WEEK FOUR MINGLE

[potatomance]

ᯓ⭐ WEEK FOUR MINGLE

Heya, lovebirds! You're entering the final week and things sure are... great.

Right?

Well, whether you're feeling great or not, you're going to find yourself looking your best in formal wear this week! Suits, gorgeous dresses, fabulously outlandish outfits, you name it, you're stuck in it. No sweatpants or lab coats for anyone this week. We have standards.

And we also believe in telling the truth, one way or another!

That's right, if you're asked a question, any question at all, no matter how innocent or dire, you are compelled to speak your most truthful answer. It could be who you think is the hottest in the castle. It could be your opinion on orange juice. Whatever it is, there is no longer a brain-to-mouth filter in place!

And maybe you'll figure that out and all decide to be merciful, but Riri will be popping up every now and then. And Riri? Riri will not be merciful.

Except for one thing, and that's a note in the main room that states simply: You all suck at this, so this week, our good ol' lesbian duo can now speak normally. You're welcome. ♥

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

Comments

[ziplash]

I won't discount the possibility considering the lack of information we have to base it on, and no matter how we slice it, it's a fifty-fifty.

[ She's scowling, her arms tightly folded. She looks much more high strung than usual, if that's even possible. ]

And I was against going to the booth because I wanted to protect everyone — not because I just didn't want to go.

I refused to go with you or Yukong because... because before I came here — the kid I'm responsible for was nearly killed in the safest place in the world. That I haven't been able to let my guard down here is on me — but how could I live with it if something like that happened again on my watch? I didn't want even a chance of being forced out of this place.

[ woah that truth serum sure is hitting... for once, her voice seems tight with emotion, the plain stress of her feelings laid bare, instead of covered up with her anger and frustration. anyways! ]

All that being said, we don't know enough to discount or say for certain that Zhongli and I are matched. I can see cause for either outcome being true — lucky for us, like I said, it's fifty-fifty. We'd know which match it really was either way.

[aureated]

[LIN........

Aurelia blinks at that, slowly processing all of that. Ah. That's...]

I see. I am sorry that both you, and that child, went through that... Keeping your guard up in our circumstances is not a bad thing. If anything, we have all been too lax.

[They're lucky that Lin has been here, and they're lucky it hasn't been worse.]

But knowing that you are willing to go in does simplify the picking. Or complicates it, depending on how you look at it.

[ziplash]

Oh, well, [ SARCASTIC CHUCKLE ] It's looking like it's going to be the latter.

[ She waves a hand dismissively, chasing away the lasting vulnerability in her features and voice. ]

Doesn't matter to me, since sending either one will give us an answer, but this 'we should send someone else entirely' strategy is a bunch of crap.

[aureated]

I agree with that. We could send another pair, if we were to assume one or the other is correct, but...

[A sigh.]

We are already making many assumptions, and the morale of this group is very low. [very....very....very low.]

We need a victory, even if only a temporary one.

[ziplash]

Believe me, I agree.

[ They need a for sure answer in the booth, and there's no way around sending one of the fifty-fifty pairs, in her mind. ]

There's not much a point in debating which of the two — Xianyun and Phoenix, or me and Zhongli — is the more likely. All that matters is that we know which is correct.

[ Her brow knits. ]

We'll get everything back, one way or another. I'm not leaving until that's true — for everyone.

[ozzz]

[These are too many words for him to follow, but Mithra shifts in his seat toward the end of Lin's outburst. This is why he tried and couldn't come up with the exact answer for Manuela just a few days ago . . . ]

[ziplash]

[ She is quirking a brow at him, wondering if he means to say something after sitting forward.... ]

[ozzz]

[He has nothing to say, at least in regards to matters outside of the show. Once their eyes meet, he lets his gaze roam around the room before it meanders back to hers.]

. . . I don't need protection.

[ziplash]

I didn't say you personally did.

[ He's insanely powerful, or something like that. She puts her head in her hands, tired after all the shouting. ]

But it'd be over my dead body that I'd give them even a second to think about removing me. I'm tired of the people around me getting hurt.

[mechanideptus]

. . .

[ Oh. That is such a difficult feeling to have to work through—and to be pulled away so soon after is a cruel thing indeed. ]

One did not realize. Your vigilance is understandable—as is your determination now.

[ She saw you yell at Zhongli. And also attack him. She’s not mad about it, surprisingly. ]

[ziplash]

[ nice, ty for not grilling her over the coals, xianyun... for what it's worth, she seems like she can be completely professional despite all that. ]

I'm only trying to do what's best for all of us.

[ Is she still a little sore over being called childish and not hard working? Well, yes, but at least she's expressing it in insisting that she deeply cares about their collective plight. Zhongli's included, though to her, it seems he doesn't care if they win or lose. ]

She's — she's a tough kid. But she's been through too much. I won't let us lose this. I won't.

[mechanideptus]

Tough or not, it's indescribably painful to watch someone we love so struggle. Moreso if we love her like a daughter.

