piecewise | g/t snippets & drabbles

all in (multi/f) | snippet #6

"Hey beautiful," a feminine voice called, and Claudette found herself caught off guard. How did they- she began to ask, but composed herself when she caught Mr. Jones gauging her reaction. An easygoing smile made its way on her features as she took in Contestant #4.

"Hope you weren't just expecting these clowns," she said, and her voice dripped like honey, deeper than she ever expected the woman to sound. "Let Eliana give you goosebumps."

[Third person?] Her voice said simultaneously with her thoughts. [How charming. Maybe you'll write our vows the same way.]

Claudette hadn't meant to imply a relationship, hell she hadn't done it with the other men, but the flustered reaction from the human made it all worth it. Yoseph and Adam's eyes widened, with Aries shrugging - it was going to be a wild night for sure.

"And last, but definitely not least is our last contestant - Xavier!"

A dark-skinned man stepped into the light. Claudette noted the way his locs fell across his face, and decided the red beanie complemented him, too. He managed a soft smile and waved.

[No intro?] She asked, and Xavier shook his head. [Damn it Jones, you took his tagline!]

Mr. Jones shrugged, and Claudette returned the gesture with a suggestive grin. [Y'know, you don't have to sabotage the guy to sleep with me.]

Xavier chuckled with the rest of the contestants as Mr. Jones regretted his position for what felt like the 12th time that evening. 

"Good to know," he managed, sulking as Xavier took his seat. "Well then, let's go over the rules. As you know, there are 4 rounds and 3 eliminations. The first round is the speed date round, where each of you will shuffle the cards in the center of the table and pick one to ask your date."

[I'd prefer my dates to do the shuffling, to be honest.]

An endearing smile landed on the host's face, which Claudette resisted the urge to scoff at. "Of course. It's the right thing to do," he said pointedly.

"Although I wouldn't mind seeing those muscles in action," Adam added, and was promptly hit in the shoulder by Yoseph. 

"Hey!" He said, "We were all thinking it!"

"Oui? " Eliana questioned, and the language switch immediately put her at the top of Claudette's list. "What are we, French?"

"I am," Yoseph responded, earning an eye-roll from the woman in question.   

 "After the first elimination," The host interrupted, "is the truth-or-dare round, which will be styled similarly to the first round, but with you choosing the truths and dares."

Claudette faltered, looking at the contestants. Truth or dare could be fun, sure, but she had no idea how far any of them would take it. She grimaced as she thought of the "dares" she'd been forced to endure when she was younger - with humans trying to swallow her or worse, play with the very life she'd worked hard to keep living. However, one look at the host eased her nerves - he gave her a playful wink, and she returned it with an eye-roll.

Nothing would happen to her as long as he was around...right?

"Second elimination brings us to the scenario round, with our lovely bachelorette," he said, gesturing to the lady in the golden chair, "taking a backstage pass while we run through a bunch of scenarios that involve her. She won't know your answers until after she changes for the final round, but whoever's answers she likes the least goes home."

All the contestants seemed to shift in their seats at that. It was one thing to be eliminated, but the first and second-round contestants were still able to watch the game play out from the audience. Why was the third round the elimination round?

"Finally, we have the round she changed for...the group date! Mock date, of course, but Claudette and the last two contestants will have a chance to test their chemistry in a place sponsored by us!"

The borrower grimaced. Oh, right. She had to choose someone when all was said and done. Truth-or-dare might've spooked her, but having to choose someone on this roster to take it off-screen with was difficult. Claudette knew the nature of these shows - that often the relationships that won weren't binding off the set. But a part of her wanted it to be - as she scanned all the contestants, she realized that she wouldn't mind trying with any of them, no matter how much she enjoyed teasing them.

She bit her lip. Damn, her thoughts teased, who's idea was this anyways? 

Claudette grinned as the host mirrored her enthusiasm. "Any questions?"

Two beats of silence responded to his inquiry, leaving Mr. Jones with a satisfied smirk.

"Awesome! We'll be right back after a word for our sponsors for the first round of Size N' Sides!"