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

[singurarity]

[ Help. At least he's happy?? ]

Um, I guess just... cut off as much as you want?

[ Take the whole sheet if you want, honestly-- ]

But I thought maybe we could sit down and talk for a while!

[hgeegh]

[Okay. If she lets him, he'll accept the entire sheet. But he's no brute, so he takes a modest, socially acceptable cut first.]

Is it about the truth booth?

[singurarity]

Yes and no?

[ Mysterious.

She'll take a small chunk for herself. Sanji shortbread is mostly for Sanji. ]

[hgeegh]

[What does this mean?]

What is it?

[He takes a bite out of the shortbread.]

[singurarity]

If I asked you if you liked anybody here--who you liked, like that, would you tell me?

[hgeegh]

[He chews, blinking as he does. This is tasty!]

Sure. I like all you girls.

[She told him to avoid this last week, but he can honestly name something he loves about each girl.]

[singurarity]

[ She's watching him like a hawk, but that's mostly just to make sure he's actually enjoying the shortbread. Baking is stressful. ]

Just the girls?

[hgeegh]

[He is. His eyes light up the more he chews before swallowing in full.]

What do you mean? Anyway, this is great, Ritsuka!

[Don't mind him going for seconds.]

[singurarity]

Thanks! I was talking about Josuke.

[ cheerfully. ]

[hgeegh]

[Sanji sticks the next shortbread in his mouth, chews twice, inhales the rest at Ritsuka's name-dropping, and turns away to begin choking viciously as he pounds on his chest with bulging eyes.]

[singurarity]

[ Oh. Whoops.

She's already reaching out to Heimlich if she's gotta-- ]

Sanji?!

[hgeegh]

[No way. If she does the Heimlich, he's going to lose the bread.

That's to say, after some more pounding and harsh coughing into a fist, he dislodges the most intact piece of the shortbread and quickly reaches for his tea to wash down the crumbs. Then he chews said piece, swallows, and washes that down, too. The cup slams down on the counter with a heave from Sanji. Safe!]

[singurarity]

.............

Are you okay?

[ A little meekly. ]

[hgeegh]

[He huffs and puffs for a moment or two.]

. . . Sorry. I almost lost the bread.

[singurarity]

[ oh my god. ]

It's okay. You saved it.

[ Nearly died in the process, but. ]

[hgeegh]

[Worth it. He swivels on his seat toward her.]

I did, but . . . Josuke?

[singurarity]

Yeah. [ Simply. ]

Do you like him?

[hgeegh]

[He could use a smoke right now.]

Why do you ask . . . ?

[singurarity]

It's kind of just a hunch, and I've been wrong before. [ With a little rueful shrug. But could you call her wrong to her face, Sanji? Could you hurt her feelings? ]

But from how he talks about you and the way you guys were during the Spin the Bottle, it kind of made me... wonder.

[hgeegh]

[How he what?]

"How he talks"?

[This is too much at once. He needs to take it one at a time, and he'll choke himself to death on shortbread if he hurts Ritsuka in the process.]

[singurarity]

Like he actually has a pretty solid understanding of you. And likes you for it.

[ Ritsuka is here for all of her friends to be raised up. ]

But you haven't answered me yet, you know.

[hgeegh]

[Despite himself, he flushes and averts his gaze.]

I . . .

[Answer her! Figure something out! Say something!]

[singurarity]

[ It's fine. She'll wait.

I mean, unless this takes an hour. ]

[hgeegh]

[It takes an hour.

That's what it feels like, anyway. He snaps back to Ritsuka after an agonizingly long silence.]

D-does it really matter? We get along fine. [That matters.]

[singurarity]

It matters to me.

[ It's really so nice when she doesn't have to mince her words. ]