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]

Oh. You're no fun.

[ Not even bothering to hide the little trace of disappointment in his gaze. What a stick in the mud. ]

And I do make a good chunk of my income off streaming and video content, yes. It's tough making a living these days, you know? The videos work as PR material, more subscribers means more merch sales, and the more views I get, the greater the chances of a viewer contacting me with a specific investigation request. The extra income from superchats also helps.

[ -- anyway! ]

Hm. Then. Surely you must watch television now and again. Let's say ... game shows. They're not really my thing, but you must be familiar with the formatting -- the overlays of text and images, the added information textboxes, sometimes even interrupted by news scrolls across the bottom. Does this all ring a bell?

[ordimame]

[yeah he is a stick in the mud please make him play video games, Rom!!]

[with some amusement]

If I didn't believe the spirit thing was actually real, you'd be a Grade-A swindler in my eyes.

[said with no judgment. maybe a bit of respect, actually? MERCH SALES. . . HE HAS HIS OWN MERCH. . .]

And yeah. When I was younger I used to stay up late just to catch the midnight game shows.

1/3

[phenomerom]

[ Damn straight he has his own merch line, don't you want your very own Enigma Syndrome mug?

Rom leans in as he continues exuberantly, all flair and greasy huckster charm(?): ]

Oh, don't be like that Edamura-san. I do honest business! All anti-ghost tools I sell are the real deal, and guarantee protection against low-level curses and hauntings with minimal further effort -- a steal, really! Do let me know if you're interested, and I can look into getting you a special discount code exclusive for show participants. Haha!

[phenomerom]

[ Then just as abruptly, he brings a hand up to muffle his lav mic. Leaning in so close he's practically whispering in Edamura's ear -- too quiet for the nearby cameras to catch clearly, and hopefully mostly evading the capture of Edamura's lav mic. ]

Imagine seeing those game show overlays all the time, everywhere. They contain information -- important information, information which can be used to keep people safe and avoid danger. But nobody else can see them. If you speak of these overlays, 95% of the population will think you insane. The remainder might believe you, but only because they themselves want to buy into the delusion. The overlays are almost all horrific, and if you acknowledge them in the wrong way, you will die. But if you don't address them at all -- then others will fall to harm, or die. You must decide what to do -- almost certainly alone.

[phenomerom]

[ -- then just as swiftly, as soon as that deadpan explanation is completely, Rom pulls back with a flourish and a grin. ]

But yes, as I was saying, being a spiritualist is a bit like being on a gameshow! It's all about showmanship to catch the audience's attention, and using information in the right way.

1/2

[ordimame]

[-- oh christ??]

[Rom leans in so abruptly that it takes all of Edamura's willpower not to lean back on instinct. he feels a tiny bit of heat color the tips of his ears-- the barest shades of pink-- at having someone (. . . Rom??) lean in so close. but he is well-practiced in the art of secrecy; a hand covers his own mic, fingers brushing purposefully across the edges to muffle any sounds it does catch with white noise]

[his features grow slack]

[ordimame]

[and then Rom is gone. Edamura continues to stare]

Holy shit.

[the analogy is good one. he can picture it clear as day in his mind: the overflow of information, too much for the brain to process all at once. the agonizing decision paralysis that comes with either risking yourself or the lives of others]

[the crushing loneliness of being but one in a million]

. . . you live that way? Every day?

[phenomerom]

[ What a strange feeling. It's been a long time since he's bothered trying to explain his viewpoint to anyone; he'd been forced to learn at a young age that he would always be the anomaly, and no amount of effort would ever change that. And while the showman in him feels a little smug satisfaction at the clear shock in Edamura's expression ... the dominating emotion is a strange sense of melancholy. Of course. Of course this explanation would be horrifying to most people.

Rom smiles. ]

... it's why the videogames are so important for stress relief! Blowing off some steam on a level playing field with everyone else. Please do let me know if you're ever interested in trying them -- I could even walk you through something co-op while you get used to things.

1/2

[ordimame]

[. . . he's being avoidant]

[a crease forms between Edamura's brows when he realizes. he knows he is hardly one to talk when it comes to avoidance (. . . what has he been evading since he first arrived here?), but it still causes a slight bubble of annoyance to well up from within. it's muted, though. muted by the knowledge that this is just how Rom has learned to cope with years of stress and pressure. he should be kind, even if he doesn't like it]

[. . .]

Hey.

[a little grunt. probably the only flicker of that agitation Rom will see, because--]

[ordimame]

[Edamura turns to face him, jabbing a finger into his companion's chest]

You know what someone said to me earlier this week?

[it was good advice, he thinks. something he has been carrying with him since the day of that conversation. he thinks Rom could stand to hear it]

They told me to be more confident in what I have to offer. Not as someone trying to be something else, but as myself. With everything that haunts me attached.

[POKE]

You're not unsuited for this. You've just got some baggage, yeah? You think there wouldn't be a single person in the world out there willing to help you carry it? I'd bet that there is.