perfectmatch | week three

And a coffee, please. Black is fine.

[ He sure as hell isn't going to order anything for himself when he's assuming he's gonna have to help get through all those apps ...

And as the waitress retreats, he leans against the table to give Ringo a wan smile. ]

You certainly seem to be in good spirits. Is this just your usual cheer, or has your private bungalow been treating you more kindly than the shared house did?

Hm... both, I think!

[Yeah, both.

She leans back against the booth, arms crossed loosely.]

It's definitely nice to have the option for peace and quiet with Furina... and it's pretty lush over there. And! I'm confident we're gonna figure this out, so that helps.

Haha! Your confidence is encouraging. I certainly hope you're right.

[ Their waitress drops off his requested coffee, so he fetches the cup to take a small sip. ]

Last week would have been a disaster without your success at the Truth Booth, so. If the two of you are enjoying yourself in luxury over there, it's the very least you deserve.

Wasn't just our victory, you know. You all believed in us too.

[To vote them in.]

But anyway, that does kind of segue into what I wanted to talk to you about. Kind of!

[It does not. She's rolling with it anyway.]

Getting any closer to figuring out your own match? Anyone stand out to you?

[ Aaahhh .... there it is. Left without his usual option of immediately deflecting back, Rom is forced to just avert his gaze for a moment before responding as casually as he can. ]

... it's difficult, isn't it. Finding the answer in this game.

[Hmmm...

She crosses her arms, leaning back against the booth.]

Which answer?

[ Why the change in posture. Why does that feel so threatening. ]

Hmm? The answer for this game, of course? Our, ah -- 'perfect match.'

[ He doesn't actually do air quotes, but it's pretty obvious in his inflection. ]

[:')]

Well, that's about what I expected.

[She laughs a little, shaking her head.]

That's the easier answer, though. The other question's harder.

[ HE'S NOT GOING TO TAKE THE BAIT.

Rom makes a point of meeting her gaze for a moment, a very 'I know what you're trying to do here' look, before responding.

As innocently as a skeevy-looking weirdo like him can manage: ] Oh? That's wonderful, though! If you believe the answer's so easy. What would your guess be, then?

[He knows and yet he keeps dodging!!! Rom!! Talk about your feelings!

She sighs, though, clearly having expected him to go this way.]

Alright, let's talk then.

Here's what we know. Statistically, your match is probably with another guy.

Week one we had three lights. One was Furina and myself. The other possible options are Maya-Aventurine, Luka-Serpilia, Verso-Nico, Edamura-Odile, you and Messmer.

For now, let's strike Luka-Serpilia and Edamura-Odile from the options. None of them considered it likely. They're both female-male relationships. Also unlikely.

Thus: our other two lights from week one are down to three possibilities. [Maya/Aventurine, Verso/Nico, Rom/Messmer.]

Of those, Verso and Nico seems most likely to me. They have a lot in common superficially, and they hit if off quickly. It matches the conceit of the show. So for a moment, let's pretend they're a match.

Now, assuming statistically you're with another guy... your choices are Messmer, Luka, Aventurine, Edamura, or Yi Sang.

If the other light is Maya and Aventurine, that brings you down to just Luka, Edamura or Yi Sang. We're up to one in three, Rom.

So. What do you think?

[ Thank you Ringo. He knew he could count on you. :)

Rom listens quietly, thumb rubbing against the handle of his coffee cup as he takes in the information. All things he knew on a base level, of course, but the concise summary certainly helps organize it in a more digestible way.

One in three, is it. ]

... everything you're saying sounds correct.

[ A sip of coffee before he continues. ]

Of those three -- Mr. Yi Sang, Edamura-san, and Mr. Luka, in that order. I think would be the likeliness of a match with myself. Though I'd probably strike Mr. Luka off the list entirely. It ... doesn't feel right.

Oh? That's--

[--interesting, she'd like to say. Striking Luka from the list makes sense to her though for Rom too.

This is when the waitress appears though to deliver the wholeass menu of appetizers onto their table.

Ringo perks up, beaming, and reaches immediately for a fried pickle.]

--Right! Anyway!

[Hm!]

We don't have a lot to go off of with Yi Sang since he and Yingying were together both match ceremonies, which was wrong both times.

So... Why d'you think it's him? And why Edamura, too?

[ This is a lot of food. Rom dutifully helps organize everything on the table, though he doesn't make to eat any of it yet; just gonna nurse his coffee a little longer as he thinks.

His train of thought is already established, of course. He's pretty sure his logic's been consistent thus far. It's just that actually talking about it isn't a particularly enticing prospect, and he needs a moment to figure out how he's going to approach this. ]

... relatively speaking, I believe my suitability for this game is about on par with Mr. Yi Sang's. There are differences, but I feel we're a pairing that the game's producers might consider 'safe' -- something that they'd believe the general audiences would find acceptable.

