spellbinders | [WORLD ONE] SPEED DATING EXTRAVAGANZA

[WORLD ONE] SPEED DATING EXTRAVAGANZA

Who: Participating coven members
Where: The Palai marketplace
When: Day 49
Open/Closed: OTA

[ Any and all who are in the marketplace will find that there is suddenly a mysterious barrier around the marketplace (that may be eerily familiar to some) -- specifically one large portion of the marketplace with a large number of tables and chairs, perhaps purposefully set out for nefarious reasons.

A few Palai are ushering coven members to chairs, and everything seems about normal. As normal as the Palai can be when they're putting on a show anyway. It's not until a sizable portion of the coven members are seated (and also supplied with breadsticks and small shrimp), that things get a bit more bizarre.

Thanks to the power of the Eltos, a small band of energy keeps coven members stuck to the chair (magic can interfere, of course), but that's not the end of it. On each table, next to those delicious smelling breadsticks and shrimp, is a bowl of scraps of papers. Every five minutes, a strip of paper will pop out from the bowl.

If you ask the Palai, they'll be inclined to explain speed dating to you. Asking questions, getting to know a person, then being shimmied off to the next potential mate -- this is made possible by Elto magic yet again, through flying chairs that transport their holder to a new table at standard intervals.

The Palai are extremely invested in this exercise? Will you let them down? ]

[ OOC: In the spirit of speed dating, each character will have a top level. All who want to respond to this top level can with questions from this post, but the threads have to end at 10 comments from each character. After this last tag, the characters can be assumed to have been whisked to a different potential match. You're free to have characters make up their own questions, interact with Palai serving food, etc. ]

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I do, yes. [She thinks probably everyone does, honestly... More importantly, Jude seems incredibly uncomfortable for such a difficult question, and of course, the fact that he's bothered by something concerns her.] Are you alright, Jude?

What? No! I'm alright... !

[ no, he's not alright. ]

Perfectly fine.

[ no, he's not fine. ]

Sorry, it's just... This whole dating thing is sort of awkward. Especially when you've never been on a date in your life. I don't know what I'm supposed to say.

[JUDE.... THIS ISN'T EXACTLY REASSURING!!]

Well, you're not alone in that. [She thinks she even has less of an idea what to do here. Taking a cursory glance at the papers though, it seems like maybe they're supposed to ask each other questions? Although these questions seem kind of strange...] Why don't we just speak like normal for now?

[ HE CAN'T BE REASSURING ALL THE TIME!!! ]

Sounds good to me.

So...

[ and he's stuck. he never runs out of topics to discuss around 2b until he actually has a real chance to talk to her about whatever he wants. because of course. ]

... How's Pod doing?

[ it was the first thing that came to mind, okay? ]

... I'm not sure.

[Pod 042 just... disappeared, somehow. ~~because the mun couldn't figure out what 2B's magic price should be smh~~ She knows that Pod 153 is missing as well, but she has no idea why.]

It disappeared sometime after we first met.

[ oh... well, that certainly puts a damper on things. a disappointed frown tugs at his lips, his gaze sympathetic. ]

Oh... That's a shame. Maybe he's just hanging out with 9S' Pod? I know his is missing, too.

[ jude tries to sound reassuring. ]

But I'm sure they're handling things just fine. Don't worry.

Edited (wording...) 2017-09-01 00:23 (UTC)

There's this bowl with slips of paper right here. I think the general idea is to use them as conversation starters and ask each other questions, get to know each other better. What do you say? Should we give it a shot?

[She hums in thought softly, content not to say what she thinks on it. The idea of being worried for her pod is a strange one, although it might be an accurate assessment. The fact that could be taken away so easily definitely bothers her at least. But while Pod 042 isn't her partner like 9S is, it's been such a constant presence and source of combat and tactical support that she could almost feel lost without it. She might be worried more for herself, in all honesty.

Jude referring to Pod 042 as "he" is also kind of interesting to her, but that's neither here nor there. In any case, he's right. If Pod 042 and Pod 153 are active, they'd be working tirelessly to restore themselves to their respective YoRHa units.]

Alright. [She takes a question from the bowl, and she's immediately confused by what it means, but Jude should be able to explain! Probably. Here goes nothing.] "How do you feel about being called 'daddy/mommy'?"

[SORRY JUDE.]

[ oh my god. ]

What kind of question is that?! What does that have to do with relationships? Who asks that on a first date? don't want—

[ his voice rises in pitch. if he could, he'd be sinking down into his seat and hiding, but as things are, he doesn't have much room to move around. he wants to bury himself in a hole. this is the last thing he wants to discuss with 2b. ]

Never mind. Bad idea. We're done with the slips of paper.

[ are they, though. because another one just happens to pop up on its own. jude eyes it, warily. should he? ]

[Oh no was the question really that bad?? SHE HAD NO IDEA, HOW COULD SHE BE SO FOOLISH!!]

I'm sorry if the question offended you. I didn't realize it was so inappropriate...

[She casts her gaze downwards (not that he'd be able to see that), hands clenching into fists in her lap. Even though she still doesn't really know what was so bad about the question, she feels ashamed that she didn't know better. So much for serving humanity when she can't even go without accidentally embarrassing someone.]

Feel free to ask me whatever you'd like then. Or if you'd rather not continue "speed dating," we don't have to speak at all. [It's not really enough to make up for anything, but it's all she has to offer right now.]

What? No, I-I didn't mean— it's not your fault. Did it seem like I was blaming you? I'm sorry. There's no need to apologize, really.

[ his tone is genuinely apologetic as he rubs his temples, cringing sheepishly. this is awkward. he had not meant to make this more awkward than it needed to be. ]

Alright, then. Steering away the conversation from that direction... 2B, with everything you've learned about humans since ending up here, what things have surprised you the most? Fascinated you?

