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

[nrangel]

[ A big, heavy sigh. ]

Yeah. Guess this really proved that theory of mine didn't hold that much water in the end. I was hoping I was onto something, because it would have made it all easier to sort out.

[ She doesn't regret it though. They had the clear to try this out and see how it went without risk of a blackout, and in some ways it did net them some information. ]

[phenomerom]

Mm. It truly would have been easier for everyone had we been right in our approach so far ... [ Better for the game, of course, but no doubt it would have been easier for some people to digest, too. ] But it's probably best to believe it was worth it for the information gained today. Last week's ceremony left us with too many half-answers. At least today's answers are concrete.

[ Hard-no pairings. Useful, in the most pragmatic way. ]

[nrangel]

You're right about that. We still could get things wrong, but we've got some pretty solid leads for the upcoming Truth Booth now, and we know for sure what a bunch of our matches aren't now.

[ She doesn't feel good about that though. Yingying seemed to be really starting to develop something with Yi Sang, and Shoko and Poppy....... ]

[phenomerom]

[ A pause as he looks up at the rest of their group milling about, before returning his gaze to her. ]

... I said my part now because I thought it would guarantee people's attention, but otherwise, I think it may be best to let things rest for at least a day or two. Let people work through their thoughts and [ uh ] ... address ... them how they would prefer to -- [ yes he does glance towards the boom boom room here ] -- before turning their thoughts to next week's options. What do you think?

[nrangel]

[ Kind of why she wanted to go ahead and let people have their time to pick each other like this, this week. The one week where they would be safe if they fucked it up.

And boy did they fuck it up.

Though she will raise her brow at that glance in that direction. Really, bud? Well... some of them might actually, so maybe that's fair. ]

We've still got to get through dates and a lot of people have a lot of rethinking to do, so better to give them a little space, huh? I basically agree.

[phenomerom]

[ LOOK ... HE KNOWS HE'S NOT WRONG ... and it's said without judgement. It has nothing to do with him, but he understands people need to work through their emotions however works best for them.

But that's that. Rom gives a short exhale -- the closest he'll get to a genuine sigh -- before nodding. ]

I'm glad we're on the same page, Miss Serpilia. It's good to have a partner in crime. It feels a little exciting, you know?

[ Haha. He's mostly joking. ]

I assume you'll be requesting a date with Ieiri-san, then? I'll be wishing the best for you both.

[nrangel]

[ The Virgin gives the advice for people to Fuck It Out.

It's okay though, he doesn't actually have that label in her mind, because she doesn't know. If anyone does, it's Edamura for his very loud denial of this.

She'll smile encouragingly at that partner in crime comment. She's got a few she can rely on to help her with this, and with Poppy seeming kind of down and out of commission on that front, and Verso really going through it, maybe it'll be nice to give them some space to work things out on a more personal level, and rely on Rom for a bit.

As for her dating prospects... ]

Yeah, but I'd be doing that anyway. Shoko's fun to hang out with, and if I'm going to be here playing this game, it doesn't mean I don't get to do things I want in the meantime. Especially if they're going to pay for them.

[phenomerom]

[ Look just because he's been cockblocked by his own Issues and also the 70% Opacity Horrors Overlay his whole life doesn't mean he can't understand (abstractly, on paper) why people might wanna fuck it out. ]

Of course. It's a good approach to take. Then -- here's to hoping we'll both be able to attend some dates that'll put a dent in the production's wallet.