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

[alcoheal]

Some people don't even know what they want out of life at our age. ...That's something I can admit I admire about you, anyway. [She doesn't have to like how he expresses his ambition (and she doesn't) to compliment that he has it. She does know what it's like to scrape and claw.

What does it matter now? It might not matter at all. It might matter a great deal, just to know to what extent choice and circumstance have played for him. To her chagrin, she's piqued by his declaration, both eyebrows clearing high on her forehead.]

If you promised that, then I'd really like to see what you were capable of pulling off. I'd care more for earnest than spontaneous, but beggars really can't be choosy.

[hnl]

[Go to Lucifer or Phoenix or Maruki if you want earnestness!! Brenner is here to win the game -- or at least claw their way towards a hint they desperately need, apparently.

He seems pleased to have surprised her, and eases himself up into a stand.]

It'll be an earnest effort. How about that?

[Offers her a hand up?]

[alcoheal]

[Oh, she's so annoyed that she's pleased him by being surprised...

But at least the spicy hot feeling that comes with being irritated gives her more energy than just slothfully indulging in the game. She grudgingly accepts his hand and pulls herself to her feet with the leverage.]

You're putting in more effort for me than for some other people, so I guess I have to take it.

[hnl]

[He probably shouldn't chuckle at that, but he can't help it. Even Brenner's politeness is showing a few cracks by week four. To be fair, he does try to smooth it over with-]

Everyone's on edge right now. The idea of true romance has all but flown the coop in many people's eyes.

[As she uses that leverage to hoist herself up, Brenner uses it, too, stepping to the side and yanking her close just enough to encourage her into a little twirl right into his arms. He's banking on the element of surprise to make this work.

If so, he's going straight into a dip, balancing her very low. The entire time, Brenner's rather confident in his own movements despite his. You know. Everything.]

I wouldn't take it personally.

[alcoheal]

[Manuela is graceful, save for when her control over her faculties is weakened. She's used to elegant staging, sword dancing, even the occasional combat.

So when he pulls her into that twirl and dip, it's very much like a dance, and she spins through it, dropping back over his arm as if it's the final flourish of a tango. Her fingers knot into his lapels, a grip she uses to tug and lift herself so she still has some reins in her hand. She yanks, pulling him down towards her. She is surprised, but she's too fiery to be limp.]

I'd try not to take anything you say personally to begin with. [Just short of promising that she won't.]

[hnl]

[He expected her to take the twirl gracefully, else he'd not have risked plummeting to the ground because she couldn't keep her balance. Though he supposes that would make for a surprising mode of kiss, too.

Yanked down, their faces are practically nose to nose.]

And yet...

[And yet I think you must. He doesn't finish his sentence though, happy to leave it unspoken and without giving her a moment to retort.

Time for that kiss! "Forceful" is not the right word for it, but "appropriately committed to the bit" is. Yes, this is for points, and yes, he'd not be doing this normally or otherwise -- but given their positioning, it's more of an attention-grabber than the kabedon, probably.]

[alcoheal]

[It's certainly more memorable than the kabedon, that's for sure.

There's a surprised little mmph from Manuela when Brenner fully seals the kiss, any further words or sounds cut off - which was his plan all along. If only she'd gotten her shut-up kiss at a time of heightened emotions and yelling. She can't retort with words, but maybe she still finds his effort wanting. Maybe he did the best he could.

She still chooses to bite his lip as her means of deepening the kiss, a move that is both just a little too painful and a little too sensual to be dispassionate in any way.]

[hnl]

[Ow? Ma'am? Biting is more bedroom fare than it is spin-the-bottle-and-dip-someone fare, as far as Brenner is concerned, and it's his turn to make a noise from the back of his throat at it.

Though they're playing only by the rules of the game, and they've both agreed to the effort, it all still feels very stubborn on her part. Strangely retaliatory. Brenner allows her bite to deepen the kiss with that sting of pain, slotting his mouth open long enough to let it linger for a few seconds more, before he gives nearly as good as he gets. Drawing his own teeth against her bottom lip, and slowly pulling back until the kiss properly severs -- accompanied by a wet little pop.]

[alcoheal]

[She does wince when he bites back - because that's how she is sometimes, really, acting rashly and then reaping the consequences of it later.

Manuela's expression is one that combines anger with just a little smugness when Brenner separates himself from her.] If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were a little cross with me for surprising you.