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

[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?

[scooptimistic]

I remember.

[ Hard to forget, honestly. ]

[gamboler]

To put it simply...my wager was to not whether or not I could find someone I was interested in here, but whether or not I could find someone interested in me.

[ The real him. ]

[scooptimistic]

Someone interested in you.

[ A very slow head tilt. ]

As in, not the you that you've been showing others?

[gamboler]

[ Even now, it's difficult to volunteer the candor, he he'd promised Maya he would try. ]

That's right. The me that hid under the futon with you.

[scooptimistic]

... Sorry if I'm off-base here, but I didn't think there was anything wrong with that you.

[ Sincerely. ]

[gamboler]

[ A mirthless little laugh escapes him. ]

That's about what Nico said, too. But everyone here has only seen one side of me. Not all facets of a gemstone are as lovely to look through as the others.

[scooptimistic]

And? Do you think we haven't considered that?

I get it, trust me, but you've had flashes of the non-glitzy you for a while.

[ And that was just fine. ]

[gamboler]

[ She says that, and yet... ]

That's...only part of it. Maya, if we had met somewhere out there in the cosmos, you as a reporter and me as an IPC director - well. I don't think you'd like me very much.

[ Frankly and matter-of-fact. There's not much to like. ]

Much as I might play make believe here, I'm not a good person. I don't do good things.

[scooptimistic]

I probably wouldn't, but that doesn't mean things are locked in stone when it comes to impressions.

[ She can admit that easily. ]

And when you go back, is it back to doing bad things? Being an asshole?

[gamboler]

[ Is it?

He hesitates, but there is a very pointed way that he looks to the nearest camera, and winds his fingers around his own wrist, like he's wearing a shackle. ]

It's back to what I do best. Raising the stakes, gambling it all, and winning big.

[ Except for when it's the one thing he wants. ]

[scooptimistic]

...

[ Hm. ]

Well, what about that wish? If you want something different?

[gamboler]

...If the wishes can really be trusted, then there's something else I need mine for.

[ Something other than his own freedom. ]

[scooptimistic]

Too personal to ask about?

[ Wishes are heavy things, after all. ]

[gamboler]

— N-no. Not...exactly. It's just...hard to explain. I need to...find a way to make up for the crimes that were committed against my people in the past.

[ Keeping it as vague as possible, consider most of those things would include trying to fatally cripple the IPC. ]

[scooptimistic]

... Like, revenge? Or undoing it?

[ What's "a way"? ]

[gamboler]

That's...the part I'm not sure about yet.

[ But his survivor's guilt is strong as hell. He has to do something. He always has. ]

[scooptimistic]

Well, no one said you had to decide immediately. It's probably a good thing you haven't yet.

[ They have some time. ]

[gamboler]

...But I still have to go back.