[Video / Action]

[sailor_v]

[Video]

[Hey look! It's everybody's least favorite romantic meddler! The backdrop of her office is very familiar, as she's made most of her videos from behind her desk. She looks chic as usual, hands folded in front of her, beaming from ear to ear.]

I'd like to let everyone know that the Aphrodite Matchmaking and Love Arcade has hired a new matchmaker! I hope you all drop by to play some games and get yourselves set up with a date. Prom is just around the corner, after all, and no one has to go stag if they don't want to!

But that's not all we've got lined up for you.

[She wags her finger to one side and winks.]

For starters, I want to see how much interest there would be in an arcade competition with challenges and prizes for the best gamers. If there are enough people who'd be willing to sign up, I'll make it happen.

Finally, I've written up a loose outline for a couple of video games of my own. One of them is a story-based romance, and I thought this would be a great way to get some of you guys involved! We're looking for volunteers to be some of the datable options in the game. It's going to be really fun! I'd like to aim for four guys and four girls, but there could be more if there are a lot of people who want to go for it.

...And if anyone has any experience in programming and designing games, give me a call. We can go into business together!

-----------------

[Action - Genessia City, Sunset Summit Apartments]

[Sunset Summit sounds like such a peaceful place to live. And maybe if Minako didn't live there, it would be comfortable and serene.]

[It isn't.]

[It's pretty common, in fact, to see smoke billowing out of the window of 602, with Minako flapping towels and hacking and coughging to air out her apartment. Or maybe she's been spotted dashing frantically out the lobby doors only to return just as frantically and armed with a fire extinguisher.]

[Also don't be alarmed by the sea of suds gushing from underneath the laundry room door and the shriek of dismay from Minako, who ran out of laundry detergent and tried to use dish soap to wash her clothes.]

[It's a mystery how she ever managed to live on her own this long and still be alive.]

Comments

[quick_clean_pure]

How do games help decide who to be matched with?

[sailor_v]

Huh? What do you mean?

[She's pretty sure she didn't say anything like that. Better get some clarification!]

[quick_clean_pure]

It's Aphrodite Matchmaking and Love Arcade -- maybe I'm getting this confused. Are the matchmaking and arcade one and the same or are those two separate things? Like, playing arcade games to meet people or something?

[sailor_v]

Oh, gotcha! Two separate services. The previous me picked out two of my favorite things and opened a business to support them both! Pretty cool, right?

[quick_clean_pure]

Ahhh, got it, then. So how do you match people, then?

[sailor_v]

I'll arrange an appointment for you with Rika. Why don't you stop by tomorrow at 2:00 p.m.? See you then!

[That's why he was asking, right? TOO LATE NOW HE'S DOOMED.]

[Video]

[mother_of_monsters]

Minako! It's good to see you, it's been a while since we talked.

I never played this kind of games before but I'd like to volunteer for the story-based romance one!

[Video]

[sailor_v]

All right! I think I can definitely make room for the cat who transforms into a cute boy type of character. Let me know if there's anything specific you want, otherwise, you can just count on me to make it amazing!

[Don't ever count on her.]

[Video]

[mother_of_monsters]

That works perfectly!

[Dray's ears go up and he claps his hands in excitement. It's not as if he's any better than her.]

I'm sure everyone's going to want to play this game. Maybe you will get rich!

[Video]

[sailor_v]

I already am! My allowance was never this big back home, that's for sure.

[Maybe she doesn't make the kind of crazy salaries some of the people in Genessia do, but she makes way more than she needs, and she loves it.]

I'll let you play the beta version when it's ready. Look forward to it!

[Video]

[mother_of_monsters]

What's an allowance? [Not something they do in his world, that for sure.]

Yay! How about the rest? are you getting more volunteers?

[Video]

[sailor_v]

Money that parents give their kids for helping out with the chores.

[She places her hands on her hips with a little sigh.]

Not as many as I'd like, but it's a good start at least. I can work with what I've got and make a sample game with that. Once people know what I can do, they'll be climbing over each other to star in one of my games in the future!

Video

[nrgsvr]

I don't know game design, but I can draw. I've used dating sims as references for my art blog.

Video

[sailor_v]

[She forgot about even needing an artist. Lucky for her that he volunteered!]

You're hired! I'll send you descriptions of the characters once I've got my roster all lined up.

Video

[nrgsvr]

Okay. Sounds good.

[ Character design sounds simple enough.]

Video

[sengokupocky]

I shall do my best, Boss-chan!

