Week 2 Matchup Ceremony;

[omnivoracious]

❤ Week 2 Matchup Ceremony

[ It's Time.

The Overseer will call everyone outside, to the area. She stands at the podium behind a screen bearing two handprints, while the guys can sit in the seats and the ladies + Diamond will be directed to stand on the platform-- and Cyrus and Douki-chan continue to be seated together.

Behind her and off to the side, there are eight beams of light. ]

Hello, everyone. Choices for our third week have been made. When a couple has been announced, please come forward and place your hands on the screen. You will be locked in.

Once all couples have locked in, the lights will go out. For every couple that is a Perfect Match, a beam of light will appear. To win this game, you will need all eight beams lit. If no new beams have been added per week, you will encounter a blackout and one of you will be chosen at random to lose your wish.

Due to the unfortunate departure of Dohalim, Kuchiha and Vivy, our matchmakers have changed some of the Perfect Matches and also discovered a trio of three. I will inform one of the three of this development next week, to assist them.

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Comments

[booned]

One thing I do want to say to everyone here, though. Regardless of the results that come up... I don't know if we should really be disheartened. Sure, we might be getting what looks good on paper, but...

[ Zagreus scratches his neck, trying to think of how to phrase this. It's hard to articulate. ]

All I'm going to say is if someone I'm paired with is happier with someone else, I don't want them to think they've got to stay with me as a perfect match, you know?

[aldaft]

[Smiling, Cyrus nods.]

Well said, my friend. These perfect matches shouldn't undermine the relationships we've grown with others in our time here. There's much in matters of the heart that cannot be explained by logic. In the end, we should pursue what brings us the greatest joy.

[booned]

Exactly. Perfection doesn't always make for happiness. We're all here to work together. That said, I'm not saying that perfect matches can't be happy, of course.

[ Because, well, there are some people that obviously might be thrilled with theirs, in the end. Or need help getting there. ]

[aldaft]

I would posit that Aoko and I are proof of that.

[The algorithm has merit. It just shouldn't be the end-all, be-all in Cyrus' mind.]

However, I understand that the matches themselves are secondary to some of us. I would like to be of assistance in solving the mystery of these perfect matches for them as well.

[booned]

Exactly my thoughts.

[ They do seem really happy, so that is very important. ]

Admittedly, I came here for my wish, first of all. That was the most important part to me.

[aldaft]

[He nods.]

I can't imagine a kinder soul deserving of such a boon. Whatever you wish may be, I will do everything in my power to help you reach it, my friend.

[gilden]

Yeah, life ain't perfect.

[booned]

Not even close to being perfect.

[gilden]

Thanks for saying it. It's better you than me.

[booned]

[ There's a light pat on his arm. While the whole Diamond thing was a complicated matter... ]

I think you deserve to be happy, like everyone else here.

[ No matter what the matches say. ]

[gilden]

[ The touch is a surprise but he doesn't seem to mind it. ]

Who says I'm not?

[booned]

If you are, then all the better.

[ It's not like he's going to call doubt on him, but he does think Ash deserves to know that not everyone is against him, too. Whether he cares or not. ]

[gilden]

I can take care of myself, I always have.

[ but, noted. ]

[dankgod]

You know, a girl could take that like you're disheartened. And like you're trying to push her off on someone else.

[ This time Kasque's tone is half teasing and half... not? What's the other emotion?? Kasque pauses hearing it in her own voice, and struggles for words, wrestling with something. ]

...Mm, for the record, there's no way I'm going to think I've "got to" do anything I don't want to. And I am into you, and I wouldn't be here if I wasn't interested in actually trying out this romance thing. That doesn't mean I think we've got some fated perfect match, but if people see something there, I... do want to explore it.

[ This difficulty of that admission means the next part is easy to get out. ]

But I know I'm crap at this, and I'm not gonna force it. I mean, I couldn't even if I wanted to. So if you don't want to bother with all that, just tell me. Right now I can't tell if you're doing some gracious good-guy back-away thing like with Blaze, or if you're really just not into it.

[booned]

[ Zagreus is honestly surprised to hear all of this from her. He listens all the way through, making sure to let her get everything out she wants. ]

Ah, my apologies if that's how it came off. I simply wanted to cheer some people up that just because how this is playing out... it doesn't mean that we have to take it as something the fates made up.

[ He rubs his neck, trying to find the words to express himself properly. ]

Please don't think I'm dismissing you, by any means. I quite like you and I mean it that it's been nice to see you having fun. It probably seems like I have no faith in your choice on the initial matter, but it's more that I don't have the confidence that I'm your perfect match. If that makes sense.

[dankgod]

[ Kasque lets out a slow exhale. ]

Yeah, that's kind of what I figured. I'm not confident in it either.

That's not a problem with you, though, is the thing. I've got no clue what it would look like for me to be a match with anyone. [ ... ] Or... feel like.

[ Because she's supposed to be feeling feelings, and not just deciding this via observation, apparently!! Feelings are a pain. This is exhausting. Why is she doing this. ]

[booned]

Don't forget, we're all here because we've had a bad time with relationships.

[ Zagreus steps closer to gently pat her arm. ]

It's all pretty complicated. Hard to say what it feels like for everyone. Know plenty of people that it shows in different ways.

[dankgod]

Yeah, well. There are a lot of different ways to have a bad time.

[ Demonstrably.

The touch to her arm seems to have an effect, though. Her whole countenance shifts as her muscles relax and her expression softens slightly. ]

[booned]

I mean, true.

[ The hand remains there on her arm, giving her a reassuring look. She doesn't have to feel so isolated here. At least, he hopes she can see that. ]

[dankgod]

Ha.

[ Kasque links her arm with his and leans against him, deliberately casual. Even being in physical proximity to people is pretty unfamiliar; emotional proximity is something she's still working on getting her head around. ]

You're hot and charming and friendly, what's your problem?