week two | mingle

[showhost]

Welcome to week two, Teens Who Are Definitely Searching for Love!

Hopefully everyone got a lot of rest over the weekend, and are bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for the upcoming week, because there are a few things of interest this week.

But first, some changes of note in the house!

First: there is a giant rectangular box on the living room table, addressed to Lessing. It is a care package. The only thing in it is his sword.

There is some Bauernbrot bread on the counter. Ask Lessing about that too.

There is now a hot tub near the pool. It’s large enough to seat about six teens comfortably, but you can get more in there if you really try for some reason.

Okay I think that’s everything. Additionally, Tsukasa is here early this week! He’s looking pretty perky, seemingly recovered from the Match Ceremony, and he’s got some interesting info to share with everyone.

Embrace Space | Property Damage, etc | Dates | Mini-Event
Truth Booth Voting | Match Ceremony Submissions

Comments

[hgeegh]

[What a power couple.]

It's his treasure. He never takes it off; that's why we're known as the Straw Hats.

[haircared]

So that's how it is...

[ He feels like he's read somewhere that pirates have names they're known by like that. Like he just remembered an interesting piece of trivia: ]

What does your flag look like, then? Is it special to you guys?

[titlecard]

[ ... who is the one

Thankfully Josuke is squeezing Mark further up against him, derailing his brain before he can focus on that little utterance. He just smiles up at him instead. ]

Hey, if someone won't lock in with you, I'll just go up on stage and make them.

[ (threat) (real) (but very cheerfully issued) ]

[hgeegh]

It's a skull with a straw hat. The flag represents what we believe in, so of course it's special.

[singurarity]

Demons aren't so bad once you learn how to handle them.

[ Okay, Ritsuka. ]

Ae you thinking about discounting Kat entirely? Even if we assume Lessing and I are a match and we... assume Sanji and Steve and Mark are all paired with girls and Will and Anna-chan are a thing, there's still one more.

[ She sighs, shaking her head. ]

I just don't want you to think you have to settle, in some cases. [ Because he said he'd rather not, with Akechi. ]

[gravkitty]

Does that count? [She says what we're all thinking... Anyway, there's no reason Kat can see that it wouldn't work for the scavenger hunt.]

I don't know if I have anything blue... I packed pretty light... Wait! I bet I can get you something old.

coming back to this thread truly smoking my duck cigarette

[haircared]

[ Mark leans into him, and he lets him, moving his head a bit to the side so he has more room to rest. His heart skips a beat — this is close, even for him, and his hands are starting to feel so warm, trapped between Mark's. He lets their shared hold linger for a few quiet moments, before slipping one of his hands free so he can give Mark a one-armed hug, his open palm gentle against his back. ]

Yeah, for sure. [ He agrees, fighting back the sting of tears in his eyes he feels. The climax of his own battle is so fresh, so raw, that away from his friends and family who went through it with him, the denseness of the emotion he still has pent up about it catches him off guard. Clearing his throat quietly, he hugs Mark a little tighter. With effort, he manages to make his voice not sound too taut. ] We can't bring people back... but there's always carrying on their legacy.

[ That is how he coped with his grandfather's murder; now, for the rest of his life, he expects to take up his mantle and protect his beloved hometown. Mark may not have known the people who died in that building collapse, but he could vow to honor them for the rest of his life. To Josuke, that's the only actionable thing he could do that made him feel better, during times like the one Mark is going through. ]

And other people who will need you. That's how I keep going...

[ His mom, his friends, his neighbor, the grocer, the other students at his school.. there will always be people who need him. He's always going to feel a void where the people he couldn't save are, but it doesn't obscure his view of the rest. To say it'll get better feels hollow, so he says the closest thing he can think of to the honest truth. ]

It won't always be like this.

[singurarity]

It'll be okay! I've got your back!

[ yeah!!! ]

[hgeegh]

Those slobs? Your cooking is better than theirs.

[He loves the guys back at the Baratie, but they're men.]

I can give you technical feedback, but it was damn delicious.

[hgeegh]

Thanks, Ritsuka. If everything goes well, my choice at the ceremony will be set.

[He hopes that's as far as it needs to go.]

[haircared]

[ asa because their convo died after 3 tags 😭 ]

Ha, seriously? You don't seem like you'd hurt a fly.

