that just means our hearts have learned that there are a lot of people who are good for us than just one. We make the final call and win the game logically, regardless.

Even if Aventurine and I are a match, he and Nico have my full support!

[researcherstory]

[ Good girl. Pray others aren't so fragile. ]

Naturally. You would never stand in the way of a good story, after all, and what is a better one than of love found amidst adversity of a kind?

[hexensabbat]

Nico and Verso, Odile and Edamura, Messmer and Rom, Serpilia and Luka, or you and Aventurine.

[...]

Gonna have to ask everyone what they think's most likely.

[scooptimistic]

I do think Nico and Verso stand a pretty solid chance, but if Verso still doesn't want to test it...

[hexensabbat]

I'm with you. They had an immediate connection, right? And they have a lot in common.

[scooptimistic]

Right! I don't mind testing with Aventurine, either, if Verso's against going in. We just really need to narrow it down.

[hexensabbat]

Yeah. It doesn't have to be one of you guys this week, but our chances of getting one right would be waaaay bigger if we do.

[ordimame]

. . . what Maya said!

[tryin' to feed off of that optimism, please give him some, Maya]

[scooptimistic]

Yeah!!

[ Taking his hands in hers to impart positivity! ]

We've got so much information to dig through now! This is where we shine!

1/2

[ordimame]

[. . . ?! stiffens a bit?? in surprise?? and then sort of just. stares at her from over their joined hands, mouth parting slightly]

[ordimame]

[good god Edamura you have got to stop reacting like that]

Yes! Right! That! I'm-- extremely fired up now!

[so fired up the protagonist in him is shining! much to his chagrin!! he'll regret this later!!!]

[scooptimistic]

Oh--sorry, should I have warned you--

[ordimame]

No, it's. . .!

[quickly, hastily, not wanting her to think that he dislikes this or anything! it's just-- it's a little--]

[. . . squeezes her hands tightly]

. . . it's fine. I don't mind.

[scooptimistic]

...

[ Then she gently squeezes his hands in return. ]

Okay then!

[ordimame]

[lapses into silence. does not release her hands]

[. . .]

[I'm sorry he is not nearly as eloquent as Luka was he is just going to stand here awkwardly until she pulls back first]

[anathemaw]

[ for what it's worth, Messmer looks entirely unfazed by these results. It's a game, after all... his heart is stone. ]

Aye. Now we may employ strategy proper.

[scooptimistic]

[ sure, bestie. ]

I'm counting on your thoughts, Messmer! I'll do my part, too!

[embellwish]

Mm. The other week one pairs just became much more likely, hehe.

[ She is being mysterious and coy as usual, smile faint. But generally, she's of the same mind as Maya. ]

[scooptimistic]

We should really try to narrow them down, then... maybe test any of the other pairs except for Serpilia and Luka next week.

[ While holding her hand out to Yingying. Hi. ]

[embellwish]

Mm. In a way, it's a good thing some of us sat with the same people again.

[ Free eliminations..... she takes Maya's hand, and her fingers and palm are cold, as usual. Don't mind while she laces their fingers together. ]

But we don't need to decide on anything concrete so soon. Everyone's feelings are a little bit... [ Raw, she thinks. With all the pseudo confessions up there, today. For that reason, she wants to protect those that might be hurt, blanket them. ] The tide doesn't sculpt a cliff side in a single day. We'll move forward from this.

[scooptimistic]

[ You can have some of her energy, queen. Maya will be fine. ]

We will! And I'm looking forward to winning this thing together!