[closed-ish] Signs of love overshadowed by dreams

[pseudonyms]

Who: Everyone who signed up for speed-dating/speed-friending! (and maybe some people who just wander in?)
When: IC Date: 6/9
Where: A large booth at the CERES Academy cultural festival
What: Rise's holding a special event to help bring people together at the cultural festival! This may be chaotic
Rating/Warning: N/A thus far! Rise with a megaphone might be a warning though...


[The cultural festival at the school has been in full-on planning mode for a few weeks. Rise is no exception to the planning and included in the flyers that have gone up is a notice printed on bright pink paper and bold lettering for a very special event.

The booth itself has been set up with a small cluster of tables to accommodate for the amount of people who have been signed up and even for a few last-minute sign-ups. The tables themselves have been decorated with special candles and a tray containing two bowls, two spoons, and a a tray with all the ingredients needed for an ice cream sundae.

At the front of the booth is a collection of heart-shaped name tags with all of the names of each individual whose signed up, along with a number attached. Rise will smile at each person, handing both the name tag and a small envelope to them with instructions not to open it until she says so.

It’s only when everyone has arrived and is crowded inside the booth that she pulls out a megaphone (and really, who gave her that?) and she turns it on.]

Hello ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Cerealia School Speed-Matching event! Meeting people can be really hard here, but don’t worry, we’re making it easy! You’ll see that the tables all have numbers assigned to them. On my count, open your envelopes and see who you’re starting with. When the bell rings, switch partners! Seems pretty simple, huh?

[Nobody gets to get a say in this apparently, but they may see one Yu Narukami who’s sitting on the table behind Rise just watching everyone casual as can be. Why is he wearing glasses? Who knows.]

Okie dokie! Let’s get this show on the road! On your mark…get set…open!

[Hope you’re ready, colonists. Inside each envelope is a starter number for the first match, and also a list of starter questions for asking people about themselves. Some people have lists corresponding with the speed dating route, while others are for the “friends only” route. But wait…what’s that? Some of those lists are crosswired? Your character would try to mingle with everybody and flirt anyway? Well hey. At least people will be talking and mingling.

Oh, and don’t mind the people who may wander in and out of the event. Rise will try to moderator the event to her best ability but hey, she’s pretty social herself. Some people are bound to slip in and out under her watch. Have fun! And remember, beware of the bell! (Or Rise announcing "SWITCH" in a loud voice via megaphone, same thing.)]

[ooc: Hello everyone, welcome to the speed-friending/dating event! Thank you to everyone who signed up; above you’ll see a list of people and numbers for you to pick from! Pick your number and your friend/date by visiting the number generator to randomly pick a number to match your character with! Feel free to post top-levels inviting others to just tag in or tag around, too, without using the RNG. Any questions, please hit me via PM or on plurk at alternatively]

Comments

Adelina

[bloodbiter]

[despite the fact that this activity is very strange to her, it's a bit exciting as well. she's only signed up for the version designed to make friends, of course, but she still looks forward to speaking with people she hasn't had the opportunity to meet. the list of questions especially takes her interest; she likes to meet new people, of course, and learning more about them is one of the best parts.

that's why she's raising a hand in greeting to whoever ends up on the other side of the table. they get a bright smile.]

Hello! How are you?

[jinko]

[ Atsushi is... very nervous, to say the least. He doesn't remember signing up for this, and he doesn't really know what these sorts of things even entail, but.... he might as well, right? There's no knowing what'll happen if he doesn't try.

When Adelina offers her hand, he tenses up for just a moment before offering his in return, giving a firm shake as he sits down and fumbles with the cards in front of him. ]

Ah... I'm, good. Thank you! [ someone help this nerd ] I...I'm also Atsushi.

[ he sounds pathetic, even to himself... ]

[bloodbiter]

[she returns her gloved hand to her lap with a smile.]

Oh, forgive my rudeness! My name is Adelina. It's a pleasure to meet you.

[she picks up the list of questions next, pausing for a moment. he does seem a bit flustered, and for a moment she wonders whether she should ask if he's alright, but she wonders if drawing attention to it might be the wrong way to handle it.]

