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

[hexensabbat]

[Heheheheh.

She straightens, and reaches for the big pile of gummies that everyone has had their gross fingers all over for this math.]

Let's run a thought simulation, shall we?

[Pairs of gummies, sorted out:]

Here's me and Furina, Aventurine and Maya, and Nico and Verso.

And here's you.

[She pauses, and then plucks a red gummy and sets that down.]

We know you're statistically most likely to be with a guy, like we talked about before. We now know it's not Nico, Verso, Aventurine or Messmer.

[Pulling out three other gummies of suitable colors, setting them next to Rom's one by one.]

That leaves us with Luka, Yi Sang, or Edamura.

I know you think Luka's possible because of the showmanship angle, but I don't think that's what he really needs. We sort of got a glimpse into that with his Truth Booth with Yingying. I'll... admit I don't know about Yi Sang--to me, he's the guy we've got the least data on.

But. I think the possibility really is high, and not just because of what we talked about. Mathematically.

[phenomerom]

[ Internally: Hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh ...........................

Externally ... it is actually starting to show just the slightest? Rom's demeanor remains placid, but his gaze sure does skitter aside for a moment before returning focus to Ringo, along with a soft exhale. ]

... your math does seem to work out. I have no qualms about requesting a pairing with Edamura-san during my turn, if it seems the most likely answer. But -- I must note that not everyone will be abiding by the math, and I think I've heard mention of Edamura-san's name from others. If someone else calls him first, I will simply be going down your suggested list. Does that sound reasonable?

[hexensabbat]

Makes sense to me.

[She shrugs a bit, because honestly:]

For as long as all of this is based on conjecture, we can't force anyone to lean one way or another.

But I'm willing to bet if you pick Edamura and Aventurine picks Maya, we'll have at least two lights.

[phenomerom]

[ Hm. After a moment of thought. ]

Miss Ringo. Statistically -- do you think we have more to gain from getting two, or more, lights where we can't be certain who they belong to? Or by any chance, would aiming for another blackout, where we can strike out a good number of pairings for certain, be more useful.

[hexensabbat]

A blackout'll always be more useful, but we're down to just six pairs now. We're just not likely to get one, you know?

[It was part of why she was pushing a little for the Maya and Aventurine "risk" with the Truth Booth, but she's just assuming that's right too, so it doesn't really matter.]

Even if you don't take into account everything else we know, that's only ten thousand-odd combinations. That sounds like a lot, but we were in the millions before.

When you add in everything else we know... [A shrug.] We'd have to really try, I think.

[phenomerom]

[ Right. He was kind of expecting that. ]

Of course. I suppose there's also the danger of trying to attain a blackout, only to fail ... One incorrect guess at a blackout that nets us a light with no idea of which unorthodox pairing was the correct answer would only muddy the waters, wouldn't it.

Not a risk worth taking at this point.

[hexensabbat]

Yeah, exactly.

[She's nodding along. Rom's really a pleasure to talk about this stuff with, and not just because it's cute when he's having emotions inside over it.]

Better we make an earnest stab at it, utilizing everything we know up to this point, and see how the chips fall.

[phenomerom]

[ One soft breath. That's all he needs to calm himself back down. (Mostly? He thinks? As best as he can? It unnerves him how much this game has thrown him off his usual equilibrium.) His demeanor's back to being perfectly opaque when he nods. ]

Understood. Then -- I'll do my best to cooperate along those lines.

[hexensabbat]

[A fond smile at that. If she sees anything at all, she says nothing.]

Wasn't worried about you, Rom.

But thanks. Looking forward to what we learn tomorrow! It's gonna be great!

[phenomerom]

Oh? I appreciate the trust, Miss Ringo. I'll have to do my best not to disappoint.

[ Followed by an ominous little laugh, because he needs to do something in his usual flavor to feel more grounded. -- okay, he's feeling better now. ]

Here's to hoping tomorrow will be kind to us.