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

[ordimame]

[honestly, for the entire anticipatory period between first light and last. . . Edamura does not let go of Rom's shoulders. which means when that last lantern flickers to life, Rom is getting shaken. vigorously. triumphantly. sorry buddy]

Look at that! We really did it!!!

[phenomerom]

[ You think he's going to complain about the shaking? Nonsense. That close contact just has him feeling giddy even as it makes his clapping all wobbly, and after a moment, he can't contain himself.

Sorry not sorry Edamura, it's your turn for a little jumpscare as Rom turns and sweeps him up in his arms -- squeezing tight just long enough to spin them around for a moment. Relishing in that warm, solid tactile sensation before he puts Edamura back down on his feet in place.

Still gonna be hugging him for just a moment longer, though, cameras be damned. ]

[ordimame]

[NO HE DESERVES THIS FOR ALL OF HIS OWN IMPULSIVE AFFECTIONS. . ]

[but that doesn't mean he doesn't yelp a bit in surprise, a strangled noise choked out of the back of this throat. it's not hard to lift him-- he is, after all, a scrawny little bean-- and he makes sure to cling to Rom's shoulders tightly until his feet touch the ground again]

[his body eases once Rom lingers in the hug, though. melting perfectly pliant against his companion's, even as fingers once again steal into those black locks for yet another ruffle. he speaks, voice quiet, pitched lower so no one else can hear]

I was pretty convinced it was us after last week. But. . .

. . . it feels kind of nice to have it confirmed, you know?

[phenomerom]

[ It’s cute, that yelp. It’s terribly cute, enough to make his chest squeeze tight. As is the comforting card of fingers through his hair, and the way Edamura’s body slots against his, and the low murmur of words shared just between the two of them. It’s all so unbearably endearing that he feels a bit like his heart is about to explode, and the only way he can keep himself contained is by squeezing Edamura tight once more before he pulls back just enough to whisper, soft and low, ]

I didn’t think it would matter. Whether they confirmed us a match or not. [ He still would have kept his promise and tried his best. But — ] But this feels nice, doesn’t it?

[ A low laugh, like a secret between them, playful and smug. ]

It feels even more like a victory!

[ordimame]

[it certainly wouldn't have mattered to Edamura, but it's still nice, to hear the same sentiment from Rom. and logically speaking!! neither of them should really care that their match was confirmed to be real, right? it's a proven fact (from people like Yingying, Yi Sang, Nico, and Aventurine) that people's hearts matter way more than the pairings made for the sake of television drama. the fact that the producers saw fit to make them a "perfect match" is just incidental to everything that developed between them over the last four weeks, and he knows it!!]

[and yet--]

[maybe it's a silly, romantic notion, something that Edamura does not believe in (is maybe starting to believe in, just a little bit), but--]

[it feels a bit like. . .]

[. . . aaaaah. that doesn't matter at all. if he goes down that road. . . he is just going to start overthinking again]

I don't know if "victory" is the word I'd use. . . [though it is undoubtedly one] . . . I don't know!

It just feels-- [a pause] Pretty good.

[he may not have the words to describe how happy it makes him]