*disable_reuse The words Odessa Dating Games have been echoing in your head for a while. "Hey, $!{player_first_name}, you alright?" You look over at Ross, whose voice has softened significantly since his outburst a little while back. So…are you? Alright, that is. *fake_choice #Well, how would you take it if you signed up for a dating website and got entangled in court politics? I just shrug at Ross' question and leave it at that. *set sarcastic +1 #I sigh softly and don't say anything. *set shy +1 #"I will be," I reply, running a hand over my face. #"Yeah...I'll be better when I get more information." #"Surprisingly, I'm fine," I say, wondering if there's something wrong with you. #"I'm better than alright...when do we start?" #I'm not alright at all! I want no part of this. Ryr runs a hand through his hair. "I know this is a lot. Finding out that you have the highest percentage of compatibility with $!{royal_title} $!{royal_first_name} has to pretty surprising." “Yep,” Ross confirms. “The compatibility was so high, the King almost came here himself. He couldn’t believe it!” You’re very glad the King decided not to do that. You’re incredibly glad. Would he had even remembered you? Does he remember you? You're not sure which one is more unsettling. “So, $!{player_first_name}, if you have any questions, we'll try to answer them. Nothing is too crazy to ask us,” Ryr says, while Ross absentmindedly plays with his lip ring beside him. “It’s in your best interest to ask a decent amount, but if you don’t want to, it’s whatever." *page_break *label guardquestions "Yeah, I want to know…" *choice #“What have you guys been up to?" Ryr and Ross grin in union, almost resembling a pair of twins, though they'd kill you if you said that out loud. "Well," Ross begins, dragging out the word. "After you left, things go a lot more boring around the castle. Same thing day in and day out!" He pouts a little and takes a seat in a nearby chair and relaxes. "Ryr got himself involved with a cute, little secretary at Odessa HQ and-" A look from the older male quickly shuts up Ross, who suddenly finds his smartwatch much more interesting. "After you left, King Frederick attempted to find someone to fill your position, but couldn't. Eventually, we started taking on security duties for the King's children, in addition to our royal duties," Ryr explains. "Until a few weeks ago, that's all we were doing. Then, we got wrapped up in this Odessa business." Both brothers sigh at the same time and you take that as a cue to move on. *page_break *goto guardquestions #“What if I don’t want to enter this competition?” “I’m afraid you don’t have a choice,” Ryr says. “We’ve been instructed to invite you to join, but take you by force if necessary.” *fake_choice #"As if you guys could actually take me," I scoff. Both Ross and Ryr know I was at the top of my class in athletics. *set brawn %+15 Ross laughs. "Yeah, yeah. We know. But I hope you don't make us fight. These uniforms are showroom new." Ryr rolls his eyes and says nothing in response to his brother's words. "Anyways. Moving on," he says eventually. *page_break *goto guardquestions #"You guys would never. I could easily talk you out of it," I yawn. *set charisma %+15 "It's true," Ross sighs, lightly elbowing Ryr in his ribs. "$!{player_first_name} has talked you out of so many things, I think ${player_he_she_they} could run cons for a living if ${player_he_she_they} really wanted to." Ryr sighs a bit. "I think you're confusing me with yourself, Ross. In either case, let's move on." *page_break *goto guardquestions #"Yeah, right," I reply, though I'm secretly nervous that they would actually do it. *set morale %-10 Ross smirks a bit. "Don't worry, $!{player_first_name}. You have nothing to worry about…given the fact that you were a Guard member. That line should really only worry the average citizen." *page_break *goto guardquestions #I just roll my eyes, not believing their words for even one second. *set bold %+10 "Aw, $!{player_first_name}…you couldn't have even indulged us for a little bit?" Ross whines. "Absolutely not," you reply. While Ross pouts a bit to himself, Ryr pinches at his forehead. "Anyways, back to why we're here," he says in an effort to move on from his brother's actions. *page_break *goto guardquestions #I swallow thickly and tighten my fists. Would they really do that? *set morale %-10 "Relax, $!{player_first_name}. You have nothing to worry about…given the fact that you were a Guard member. That line should really only worry the average citizen." *page_break *goto guardquestions #“Why am I so compatible with the $!{royal_title}? “That’s a great question. According to the King, when he helped create the website, he wasn’t shooting for absolute compatibility, just something relatively high,” Ryr says. “You’re as high as they come though. The second highest number is 85, but that was among the first few profiles we singled out.” It was weird to you that a computer determined that you and a royal were so compatible. There’s not a lick of royal blood in your bloodline, yet here you were. “The algorithm is pretty top secret. Only the most elite of the King’s development team know it and even they’re stumped. All the more reason why both him and others at court are eager to meet you,” Ross says, deciding to mess with his hair now instead of his lip ring. Maybe more of your questions can be answered by this website team. For now, you nod and decide to move on. *page_break *goto guardquestions #“What about my job? My apartment?” “Well, security will be looking out for your apartment while you’re competing,” Ross says, pulling out a tablet like device. He scrolls for a moment before looking back over at you. “Your job is fine as well. We’ve already contacted them and you’re on a leave of absence. You will still have a position barring a marriage to somebody in the Royal Family,” Ross added. “Oh! If you have a car or anything like that, you can take it with you,” Ryr says. “Dia is a lovely city. If you can go out and explore it during any downtime you may have, totally do it.” *page_break *goto guardquestions #“What will I be doing in this competition?” Ross and Ryr turn to each other and grin, borderline giddy about being asked this question, apparently. “Loads,” they say in unison. “You’ll be dancing, trying to impress people all over the country, doing community service, all sorts of things,” Ross clarifies, counting off the things with his fingers. “You’ll also have time with the $!{royal_title}, and ${royal_his_her_their} family to impress and gain favor with them as well.” Ryr smirked a bit. “That’s all probably just the first week. Who knows what they’ll come up with, but the competition is really going to test your skills, that’s for sure.” *page_break *goto guardquestions #“Who else will I be competing with?” “A variety of people of all genders, backgrounds and personalities,” Ross answers. “You’ll meet each other in a few weeks.” “You’ll also be competing with the public. Impressing the Royal Family is one thing, but impressing the public is another,” Ross adds. Ryr grins and crosses his arms. “No need to impress us though, $!{player_first_name}. We already like you, though we could be bias." *page_break *goto guardquestions #“What if I don’t fall in love with the $!{royal_title} or win?” Ross purses his lips and ponders that for a moment. “Hm, good question. If you don’t win, well, unless you find another reason to stay in Dia, you’ll be able to come back here and resume your life,” he says finally. “As for not falling in love with the $!{royal_title}, well, you guys are a 99 percent match, not 100,” Ryr adds. “You guys are going to be together for quite a long time, but there’s loads of people in court.” Ross grins. “Something tells me you’ll get pretty far in the competition though.” *page_break *goto guardquestions #Done asking questions. *goto_scene chapter2_guardsgoodbye