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

[makeine]

Yeah. I need to know if I'm being totally unreasonable before I wring his neck in front of a dozen people this Saturday.

[ help ]

[singurarity]

[ Oh. ]

Fire away...?

[makeine]

So we went to the aquarium earlier this week. I wanted to know more about him so I could help figure out his match, you know? Being the kind, gracious person I am.

[ anna. sorry in advance, ]

He gave me a list of people he knew wouldn't fit the bill -- thank God he stuck me up front and center too, because I cannot stand him -- but... the two people he did think it could be was Mark-kun and Will-kun. Which like, fine, whatever, you know? But as Will-kun's girlfriend... no, even just as his friend, I wanted to make sure he could actually help Will-kun's cause and not totally screw it up with that dogshit personality of his, so I talked a little bit about it -- you know, unifying the tribes and all that, world where no one's discriminated against and all, big stuff for kids our age -- and that guy had the nerve to diss Will-kun's dream! Like sure, it's not gonna be easy, but I know that if anyone can make it come true, Will-kun can! I'm totally sold on it, you know? There's no one else I'd back on that! I told him off about it though, since Will-kun doesn't need someone who can't believe in his dream 100% if at all, and you know what he had the nerve to say? That I'm the least suitable out if anyone here to be Will-kun's match because all I've got going for me is a cute face! Jokes on him, I have an incredible personality and a need to win, and also a nice body on top of my giving heart.

[ ...

anyway. ]

... And now he says he's gonna choose Will-kun during the ceremony if he gets called up, and I really hope he doesn't, because if he does before me then I have to watch Will-kun walk away from me again, and the first time was bad enough, but Akechi-kun actually has points in his favor as far as like, helping Will-kun out, he's done a lot and he's super smart and he can be diplomatic when he isn't being a total bitch, but none of that matters if he doesn't think it's possible in the first place, right? Because what he said to Will-kun was total bullshit, by the by, he thinks it's totally impossible and won't ever come true, which it totally can and will because Will-kun has a lot of supporters and he'll keep getting them because he's earnest and well-meaning and there's more than just him who wants this, I just know it, but Will-kun fell for it hook line and sinker! I know if I say anything to him he'll be a good guy and speak well on Akechi-kun's behalf, and I'm glad he's still so certain we're a match because I definitely do on top of wanting to shove me being right again in Akechi-kun's dumb face, but it still totally ruined my night, you know?

[ ...

d

didja get all that, ritsuka. ]

[singurarity]

[ .............................. ]

May the defense request a two-minute recess to process all that?

[makeine]

Yeah, sure.

[ wdym you didn't immediately get it you're awake aren't you.

...

she'll gently pet fou in the meantime. ]

[singurarity]

[ Not awake enough for this.

But Fou lets out sleepy purring noises which are scientifically proven to help soothe the spirits of Troubled Young Women Contemplating Homicide.

But finally, Ritsuka lets out an equally sleepy hum of understanding. ]

I think the least suitable person to be Will's match is someone who can't even believe that he can pull off his dream. Because people might be able to help with it, but I think the most important thing is to have full faith it'll happen in the first place.

[ She doesn't want a partner who'll follow her back to deal with everything. She just wants that sense of normalcy and camaraderie that'll give her another reason to keep fighting. That brief respite.

... She's so sleepy. ]

Will talked abut you, you know. He told me you were the bravest person he's ever met. And that you stand up for the things you believe in.

So even if I successfully defended Akechi-kun here and my only point there is that we can't win if you kill him and he'd just take that as a sign of triumph over you, you don't have anything you'd lose to him in. I mean that. And you already know that too, right?

[makeine]

[ it really is working... she's feeling better just running her fingers through his fur.

which doesn't stop when ritsuka finally answers, though anna's gaze lifts to give her proper attention.

... brave, huh. in some ways more than others. he seriously thinks so well of her it makes her blush. ]

I thought that too, about the least likely match thing. There's no way they could be. Just like Minami-kun can't, since I don't think he'd believe in it either, but I at least like him a little better than Akechi-kun. He's annoying, but he isn't... that bad of a guy, I guess... For a demon, and all...

[ like pulling teeth with this girl. ]

... Yeah. But I can't let that slithering smooth-talking bastard just say and do whatever the hell he wants too, you know? Will-kun has a good head on his shoulders, but... he tries his best to understand people, which I get why he does, but I don't... want him to be friends with Akechi-kun.

[ she. hasn't told will, of course, anything that akechi said to her. she doesn't know if it would change anything. ]

[singurarity]

[ She can't say much in regards to that, because she doesn't dislike Akechi, either. Having the chance to talk to him more during their "date" and explain what it was she actually did had helped a lot in getting to understand him better.

But Ritsuka is not stupid enough to say that right now. ]

Unfortunately, that's going to have to be his own choice. You can talk to him about it, but I think part of trying to be a king and bring about equality is to listen to everyone in equal measure in the first place, like you said. That's just the kind of person Will is; he can get along with a lot of different kinds of people, for better or worse.

It'll be okay. You've got at least a couple of chances on Saturday and if that's the case, he'll have to go with someone else. Akechi-kun might be snide about it, but I don't think he'll be too much of a problem.

[ She hopes. God, she hopes. ]

[makeine]

I'm gonna punch his throat if he is.

[ television be damned she will enact violence on that son of a bi ]

Ryuji-kun was absolutely right.

[singurarity]

Let me wrangle him, okay?

[makeine]

Good idea. Get his arms behind his back and he won't be able to hit me back, because he definitely seems like the kinda guy that'd punch a girl.

[ no ]

[singurarity]

[ Well.

... Maybe Mark can help hold Anna back.

Yes, this makes sense, Ritsuka wrangling Akechi and Mark wrangling the short girl-- ]

Do you feel any better?

[makeine]

... Kinda. I know you get on with him too, though.

[ since her and will are the same kind of person. anna buries the side of her face into her pillow. ]

I just can't. I tried. He pisses me off too much, even outside of... that.

[ ... ]

Anyway, thanks. I can probably sleep now.

[ probably. she's more likely to go take a walk than actually go to sleep but probably. ]

[singurarity]

It's okay. I don't expect everyone to be the same with who they get along with and who you don't.

... But if you still can't sleep, you can take Fou with you for a bit. He won't mind.

[ He likes cute girls. ]

[makeine]

[ say less fou's getting cuddled by pillows. ]

But I'm totally not unreasonable for wanting to strangle him, right?

[singurarity]

No, of course not. That would piss off a lot of people.

[ Ritsuka's just built different. ]

[makeine]

[ built patient maybe. ]

Okay. So if he exhales a single sigh around me I'm throwing a pillow at him minimum.

[singurarity]

Yep! Sounds legit to me!

[makeine]

Okay. Good.

[ ... ]

Thanks for letting me vent. You really are a great girl, Ritsuka-chan.

[singurarity]

We're friends, Anna-chan. I'll always hear you out.

[ Even at times like this. ]