・❥ introductions.

the man had been quietly sitting in place for several moments, his stygian orbs flitting about as he took in every camera that was placed in the room. one to the side, another one by the opposite end, his back, and of course, his front. with his line of work, he should have grown accustomed to what wandering eyes were scattered about. the heat wafting about of expectations, and the undying pressure to meet them. but this here had been an entirely different sort of limelight, one that the production team was quick to single out as a cast member soon spoke, “you look a little—” “lost? no, i’m exactly where i need to be.”

panther spoke, his deep voice firm and rid of any remnants of vexatious doubt that decayed his mind like a dangerous expanse of venom. though as confident as he appeared to be, a curt smirk tugging by the corners of his lips, this here had only been yet another unfortunate case of.. faking it until you make it. for as far as he was convincing himself to focus on his truest intentions, he would only hope to win the trust and even so, utmost affection of the viewers— and well, the contestants alike, as a bonus. “let’s call me panther. why? well, there’s nothing more fascinating about constantly being on the hunt. i’d like to think i can reach whatever i set my mind to, and this time– i’m actually.. gunning for love. real love. aren’t we all?” he laughed, his slender digits carding through his silky tendrils as he held back on the urge to sigh.

“maybe this wouldn’t be one of the best things to say out loud, but i’ve been pretty rusty in the love department. i’m a go-getter, in the sense that my mind’s been all about work, work, and more work.. although eventually, i came to realise that maybe there’s more to life than just staying on the grind. and i’d be a whole lot let less tired, yeah, things would be easier if by the end of it all, i had something- no, somebody to return to?” pushing his lips together, he almost surprised himself. where were these words coming from? he didn’t know, but if he was on roll then it was best he only continued.

“so, i’m hoping whoever’s out there will find their way to me because i won’t rest until i find them. actually, scratch that. resting of any sort isn’t gonna fly with me at all– because once i’ve found /the one/? i won’t stop at nothing to grow with the person, through all our flaws and imperfections. i’ll be there for all our highs and lows, our best and worst moments, and well.. with a ring in hand to readily pop the question whenever, wherever.”

“so until then, make sure you keep your eyes on me, and only me.”

《 ɴᴇᴡ ʙᴇɢɪɴɴɪɴɢs 》
dolphin wasn't sure what to wear once she'd been called up to do an introduction towards the show. it wasn't exactly required but it seems to be preferred so other contestants could learn about her without revealing too much, of course! that would ruin the whole idea of the love is blind concept! and that can't be happening one bit. she decided to honestly just go with something casual, cute but nice. it didn't exactly fit with her personality per se but it's still adorable.

she made her way over to the room labeled introductions though it had taken a few wrong turns in the hallways until she got it correctly. getting lost at first didn't help her anxiety building up, it didn't make her feel the best when her lack of sense of direction isn't all that decent. the woman sighed and shrugged off that feeling of worry, she continued walking till she opened the door and went inside, her eyes beginning to wander at her new surroundings, spotting a neatly comfy couch to sit down on so that's where she went down to sit at. thankfully she didn't trip over something on the way to her seat.

dolphin brushed her hair out of her face while meeting eye contact with the already set up cameras. "oh, hello everyone." she greeted and flashed a soft smile. "you all can call me dolphin." she adds before pondering her next. "now why did i want to go by dolphin? well, first of all they're lovely, i've always loved the beach.. though it's more based on my personality. i'd been told that dolphins are mischievous and playful, but also tend to have a compassionate side to them once they trust."

now why did dolphin decide to even join this show? she had done a little bit of research beforehand... but not enough it seems. that's okay, as long as she doesn't up any of her choices horribly but we'd just have to wait and see, right? see what fate has in store for her. will she happen to finally meet the one. her soulmate, her husband on this show...? because clearly her past relationships were fun yeah... but not fully fulfilling, and ending up in heartbreak. she'd only been with three other men before, nothing too crazy.

she merely found out about this show through some social media ad post just one day at her job. thankfully that day wasn't as stressful as prior ones so she had enough focus to search it up, and here she is now, introducing herself. " i am hoping to finally find the man that i see and feel as being the One. The one i can make so many pleasant memories with and all of that goodness. yeah we may have our ups and downs but hopefully i'd last awhile with him. i see myself as having an adventurous side.. so i'm wondering would he be able to tame me?~" she mused, giving a playful wink at the camera, snickering too herself afterwards.

