WEEK THREE MINGLE

[potatomance]

ᯓ⭐ WEEK THREE MINGLE

Happy third week, lovebirds! Here's to hoping you're riding high on the wave of success of one whole pair being correct! Surely you must have an idea by now how to win this thing!

Probably?

The good news is that you're not going to have to find yourselves in any weird clothes this time around, except maybe that just leads to a strange sense of foreboding for a future scenario...? Who knows. You can't quite brace yourself for it this time.

But don't worry, it's not like there's nothing happening. On the contrary!

For the entirety of this week, you'll find yourself feeling... clingy. It's going to start feeling very strange if you're not leaning on someone, holding their hand, cuddling with them, sitting in their lap, stealing a kiss, or engaging in some other form of affectionate physical contact. And if it's someone you're already feeling fond of OR someone you actually can't stand, guess what?

That feeling is doubled!

You may realize this is an unusual feeling, but so what? Trying to ignore it is only going to make it feel stronger and do you really want to make yourselves feel miserable?

Shut up, masochists.

FAQ ⭐ Truth Booth Voting ⭐ Mysterious Thing ⭐ Sex Dungeon ⭐ Perfect Match Voting

Comments

[ringsmaster]

Mm. I guess.

[ He doesn't seem hopeful. ]

If you have questions, you can ask. I'm not asking you to just accept all that because Zhongli and I had a fight.

[helmswoman]

It didn't seem right to dump more at your feet when you're already processing him leaving as he did. We can always discuss it another time.

[helmswoman]

[ It reminds Yukong at least somewhat of what Fu Xuan can do with the Matrix of Prescience, creating spaces within the mind to relive memories or even try to reconstruct them. It's not quite the same, but close enough that she can somewhat follow Maruki's explanation. ]

In other words, you erased everyone's pain and suffering with one foul swoop. But that, of course, also takes away with free will, their personalities, everything that makes them who they are.

[cosmoid]

[ far from looking disappointed, uroko chuckles. ]

I don't do things because others ask me to, or for their approval—the girl I cursed, I refused to curse her again even after she threw undercooked potatoes at me. And repeats aren't to my liking. Though, maybe I can engage with her in another way. [grin. ]

[helmswoman]

[ They're on the same page more or less, then. ]

Yes, see if you can get something out of her. I think people may have missed that she has a tendency to direct attention away from herself. I'm not sure if she realizes she's doing it, either, so...

[ Time to apply some pressure. Sorry, Lin. ]

[bewrightback]

Thank you, Lucifer. I really do appreciate your support! And... I do feel that I am still willing to give him a shot. Any differences we might have may already be accounted for in the pairings.

[alcoheal]

If I already told Aurelia something, shouldn't it be your turn?

[It isn't stalling if it's only turnabout to make sure everyone's getting to play fairly now, is it? Why should Yukong be exempt from the fun?

Manuela reclines on a comfortable spot of fort flooring that's basically just a nest of blankets and pillows at this point.]

Fine, if you insist. [She folds an arm across her waist, looking into the depths of her glass.] I've been saying how fine I am with the things this game took away from me, but losing my voice the other day really got under my skin. It's not quite the same thing as my ability waning, but still... I felt so useless.

[alcoheal]

[She's the furthest thing from that if you ask her. Just charming.]

Honestly, you all could have told us that from the beginning without giving anything away, and I'm sure people would have understood.

[Manuela huffs. It's gentle. Too late to undo how they all met, regardless. It would have made participating in this entire experience even more alienating, maybe. People might not have even tried.]

So you're gonna play along, is what you're saying?

[ozzz]

[Truly, love makes a person weak if it can exploit them like this.]

In other words, you ate it for nothing in the end. How foolish, indeed . . .

[helmswoman]

My telling a secret won't serve much of a purpose at this point.

[ Perhaps that's not fair, but Yukong doesn't see why she should feel pressed to give away something like that for the sake of it, when it won't actually help them solve this puzzle.

Still, maybe she'll be kind enough to share something personally with Manuela at some point.

Especially in light of what she says. Yukong heaves out a sigh. ] Well, our voice is used for so many things, as a way to express ourselves and share our thoughts. It's entirely fair that you felt that way. Here, you can't even write something down to get a message across...

[hearthwarming]

What was it they called you in your memory? Uroko-sama...? Hahaha...

[ He'll definitely have to guide her and prop her up, because she'd be stumbling a bit otherwise. ]

[thefinalcontract]

[He supposes he does understand that to some degree. There are many things that the common people do not know. Not because they shouldn't but because it's a little easier that they don't. Or, in some cases, the Heavenly Principles have declared it so.]

I suspect I do. I can't say I agree, exactly, but I do have an understanding of why it must be.

[thefinalcontract]

[The ship is taking on water...]

Perhaps it is... And there is much to see. And you should be free to do so. In passing I have heard snippets of your adventures. Perhaps it's time to have another?

[cosmoid]

Indeed. But that's because they worship the Sea God, and by proxy, me. Just Uroko is enough, for that is what I am—literally, it means scale in Japanese.

