romance and murder go so well together

[capyper]

[ If the colorful posters from Tuesday weren't enough, Yato has redoubled his efforts for today and slapped these up all over the place:



We are admittedly not entirely sure what the heck the catgirl is there for, but she's there. Anyway, in the dining hall this evening, Aqua and Yato have set things up for a group dinner!! All the food is being put on one table; the rest of the room is for mingling and is colorfully decorated in a way that suggests that Yato went wild in the art room at some point and decided what we all really need in our lives is more color and more glitter!!

There's also this piece of paper with everybody's names on it in pairs, and sets of questions (red tab at the bottom of the spreadsheet). That's right, your mystery game is speed-dating and Yato is here to be your cupid for the evening!! ]

Comments

[amygdalae]

[...well, its something that everyone can get together, if nothing else.

Without any other clothing available Bruce is still stuck in his usual jarring neon jumpsuit - but he did cook some food to bring for the, ah, festivities. As it turns out, its actually curry. Indian curry and naan, specifically - or at least as close as Bruce can get to it. Exotic stuff isn't something that the Kingmaker had in mind when he stocked the storage and kitchens, apparently. Not that that's a surprise.

For the most part Bruce is pretty open to talking and being talked to (more of the latter, of course, to nobody's surprise), and in the times where he isn't occupied he can be found sitting just a little further away from the main crowd, reading a book he picked out from the library or writing something in his Ubiquitous Notebook.

...and no, he's not going to approach Mouri and Taichi. They're free to find him, but Bruce is content just being at the edge of this particular party.]

[ratingspoint]

[Mettaton will come over eventually, because apparently leaving well enough alone isn't a thing he's going to do today; at least Bruce is present here, and that's a good thing, right?]

Hello, darling - doing all right?

[amygdalae]

[Bruce glances up and manages a smile at Mettaton, even if it does look a little more tired than usual.]

As fine as I can be. [Then again, that's pretty much how he always is.] What about you? I hope you're enjoying the activity here.

[ratingspoint]

I am! I've never dated before, so this is pretty fun.

[...Also not proper dating, also he's been doing it wrong this entire evening, but you know what, he's having a good time.]

It's good that you showed up - even if you don't seem to be one for parties.

[It's gentle, though, and there's nothing malicious behind it, just kind of an observation. Bruce is kind of wallflowering over here, so...]

[amygdalae]

[...yeah you're having fun Mettaton, Bruce isn't going to ruin that.]

That's good to hear.

[He gestures at the space beside him so that Mettaton can sit down, if he wants to.]

...I'm not much for parties in general, but its nice to have everybody together in one place. [Considering what's happened so far its... sort of nice.]

[ratingspoint]

[He'll join him easily enough - and holy shit, he'll actually sit at the table like a sane person, rather than on it. Improvement! Sorta.]

It is! It was definitely good of Yato and Aqua-darling to arrange all of this, even if the dating seems to have thrown a few people.

[TO...PUT IT...GENTLY...]

[amygdalae]

[Good job Mettaton!! If Bruce had a gold star he would certainly give one to you right now.]

Ah, yes... [The dating..........] I imagine its probably because they weren't prepared for it.

[To... put it... gently...]

[ratingspoint]

[...]

The two of them meant well, anyway.

[It could have been worse.

Anyhow.]

...I've been meaning to check on you lately, actually - this week is pretty rough.

[Again, to put it gently.]

[amygdalae]

[It certainly could have been worse.

Anyway.

Bruce manages a smile at Mettaton's apparent concern, giving a small shake of his head before giving an attempt to reassure him.]

What the Kingmaker said hit all of us equally hard. [But with that said...] I'm fine, though. Don't worry about me.

[sleepingkogoro]

[Hey Bruce, here's Mouri and he has food he brought for himself. Not you, sorry]

Hello, Bruce-san. You don't seem to want to be into this event.

[Not that Mouri wanted to, either. He didn't even know it was going to happen]

[amygdalae]

[It's okay, he can take food for himself when he wants to.]

I'm not really a party kind of person in general. [Or a speed-dating kind, for that matter.] Don't worry about me. I hope you're enjoying yourself.

[sleepingkogoro]

I'm having a good night. The food is the good part, I'm not here to date anyone. Besides for some reason Yato-san paired me with you.

It should be obvious but just in case: I have no interest in dating you.

[It isn't that you are not a charming and perfectly nice man, Bruce, it is that Mouri is married and, well, he doesn't swing that way, either]

[amygdalae]

[That at least seems to draw out a soft sound of amusement from Bruce, and he gives the other a small smile of reassurance.]

Of course.

[Bruce knows full well he's not actual date material any time soon either.]

[sleepingkogoro]

Leaving that aside, how have you been this week? We haven't talked for a while but it seemed to me you have been...a tad downcast recently.

[amygdalae]

It's just been a hard week.

[Despite his fake-real dreams being better reality isn't exactly as kind. What the Kingmaker said on Tuesday affected all on them one way or another.]

But I'm alright - don't worry about it.

[sleepingkogoro]

[Mouri grunts, staring at Bruce as if he expected him to fess up and say something else, but when it's obvious he won't Mouri turns away]

Want to play that questions thing? There are some things I'd like to know about you.

mouri.................

[amygdalae]

[There's a blink from Bruce, in confusion to the way Mouri is acting and the sudden question, but he takes it in stride the best that he can.]

...if you want. [He says after a pause. There's a hint of uncertainty but Bruce manages a polite enough smile all the same.]

[captainobnoxious]

[Mr. Dreary is sitting in the corner, and that's just a perfect spot for Sigrun to slide into.]

What's friendship mean to you?

[With all the dead seriousness of a woman who's out to win.]

[amygdalae]

[And this is the look of a man who was entirely unprepared for this to happen.]

Ah--it's... important?

[...again, he wasn't prepared. CUT HIM SOME SLACK, SIGRUN.]

[captainobnoxious]

Good! Your turn!

[ASK HER SOMETHING. LET THE DATING BEGIN.]

[amygdalae]

Um.

[...Bruce didn't really look at the paper much since he didn't have the intention to really join in, so give him a moment to recall the first thing he can remember--]

--what do you like most?

[#NailedIt]

[captainobnoxious]

[So close, doc. So close to the actual wording.]

Vacations! Killing trolls! The sea! Things like that, but the question's supposed to be about you, I think, so I guess it's how good you are with stitching.

[amygdalae]

[Uh... thanks. He thinks.]

Um. Thanks. I guess.

[...Okay.

Now what.]

[captainobnoxious]

[...]

You're the most awkward person I've ever dated before. Tell me what you like about me.

[amygdalae]

[Considering he's only ever dated once with said time being many years ago--

Yeah.]

Um. [Another pause.] You're very... straightforward.