puppycrush2 | week one | match ceremony

The weather is temperate and mild for the match ceremony on this fine Saturday evening, and the crew leads everyone onto a balcony with a cute seating set-up of couches and love-seats. The vibes are Trendy. There are enough places to sit for everyone, but there are only two single chairs, so everyone else is gonna have to cozy up on the couch. Or you can cuddle up in the chairs. I’m not your mom. Also there is only one egg seat. There's mood lighting, like fairy lights.

To one side, there's a small stage of sorts, with a podium where the characters will place their hands to lock in their answers.

Wednesday and Ryuji are led off to the other side so that they can take a seat of honor over on a comfy couch to one side--close to the other contestants, but just far enough away that it's clear they're getting special treatment. Don't you wanna go to the Honeymoon Suite now? Huh???

Anyway.

There are non-alcoholic drinks for people to take at will (all the better to catch spittakes on camera), and the weather is breezy and nice.

And, standing in front of the makeshift stage, with a set of seven unlit lights behind him and one lit light, stands the Overseer. He is dressed the part, of course. He also... looks tired for a moment, but he snaps back to his Proper Hostly Character as soon as the cameras are properly on them and everyone is settled in.

He presses a hand to his chest, sweeping the other outwards.

"Welcome, everyone, to your first Match Ceremony!"

He beams, all classic Tsukasa Sparkles. "As your host, allow me to explain how this will work."

For... the audience mostly. Maybe also for Ryuji? He's not sure how many of the contestants still don't know. It's fine.

"The lights behind me represent each Perfect Match. If--no, when you manage to light every single one, you'll have won, and you will all receive your wishes. For each Perfect Match you find at this ceremony, a light will be lit! And it is your task to figure out which pairs led to those lights appearing."

He nods firmly, eyes and expression shining with confidence in the competitors sitting before him. "And you do not even have to worry about losing a wish this week! It isn't possible for you to have a blackout, since Miss Addams and Sakamoto were a Perfect Match. Congratulations!"

Get on with it, Tsukasa. He clears his throat, pauses just long enough for there to be an inevitable easy cut to commercial break when they edit this later, and then:

"We will begin this week with Team Wonder."

He extends his hand to Dorothea, the other pressed over his heart. "If the lovely Miss Arnault would come up to start us off...?"

Looks like it’s the moment of truth, so strap in.

--

The ceremony has finally arrived! Each character on Team Wonder will be called up in an order determined by the producers (read: rng'd). Each will get their own sub-toplevel that characters can react to at will.

After the matches have all been locked in, we will then find out just how many you all got right.

Otherwise, feel free to use this log for reactions/toplevels for pre- and post-ceremony, and anything else you please. The world of reality TV dating is yours to embrace.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

What do you think about you and Mark?

Gotta admit, I think we're one of the more likely ones. Along with you and Lessing, or Sanji and Dorothea.

[ Wherever Mark is, he sneaks a glance towards him. ]

We don't know each other that well yet, so it's just on my gut feeling. I'll probably know better by the time we actually have to vote...

Yeah, that makes sense. Next week should help us figure it out a little more.

[ She pauses, trying to figure out how to word this. ]

I know it's early, but if you think you'd really like to work on knowing him romantically, just let me know? I don't want to hurt anyone.

[ Like she is already thinking very firmly platonically about Will due to Anna friendship! She can do this too! For the boys! ]

[ That makes him arch a brow, momentarily confused. ]

I get what you mean, but it's a little soon for something like that to be set in stone...

[ Even talking about being exclusive with anyone so early makes him a little nervous, even if he'd rather not be dating multiple people at once, either. It's complicated. Turns out his complicated family problems had an impact on his feelings towards intimacy. ]

You're not gonna hurt my feelings either way, okay? I told you yesterday, I was thinking of picking you.

Well, I meant you or Mark... I was just telling Lessing that I don't feel that way about anyone right now, but that's not the case for everyone. [ see: Ryuji. see: Anna. ]

I think it'll get harder not to end up accidentally stepping on someone's toes as the time goes on, and Mark picked you first this time before... well, never mind, but--

[ She shakes her head, briskly. ]

Okay! Either way, we've got some things to work on next week! And I'm snagging some time with you too, so be ready!

[ So she doesn't feel that way about anyone right now.... but still -- ]

Before? [ No, he shan't let that little slip up go. ] You were gonna say before you could, weren't you?

[ He'll address the matter of their impeding data next week in a second....

[ She just gives him the flattest of looks. Could you maybe not seize on that, you punk. ]

Well, if you already knew I was going to say that, then you don't have to ask me, do you?

[ Hehehe so he was right... don't worry, he won't look too smug about it, but he does smile to himself, rubbing at the back of his neck. ]

I didn't know for sure until you just told me, [ He's not that conceited! Actually, he looks a little flustered, being anyone's first pick. ] But... thanks. You already know I would've sat with you if there'd been a chance.

[ They talked about it for a reason. He's happy to feel reassured, though. ]

Anyway, you're right about next week. What kind of things do you like going to do? We should probably cook up some ideas before they just throw us wherever.

[ <--- clueless ]

I like trying new things, or finding those hole-in-the-wall restaurants that hardly anyone knows about, or just exploring the area. Maybe it's kind of a cop-out to say "I'd be up for anything", but that's about how it is.

What about you?

[ She'll mercifully spare him mention of him looking flustered, because she gets it. Being anyone's first pick is kind of staggering. ]

For me, it's definitely eating at a nice restaurant! The most expensive dish, if I can afford it...

[ He has expensive taste, what can he say... ]

Going to a foreign beach would be pretty cool, too. Or shopping in a new mall... I like amusement parks and fairs — you gotta travel a little out of Morioh to get to one, so it's always a special occasion.

[ very unsurprisingly, he likes carnival games! ]

Oh, amusement parks and fairs are great! It's been a while since I've been to one, but the games are fun, especially if you can get the oversized stuffed animals!

[ Hell yeah!! ]

So if we find a nice restaurant and you buy like a super expensive steak dinner, does that mean you won't be needing a nice humble custard bun at any point?

[ She's kidding. ]

Tch. First of all, I'd eat a custard bun whenever there was one in front of me.

[ It's him and his mommy's fav!! ]

Second of all, big fancy meals like that need dessert. Or at the very least, a cappuccino...

[ He folds his arms, giving her an unimpressed look. ]

You can't have a crazy steak dinner everyday, but a custard bun, you can. That's the appeal!

Big fancy meals usually need big fancy desserts, don't they? But I see, so they're pretty important...

... I guess we got help from a Servant once because the director gave them a croissant. Baked goods are pretty powerful.

[ Who knew... ]

Well, how big was it?

[ this is important ]

Or was it just one from one of those French bakeries?

He makes them himself! So I think it was just average-sized, but it was really flaky and buttery.

[ Sage nod. ]

[ He catches Josuke's eye and gives him a small, friendly wave, but leaves it at that. Really, it's best to leave him and Ritsuka to their conversation. He really likes them both... so as long as they're all still friends, that's what's most important right now. ]

week one | match ceremony

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