week three | match ceremony

[marriagebroker]

We're back, baby!

The courtyard is lit up with lanterns all over and there is now a second special couch near the Furina and Ringo couch from last week. This is the Verso-Nico couch, if they want to sit in it. But they don't have to! Live your truth, boys! Go sit with your situationships instead!

Wei Wuxian is here, still looking happy after his absence this week, and he is dressed to impress in NOT a hanfu this time, but a modern look. He's liking it, honestly. Look at him sparkle!

"Congratulations, my friends! You are once again free from a blackout and losing a wish as you found a perfect match at yesterday's truth booth. Good job!" Wei Wuxian explains, twirling his flute in his fingers as per usual. "You might still get no lights again otherwise but, uh, let's hope not! I believe in you!"

... Does he?

Either way, he bounces on his feet and calls out, "Team Suibian, it's time to make your picks!" Looks like we're ready to go.

Comments

ARRIVALS

[marriagebroker]

Each contestant has been given a full wardrobe to pick out their fits and dress all fancy for the ceremony tonight. Use this comment to show off those fits! And greet other contestants! And just... vibe. This is the place to vibe.

[hexensabbat]

[fit check!!

also Ringo is making faces at the second Special Couch.]

What, did they think the guys wouldn't want to sit with us...?

[ordimame]

[unlike past weeks, where Edamura has donned a nice, freshly pressed suit, this week he is. . . casual. comfortable! donning something that feels a lot more like himself, rather than some guy who is just trying too hard. it's still not very fashionable (blue jeans, a simple green shirt, and a dark blue blazer to match), but it's more. . . natural. weird!!]

[he doesn't look particularly nervous either, though he is sitting in thoughtful, contemplative silence]

[phenomerom]

[ Another week, another match ceremony, another ridiculous goth outfit from your resident ridiculous goth. Though -- he's admittedly looking a little more normal this week? No hat, and the suit almost looks like regular clothes.

On the other hand, Rom sure is looking even more sleep-deprived than usual, the dark shadows under his eyes extra pronounced despite the makeup team's best efforts. He's fidgeting with his gloves a little without his usual hat to mess with, and he gives a slow blink when he meets anyone's gaze before donning his usual smile. ]

It'd be nice if today worked out better than last week, wouldn't it.

[gamboler]

[ Fit check, of course! He is wearing his hangover like a champ, even if he can't fully banish the redness from his eyes. Ugh... ]

W-what? I'm bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as ever. Let's see what the results have in store for us, shall we?

[ It should be...interesting. ]

[embellwish]

[ Fit, because this time she opted for something that blends more modern styles with the traditional ones of her homeland. It's been a big week for her and thinking about the future, after all. It's only fitting. See, she's matching with Wei Wuxian, not wearing hanfu this time!!

She's fanning herself as usual, but looking much more alert for this time in the day than usual. ]

It's nice to have another safety net, how lucky we are.

[scooptimistic]

[ Miss Maya, once again had help from someone, looking comfy! And also so very curious. ]

Just remember, even if we fail spectacularly, that just gives us more answers!

[researcherstory]

[ Returning to her Comfort Zone... Odile is once again in an elegant kimono, hands folded into its long sleeves as she exhales softly.

Soon, this time of theirs will come to an end. How best might she spend the last week with everyone? It's these thoughts that swim through her mind more than the immediate ceremony, and she's even forgoing her usual evening sake because of it... ]

[reverso]

[i'm stealing this fit from a verso cosplayer... look at how crazy good it is

Anyway.

He's here! Sitting on the second Special Couch.]

Only direction to go is up, right?

[don't jinx it]

[irreversal]

[ A little jumpsuit moment for Shoko for today's ceremony!

She is, notably, not smoking, probably because someone stole what is likely her last government-dispensed pack last night!!! ]

Hah. Wei-san doesn't sound that confident in us, does he? Do your best, Team Suibian.~

[enscene]

[Drops a fit check even though my cat is ruining my life.

Furina definitely slept in this morning and probably well into the day, but she looks pretty tired even now that night has rolled in. delicately covering her yawn with her cup.]

There was a pretty solid approach in place where we left things last night, wasn't there? So this should be a very revealing ceremony.

[Laugh track.]

SELECTIONS

[marriagebroker]

Characters from Team Suibian will be called up at random to make their picks. They'll press their hands to the digital scanner as described by Wei Wuxian. Once they've locked in their picks, they'll have to go and sit with each other for the rest of the ceremony. Better not be awkward!

Feel free to have your characters react to these picks, as that's half the fun.

edamura makoto

[suibian]

[ Alright, let's go! First up is... Edamura! ]

Edamura Makoto! [ His cutieful boy. ] Please, come up and make your pick.

[ And when Edamura comes up — he picks Shindou Rom. ]

Why'd you pick him?

[it's funny, how at ease he seems, standing up on that stage. no nervous tics. no telltale signs of trying too hard. just a simple bean, standing with hands in his pockets, head tilted slightly to the side as he takes a moment to collect his thoughts]

"Because I want to."

[simple. blunt. to the point!! is he stopping there?? . . . no, after a few seconds of silence, he continues]

"That should be reason enough, but there is. . . more."

