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

[titlecard]

[ He opens his eyes at the sound of her voice, and oh yeah, they're just out there.

He is staring. Respectfully. For a couple of seconds, before he remembers where her eyes are, and shoots her an easy grin. ]

You know... that might be the case for me too. [ A beat. ] Though that might've been hot springs, but that's basically the same thing, right?

[makeine]

[ in the words of a certain lit club president, it'd be impolite not to stare at women in their swimsuits. ]

Are you kidding me? Hot springs are way better. The ambiance! The chilly air when you stand up! The milk you drink after!

[ a sigh. she really likes that milk. ]

I wanna go with everyone... It'd be super fun.

[titlecard]

The milk?

[ He has not heard of the milk option before. ]

But okay, yeah, I guess you're right. [ Small laugh. ] Not that this place isn't nice, but being surrounded by the mountains and everything... yeah, that's a bit cooler. Maybe that can be a date option sometime.

[ or a big field trip ]

[makeine]

Nothing beats a glass of milk after a dip in the hot springs, Mark-kun. You'll understand the infinite pleasures of life once we've had our soak.

[ she's introducing the concept to him....... poor guy. he's lived his life so poorly. underwhelmingly. wrong, even. not anymore. anna yanami's here to fix it.

but she nods to the rest... yeah. yeah, nothing beats that. ]

We can bring as many people as we want, right? Let's just invite the whole group out -- Tsukasa-kun included.

[ one big date. or field trip. ]

[titlecard]

Alright. [ Mark beams, taking it all in stride. Anna is simply wiser than him, but he knew this already. ] As soon as we get out, we're taking a trip to the kitchen.

[ Truly she is teaching him so many things, and he is happily following along with absolutely no objections. ]

But oh, man... Tsukasa kind of looks like he could use a trip to the hot springs, doesn't he? ... Do you think he's doing alright?

[ Interviews aside, the match ceremony had been kind of... ??? ]

[makeine]

He's...

[ a pause. thinking back to the ceremony, and then to their interview together. ]

... Holding it together.

[ firm and assured. ]

But that's why I think we should invite him! I mean, he's about our age and he's expected to run this whole show? With other worlds and demons and stuff? I still can't believe it, but I guess it does explain a couple things.

[ like the odd "culture differences" between her and will. ]

[titlecard]

[ Mark can believe it, but mostly because he's had all kinds of weird shit thrown at him over the past year. This all feels really tame in comparison, especially since a number of them do seem to come from the same world — or if not that, then worlds close enough to each other that the difference is negligible.

But the other thing... ]

I can't believe there's a fucking demon here. [ He says it casually, but also like, seriously?? ] I mean, how many people here are equipped to deal with that? Is Tsukasa? No, I'm with you, we should definitely invite him. I think he's more than earned something just plain nice by now.

[makeine]

Right? Right? Even if he'll probably try and stay out of the way, since he doesn't wanna mess anyone's chances up and all...

[ smashcut to tsukasa's life as a third wheel on his outing with will and anna. ]

But if we say it's just as a fun group thing, maybe he'll relax?

[titlecard]

Oh, yeah! [ Mark nods eagerly. ] If we say it's like... a bonding activity. And that we need him there to make sure everyone stays happy. And then we just keep making sure he's part of the bonding.

[makeine]

[ she's nodding too!!!!! oh wow. she should've really gunned to befriend him from the start, they're on the same page. ]

Perfect! I'm sure he'd be happy to comply, Tsukasa-kun's a great guy. He even made sure I was okay before asking me the usual questions.

[ ... because of

um

☆ the everything that the ceremony was ☆ ]

[titlecard]

[ the everything that the ceremony was, ]

Yeah. I actually wanted to check in on him too? Some of that seemed unfair to him, and he didn't deserve that.

... He probably deserves some time in a hot spring more than the rest of us, huh?

