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.

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[alcoheal]

[Manuela is in high spirits or at least high in energy to kick off this week. She can be found after breakfast in the garden, walking back and forth along the path, crop laddering up and down in the air at her side. She's speaking to herself, saying a line of normal words and then another line of short, punctuated syllables. Though they're toneless, a familiar ear might recognize them as solfeggio, just spoken in monotone.]

... No, I think I need to redo that line... [She spies: one intruder.] Oh, perfect! I've been going a little stir-crazy trying to figure this out on my own.

[She's very quick to rush over and grab any interloper by the hand, drawing them in only long enough for her hand to settle around their waist instead.]

That's better. Say, how are you with following directions?

---

[Later, a much quieter Divine Songstres is... sulking in one of the castle's many comfortable lounges. One might mistake her for ill, either naturally or of her own making, but that simply isn't the case.

Anyone who catches her eye runs the risk of being beckoned over by the sharp, short quirk of two of her fingers before she pat-pat-pats the couch next to her. Pat-pat-pat...pat-pat...

Anyone who doesn't answer this invitation will be physically fetched and brought over to sit next to her, Manuela wound delicately around their arm. Unless someone completely resists...but who could say no to that face?]

[voxnozzz]

[ he was just here in the garden to Exist and now it's a double whammy of processing what's happening, from the muttering to the hand around his waist. the latter quells an unfamiliar feeling within him, which is the only reason why oz doesn't immediately put space between himself and her when she pulls him closer...

... what was that about directions? he blinks slowly. ]

I do not follow directions.

[ spoilers: he does follow directions, depending on who asks. amazingly, even. ]

[alcoheal]

Oh. [Manuela looks nonplussed for a moment, though her expression soon returns to its welcoming, affectionate smile. Some people would find it hard to turn down such a direct approach, but this is just how Oz is, she supposes. She should be used to that much by now.]

Well, that's all right. [She leans into his arm, her snuggle one of forgiveness.] How about singing?

[voxnozzz]

[ she's close. as close as oz allows the central wizards to be, at times; even then he doesn't subconsciously push himself closer as he does right now, something he realizes belatedly. thanks, potato. he has to check himself. ]

I have only ever done one specific kind of song.

[ it's an admission oz seems almost hesitant to make. ]

... What are you doing?

[ what is she asking for.... ]

[alcoheal]

Really? [That almost stops her in her tracks, causing her to half-step so she doesn't halt dead and pull away from him. She realizes that she'd already assumed his answer would be "not at all," which was an unfair judgment after this long and this many surprises.

Just what type of song is common in his homeland?]

We have some very poetic housemates. I'm just itching to translate some of their words into song, but I'm working under... certain constraints.

[voxnozzz]

[ ...

well, oz knows that he isn't included in the poetry. the rest of the explanation isn't much of an explanation at all, given "certain constraints" is such a wizard-tier vague explanation. ]

You wish for me to sing.

[ that's— what he's getting, here, if only for the question and her wish. ]

[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.

[voxnozzz]

[ hey. they're clear enough. ]

Rich and tingly?

[ well. the situation making sense as a riri curse is quickly turned upside down with that comment. he's— not sure what to say to that, actually. he assumed the confusion would continue.

instead, it was turned on him.... ]

... I am not certain. Arthur never described it as such.

[ it's. more musing to himself, really, but the comment is so out of the norm of what he's been told that he can only let out the first thing that belatedly pops into his head. ]

[thefinalcontract]

[He was not intending to stay, simply passing through the garden, but she has gone and snatched him up.]

I am quite good at following directions. Are you in need of some sort of help?

[alcoheal]

I'm looking for some musical assistance, actually. [Though, now that he's here instead, she might see if he has any more histories to turn into limericks... she could set them to song later, after Aya murders me in my house he's woven a tale conducive to a full number.]

I can't sing right now, and it's driving me up the wall.

[thefinalcontract]

Very understandable... I cannot claim to have any great skill in the musical genre but I do enjoy it and I understand the basics.

[He gently pats the hand that's on his waist.]

How can I help you, Miss Manuela?

lounge

[helmswoman]

[ Maybe in another situation, Yukong might have found that pat-pat-pat a bit rude. She might have ears and a tail, but she is not an animal, after all.

But 1) Manuela looks like she is in dire need of some company, and 2) Yukong has felt unnaturally drawn towards all sorts of physical contact all day. So, the idea of cuddling up next to Manuela on the couch sounds perfectly nice to her right now.

So with that, Yukong strides over and settles next to Manuela on the couch. She does manage to stop herself from immediately leaning in against her side, but that won't last for long. ]

Did you need something?

mfw i was just about to tag you on scenario

[alcoheal]

[That won't last for long, indeed, because the moment Yukong sits down next to her, Manuela flops dramatically into her like she's the world's cuddliest fainting couch.

In response to her question, Manuela makes eye contact and heaves a very large (and equally dramatic) sigh. No sound comes out with it safe for the passing of her breath. She's suffering terribly, clearly.]

you can do that too 👀

[helmswoman]

[ Oh, they're just going to flop against each other now, it seems. Yukong huffs out a laugh, mainly because it reminds her of younger days, when she and Caiyi might flop onto a couch together after a particularly difficult flight or battle.