[ Oh, Xianyun has been there more than once. ]

Zhongli was harsh. And one had thought he was well old enough to have grown past such boorishness.

While his heart is not made of stone [ ha. ], he does not know what such a feeling is like. One wishes you hadn't attacked him, of course, but one understands why you did so. If you prefer, one will discuss descending into the well with Phoenix when it comes time.

[ziplash]

[ "Like a daughter," indeed... those words distract her from getting too worked up about the rest of it. When her eyes open, they're a bit downcast. ]

I'll do what's best for the group's morale. I don't want the group sending you two just because they're worried about hurt feelings — we're not children, for spirits' sake. If we all decide you're the more likely, then that's different.

Do you genuinely feel you're matched with Phoenix?

[ringsmaster]

[ Sometime after Zhongligate, he's going to come find her wherever she's gone off to, and tentatively approach. ]

Miss Lin?

[ziplash]

[ The #real answer is that she ran away to cry because she stress cries, but he'll find her outside in the garden, wherever there's a good amount of peaceful foliage. She's still quite tense when he approaches, and it takes her a second to respond to him, taking in a deep breath. Her knuckle rubs between her brows. ]

.... Lucifer. How can I help you?

[ It's stiff and professional, very police chief like, as she straightens her posture, keeping her eyes clenched shut. ]

[ringsmaster]

Are you okay?

[ A beat, then he amends, ]

That's a stupid question. I'm sorry. That should never have happened. Zhongli was way out of line.

[ziplash]

It's... not a stupid question.

[ Which is offered awkwardly, because she's bad at reassuring people, but Lucifer really is always talking down to himself, and she doesn't like to see it — so, on instinct, she interrupts it. As for the rest of what he says, she turns her face away stubbornly. ]

But I'm tougher than he or Mithra seem to think. I'm not going to fall apart because he insulted me. Or looked down on my efforts. [ a beat. ] It's not your fault, so don't apologize for him.

[cosmoid]

[ also after zhong li gate...]

Lin. Would you rather see children coddled, or taught a lesson? [ she can pretty easily tell that he's not talking about actual children. ]

[ziplash]

[ That evokes a chuckle out of her, dry and gruff. Uroko is nice company — refreshingly straightforward, and not pitying her. ]

I think you know which one I'd rather see.

[ Taught a lesson, obviously. ]

Being coddled too much — that's how people become arrogant and irresponsible.

[cosmoid]

Then I shall vote accordingly.

[ he would defer his vote to the other option if she wanted, he is thankfully, not yomi. but he has his own opinion on the matter, so he smiles. ]

Particularly Gods, as it were.

[ and he does not only mean the divine that are here. ]

[ziplash]

Hah. Fine by me.

[ She does not care if she gets put in the booth with him... like Uroko, she thinks it might teach him a lesson. ]

Like I said before all of that, I have no problems being matched with him, even now. He's the one that seems to have a problem with me, or with considering being matched with anyone who doesn't fit his personal interests or theory.

[helmswoman]

[ Also finding her about Zhongligate wheeeee.

Wherever Lin is, Yukong will openly approach her, nodding to her in greeting. ]

That all spiraled out of control quite suddenly. How far you feeling?

[ziplash]

[ She's chilling outside for the time being, leaning up against one of the wooden beams in the garden. ]

...I'm fine. [ She says, shortly, still tensed up and looking ready to fight. To tell the truth, she wishes everything had ended in a brawl — at least then she wouldn't feel this charged up. ] Just thinking of what our next move should be, that's all.

[ It's easier to focus on the work, if only to not think about the personal note everything had taken on. ]

I'm sorry if you got wrapped up in it.

[ she didn't exactly look at who all was near the table!! ]

[helmswoman]

Not at all.

[ Yukong had mainly been on the outskirts of everything that happened because Court was sick as hell, so she had opted to stay out of it rather than adding fuel to the fire, and eventually it all calmed down. ]

I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that Zhongli, with his relation to the earth, would end up being so stubborn. But... I did want to ask you, as I'm also wondering about our next move — what do you think of going to the truth booth with him, after all that?

[ Yukong sighs and takes a seat on a nearby bench, leaving Lin to her spot. ]

I couldn't say as much before, but Aurelia and I are allowed to submit votes for that as well, and now I'm left at a bit of a loss.

[ziplash]

[ After a long pause: ]

I don't have a problem with it. He might.

[ Yes, even after all that, she's still willing to go to the booth with him. Because she knows that this game is bigger than her personal feelings. If it's more likely that they're the ones that are matched, then they should go, because they all really need a win right now. Sure, they'll figure out one new match by sending either of the fifty-fifty pairs, but if they send the wrong one, she thinks it'll only further negatively impact morale. ]

There's still the possibility we were matched together to spite both of us. That might be more than we have to go off of with Xianyun and Phoenix. [ At least it's... Something, she guesses. ] Logistically, I guess it doesn't matter which pair it is. But I'd prefer us to get a correct match in the booth, personally.