[ there. that's both a safe question and a genuine one. ]

[It's not awkward when it's just her fault, let her have this!!

But she takes a moment to think over his question, humming lightly as she considers. There's so much she's learned in what feels like such a short time, she's not sure where to start.]

The most surprising thing has been the desire to befriend me and 9S. [That part's not hard to answer at all though.] A lot of humans I've met have been interested in what an android is, which is interesting on its own, but the amount of people who've expressed interest in friendship with us never fails to surprise me.

[If she thought Jude might just be a strange marvel, she'd quickly been proven wrong. It's not like friendliness in and of itself is foreign to her, even if she's far from a friendly person herself, but actual humans wanting to be friends with androids is just so puzzling to her. Were people meant to befriend their creators? That's what it felt like.]

As for what's fascinated me... The passion you and other humans have expressed while talking about your goals. Your dreams. [And that, she thinks, is something so very human. As dedicated as androids were to their goals, she's not sure she could describe many as actually being passionate about it. It was their purpose, but passion like that is something else.]

[ there's a lot of different things he could say in response, but he decides to go with his instincts, just as he always does. ]

This might sound like an odd thing to say, but what's surprised me the most is your surprise at the fact that we humans are drawn to you and 9S. Not just because you're androids, but because you're people, just like us. I know you both have a hard time believing that, but it's true.

I wouldn't discount myself as a person, but...

[She understands what he's saying in a sense, but it's also difficult for her to really agree. No matter his insistence, there's an inherent difference between androids and humans. No amount of similarities would ever make up for the fact that whereas they were artificially created, mass produced and inherently disposable, humans were born, completely and entirely unique from one another from the beginning.

He's made it clear how much he dislikes her insistence on that though, so she thinks it better to spare him that reasoning.]

It's hard to see what makes us so particularly interesting to all of you.

Well, besides being a human, what makes me interesting to you? Let's start there.

Your curiosity and excitability over new things. [The fact that he shares that with 9S isn't something that's gone unnoticed.] Your kindness, your passion for certain ideas, your openness of expression, your generosity. There's a lot I find interesting about you.

[All delivered coolly and without any embarrassment. She thinks Jude is neat, what can she say!]

[ the blush that creeps onto his cheeks can't be helped. he's... he's terribly flattered that 2b took notice of such things and can go ahead and state them so plainly. he doesn't deserve that kind of praise, does he?

but he's happy. there's no discernible reason for it, but something in jude has always seeked 2b's approval. ]

So those individual traits of mine are what fascinate you, not just the fact that I just so happen to be human. Am I correct in making that assumption?

... And do you see what I'm getting at, here? You and 9S both have your own unique traits, too, traits that surpass anything having to do with race.

[Oh, he's turning red in the face again... Is he sure there's really nothing wrong?? She'll try to ask him again later.]

Hm...

[When he puts it like that, she can understand the reasoning behind it, at least to a point. No matter what his programming might be or that the Scanner model is nothing new, 9S is unlike anyone else she's ever met. He always has something to say, always has something he's been thinking on, and even if she's had to repeat meeting him over and over and over again, there's always something new that comes out of that, for better or worse. He's interesting, to put it simply.

She's not sure the same really applies to her.]

I can see why you'd say that in regards to 9S, and I agree, but I'm not sure what about me would be fascinating to someone. [She's not exactly saying she thinks she's boring, but after hearing plenty from both 9S and 6O about never doing anything fun or always being so serious and focused, well.

She figures she's probably boring.]

Something tells me that 9S would say the exact same thing; just in reverse. He looks up to you. Admires you. There has to be a good reason for that.

Besides, putting 9S aside, I think you're plenty fascinating. For a whole variety of reasons. I probably wouldn't ramble at you so much if I wasn't.

[ he smiles sheepishly, reaching one arm around to rub at the nape of his neck, cheeks still warm. ]

... I'm really grateful we're friends, 2B. I'm glad I met you.

... I wouldn't disagree with you there either.

[Which is something that's confused her, arguably even made her uncomfortable, for a long time. 9S cares about her so much despite the fact that she's his executioner. All she's ever done for him is kill him. She's not sure she'll ever really understand that.

Just like she's not sure she'll ever understand why Jude is so interested in her friendship, so glad for it. It's still strange to even think of it as an equal friendship. But nevertheless, she's grateful for it.]

Me, too. I'm glad we became friends, Jude. [Her lips curve ever so slightly, a small but beautiful smile.] Although now I'm curious about what you find fascinating about me.

[He asked her, so it seems fair that she can ask him as well, right??]

[ his smile easily mirrors her own. ]

Well, let's see...

You're smart. Intuitive. Incredibly brave; protective, always putting others before yourself.

[ and he realizes that that's something that's programmed into her, as 9s has explained before, but jude... still finds that braveness admirable. ]

Strong. Caring. Thoughtful, curious.

Um... and, well.

[ jude averts his gaze. is he allowed to say this? really? ]

You have a beautiful smile. It's a rare one, so when it peeks out, it's... it's special.

[ poor jude is red to the tips of his ears. ]

Oh. Well... [For once she's the one a bit flustered. Hearing any kind of compliment on her appearance from humans is still so strange, but if that's what they really think, who is she to argue?] Thank you.

[Praise has never been something 2B sought out, but she thinks there's something nice receiving such compliments from a human. Like she's doing something right, doing her duty well. Or maybe there's just something nice about receiving such praise from a friend, from Jude in particular.

Although as his friend, she really can't help but be concerned.]

Are you sure you're alright though? Your face has been turning re— [BUT ALAS their time is up, and her chair's getting whisked away. Will she ever find out that embarrassment turns people pretty red??]

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[WORLD ONE] SPEED DATING EXTRAVAGANZA

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