week three | mingle

[marriagebroker]

No outright changes this week either. Week three rolls around, braced for impact as ever. The estate is still intact, the contestants are still motivated, things are looking good.

Well, aside from the fact you all had a blackout this weekend. That wasn't so good.

Either way, when Monday rolls around, Wei Wuxian seems to be in a cheery mood as he greets everyone Monday morning.

"Everyone, come here, come here. I have an announcement!"

Better go see what that's about, huh?

Boom Boom Room | Dates | Property Damage
Truth Booth Voting | Match Ceremony Voting

Comments

[gamboler]

a.

[ Well, since he was instructed to, he packed a swimsuit, but once he finds out it's an onsen they're visiting, he's not going to bother wearing it?!? He's been to Edo Star, he knows how this works. Besides, he's long grown so used to using his looks as a tool that he doesn't even think twice about it, but at least he wears a towel around his waist while he's out of the water, so it's a little...less scandalous...

Don't worry, I have fanart for this, too. If anyone takes more than a passing look, they'll probably notice that he bears a fair number of scars — the only explanation he offers is a wink as he passes by. ]

Ah, I can already feel the heat sinking into my bones...join me, won't you?

b.

[ Like several of the others, he's looking through the envelopes, eager to see what dirt the production staff has on him this week. After the last, he's more than a little apprehensive...but his isn't all that bad! Comparatively...

He holds up the one of you has zero friends card. ]

Alright, who's brave enough to claim this one? Come, don't be shy now! We're all friends here now.

b

[embellwish]

[ She is just gonna... playfully smack him in the arm, frowning disapprovingly. ]

Aventurine! [ WHAT IF SOMEONE'S FEE FEES GET HURT??? ] Shall I go deduce which one is yours and announce it?

[ Unless, of course... he's the one with zero friends! Now would be a perfect time to fess up before someone gets the clever idea of friendly fire. ]

[gamboler]

Oh, don't be like that! It's all in the spirit of getting to know one another. Right?

[ No, he's not the friendless loser, what would ever give her that idea.......with a grin, he does hand her the stack of envelopes. ]

But please, be my guest. I do wonder if you'll be able to figure it out. Shall we make a wager over it? Which of us can guess the other's secret first?

[ Never mind he already has hers figured out because she literally told him. ]

[embellwish]

No thanks, [ While she takes the envelopes from him, pursing her lips. ] You already know which one is mine. You'll have to risk something too if you want to play with me.

[ Perusing the envelopes... thinking... yingying.exe is working.... ]

Why don't you tell me about one of your friends, for each wrong guess I have? That ought to ensure this one isn't actually yours, sweetheart. In the interest of getting to know each other.

[ it's a win win situation. She'll either get Aventurine lore, or catch him in a trap. ]

[gamboler]

Hm, well played, Miss Yingying.

[ He sees what she's done there...truthfully, if he hadn't identified a different card that was undoubtedly his, he might have believed he was the Friendless One, given the people he might call friends probably wouldn't return the favor. Back home, friendship is a rather...transactional relationship, most of the time.

But maybe that's close enough to count. ]

Alright, I'll play your game, but in exchange, for each wrong guess, you'll also tell me something I don't know about you yet. Do we have a deal?

[embellwish]

Mm, sure, it's a deal. You can ask me anything you like, as a cherry on top.

[ She can't think of anything she'd be unwilling to share about... at least not right now. Flipping through some of the other envelopes, she'll take her first stab in the dark, after some hemming and hawing. ]

So, for my first guess... maybe.... you got cut in front of a bunch as a kid?

a

[nrangel]

[ Boo, come on Aventurine! Drop the towel and be like Odile and Messmer!

Except Serpilia herself is in a full and pretty modest bathing suit, so she can't and won't actually say anything about it.

She will slide down into the water near him though. ]

Don't mind if I do.

[gamboler]

[ Listen, he's in a situationship now, he can't just go flashing his goods for free?! He's (sort of) respectable! ]

If this isn't just the furthest experience possible from what they hit us with last Wednesday, hm? Maybe they're trying to make up for the [ static noises ] ...unpleasantness they caused.

[ A light hum... ]

You're a little more modestly attired than I would have expected, Miss Serpilia.

[nrangel]

[ Unpleasantness sure is a word to describe it. Serpilia laughs uncertainly at that description, but they don't necessarily need to harp on the ghost, given she's sure they're a sore spot for a lot of people. ]

Hm? Something wrong with my suit.

[ She tugs lightly at the decorative piece in the middle of it. ]

They did say to bring one along.

