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

[mechanideptus]

[ Xianyun, for her part, is rocking the little black dress look today. It's a simple garment while also qualifying for the dress code this week, and thus ideal for an activity like sitting around, watching a screen, and eating popcorn.

Which is, of course, exactly what she's currently doing. ]

[hnl]

[There has not been an outfit in this entire game that Brenner would have considered flattering or not ostentatious, but who cares what he thinks? I get to pick his fit, and I choose this one. Which is one of the more milder options that he's suffered thus far.

Anyway, a wise man would not approach Xianyun after their last interaction. But there's a stark difference between intelligence and wisdom, and while he can possess both, today, he skews to one side more than the other. Is it curiosity or pettiness or the desire to witness the the aftermath of the figurative trainwreck he caused? With Brenner, who knows!

Regardless, this is just the man you wanted to see, huh. He approaches. :)))) ]

The results of today should boost morale. We all so sorely need it.

[mechanideptus]

[ BITCH, SHE WAS AVOIDING YOU FOR A REASON.

Xianyun gives him an icy sidelong glance and shifts her popcorn out of his reach. She's still quite angry at him (and herself, if she has to be honest) about everything. ]

That we do.

[ Beat. ]

What do you want, Brenner?

[hnl]

[help not depriving him of the popcorn

To his credit, he's not going to sit next to her. He's not here to escalate the situation, when the whole castle has already had their fill of screaming crying throwing up at each other these past few weeks. But standing behind the sofa, Brenner will bend forward to rest his elbows on the back of it, not-quite-leaning-over-her-shoulder but definitely doing so in spirit.]

Am I not allowed to strike up conversation with you anymore? I thought you'd have time to cool off by now.

[mechanideptus]

One has "cooled off," as you put it. Thus why one has not attacked you again.

[ She's not any more interested in escalating it than he is, despite how much she would like to. Things have been fraught enough this week without her (VERY JUSTIFIED, at least by her own measure) anger making things worse. There's nothing to be gained from it, and they have a game to win... and the odds are dwindling. ]

[hnl]

[His neck didn't feel like it was justified.]

Lucky me. You know, I did learn a lot about your ire that day. Though I was left wondering if it was such an offense because you were given more context about my work, or if you took it more... personally.

[Angry with yourself, perhaps, Xianyun? A little betrayed? He does wonder.]

[mechanideptus]

[ If this were any other week, she would blow him off and tell him that she did not take any of it personally, thankyouverymuch. But it's truth week, so... ]

It was both. One truly does find your behavior toward your charges unconscionable, regardless of your motivations. But one... [ SIGH. ] One admits to not taking well to misjudging someone as completely as I did you. And one feels foolish for getting caught up in whatever it was that developed between us.

[hnl]

[Ah, truth week. Brenner is vaguely aware of its effects thanks to almost getting murdered by Mithra by the pool a couple of days earlier, though it's hard to tell whether or not he's purposefully using this to his advantage.]

Hm. "Caught up." [He pulls his gaze from the screen, glancing aside at her profile.] Did I really disappoint you so badly?

[mechanideptus]

[ She notes in her peripheral vision that he's looking at her, but she keeps looking straight ahead. ]

Almost as much as one disappointed oneself.

[ Then, with an angrier edge: ]

Does that answer satisfy you?

[hnl]

[That anger -- he wonders how much indignity it's caused her, to disappoint herself. He suspects the leftover that furor she didn't turn on him has been left to ravage her own sense of judgement, instead.]

Satisfy?

[He sounds mildly disbelieving, actually, at that question. Brenner straightens and shoves his hands in his pockets.]

No, not at all. I'm disappointed, too, you know. That your resentment has been such a bulwark against wanting to speak more on the matter.

[mechanideptus]

[ It's caused her so much indignity--which is something she has never handled well, even without all this added pressure from the game that they're all desperately losing.

His statement surprises her, and she finally turns to look at him in earnest. She studies his expression for a few moments before speaking up. ]

We've misjudged each other, it seems.

[ Which is, perhaps, a huge concession on her part. Or just an acknowledgement of the truth. ]

What more do you have to say on the matter? One is listening.

