showhost | ( r6 ) talking-head: akechi goro.

[Look who showed up! It’s him. It’s been a fucking rough one, make no mistake, but he has his pleasant boy smile in place and gloved hands clenched tightly into fists as he sits down.

He takes a slow and deep inhale before speaking with a very forced smile.]

Tsukasa-san, thank you for coming. I have a few questions for you, if you don’t mind answering them for the cameras here.

[Can Tsukasa sense danger?]

[Listen. He's oblivious a lot of the time but the danger is radiating off of Akechi in waves despite the pleasant boy smile, so.

Yeah.

He is sensing that danger.]

A-ah. [ah.....] P... please, go ahead. I'm all ears.

Edited 2024-11-24 15:19 (UTC)

[He claps his hands together.]

Great. [Akechi keeps his gaze locked onto Tsukasa, making sure his eyes bore into the other.] This first question is really simple. Something to get us started.

Have you ever seen a reality television show before?

[this is the scariest interview he's ever experienced and it's only started.]

I... have, yes. An episode or two. [Probably when his mother left it on the television, or something--it's not really his preferred thing to watch most of the time.

But he's a modern kid. He's familiar with reality tv.]

Why do you ask?

Ah ah! I’ll ask the questions. Save yours for the end, thank you.

[He holds up a finger to his lips.]

And in all the reality television you’ve seen and know about how often did the hosts fraternize with contestants in unequal measure?

That is to say… Only indulge with a handful of the players in the game? Maybe two of their favorites? Oh, and I have a follow up… How many hosts play within the house and ingratiate themselves in something like kissing games?

[oh

my god

The worst part, of course, is that Akechi is absolutely right. He is aware enough to know that the host is supposed to be distant enough from the contestants to keep things under control, but he's kind of failed at that from the very start--]

Ah.

That's...

[...]

... I don't have a rebuttal for that.

Edited 2024-11-24 15:34 (UTC)

[Akechi slowly cants his head to the side, keeping his gaze upon the other.]

Huh. So. It would be safe to say that in all the reality shows you’ve watched the hosts don’t involve themselves with contestants. Nothing personal nor something that only one or two get to experience. That’s very interesting… [He snaps his fingers as if a thought just came to him.] That’s so crazy because… That’s not at all what’s fucking happening here.

Do you have a rebuttal to that, by chance?

[well

that's

that's entirely correct, actually]

I... don't. You... are correct, that is generally how hosting a reality TV show goes.

So do you have a reason for giving certain players special treatment or…

[He makes a gesture before forcing out a laugh. And it is notably forced.]

It’s really lucky, for you, that one of your dates didn’t get to pick first or it would have looked like blatant favoritism. Imagine if the day one “lovebirds” got to pick first. Well… needless to say you and I would be having a very different kind of conversation.

So it just leaves me wondering if myself and the rest should continue to expect this? It just looks really bad and very unprofessional.

And one has to ask… are you a contestant or are you the host of this damn show?

Edited (I’m phone tagging and suffering ) 2024-11-24 15:54 (UTC)

[....... Well. That much is true. The favoritism would've looked very bad, even if it wouldn't have been favoritism at all.

Even if not to the audience, given he doubts most of the footage of him on camera is aired outside of his hostly duties, it looks that way to some of the contestants, and that's bad enough.

....... it is a shame, he can't help but think. He enjoys everyone's company, but Akechi is absolutely right.]

[He sighs, and straightens, meeting Akechi's eyes.]

I am the host, of course. And it truly wasn't my intention to make it seem as though I would ever allow any sort of favoritism to influence the show--but I clearly have, and I apologize for that.

My focus remains on making certain everyone here leaves with what they are hoping for, whether that be a wish or romance or something else entirely. That has never changed, I assure you.

[Unfortunately, for all of us, Akechi is not impressed by such words or platitudes. The smiles have faded and he can only scowl.]

When you show favor to some and not to others it gives the impression that people can do whatever they want. And they will. And they do.

If you want to kiss all the boys and girls in there and go on dates and forsake your duties as a proper host then let’s change places. And if not… Then do your fucking job.

