[WORLD ONE] SPEED DATING EXTRAVAGANZA

[spellbindmods]

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. ]

Comments

[secrowtary]

I expected "You" as an answer, but an endless supply of fresh water is far more reasonable. [ Is he sassing him right now. ] Favorite book is fair enough as well.

[ He still can't believe he asked this. It must be the influence of the paper stripes. It's not that bad, though. Having a serious conversation here, of all places, would be pointless. ]

I would take a communication device so someone would rescue me.

[ Actually...let's try one of these questions on Akira. ]

Are you a virgin?

[ His monotonous tone makes it even more hilarious. It doesn't necessarily mean that he's not embarrassed by the question. Quite the opposite, the blush is already spreading across his face. ]

[actus]

[ he was trying his best not to fluster the captain today, thank you very much. it's fine when they're planing to hang out, but a situation like this? not even akira is that mean when it come to teasing. let the poor guy maintain his composure throughout his other "dates."

but apparently that's not the plan. the minute the question processes, his face darkens to a shade of crimson. you don't just ask people that! he awkwardly curls his hand into a fist and raises it to his mouth, hiding a cough. ]

That's ... kind of forward. [ oh my god. but it's hibiki so it's fine. is it fine? he isn't sure. oh my god. ] ...What do you think?

[ DON'T TURN THAT AROUND THAT'S EVEN WORSE? ]

[secrowtary]

What do I think? [ Forward or not, it's unfair. Sure, Hibiki could refuse to answer that, but why should he? ] I think that attending school, having three jobs and the other thing... [ Referring to stealing hearts here since it might not be a good idea to mention it now. ] It must be stressful, I suppose. Everyone needs an outlet for stress, too.

[ WHAT IS HE EVEN IMPLYING HERE ]

[actus]

[ JESUS CHRIST - ]

You're right.

[ a dramatic beat, but it's actually just so akira can take a sip of water and calm down. ]

... I was too busy to actually date anyone. That, and no one really caught my interest, I guess. I didn't want to mess up any of my friendships back home.

[ so yes, he's never done any of this before. are you happy, hibiki... ]

[secrowtary]

Oh, does it mean that you considered one of your friends as a potential ma—

[ Okay, he can't go on like this. It's just impossible not to laugh at this point. Even though his cheeks are crimson red.

Yes, he's happy now. ]

[actus]

[ please don't laugh at the virgin crime boy. he almost puffs out his cheeks, but instead just fidgets more with his bangs. it doesn't last long, though. his hand drops and he reaches over to press his index finger against hibiki's nose. ]

It's not that funny. [ joker doesn't pout. he just looks like a wet cat.

a-anyway. ]

... Besides, I don't need this game to find a "mate."

[secrowtary]

[ To be honest, it's been a while since Hibiki felt so accomplished. Akira's expression and gesture are both endearing and make him giggle. ]

It's not, forgive me. [ He tries to sound as serious as possible. Tries. ] I didn't know that you're looking for one.

[ He's doing it on purpose. ]

[actus]

[ this is savage. utterly savage. he isn't even sure why his face is red. ]

You're right, I'm not looking. I already found one.

[ excuse him as he goes for another sip of water. ]

[secrowtary]

What are they like?

[ Water, yes. Hibiki needs it too. He's going to sip water from his glass while waiting for an answer.

Hopefully, he's not going to choke on it. ]

[actus]

[ oh no that's adorable... ]

Cute. [ he sets his glass back down and begins tracing idle shapes on his napkin. ] Smart. Much smarter than me, probably.

[ he glances back up, if not a bit coyly. ]

Warm.

[secrowtary]

Perhaps you could introduce us to each other one day.

[ Once their gazes meet, Hibiki looks away almost immediately. ]

Just so you know, I've found someone as well. [ That other table seems so interesting that Hibiki can't help fixing his eyes on it as he continues: ] Charming. Reckless. Much more reckless than your average person, probably.

[ Then, he looks back at Akira, a smile forming on his lips. ]

Cool.

[actus]

[ his chest is doing all sorts of things. it feels tight, but not in the painful way that it gets after running for awhile. no, this is just a gentle pressure that makes his face simultaneously heat up. ]

I'm ... jealous.

[ he leans his chin down into his hand, trying to play it "cool", because clearly that's what he is. ]

That that person has your attention.

[secrowtary]

Jealous? I thought you weren't looking for anybody.

[ Hibiki straightens his back turning his eyes back to him. He's still flushed, but he's not the only one and that's reassuring enough.

Flushed, but it's not going to stop him from nudging Akira's foot with his own under the table. ]

You have my attention now, though.

[actus]

[ they're stupid. all of this is stupid. they're so dumb. ]

Ah.. you seem to be able to change my mind fairly easily.

[ his face is on fire and he definitely means more than just this "meeting." curiously, he nudges his foot back. ]

It must be your eyes.

[ HOW GAY IS HE? who knows. ]

[secrowtary]

[ 110% gay ]

I wouldn't give up on that person. The way you described them...they're quite a catch.

[ After saying that, Hibiki realizes he's at his limit and just. Hides his face in hands. ]

Forget that I've said that. Please.

[actus]

[ akira is so endlessly amused right now. ]

Treat it as a game and it'll go by faster. This whole, I mean.

[ he reaches out and lets his hand very briefly, just once, brush the back of hibiki's that's hiding his face. ]

We can even practice later if you need to clear your mind.

[ look! he's not being a slacker! ]

[secrowtary]

You're eager to practice this of all things?

[ Hibiki looks at him through his fingers, judging Akira so hard right now. ]

I'm immune to cheesy pick-up lines, anyway.

[ IS HE REALLY ]

[actus]

Ah. I didn't mean that -

[ sorry, hibiki. the magical chairs of destiny are upset. rather, time is up and akira is being whisked away. ]

See you later.

[ whether or not he hears him is another question entirely. ]