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

[ozzz]

[What's got her so bug-eyed?]

Is something the matter?

[alcoheal]

It's not a very flattering comparison.

[Manuela seems to be chewing on how to best explain this to him...though being compelled into honesty certainly is helping.] There are reasons they didn't work out.

[She sighs, then drops her temple into her hand and rubs at it. For her, it's just another thing on the pile, so it feels a little daunting. After a moment, her expression softens.]

...Then again, I'm sure he had plenty of reasons to love her.

[ozzz]

[There are reasons, yes, but she and that woman are separate people. He thinks that should be obvious, yet here she is. She seems rather down, even once her expression softens. Mithra watches her for several beats before tilting his head to the side.]

Would you like a hug?

[alcoheal]

[That gives her a sense of whiplash that she hasn't experienced in a while. Manuela tilts her head to the side, wondering if she's heard him correctly.]

Come again?

[ozzz]

Would you like a hug? Ori said I should offer it to you the next time you seem upset.

[He drops his arms to his sides, as if to make himself available for such an undertaking.]

[alcoheal]

[Oh, that makes sense. Kind of. He noticed that she felt upset? It's strange... it makes her hesitate, if only a little.]

Figures she'd put you up to something like that. [It's very... Ori-like. And sweet.] I don't know how it'll make me feel [honest], but I'd like a hug if you want to give one. Though... knowing you, you wouldn't offer if you didn't want to.

[ozzz]

Of course not. I don't do things that I don't want to do.

[Saying that, he steps forward and pulls Manuela into his arms. Despite the decisive tug, his embrace is tender as if she were something delicate. He angles his face away to rest his head lightly on hers and presses her flush against him, snaking a hand up to caress her nape while its pair rests on her back to keep her close.]

[alcoheal]

Yeah. I know you don't.

[There's something in Mithra's hug that feels a lot like the things he was unable to express with the child she saw in his memory, like there are feelings and thoughts that exist beneath his behaviors and demeanor that are unpredictable.

She presses her face to his chest and links her hands behind his back. Some tension slumps out of her shoulders, and she just breathes. She can almost pretend this is normal.

It's really a very nice hug.]

[ozzz]

[It feels nice. Somehow, a part of him is surprised by the hands behind his back. A hug, Mithra remembers now, is usually mutual.

His body tingles where it meets hers. It's a nice, somewhat alien yet familiar, feeling. She seems to relax in his embrace, so he maintains their position for a few more slow blinks before pulling back just enough to glimpse her face.]

How's that? Do you feel better now?

[alcoheal]

[Her hopes hadn't been very high. But as the embrace starts to loosen, Manuela finds that she really does feel a bit more relaxed.]

...Yeah, actually. I do.

[ozzz]

[Something in Mithra's chest rises at the answer. She isn't angry this time. His lips stretch into a smile, lazy but sure.]

I see. That's good, then.