[ <----- CLUELESS

how have they made it this far not knowing both of them are a bit hulk smash ]

Or is there some secret other side to you I haven't seen?

[ he has one too, so he'd get it! ]

[haircared]

...But you don't all wear straw hats?

[ Well, maybe it'd look dorky if they all matched. But still.. ]

I guess I thought all pirates just believed in — [ he tilts his head, trying to figure out the words. ] Doing whatever they want.

[makeine]

[ "but they're men" you're so right sanji ]

Nah, I'm good. It's nothing I'm gonna make a career out of after all. I'm thinking more of being a housewife who writes on the side.

[hgeegh]

[Sanji does not want to wear a straw hat every day over his two-piece suits.]

That's right, but "whatever" depends on the crew. There are pirates out there who believe in exerting their power over the weak, whether through strength or numbers; however, our captain believes in being free, so he lets us do as we please. We don't pull rank, and none of us has an interest in subjugating others.

[hgeegh]

[He should just rip his heart out. It would make this sudden thumping more bearable.]

Of course! As a housewife, you wouldn't have to change a thing.

[After all, she's the resident love expert! However, this thought gives him pause.]

Ah, although . . . Yanami-san, can I ask you a question?

[haircared]

[ he's gonna pretend he didn't hear that so he doesn't get mad about ritsuka's coworkers again ]

Well, at least for me, I can look at this all from an objective standpoint. I'm not gonna take it personal, no matter who I'm matched with... so it's not about "settling" to me. It's about solving the puzzle.

[ Because it's a game. His personal feelings are a different matter. Case in point, he likes Sanji and thinks he's a great guy when he's not being a menace to society and Dorotheas everywhere, but the fact of the matter is that he thinks production would only match him with a guy to screw the contestants over. His feelings aren't gonna be hurt if Ritsuka and Lessing are matched, either; it won't change his closeness with her, as far as he's concerned. ]

What I'm trying to say is that even if I don't pick someone, it doesn't mean I don't like them. Kat and I get along great, and Sanji and I do too, sort of. [ it's confusing, let's not get into it. ] But it won't help us if I can't see past the people I initially thought I be matched with.

[gravkitty]

[For someone who's never seemed particularly interested in the flirting or dating aspects of this show, Lessing is very charming when he just acts decisively like this instead of tenderly circling the subject.

Kat draws up in surprise when he closes the distance between them to press his lips to hers, making a soft but not unpleasant noise. Her face burns hot, and she brings her hand up to rest it briefly at the base of Lessing's neck, returning the kiss with the same gentle, soft press. It isn't particularly long and definitely not roaring with overwhelming passion, or whatever stereotype might come out of a regular spontaneous spin-the-bottle kiss, but it is vulnerable and sweet. In a way, it almost seems thankful.]

You're pretty good, [she murmurs, dropping her gaze when they separate.]

[haircared]

So, the whole crew must be helping you find the "All Blue" then, right?

[ That's his wish, isn't it? That's gotta be why he's on a ship. ]

Or you all have wishes like that... things you want to seek out.

[ Wow, this pirate crew is shaping up to be totally different than he imagined; it's actually pretty neat. ]

[singurarity]

Oh yeah, he likes you. [ Mildly. Moving on-- ]

But I see your point. Okay, so maybe we work on testing your theory with someone a little more unexpected, whatever that looks like. And we'll work on Mark's pair too; the more of these we can knock out, the easier it'll be for the rest of the matches to start falling into place. Lessing said he'd pick me, so hopefully that gives us enough data to verify whether we're a match or not. [ Unless tomorrow goes sideways, which. Possible. ]

[inparfait]

So you don't hate me like Mark?

[ sorry Mark. ]

[makeine]

Sure, shoot.

[ while she polishes off her rice. ]

[haircared]

[ ........... ]

Huh?

[ The rest of what she said seemed pretty self explanatory. Disbelievingly: ]

Who, Sanji?

[hgeegh]

. . . You've seemed troubled lately. Is it because of the show?

[haircared]

Well, I don't know you yet.

[ So technically, no. ]

I might find a reason to hate you down the line. [ fair warning! ] But that's also true for everyone.

[singurarity]

...

[ Just kind of beckons him closer, because some words are for Josuke only. ]