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

josuke

[haircared]

[ duck smoking.gif ]

[singurarity]

[ Well. It does eventually land on Josuke, and Ritsuka obligingly scootches over. ]

So, which one can I help with?

[ In the spirit of camaraderie!! She is being so composed! ]

[haircared]

You mean points-wise?

[ A two point kiss or a three point kiss... ]

You're just fine with whatever?

[singurarity]

Mm-hm. I trust you.

[ So whatever he needs is fine with her, and she says this earnestly. ]

[haircared]

[ Ritsuka... 🥺

Her trust in him makes him feel more relaxed about all this. He also knows Ritsuka won't think he's taking advantage of the situation, which is his main hang up about all this. He can feel comfortable around her... ]

Let's do three then, [ He's being choosy about it for deep lore reasons, ] But less like that pocky game this time.

[singurarity]

You mean don't make it into a competition and no wagers? Sure, I think I can manage that.

[ Thank goodness for banter, as she genially bumps against his side before facing him properly. When is this supposed to get easier, she wonders. ]

Ready?

[haircared]

Yeah, yeah, yak it up.

[ Accented with a slight eyeroll, before turning her way and putting a hand on her shoulder. It should be fine, he's an affectionate guy who's always putting an arm around people and lingering close. Even so, he's not used to going quite this far, at least not in a game.

The banter really does help. He sighs once before leaning in, tilting his head to press his lips to hers once gently. ]

[singurarity]

[ He's an affectionate guy, yeah, which is what she's telling herself. Even though kissing is entirely different and despite herself, Ritsuka's face feels warm. One hand moves, to rest over the one on her shoulder, to try and ground herself and after a moment, she leans in to meet him because she refuses to let him do all the work here.

Equally gentle, and she leans back after a bit, definitely red. ]

Victory? [ Task accomplished! ]

[haircared]

[ Oh, that is definitely her hand over his. He wasn't expecting that, and it almost startles him, perhaps evident in the slight flinch he gives during their short-lived kiss. It's not a bad flinch — just a surprised one. He'd generally thought most people would play this game in the most mechanical, through-the-motions way possible, but her hand atop his takes him out of the game a bit. ]

Yeah — guess so. [ What's left of the energy of his eyeroll is still lingering when he pulls back, heaving out a much longer than necessary sigh. ] Though I thought we weren't making this about winning and losing.

[singurarity]

[ She just scrunches her nose at him. Don't send those eyeroll vibes at her, young man. ]

I meant for the points, not us competing. I stick to my word.

[hgeegh]

[duck smoking 2.gif

Sanji's next spin after Minami lands on Josuke. He freezes, and then his entire face flushes once realization dawns. The lollipop crunches loudly between his teeth.]

[haircared]

[ i cant believe youve done this.mp3....

Woah, he didn't know Sanji could even flush like that. Not over guys, anyway... he even crunched his lollipop with such violence. Josuke's brows raise, wondering if it's him specifically or just the game in general causing this. Gently, slightly amused: ]

... Are you okay? We don't have to.

[hgeegh]

[The lollipop crunches some more before he swallows the fragments.]

No! I spun the bottle, so now I have to do this. I'm not a coward.

[It's a bunch of excuses, but the fact remains that he isn't going to squirm his way out of this. He claps his hands against his knees and rises decisively.]

[haircared]

[ SWALLOWING THE FRAGMENTS????????? ]

Well — okay, if you're sure...

[ He's not gonna be the one to say no. But he does wonder if Sanji is having to work himself up to do this. Trying to be considerate, while Sanji walks over: ]

How did you want to do it...?

[hgeegh]

[Tastes like glass shards. Damn delicious.

Sanji approaches without faltering and plops down in front of Josuke. He holds out his palm.]

Gimme your hand.

[haircared]

My hand?

[ His brows raise in surprise, but he obeys, gently placing his hand in Sanji's. This is lowkey making him more nervous than some of the other kisses he's had to dole out, maybe because Sanji is the one approaching him... ]

[hgeegh]

[Hey, why was it given so gently? Sanji's face is calm—the picture of near boredom with half-lidded eyes and slightly downturned lips—but his heart is starting to pound out of control once he feels that hand in his.

