( open; ) summer episode part 2?

[uncourteous]

WHO: Any Outsider is more than welcome!
WHAT: Dating shows... I was bullied.
WHERE: Between Okinawa & Neo Tokyo.
WHEN: Throughout the remainder of July (listen, it's a production)!
WARNINGS: Partial nudity, alcohol, potential suggestive topics, and will update 'em as I see 'em!

Throughout the city of Neo Tokyo and even Okinawa, there will be advertisements posted by the hundreds (and spam mail to your oculars by an equal number), desiring candidates for a show. While the aftermath of vegas and other bleak instances might have led way for people practicing some semblance of moderation— opposite to that, the people also need their entertainment, don't they?

Fortunately, there will be an influx of dating shows looking for people to appear. They are offering a fairly decent amount of money and are even offering luxury experiences for free for participants. In this economy and food shortage??? Okay, the food may be lacking, but they do make up for it in various activities they have planned, where people can kick back, relax, and romance?

While there will be any number of shows looking for interested parties, these are the main shows/premises:

  SPEED DATING  

As the label suggests. People will be expected to sit down and switch through several partners. In their hands will be a card labeling who they encounter and a place to leave a check mark. They will also be given a list of questions that can be answered.

  PARTNER SWAP  

People can be on a show and swap partners. This doesn't necessarily need to be romantic, either. Have a friend you want to show up with, cool. The only rules are that the pairs who enter together cannot stay together during the duration of the show.

  SINGLES INFERNO  

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be trapped on a deserted island with other hot singles? Well, now you no longer have to wonder. They will need to cook and fend for themselves here with minimal activities or distraction— but, isn't that the point? All you need to focus on is each other! (* They will be ferried to an outer island by Okinawa). While on the island, which they label as inferno, it's also a rule that one cannot speak about their age, occupation, or any such personal details. All of this will be reserved for "paradise." To go to paradise, two individuals will need to pick one another, and if they do — they are able to go on to completed various luxury experiences together.

For those who would rather find paradise in inferno together, you can presume there are tents that act as shared dormitory quarters where contestants will stay together.

  DATE ME  

People are free to use this for just general dates. Maybe, you just want to finesse the system and enjoy a fun all-expense-paid for date in which you get to eat like relative kings and enjoy various experiences. Feel free to use anything in the setting to your desire.

  SKINSHIP STARTER  

... a show where you get paid the more skinship you do. Don't do anything you wouldn't do in a Wendy's though. (That's not how the saying actually goes).

  COMMENTARY PANEL  

Every good dating show needs those who simply sit and commentate, right?

* It can be assumed any of this is just open to general CR you want to spend time with, too. This is just supposed to be a silly log for chances for characters to get to know one another! Characters are more than welcome to assume they stumble upon this by accident, think it's just a basic job and can't leave, film or unfilmed (minus the commentary prompt), and whatever else! Feel free to tag freely, threadjack, etc!

Comments

[penaltypoints]

[ Being used as a space heater remains disconcerting, and Yesod's movements are stiff as he takes hold of the larger towel alongside the smaller one, bundling Elysium up in them to the best of his ability. Hopefully the new dry towel is fluffy and big enough to create a comical cocoon?? The change of clothing is useless until Elysium has dried himself off and found a dressing room, he imagines.

(For a moment, his thoughts stray towards a memory of dark crystals protruding from a patch of skin.)

If the motivation behind taking part in these scenes wasn't any promised payment, was it the experience of meeting different people, the potential entertainment, nothing more? ]

Is that so...

[ The mysterious reasons, the lesson learned.

Before explaining his own presence here, Yesod hesitates. ]

Elijah... suggested these recent activities to the rest of us. Kali, Giovanni, and me. Moreover, a few months ago, she mentioned wanting to celebrate my birthday together when the time came.

[ This obviously isn't that, but it is a change from the early weeks here, when Malkuth was convinced that avoiding him and Netzach in public was necessary for their protection. ]

[transmit]

[ Elysium is, indeed, a veritable cocoon like this… 6'1" of cocoon, at which point he might be starting to feel an ache in his neck after bending over for so long, so at some point he'll stand at his full height just to try and stretch out tense muscles, pliant until he isn't. ]

… What do you mean by, 'Is that so?'

