week one | arrival

[showhost]

The characters arrive in various vehicles suiting their canon (maybe a limo, maybe a chocobo), and are dropped off in front of a a lovely house in the middle of a big city. It’s tucked away behind some tall fencing, so that nobody can snoop on the production of the show, but nonetheless sounds of the city around them filter in. They each are able to bring one suitcase with stuff in it, which includes whatever clothing they want to bring (and Kat gets to bring her cat).

Welcome to your new home for the next couple of weeks!

From the moment you step into the house, the cameras are on you, recording your every move and word. Guess that’s something you’ll have to get used to.

And then there’s a young man, around your age, spreading his arms wide with a grin. You've probably met him for your interview already, or maybe that'll happen later, but either way? He is loud.

"Ha ha ha! Welcome to your new home, everyone! Settle in, settle in, don’t be shy! I–"

He is then ushered away by some of the production staff, where they argue in hushed whispers over whether or not he got overexcited and jumped in before his cue. Well. You can probably talk to that guy again later. Don’t worry about it.

Regardless, time to settle in! A few things of note about your new abode:

• There’s only one bedroom, which you will all be sharing.
  
• The bedroom has sets of bunk beds.
  
• Keen-eyed characters will note that there are not enough beds for everyone. There are only 13 beds.
  
• There is a weird pillow that is specifically made for Lessing’s horns. Don’t steal it from him. Or do, I’m not your mom.
  
• The kitchen is well-stocked with all sorts of ingredients to make whatever you might miss from home.
  
• There is a cheesy banner strung up over the living room that says WELCOME, THOSE WHO SEARCH FOR LOVE. It’s sparkly.
  
• Also in the living room is a screen which displays everyone’s profiles. It’s a touch screen, so you can swipe through and view all of them.
  
• There is cake to celebrate your arrival!

Time to get to know each other! Or stake your claim on a bed, or make lunch, or go swimming–whatever your little teen hearts desire! Remember, the name of the game is finding your perfect match, so… time to start that romance speed run!

Embrace Space | Property Damage, etc
Truth Booth Voting | Match Ceremony Submissions

Comments

iii

[newlugers]

Nah, man. I guarantee that little blond twerp is the one who put that up, not the showrunners. He's the most embarrassing part so far.

[ he's also enjoying a piece of cake. When was the last time he had cake? His birthday? It feels like ages ago. Whatever the answer is, time apart has definitely made this cake extra delicious, and he shovels a huge forkful in his mouth after he finishes talking. ]

[haircared]

[ Jeez, kind of harsh... he likes Tsukasa so far, even if he can be a little eager. He won't let himself judge this guy too soon, but he makes no motion to agree with his description of the other teen. ]

You think so? He's not that bad.

[ He muses nonchalantly, picking his fork around his own plate. He'll just try to save Tsukasa from further ridicule by changing the subject... ]

You're not embarrassed about the whole "coming for love" part?

[newlugers]

[ he shakes his head, mercifully choosing to finish chewing and swallow before continuing the conversation. ]

I kinda don't have a choice, so...

[ actually, he'd figured everyone else here was in the same boat as him up until this point. Steve quirks an eyebrow. ]

Isn't it the same for you?

[haircared]

[ Quirks a brow... ]

No? They just invited me here, man.

[ Though he can imagine some situations where someone would have no choice but to come here. Josuke, on the other hand, is simply on his summer break after solving a murder case. He is just here to party. ]

Are you in some kind of trouble?

[newlugers]

[ some people are so lucky and they don't even know it, Steve thinks. ]

Yeah, I ... I'm pretty sure I'm dying. I thought...

[ he feels a lump rise in his throat that he'd been doing a really good job suppressing until now, but he works around it. He doesn't even know this dude. ]

I figured this was some kinda purgatory. It's not?

[haircared]

No, I'm just on summer vacation...!

[ What the hell? His eyes widen, and he immediately looks concerned and invested. His hands raise, then he puts them back on his lap, thinking it would be way too weird if he just touched him to see what was going on health wise. ]

What do you mean dying? Are you hurt right now?

[ He has to save him, before it's too late... ]

[newlugers]

[ well, that makes this all so much weirder. ]

What? Then where the hell is this place...?

[ he frowns deeply, but Josuke's concern keeps him from thinking about it for too long right now. He shakes his head. ]

No! I'm fine - I checked when I got here, I don't have any broken bones or anything! But the last thing I remember is -- some really bad shit happening to me. [ unconsciously, he touches a hand to his ribs. ] I lost consciousness, and then when I woke up, I was getting brought on for this weird TV show. Thought I must be hallucinating or something, at least at first... I mean, I was in fucking Antarctica.