It's just a game! Don't overthink it. In fact, it'd be better for everyone if he stops thinking now. Enough with the nonsense. Calm down and don't be a pain! This has nothing to do with the matches!

(Josuke's hand feels—nope!)

Sanji leans in at the same time he brings Josuke's hand up to disguise the slight tremor that starts to rack his own. He stops inches from his face, questioning if this spot was such a good idea, then throws caution to the wind and pressss his lips to the back of that guy's hand for one, two beats before pulling back. His cheeks tingle as he looks everywhere but at Josuke, their hands frozen in place mid air.]

[haircared]

[ The soft, polite press of the kiss on the back of his hand almost feels more intimate than some of the three point kisses he'd shared with others by this point — maybe it's because he's not usually treated in such a gentle way. Not in a bad sense; Josuke is just more the type to deal out casual affection, so that is generally what he gets in return. Not... well, whatever that was.

Blinking owlishly, he doesn't immediately pull his hand away — because even though Sanji looks bored as hell and like he'd rather be doing anything but this at the moment, Josuke can feel the pounding of his heart through his Stand. Is it from embarrassment..? Or — something else? Josuke grips on a little tighter, as if it's going to help him get to the bottom of it. ]

...Hah, so it's true. [ He breathes out lazily, almost awed, apparently not bothered by their close proximity. Sanji might not, but Josuke looks directly at him. It just toes the line of being teasing, as if to give himself the perfect amount of plausible deniability. ] You really do have a heart of gold.

[ Sanji's not the skirt chasing jerk he thought he might've been... he's actually pretty sweet beneath it all, to give out a polite kiss like this. He could've done it in the most passive, annoyed way, and made Josuke feel like it was a total bother, but he didn't, despite how he tried to seem on the outside. ]

[hgeegh]

[He almost jumps when he feels Josuke's hand tighten around his—almost. Instead his shoulders tense, then relax a smidgen at what he perceives to be friendly teasing. The pressure and palpitations slowly subside with the familiar shift, and he finally meets Josuke's eyes. Despite everything, he's accustomed to the proximity and not bothered by it.]

Shut up. [It's a half-hearted grouse as he drops his hand—and Josuke's by proxy, if the guy's still hanging in there—onto his lap.] That's got nothing to do with this.

[But Josuke isn't wrong in this specific instance.]

[haircared]

[ He's definitely still hanging in there if Sanji lets him. Josuke can be pretty cuddly... but he does start to loosen his grip, still trying to gauge Sanji's emotional state. Equally half-heartedly: ]

Jeez, no need to act like you're getting a tooth pulled...

[ So damn confusing. It's like hot and cold with this guy!! ]

I think it has to do with most of the stuff you do, honestly.

[hgeegh]

[Sanji lets him, partly because he's distracted by the conversation. Although he bristles harmlessly at the first remark and crinkles his nose at the second, inwardly he's at relative peace. It's fine as long as they're just hanging out.]

What's that supposed to mean?

[haircared]

[ Sanji letting Josuke hold his hand because he's """distracted""... a likely story. Josuke sighs, averting his gaze far away, but not from embarrassment. ]

That sort of thing's not something you can turn off... that's all.

[ He drawls, wondering if he should even attempt to elaborate. If he does, Sanji might become more conscious of it. Instead, he (reluctantly) untangles his hand, but stays sitting where he is comfortably, raising his now freed appendage to smooth out his hair. Sanji seems to have gotten over whatever was making his heart race like he was about to jump off a building, so no need to keep snooping... he's gonna start feeling way too stupid if he starts analyzing this. i cant believe youre making me do unrequited/seemingly unrequited gymnastics ]

[hgeegh]

[Suffer with me, Jams.

But Josuke isn't wrong. For better or for worse, Sanji can't just turn off his feelings. He's proud to express himself when he isn't cursing himself for being a wreck. It's fulfilling and exhausting in turns.

Climbing onto his feet, he pulls out a fresh lollipop from his pocket and pops it in his mouth after peeling off the wrapper. His palm tingles against the air, and he elects to focus on the sweetness of the candy.]

Well, you're not wrong about that.

[No. As ever, Josuke is right on the money.]