[ She salutes.]

I like the idea of versatility. Maybe volunteers can go on mini dates for scenario ideas.

Can I be the exposition friend character who gives deets on the romance options?

Video

[sailor_v]

Good idea, that's practically a requirement in these kinds of games, isn't it? Okay, you're in!

[And Minako will make her a secret dating option that can only be unlocked if the player does the right things at the right times.]

Oooo, mini-dates... That's a great idea!

[She lays her fingertips together, beaming.]

You're even better at this than I was!

Video

[sengokupocky]

Sweet!

[ She prefers to ship people over getting dates.]

What praise!

I kinda did something similar when a senpai got into a harem situation and another friend had a crush on one of the harem members. We drew lots and rotated pairings while wandering around Nikko.

[ She just wanted to have fun with the historical sites and Edo Wonderland.]

[Action]

[rejected_trash]

[It's definitely not serene.

In fact he was trying to remember when all this mess started, but he could distinctly recall one day, it smelled like the building was on fire and he sprinted outside to see what had been occurring just to see one girl acting like she was dying. He was on his way to Everglade once and saw her returning with a fire extinguisher, and again the building smelled like it was on fire.

He was on his way to wash his very small amount of normal clothes only to see the laundry room a disaster like the first time he tried bubble bath, and turned around to leave, giving up for the day.

Admittedly things like this has gotten tot the point of normal, and he really does almost just leave and call it a day, and it's probably thanks to Chiaki that he doesn't, instead turning back around with a sigh and strolling in.]

What's your damage?

[His tone isn't nice as he starts brushing some of the bubbles away from the only washer that he hopes isn't ruined yet.]

[Action]

[sailor_v]

If you're only going to be rude and not help, then clear the way!

[Minako bolts for the door. She needs to find something she can use to get rid of the suds. Out she goes...]

[...and she returns wielding a big snow shovel, which she starts running over the floor to pile up suds and slosh water all over the place. It's probably not the most effective thing ever, but it's all she's got to work with.]

[Action]

[rejected_trash]

Stop!

[He would have considered just dropping things, but now Minako insists on making it *worse* with a snow shovel.]

Get out of the way and get the hell out of here till I get rid of this water!

[Not waiting, he opens the door and shoves her out for a moment before forcing open a window and focusing his third fonons.] "Turbulence!" [As he finishes a whirl of wind blasts the area and he used it to push...most of the water out.]

Now, if you've got a towel, I'll take one.

[Action]

[sailor_v]

Eep!

[She wasn't expecting someone to bodily force her out of the room, so it's pretty easy to do. Once she recovers from her shock, she whirls around with her fists clenched.]

Hey! What's the big idea?!

[Why is he so-- Well, no, she knows why he's so bad-tempered, but it's not like he has to be all mean about it!]

[Thankfully she didn't have enough time to stomp back in before she gets a firsthand look at some of Sync's abilities. It's impressive. She stares wide-eyed and blinking, her skirts and long hair whipped back with the force of the mini maelstrom he just conjured.]

[Whoa.]

Wow, that's amazing...

[A towel? Minako stares at him for a moment before sheepishly pointing toward the rocking washing machine with her pool of wet laundry.]

Er...heh heh...I can put one in the dryer for you if you don't mind waiting.

[Unless he wants a sopping wet towel. She's pretty sure he doesn't.]

[Action]

[rejected_trash]

Is it?

[For him, it's pretty normal, though that was probably one of the small handful of times he'd used a Fonic Arte for something small scale like this. Which might be why it was a bit sloppy in his opinion. Still, it worked out pretty nicely as there wasn't much water on the floor and the rest was on him. Hence why he desired a towel. Which makes him look to the offending washing machine.

There's a sigh of frustration.]

...I'm going to go change.

[Which he is proud that he didn't add, "don't destroy the place while I'm gone" as he heads for the door.]

[Action]

[sailor_v]

Well sure! I've never seen anyone who can control the elements like that.

[The Sailor Senshi might have elemental abilities, but they're fairly limited in what they can do. Mostly they're just used as attacks. This guy had far more control and versatility, able to call on his power with ease.]

[He's still grumpy, though. She supposes she can't blame him for that, since he's all wet. She's not so proud that she can't acknowledge the part she played in that.]

Sorry. And thanks.

[She claps her palms together and apologetically bows her head, one eye winced open.]

I'm not really used to living on my own.

video

[badend_replay]

Minako! You play games?

Games are my favorite too! Though, we did not have video games where I come from.