gotmilfs | TRUTH BOOTH

[Ah... The uncertainty doesn't exactly leave him, because who knew he'd have to take a piggyback ride down the well? The whole castle is going to see this...

But Brenner, as always, activates his "I don't give a fuck what other people think" superpower, and accedes in the face of logic. If it's quick and painless, then he might as well bite the figurative bullet.]

All right. Then let's get situated.

[Presumably with minimal fussing he's going to let her carry him. On her back. He's all heft and long limbs but she'll probably have no trouble managing this, let's be real.]

[ With ease, even. Being an Adeptus has its benefits, strength among them. And luckily, Brenner is a sensible enough man to not let his pride stop him from taking her up on her offer. It would have been unfortunate (and a headache) to waste time arguing with him about it.

She helpfully crouches to help him climb onto her back, then takes a few moments to shift her weight and hold on him to ensure that she's got him secured. ]

Hold on tight.

[ And that's the only warning she gives him before she leaps into the air and jumps down the well. Did you know her elemental burst boosts plunging attacks? Now you do, because they're plunging! Whee!

She lands hard at the bottom of the well, but doesn't seem any worse for the wear. She lets Brenner off of her back and gives him a moment to collect himself. ]

There. Problem solved.

[aaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAA????

—is basically the vibe of his physical response to her practically leaping down into the well, plummeting down at a speed in which he’s never fallen before. The kind that makes one’s stomach drop; the kind that makes adrenaline shoot straight through one’s veins. Brenner holds on exceedingly tight, because what the fuck. Everything is just darkness and velocity and a sudden stop at the end that should, theoretically, break bones, but they seem to land without issue at all.

By the time his mind catches up to what’s happened, she’s shuffling him off of her and he’s instinctively finding his footing, rising to a stand again.

Inhale. Disbelieving exhale. He’s seen and experienced a few strange things in his time, but that was pointedly different.]

“Problem solved.” So calm and collected when I thought I was just going to be a stain at the bottom of the well.

[He draws his shoulders back, pulling himself together.]

Impressive, but... a little warning next time, Xianyun.

One did warn you to hold on.

[ Her response is entirely earnest, not at all tinged with irony or sass. It's something of a blind spot among many for her, the full realization that a mortal man would experience a plummet such as that as terrifying rather than merely expedient.

One look at him, however, has her realize that she miscalculated a bit. She reaches out to give him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. ]

However, one is sorry for scaring you.

[ As Brenner pulls himself back together, the shoujo bubbles start settling in around them. The effect is much more obnoxious in person than it was when watching back at the castle. ]

Are you ready?

[Aha, he's always gotten the sense that she's operating at a slightly different level than those around her -- that is the consequence of a brilliant mind, after all, even if the real reasons are a bit different than anything Brenner could guess at right now. Her belated realization of his... shock is almost endearing, in its own unique way.

For now, he shakes off the thought, as well as the jittery fallout of an adrenaline rush, and nods at her as she offers a reassuring hand on his shoulder.]

It's fine. If nothing else, you always keep things interesting.

[The bubbles are arising all around them, though, and Brenner knows what that means. It is an obnoxious effect for how it compels him with no say in the matter.]

But yes, I'm ready. We charge forward.

[And you know what!! Maybe he gets to surprise her in turn with a little sudden action of his own. In a bid to shake off the forced impulse to kiss, as well as give as good as he's gotten, Brenner steps forward, tilts her chin gently up via the press of two fingers beneath, and leans in for the kiss without any due warning.

She'll appreciate the speed and efficacy, won't she.]

[ She is, in fact, caught off-guard by how quickly he moves in with the kiss, as evidenced by the way her breath catches when he leans in for it. She appreciates the speed and efficacy very much, as well as other things about the way their lips meet that she's not letting herself focus on while there's a Task to be completed.

