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

[haircared]

Yeah, that's true. Now it really might be you and Ritsuka...

[ The way he was the one who said there's probably a match between the 3 of them... taking a drag of his duck cigarette. ]

Or... Dorothea, if she and Sanji don't end up matched?

[ Dorothea's confident... she can probably help Mark come out of his shell!! ]

[titlecard]

Ritsuka and Dorothea are both pretty great... It definitely could be either one of them.

[ or someone else entirely, but, ]

It could still be you and Ritsuka too, though! [ Who knows!! The three of them just vibed... a lot...

nudging Josuke as much as he can from under him, ] What about you? Are you thinking of anyone else for you yet, or is it too soon?

[haircared]

Could be... I'd like to figure out if it's you two, though, since you've got a higher chance.

[ That's just logical. Despite his soft emotional goodboy tendencies, his opinions regarding the game still seem firmly rooted in statistical probability. it's the math gene and the gambling addiction ]

As for me, well, last week, it was gonna be Ritsuka, you, Sanji, or Kat. My opinion's pretty much the same, still. I guess it'll depend on how this truth booth shakes out.

[ Minus the obvious one the cross off. ]

[titlecard]

[ Josuke's right. Mark is much more of a feelings guy than a smarts guy, so of course focusing on matches is the avenue he's fallen into — but they also do need to win this thing. He needs that wish. He'd like everyone here to get their wish. Playing the odds is more important, so he's glad Josuke has that level head of his.

... even if a part of him still kind of wished... but it'll be okay. ]

They're all great choices. I could see any one of them with you. [ a warm little smile. ] It's good that we're getting more information though. Hopefully things'll keep going smoothly.

[ This was just a little bump in the road... it's fine. ]

[haircared]

I don't know if I'd call things "smooth." That last ceremony was crazy awkward.

[ He's honestly dreading the weekend a little bit now because of it... even just witnessing it all second hand made him uncomfortable. What if next time, he gets wrapped up in it? ]

Hopefully I'll just go early and get it out of the way... I'll feel weird if someone refuses to lock in with me.

[ That would be so uncool and embarrassing, and on TV too? Hell no. ]

[titlecard]

[ He's been trying not to think about the last ceremony... you know, where he picked Josuke, and even though they were two of the most normal people there, it was still the wrong pick.

Nevermind everything else that happened — it was still the wrong pick. ]

I mean... that wouldn't happen again, right? [ Right??? ] Seriously, name one person here who wouldn't lock in with you. You're awesome.

[ Josuke is gonna make someone here so lucky!! Someone not named Mark. ]

[haircared]

[ Dryly and under his breath: ]

Yeah, I can think of one....

[ He's not gonna say it, though, because it'd be mean. Anyways, he's flattered by what Mark says, and squeezes him in a little closer to his side with his leverage around his shoulders. It's fine, he does this to all his friends. No one will think anything weird about it... Mark hasn't pulled away, so he won't either. ]

But it's not like I'd take it personally. It'd just be lame...

[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) ]

[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! ]

[titlecard]

[ RIP...

anyway they're both two goodboys, of course they don't know yet

Anyway anyway, Mark can't fathom Josuke having some other secret side to him. His eyes widen a little at the implication that he does before he's awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck and trying to laugh it off. ]

No, no! [ yes but that's the thing he's sensitive about. ] Just, I can be, uh... a little forceful sometimes, I guess.

[haircared]

[ A little forceful? Mark? It's hard to imagine when he seems a bit meek... he gives him a slight look of disbelief, before admitting to his own secret side: ]

Hah, really... me, I can get so mad I can't see straight.

[ Very literally, even. He admits this extremely casually; it's kind of a Thing in his family. Josuke's mom is also known to have a violent temper - it's where he got it from. ]

Especially if someone disses my hair. [ he is being 100% serious ] I can't stand that.

[titlecard]

[ He's terrified of who he might be if he wasn't meek. Terrified of who he might be if he gave in to his anger—

So Josuke's admission has him blinking rapidly, shocked that he'd just admit it like that. But — Josuke can't do what he can. (No, he can just do other things instead.) So maybe it's okay if he gets that pissed sometimes.

But bringing up his hair saves the moment, Mark giving him an earnest little grin in return. ]

Your hair's really, really cool. Who would diss it?

