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

[willandaway]

[nyoom goes the bottle. . . until it stops on Mark! Will seems totally chill with this]

Oh-- hello.

It looks like I've got you now.

[titlecard]

[ Mark looks up as the bottle lands on him. Oh! ]

Hi. [ Totally smooth response. ] Sure looks like it.

[ He isn't even so much as throwing a glance Anna's way. The thing is, she's cool? And they're friends? So he knows this isn't going to be anything, just a bit of fun and points-getting. ]

[willandaway]

[after Anna gave her blessing for Will and Ryuji in the embrace space, he started worrying less about things like this. and they've both swapped a few smooches with other competitors by now, so. . .! he isn't worried, either]

[so he extends a hand towards Mark, perfectly polite, head bowed slightly]

May I. . .?

[titlecard]

[ Oh... chivalrous, which is not a way Mark is used to being treated. (He's not not into it, though.)

Mark takes his hand, dipping his own head so that when Will looks up they'll be more on the same level. ]

You may.

[willandaway]

[it's funny how naturally this comes to Will when he is nothing but a plain ol' commoner, but! maybe it's just the world he comes from? chivalry is dead but some of the knights and nobles do try to live by the traditions of the old days. . . he must have picked this up somewhere]

[with that permission, Will takes Mark's hand in his own, fingers tucked neatly together. and then he dips his head completely, pressing a polite (and lingering) kiss against Mark's knuckles, lips warm against his companion's skin]

[and then he sits up! but does not yet release that hand]

How is that?

[titlecard]

[ Oh! He went just right for his hand. Mark wasn't expecting that; he laughs, a fond little tone as he sits up a little straighter again himself. ]

Very knightly, I think. [ He is not pulling his hand back either. Keep holding it as long as you want, Will. ] Suits you.

[willandaway]

[then in that case, he is going to keep holding it while they talk. don't mind if he does!!]

Thank you.

[it's a compliment, considering the knight he knows is one of the most admirable people he has ever met. he isn't really sure he could live up to her in that department, though]

A friend of mine would be glad to hear that.

[titlecard]

Yeah? [ Still smiling. ] I mean — that's good. You have this... I dunno, noble air.

[willandaway]

[his smile softens, and he shakes his head]

I'm just a commoner. [a no-name elda born in the inner sanctum of his village] I suppose where I come from, this sort of thing is just considered good manners.

[titlecard]

[ A commoner— Mark shakes his head in turn. ]

No. I mean, good manners, yeah — great manners, actually — but I mean like... I guess where I'm from, noble doesn't mean the same thing anymore. More like you're really kind, and courteous, and trustworthy. That kind of thing. That's noble.

[willandaway]

[oh. . . so that's what Mark means! yeah, that is definitely not the definition of noble where Will comes from]

That's. . . interesting.

[he can see it, though. nobles are supposed to be kind and courteous and trustworthy! it's not. . . anyone's fault that most of them are-- well. . .]

There are some nobles who live by that creed back home. But a lot of them are. . . [he lifts his free hand and waggles it side to side]

[titlecard]

[ Mark frowns a little, but. ]

Yeah... I get that.

[ Not to the extent Will does because he's still so sheltered but. Close enough. ]

More of them should be like you, then.

[willandaway]

[. . . a little pink at that compliment]

Thank you. But I think you're giving me awfully high praise.

[titlecard]

[ He shakes his head; no! No. ]

I mean, you're a good person, right? The world would be a better place if more people were; that's all I'm saying.

[willandaway]

[good person, huh. . .]

[. . .]

I believe the world can change.

[he says quietly, but with conviction]

[titlecard]

... Me too.

[ also quietly, but with less conviction. ]

I think I kind of have to.

[willandaway]

[. . . ah?]

What do you mean. . .?

[titlecard]

I think I just... I don't really know what I'd have, if I didn't know that people are good. That they could be good.

[willandaway]

[. . . oh. oh no. . .]

[a pause, because now Will is getting those. . . "my life has been difficult" vibes from Mark, and he isn't sure how to breach the subject]

Have you. . . [a pause. he starts over] . . . no. I shouldn't ask.

But people can be good. And I believe. . . there is more good in this world than there is bad.

[no matter how shitty things are]

[titlecard]

[ He offers up a weak smile of thanks at Will backtracking his question. Whatever it was going to be, Mark probably wasn't going to have a good answer for it, so thanks, man. ]

Me too. I believe that too. Just... sometimes it's nice to hear that from someone else, I guess.

[ his fellow protag... ]

[willandaway]

[PROTAGS GOTTA BELIEVE IN THE GOOD]

I understand. Otherwise, how else would we have hope? Right?

[titlecard]

Right. [ And, a little more confidently: ] Right. Exactly.