she leaned back until her back hit the soft material of the sofa, reaching over to grab a pillow next to her and hugging it against her chest. this happens to be another anxious habit of hers, hugging something soft to hopefully calm herself because she clearly can't go back home now. taking a couple of silent seconds to herself, not too long since she hadn't finished responding to the necessary questions for this. "sorry, i needed a bit to regain my thoughts..." she muttered, rubbing the side of her neck for a sec. "what makes me a good bachelorette? i'd say... hm.. my strong sense of independence and adventurous spirit, like i'm able to balance both sides alright and it would be neat if i happen to meet my soulmate with that similar mindset."

Dolphin glanced over, spotting the next question, the final one. Something she'd never thought of before in her life because before, she'd been 'exploring around' with her exs but she feels she could head to the path of marriage, that's why she's here anyways. "Yes. " she surprisingly instantly answers without second thought before continuing on. "I'd say I am ready... i know it's me stepping into the unknown but i'd technically already done that on more than one occasion.. so i'm interested." the woman turned directly to the camera and gave a playful yet sly grin. "do you have what it takes to keep up with me, my sweet darlings?"

snake stood in the well lit room decorated in hues of pink and white roses, kindled with a warm, inviting ambiance. her smile radiated from miles away and her doe, boba eyes sparkled with faux innocence as she looked directly into the camera. her sweet and effortlessly charming demeanor, albeit practiced, was made to draw viewers in— like it always drew her in whenever she was in front of a mirror.

she flashed the camera with an almost impish smile before starting. "hello everyone! this is snake. we all know why someone like me would choose such a crude animal as my alias..." she covered with the back of her hand, looking the other way as a blush crept onto her cheeks. "surely nothing about anacondas or anything—" her head whipped towards the director. "wait, can we say stuff like this on here?" a laugh rang out through the studio before the cameras cut out for a moment.

"i chose snake because... hmmm... how should i put this?" she pursed her lip in thought. "snakes are sneaky. they slither silently and are guardians of balance and a keeper of equilibrium. they maintain the delicate ecosystem and make sure the natural order is preserved." for a moment. just a moment, there was a small smirk. but just as quickly as it appeared, it was gone. "so be careful out there! before you know it, this snake will be slithering into your heart just where i belong! snakes are sooo misunderstood. they aren't all as scary or vindictive as people think; they simply fulfill their essential role in the wild."

"what am i hoping to find on the show? oh... i don't know... love?" her hopeful eyes and the way her shoulders lifted up to meet her sheepish grin only masked her true intentions even further. she knew why she was here. there was something she wanted much more than any stupid ring crafted by god himself. the lead role in an up and coming drama. she had a year to make a name for herself and a no brainer netflix show was perfect for her. if she could cry on cue for a stranger's funeral, she could pretend to fall in love, garner sympathy from the viewers, and gain some traction to her existence. "I don't know much about love and i'm not sure if i could be the perfect wife for someone, but as long as we do it together, it should be fine, right? let's grow old together jagiya~!" She cooed at the camera and lifted her fingers up to make a heart.

"what makes me a good bachelorette? my ability to love myself even in my darkest days. and because i can do this, i'm able to love my partner with my fullest and best self and i hope to make sure my partner feels like their truest and best self. and if they're not, that's okay, too. i'll love you regardless." more lies. she flashes the camera and crew another one of her impish smiles. "my bubs better be ready for a life full of spice and everything nice. if they don't propose, i'm snatching their hand myself! and with that, i'll see you down the aisle, baby."

skunk had toned down his wardrobe a bit for the show, not wanting to immediately come off as the kind of guy who was a bad influence. still, his hole-covered knit sweater and ripped jeans showed enough skin to reveal the way that he was covered in tattoos, and he fiddled with one of his earrings before perking up as one of the staff signalled for him to begin speaking.

