speed dating 2.0

[idolpro]

WHO: More idols looking to have a good time
WHERE: Game Tower
WHEN: Day 120, morning

[ Hello, Idols! Are you ready for a game?

Some of you may have played this before! The area is familiar for sure: today's playing field is an expansive balcony with several mini-tables paired with two patio chairs each, garden umbrellas planted to keep the heat away. You can see the rest of the city from up here, too - it turns out you're pretty high up as you can even see the start of the Rainbow Bridge from here, though the railings are high so there's not a high likelihood of accidentally falling down.

There are a few pink lemonade pitchers scattered around with paper cups if you're thirsty, and some bite-sized chocolates if you're hungry. Cute snack food!

The instructions look familiar, too: it's a light game, with no enforced truth-telling even. No status effects! Just dates!

There are cards on the table, too! ]

INSTRUCTIONS | SIGN-UPS | TURN-IN | OVERFLOW

Comments

[foolmetwice]

Not really.

[pauses]

Wanna hold it?

[it's not like she can use it and he is strapped for conversational topics, here. HE IS NOT GOOD AT SMALL TALK SOCIALIZING]

[emptymind]

Thank you very much!

[ holds out her hands for it ]

[foolmetwice]

[places it in her hands! it is, in fact, a little on the heavier side because of all of the decorations. Mars either doesn't notice, or it simply doesn't affect him because it's his heart weapon]

Dooooo you like weapons?

[emptymind]

[ she's carrying a katana in her belt I forgot to mention. takes it and steps away from the table to give herself ample room to safely give it a slow vertical test swing ]

I am still learning about myself. But like I thought, it feels better to have something in my hands.

[ and she flips her grip on it and steps back in to offer it back up to him with both hands ]

It has an interesting weight. Thank you for letting me hold it.

[foolmetwice]

[he takes the sword back, fingers curling around the hilt, before swishing it at his side. he doesn't dissipate it yet, not because he feels threatened (he doesn't) but because. . . well! they're talking about weapons!!]

Sure.

[points at the blade at her side]

Where'd you get that one?

[emptymind]

[ places her hands on the hilt and sheath, as if to draw it ]

It was a gift from Maou Shishiou-senpai, my unitmate. Yours is an impressive blade, but I must admit that I prefer this one.

[foolmetwice]

It's a little wimpy compared to mine.

[his mouth twitches with amused confidence]

But I guess any weapon is only as good as the person who wields it.

[emptymind]

Mm. If we are ever in the circumstances to fight, I hope you will meet me with your dagger.

[foolmetwice]

[. . . but what if--]

Why don't we throw down right here, right now?

[as someone totally unaware of the hilarious NO VIOLENCE rule. . .]

Who's gonna stop us?

[emptymind]

-Understood.

[ her grip on the hilt and sheath tighten in anticipation and she shifts into a more open stance, shoulder towards him ]

Then, please take first strike at your leisure.

NO LONGER 1/2, NOW JUST 1/1

[foolmetwice]

[he yanks a combat dagger from his henshin belt, twirling it expertly in his hand until he's grasping the handle tightly]

Ha. That's awfully generous of you.

[and then, without warning, he rockets forward like a bullet, flashing his knife as he does so. but he isn't aiming for a deadly or lethal blow, just an easily blockable slash to her front]

Re: NO LONGER 1/2, NOW JUST 1/1

[emptymind]

[ her sword flashes out of its sheath to deflect the blow with considerable force, then changes its trajectory just as fast to try and monopolize on the brief opening it creates - stabbing straight for his chest ]

[foolmetwice]

[whoa-- it's a pretty awesome parry, and even Mars in all of his self-taught skills can tell as much. it takes quite a bit of maneuvering on his part, but he manages to pivot on his heel and rock out of the way of that stab. the blade glides harmlessly past him, though it does catch the fringes of his jacket]

[he follows the momentum of his pivot and whirls around in a full circle, swinging his dagger around in a backhanded strike as he tries to slam the hilt of same into her ribs]

[emptymind]

[ even as fast as he is, in the time it takes him to whirl around she's already returned to a stable stance. she takes one more step to turn her torso out of the path of the blow, her free hand pulling the sheath from her belt even as the blade of her katana swings rapidly for the front of his neck ]

1/2

[foolmetwice]

[her skills are far smoother, far more graceful than his. even with all of those years of experience underneath his belt, Mars doesn't remember most of them and instincts only carry him so far. that blade goes straight for his neck, and although Mars immediately lifts his dagger to block it, he isn't quick enough]

[cold steel glimmers as the blade prepares to cut through flesh, and then--]

[foolmetwice]

[. . . and then there is lemonade]

[SO MUCH LEMONADE]

[so much of it that it douses them both. and, to add insult to injury, seconds afterwards Mars finds himself strung up from an umbrella, dripping sugary sweet water and sputtering to cursing up a storm]

HEY WHAT THE FUCK!

[emptymind]

[ also strung up and so very, very lemony ]

-Eh? Eh?? Why?? What is this???

[foolmetwice]

[eventually he stops squirming and just. . . kind of. . . dangles there, looking sooooo put out]

. . .

This is stupid.

[emptymind]

[ at least the buzzer will free us now ]

[foolmetwice]

[AND NOW WE ARE BACK ON THE GROUND AND NO LONGER COVERED IN LEMONADE]

. . .

[what just happened]

Thaaaat was weird.

[emptymind]

I-I apologize if I was somehow responsible... for...

[ just

staying on her hands and knees for a while ]

[foolmetwice]

[OH NO. . .]

[huffs a little, and then crouches down to help her up, if she accepts it]

Blame the dumb gamerunners, not yourself. They're the stupid ones.

[emptymind]

[ looks at the hand for a bit and then accepts it ]

Thank you.

However, I really don't understand what happened just now. It's also impressive that it seemed to be over so quickly...

[foolmetwice]

It's probably just the game runner's way of telling us we can't fight.

[hoists her to her feet, letting go of her hand shortly afterwards]

Which is stupid. Maybe we should continue this when the game is over.

[emptymind]

[ after rising to her feet with his help, she steps away and stoops to collect her sheath and katana and slips them back away in her belt ]

There was nowhere to continue from that outcome. Still, I would be pleased to meet you in combat once more.