[ a beat. Then, in a rush: ]

-- And I'm not crazy, I swear! I'm telling the truth.

[haircared]

[ He watches him touch his ribs like that, listens to him speed through the explanation, gears turning in his head. He's way too frazzled to be pulling his leg, so his will is set in stone: he needs to help him. ]

Relax, I believe you.

[ He leans over to put a gentle, warm, comforting hand on his shoulder. Ostensibly, to quell his very obvious stress, but really, so that he can check for any internal injuries with his Stand, or any other anomalies going on with his body. If he came here right after getting knocked out, there should still be a way to fix things... he's not dead yet. ]

All we know now is that you're fine for the time being, right? So all we've gotta do is figure out how to get you back home safely. We've got time.

[ He's not saying that to slack off, either... he's just trying to reassure him that he Gives a Shit. ]

[newlugers]

[ josuke is too kind. Unfortunately, Steve isn't, and he quickly moves his free hand to brush away Josuke's. Someone's not a big fan of being touched... Still, Josuke (and Crazy Diamond) will see that it's as Steve said: he doesn't have any injuries, internal or otherwise. The only abnormality is some kind of unrecognizable viral infection floating around in his bloodstream, but it seems inert. ]

-- Yeah, yeah, I'll - I'll get back home safely by winning this thing, [ he huffs, suddenly self-conscious over his brief moment of panic. He's tougher than this. The last thing he needs is some strange guy with a pompadour to start fretting over him. ] Don't baby me. I'm fine. This whole thing's just kinda crazy, that's all.

[ the craziness means that it's actually nice that said weird pompadour stranger believed him without hesitation. He'll remember that later. ]

[haircared]

[ That virus is unlike anything he's ever tried to fix or unscramble — and to his credit, he tries to wrap his head around it in the three seconds of contact he has with Steve before his hand is brushed away. It's unsettling for Josuke when he cannot fix things, and bothers him deeply... especially when it comes to the body. No ailment should be out of Crazy Diamond's capability. But he can't force Steve into telling him more. He'll have to be patient. Despite accepting that, his expression still seems a bit distracted. ]

Sorry. Didn't mean to make you uncomfortable... you just surprised me, is all.

[ literally a sir this is a wendy's moment... anyway, he can tell Steve wants him to back off, so he does, physically and emotionally. ]

Anyway, you're right — we need to focus on winning. Finding these matches is gonna be a doozy, but we'll puzzle it out. [ changing the subject to take the focus off steve's little freak out: ] Got any ideas so far, for your match?

[newlugers]

[ he waves a hand dismissively. Uncomfortable? He's too proud to concede to something like that. Any lingering confusion on Josuke's face, he easily attributes to the bizarre story he just shared - who wouldn't be confused? If he wasn't living through it, he'd call his life bullshit, too.

Or, well, not living through it. He doesn't know. ]

What? [ the hard turn back into silly dating show seems to take him by surprise, but he does his best to keep up, if only because he doesn't want to have an existential crisis on a couch with a stranger. ] No way. It's only been a day.

[haircared]

You'd be surprised. Some people are already getting involved, apparently.

[ Thinks about Anna and her Will and Akechi feelings... ]

I don't have a clue either, though. Everyone keeps asking me my type as if we're all supposed to know exactly who to look for...

[ As far as he's concerned, there's plenty of cute girls and guys among them... he quirks a brow at Steve, as if to ask if he feels the same way about not having a specific type. ]

[newlugers]

[ the existential crisis is still looming in the back of his head and saying why are you talking about your types when you're dead and everyone else is alive, but, again, Steve tries to ignore it. Don't think about that now... ]

You don't have a type? No way that's true - everyone's got one! You've never seen a girl and been like, woah?

[haircared]

Uh.... no?

[ He's about to disappoint the fuck out of Steve, but he can't stop himself: ]

I'm kind of more of a pure love type of guy... I don't think I can handle just looking for hotties.

[newlugers]

A "pure love" type of guy...?

[ he raises an eyebrow. ]

You really think you'll fall in love on a dating show? [ a pause. ] I guess there are worse places.

[ speaking from experience, it seems. ]

[haircared]

Maybe, maybe not. I'm not that worried over it...

[ He's just goin with the flow!!!! He's here to party and eat free food... ]

I think I'll be glad if I just come out of this with a few friends, man.

[ AND A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND IN PRIZE MONEY ]

[newlugers]

overflow!!