[ she's much more pleasant company to guide than drunk chieftains. once they're settled he waves his hand and summons a jug of water from one of the various beverage piles in the party. ]

Share with me. [ he'll take a sip first and then pass it to her, still holding on if she doesn't look steady enough to do so on her own. ]

[thefinalcontract]

[He sips his tea.]

I feel I've been quite forthcoming but another time, yes.

[helmswoman]

[ THAT MEMSHARE SAYS OTHERWISE. But she gets it, and will leave him be. ]

[hearthwarming]

[ ...Well, she supposes she didn't expect anything less from someone so closely associated with a god. ]

I know you didn't mean it like that. [ Sighing, she turns her head, nuzzling into his side a bit, her eyes falling to the swatch of scales on his arm. ] I could be bad in that way, too, just so you know...

But as long as we're being honest... Yes, you've definitely made that clear. You really listened to what I had to say that time, and... it does mean a lot, Uroko.

I only said that because I've... been through a lot in my own life, and I wouldn't say that I'm proud of some things, but I have made peace with it. My life is going to be much too long for me to spend it with only my regrets... All of those things you said that you like about me, I don't doubt them, and I know these are my strengths. But... I have my weaknesses, too.

[ Self-doubt being one of them, chiefly, and obviously. ]

[hearthwarming]

[ She's still sobbing, but at least it's clearer now than moments ago, that she's simply moved, rather than sad or overwhelmed. Still, she's lifting her free hand to wipe at her face now and again, as tears continue to fall. ]

Quite a bit much to see, yes. Maybe I'm overdue for another adventure. And since my old crew are a bit scattered these days... Maybe I should try traveling with new people, too.

[alcoheal]

[MOMENTS before disaster. Ori doesn't seem wasted enough to lose either consciousness or her lunch just yet, so Manuela isn't worried about the gal pal proximity. She laughs self-deprecatingly and pats Ori's cheeks.]

Oh, honey, you don't want to be anything like me. I'm a total disgrace. [She can't even get a handle on her love life in a competition designed to do exactly that.]

All right... let me tell you something. Do you know that one of our students enrolled in Garreg Mach because I was there? We knew each other from the opera. When she told me that, I was floored. I mean, what a chance to get my act together and prove she was right! But I'm just as much a mess as ever.

[Her thumbs give Ori's cheeks a gentle little stroke. She sees some of Dorothea in her, actually...or more like the woman Dorothea could be in a few years if the world had been a kinder place.]

She doesn't even know this, but she's the one who inspired me. When I first heard her sing, I realized how much I wanted her to succeed. So I made it my goal to get her as close to the top as possible before I retired. [That's...probably what she'd like to see for Ori, too - for her to come out of this game on top of it.]

[thefinalcontract]

[Oh?

The comment surprises him to his very core. And knowing how important Charlie is to Lucifer, how much he's trying to repair their bond and reconnect that is quite the gesture and invitation.

And he is deeply moved by the offer.]

When I have earned the title proper... I would be glad for it. [Lucifer gets a little squeeze of affection from the Archon.] The offer alone means more than I can properly express.

I, admittedly, have not been very forthcoming in regards to things about myself. So if there is something you wish to know I would be glad to share with you and you alone.

[cosmoid]

Not even Gods are perfect, Oriphi. Your weaknesses, such as stopping me from eating all the vegetable cuttings [ he still steals one here or there mind, and here he steals a quick kiss, pressed to her forehead. ] are part of you, just like mine are.

But it's those things that cause ripples and waves. Sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse, but always moving forward.

[hearthwarming]

dark secret
normal secret
n..ormal...? secret i am not sure wheeze

Also picking in this week's ceremony!

[alcoheal]

[Incorrect. Absolutely nothing she says could possibly be as obtuse as wizard vaguery.]

Well... yes. I could probably make do with your register. I can only assume your singing voice is rich and tingly. [That's definitely an industry term and not yet another attempt to see if she can squeeze a reaction out of him. It would be ideal if she was working with another woman for this, but she's a beggar and therefore can't be choosy.]

I'll lose my voice if I do it myself.

[ozzz]

Tiletta was my master.

[She was his companion—his family. Everything he is, he owes to her. And the only reason he can still recall her face or her laughter is because . . .

A sobering thought cuts through the fog of nostalgia, numbing his chest. Mithra gets up.]

Excuse me.

[bewrightback]

You're completely right - about the lack of proof, that is. As a lawyer, I understand full well that evidence is everything in a court of law. But the thing is, we're not in a court of any kind right now. You're not being tried for anything. We're just trying to ascertain the truth the best that we can. We can't un-learn what we learned, so it's only natural that we explore this doubt, to determine if we can trust you again.

And I wouldn't necessarily say that I'm ignoring the context you provided. It just doesn't change that the memory witnessed by Dr. Maruki sounds inhumane. I get that you'd defend yourself whether innocent or guilty, but remember. If you have any admissions to make, now's the time to do it. You do like racking up those points, don't you?