week four | mingle

[marriagebroker]

Final week at the estate! Final week with your friends. Final week with your beaus. Time to make the most of it, everyone!

In fact, to celebrate this fact, today there is a cake. It's nothing special, just a nice little cake to enjoy with your morning coffee or throughout the day. Yay, cake!

And when Wei Wuxian arrives that morning, he is going to call out once again for everyone to join him, near the cake.

"Everyone, I have another announcement!"

Hell yeah, announcements.

Boom Boom Room | Dates | Property Damage
Truth Booth Voting | Match Ceremony Voting

Comments

[phenomerom]

Hm? I hope you aren't expecting me to brew anything on Edamura-san's level, though. I usually drink instant.

[ For her sake, though, he will actually use the regular coffeemaker for once. ]

[researcherstory]

He is one of a kind, Rom. I could never expect someone to manage what he does.

[ For better and worse!!! Her own secret is nothing compared to anyone else's, at least. Unfortunate in some way. ]

Have you given thought to interdimensional travel yet? Outside of worlds alike to your own.

[phenomerom]

Haha. He certainly is.

[ Rom's attitude seems as unflappable and uncanny as always as he starts messing with filter papers and coffee grinds, looking up only briefly at that question. ]

Travel? [ A quiet hum in thought as he slots a coffee filter into the machine. ] I'm usually a lot busier than I look, so making a lot of time for travel might be tough ... but maybe I could take another vacation eventually. Is there someplace you'd especially recommend, Miss Odile?

[researcherstory]

None totally bereft of "spirits", but... Ka Bue is very peaceful. My world, in general, is very peaceful. Its history is barely marked, for better and worse, with anything more than a scrap or skirmish between different clans. The most recent tragedy lasted only a few short years and will be naught but a memory in half that thanks to the lack of casualties.

[ So, like. If he wants to visit. He can. She guesses. As a real vacation. ]

[phenomerom]

[ He's reminded of what Odile had said about the lack of spirits where she's from. A world that he frankly can't even imagine.

-- and his puzzlement probably comes through simply because Rom is quiet for a moment as he spoons coffee grinds into the machine. It's only once he's finished and slid the compartment back into place that he gives Odile a smile. ]

I wonder if I'd be able to fit in someplace like that. Even if it's just a short visit, I wouldn't want to be a rude tourist.

[researcherstory]

[ It does, and she doesn't break the quiet until he does first -- with a short huff of laughter, shaking her head. ]

Oh, you'll fit in. Your mentor and hers taught you manners, after all.

[ So he'll be fine, at least as a tourist. ]

"Spirits" in the sense of ghosts aren't something I believe in, but everything does have a spirit of its own. Perhaps you'll be able to speak with the Expressions the way some shrine keepers claim.

[phenomerom]

Haha. I wonder about that.

[ He takes a moment pouring water into the coffee maker's chamber, making sure to hit the right line. But as he closes the lid -- ]

... I'm not sure what would concern me more. If I went to a place like yours and saw nothing for the first time, or if I went all the way there and still saw the same things I see now.

[researcherstory]

I imagine it wouldn't be pleasant either way, considering the way you speak of the latter. Are ghosts all such terrible things?

[phenomerom]

[ He smiles thinly before looking down to hit the button that'll get the coffee machine started; it kicks in with a gurgle. ]

Spirits generally don't linger after death if they can help it. A few might stay to watch over loved ones, but most will pass on before too long. So for the ones that do stay ... it's usually resentment, anger, hatred that anchor them to the world. It warps their appearances as they become unable to remember anything other than those emotions.

[researcherstory]

[ Such an ugly sound.............................. Odile makes a face at it, then turns her attention back to Rom. ]

Then it should be a greater comfort that there would be few for you to see, in my opinion. I'd imagine any manifestations -- like the Sadnesses I mentioned -- would come only in the wake of something intense, and disappear soon after... though "soon" may be anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks, now that they've come into public consciousness as something that can happen.

[ The ramifications of The King have yet to truly be seen... the next few years would be crucial, and the Defenders useless. ]

Lucky for you, I do have plenty of experience in combating them. They eventually reform unless the root cause is taken care of, but that is more of an... empathetic... problem, which I am ill-suited for.

[phenomerom]

[ It's odd. He's so used to being the strange one, experiencing a reality that nobody else will understand, that being on the other side of the conversation is a strange feeling. Rom glances aside as he tries to envision what Odile is describing -- manifestations, Sadnesses -- before giving a low laugh. ]

What are you talking about Miss Odile? You've always seemed plenty empathetic to me~

[ This is a genuine compliment. He does not expect to be believed. ]

And besides, you never gave me a chance to hold up my promises of protecting you from dangerous spirits first. It'd be a little embarrassing if I was the one being protected first.

[researcherstory]

[ Unfortunately, she does very much believe that he thinks she is -- she may not agree, but she does believe his sincerity. Which embarrasses her a little, focused on the ugly gurgling of the coffee maker as it chokes its way through making their drinks. ]

... Well, I've... already made plans to visit someone here, [ three guesses as to who that is, ] so I suppose I could drop by and see you too, Rom. You'll have your chance to prove your profession real yet.

[ Don't worry. She's a skeptic, but she doesn't think he's outrightly lying to people. Despite his looks. ]

[phenomerom]

[ What a mystery.

Rom laughs, accompanying the gesture with a little sweep of the arms, all showmanship. ]

Mm? There are countless things to do if you visit where I'm from, you know? So much to do and so much to see! And that's to say nothing of the food -- we're battling with overtourism for a reason! Please don't hesitate to branch out and try the many things Tokyo has to offer!

[ But then, after a breath, a slightly softer smile. ]

But if you'd have the energy afterwards to participate in one of my ghost tours, I'd be honored, Miss Odile. I promise to make it worth your time.