Then laugh together deep into the night...

Manuela's sigh says it all, though, doesn't it? Yukong shifts one arm to wrap around her back and lets her lean in further against her if that's what she wants. ]

We can just sit here like this, if you like.

hehehe maybe i will

[alcoheal]

[The less resistance she gets to flopping, the farther and farther she'll sink into the couch and Yukong both. If they stay like this for too long, she'll eventually slide off her shoulder and side to lie fully across her, but for now, she's just slumped against her shoulder.

Even without speaking, Manuela can be quite expressive. It's a gift, even in situations where she'd prefer to talk. Her words, after all, can be quite compelling. She raises her hand and flaps her thumb against her fingers in a mouth-yapping gesture, then looks at Yukong expectantly. If Yukong wants to talk, then she can. Is there something she wants to get off her chest?]

[helmswoman]

[ Perhaps Manuela wants to save her voice, now that Yukong knows about that. Or perhaps she simply isn't in the mood to talk right now, which is also fair.

Either way, Yukong shakes her head, settling further against the couch so they can simply lean against each other like this for now. It fulfills the urges they've been given, and if Yukong has to cuddle with someone on the couch, Manuela is a perfectly good option for that.

They can just sit. And nap, maybe. ]

[alcoheal]

[Even for someone who can chat up a storm like Manuela, this reprieve from having to talk strategy over feelings is a welcome one. It's only the circumstances that anooy her, especially here, with Yukong only able to discuss literally anything else. She won't be able to break the silence with words any time soon, so she curls up in the silence uncharacteristically peacefully, occasionally burrowing closer like a fitful cat.

If Yukong starts to look like she might be dozing off into a nap, however, Manuela will notice, vibrating a soundless chuckle against her.

Someone must not be getting very much sleep in her Honeymoon Suite, hm?]

[helmswoman]

[ Wow, she can be getting plenty of good sleep and still want a nap if she's feeling uncharacteristically cuddly.

So, when she feels the vibration of a laugh that's not been fully voiced, Yukong's eyes blink open from the slight doze that she'd fallen into. She is quite a light sleeper, it seems. ]

What is it?

[alcoheal]

[This is getting to be a harder and harder conversation to hold through gestures alone. Manuela presses the side of her face to Yukong's shoulder, then briefly pantomimes as sleeping visage. She seems pretty tired.

When Manuela opens her eyes again, however, she follows up with...an eyebrow waggle. But why are you so tired, Yukong? Not that she minds! Were it not obvious by how she continues to cuddle on down. This is very comfortable.]

[helmswoman]

[ It seems quite clear now that Manuela is going out of her way to not use her voice. Is she trying to save it for now, then? Or did that potato curse her in some way?

She doesn't seem too distressed, so Yukong will leave it for now.

Sleeping, and then a suggestive eyebrow waggle. Is she... trying to proposition her? Surely not, when Manuela has made it quite clear that her interest is in men. ]

...... You're not asking for a trip to the dungeon, are you? If so, I'll unfortunately have to decline.

[alcoheal]

[GIRL PLEASE YUKONG HELP WHY ARE YOU LIKE THIS

That does, at least, get Manuela to sit bolt upright for a second with an animated "no" wave of her arms. Once she thinks she's made herself clear that it was, in fact, not a proposition, she stills. Points to herself and makes an X with her hands.

Finally, a single, emphatic point at Yukong herself. And just her, nodding decisively.

She's really failed at the art of mime today...and yet she's pretty sure she has the answer to the question she wanted to ask in the first place.]

[helmswoman]

[ IT WOULDN'T BE FUN IF SHE PUZZLED IT OUT IMMEDIATELY.

Manuela makes it very clear that she is not a part of this line of questioning (if that's what it is) at all. A bit of a shame that she's yet to find someone she's interested in in that way, but the men here are a bit disappointing, aren't they...

Well, Yukong still thinks Manuela and Uroko might work well together, but that isn't something she can voice either way. ]

You want to know what I've been up to, is it? [ She shuts her eyes and smiles briefly, shaking her head. ] Well, it wouldn't be my place to share, but I doubt it's anything as salacious as what you're imagining...

[alcoheal]

[Wouldn't be her place to share? But she's the one doing it! Manuela lets out an indignant little huff - though of course the only sound that comes through is the air being released.

To voice her "grievances" the only way she actually can, she flops back into place on Yukong's shoulder extra dramatically this time. For good measure, she gives her arm a poke. What a tease she is, clearly putting a suffering woman through all of this. It quickly becomes nothing more than a lazy drape of her arm.]

[helmswoman]

[ Manuela's frustration comes through loud and clear, even though she can't speak a word, and as she flops back against Yukong she can't help but laugh as she steadies her against her side, one arm sliding across Manuela's shoulder blades. ]

You're quite adept at making yourself clear, even when you cannot say a thing.

[alcoheal]

[It's only mildly reassuring when Manuela feels like such an absolute mess... but reassuring it is nonetheless. Slightly mollified, she slides down further with a pout and a huff.

If Yukong will agree to her polite, wordless request to cuddle with her tail, she'll muffle her grumpiness in the fur while she naps. Otherwise, enjoy falling back to sleep with her faceplanted into your shoulder, Yukong.]