[hnl]

[His expression is mild and considering; a pinch of the brow, as though seeking the solution to a problem. He wonders what she thought of him, to write him off as someone who'd hold a grudge and not a man who takes failures and approaches them anew from different angles. He supposes his last words to her in reply to her threat had not been all that flattering, even if the sentiment still holds true.

After a moment-]

If bridges are to be burned, I believe in doing it like adults.

[Very governmental of him. Cross his T's and dot his I's, leave nothing hanging. Finality, plain and simple.]

But on the off-chance things are not so cut and dry, I think we're overdue a discussion regarding our... conflicting approaches to our work. A measured talk, where we try not to let our feelings overwhelm us. Would you agree to that, or have we sailed past that point?

[mechanideptus]

[ In fairness, she doesn't know what she thinks of him these days.

The fact that he approaches even this so analytically does not surprise her at all. That part of him, at least, has always been true. ]

One is willing.

[ Perhaps against her better judgement, but that's beside the point. In for a penny, in for a pound. ]

Later, after all is decided for how we'll proceed with tomorrow's ceremony.

[hnl]

[That earns a smile.]

I'm glad to hear it.

[That Xianyun, despite everything, still remains reasonable as ever. Their thoughts run parallel where that's concerned.]

That was going to be my suggestion, too. Now's not exactly the time.

[SOMEONE'S TURNED INTO A DRAGON ON SCREEN ANYWAY, SO.]

We'll talk later.

[alcoheal]

[Xianyun had the right idea with a little black dress; Manuela is already regretting her choice of mermaid style for the lack of mobility, even if the cut is extremely flattering. Still, there's no comfortable position for lounging unless she goes full seal-style recline, which... well. It's tempting. She eventually gives in, taking the added step of removing an evening glove so she can shovel in popcorn.]

You and I sorely need more than popcorn and wine. [The whole house kind of does, but after their previous post-ceremony drinks and everything that's transpired after then, Manuela is so sure that Xianyun is living quite literally on a wing and a prayer here.]

[mechanideptus]

[ Sometimes you gotta look hot in an uncomfortable dress. It can't be helped.

Unlike with Brenner, Xianyun gladly shares her popcorn with Manuela. ]

You are not incorrect in that assessment. But for now, popcorn and wine will suffice as we watch whether we sent the correct pair to the well.

[ She is, in fact living on a wing and a prayer. ]

[alcoheal]

Yeah, let's take a raincheck. We might need it even more once we start talking later. We get very similar information either way, but I agree with the other gals that our morale could really use a "win." I don't know how much more stress we can take.

[There's something to be said about failing upward... and something to be said about remaining determined in the face of defeat. At least it's to their credit that they've never stopped struggling.]

Our numbers for you and Phoenix are slightly smaller, and I'll take any edge right now.

[mechanideptus]

Not much, one is afraid. Everyone has been on edge this week, particularly as we're much more inclined to speak our minds.

[ Thanks for that, Riri. Big help that's been. ]

Regardless of if this helps or dampens morale, we will have more information. It is up to us to make the best use of it. And then we can decompress however we see fit.

[ She'll need a drinking buddy; she agreed to talk to Brenner later. help. ]

[alcoheal]

[girl... godspeed.]

I've noticed that, too. [Just because she has a tendency to be spicy and speak her mind already doesn't mean that Manuela hasn't noticed the effect in others...or that there haven't been things she would have otherwise kept to herself that she's been more deliberate about this week.]

More information... that's true... but what if the "knowledge" we have just turns out to mean squat? Is it worth it, what we've done here?

[mechanideptus]

That is the wrong question to ask at this stage. We do not have the luxury of wondering whether or not the decision was worthwhile; we merely must do what we can with it.

[ She does, however, lean over to give Manuela a reassuring pat on the knee. ]

There will be time for regrets and what ifs later.

[alcoheal]

You're right. There is no looking back.

[Manuela glances down at the hand patting her knee, then briefly covers it with her own to return the patting.]

I should know better than to dwell on what's already happened. The best we can do is learn from it.