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]

For finding someone who realized immediately just how amazing you are.

1/2

[gamboler]

[ Oh...is it that obvious? Or maybe Maya has just learned to read him that well. ]

2/2

[gamboler]

...Thanks. [ An exhale, allowing himself a little smile. ] We should talk more later, once this is all settled.

[scooptimistic]

[ Nico was just. So obvious.

And also Maya has been trying to pay attention to the gazes being ping-ponged across the room since last week-- ]

I'd like that! Steal me away whenever you want.

[gamboler]

[ I declare: it is now later. Wherever Maya is vibing at the moment, Aventurine will seek her out, intent on keeping his word. ]

Hey. Take a walk with me?

[scooptimistic]

[ Yes! Yes!! Her turn to be Serpilia'd!!

She offers him a smile, and then nods, stepping closer. ]

Got it! Let's go!

[gamboler]

[ Her time has come!! He starts towards the doors to the gardens, hands clasped behind his back. ]

We've had quite the week, haven't we? I wanted to see how you were holding up.

[ You know. As a fellow person who has trouble opening up about their feelings. ]

[scooptimistic]

It feels a little like a rollercoaster. Some fun ups, some exhausting downs. [ The ghosts. ]

But I'm kind of glad we didn't succeed today... it gives us a lot more information than we might not have had otherwise.

[gamboler]

It really does, doesn't it? [ He can't argue it. And yet... ] Yet a number of picks today could be called choices of passion. It's a shame those didn't take us in the right direction.

[ Some of them genuinely surprisingly so, like Poppy and Shoko. ]

[scooptimistic]

That just goes to show that these matches are not necessarily a "this person is your soulmate" situation. And I hope people don't take it as such, unless they feel like it.

[ Like Ringo and Furina. ]

[gamboler]

[ Like their sweet Furingos... ]

I'm struck with the impression that this group isn't the type to let others dictate their matters of the heart. [ With some exceptions...Yi Sang. ] That said...how do you feel about Mister Luka? I was a little blindsided by his...passion.

[ That is a word for it. ]

[scooptimistic]

Welcome to my week. I was also blindsided, days before any of you.

[ A little dryly. ]

So maybe you understand or not, but I haven't really figured out how I feel yet.

[gamboler]

[ So Luka is a 0 to 50 kind of guy...Aventurine hasn't gotten to know him well, so it makes him question how genuine he is, but then again, he has no fingers to point in that regard. ]

You asked him to give him some time to decide how you feel?

[scooptimistic]

I did. I honestly didn't see it coming, so I wanted to think it through properly. I'm not sure how you realized it for yourself.

[ Since. Pretty obviously. He had. ]

[gamboler]

[ A knowing smile. No one's more surprised than he is, really... ]

Truthfully, my method is probably not one you want to mimic. I doubt I would have wound up saying anything to Nico if it didn't seem like there were other interested parties. I do so hate to lose...

[ And so he gambled, and won. He also couldn't quite recognize his feelings on his own, but he had help in that regard, too. ]

...But that's partly why I wanted to talk to you. Shockingly, it seems it's true what they say about talking to people about your feelings. You don't have to think it through all on your own.

[scooptimistic]

[ There's a faint noise she offers him--somewhere between a sigh and a laugh. ]

I've given that advice before, so it's not that shocking. I'm competitive, but in something like this, I've realized I'm... a lot more cautious than I usually am. I didn't have the best examples to look at before, I guess, in terms of romance.

[gamboler]

Mm, so you'd like to take more care with deciding where to place your feelings. I get it.

[ Even despite his current situation being as surprising as it is, he's still a lot more cautious than he gives off. Had it been anyone other than Nico, maybe his doubts would have held more sway — after all, he isn't an easy person to care about, and asking someone to tangle up their life with him isn't easy. He still worries that Nico doesn't quite have the full scope of what he's signed up for. But in the case of Maya... ]

That's not a bad thing. At the risk of sounding terribly cliche, you're worth waiting for, Maya.

[ And whoever is lucky enough to win her attention will realize that, too. ]

[scooptimistic]

[ There's a slow blink--and then that startles a laugh out of her. Because really, she wonders. How much could he know about that, when she's still...

Well. No one here really knows the full scope, either. But that's not the point right now. ]

I appreciate that, but let me recover a little first! I feel like I could barely get a foothold with you!

[gamboler]

[ A wry, knowing little smile. ]

Whatever could you mean by that, Miss Maya?

[scooptimistic]

Oh, if you play coy now, I will absolutely punch you.

[ Smiling. ]

[gamboler]

[ Holding up a hand: ] Hey, now. You know no one's more surprised than me, don't you?

[scooptimistic]

But you can talk about it. It did happen.

[ He found someone he can cherish, who cherishes him. Nothing to cartwheel away from. ]

[gamboler]

[ Oh, but his own happiness is his favorite thing to cartwheel away from. ]

But it feels a little too good to be true.

[scooptimistic]

Why? You didn't think it would happen?

[gamboler]

[ Giving her a look: ]

I... [ Hm. ] You remember how I told you I made a wager with myself before coming here?