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

[ordimame]

[A 5'6" NOODLE. HE IS ALSO LIKE THE SHORTEST GUY HERE]

[but hey! at least his bemusement eases into a smile at her response]

I suppose not. Then in that case, I'd be honored.

[and with no further questions, he slips into the water opposite of his soaking partner, sinking allll the way down to his chin with a content sigh]

. . . do you ever wonder what the budget for this show is?

[MUST BE MASSIVE]

[nrangel]

[ A short little noodle. A little penne, or maybe a gemelli. It just means when they have to protect him when the troll attacks later that he'll be easier to pick up and carry away.

Besides, Serpilia is 5'2". Who is she to judge? ]

I've got a theory on that one. Either they're making bank off of some big name sponsorships, or some independently wealthy weirdo really likes to live vicariously through people.

[ She leans back against the ledge, only half submerged herself. ]

I would think that whatever tech they needed to bring us so smoothly here from different worlds would be more costly than this trip, unless...

[ No guarantees this onsen was even in the same world as the manor. ]

Maybe it's just that easy for them to whisk around like that?

1/2

[ordimame]

[. . . eugh]

Independently wealthy weirdo??

[that makes the show feel kind of voyeuristic. . . boy he hopes that isn't the case]

[ordimame]

[but to the rest of what she says. . . well. he doesn't have much to add, as someone who only just recently realized alternate worlds existed in the first place. what technology was used to bring them here? hell if he knows! maybe he doesn't want to think about it!!]

I guess. . . it has to be? Otherwise, they wouldn't be running this show in the first place, right?

[nrangel]

[ How can he not? It's been at least 25% of Serpilia's thoughts at any given point in time since realizing that they're not all from Terra. ]

Not the way they're doing it now at least. I wonder what the point of bringing people from all sorts of places together even is. If it's just to up the stakes to see if people will pick their match instead of their own planet, then they probably should have given us more than four weeks to get attached.

[ordimame]

[. . . a little soft in his response, edged only mildly by a touch of wryness]

I don't know, Serpilia. Maybe four weeks is long enough for some people?

[. . .]

And remember that banner? "Fate brings together those that are a thousand miles apart?" I guess they really meant it.

[nrangel]

[ She leans back, looking up slightly with a small frown on her face. ]

Yeah, maybe...

[ To it being enough time for some people, and also that banner having a meaning well beyond a thousand miles.

It'd make sense then, wouldn't it? Some of the matches that are willing to go that distance for each other actually being matches. Her frown deepens, and she sighs slightly, but instead of thinking about it too much, she sits up straight again, and looks at him. Misery loves company, or at the very least distraction. The smile is back on her face pretty quickly as she pivots her own focus. ]

What about you, Edamura. You ready to make the big move for someone?

[ordimame]

[. . . why does he suddenly feel like he is being put under a microscope?? as always, when Serpilia affixes her gaze on him, he stiffens a little, as if expecting her to once again threaten to beat him up. but then she doesn't!! and he lets out a deep exhale]

[and his response is a bit flat]

I'm definitely not a four week kind of guy.

[SO. . . NO. . .]

[nrangel]

[ Come on now, Edamura! She's only threatened that twice! Technically only once, really. A single kick hardly qualifies as beating a guy up!

The the serious response gets a big laugh out of her, loud enough that she covers her mouth for a moment, and clears her throat, hoping she didn't disturb the other contestants trying to enjoy some peace and quiet here. ]

Not sure how that's going to work out for you on the premise of this show then, but I guess you could still get your wish at the end?

[ordimame]

[despite the flatness of his response, Edamura does pull up a wry-but-pleased little smile when she laughs]

That's the funny part, isn't it? I don't need a wish.

[he doesn't really want a wish!! he doesn't. . . really think this place can actually grant wishes?]

. . . is that why you came? For the wish?

[it bothered him at the beginning of the competition. but then he learned that so many people wanted it that he was kind of the outlier, here]

[nrangel]

[ She'd asked about that too to Wei Wuxian near the start. He'd insisted they were real, but seeing was believing, she guessed? Either way the answer to that question is: ]

No, not really. I mean, I'll take it if I really get one, but I'm not sure what I'll use it on yet.

[ordimame]

[a flicker of surprise]

Really? Then. . . you came to meet new people, too?

[he can't believe he has never asked, after all the time they have spent together]

[nrangel]

[ Serpilia is quiet for a moment, a smile that's hard to read on her lips as she considers him for a second.

It's a sweet response on his part, to respond blithely with agreement wouldn't feel right. ]

Hmm... Hey, Edamura. Come a little closer for a second.