[ they're on the same page! the same page of Having To Look Out For Tsukasa's Wellbeing ]

[makeine]

Oh, definitely. We need to get that guy outta here like, yesterday.

[ sigh... poor tsukasa. she feels for him. ]

He said that Akechi-kun had a valid complaint, just that his timing was bad. Which I totally agree with -- for a guy who's been in front of the cameras so much, you'd think he'd have some manners and sense... It's not like he had to go up and kiss the guy, just throw his hand down on that stupid panel. What a manchild!




[ sorry. sorry. we're gossip girling now i guess. ]

[titlecard]

[ this is how mark gets invited to girls night— ]

Yeah, I mean... I don't know what happened between him and Ryuji, that was kind of. A lot. [ But Ryuji is his bro, so he must have had a good reason. ] But just... I don't get why you'd draw it out? Just put your hand on the panel. You know it's not a match. Just get it over with so we can all move on. Why was that so hard?

[makeine]

Right? I seriously can't with jerks like that. It's a shame he's so hot.

[ totally wasted potential right there. super glad her other top pick worked out. ]

[titlecard]

[ ...

Mark, unsure how to respond to that, ]

Y-Yeah. [ Nervously, it turns out! Because he can't so casually say someone is hot like Anna can, even if it's true. ] I— What do you think happened to him?

[ who hurt you, Akechi ]

[makeine]

Probably got rejected so hard it sent him into orbit. Guys like that can't stand being turned down, so they'll end up leading people on and then dropping them once the fun's done.

[ ... probably. ]

Total control freak. Gotta be on his terms or not at all, always have to have the last word too.

[titlecard]

[ ... he likes Anna but that seemed like a really specific answer. ]

Maybe... You don't think it couldn't have been anything else? I mean, maybe something not related to a girl or a guy?

[ He just doesn't see how Ryuji's deal with him could be a result of Akechi being rejected... ]

[makeine]

It doesn't have to be like, a romantic rejection, just... in general.

[ no, it's a gut feeling from how he spoke about things last week. a little silly, huh. the importance of shoujos cast aside. huff! ]

Ryuji-kun said he was a total fake and hated everyone under that smile of his. That's definitely someone who's been hurt before.

[titlecard]

I... huh.

[ Is Akechi a total fake? Every time Mark's talked to him he's just seemed really cool and put together. Like someone he wants to be, if only he could have his shit together at all. Surely that wouldn't be a bad sign of anybody as a person... ]

... I mean, every time we've talked he's been fine. I'm not saying Ryuji is lying or anything — definitely not that — but if Akechi's been hurt before. I don't know. Maybe it's still possible to help him out?

[makeine]

You can only help someone who wants to be helped, Mark-kun. Remember that.

[ oddly sage advice from a sixteen year old girl but. that's how it is. ]

And if he wants to figure it out on his own, then that's that.

[titlecard]

[ ... ]

I just... don't want to give up on people.

[makeine]

[ ...

anna turns around in the hot tub, resting on the rim of it like that. ]

You're as bad as Will-kun. I don't really hate that, though.

[ she will after her aquarium date with akechi but that's future anna's problem ]

But it makes me feel like I've gotta keep an eye out for you too.

[titlecard]

[ ... He really isn't sure what to say to that at first, but eventually, ] I'll be okay, I promise.

[ Can he even really promise that, though? He wants to believe he can, but he doesn't have enough confidence to really project it in his voice.

Still. ]

You don't have to worry about me.

... But I appreciate it.

[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.

[titlecard]

[ Oh. He blinks.

And rubs the back of his neck awkwardly, glancing skyward for a couple of seconds. ]

I... lost my dad. I want him back.

[ He knows how that sounds. Mark's dad is definitely still alive somewhere, but he might as well be dead. And he doesn't mind it coming across that way — that's kind of the point — even if it's deceitful and shitty of him.

He blinks back down to Anna. ]

Sorry, I didn't mean to maybe bring the mood down. Uh, how about you? With your wish?