ayto | Truth Booth;

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!truth booth

Truth Booth;

❤ 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.

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[ Happy Friday! The Overseer makes a brief appearance at the house, to announce that the votes have been tallied, and the first Truth Booth Couple in this round of two is Jeritza and Rufus. She wishes them luck (with a sympathetic smile at Rufus) and departs, and our lucky couple are now allowed to depart the house and follow a palm tree-lined trail towards a Mysterious Hut. What awaits them? ]

[ Well, it has finally taken until the last week for Jeritza to personally experience this place. In the end, he doesn't seem all that bothered by the fact, and moves forward.

He's still not a relatively good conversationalist, so he'll only say this to start them off as they're walking: ]

This should be simple enough.

[Luckily for you, Jertiza, Rufus has enough experience with the Truth Booth for the both of them. It would be exasperating if not for how nearly comedic it feels, even if his last trip through this place had agitated him for a variety of reasons.

Now, though? Now, he’s a bit more settled moving forward, wearing the same grin as usual. The company’s not bad, admittedly. He’s gotten along with Jertiza more than once in the past. Flirted a little, even, and their interactions had only been net positive.]

Third time’s the charm. Lucky you.

[To be making this walk with him, in what SURELY must be a match this time? At the very least, the numbers are in their favor.

He walks alongside.]

You’re not disappointed with the outcome, are you?

[ Jeritza's expression is rather impassive for something that is actually kind of monumental, but to be fair he's not the kind of man who shows a multitude of emotions so easily. Not to mention, he is feeling fairly calm and perhaps confident about the result.

After all, at this point, there is such little room for error. ]

Hm.

[ ... ]

I've no reason to be. Should this end as I suspect it would, I will doubtlessly be closer to achieving what I desire.

Your wish, you mean?

[Not necessarily a romantic partner, but it’s not as though Rufus has a right to be offended by such an empirical response. It’s not like his reasoning for participating had been much different upon arrival.]

Your wish and a prominent connection. Don’t forget: I meant it when I said I could give you what you’re looking for.

[He assumes it has something to do with… strength, a worthy opponent. That is the general vibe where this man is concerned.]

If nothing else, we could consider this in the vein of business more than romance.

[ Jeritza hadn't expected that Rufus would bring that up again, and truthfully, he can feel his lips curve upwards at that. An intelligent and resourceful individual in the end—just a couple of the qualities he has found admirable and attractive in the man beside him. ]

...I do recall you having said as much. If you mean it, then I expect you to make good on such a promise.

[ As he continues to speak, though, there's...a slight change in his tone. Perhaps edging towards somewhere unhinged. ]

Though, you must know that in of itself will prove to be a challenge. The Death Knight is not so easily sated. Even now, he cries out for the blood of those who dare to face him on the battlefield.

[He’s confident in his ability to provide anything that Jeritza would want if it came to battle; it’s not like Shinra has a short list of detractors, one that’s grown even larger as of late to due recent events. He imagines that would be more than enough to keep the man busy.

Beyond even that, Shinra is an electric company, but it is also one centered on war: military might, military resources, a standing army that could always use a man as enthusiastic as Jeritza in its ranks.

Admittedly, there is something a little… odd about his last statement, though, a different shade in his tone.]

They say I don’t bleed. That’d be a challenge for you, I imagine, so we’d have to point you elsewhere. [Perfect segue into:] Or this… Death Knight?

You're correct—the Death Knight and I are one in the same.

[ As they're coming closer to their destination, there is no doubt that there is certainly the strange edge to his tone. Perhaps sharper now.

Whatever thoughts, decisions, and line of thought he had been heading towards are derailed. Especially in the face of the Death Knight's persona re-surging just so. Or perhaps they were already there, considering Jeritza's earlier proclamations of what he wished for.

And now that the idea that he can get that, truthfully, has been revealed to him, that side of him that he's been holding back has seeped through the cracks. In a manner of speaking. ]

That's why...I want more.

To cut down those strong enough or anyone who dares to get in my way. [ ... ] They say you don't bleed. But is that necessarily true? I've never heard of a human who does not bleed, Rufus.

[Of course it’s not true. They say he doesn’t bleed, the ones who think him cold, like he’s carved from a block of ice; and while the idea is amusing, and even advantageous depending upon the circumstances, he’s not inhuman.

His pride might not allow that spoken aloud, but any person with a snippet of logical sense will be able to tell when reputation’s the one shaping a version of the truth. And yet... this sure has sparked Jeritza’s interest, in a way that makes him feel as though he’s treading a boundary. Between the man he’s spoken to before and some other facet of him.

Blessedly or otherwise, the hut draws closer. Will it save him from wherever this conversation is going? Does he need saving at all? He wonders. He isn’t put on edge so much as he’s skeptical, now.]

Wanting to test the theory out yourself? I wouldn’t say no. You’d put on quite the show inside that little hut if you did.

