TRUTH BOOTH

[potatomance]

ᯓ⭐ TRUTH BOOTH

Welcome to the Truth Booth! Once a week, one lucky(?) couple is selected to climb a rope down into the depths of the well, where their budding love will be tested and determined to be either the truth or a sham.

Yes, you have to climb down the rope.

No, there are no stairs.

Hope you were good at Gym!

Comments

[aureated]

[... ... ... Aurelia blinks when the shoujo bubbles appear. She's... looking around despite herself, a little unbalanced by all of this. Uh. Um...??]

... Well then. It appears the disgusting potato creature is intending to have the last laugh no matter what we do.

[helmswoman]

[ The sudden shift in environment, including the very ground beneath their feet, is also enough to make Yukong tense up as she readjusts to what feels like standing on clouds.

Still, they don't appear to be in any danger, as the potato has so kindly reminded them. But it has created an environment in which they're expected to kiss, an urge that Yukong feels deep in the pit of her stomach despite it not being there but a moment ago. It's as if they're in some sort of romance-themed immersia. ]

More coercion. [ As if The Kabedon wasn't enough. ]

Well. [ She straightens her shoulders. ] I'm sure you're ready to do whatever it takes to get our answer. Shall we?

[ It's not like having to kiss Aurelia is such a terrible prospect. It's more all the circumstances around it. ]

[aureated]

[Aurelia just sighs, pressing a hand to her forehead for a moment. She absolutely does not mind kissing Yukong whatsoever--it's the coercion, for her, as well that miffs her.

Regardless, they have no choice right now if it means getting their answer, and they were voted into this booth this first time for a reason. Everyone is counting on them to forge this new path.

So Aurelia straightens, nodding firmly.]

Let's. Though I would like to put out there that I would rather kiss you when we have both decided we want to.

[Regardless, they have no choice right now--so she reaches out to gently press her fingertips to Yukong's cheek and leans in to press their lips together. This isn't by choice--so she's keeping the kiss chaste, even though she's perfectly pleased with her partner in this.]

[helmswoman]

[ Their feelings on this situation are more or less mutual. Yukong is well past her years when she would have chosen to kiss someone on a whim because it seemed like a fun idea at the time. Either way, it's kind of Aurelia to make the distinction, yet before Yukong can respond the kiss is happening.

She doesn't mind. There's no need to drag this out, after all, and she's aware that everyone is watching. So she leans in as well, both hands lifting to cradle either side of Aurelia's jaw as she tilts her chin up and presses into the kiss.

It's brief and chaste, as tender as it can be given the circumstances. Aurelia has been a perfectly lovely person to get to know so far, but she is also so young still, so vibrant, as well as a short-life species as far as Yukong is aware. She deserves to be with someone more her speed, so to speak.

Of course, this isn't about real love, or a real match; simply the whims of the show. So with that, Yukong steps back and looks around them. ]

... What now?

1/2 I S2G DW

[potatomance]

[ As they kiss, a pair of giant bubbles float up to them. They're just pretty, shiny bubbles for a minute until Yukong asks the question, and then their surfaces begin to shimmer and pulse. ]

[potatomance]

[ Something forms properly now. And... ]

⭐ Perfect match!!! ⭐ Wow!! ⭐ Wheeeeee Aurelia le Guin

⭐ (Jazzhands) Yukong

[ Confetti rains down out of nowhere! An invisible choir starts sobbing ecstatically in Latin!! Lights start blaring!

Indulge in this but you'll still have to climb back out the way you came, with the rope helpfully appearing in front of you when you're ready. ]

[aureated]

[Help, the invisible choir sobbing.

Aurelia blinks as everything happens in quick succession, and then reaches out to gently pluck some of the confetti from Yukong's hair.]

... Well. There we have it. We've vastly increased everyone's chances of winning now.

[A beat, and she adds with a softer smile:]

And I myself am pleased with the result.

[helmswoman]

[ Everything happens so much all at once that it takes Yukong a few seconds to actually process the result.

They... did it? And to think that this mainly came about because Lin had insisted on staying behind. Perhaps she had been right about it being harder than one might think to find her match.

While they had made a logical decision, this is still a lot to process all at once, and it's Aurelia's voice that breaks Yukong out of her stunned silence as the choir continues on. ]

So we have. I'm relieved that we got it right, even on the first try. Nor can I say that the producers were off in their pick.

[ They'd hit it off right away, hadn't they? And thankfully, she can be certain that Aurelia won't have any specific expectations from her. Both of them have important duties back home, it seems, and in the meantime, well...

She gives a hard shake of her head and tail to dislodge the confetti. ]

What happens now?

[aureated]

[It's a very good question. Aurelia dusts herself of confetti as well, and turns away from the chaos and towards the rope.]

Now... I suppose we return, tell everyone the news [she does not know they've been watched this whole time] and then get to know each other properly, just as we've planned.

[There's no need to rush into anything, after all--they're both too old and wise for that.

But she will offer Yukong her arm anyway (at least until they make it to the rope. This well is not romantic at all, Riri).]

Shall we rejoin the group?

[helmswoman]

[ Get to know each other properly. Right. While they were clever enough to make note of the potential between them over the course of a few conversations, that hardly means they know each other well. Now they'll have time for that, apparently, and won't have to put up with (as much of) that potato's nonsense.

When Yukong realizes that Aurelia has offered her arm, she hesitates for just a moment before taking it as they move toward the rope. ]

Let's. From what you've said, though, I assume we're still required to stay here for the whole month?

[ No returning to her life and her work, but at least so much of the stress has been removed. ]

Do you think our weapons will have been restored?

[aureated]

Ah.

[It's clear that she hadn't thought about it; she perks up a little, brightening in a way that's almost a little childish, especially compared to her usual bearing.]

Now that would be a great reward. Surely there is no need for them to hold anything hostage from us any longer.

[Because they've done their part! They deserve their weapons!]

[helmswoman]

[ They do! Absolutely. ]

Let's go find out, then. I would like to see Arcadia in all its glory.

[ With that, she gestures for Aurelia to go first this time. It's time for them to climb up and go report the news to everyone. ]