player event: spring speed-dating festival

[socialize]

Speed-dating Spring Festival

Believe in your flyness, conquer your shyness.

breaking the ice

Lonely and looking for love? Friends, maybe? Well look no further—the ASUNARO-sponsored Spring Speed-dating Festival has begun. Join us in room 3-A, where participants will then be given an assignment of "even" or "odd" and seated at a numbered table. You only have so long to talk to your partner before the bell rings and it's time to move on, but not to worry, if you find someone you like, the two of you can step out together! At the end of each round, "even" players will stay at their tables, and "odd" will move to the next. This is mostly flavour, but there is one important piece to keep in mind: in the interest of nobody being left out, leaving before the end of the event is only allowed in pairs.

Better hope you find someone you click with!

Icebreakers:

1. Do you have a party trick?
2. Exploring or lazing on the beach?
3. If you could be granted three wishes, what would they be?
4. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
5. If your friends compared you to an animal, which animal would it be?
6. A human hand extends out of the toilet! What do you do?
7. What would be the title of your biography?

Or anything else you can think of!

getting to know each other

So you've found someone you vibe with—congratulations! The next step is getting to know each other a little more. Cementing the bond, y'know? But high school is maybe a little young for marriage, so let's stick to the dates.

For the duration of the festival, classroom 3-E has been transformed into a makeshift movie theatre. Stop in with your date to watch one of these heart-racing movies, guaranteed to bring you and your date closer together! For the more romantic of the bunch, classroom 3-B will be home to dance lessons. Find a partner and get to know a Waltz, Argentine Tango, or request another, and try not to step on each other's feet as you get up-close and personal.

Movie showings: (CW: They're all horror)

April 25: Other Side of the Box
April 26: My Best Friend's Wedding
April 27: The Ballerina
April 28: Don't Look Away
April 29: The Mandela Catalogue Part.1

together forever

At the end of the event, two lucky winners will receive a secret grand prize!

Anyone else who finds someone willing to pair up with them can write both of their names for entry into a raffle for a runner-up prize. Winners of the raffle will be given the choice between riches, quality of life, or valuable information as a thanks for participating and a congratulations on their new life together.

Comments

[dereban]

↳ option one.

[Did she somehow time travel back to Valentine's Day? Or even worse - the culture festival? Because that's what it feels like, and having this whole thing be romance-related feels like one big joke. Yeah, that's right, she's calling the afterlife a joke. Deal with it.

Well, if she's forced to be here and can't leave without a suitable partner, guess she's going to have to play it up a little.

Although she's sure that most people probably have seen her wearing the magatama necklace. But she's keeping that off, tucked away in a pocket, away from prying eyes. Maybe she can at least find someone decent enough that she can manage to escape with.

But for the time being--

Why, yes, she's going to judge the icebreaker questions.]

So. Do you want to start with a question or shall I? Although don't ask any of the... [A lengthy pause.] Strange. Questions. If you're into that sort of thing though, I'll yell. I'll seriously yell.

↳ option wildcard.

[head empty but if you want to play something else, feel free to hit me up for threads i'm hungry for shenanigans at either discord, plurk (tsundereban) or pm!]

1.

[antitoxin]

Actually, I was making sure you weren't acting rough towards your peers...!

[ inaba who he has had the fortune of slightly understanding, a realist, as she calls herself while having a natural nasty attitude that protects her more squishy inside. he can only imagine how her types are within a speed dating event, and knowing that she'll yell, and cause problems... ]

Did you know Maple-chan is the security for this event? ...So as long as you keep it an inside voice, I'm sure you'll be fine!

[ they're just rules... ]

[dereban]

I only said I'd yell if someone did something weird.

[She already deals with enough when it comes to the transfers, she doesn't want to add onto it.]

There are times when yelling is absolutely appropriate. And that's besides the point. I doubt anyone is my type, anyway. Not even close.

[Of course Inaba says that with an air of arrogance--like she already knows the answer. There's nobody here who she'd be into. And even if there was, she doubts that the reverse would be applicible, either. She knows herself too well, and how her abrasive personality gets in the way of relationships.]