[a hapless shrug]

"Frankly, I didn't really know what I was looking for when I first got here. I still don't know! Isn't that stupid? Three weeks later, and I can't figure out what it is that I want. Except--"

[. . .]

". . . maybe someone who'll carry my baggage for a little while. Maybe I can carry his, too? That might be pretty nice. Maybe we're both pretty damaged from the shit we've been through! And. . . maybe that doesn't matter. Not to me, anyway. Maybe he knows I'm a liar and doesn't care, or at least believes me when I say I'm being honest. Maybe he also doesn't care that I'm a bit of a contradiction sometimes, or that I say I don't believe in silly romantic notions like a "spark" when I think I--"

[cuts himself up abruptly, gaze flickering down. another breath, to give himself a second wind]

"A-- anyway.

. . . maybe I'm lying about not knowing what I want, too. [. . .] No, I definitely am. I think this is the most certain I've felt about anything. And for someone who has spent three weeks trying to figure himself out, that. . .

Means. Something."

[a beat]

"Right?"

[ Which is very, very sweet and when Rom is picked to come up to the stage, he simply says — ]

"Thank you, Edamura-san. I'm glad luck was on your side. Intuition tells me this is the way things were meant to go."

[ Wei Wuxian looks delighted, for real. ]

odile

[suibian]

[ And next... is Odile! Wei Wuxian calls her up with hearty enthusiasm. ]

Laopopo, it's your turn!

[ Come on up, old lady. And when she does, she picks Yi Sang. ]

[ It was agreed they would choose each other, but there ceremony is still nerve-wracking in its own way -- not the kind of nervousness she would shy away from, she is not a shy person, but one that makes her uneasy nonetheless.

... The words she speaks are easy though, gaze unwavering as Odile stares at Yi Sang. ]

"I have always liked the way you word things, Yi Sang. I am not... a particularly creative person, nor would I say I am poetic or romantic or anything of the sort -- but I suppose you inspire such in me, if only because I feel it easy to do so when replied to with. There is a card game in Ka Bue that is played much the same: karuta, in which one must snatch the correct ending to a line of poetry or proverb sung out rhymthically by a speaker.

That... is how I feel you and I speak at times."

[ It's a game she enjoys, seeing what might come from each play. Her hands fold into her sleeves, continuing after a moment. ]

"But that is not why I intended to choose you tonight. You are a wanderer. While bereft of direction, I have never once seen you as truly lost nor in need of a guide; I think that your travels, however long they may last, are to be filled with experiences that will ground you, shape you, and help you become someone you may be able to smile at in the mirror. Just as your reflection before did. And I would like to be someone that can be companionable to you in those moments.

Not someone who may set you before a 'right' path, but one who will experience the things you do for as long as you will allow me.

You see," [ with a wry smile, because he and a few others know, ] "I want for someone of the same, who I might travel with and experience such. Someone who..." [ ... ] "Who I can entrust the words of my heart to, faded they may be, and know that they will be understood no matter their manner. You are an honest person, Yi Sang. There is not a drop of deceit in your entire body, no dishonesty where your feelings are concerned, and I admire that in you, as I admire it in a handful of others here:

In Nicodème, who has never shied from saying exactly what he feels to whom he feels it -- in stark contrast to myself, who withholds her less confident feelings from others. In Ringo, who I'm certain doesn't know what it means to lie about one's heart and goes towards what she feels beyond logic without hesitation -- unlike I, who waits at a distance to see what may settle. In Luka, whose recent performance felt overflowing with his heart and dedication -- things I could never hope to match in offer to anyone.

You have been enjoyable company since the moment we met, whether in conversation or in silence, and while I do not believe in fate nor 'clicking' as some of our more heart-based peers do... I cannot deny that since our first match ceremony two weeks ago you have been a consideration of mine. It has sat in my mind since, taking slow shape as to why, until at last I have my answer now."

[ Such a long, long speech, and Odile exhales. ]

"We are 'other'. Whether by our own hands, or by circumstances to which we had no say in -- our searching natures have led us thus to new lands, to new people, and will continue to lead us til at last we find ourselves settled, cozied between others who understand the feeling of being apart. Such a journey is best taken with a friend, rather alone, would you not agree?"

[ Which, you think would be enough but when Yi Sang joins her at the podium, he also speaks. ]

"On a spring day, I made a mirror and named it Yeonsim.

It was a plaything from which we sourced laughter, born of our love of technology as stars rose in our eyes. In the days following the tearing of my wings, I clung to the mirror as it was all I had left . . . until, at my left-handed self's behest, I abandoned it to wander in search of a myth.

Reason dictates that all things come to an end. Thus, I remained apathetic in the faces of joy and sorrow upon my arrival at this estate. As my feet ached from walking for so long, I sought to stop while others around me were in motion; however, it was in that frenetic blur of locomotion that I heard tell of matters such as change and faith, as well as grief.

. . . The night I dreamed, it was neither yellow camellias nor wisteria that greeted me, but the laughter of children who sought joy within each other. Back then, a broken branch was enough to put smiles on our faces. And that was when I began to understand.