Would you like to begin, or shall I?

[jinko]

Ah— it's nice to meet you too, Adelina.

[ Alright— deep breaths. Adelina's amiability is enough for Atsushi to stop worrying about fumbling at every turn, and it reminds him to take it slow, take it easy. Gentle reminder to self: not everyone expects him to fail anymore.

He sifts through his own set of cards, but he defaults to his new conversation partner's choice first when she suggests that she pose the first question. ]

You can definitely go ahead. Feel free to ask me anything...?

[bloodbiter]

Of course. Then...

[reading over the list quickly before setting it down and looking back towards him. she asks the first one that caught her eye.]

Who do you most admire, and why?

[jinko]

Ah...haha, that's a really hard question. But I guess it would have to be someone from my world...

[ Going for the big guns first, huh! His smile gets a bit wan, but he presses on. ]

He's not here right now, but— he's someone that gave me a place to work and a reason for me to keep trying, even though I'm the kind of person that I am. So I admire him a lot.

And someone I admire that I met here would be... Lili, maybe? She's always working really hard to make other people happy, so I respect that.

Everyone here is really kind, though.

[ He stops himself after this long tirade, a little embarrassed that he's rambled on so long. ]

[bloodbiter]

[that renews her smile, but part of what he's said makes her curious as well.]

They both sound wonderful. I think I'm not certain whether I've had the pleasure of meeting Lili yet. But... What do you mean by the kind of person you are?

[that sounds suspiciously like he's putting himself down, which is Not Allowed.]

Regardless, thank you for telling me about them. It's always nice to hear about what brings happiness to the people here.

[jinko]

[ Ah, oh no... He feels the need to recover from his self-deprecation, which he feels like he's been called out on. His hands shoot up, and he shakes his head in the universal sign of 'no no'. ]

Eh? I'm just— I was just, homeless and an orphan, and... he had no reason to help me! So, that's what I meant.

Lili is also a really good person, if you see her, please be her friend? I'm sure she'd be really happy for more company. [ This is so embarrassing, Atsushi stop ]

[bloodbiter]

I don't know about that. I think some people would say it was his moral duty to help you. But... I see what you mean.

[she pauses, and then her voice takes on a new note of concern.]

Of course. Is she particularly lonely? That's awful to hear.

[jinko]

Uh, well... she's a little clumsy with her feelings, so I think people misunderstand her. But she's really very nice.

[ He says that with much more conviction than he had when talking about himself, and he brightens at the opportunity to praise the people who are important to him.

But he also recognizes that he's doing a whole lot of talking, so he presses on. ]

A, anyway! Here, let me ask you something— [ fumbling with his cards for a second, before picking one up. ] —"What's the most reckless thing you've ever done?"

[bloodbiter]

[she's certainly met people who fit that description before, so she gives a knowing nod.]

I see. I'll remember to be patient and open minded when I have the opportunity to speak with her.

[at his question, though, she pauses for a moment. reckless... that's a difficult one.]

Typically when I take risks, there's either little to lose, or no choice but to take them. Either way, it's typically thought through. I'm not very reckless, but I suppose... I did leave my home alone once.

[jinko]

[ 'Not very reckless', he thinks that that's a perfectly good thing not to be— but that last bit prompts a bit of a curious tilt of the head. ]

Leave your home alone...? Ah, did you live in a dangerous part of your city?

[ If she considers that reckless, it must have been a pretty bad neighborhood, huh. ]

[bloodbiter]

[she shakes her head. honestly, she wishes it had been that simple a trip.]

Quite the opposite, actually. That is, my home was located in the safest part of my country. I left it because I had to travel to places that were much more dangerous, and I unfortunately couldn't bring a companion.

[she's still not certain it counts as reckless, given that she had no other option, but it's the best example she has.]

[drinkscola]

[ holy crap, an amicable, seemingly-normal person!! that brightens this time already; the forecast isn't so cloudy. marco returns the smile easily, likewise holding up his hand in greeting as he settles into his seat. ]

I'm doing well, I'd say. Thanks. [ as well as he could be in a place like this, anyway, though he's not going to add that in front of a stranger. ... while he's never attended a speed-friending event, he imagines formalities go first. ]

How about yourself?