[antitoxin]

Now, now... you shouldn't think so negative! It's only just started, I'm sure you can find someone for a mere second that could catch your interest.

[ a hand lifts to his mouth, laughing softly before removing it like so. while he's here, he looks at the cards on the table that's set up for them to offer ice breakers. flipping it on the table so that they both can see, it reads:

01. GRAB A QUESTION CARD.
02. PICK SOMEONE TO START.
03. GO AROUND THE TABLE.
04. ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.
05. IF PLAYER DOESN'T ANSWER QUESTION, MUST DO A DARE INSTEAD.
06. HAVE FUN! ! ! ]

A forced truth or dare, I like it! [ who could have gotten these cards? anyway, he doesn't mind as he looks towards inaba, wondering if he should make her start or not.

she might make the first question interesting, and so he reaches for another card to flip. ]

If you could ask your future self one question, what would it be?

[ he sets the card down so she can see it. ]

[dereban]

I'm not negative, I'm realistic, there's a difference.

[And besides, she knows that if she could find someone that catches her interest, she would have already done that by now.

She sighs, eyes gazing over at the ice breaker card before the question is raised.

She definitely needs to avoid doing a dare.]

"Are you happy?"

[It's a simple three worded question, but that's enough. Anything more than that is asking for things out of her power. Things she shouldn't be asking.]

[antitoxin]

[ how he wants to ask does being a realist have to make her look at everything with a frown? such realism seems kind of painful, but he keeps that question to himself. ]

I sure do hope the Himeko of the future is smiling then when you ask.

[ smiling for what? he's not sure, but she seems to have been through a lot, and hopes for her future self to have positive emotions which is something he can't ignore. ]

We'll just have to make sure you're happy now in order for your question not to be a waste of breath!

[dereban]

You really are just going to keep referring to me by first name when I don't want to be called that, aren't you.

[She wants to leave. She wants out real bad.

Her fingers curl and nails dig into the skin of her palm, already annoyed.]

[antitoxin]

You didn't pick up a question card!

[ that's not one of the questions, inaba, so he's not going to answer it like he should. he's trying to get to know her through the sake of questions, she could at least play fair! ]

I could ask twice in one go, but then it sounds like I'm interviewing you for a job... We should do this together! ☆

[dereban]

... I wasn't asking.

[Her voice is deadpan.

But she takes a card, looks at it, and asks the question in an equally monotone voice.]

"If you could be granted three wishes, what would they be?"

[antitoxin]

Good. Now we can play.

[ how cute, she's getting all frustrated! with a small smile, he waits for her to read off the question, and with that one spoken...

he hums.

hmmmm, ah yes, he has something: ]

I want Gundams to be real! Tons of gold doubloons and bricks! Anddddd a Venti Vanilla Bean Crème Frappuccino with 60 shots! Mocha, white mocha... ooh, I'd like white mocha drizzle with caramel drizzle, some protein powder and I want hazelnut drizzle as well! Yum! ☆ Hey, what do you think? Great wishes, right?

[ if inaba thinks he's fucking with her, she's right to think so. ]

[dereban]

No comment.

[Again, her response is dry as she tries her best not to show any emotion on her face.]

Just move onto the next question.

[antitoxin]

What criteria helps you decide whether to say “no” to something or commit to it?

[ she must not like magical girls either. ]

[dereban]

Morals.

[It's a short and curt answer, but she doesn't really want to go into detail with this guy, so she keeps it short.

She picks another card, robotically.]

"If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?"

one

[shimashima]

Of course I had no intention of asking any strange questions!!

[ So there's no need for anyone to yell! Why would she suspect him of being into "that sort of thing" — whatever she's referring to?! He's only infiltrating these rooms, subtly observing everything as a participant to make sure that the ultimate goal really is nothing but safe fun for all parties involved! ]

...Perhaps we should begin with that. Which questions are the strange ones, in your eyes?

[ Arranging the selection on the table between them, Alice frowns at the range of options. ]

[dereban]

[She lets out a bit of a heavy sigh before straightening herself out, tucking a bit of hair behind her ear before pointing them out.]

