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

[poans]

[Help . . . ]

No . . . That is not my intention. You have quite the discerning eyes, and it would be imprudent of me to call them into question.

[embellwish]

[ Not 2 tags back to back having Help in them. And he's gonna need help in this one too,

Her hand reaches out to cup his chin, turning his head more fully fowards her. Her grasp is gentle but firm, the coolness of her fingers meeting his warmer skin — Yingying hardly needs encouragement to charm her way into anyone's space, but everything Yi Sang's done over the last two days have her making herself at home here. ]

Then you can believe I see a very gentle, thoughtful man in front of me, can't you? With my discerning eyes...

[poans]

[H . . .

Cool as her hand is, a certain warmth lies in her touch. He allows himself to be led toward her, though his gaze is almost frantically evasive from the sheer intensity of hearing those words coupled with her steady look. His eyes flit up and down, as if in place of a nod.]

. . . As you say.

[embellwish]

[ His avoidance of her gaze is a little frantic, but she chalks it up to shyness, particularly when his gaze moves up and down. She's not above using tactics like these if it means getting him to recant his claims of having nothing to offer. So, as a reward, she holds him in place with her grip on his chin, then leans forward to give him a soft, slow, lingering kiss near the corner of his lips, teasingly close to kissing him on the mouth, but not quite yet there.

He never seems to reciprocate or react much to her playing, so all she can do is tease him without giving him the real thing, until she gets a better sense for what his feelings are. Her feelings won't be hurt, anyway, if it turns out he's just getting swept up by her... but she's certainly not going to be passive and wait around, either. She wants to know, and quickly, what sort of feelings beyond the sentimental he has. When she pulls back, her smile is self satisfied, and she gives him a little stroke under his chin with one of her fingers before finally letting go of him, sitting back into the cushions of where she's been lounging. ]

Great, then we're on the same page. I knew you'd come around.