Edamura-san's is compatibility with the game is higher than mine, I believe, but within acceptable range. Unlike Mr. Luka, who lies at the other end of the spectrum. It doesn't seem like a wise match, marketing-wise.

[Thanks, Rom. Ringo is very contentedly sampling a bit of everything as he talks. Yum... yum yum yum.]

Okay, fair.

[That's how Rom's been approaching the game thus far, and he isn't wrong to do so. It's a production, first and foremost.

But.]

That doesn't tell us a lot, though, so let's approach this from other angles too. How about... things in common? Got anything?

[ this thread is making me really want mozz sticks ]

Commonalities? Do you really think they're worth factoring in here?

[ Another sip of his coffee, fingers lingering against the handle and tapping against the ceramic in thought. ]

... in truth, I was quite shocked that Mr. Yi Sang wasn't a match with Miss Yingying. They were the sort of contrast that a television production would love -- opposites attract, a heartwarming story of a beautiful young woman bringing out the best in an otherwise rather morose young man. But seeing as that's fallen through, it just feels like the most obvious conclusion in order to create a well-rounded package in the end. Don't you think so?

[god same. Ringo stop stuffing your face and share some with the class.

She is finishing off said mozzarella stick before she responds, humming a little.]

Here's what I think.

You're not on the wrong track with that. I thought Yi Sang and Yingying had a pretty good chance for all of those reasons. But they're not it, so we're missing something there.

I don't think every match is gonna be the same, but for Furina and me, we have a lot in common. Not just superficial things, either. Like... both of us want to experience human life to the fullest. Both of us have reasons why we haven't been able to yet.

... Might make you uncomfortable, but I don't think the matches are gonna be based off of something too superficial. We have to start digging.

I see.

[ Much as he wants to argue against that to avoid the incoming path of conversation -- the fact remains that Ringo and Furina are the only match thus far. They would know best what brought them together, what the production must have seen in them. It's hard to refute.

Rom is silent for a more prolonged moment this time. And it's obvious he's thinking things over properly -- gone is that Cheshire smile for now, his expression far more somber than usual.

Then finally, quietly: ]

In terms of fundamental commonalities -- then none of the three you listed. [ Yi Sang, Edamura, Luka. Any commonalities he can think of would be superficial. ] If that's the basis we're working off of, then ... Mr. Nico. Lord Messmer. Ieiri-san.

Do you think statistical probability is of higher importance, or these deeper commonalities?

[Ringo would love to be a romantic, but, well, in truth, she's not.

She's never been the romantic of the two of them--despite Figue's adeptness with numbers, that was Figue.]

Probability first. Then commonalities within what's most probable.

The numbers don't lie and can't be biased. Whatever production's thinking can be. Aaaas curious as I am to ask about your commonalities.

[ Okay but Ringo not being a romantic is partly why Rom feels slightly more comfortable being honest with her. He smiles across the table. ]

Probability first. Then my speculation about commonalities with the other three is a moot point. I suppose they're no longer relevant to the conversation.

[ That said ... if this is the line of conversation they're exploring, he might not be able to stay evasive forever, either way. Rom gives a small sigh as he finally reaches forward to take a fried pickle. ]

... though if we're talking within the three probable candidates, I'm afraid I have no answers.

No answers?

[She doesn't sound skeptical, but she does sound a little surprised as she reaches for some chips to dig into the dip with.]

Then... anything they can offer you? Help they can give or something like that? ... Good vibes? [Anything?]

[ ... ngh. There's a distinct pause, just for a split second, where Rom's hand flinches while he's reaching forward to dip the fried pickle in whatever sauce has been provided with it. Then he resumes the movement, popping it in his mouth afterward. (It's good? He's probably never had a fried pickle before.)

He only speaks after washing it down with another sip of coffee. ]

I assumed we were still speaking about commonalities. In those terms, I could only think of Mr. Luka -- in a way, we share a focus on showmanship and catering to the camera. But if we're speaking of other things as well ...

[ Hhhhh. Give him a hot second to gather his thoughts and figure out his wording; it's a little more jerky than usual when he puts his coffee cup down with an audible clack, and he needs to take a hoarse breath before continuing. ]

... I suppose. Edamura-san is the closest I've come to forming a connection to a normal person. Perhaps that's notable.

[Ringo was very casually eating a bite of a chicken tender when he actually, like, shares some legitimate feelings? Like, normal person feelings?

Like, something real.

And.

She almost chokes on the chicken.]

[NO, RINGO.

PLAY IT OFF.

YOU'LL SCARE ROM AWAY IF YOU MAKE A BIG DEAL OF IT.

She coughs once or twice, reaches for her water, and takes a sip. Very smooth. Very normal.]

[Okay.

Phew.

She can breathe again, barely.

... Edamura, huh? She didn't realize they were getting close, but... that makes her smile, now that she thinks about it. Edamura, who's also been struggling to make a connection, and Rom who's been doing the same--]

[The commonalities!!!!]

week three | dates

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1/?

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okay done

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