[The last few words come out in a snap, cold and mean and above all irritated.]

This is your circus, is it not? Get it under control. As much as I love the hostile work environment… I’d also just rather walk back into my grave. At least it’ll be quiet.

[Ouch. That hurts, that's for sure, but mostly it hurts because he can't really argue any of it.

Even though Akechi is potentially king of doing whatever he wants to do here--

Tsukasa doesn't really think of that, or of pointing it out, because, well. He has done a terrible job keeping control of this show. It's certainly nothing like what he expected, but that's no excuse. It just means he has to try harder, and do better, and be the sort of host that, at the very least, doesn't disappoint the contestants.]

... Don't...

[... The stakes are truly so much higher than just... his acting as host, or the show.]

Don't give up on that wish just yet. I'll do my job, and be the sort of host you're expecting.

So don't--stop wishing to live on your own terms, Akechi.

[He does wear the crown but that’s neither here nor there.

Akechi, instead, refrains from rolling his eyes though it’s a near thing. He drums his fingers one by one in a rhythmic pattern as he listens to his host spout the expected assurances.

Then that smile forces its way back onto his face.]

Haha~ If you say so. [He straightens his tie and brushes a few stray bangs out of his eyes before resting his hands in his lap.]

Did you have any questions for me, Tsukasa-san~?

[.............. WELL.

If he's going to be the host, then he has to ask questions, even if he feels a little bit like a crumpled up wad of paper right now.

So he straightens, and takes in a deep breath, and smiles, pulling out his cue card.]

I do.

Given the results of the Match Ceremony, which of the pairs do you think is the least likely?

[Unfortunate that he still wants to ask questions. At least this is an easy one.]

Mine, of course.

[You did this, Akechi, now he has to do his job.]

I see... can you speak more to that? Why do you feel that way?

Were you not paying attention? [He scoffs.] I won’t be second best to anyone.

He’s also small. And pathetic.

[Alright Akechi.]

I suspect my match is whatever leftover slop there is that wasn’t compatible with what you brought here.

[Okay, but all of this was decided long before Will did a single thing, Tsukasa can't help but think--but if those hater goggles are fixed on good, then there isn't much for him to say anyway. Besides, as the host, he's not supposed to give preferential treatment, right?

Even if he'd like to see Akechi rise beyond this--like a phoenix from the ashes, right? He may not know the perfect matches, but he knows this much: this won't be a satisfying conclusion for Akechi if it continues like this.

But.

As he's been reminded very firmly--that's not his role here.]

So that's how you see it...

[...]

Then... which pairs do you think are the most likely of that Match Ceremony?

[He lets out a slow exhale through his teeth.]

Ritsuka and her goat friend. Mark and Kat. Minami and Maomao. Dorothea and Josuke.

Those were our four new lights.

Edited 2024-11-24 22:11 (UTC)

[If Tsukasa were a more spiteful person, he'd keep spinning up questions just to force Akechi to sit there and answer them, since they've both decided on this.

But.

He's truly not, and they're reaching the end of his questions for the week. So he just nods simply, and:]

I see. This is my final question for you for the week, then: if you had to choose one pair to send to the Truth Booth right now, which would you choose?

One of the pairs not mentioned above. The way to win this is to take these week two matches and find out which ones aren’t the pairs we’re looking for.

We use the Truth booth the opposite way it was intended. To find no matches and go from there.

Anna and Steve, would be a good starting point. And if they’re a match then she leaves and my ears will be glad for it.

Ah, of course, because of the number of lights you had this week.

[.... well. He's not sure the others see it that way, but that's Akechi's fight to pick--or not--depending on how he's feeling.]

I wonder if the others will agree...

Mm, well, regardless. That is all I have for you today. ... Thank you for your time, Akechi.

[They can do what they like. He will offer no counsel. He doesn’t care, at the end of the day.

He forces that smile back into place and lifts a hand in parting.]

Right. Thanks for your time~!

[Tsukasa is free to cry in his trailer now. :( ]

[rip to him]

( r6 ) talking-head: akechi goro.

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