Truth Booth;

[omnivoracious]

❤ Truth Booth



Welcome to the Truth Booth, an innocuous-looking hut located not too far from the house, though you have to pass through a rather dense copse of palm trees and you can only make this journey with one other person.

Completely at odds with the outward appearance, the inside of the hut has white tiled floors and an almost clinical appearance. Those wishing to test their compatibility for the week must clasp hands and stand in the center of the room, where they will be scanned to determine whether they are (or not) a Perfect Match. Facing them is a screen displaying their Highly Flattering Pictures and when the scanning is complete, the truth will also flash on their screen.

So step right up. It's the only way to know for sure.

Premise ❤ FAQ ❤ Rules ❤ Truth Booth ❤ Locations ❤
Profiles ❤ Permissions ❤

Comments

[gilden]

[ He allows the touch and more than that, it gets him to start moving, keeping in pace right behind. ]

Well yeah, a win's a win no matter how you get there. [ Flippancy continues unbound if you ignore how his affirmation carries a certain weight to it. ]

[corporative]

[A win’s a win. It’s as simple as that, and Rufus doesn’t think of the alternative: of this not being a perfect match, because haven’t they proven otherwise? Their complementing interests, aligning perfectly. Their challenge. Their date.

Rufus has written off the very idea of a non-win, in that business-minded way of his. An option hemmed away on account of not wasting the effort. His focus sharpens on the hut ahead of them.]

That’s how I see it, too.

[He drops his hand now that Ash has gotten moving, though he doesn’t lead too far ahead of him. A glance askew.]

And we had fun along the way, didn’t we?

[gilden]

'Course. That's what dazzling company is all about. [ He manages that with a curve of his lip, it was, yes, embarrassing at the time, but it was enjoyable. ]

There's no reason to stop having a good time either. [ It's as much projection as it is a statement betraying too much, but as always, he hopes the light hides the shadows. ]

[corporative]

Of course. If you think you’ve escaped my company after today— [regardless of the results, apparently] —then you’re wrong. You left quite the impression, Ash.

[He smirks at him.]

Besides, I’ve been told I’m stubborn, anyway.

[In pursuit of anything: goals and ambitions. Whether that means having fun or sticking with a potential match that’s caught his interest.

The hut approaches! Rufus opens the door, knowing there’s no one inside who’ll user them in.]

[gilden]

I'm good at that.

And we're good at sharing interests and other things. [ Cause yeah he can be stubborn as hell too.

In he goes into the hut, casting a look around at the completely bright interior. ]

I guess this is where their budget gave out, huh.

[omnivoracious]

[ Wow. Shut up, Ash. This booth decides your Fate.

You can tell by the screen in front of you, displaying the following: ]



[ Stand on the off-color tiles. It'd be nice if you held hands, but the booth expects nothing after three weeks. ]

[corporative]

[Other things is right. He huffs lightly, but no need to remark on that further — not now, at least.]

This place actually reminds me a little of the technology you’d see at home. Not that Shinra employs matching algorithms in the same vein.

[There’s an idea. But anyway, Rufus gestures to indicate the tiles at the center of the room.]

We each stand on a tile and get scanned. The rest’s easy, just waiting for the result.

[If they’re supposed to hold hands, THE BOOTH SHOULD TELL THEM]

[gilden]

That's easy enough. [ The more he stares at the white tiles, the more he's reminded of something else. Hmm, he doesn't linger on the thought and shakes his head. ]

But I've seen artifacts be pretty fussy before, and this is a pair thing, yeah? [ He doesn't wait for an answer and just takes Rufus' hand in his. Now they can step forward. ]

1/2

[omnivoracious]

[ One of you knows this song-and-dance quite well, as the lights shut off and thin green lines scan you both from head to toe.

Well.

Maybe you don't know this song, though. To get the nerves and anticipation up, you understand.

Please hold. ]

[omnivoracious]

[ The lights come back up. The music stops.

The screen displays the following: ]



[ The booth will continue to hope for Ash's happiness regardless. Now get out. ]

[corporative]

[Rufus’ grip is steady throughout the process — even when the music kicks in, at least he has the foresight to be prepared for it. Time stretches on for far too long, as expected, and when the results finally flash before their eyes—

Well.

He’s pretty adept at keeping up appearances; a distantly amused demeanor, nearly every offense sliding off his shoulders to land at his feet. But sometimes that mask slips. Now is a good example.

He frowns, brow crinkling. He doesn’t try to hide the flash of actual agitation at this point, his grip tightening in response.]

Are you kidding me?

[gilden]

[ Was the music really necessary? It's a lot, but it does help distract Ash from thinking about what's happening until the results are read out. In some way he expected this, and his expression at least, does not falter. ]

Ahh, figures. [ Said carelessly as usual, even if his grip is anything but. ] I'm really not good at being what people want.

[ His smile is still there too. ]

[corporative]

Please.

[Ash might be holding onto that smile a lot more stalwartly than him, but Rufus decides to show his stubbornness in a different way. Mostly by rejecting completely the idea that the fault lies with Ash.]

Don’t be absurd. [With his free hand, he gestures at the results.] You don’t need a machine to tell you whether or not you’re good enough.

[And neither does Rufus; even if, ah, that is the point of the game. But the point of the game has offended him in lieu of giving him the response they both obviously wanted.]

I liked my choice. The parameters of the game might not agree, but that doesn’t change much of what I think.

[gilden]

Ahh, yeah I really don't. [ That is brighter, more forceful. ]

This is just kinda the Dragon all over again with Sherwyn taking the kill from us. [ A sigh. Has he been lying this whole time about killing the dragon? Oops. Sometimes you are just stubborn and make reality your own. ]

But it's not like that stopped me. So yeah, what you said. [ He doesn't know how to word it or maybe he doesn't want to. He refuses to think more on pretty much all of this actually, so.

This atmosphere is completely different than their first kiss, but that doesn't stop him from tugging Rufus closer to press their lips together. Variety is the spice of life, or maybe just spite in this instance. ]

[corporative]

[The Dragon… the one Ash supposedly claimed to have slain? Apparently there was more to that story, and maybe Rufus would be surprised if the circumstances were different. Maybe if he were a different person, he would feel indignant upon watching even a little white lie unravel before him right now.

But he’s indignant for different reasons. And he’s not that person. Besides, what’s he supposed to say when Ash takes the initiative this time, unexpected and actually catching him off-guard?

He’s frozen in place for a moment, until he’s not. Until his surprise gives way to a being darkly amused, his frustrations sweeping into defiance against the Truth Booth itself and its assessment of their match. Results be damned.

His lips curve into a smile, at some point. Everyone’s watching, but they can just enjoy the show.]

[gilden]

[ What a show it is, cause there's something about letting your inhibitions melt away since everything else is a mess anyway. It's easy for one kiss to melt into more, and maybe it's just natural considering that if he can't run his mouth in the usual way, he'll just do it like this instead. What he lacks in experience he can make up for in enthusiasm. ]