week one | match ceremony

[showhost]

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.

Comments

[flaweddetective]

[He pockets the little compact as he debates. It'll probably piss Ryuji off if he lets Josuke heal him. Looking like an ass while the damage gets erased. That's pretty worth it.

It's already starting to throb so... Just to save himself the literal headache later he'll accept.]

You can if you're inclined. I would appreciate it...

[haircared]

[ It does not escape his notice that Ryuji will probably be totally pissed that Josuke is even doing this.... but it's fine. What Ryuji said was still pretty fucked up, even if it were allegedly(?) deserved. His best friend is always slugging people that piss him off, leaving Josuke to do the first aid afterward. It's fine, he's used to this. ]

You've gotta give me some answers in return, though. And not bullshit ones.

[ He muses, dryly and a little pointed, coming to sit next to him so he can get a closer look at the wound. ]

Because that was crazy out there, dude.

[flaweddetective]

For the record I was trying to mind my business the entire time.

[Ryuji, quite literally, started it and then made it physical. Someone who physically assaults to get their way and the public loves them for it. Some things never change. That's how dear old dad made his way up. By being a piece of shit.]

And I can't promise anything... [He will probably still lie because his story with Ryuji needs to remain intact. The truth paints him in too bad a light. And consistency is important.] But I will say what I can.

I am working on an ongoing an active investigation but if there are things I can say then I will. I don't intend to be working too much longer on the police force so if I lost my job over it I suppose it's not the end of the world.

[haircared]

[ that makes him sigh, settling in beside him. Akechi might look unaffected by this, but Josuke looks annoyed, even while he reaches out (slowly!) to tilt Akechi's jaw so he can see his eye. ]

First, I wanted to talk more about the shit at the end of the ceremony.

[ Refusing to lock in, saying none of this mattered, generally acting a little unhinged... he frowns, then activates his power — only using it to gauge the severity first. Not like Akechi can know how long it takes him to heal things... he'll draw this out as long as he can, for information's sake. ]

You're always doing that. Acting polite, then suddenly short... and when anyone gets too close, it's "well, I can't talk about that." I'll be honest: it makes it pretty damn hard to believe anything you have to say.

[ Josuke is not a coward, so he meets Akechi's eyes, even though he's like... literally cradling his face right now. He only feels secure admitting that straight to his face because he's still showing him mercy by healing him — so he's obviously not looking to jump him like Ryuji did during the ceremony. He's just trying to get to the bottom of things. ]

[flaweddetective]

Then don't believe it. [He says it calmly. As calmly as he can.] Or do. In the end what does it matter? If he's telling the truth. If I am? If we're all lairs who cares...? Not all of us are Anna where this happy ending is the be all and end all of our entire lives.

It's not a crime to not let anyone get close... And I'd, personally, rather not in case we fail. Attachments will make this all the more difficult.

[haircared]

[ Akechi couldn't have made it more clear that he has no intention to explain or defend himself, so Josuke just sets his jaw and frowns. Wordlessly, a golden, shimmering glow encases Akechi, glinting and refracting like light through a diamond.

It's soothing and warm, completely melting away the pain that radiates from the would-be bruise. Originally, he planned on taking his time, trying to gently coax more information out of Akechi in exchange for his mercy, but he can't force a horse to drink. This is about as much for Ryuji as it is for Akechi, anyway; Josuke doesn't want charges or consequences to get brought against him, as Akechi had threatened. ]

Fine. Have it your way.

[ With his healing touch no longer needed, he shoves his hand in his pocket, looking off the balcony. He's not angry yet, but he has sufficiently been rubbed the wrong way. ]

Since your eye's all better, lay off Ryuji and Tsukasa. [ One gets the sense this is not a request, it's a demand. ] Shouldn't be a problem, right? Those would be some pretty strong negative attachments.

[flaweddetective]

[Akechi jerks away and softly seaths. He almost thanked him. Almost.]

Lay off... I didn't touch nor start the argument with him. [Ryuji threw the only punch and started with the insults. He resits the eye roll because this is infuriating. Sure, he's been doing what he's doing to purposely irritate the former thief but he still didn't start anything at the ceremony.

And lets not forget Ryuji also dragged up his mom. Which was a remarkably low blow for someone who doesn't know him at all. Which means Joker probably blabbed some amount of what he told him. Which is certainly a betrayal of some sort he just can't place exactly how mad he feels about it. Or if he should even give a shit anymore. Pretending he doesn't know any of them at all seems more and more like the right thing to do.] Whatever...

[Because it is whatever. People have taken to Ryuji for some reason and while he can't understand it they'll turn a blind eye to what he does. That's how it works. That's how the world works. He acts a little bit like himself and the whole world turns just like he knew it would. Everywhere he goes he's unwanted. Yes, he should have acted a little better or just been a silent observer. A dozen could haves and should haves. But at the end of the day... he really despises everyone here so much. He couldn't have pulled it off for a solid four weeks. They don't know him and they won't like him if they do. So what's the fucking point? What's the point of any of this?]

Easier done if you and everyone else leave me alone.

[haircared]

Nope, you didn't, [ Josuke agrees breezily, knowing it's about time he should get out of his business. He rises to his feet, brushing off his clothes and running a hand through the side of his hair. ] But that was a lot of anger for someone who doesn't know you. I'm not stupid.

[ He can only assume they truly do have bad blood. Yes, Akechi was "faultless" at the ceremony. But Akechi's story about not knowing him, knowing him as some troubled kid at a weird school is falling apart at the seams. Pointing at him leisurely: ]

Just to make it clear, I healed you because I didn't like what he said about your mom. I don't know what the hell's going on between you two, but I do know that was a douche thing to say.

[ Josuke says that much bluntly, looking at him dead in the eye. This is easy to be truthful about — what Ryuji said was fucked up, and it would hurt him a lot, too, were he in Akechi's shoes. But if he knows that about Akechi, they are quite obviously not strangers. ]

So putting this out of sight, no ramifications, think of it like a favor to me. In exchange for the lack of black eye you have right now.

[ He raises his hand in a laid-back, delinquent-esque wave, getting out of his space as requested. Unless Akechi has anything else to say to him, he'll saunter off. ]