[ Indeed. Jeritza has, for what it's worth, been a rather perceptive man...for better or worse. But, his questioning is twofold with the application of the Death Knight having taken the reigns. And because of the simple fact that logic is barely a tangible concept for him right now, in a sense, when the man makes that comment, he has barely have a mind to control himself.

...But, seemingly fortunate for Rufus, Jeritza seems to surprisingly just fall quiet.

All is suddenly right in truth booth land?

...

...Then, when they enter in the hut, he'll immediately try to make a grab for one of his arms, just to see if he can get it into a vice grip of some sort. ]

It seems our overseer has accounted for this scenario, so I've nothing sharp to prove the theory true right now...but there will be an opportunity for it later, if you're still feeling so confident.

[Oh? So his suggestion’s met with silence, which is all probably well and good. They can circle back around to this idea of a “Death Knight” later; especially if he’s to establish some kind of understanding with him. This appears to be something he shouldn’t… overlook.

But as soon as they’re in, he feels a grip on his arm. Hard and twisting, making Rufus shift his own weight to face the other properly, who is—surprise, surprise—the one grasping ahold of him.]

Wow. You’re impatient, aren’t you?

[The fingers of his free hand twitch, instinct wishing for a firearm that isn’t at his side. Rufus raises his gripped arm and makes a fist, offering resistance in taut muscles if nothing else.]

I’d be more than happy to oblige a go-getter like you. [He smiles, thin but not insincere, and twists his body weight to turn them at just the right angle. A stumbling dance right onto the panels in the middle of the hut.]

Hold on tight now, Mr. Death Knight. Show me how much you really want it.

[WOULD YOU LIKE TO START SCANNING NOW, TRUTH BOOTH…]

[ Yeah, Jeritza's self control is essentially all about shot now. He even lets out a dark chuckle of sorts when the other man says what he does, daring to still make the effort to turn and face him. To dare challenge him with such movements.

Truly, it's a pity the overseer decided to ensure there were no weapons upon them. ]

I've been patient for long enough.

[ Jeritza punctuates his words with a low growl, but there is something that flashes across those eyes when he tells him to show 'how much'. So he here they are, having crossed to the other side to make their position clear (thanks to the efforts of the other man, mostly.) ]

I've no intention of doing anything else, Rufus.

[ And indeed he does exactly that, fingers clenching tight in a death grip, with no intention of letting go. Let's goooo scanning!! ]

Edited 2022-04-01 18:48 (UTC)

[ wtf you guys are weird. The Truth Booth needs a ~~better~~ adult.

So the lights kind of uncertainly go dark? The scanning starts? The music kicks on.

Please don't break any bones while the song plays. ]

[ The lights come on. The music stops. The screen displays-- ]

[ The FF7 victory fanfare plays! Rose petals start falling! One of the hidden camera people starts to weep and whispers exultantly, "Third try, Rooters for Rufus are winning!!"

YAY. ]

[The music’s appropriately dramatic for a moment in which big results are about to be revealed — not to mention having his arm in a death grip b a man who, apparently, has a bloodlust streak.

Well, it’s fine. The fingerprint-shaped bruises around his forearm will be negligible, surely. He only watches Jeritza until the very last second, when the results flicker to life—

Glancing at them, he has moment of genuine surprise, before he tilts his head back in a laugh. Pain and murderous, newly-minted perfect match be damned.

~~also hey he knows that tune~~]

On the day I find out about this new side of you, we’re declared a perfect match. Isn’t that funny? Are you excited?

[bruh you can let go now]

Your wish being granted is closer to becoming a reality than ever before.

Edited 2022-04-01 19:29 (UTC)

[ Just as he thought...when the results display themselves before his very eyes, it's enough to make him quiver with excitement. Not that he actually does that, but the expression of triumph is enough to display the sentiment easily.

Jeritza's hand moves from where it's gripped him his forearm tightly to grip the other man's wrist. ]

Yes, I am...I will have it...

[ He doesn't care for anything else right now! His goal is in sight. Nothing else matters.

And right now, what he wants...is a fight. ]

...Rufus, answer my challenge! I will retrieve my weapon and you shall yours. We will finally face each other as we should.

[ It's at this time that the other male finally loosens his grip on the other. ]

[Who would’ve thought that such a celebratory moment would end up this way? Rufus wrenches his hand free, shaking out his wrist, nerves tingling now that his blood flow isn’t constricted.

The look in Jeritza’s eyes is absolutely wild. How long’s this been stirring under the surface, waiting to be let out? So being a perfect match makes him, what? A perfect target, too? He can’t say the signs weren’t there in previous conversations; he just never guessed to this degree.]

Fine. I’m a man of my word. I did say I’d give you what you want, assuming the Overseer won’t frown upon your little idea for excitement.

[He’s no stranger to a fight. How’s Jeritza hold up to an ex-SOLDIER, he wonders?]

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Truth Booth;

pt.1 JERITZA VON HRYM + RUFUS SHINRA

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1/2

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