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

[psychs]

[ Despite everything, he's glad, too. Even if he's still figuring out what he even wants from his life now, he's still glad to have the chance to make that choice at all.

A nod, his smile fond. ]

That's right. He was their leader, in fact. Our bond is really what saved me, in the end.

[cosmoid]

Yes. But Gods do not bind themselves to laws.

[helmswoman]

That is certainly something to keep in mind as we press forward with this challenge, then. Someone upright and trustworthy would be best for you.

[ It doesn't surprise her at all to hear that Phoenix has been busy with Trucy, and Yukong suspects that's why many of them have "yet to find love," as the show might frame it. ]

I know it's been exhausting to be on this show, but thinking on it now, do you feel like it's time to find someone? Even if it isn't anyone from this contest.

[cosmoid]

Hmm, others have told me I am straightforward.

[ He doesn't disagree, though since she's right. He tends to hide some things behind louder statements.

Either way, he leans forward to whisper into her ear. ]

The Sea God intended to inflict an eternal winter on the world, and I, knowing this, let some of his children escape to the land rather than be forced into hibernation.

[helmswoman]

[ At that first observation, Yukong glances over and smiles warmly. ]

What a lovely way to put it. Yes, you're right.

[ Although Manuela is also right that they're a bit too close to each other. Phoenix probably should have waited for Maruki to get all the way to the bottom before following after him—

Ah.

There they go. ]

... Oh no. It seemed like they were near the bottom [ she would know! ], but I hope they're all right.

[helmswoman]

[ There was still that hesitation in Manuela's expression, and it does make Yukong concerned for her. Will she be all right with the outcome of this silly show, when all is said and done? Surely she knows better than to let the whims of the producers get to her too much. ]

It's not exactly gossip, but...

[ Yukong smiles nonetheless, leaning in closer so she can pitch her voice low, out of earshot of the other people here and the recording equipment. ]

I am no professional like you, but I do have a decent singing voice.

[helmswoman]

[ That is certainly not the answer that Yukong expected to hear, her eyes going wide. Lin's very own sister, breaking the law? And Lin was so dedicated to the law that she'd tried to apprehend her herself. ]

What crime did she commit?

[helmswoman]

Ah...

[ Yukong ceases with her plate-drying for a moment to watch, mainly wanting to be certain that the two of them are all right. When she hears Maruki and Phoenix confirm that each of them is okay, she heaves out a sigh of relief. ]

All things considered, it could have been much worse.

[helmswoman]

You were lucky to have them, in that case.

[ Perhaps without that bond, they wouldn't have even given him the choice to find redemption after what he did. He should be grateful that they chose to spare him, she thinks.

A pause, and then she shuts her eyes for a moment. ]

I imagine this was hard to share, but I think it's for the best that you did.

[ringsmaster]

[ Knowing Charlie, she’d instantly jump on the chance to add another adoptive parent to her ranks of them (even if Lucifer thinks Alastor shouldn’t count because seriously fuck that guy.) ]

Are you sure? If you’d rather wait until after the show so you can share anything you want in private– [ and not in rhyme ] –then that’s fine, too.

[ringsmaster]

[ Sometime later, then, Lucifer makes his way up to the ramparts, still a little hesitant, and definitely nervous, but perhaps he didn’t ruin everything quite like he thought he did. ]

Hey.

[ringsmaster]

Yeah. I can’t blame you for feeling how you felt, like maybe it was better if pain and suffering weren’t in the world.

[ He falls quiet a moment, eyes on the ground as they walk. ]

I thought I was giving humanity a gift when I gave them free will. And in doing so, I let evil in instead. Sometimes I’ve wished I could take it back.

[ringsmaster]

In being the devil.

[ Meme voice: from da Bible. ]

Sounds like you don’t have that story where you’re from, though. Not a lot of people here do.

[thefinalcontract]

That you ask for nothing nor insist that I speak makes me quite certain.

[Of course, it would be nice if it didn’t have to be in a limerick. But he’s gotten quite good at them even if it’s quite ridiculous.]

But I would also gladly take the chance to speak in private… it would be easier, yes, but who knows what has been found out and spread across this broadcast.

[thefinalcontract]

[He has tea for two! And he is currently sitting on his commonly found perch these days.]

Hello to you. [He sets his cup down in its saucer and he cants his head to the side as he does.] No need to look so nervous… I apologize if I have made you feel as such. That was not my intent. I had much to think over…

[alcoheal]

Oh, Yukong! You've been holding out on me.

[That part is said louder in response; the mics might at least get that part if not some of their fellow blanket fort denizens. However, she damps her volume after that, leaving only her dramatic exclamation as a hint for others' speculation.]

You shouldn't be so shy. I'm sure you have a lovely voice. I'd like to hear it sometime.

[hearthwarming]

[ He'll meet no resistant on her end, and as she settles over him, she hums thoughtfully... for only a moment, before she brings herself down onto her forearms and touches the tip of her nose to his. ]

You're letting me take the lead, hm?

[cosmoid]

[ the sound he makes is part chuckle, part hum, reverberating from his chest. ]

Even a fish out of water has its dignity.

[ziplash]

She was the getaway driver for an infamous gang of thieves that day. She said she "owed them a favor" and that it "wasn't a big deal."

[ There are no physical air quotes around both those phrases, but they are audible in the emphasis that Lin gives them. ]

[ziplash]

And you're supposed to be a God?

[ziplash]

[ IT IS NOT PERFECTLY GOOD??? She is keeping the pizza bagel close to her chest and leaning further back into her seat, thank you, even as Manuela stands. ]

I'm more inclined to bet on Xianyun and Lucifer out of those two — he could use someone confident, capable, and collected like Xianyun.

[ Because he is certifiably a Nervous Wreck™. Xianyun seems the type who can Handle just about any situation. ]

Mithra and Brenner... I don't see it for them, personally. Even as a joke.

[ziplash]

[ She gives her a piercing look, searching for any deceit — it's not because she finds Ori suspicious, but actually, the opposite. She's trying to assess how much danger Ori puts herself in these "jail breaks." Inside, she hopes Ori isn't taking these things too far. ]

... I know you would. These things are never so black and white, much as we'd like them to be.

[ So no judgment, really — it's not like the crimes are happening in her city, anyway. She tilts her chin up. ]

I've actually broken a few people out of jails, myself. Wrongfully convicted.

[cosmoid]

The scale of the Sea God. What I follow is according to his will.

[alcoheal]

More or less. [She sighs, irritated. Her hand ghosts to her side but leaves the site of the wound alone.]

He vanished without a trace, so I'd need to find out where he's hiding first. Once I do, though... I'm not letting him get away again.

[alcoheal]

Honestly, it's a pain not to be able to do more.

[She parks herself on the arm of the couch and crosses her legs.]

How are you feeling? I don't mean your back.