[gamboler]

There's nothing wrong with it, but I might've expected you to lean into the usual custom a little bit more.

[ And if ya got it, flaunt it. That's his policy... ]

[nrangel]

[ Aha... Serpilia shrugs a little, offering a small smile to accompany it. ]

To be completely honest, I've never been to a place like this before, so I don't know what the custom is. I just assumed that the swimsuits were normal since they told us to bring them.

b

[fireball]

[ Brushing it off with a nice little pshawww. ]

Please, who has zero friends?

1/2

[gamboler]

2/2

[gamboler]

Miss Poppy. Zero?

[ That's so harsh!!! Surely she has at least like, one half of a friend from work or something! ]

[fireball]

[ WH— ]

You think it's ME?!

[ Aventurine?? Hello???? At least she seems genuinely shocked. ]

[gamboler]

It isn't?

[ Now he looks shocked?! ]

[fireball]

No! Of course not!

[ She genuinely doesn't think it is! Or at least she's pretty sure?? ]

Why would you think—

[ Just. Freezes. Genuinely has no idea how she wants to respond to him at this revelation. ]

a.

[ordimame]

[despite all of Edamura's general fussiness, Aventurine gets no judgment for deciding to bathe in the nude. that's how onsens work!! it's normal!! though Edamura himself is wearing a swimsuit because the pools are co-ed and he wants to be polite. . .]

[bodies scarred up as Aventurine's are also a rare sight for him, so. . . he frowns when he sees them, but refrains from commenting. that's rude!]

Don't mind if I do! I think we're all overdue for a nice, relaxing soak.

[gamboler]

[ Aventurine doesn't miss the way Edamura frowns when he catches sight of his bare skin, and he's quick to put together it's not because he's buckass nude under his towel. That also means he's not going to tease the other man about it, because — well, frankly, it hardly makes for relaxing hot spring chatter.

Instead, he's just motioning for Edamura to slip down into the water next to him, where he's lounging with his arms tucked behind his head. (Still wearing sunglasses, though, of course.) ]

We have been working pretty hard, haven't we? Here I thought this might feel a little more like a vacation...who knew finding love could be such hard work?

[ordimame]

[there's no hesitation in the way Edamura slips into the water, sinking in alllll the way up to his chin, savoring the comfortable heat against his skin. like this, all of his fussiness feels like it will just melt away in the steam. Odile had called him high strung. he wants to prove her wrong!!! look, he knows how to relax!!!]

Is it hard work. . . ? [a tiny exhale. he wouldn't know!! he's still trying to figure his own shit out!!] The logic puzzle is what's giving me the most headache. Who goes with who, and why.

[gamboler]

[ Oh, it's very hard work, particularly when real feelings are involved. If it was just a logic puzzle, it wouldn't be so bad, but...emotions always do raise the stakes. ]

The closer we get to uncovering it all, the more complex the possibilities become. Exciting, isn't it? We might be guessing and grasping for the final wager right up until the last possible moment.

[ It'd be boring if they figured it out too easily! ]

a

[researcherstory]

With pleasure, Aventurine. As long as you don't mind my looks overshadowing yours.

[ Her Aged Beauty... Like a wine. Odile has become certainly more relaxed the past few weeks, and his scars don't get anything but a passing glance (such things are normal in her world anyway, why should she care) as she undoes her robe to step in beside him. Their small club. ]

I do believe this may be their way of apologizing for last week. Can you find it in your heart to forgive them?

[gamboler]

[ Finally, another person who knows how to do it right! He's still wearing his sunglasses though, of course — just because he's nude doesn't mean he's not going to be fashionable, please. ]

Oh, absolutely not. But the gesture is appreciated, regardless. Enjoying yourself, Odile?

[researcherstory]

[ Matchies... His sunglasses, her normal ones. ]

Very. I don't believe I've relaxed so much in half a decade as I have these past two weeks -- if one is looking for a change in pace, this show certainly affords it. And you?

[ Though like, who wouldn't be enjoying themselves in an onsen. ]

[gamboler]

[ He is feeling particularly relaxed right now, the warm, rich water doing wonders for him mentally and physically, but even the onsen aside, the last few weeks have been rather relaxing for him, too. A little alarmingly so, when he remember it's not at all a lifestyle he can get used to. ]

Let's just say I was in dire need of a vacation, and this show has fit the bill better than I ever could have expected. Even gamblers can face creative blocks, and I've been afforded some fresh new perspectives.

[ As for what he will do with those new perspectives...he's still in the kitchen. ]