It isn't long before she relaxes into it and returns his kiss in kind. It's not wholly chaste, but it's also by far not the most heated kiss they've had either. Appropriate for prying eyes on the other side of the screen, at least. And with the awareness that it's only a matter of time before they're interrupted with a very loud signal about whether or not this pairing is the "correct" one. ]

[ Loud? Rude. It's just some blob of bubbles floating closer and melding together, the surface blurring until they can see two familiar faces within it and the results within... ]

[ And there they are, the images! Wow! ]

⭐ NO MATCH

⭐ Cut your hair!

Martin Brenner

⭐ Get better taste

Xianyun

[ There's no choir or anything! Maybe the sound of screaming, crying children. Tough shit, go climb the rope back up to face the fact that you both still have to vote this week.

:) ]

[At some point, the kiss ends for the sake of paying keen attention to the blasted bubbles that form. Their faces shimmer into the “results”, and the words that relay whether or not they’re a “perfect match” make themselves clear.

And the result is… a negative.

Brenner can’t help himself. He scoffs. His mind reels a little, sorting through this new wave of information. ~~kia why did you use this picture of his actor THE MOST ANTI-BRENNER PHOTO YOU COULD FIND~~ The insults grate a little, but in an eye-roll worthy sort of way.

The scientist shoves his hands in his pockets, glancing aside at Xianyun with a frown.]

And there we have it.

[A beat.]

I’ll be honest, that’s a disappointing result.

[ In contrast to Brenner's relatively muted reaction, Xianyun's anger at the reveal is palpable. Not because of the negative result--it's disappointing, yes, but not insurmountably so. It's the insult that has her incensed. ]

"Get better taste"?! We are playing this game by your rules, you cretin!!

[ SHE KNOWS YOU CAN HEAR HER RIRI. (Also, Brenner is a perfectly fine choice what are you even talking about.) ]

Reveal yourself and allow one to show you what one is truly capable of!

[Her sudden outburst was not expected, and Brenner nearly jumps at the display, given the way her voice echoes in the confines of the well below.

Well, this is certainly one difference they have, and too bad Riri couldn't be bothered to see it as "complimentary."]

Xianyun...

[Oh, he can't help himself. Between the results and the yo-yoing vibes of this whole ordeal, he stuffs his hands in his pockets and actually lets out a laugh.]

Don't give it the satisfaction of your indignity. Besides, this just tells us that the results are all the more unpredictable -- and clearly not based on who should be our matches. This "no match" result isn't going to change how I feel about how we compliment each other.

[ His laughter cuts through her rage enough to snap her out of the fit. She crosses her arms and huffs, still clearly miffed but trying to keep it under control. He has a point that this reaction is probably what the potato wants, but her pride can only take so much.

It's not until he elaborates further that she starts to soften her stance, albeit only slightly. ]

Please don't misunderstand; one does not feel threatened by the result. A perfect stranger's opinion of which pairings are "perfect" are of little consequence to the reality of everyone's experiences.

[ Exhibit A: Lucifer and Zhongli. The two of them are Exhibit B, probably. ]

The game will continue, and we will reconsider our strategy. One just doesn't take kindly to being insulted.

[Her feathers are easy to ruffle (heh) with a wayward insult. That's duly noted, of course; not that he plans on flinging any her way.]

Then I'm glad we're of the same mind. I'd hate for you to distance yourself from my company just because it isn't as tactically sound as before.

[Though she hasn't said as much, so maybe Brenner is wondering exactly how she intends to comport herself regarding spending time in each other's company for the rest of the game. Maybe this is his way of fishing for that answer.

Regardless of whether she chooses to reply or not, he cranes his neck up to see the faint light at the top of the well. A tinge of something humorously wry-]

You'll still help me back up and out, I hope, anyway.

[ Honestly, she's glad he's fishing for an answer; it saves her from having to do the same. ]

One wouldn't dream of it. There's no reason why we cannot continue as we have been while considering more tactical matches elsewhere.

[ In addition to everything else, they can help each other strategize. ]

Climb on again, and one will get us up to the top.

TRUTH BOOTH

ᯓ⭐ TRUTH BOOTH

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