[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

[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?

[drinkscola]

[ he'd thank her for the compliment, but realizes it might be inappropriate given the circumstances in which he enables people. ... he knows that much, at least. ]

What makes me happy, huh... [ that's quite the question, he thinks. a lot of things, certainly, but he'll keep it contained considering how much he's already talked about himself: ] Being in love, American Football, and winning.

[ a light shrug. ]

How about you?

[bloodbiter]

Oh, that's lovely! I'm glad to hear you have someone you care about so much. Might I hear about them?

[she also has no idea what football is, but that's much less important.]

Mm... Peace, but I suppose that's rather broad.

[drinkscola]

... Thanks. [ she's kind! and since he was the one to bring it up, he supposes it's fair to answer. ] Unfortunately, it's not a love that's reciprocated any longer. [ once mutual, perhaps, but. ] It's more... Well, being in love is really an incomparable thing, you know? There's nothing quite like it.

[ he hopes she's someone that's experienced it; it can be difficult to explain, beyond the typical sappy adjectives, what it's like to someone who's been romantically loveless. not that he wouldn't try, if otherwise. ]

It may be broad, but it's understandable as to why anyone would value it. Can I ask in what context you mean, though?

[bloodbiter]

I'm sorry to hear that. It must be painful. All the same, I'm glad you seem to have such fond memories of it.

[she was about to agree, but she doesn't want to gush about how amazing it is to be in love when he's just admitted that the person he's speaking of doesn't reciprocate his feelings.]

It might sound silly, but... At one point in my life, some circumstances forced me to travel far from my home. While I traveled, I saw just how widespread the problems my country faced were. I decided I was going to do all I could to ensure that no child would have to grow up surrounded with that much danger.