A companion rises with you in place of walls, so that you may fly unchained. Their keen eyes reflect the stars in yours as you soar by their side. The fall will come, as does the night; however, so long as you live, the sun will emerge and your wings, too, shall flap once more . . . just as Carl found it in himself to flutter again after the passing of his beloved wife, Ellie."

[ He turns to regard everyone with a soft smile before angling himself to hold Odile's gaze. ]

"And so, my dear fellows . . . while the algorithm's workings elude me, I must insist that I sit with Miss Odile, for that would be most ideal. I have conversed with more than the fox, the rose, and the snake. It is a splendid thing for your thoughts to be received clearly, and grander still to walk these parallel paths. Though I have yet to decide what should lie before me . . . the moon in the pond, no matter how distorted, is unchanging. And such is all I have to say."

[ Wei Wuxian has no idea what to do with any of this. He just gestures for them to lock it in. ]

poppy li

[suibian]

[ Phew boy. Okay. Next up is... Poppy! ]

Li Poppy-xiaojie, get on up here!

[ And so she does. Making her choice which is ... Yingying! ]

"You know what's stupid? I've been so fixated on how gorgeous you are this entire time, and don't get me wrong, you are stupidly gorgeous. You are the most beautiful person here. It is wild that I'm doing this at all, but I'm going to keep doing it anyway. Because you shouldn't have to be alone, and I'm going to make it so that you aren't."

[ She holds her hand out, waiting for Yingying to come join her on stage. ]

"There. How's that for confidence?"

[ Hell fucking yeah, lesbians. Wei Wuxian is back on the delighted train. Lock it in, ladies! ]

aventurine

[suibian]

[ And last(?) but not least, it's Aventurine's time! ... Haha, Aventurine time. Like Adventure time. Get it. Get it???

Anyway. ]

Come on up, Aventurine-gongzi!

[ And up he goes. Hopefully his hangover is feeling a little better now. Especially after that nap he took. Thanks, Odile!

And so, Aventurine picks Maya, to no one's surprise. ]

"The two of us made an agreement, to let our guard down just a little more so we might grow closer over these last few weeks. Well — not to toot our own horn, but I like to think we've done that. I believe I'm...better, for having met her. Haha, that wasn't too cheesy, was it?"

[ That was not cheesy at all, especially after some of these. So, there is that. Wei Wuxian beams and claps for them as they lock it in. ]

finale

[suibian]

[ Oh... we have people left again. Which tracks, since they were planning to pick within their group but... damn. Wei Wuxian grimaces. ]

Okay, you all know this isn't reflective of who you are as people, right? ... Right? Okay. Good.

So, uh — Luka andddd... Shoko, you'll be a pair. Which leaves Serpilia and Messmer as the last pair!

[ And then he looks thoughtful as if he's trying to make sure his math is right. ]

That's... that's it, right? Then there's Furina and Ringo and Nico and Verso. That's eight. That's eight, yeah!

[ Yeah! ]

RESULTS

[marriagebroker]

https://tenor.com/view/twgcf-jjkneko-gif-23550263

1/?

[suibian]

[ Well. Alright. Look, he's not so sure about those random matches he made at the end there but here we are. Let's do this. ]

Alright, as you can see, two of the lantern lights are already lit up, representing Furina and Ringo as well as Nico and Verso. So, you are exempt from a blackout this week.

Let's see what else you've got right.

[ Oof. ]

2/?

[suibian]

[ And after a moment... one of the lantern lights light up. ]

3/?

[suibian]

[ And then... another light lights up! ]

4/?

[suibian]

[ And ... another light lights up! Whoa! Three new lights! ]

5/?

[suibian]

[ Are there any more lights.......? A moment passes. Then another. Then — ]

6/6

[suibian]

[ Then that's all folks! Three lights for a total of five lit lanterns! You have figured out 2/5 so there are 3 mysterious pairings left.

Wei Wuxian looks relieved. ]

No blackout tonight! Congratulations!

Necessary Yaoiherd

[poans]

[After a moment for everyone to seep in the results, Yi Sang rises from his seat.]

Should our supposition that Aventurine and Miss Maya are a match hold true, then we have two more matches to discern among those made tonight.

Of the remaining five, there were one yaoi, one yuri, and three hets present, leaving us one match short in each same-gender category. Bearing this in mind, I would hear everyone's thoughts on which two pairs among us—Edamura and Rom, myself and Miss Odile, Misses Poppy and Yingying, Luka and Miss Shoko, and Miss Serpilia and Messmer—seem the most likely within the game's rules. Should we find ourselves in want of inspiration, there are Misses Ringo and Furina, and Nicodéme and Verso to whom we can turn.

[With that, he settles for a lighter smile at the group as a whole. Regardless of what everyone has to say, he's pleased to be here.]

One more week remains. But take heart, for we are more than halfway there.

[nrangel]

Maya and Aventurine, and Edamura and Rom for sure.

[ She sounds confident, but the second is the one she wants to be real the most now, after hearing what Edamura said up there. ]

I think Poppy and Yingying is pretty likely too at this point, but I won't discount me and Messmer.