[bloodbiter]

I'm doing well, too. This is an exciting opportunity.

[a pause, before something occurs to her.]

Oh, but I should introduce myself. My name is Adelina. It's a pleasure to meet you.

[drinkscola]

It's a pleasure to meet you too, Adelina. And I'm called Maruko, but I'd much prefer if you called me "Marco".

[ a wider smile. he puts his cola on the table, not yet ready to attack that sundae... he'll shuffle through those cards instead, glancing at their questions. he's never attended something like this, so it's all so very mysterious. let's see, let's start out with an easy one... ]

[ after another second of hopeless perusal— ]

... Which quality in someone most annoys you. [ —not what he had in mind. it's platonic-sounding, at least... ]

[bloodbiter]

Marco? I see. I'll make sure to remember that.

[she busies herself with looking around the room, curious about the kind of place they find themselves. she looks back to him as soon as he asks the question he's found, though, and it doesn't take her very long to think of an answer.]

Cowardice, I think. What would your response be?

[drinkscola]

[ such a quick response! and as a guy who's been called out on cowardice a few times in his life, it's awkward considering their situation and all. note to himself: attempt hiding that trait from her, if at all possible. ]

Ah, cowardice, huh? That's a good one. [ haa ] But before I answer, myself, might I ask why that one?

[ just for curiosity's sake... ]

[bloodbiter]

I suppose it's because more than any other flaw, it's had negative repercussions for many people in my world.

[she can think of other traits she dislikes, of course - ignorance, rudeness, cynicism - but she's seen fear and cowardice ruin more than any of these things.]

And you?

[drinkscola]

[ oh.



that sure made a lot of sense, if the scenario's he's imagining is correct. he's almost embarrassed for himself, asking that sort of question. ]

Well. If other people are endangered because of it, then sure. [ he won't clarify how many until it matters to him; that's unnecessary. ] Particularly when a position of power requires bravery...

[ another obvious one. ]

But if you're asking my least favorite trait... [ a pause as he thinks on it. in contrast, it seems a little trivial to her reasoning. ] Probably when people can't see the potential in themselves.

[bloodbiter]

[a small nod in response to his analysis. his understanding of the situation seems fairly accurate to her, particularly in regards to positions of authority - she's seen first hand how much damage can be caused by ineffective, passive leaders.

almost unconsciously, she leans forward slightly after he answers, interested.]

Might I ask for your reasoning in turn?

[drinkscola]

... Sure, that's only fair.

[ marco lifts his hands to the edge of the table, lacing his fingers together. he doesn't have to mull over his answer, either— it comes easily enough. ]

It's not an uncommon thing to remain unseen. For whatever reason, whether they don't see it in themselves, don't rise to a challenge, or else circumstances disallow for their full capabilities to be expressed. [ ah. while it may be different contextually, he thinks perhaps it can be linked to her answer of cowardice, too. ] But sometimes, all it requires it a little nudge — some encouragement — in the right direction.

[ his eyebrows raise. ]

Potential is a terrible thing to waste, I'd say.

[bloodbiter]

I see. So it's something that saddens you rather than angers you, you would say?

[it's an answer she can understand. she still regrets all those years she underestimated herself, remaining certain she wasn't capable of accomplishing anything. she finds herself nodding along as he speaks.]

I take it you've had personal experience with that kind of situation.

[drinkscola]

Yeah, saddens, rather than angers. But that doesn't mean I wouldn't take action.

[ as it's more generally accepted that people moved to anger tend to take action— at least, that's how he understands it. but he doesn't think that necessarily has to be the case, as one who isn't easily provoked.

he appreciates her attentive listening, his smile becoming less forced as a result. ]

[ a light shrug of the shoulders. ]

Personal experience, right, in that it's something I've seen in others. [ ... ] I'm sure we've all struggled with it from time to time, though.

[bloodbiter]

That's kind of you. I suppose it is something everyone struggles with from time to time, too. I imagine that makes it all the more important to address when you see it happening.

[a pause as she glances at the card.]

Let me see... What makes you happy?