[ The huff is muffled under the towel, but there's nothing truly accusatory in his tone. ]

Alright, alright. It's nothing that deep, no need to try and dissect it. [ If he had free access to his arms and vision, one could imagine he'd be sorely tempted to flick the other's forehead about now… ] I just didn't want to say it because it's not that serious. I'm on my last payment for the party I threw back in May, and the lesson's mostly that I underestimated how much work they were going to make me do. The more I think about it? The more I think I'm being underpaid. Ugh.

[ He clicks his tongue. Tch!! ]

More importantly, you mentioned your birthday. When's that?

[penaltypoints]

[ Thank you for making the cocoon canon, even if Elysium must suffer for warmth... Once Elysium has straightened up, Yesod regards him solemnly, as if to appraise his handiwork. The towels shouldn't impede Elysium's breathing, although they obstruct his vision and his freedom of movement while retaining whatever heat he managed to absorb.

Truthfully, he simply hadn't expected Elysium to elaborate on his remarks. The explanation is quite the story of an unfortunate outcome, albeit something that Elysium should have predicted. ]

Sensible budgeting is another lesson learned, I presume.

[ Was the thinking behind that party similar to Elysium's network listing, on a larger scale...? ]

As for my birthday... this month, to my knowledge.

[ Perhaps the date has already passed. ]

[transmit]

[ The feeling hadn't been unlike being preened… the thought of it is as disconcerting as the experience had been pleasant, and Elysium can't help but be thankful that he's fully covered, head bowing slightly despite himself. Somewhat self-consciously, his hands come up to preside over the towel, and with a half step back, he tousles at his hair a little more aggressively. ]

That would depend on your definition of it, but sure.

[ Which is to say, Elysium's well aware that his idea of 'sensible budgeting' isn't quite inline with the conventional standard of it… Said distantly, before he reins himself back in with a sigh and dissatisfied click of his tongue. ]

You're saying it's possible that it's passed, then. [ He peels the towel away to reveal an unimpressed glower, its efficacy debatable when his hair is … fluffed up much like a bird's feathers would, in cold. It's not directed at Yesod in particular, but the circumstance. ] … I never did get to grant one of your wishes. [ back during memshares… ] Should we trade it in and upgrade it to a birthday one?

[ more mildly: ]

It's been a while since I've thrown a party.

[ evidently… not celebrating it isn't an option. responsible pecuniary decisions. yeah!! ]

[penaltypoints]

[ If only Yesod were the type to immortalize everything witnessed in these moments by taking a picture of the Elysium cocoon and feather-like fluff... Maybe the production crew has captured all of it. In any case, a little space placed between them is for the best, and Yesod meets Elysium's glower with a questioning stare and an arched eyebrow — in part because it does occur to him to point out that the vigorous towel use has left Elysium's hair in noticeable disarray.

First things first: apparently Elysium has very little interest in sensible budgeting. It's surprising, not unpleasantly so, that he brings up wishes to grant, though that conversation took place in a dream of sorts, in circumstances that applied only within that context. ]

Is it wise to contemplate another party?

[ And is it necessary? Yesod refrains from asking this second question, however — the answer, he surmises, might consider every occasion to celebrate important to acknowledge while one has the chance. ]

I'd like to know what you would request on your birthday.

[transmit]

Not everything has to be of the same scale, my friend!

[ There's a distant, morbid thought somewhere that it's probably unlikely that there ever will be something of similar scale to the bachelor party… unless there's another party capital out there for them to flagrantly spend their time and money.

Yesod's Dubai birthday party arc for the next year, coming soon to a Synflux near you?? ]

… You'd benefit from not overthinking these things so much. Is there nothing that comes to mind first? [ He breathes out an amused sound. But, without skipping a beat: ] Mine would be merchandise of my favourite band.

[ really, it's time with the people around him, but this is close enough. ]

[penaltypoints]

[ Yesod fully agrees that nothing excessive is required (goodbye imaginary Dubai party arc...), but overthinking Elysium's response is inevitable. Band merchandise... His brow furrows. Perhaps Elysium merely enjoys listening to music, as Chesed does, as Daniel did, or he associates the band's songs with certain memories. ]

You asked me to name a wish for you to grant, and I did. You've granted it, then, although I would also be interested in hearing this band's music.

[ Like the hiking, he wonders what it might reveal. It's sure to be better than the phenomena caused by the Singing Machine or the Silent Orchestra... ]