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]

Grand Trad-- ah, the capital of Euchronia-- is surrounded by desert. I've hunted monsters there before.

[FOR BOUNTIES]

[makeine]

What kinda monsters?

[ she's never asked. they're from different worlds though she wants to know if they're like the sort in nukumizu's isekai stuff. ]

[willandaway]

[what's an isekai--]

The desert is full of wild dogs and sandworms. The maneater manjula-- which is like a lion crossed with a scorpion-- also used to prowl its wastes, until my party and I took it out as part of a bounty.

[makeine]

[ a failing genre ]

Did you cook it?

[willandaway]

It was poisonous.

[Hulkenberg would love Anna]

[makeine]

Oh, too bad. I would've loved hearing what a leopion tasted like.

[ that

isn't what it was called but consider: her name is cuter. ]

Your world sounds dangerous... [ sighs...... no longer a different land, a different world... ] At least I'll be well protected if I ever find a way to visit.

[ since he and his friends are sooooo strong. ]

What's the toughest thing you've fought, handsome?

[willandaway]

Of course you'd be protected. [that goes without saying!!] We'd travel in a gauntlet runner, so you wouldn't have to worry about monsters unless we stopped in a dangerous area.

[and even then, if she stayed inside the runner, the danger would mostly avoid her. . . mostly since some monsters were known to attack the runner but it is fine—]

[his answer to her question. . . is quiet and solemn]

The toughest thing I have fought. . . was a human.

[FINALLY!!!]

[makeine]

[ FINALLY!!! ]

Oh, really? They're not one of your tribes like... the nidia or elda?

[ thank

fucking god they have talked enough about "his country" she isn't flabbergasted. ]

[willandaway]

[by now he has had his date with Sanji too so THANK GOD HE IS AWARE THAT "HUMAN" MEANS SOMETHING DIFFERENT. . . TO SOME PEOPLE]

No. Not at all.

[a beat. tentatively, so as not to offend--]

Where I come from, humans are monsters. They're incredibly powerful. . . they can level entire villages if they wanted to. And they're far stronger than even the kingdom's strongest armies.

. . . nobody knows where they come from.

[makeine]

[ damn...... humans are the real monsters...... that's so deep. her hand moves from his hair to his cheek instead, tracing a spiral there. no offense taken, she... is understanding, sort of, or at least she is too normal to fully comprehend anything and therefore kind just. letting to punches roll so to speak. ]

Did you beat it? 'Cause if so, I think popularity be damned, you're more than worthy of ascending that throne. Who else is strong enough with his allies to protect the people?

[ like

that's just common sense, to her? ]

[willandaway]

I did. [with help from his allies, and utilizing the special magic they have unlocked together] And a few others since then.

[IT'S A METAPHOR. . . HA HA, GET IT. anyway. his features darken, brow knitting together]

. . . there is one other person who is making a name for himself by taking down the humans. He is. . . also trying to become the next king.

[he speaks. . . very slowly, very carefully, and with a solemnity that suggests this guy is No Joke (TM)]

[makeine]

[ ... hmmmm. ]

And I'm guessing he's a total no-go in your books? I don't think I've ever seen you make this face before.

[ it's

not one she wants to see again, she thinks, gliding her finger up between his eyes and gently rubbing the creases there. ]

[willandaway]

[HE HAS TO]

[LIKE]

[P. . . PAUSE. . . because he is acutely aware of the cameras and knows if he says too much then he will wind up giving everything away, and he can't do that]

. . . his name is Louis Guiabern. We can-- ah. . . talk about him the next time we're alone.

[read: this is not a conversation to have in public]

But he's currently in second place, behind Sanctifex Forden. The Sanctifex is the head of the state church, so naturally he's in first.

[Will is top twenty but he still has a long ways to go]

[makeine]

[ really thinkin about how the next time they're alone they ain't doing any kind of talking ]

Oh. Right, naturally.

[ ... ]

Wait, what? Seriously? Jeez, talk about a power grab... I bet the old king's body was still warm when they started talking about taking the seat for themselves.

[ ss sssooo fucking sorry. ]

And where are you on that list, my king-to-be?

[willandaway]

[closes eyes DON'T REMIND ME]

[with great exhaustion]

Yeah. I think Sanctifex Forden has been eager to claim the crown for himself for. . . years now.

[and so far, he is getting what he wants. but. . . not if Will has anything to say about it]

I'm in the top twenty. Closer to twenty, I'm sure. . .

[makeine]

You're practically at the top then.

[ to her, anyway. a hop and a skip away. ]

Not gonna be long before you're climbing past ten, Will-kun. And it'll start feeling really real then. Lemon-chan says that once you get up there, the places are just seconds apart.

[willandaway]

[he doesn't feel that way, but her encouragement. . . he likes that, and he lets out a little laugh]

I'm not sure it's the same, but. . . [tilting his head up a bit so his smile is directed at her] Your confidence is very inspiring, Yana-chan.

[makeine]

I've heard it's my best trait.

[ no, her being a go-getter was -- but that isn't the point, she's pink in the face at his smile and maybe if this was after the embrace space she'd kiss him but it's not, so, stay kissless will. ]

You should believe it more, too. I know it won't be a walk in the park, but you should act like it will be. People like it when they feel they can totally depend on the person in front of them.

[willandaway]

[CRIES IN THIS PAINFUL KISSLESS EXISTENCE]

You think so. . .?

[well, she is right about that. it's why people like Louis and Forden have amassed so much support, right? because people feel like they can rely on them]

[. . . he really. . . needs to take a page out of her book, doesn't he?]

I can really learn a lot from you, Yana-chan.

[makeine]

Keep your eyes on me and you'll learn tons.

[ for better and worse. her hand smooths down his bangs, grazing his ear a little in the process, with a soft, warm look in her gaze. ]

But I wouldn't take all your lessons from me... Ritsuka-chan's got a lot of what you need too. See how she totally leads discussions? You gotta be able to do that too, Will-kun.

[willandaway]

[oh. . . now that feels nice. his eyes flutter a bit, slipping shut as he tilts his head into her hand. just a li'l!]

[he wrinkles his nose a bit]

I've debated with other candidates back home, but that's the extent of my public speaking experience. [HE ISN'T. . . GREAT AT IT, TBQH] Should I take lessons from her, too?

[makeine]

[ like an animal... she'll keep petting then. just like at the cat cafes. ]

Definitely. I don't think you're decisive enough.

[ lol. lmao. ]

[willandaway]

[l. lmao]

So that's something else I should work on. . .

[to be a better king!!]

I'll try to hold meetings like Ritsuka does, then. I'm sure she'd appreciate the help.

[makeine]

Right? God knows she shouldn't have to be a mother here, too.

[ ritsuka's mom lore..... ]

[willandaway]

-- she's a mother?

[WHAT]