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

[poans]

[The worst is that he might end up like Aventurine here. Yi Sang is not ready to throw himself at his fellow players in a drunken stupor at this time, so he makes no move to accept the shot.]

No . . . thank you. More importantly, Aventurine, are you sound?

[gamboler]

[ "At this time"...does that mean it might happen later? So long as Aventurine might have a shot...he has the distinct impression that Yi Sang might make a very fun drunk.

But entirely ignoring the question, he's frowning sharply. ]

How hurtful! I'm always sound, Yi Sang. Don't you worry. [ No amount of alcohol could make him forget— ] Let's talk about you, instead. A little birdy on the wisteria branch told me you're...how to put it? Ah — oblivious.

[poans]

[He can't help but worry about Aventurine these days, particularly now more than ever. This, though, is nothing short of bewildering as the image of the wisteria comes to the forefront of his mind.]

Whatever do you mean?

[gamboler]

[ Why are people worried about him...he's doing great!! This is definitely not a coping mechanism, or a deflection from his own problems... ]

Hm...still not catching on? Let me put it in more straightforward terms, then. Someone here is romantically interested in you, but it seems you've withstood their advances at every turn. Care to guess who that someone is?

[ He really...can't be this dense, can he? ]

[poans]

[Okay, Aventurine.

Yi Sang stares at him, or as best as he can without looking him in the eye. To others, it must look as if he's staring off into space just past Aventurine's face.]

Romantically . . . ? Surely not.

1/2

[gamboler]

[ . . . ]

[gamboler]

...Yi Sang, you beautiful, naive newborn baby. You're clueless as a bag of rocks.

[ He means this in the best way possible. ]

[poans]

I am . . . 29 . . .

[gamboler]

[ mother goddess have mercy ]

It was...a figure of speech. Never mind — look.

[ Reaching over to delicately, but firmly, put one hand on each of Yi Sang's shoulders. ]

Can you really not think of anyone who has paid extra special attention to you recently? Perhaps even sat with you at a match ceremony and said some very sweet things about you?

1/2

[poans]

[Yi Sang's eyes slowly wander aside in visible confusion. The only person who's sat with him at a ceremony is . . . ]

[poans]

Perchance do you refer to . . . Miss Yingying?

[gamboler]

[ BY GEORGE...HE MIGHT JUST HAVE GOT IT ]

...yes! Obviously. Who else!

[ . . . ]

Don't answer that, it's a rhetorical question.

[poans]

. . . Are you certain of this?

[He does not know what else to say.]

[gamboler]

Wouldn't it be better if you heard it from her?

[ That is to say, yes, he's certain, given his conversation with Yingying at the onsen, but he's not going to steal her confession from her!! Even if Yi Sang's head is full of rocks. ]

[poans]

On that . . . you may be correct.

[Id est, it's time to move on from this topic. He'll have to consider it more carefully on his lonesome. Now . . . isn't the time.]

Then perhaps now might be the appropriate time for me to inquire. Is there aught on your mind, Aventurine?

[gamboler]

Is aught on my mind, you ask.

[ No, really, he just says as much to give himself additional time to piece together what "aught" means. ]

— Oh! Nothing much, really. Just the...unavoidable reality that we've only a week left here. Best to make the most of it, hm?

[poans]

[Coming from Aventurine, a statement of nothing seems like an understatement.]

Indeed, after this coming ceremony, there shall be just one more like it ere we part ways. Until then, there should be discussions and appointments aplenty.

[gamboler]

[ ...That's right. That's the part they're here to play, ultimately. To give the cameras what they want, a satisfying ending, before the curtain falls and...

...and what, exactly? ]

Do you think we'll make it in time? Figuring out all our matches, that is. Turning over each and every card until we glimpse the truth of it all.

[poans]

[He nods.]

Though it is not feasible to turn every card there is in the time left to us, I believe the truth will make itself clear so long as we meet it directly without averting our gazes.

[gamboler]

[ That earns him an amused laugh. ]

That's the spirit - going all in! What do you think you'll use your wish for?

[poans]

[Tipsy as Aventurine is, he gives this a serious thought with the dip of his head.]

That . . . I am still considering.

[gamboler]

[ Tipsy as Aventurine is, he can hear the weight in that answer, and recognize his own struggle with the same question in it. ]

...It's not an easy choice. Even if you still aren't sure by the end of our run, you can still take it with you.

[poans]

[He bows his head in a smaller dip before raising it. Aventurine is right. While it isn't advisable to drag their feet, there's no need to make haste.]

Have you given thought to yours?

[gamboler]

...Well, I tried to pass it off to Miss Yingying, but she wouldn't take it. So I suppose the burden falls back on me to decide what to do with it...jury's still out on my end, too.

[ He has...ideas, but it's too soon for him to make a call. ]

[poans]

An investment, was it . . . You are still quite the businessman.