"my name is skunk, and i think it's pretty obvious why i chose this animal." he laughed quietly and gestured upwards, shrugging a shoulder before his hands fell back into his lap. "honestly, i'm a bit wild of a person, but i'm tired of the one night stands and meaningless hookups. i'm ready to find someone who looks at my brand of crazy and decides that they want to be stuck with that forever."

skunk fiddled with a hole in his sweater and snapped a thread in half, looking up at the camera with big eyes before rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "i'm a disaster kind of person, but i have a big heart. i love animals, i have a dog of my own actually, and i have a record that's as tall as me printed out but that's because i am very passionate about fighting against injustice.. i think that's what makes me a good bachelor too, is that i think everybody deserves a chance at love and real happiness."

he twisted one of his many silver rings around his finger, listening to the final question before paling slightly. engagement was a *lot*, but... "i think so. it seems kind of crazy that i could get engaged to somebody i've never seen in person and don't know their name, but i've done crazier things for sure."

as she neatly adjusts her hair to one side, the camera starts rolling with the producer's call. a polite, camera-ready smile tugs at her lips as her eyes fixate at the lens, locked in with concentration. her body was on autopilot at this point, mind going blank unlike the night before, where a million nervous thought swam in it, disabling her from getting a good night's rest (she's hoping the cameras don't catch the subtle eyebags that are forming).

"hi," she starts off, albeit timidly at first, before she clears and takes a deep breath. as she adjusted the hem of her pleated skirt, she smiled at the camera once more, her eyes twinkling with anticipation. "you can call me penguin," she declared, her voice steady and confident. she paused for a moment, smoothing down a strand of her hair. "I chose penguin because they're adaptable, loyal, and thrive in close-knit communities, much like I do."

she settled into her seat, growing a bit more comfortable with her expression softening as she thought about what she hoped to find on the show. "I’m hoping to find someone who I can connect with," she said, her gaze earnest. "someone who appreciates my quirks and shares my passion for creativity and adventure." with a playful grin, she leaned forward slightly. "speaking of quirks, I think it mightttt be talking to my plants," she confessed, chuckling. "they’re great listeners and never interrupt. it's my little way of unwinding after a long day... although I hope that doesn't make me look psychotic?" maybe that was a weird thing to share on television, she thought with a shrug.

"anyway!" her warm laugh echoed in the room, and she continued, her tone thoughtful. "I think what makes me a good bachelorette is my ability to connect with people. I care about others and love creating beautiful things that bring joy to those around me." she took a deep breath, her eyes shining with determination. "when it comes to getting engaged," she began, her voice steady, "I know what I want, and I'm ready for it. finding a partner to share my life with, to support each other’s dreams and build a future together—that's what I'm here for. I'm not just open to the idea, I'm excited by it. I'm ready to dive in and see where this journey takes me."

as the producer calls 'cut', all she could do was sit there in her thoughts, her smile growing a bit more nervous by the second. no backing out now, she supposes.

[post deleted by owner]

In the softly lit studio, the camera panned to a man standing with an air of quiet confidence. "Hello, everyone," he began, his voice calm and measured. "My name is Koi."

He paused, a thoughtful smile touching his lips. "I chose the name Koi because, much like the koi fish, I believe in resilience, grace, and the power of transformation. Koi fish are known for their ability to swim upstream, overcoming obstacles with strength and perseverance. This resonates deeply with my approach to life and love. I’ve faced my share of challenges and have always emerged stronger, more determined, and more compassionate."

Koi's eyes sparkled with sincerity as he continued. "On this show, I’m hoping to find a genuine connection that goes beyond surface-level attraction. I’m searching for someone who values authenticity, adventure, and growth as much as I do. I envision a relationship where we can support and inspire each other through life's currents, navigating the highs and lows together."

A chuckle escaped him as he recounted some of his quirks. "I have a habit of making up silly songs about everyday activities, turning mundane chores into impromptu concerts. Whether it's washing the dishes or folding laundry, there’s always a tune on my lips. I also have an uncanny knack for remembering obscure trivia, making me an invaluable asset during game nights."

As he spoke, his demeanor exuded warmth and reliability. "What makes me a good bachelor? I’m empathetic and a great listener, always striving to understand and support those around me. Mutual respect and open communication are cornerstones of my relationships. Despite my sometimes serious exterior, I’m a romantic at heart, constantly looking for small ways to make my partner feel special and appreciated."

