week four | match ceremony

[marriagebroker]

Tonight, they're back at the courtyard for the fourth and final time. Nothing has changed too drastically decor wise, there are still lanterns abound and a table full of food and drink. There is also now a third couch near the special couches for Messmer and Odile, if they so choose to sit there. But again, you do you! Wei Wuxian is certainly not going to stop you.

Speaking of that guy, he's here and dressed to impress again. He's looking snazzy. He's waiting for everyone to arrive, watching as they do and grinning broadly all the while. Then when everyone arrives, he clears his throat and begins to speak.

"You all have achieved three of the eight lights you need to win the game. With the match of Messmer and Odile, you only have to light up five lights tonight to succeed. Let's hope you pick right, huh?"

But he has complete faith in everyone! So, let's get this show on the road.

"Team Wangji, you're up."

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.

[gamboler]

[ One last time, here's Aventurine — or perhaps Kakavasha, now — dressed cleanly with eyes bright, wearing his nerves like a champ as any gambler worth their salt would. ]

One more time...all or nothing.

[ But he has a good feeling about this particular gamble. ]

[ordimame]

[the way Edamura's lack of fashion sense has deprived me of searching for cute fits every week. anyway!]

[for the second week in a row, he has opted for something more on the casual side. comfy! natural! not trying too hard!! it's nothing more than a simple pair of brown slacks, a white shirt, and a gray overcoat, but whatever. he's trying!!]

[despite everything, he doesn't look particularly nervous. just. . . pensive. especially as he fiddles with something unseen in his pocket]

[crimsin]

[ Nico has arrived, looking fancy as usual. He'll flit over to his couch to hang out with Verso in a bit, but for now he wants to greet everyone. ]

It is hard to believe we are at the end, non? These weeks have practically flown!

[irreversal]

[ Shoko is in a gown for their final Match Ceremony, with her hair done up in an elegantly loose updo. ]

Anyone still hungover from last night? Let me take a look at you.

[enscene]

[One last Furina fit for the road, probably with even more ruffles tucked into the coattails somewhere.

She keeps stealing glances over at Wei Wuxian, though she also doesn't seem particularly nervous. They've all put in their absolute best effort, so she's confident in the outcome no matter what. She's eating and drinking cheerfully.]

What do you think? Maybe he'll give something away. [Not that he was in the know ever before, or anything like that.]

[reverso]

[If now isn't the time to wear the canon fit that represents light and hope, then I don't know when would be.

He will wander over to his special perfect match couch eventually, but he's flashing everyone a small smile in the interim.]

Weirdly... I feel less nervous today than I did at all the other ceremonies.

[phenomerom]

[ One last ceremony, one last ridiculous goth outfit for the resident ridiculous goth. (No, he's not wearing the facepaint. Just his usual hat.) Hands loose at his sides, he mostly just looks thoughtful as he gazes at the stage -- a beat slow to glance over when he realizes anyone's looking to him. A blink before he smiles. It's a little softer than the Cheshire grin he dons by default, just a tiny bit. ]

... that first ceremony feels like it was years ago, doesn't it?

[nrangel]

[ No dress today! Instead it's a cute pantsuit that still fits into her main pale color scheme. ]

Final day that everything rides on, huh? No pressure...

[beatmatching]

[ final fit! with a purple rose pinned to his lapel.

yes he did the impossible he's not slutting it up yw(?) ]

[embellwish]

[ last fit, yes this is important, she needs to go out with a bang and wear something sexy in case she loses access to her banging body after this ceremony ]

SELECTIONS

[marriagebroker]

Characters from Team Wangji 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.

yingying

[suibian]

[ First up is... Yingying! Wei Wuxian looks delighted as he gets to call her up, sounding energized. ]

Yingying-xiaojie! My friend! It is your time to pick.

[ And when Yingying comes up to the stage, she will pick... Poppy. ]

"Did you know? From the first day, I've found you so cute and adorable, and that feeling has only grown, my dear. You have this habit of puffing up when faced with the unknown — but I like you the way you are. Everyday since the start.

I think you can afford to be a little more confident!

After all, after so long, you helped me feel a bit of hope again. Thanks to you, I know that even if all this goes awry... there's still hope for me.

I really meant it: every day. I won't let you be alone another time."

[ That's so sweet... ahhh.... lock it in, girls! ]

shoko ieiri

[suibian]

[ That leads us to our next pick! The person being called up this time is... Shoko. ]

Ieiri-xiaojie, you know what to do.

[ And so Shoko comes up and makes her pick. Which is Serpilia. ]

"Now that I think about it, Serpilia here hasn't gotten to know what it's like for someone to come up here and pick her until now, huh? Ehh... That's such a shame! You're one of the most easy-going ones here, and that's coming from me... It's all those times you've looked at me with kindness that really stick out to me, too. Of course, you're also clever, funny, and pretty... So what were all thinking, huh?"

[ She shakes her head with a smile. ]

"Anyone would be lucky to call you their match, but right now that someone is me. Come on, Serpilia. Let's do this."

[ And when Serpilia comes up, she has some words to say as well. ]

"It's pretty obvious by now that we're each other's match, right? I mean, beyond the math and all of that, I've been thinking that already by the end of week two anyway. If it weren't for the fact that neither of us were actually able to pick last week, I definitely would have already picked you. And you know what? Even though I think we "sparked" with other people, I feel really lucky to have you as my perfect match, Shoko. I hope you feel the same way."

[ Once again... so sweet! Wei Wuxian looks touched. Lock it in, sweethearts! ]

luka

[suibian]

[ Luka...! Our wildcard, our main man, our little guy. Wei Wuxian looks a little nervous calling him up because he has no idea what this guy is going to do, but he believes in him! ]

Luka, it's your turn...!

