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

[makeine]

Right? I don't think it's too much to ask.

[ probably. interdimensional cellphones or whatever didn't seem too futuristic, though some of them might need to get used to it... thinking about josuke trying to deal with a touch phone when he didn't even know flips makes her giggle. ]

What about you, Lessing-san? What're you gonna do with yours?

[makeine]

[ anna may be snuggling with will but don't think for a second she isn't making sure dorothea's okay too... she's here to discreetly take care of her friends. ]

Right? Now if only some people would change who they're choosing so we're not just overlapping...

[ not talking about herself of course she's got dibs-- ]

Well, it can't be helped. Competition's competition, even if I don't view Akechi-kun as a rival in any way.




[ but she does minami???????????? ]

[makeine]

[ of course she does...... people really out here saying "i want to understand you" to jerkfaces like minami and akechi..... must be something in the water. not this water, just in general. ]

So, what're you gonna do with your wish? When we win, big money no whammies style? Me and Lessing-san were talking earlier about it.

[inparfait]

Did you sleep well last night?

[hgeegh]

[His expression darkens as he takes a step toward Minami.]

Why, you . . . Was that you?!

[warhawks]

I haven't thought about it.

[ Just to prove her point: ]

I don't like guys who come on too strong, so it's not Josuke. [ Hello????? ] Akechi doesn't even like girls. Will's already with Anna. Steve... ew. Minami... double ew. Lessing's fine, but he made me look like a weirdo the first time we talked. And Sanji's probably about to match with Dorothea, so...

[ ... This literally only leaves Mark out of the boys. ]

[willandaway]

[it's his lot in life]

. . . I think you're right. Our connection isn't very strong. I'm not sure he even likes me very much.

[a small sigh escapes his lips as he leans back on his hands, gaze lifting up towards the sky. the stars are out tonight again. . .]

But I don't know if that matters in the long run.

[willandaway]

[. . . ?]

I-- will try not to be.

[. . .]

Yana-chan. . .?

[is she okay]

[singurarity]

So if you're asking me this, do you think you're a match?

[ Rather calmly. ]

[makeine]

[ ...

not really, but. is this the time? ]

He just said some things that bothered me, that's all. You know, nothing out of the ordinary.

[haircared]

Yeah, we get along. When she's not being a total hardass.

[ Somehow, the fondly annoyed comment speaks more to their closeness than anything plainly positive he could've said. ]

She raised me alone, so... it's always been the two of us. [ He purses his lips, somewhat embarrassed. ] You close with any family at all?

[ Some of his closest friends aren't, so he asks the question very loosely — he seems to anticipate more than a normal person that some people don't have great relationships with blood ties. ]

[haircared]

[ Oh.... that's actually kind of adorable. They're all a bunch of idealists. It does make it funnier in retrospect, that Sanji had tried to remind the other people in the house that he was a pirate, which means he might be a bad person, when in actuality, his whole crew is just following their dreams. Not what people first imagine when they think of the word 'pirate'.... ]

How about the other half?

[haircared]

Well, it doesn't inspire confidence, I'll give you that much.

[ He shrugs. ]

But I still think saying I "hate" you is pretty extreme just for that. When I really hate someone, they know.

[hgeegh]

[Oh, he wants to know more? Fine by Sanji.]

Our doctor's looking for a way to cure any disease while our archaeologist is working hard to unearth missing history. And our shipwright built a ship that can circumnavigate the world, so he's riding with us to see it happen. Finally . . . our musician wants to reunite with an old friend he hasn't seen in years once we circle back from our adventures.

That's all of us.

[Their crew of nine—ten, if he counts the Sunny.]

[willandaway]

[. . . FROWNS. during the fight last week, perhaps. . .?]

Can. . . we talk about it later?

[willandaway]

[quiet for a long moment]

[. . .]

I think. . . [hesitation] It's a possibility.

[singurarity]

... You could have a little faith in me and Lessing, you know.

[willandaway]

[oh my god]

[he looks back at her, eyes widening slightly, brows raised]

[and then a small huff]

Ritsuka. . . are you offended?

[CUTE. . .]

[hgeegh]

[Isn't Will already king? That's what it sounded like during an argument last week . . . but that's not important, even though royal blood complicates things.

Is a broken heart that's still on the mend really that easy to set aside as just fine? Sanji doesn't think so; however, something needs to change.]

A nation whose king doesn't listen to its people will never prosper, no matter how good he is. He can't make a decision if he doesn't know. I can't say what the correct course of action is . . . but a man who returns your feelings would never think of them as a mere distraction.

[If he does, he's a damn liar—and a cruel one at that.]

[singurarity]

No.

[ Sulkily. ]

1/2

[willandaway]

[STILL CUTE!! WHAT THE HECK!! . . . maybe. . . she ans Lessing really are-?]

You could have fooled me.

[willandaway]

[. . . and then, more seriously]

It's not that I don't have faith in you and Lessing. It's just-- [. . . hm. how does he put it. . .?]

[. . .]

I could see why. . . someone may look at Minami, and then look at me, and believe that we would work well together.

[rosethorns]

[A smile, warm as he speaks of his mom before it turns into something a little more bittersweet.]

No, I… [Her gaze drops a little, and she shakes her head.] I lost my mother when I was very young. And my father was never in the picture.

[She tries to rein in some of the bitterness at that last part, only partially succeeding. At least she manages a little better as she continues.]

So it’s pretty much always just been me.

[makeine]

Sure. Before bed.

[ since she's sleeping with asa tonight... ]

[makeine]

[ tearing up. when sanji learns will's running in a popularity contest for king without a drop of blue blood in him. ]

... I guess I am doing the same thing I did last time.

[ and she sighs, resting her cheek in her hand. ]

So I should tell him, right?