[haircared]

[ See, Mark gets it. His heart skips a beat. He said his hair was cool... ]

You'd be surprised how many ass whoopings I've had to hand out over it.

[ Most of them minor, but when someone really makes fun of it, he has been known to rearrange their face or do shenanigans to trap objects in the offender's body. You know, that they then have to get surgically removed. He can't help himself! But yes, this is the part where he's going to openly admit that he beats people up. ]

It's my pride and joy, and styled after my role model. Insulting it is the same as insulting him — I don't let it slide, ever.

[titlecard]

[ How many ass whoopings—

Mark's eyes widen for a second, but no, no, it's fine. It's not like Josuke can punch someone's head clean off their shoulders. It's fine. It's... a little temper is okay when you can't do what Mark can, he has to tell himself.

Besides, his reason for being set off is... not that bad? It's. It's a little bad, but when something just gets to you... Mark gets it. Kind of. He thinks. ]

I mean, that's extra shitty of anyone to insult it then. I hope you don't have to beat anyone up ever again. [ Both so nobody deeply insults Josuke like that and also so Josuke isn't just out here beating people up. ] Maybe word will get out and people will cut it out?

[haircared]

[ listen.... don't worry about it mark. sometimes u send someone to the hospital for 2months because they said your hair was cringe ]

I wish. Over ten years of wearing my hair like this, though — if it was gonna happen, probably would've happened by now. [ People getting the picture and laying off forever, that is. ] I was kinda nervous coming here, actually...

[ Not because he's scared of being made fun of, but because he is concerned that he would beat someone into the hospital on TV. He looks up and away, continuing to talk about this casually. ]

[titlecard]

[ Technically sending them to the hospital for two months is better than like, murder—

This is all shockingly candid, though. He would not have expected this from Josuke at all, so Mark's actually gonna... try to shift the subject a little. ]

I can't picture you being that nervous. Me, yeah, sure. [ Because he has a massive secret, and he knew it'd be a risk coming here, but the prospect of a wish was worth it. That, and the chance to get away for a bit. ] But you? I mean, you're like... so cool, and confident. There's no way I'd have thought it'd be a problem. Ever.

[ missing the point because Josuke? sharing a similar fear as Mark? naaahhhhh ]

[haircared]

What? No way, dude. I get nervous about all kinds of things. You should've seen when Wednesday was still in the house...

[ He waves a hand, looking comedically flustered. Among the contestants, he's perhaps the one most prone to jumpscares, and his coolness falls away pretty easily in the face of dirt or mud, too. ]

One of my worst fears is turtles... most reptiles, honestly. [ FULL BODY SHIVER ] I don't like ghosts or bugs, either, they're way too creepy. And being around famous people makes me nervous, too.

[titlecard]

[ Things Mark is not afraid of: Wednesday (unless she is holding her axe, and even then, he's more afraid for other people), turtles, reptiles, ghosts, bugs, kind of famous people since he did grow up around Earth's top superheroes,

Things Mark is afraid of: talking to cute people, everyone fucking dying ]

Oh... I guess that explains some of why you wouldn't want to go out in nature, huh? [ A small, sympathetic laugh. It's all coming together! ] Well... I can't protect you from famous people, or, um, ghosts [ ... actually? maybe he could? could he punch a ghost— ] but everything else? I've got you. Just say the word.

[haircared]

[ That surprises him a little — evident in the way his eyes widen a fraction. He's usually the one protecting other people, not the other way around. It's cute though, really cute. He smirks, eyes bright with mischief, and he leans in a little closer. ]

Are you trying to say you're actually a big tough guy underneath it all? My hero.

[ Mark is a sweet guy, gives very talk things out energy rather than using his fists energy. That he thinks so is pretty obvious in the amused tone his expression and voice take on; he doesn't doubt that Mark Would actually make an effort to protect him from those things. It's just also really cute how serious he seems about it. ]

[titlecard]

[ His eyes widen, like he's just said something incriminating. And then he blushes a little, like he's just executed an effective pickup line and didn't even know he was doing that.

Mark glances away for a second, feeling his cheeks get hot all over again. It was so natural for him to say... maybe it is effective after all.. ]

Um. [ Nervous little laugh, but following it up with something a little too earnest: ] Maybe? I've, um. [ And this is where he's going to find his footing: ] Been known to be called that before. You know, once or twice.