perfectmatch | week two | match ceremony

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week two | match ceremony

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!"

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Yeah, it sure does.

[...]

We'll do our candy math soon! But--you okay?

Huh?

[ why wouldn't she be... huh... ]

Oh, um, yeah... sure.

[ extremely convincing answers over here ]

[... very convincing.]

... Right. Of course you are! You're Poppy, after all. Super cool member of the Math Squad!

We'll really get on that soon. Once we figure this all out, everyone won't be able to deny how cool you and Serpilia are.

[ nodding, nodding. ]

Yup... I did think about picking Serpilia when it was my turn last week too.

[ is that what Ringo was saying? doesn't matter. it's what Poppy is just throwing out there now ]

[A blink.

... Well.]

Seems like a likely match to me, honestly. You two have a lot in common.

Right? And we're on different teams, so if I pick her next week that tells us more than leaving it up to chance too.

[ Even if time is. Soon to start running out. ]

That's true too! Listen, we're all super smart. We can figure this out.

So don't stress about the matches too much. Just keep on having a good time and getting to know everyone. I want you to have fun too!

[ ...

slumps against Ringo ]

Yeah, I know, it's just, you know...

[ :( ]

[That's better. At least Poppy isn't holding it all in anymore. Ringo catches her as she slumps, of course, arm around her.]

... Yeah. I know. It'd be better to have the TV show confirm it, because you and Shoko feel so good for each other!

But... even though their dumb algorithm got it wrong, that doesn't mean you're not still good for each other.

[ stays slumped. Thanks Ringo, you're supporting her entire body weight now.

Unless she just lets her fall to the ground, that's valid too. ]

She said things feel lighter with me though. How am I supposed to find that with someone else? She's going to, because she's awesome, and I'm just going to be shoved together with someone only because they have to.

[ vulnerability hours? she's going to regret this later probably. ]

Yeah, Shoko's awesome, but so are you.

[Don't worry, Ringo will gladly support Poppy's entire weight, and somewhat effortlessly at that.]

And I don't think Shoko's that kind of girl. I don't think she's the sort to just dump you because you two aren't a match per the algorithm. I think she really likes you too!

[ She's going to have to remember to thank Ringo later, when she's being less embarrassing and wrapped up in her own self-pity. ]

Sure, now. But when she finds someone better? That's it.

[ ... buries her face in the crook of Ringo's neck ]

I am always. so. alone.

[... Oh, poor Poppy. Ringo doesn't know what sort of life she's led, but she's seen this sort of loneliness in each and every one of her friends back then, too.

...]

You're not gonna be alone like that here. Okay? We won't let you! Me and Serpilia will always be there for you, and I don't think Shoko's gonna find someone "better" either.

In fact, I'm super sure of it.

[ ...

Okay, well, at least she's not going to cry. Just kind of. Keep her face buried in there. ]

You're sure?

[ Not that stupid kernel of hope in her voice too. ]

Never been surer.

[Firmly and warmly, squeezing Poppy into a hug in her arms.

And with a hint of humor:]

And I'm an AI! I can't be wrong! [lol]

[ ... ]

Well, actually...

[ Probably not the time and place? She sniffles, but nope, no tears. All good here.

Looks back up at Ringo again, being pleasantly squeezed. ]

Thank you.

[ Yeah, it's probably just better to go with that... she can go find Shoko again in a bit. ]

Hey! Don't "well, actually" me!

[She doesn't actually sound bothered by it, though.

Instead, she smiles a little, nodding.]

It's no problem. We're friends, after all. I'll be here to support you the whole way, Poppy, for sure!

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I'd be pretty flattered to be picked by you, Poppy.

[ A genuine smile. ]

And you know, no matter who we end up matched with by these TV people's standards, I would have matched up you and Shoko.

[ And then, with a small wink and a stage whisper. ]

And I think she would too.

[ WAUGH—

She jumps, startled by Serpilia being there, but otherwise, ]

Well, um... thank you. On both counts.

[ She's going to not-cry on Ringo at some point, but first she needs to get herself back together, doesn't she. So Poppy clears her throat, tries to look cool again. ]

I think you could have been pretty cool with Edamura... But, well, if you'd be flattered to be picked by me... We should explore that possibility, shouldn't we?

[ Sorry, Poppy. They're right out there in the open, and it's hard for Serpilia not to hear when her name gets mentioned. ]

Pretty cool, huh? You think I should go for him still even though we're not a match?

[ She's teasing, because she told Edamura outright she was picking him for practical reasons rather than romantic ones. Not that Poppy knows, of course, but she seems upset, so she's trying to keep it a little lighter here. ]

Just like I'm happy to explore and see if we are one, and you know you don't have to date someone just because they're a match, right? Saaaay you wanna keep exploring a real relationship with someone else instead?

[ Her smile softens. ]

[ Opens mouth closes mouth. ]

... We're all going to have to try to find our matches anyway, though. So it probably makes more sense to... focus on that. Doesn't it? Maybe if we had more time after, but we're already at the halfway point...

[ Trying to conflate the fact that she knows she and Shoko weren't assigned — that she will end up alone — with the conflicting argument that she might be talking to her assigned match right now, and she might not actually end up alone. It's difficult, so her words just come out uncertain instead. ]

[ There's a practicality to that, sure, but... ]

Well, yeah. I don't think we need to only focus on that though. We've got two weeks, so we can spend more time getting to know everyone a little better, but that can still count for people who we're definitely not a match with.

[ A pause, she was joking about going for him, but-- ]

I'm definitely not a match with Edamura, but I still plan to hang out with him after this.

[ Poppy wants to object, like — sure, but Serpilia and Edamura didn't spend the past week and change with everyone else thinking they were a match, and she doesn't think they were getting, hm, handsy at any point, or anything. So it feels different.

And it would also feel like an asshole move to say it's different, so for once, she figures out how to swallow that down, and offers up a small smile to Serpilia instead. ]

That's pretty cool. I think you guys should definitely do that.

[ And she'll just not talk about herself! ]

[ No, they didn't. They didn't spend the first week liking each other at all. Even a little bit, and the second week was definitely a learning to warm up to each other and become friends sort of deal.

She kind of held his hand once? It was in order to tricks birds though. It was a whole thing, don't worry about it.

Either way, she knows her situation is different, and she frowns when she realizes that Poppy is definitely not up for talking about her and Shoko anymore. The fact that she only responded to that, and not the clear parallel Serpilia was trying to make says a lot. ]

Alright... I mean, we probably will.

[ She doesn't look happy though, or that she thinks it's pretty cool. She's not actually thinking about her and Edamura at all, because they'll be fine, but Poppy and Shoko...

Seems like Poppy was putting a lot more stock into this "perfect match" concept than Serpilia herself has been. ]

[ Tricking birds...

Oh, this is... not great, though. Poppy is pretty used to running roughshod over other people's feelings (because she knows they'll do that to her, so if she does it first then she wins and can't get hurt), but Serpilia doesn't deserve that (Serpilia hasn't done that to her. She's doing the exact opposite of that, right now). Seeing the way her face falls, like she's just as despondent...

Possibly for her, and that's a whole new thing to have to contend with. Poppy finds herself internally floundering before reaching out for a lifeline, which just so happens to be Serpilia's hands. ]

I mean... you guys will, so it'll be cool, right? And... and who knows, maybe you're right, that there's time to keep exploring too.

[ Maybe she should go find Shoko at some point... ]

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