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

[phenomerom]

[ Thank you Poppy. He has his doubts but he likes you slightly better now that he's getting a better idea of how to handle you. So -- moving right along: ]

They'd be a well-suited pair for the stage, don't you think? Their conversations are quick and snappy, and they're both clearly enthusiastic. In the same way that Mr. Nico and Mr. Verso seem to have chemistry that would appeal to an audience, I believe Mr. Aventurine and Miss Maya would draw the audience's attention.

[fireball]

... Huh.

[ Thinking. ]

Well-suited for the stage, but for each other? I could maybe see it, but... do we think all of this is just for the audience?

[ Because if it is then she's pretty sure she's completely screwed. All of that bluster is covering up for a lot of insecurity. ]

[phenomerom]

[ Rom just smiles vaguely at that, in his usual unreadable way. ]

This is a television production in the end. The claim is that an algorithm has decided our pairs, but don't you think the producers may have had a hand in the results? I believe that, strictly when it comes to what this game considers as 'perfect matches,' stage appeal might be a factor worth taking into consideration.

[ A pause before he continues, his tone of voice maybe the slightest bit gentler than usual: ]

While mutual attraction and affection should certainly be taken into account for the game's goal, matter purely of the heart aren't any of my business -- nor the show's.

[ He can guess how Poppy must have felt, with the lights denying her and Shoko this round. But that's not really any sort of meaningful obstacle, is it. ]

[fireball]

[ Oh she fucking hates this. His voice gets gentler and she fucking hates this. She feels like — she doesn't know, like he's trying to cushion the blow she's already felt, something that isn't about to be softened because she should have known this was going to happen, she should have known this was going to end badly.

Miraculously, she also knows it won't do anything to snap at him. (She already snapped at Messmer, anyway, but it feels like he deserved that. Rom doesn't.) So she's just going to take a deep breath. Exhale. ]

You don't think the production would want to see you and Messmer together then? I mean you guys do kind of... fit.

[ She already said how and everything! ]

[phenomerom]

[ Sigh. (Not actually a sigh. Rom only blinks before letting his gaze slide away for a moment, expression otherwise unchanged.) Of course it comes back to this.

And while he's half of a mind to try and turn this matter right back onto Poppy in his usual evasive fashion ... it's not in his nature to try and kick a person when they're already actually down. Even if they're clearly uninterested in actually accepting any mercy. Very well. His focus returns to Poppy. ]

Setting aside the matter of our fashion senses, which seems to be your primary focus. ... I do have reasons for thinking the show's production may have paired us together, yes. [ Pause. ] However, that is my opinion alone. Presumably, a basic ability to reach a consensus would also play a factor in the production's choice of so-called 'perfect matches'. So unless Lord Messmer is of the same mind, or if the majority of the group decides we are worth a gamble, this would be a moot point.

[fireball]

[ Eventually she'll figure out the conversation actually did not turn back to her. For now, though, she's more focused on trying to keep it that way.

And, you know what else? She can actually agree with that, so she nods. ]

Yeah, you're right actually. We don't really have to think about you two for a week. [ What a way to put it, but she actually does mean it just as them as a couple, not them as people. Anyway! ] Two weeks, really, if we want to get spicy with it. It just seemed, I dunno, obvious to me. Might as well call it out now while we're talking about it, right? And then we can all move on.

[ A beat. ]

Say, what're you doing next week, anyway?

[phenomerom]

[ No, no, the word choice is good. Great, even. He has enough of a headache thinking about his upcoming choices on his own; having to factor in other people's thoughts on top of that is exponentially worse, so please. ]

Two weeks certainly would be spicy, haha. [ So no, he doesn't like cutting it that close. ] But of course. Calling out our options now so we can consider them over the next week was a fine idea. I'll be sure to keep it in mind.

[ A small exhale. He's tired. ]

-- ah, myself? Do you mean in terms of my choices for the next ceremony?

[fireball]

[ Good, he's conceding that she's right. Of course she is. Poppy nods, as pleased as she's going to get amid the circumstances.

And she is also kind of tired, so it's time to go a bit more gentle (via a friendly little elbow to his side. ]

Nah, I mean in general. Figure you could use a break from people who don't even know what rizz means.

[ Helping. Offering to help. By being friendly or whatever. ]