[ And so, Luka comes up. ]

[ luka has a bright grin when he walks on stage. do you trust him? surely you don't have a reason not to and surely as a performer who values winning at any cost he wouldn't throw a wrench into things at the very list minute:

surely—well you'd be wrong. luka values winning above all else but he also knows that sometimes to win you have to lose. his fans wouldn't care and neither would his father, it would be more of a reflection on the show than anything else and it'd be spicy.

he made his decision a few days ago.

once again, no one knows who luka bribed to be able to be extra like this but here we are. last time he performed up here, it was clearly a song of love and adoration. this time it's completely different: ]

Do this, do that
If I keep ignoring you, I’ll have more fun, pop pop pop
Your quality is like bubble gum, pum pum pum
Ah yeah, like birds of a feather, they gather
Their lips won’t rest, just clap your hands

“I’m right”
“I know because I went through it”
Yes Sir, Yes Sir, Yes Sir
Gracias

Your worries? no thanks I’m ok
I’m just doing me
Don’t say you’re doing this for me
Leave me alone, I’m in my own rhythm

Dancing, dancing, dancing
Move, move, move
Dancing, dancing, dancing (Let’s go let’s go)
I’ll spend my time however I want

[ and then with a literal mic drop, luka names his pick. it's a good thing he's familiar with losing and despite his pride, is inherently a selfish individual. that's the only thing that's saved everyone here today. ]

Yi Sang.

[ Well, okay. Yeah. Okay. Lock it in, boys! ]

maya amano

[suibian]

[ And our final pick...! Well. Kind of final. There's one more comment after this.

It's Maya's turn though. ]

Amano-xiaojie, please come up to the stage!

[ Well, at least she doesn't have to sing this time.

And she has something to say as she picks Aventurine! ]

"We kind of went in a crazy direction, didn't we? When we first met, I did feel like there was an understanding between us and we clicked pretty quickly. I wanted to see more of your real smile. But, you know? I still got to see it, didn't I? And you found someone who'll see right through you, which is all I could ever want for you. So if we're matched, then I'll accept that as us being two pretty cool people who are most definitely friends now and who managed to score some amazing partners in the process!"

[ Amazing... partners... Maya, you really gave that guy a chance?

Anyway. It's time! Lock it in, friends! ]

finale

[suibian]

[ Now, there are two leftovers again but... that was intentional, wasn't it? Wei Wuxian beams brightly as he calls up Edamura and Rom as our two final picks. ]

Come on up, boys. Anything you want to say before we close?

[ And it doesn't look like Edamura has anything to say but!

Rom pipes up. ]

"... just for a moment, I'd like to forget where we are -- to pay no mind to the audiences, or the cameras, or even the game as a whole. I think I've been doing my best, so hopefully our fellow game-mates will forgive me for one moment of negligence."

[ His delivery maintains that usual, languid tone. But given how conscious Rom has appeared of the cameras during their entire stint, Edamura can probably understand the gravity behind that opener, no matter how casually it might be said.

And it's only Edamura that Rom looks at as he continues, even his hand briefly clenches to a nervous fist at his side. ]

"Makoto-san. I'm grateful that circumstances have allowed me to meet you like this. And I stand by what I said -- I'll do my utmost to make sure you have no regrets. No matter what might happen going forth, I'll dedicate myself to that promise. So thank you for giving me that chance. I won't let you down."

[ Now that's a finale, for sure. Wei Wuxian looks so proud of Rom especially. That's his guy! (Who hates him but whatever.)

Lock it in, boys! ]

RESULTS

[marriagebroker]

🫡

1/?

[suibian]

[ Alright, moment of truth! Wei Wuxian looks... a little nervous as everyone finishes locking in their picks and the lanterns above glow brightly. ]

Alright, like I said earlier, you need to get five lights to win the game. So, all five of the picks just now must be correct.

[ And with a deep breath, he gestures with his flute towards the lanterns above. ]

Let's... see the results!

2/?

[suibian]

[ And after that... one lantern lights up. ]

3/?

[suibian]

[ And then a ... second lantern lights up. ]

4/?

[suibian]

[ A... third lantern lights up! ]

5/?

[suibian]

[ Then... Then a fourth lantern lights up! ]

6/6

[suibian]

[ Which means naturally... a fifth lantern lights up.

And Wei Wuxian finally looks relieved. ]

... You all did it.

[ Please clap. ]

Party pleek

[poans]

[Tears abound. Cheers rise, clearing the air. Eventually, it's decided to head out to the vaster gardens in the interest of space and distance for those who'd prefer the quieter indoors. Food and drinks are set up on tables with chairs scattered around the premises. The platform Nico made the week prior has been moved outside to serve as a stage for various activities, and the sauna is ever present to sit six at a time. This is their final night to spend howsoever they choose.

On his end, Yi Sang sits off to the side where he can watch the festivities with a drink in hand and a contented smile. Having worn his original attire of a white collared shirt and dark pants with suspenders to the ceremony, he now sports a coat over his shoulders to ward off the oncoming chill.]

[ordimame]

[I PROMISED ANNA SO HERE IT IS--]

[that is to say, Edamura has somehow managed to find a small tabletop grill somewhere within the mansion, and is now outside making good use of it! which is to say, he is whipping up some nice, savory servings of meat skewers-- chicken, beef, and veggie options included!]

[he fans away a bit of smoke before mumbling to himself]

No one had better call these bitter. . .

[is he still salty about the coffee. maybe a little]

[also: yes, he is wearing a stupid kiss the cook apron. IT WAS THE ONLY ONE HE COULD FIND. . .]