Well, obviously there's this one--

[Inaba points at the question about the hand and the toilet. Of course.]

But there's also a few others. [She leans back into her chair, completely poised; she essentially sits like a model with her back entirely straight.] Lewd questions are essentially out. Ah, same goes for lewd adjacent questions. And questions about death, murder... aren't exactly the best "speed dating" questions. While I don't mind talking someone's ear off about morality, do you really think that's the kind of thing you want to know about a person in a speed date?

[shimashima]

[ Ah, yes... That hand question... Alice wrinkles his nose at it, about to agree, and to argue that it should go without saying that it's a strange scenario to picture, but the rest of Inaba's answer has him flinging himself backwards in his seat, away from peering at the icebreaker cards. ]

...Do I look like a dirty-minded murderer to yooouuuu?!

[ He shouldn't yell, either, and it's probably nothing personal, only teenage girl safety precautions around any male stranger, but still! If she feels the need to bring such things up, isn't she implying that she expects him to be that type of person?! ]

Even if it's surely wise to learn as much as possible about any dating candidate before it's too late, obviously we won't discuss anything inappropriate! And I haven't come here seeking anyone to date, for the record...!

[dereban]

You asked me what kind of questions I wanted to avoid and I just simply answered!

And more importantly, why the hell are you in a speed dating thing if you're not here to potentially date anyone?

[Inaba knows some possibilities.

After all, it isn't like she's expecting to date anyone herself, but someone had to say it.]

[shimashima]

I suppose you were only stating boundaries in careful detail...

[ But couldn't she tailor her answer for every conversation partner, to avoid making it sound like an accusation?! Sitting up straight to keep his chair from tipping over after leaning back too far, Alice huffs a little as he folds his arms. ]

Well, I shall deign to give you a proper answer in return. [ Not the full truth, since that would foolishly invite trouble, but enough to explain himself. ] Shouldn't adults be responsible, and supervise events like this one now? By participating, I won't cause anyone to become self-conscious.

[dereban]

... Hah?

People don't do speed dating events for a need of supervision from adults in high school of all things -- that's like crashing into a mixer when you're not invited.

Although I suppose we have an array of ages in this particular school.

[shimashima]

Naturally, I'm aware of precisely that! High school students would resent such supervision, since it interferes with their freedom.

[ Having calmed down, Alice offers Inaba a magnanimous nod in agreement. She's young herself, and something of her manner reminds him of the way Reko might shut down inappropriate topics... ]

However, no one would conclude that I'm out of place here, even though I happen to be a grown man, closer to thirty than twenty years of age! You didn't think so, did you?

[dereban]

... I don't know if I should be clapping that you're trying to boast that you think that you look young.

[There it is, the dripping sarcasm that she could honestly laugh at.]

But I'll say 'no comment' to your question.

[shimashima]

[ "No comment"?! In an instant, there goes calming down. Instead, Alice gapes at Inaba, affronted. ]

What is that supposed to meaaaan?! You thought that I'm hoping to find a romantic partner, didn't you? So you must have believed that I'm around your age! I'm simply telling you that our conversation is all part of an incognito mission!

[ And thus, she doesn't need to be so wary... ]

[dereban]

I didn't think that at all.

[She puts it rather mildly and bluntly, almost as if this doesn't have anything to do with her in the slightest bit.]

But you can't really call it 'incognito' if you're telling me this and making it absolutely obvious with your loud voice. You're worse at it than I am. At least I can pass for looking for a new partner.

[shimashima]

[ She's right... but is it necessary to say it like that?! Alice can't help but pout. All the same, he should cease his shouting, and he did intend to blend in.

Somewhat sheepishly, he settles at last. Moments later, something occurs to him— ]

...Oh? Then you're undertaking the same kind of mission?

[ It shouldn't surprise him. The fact that she looks like an ordinary schoolgirl means little! ]

[dereban]

Well - I can say wholeheartedly that I'm not really expecting to find someone to date, that's for sure. I doubt anyone here is my type in the first place.

[She says that so easily and as casually as breathing. It honestly doesn't come to her as much of a surprise.]