[ordimame]

[. . . ?]

[scoots a little bit closer, keeping his legs tucked underneath him so he doesn't accidentally bump into her knees or anything]

What is it. . .?

[nrangel]

[ Probably a good plan on his part, because she's leaning in niiiiice and close, even pressing herself against his side a little all so she can whisper something directly into his ear. It's quiet enough it shouldn't get picked up on any stray mics the show has lying around (since they can't exactly clip them to the partially submerged constants, especially when half of them are nude), but he should still be able to hear what she says.

And eventually she will pull back away and offer an apologetic smile. ]

[ordimame]

[. . . the proximity draws a bit of color to Edamura's cheeks, especially when they are both only about 50% clothed than usual. but he remains perfectly still, head tilted in her direction so he can hear her better]

[when she's finished. . . he sits up a little straighter and laughs]

Seriously?

[a bit incredulous! but not judgmental. more amused than anything else]

Aaaah, now that I think about it. . . yeah. That seems like something you'd do.

[he hasn't known her long, but. . . that still fits with the impression he has of her]

[nrangel]

[ Her smile relaxes when he doesn't seem upset by what she just told him, and offers a small shrug. ]

I mean, anything else that happens here is still a bonus for me. I wasn't going to complain if I found love here, buuuuuut...

[ She'll move back to her spot, giving him a little space back. ]

I think that ship has sailed at this point, so the least I can do is try and help figure out the matches.

[ordimame]

Ah, Serpilia. . .

[his smile softens]

. . . maybe it's not as good at finding love- [he genuinely doesn't know, inexperienced as he is in that department] -- but you've managed to find some new friends.

[he jerks a thumb to himself, his smile widening]

I mean. . .! I'm pretty glad I got to meet you.

[nrangel]

[ There's a two second delay where Serpilia smiles back at him with a little fondness herself...

Before she splashes a little water up at him. Not enough to get in his face. Just a little. ]

Cheesy.

[ Her expression and her tone both say she doesn't mind that it is at all. ]

1/2

[ordimame]

[. . . oh!!]

[ordimame]

[and then. . . the brief moment of sincerity ends with a tiny wave of water that splashes across his shoulders. a surprised noise!]

Whoa, hey--! Careful!

[. . . but his own smile makes it clear he doesn't actually mind]

I'd apologize for being cheesy, but in all honesty? I'm not sorry at all.

[nrangel]

Yeah, guess that tracks for you too.

[ She'll settle back against the wall, looking pretty at peace right now. ]

Though what about you? I know you just said you weren't ready to run off into the sunset with anyone, and your matchups so far haven't given the vibes of you looking that hard for romance.

[ She knows for sure he said he was fine with her picking him for practical reasons. ]

But you had to have come onto this show knowing it could happen.

[ordimame]

[. . . oh. well. . .]

[. . .]

. . . well, yeah. I suppose I did.

[as truthful as he had been about coming here to simply make friends. . . as much as he had lied about believing in silly romantic notions such as a "spark". . . he is, at the end of the day, a normal guy who craves companionship. maybe there really was a tiny part of him that wanted it]

[because otherwise. . . why else would he have lied to himself??]

. . . it might be nice! [a wry little smile, though it does not quite meet his eyes] But—

[. . .]

You know. . . I'm a bit of a liar.

[nrangel]

[ She considers him, head tilted to the side thoughtfully. There is a complete lack of shock on her face, but it's not necessarily that Edamura did anything in particular that made him seem like a liar to her. Too many people in this dating show about opening their hearts up to strangers to find love are cagey, herself included, and while some are really obvious about it, it goes to figure that some aren't as overt.

She can guess a little where this is going given the topic, and she understands.

But here's a little comfort from one cagey creature to the next: ]

I think I'm the last person that's going to judge you for that fact right now.

[ordimame]

[. . . it's really funny, how much Edamura enjoys her company now, when their first meeting had been so. . . weird. but that's just how the world works, right? one minute, you think someone is just a strange cosplayer?? and then the next, you're soaking in a hot springs together, talking about your feelings]

[the laugh he gives is a bit wry as he scoots a bit closer towards Serpilia, so they're sitting shoulder-to-shoulder (safe distance!!) instead of directly across from each other]

The truth is, I don't actually believe in the idealized version of love I talked about when I first got here.

[thought even now. . . he thinks it'd be nice if he did]

I think love is kind of painful. A little messy? People get hurt, and sometimes they don't recover. It's not always a good thing.

[. . .]

But! It'd be nice to actually believe in things like. . . sparks. Wouldn't it?

[and who knows? maybe after this experience. . . he'll get there]