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

[shittylittlebrother]

[he blinks, not even sure if that's something to be embarrassed about]

Relationships where enough parties are not...ah, limited to each other?

[rollplayinghouse]

Yes, that's right.

[shittylittlebrother]

... To be honest. I think that kind of question is out of my depth. It sounds... Complicated.

... You seen like you'd have a more thoughtful answer.

[rollplayinghouse]

Mm, well...

[Takes a breath, and looks off to the side as she gathers her thoughts. She sort of gives off the impression she's formulating this answer more for herself than for him.]

I have tried some different things with relationships in my time here. I had two boyfriends, and initially we were open to other people too, if we talked about it first. But... there were some issues. So then we closed it to just us three, until we could work things out better. ...That didn't help, though. Maybe made it worse, because part of the problem was that we all had expectations about what a relationship should be. We're still... kind of friends, but... I broke up with them both a little while ago.

Now I'm involved with someone else who doesn't like calling it a "relationship" at all. But it's fine... because he's still there for me in the ways that matter.

So... I guess, my thoughts are that open or closed doesn't actually change that much, for the relationship. You should be able to tell you're important to someone from how they act toward you, and if you can't, a rule that they can't do certain things with anyone else isn't going to help anything. So it's just a matter of what you want.

For myself... I'm not the sort of person who gets involved with people casually, so it's not like I'm "taking advantage" of it much. I'd be fine if it was an exclusive relationship too. But there are a few other people I like, and... It's kind of nice to just let things be what they are, rather than force them or shut them down.

[shittylittlebrother]

[listens very attentively, nodding here and there]

I think.. that sounds understandable. That it isn't about so much knowing that someone is yours alone, but knowing that they're truly yours at all.

[rollplayinghouse]

Yeah... something like that.

[shittylittlebrother]

W-well, these cards certainly do their job, at least.

[picks up another and looks a little relieved when he sees it]

So, "What do you do to de-stress?"

[rollplayinghouse]

[oh good yes this is an easier question]

Other than spending time with people I'm close to, I like physical training, or baking sweets.

[shittylittlebrother]

Training for anything in particular?

[rollplayinghouse]

Sort of the opposite... I'm used to assassin training, so it's nice to be able to just train my body without worrying about what for. Or just to work on some kind of physical feat of strength or gymnastics.

[shittylittlebrother]

You're...

[blinks and pauses]

You were an assassin..?

[rollplayinghouse]

Mm. Since I was ten.

[shittylittlebrother]

[blink blink

what do you even say to that.]

Oh.

[pause]

I had to fight zombies.

[is that??? relating?? unsure]

[rollplayinghouse]

So you come from that kind of world, huh...

[shittylittlebrother]

'That kind'...?

[rollplayinghouse]

The kind with zombies. Supernatural stuff.

[shittylittlebrother]

Ah... yes. Well... [pulls awkwardly on one of his pointy ears, then jumps as the buzzer goes off, telling them to switch partners]

Oh... I suppose we're done.

[rollplayinghouse]

... [rises from her seat]

Nice getting to know you.

[shittylittlebrother]

[stands as well and gives a slight bow]

You as well, Maki-san.