The room seemed to hold its breath as he approached the final question. "Am I ready to be engaged?" he repeated, his voice firm. "Absolutely. I’m at a point in my life where I’m ready to commit to building a future with someone special. I’m excited to see what this journey holds and hopeful that it leads to a meaningful and lasting relationship."

Nervous.

It was a foreign concept for her as it's been way too long since the last time she ever felt something like that. The butterflies {the not so good one}, the flip of her stomach, and the cold sweat... It was surely a new experience for her as she entered the room full of cameras. And immediately all eyes were on her.

Now, the lady was no stranger for such attention, it was the reason why she's here that made her get a little cold feet. Taking a moment to recollect herself, Retriever gave the staff a friendly smile before sitting down on the single couch that's been prepared for the introduction interview.

"Whenever you are ready, Miss [redacted]"

That was her cue. She gave a little nod towards the cameraman as they started to record. "Hello, my name -- well, not really a name but you know how it works." She let out a soft melodious chuckle "My alias for this show is retriever. Pleased to meet you." She gave the camera a little bow, the same soft smile still on her face as the producer asked why she chose the said animal. "To be honest, I was shocked because no one took this animal as their alias. How can you say no to a cute retriever?" She tilted her head to the side, looking as if she's pondering that question. "So yes, I just had to take this cute animal as my alias. They are friendly, adorable, and great friends. I have one myself at home, so it feels more personal for me."

The following question after making her let out another chuckle. "Many of my friends were shocked too when I told them I would join this show, mostly because they said they never thought I would be the type of someone who would join something like this since I was known as a workaholic woman. This is my way to unwind, a new way. I want to meet more people and get to know them more. Well, if I was lucky enough, I might find someone who will love me for who I really am. Though that wouldn't be my main objective for this show, at least right now. We never know what the future holds anyway, so I'm keeping my options open." She nodded.

"Funny quirks eh... I don't think I have much of it? My line of work required me to always be serious most of the time. But I think I can sing pretty well? Judging by how many times I've been asked in the party. Oh! some said my sense of humor is rather like an old man." At that she couldn't help but to laugh along with the staff who were also laughing "I can't believe it either, but the testimony I got says otherwise."

So far, she was clearly enjoying it, it wasn’t as bad as she imagined it would be. However when the question about what makes her a good bachelorette, she was clearly caught off guard. It took her more time to answer the question. How can she say anything good about herself without sounding that she’s bragging too much?

“Let’s see…” She started “I can cook? Also you don’t have to shower me with gifts or anything like that for I prefer quality time more than anything. Though maybe I often come off too strong, I still appreciate your opinions. If we ever get into an argument, you can rest assured that I won’t make a big fuss out of it. A little time away, and I’m ready to talk it over. As for more… you just need to get to know me deeper, it wouldn’t be fun if I reveal all of my cards during the introduction stage, right?”

Looking at the staff in front of her, she knew at least her answers to those questions were good enough to be put on her introduction shot. Now finally they arrived at the last answer for the day. Engaged huh? That would be a very big step in her life. Not to mention it was kind of a scary leap of faith to put the rest of your life together with someone else. “As for now… I don’t think I am ready for it. But like I said earlier, it is too early to tell. If I am lucky enough to find ‘The one’ who knows? Only if he’s willing to compromise though since I don’t think I’d be willing to retire from my job after marriage.”

The smile never falters from her face even after she answered that as honestly as she could. It was blood, sweat, and tears for her to reach the way she is right now and for sure, she wouldn’t be so easily let it all go just because she’s married. She loves her job. With that last question, Retriever gave a last bow towards the camera as she bid off. “This has been Retriever. Thank you for having me.”

tanuki settles into a chair that's too small for him as he spreads his knees apart, bent to an almost uncomfortable position. his hands fold between his thighs to disguise just how apart his legs are in this tiny chair as he looks down to adjust himself for the camera until the producer calls for his attention, greeting the producer with a smile before quickly transitioning his gaze awkwardly at the camera. "hello," he begins with a million thoughts racing through his mind about what to say and how to behave in front of the camera, only to fumble with, "I'm **- wait, no please cut that out!" the look of panic on his face as he hides his embarrassment behind his dimples. "I'll try that again," he says with a small voice, sinking into his ever so petite seat.

with a deep breath, fixing his posture straight, he took a second try at introducing himself. "hello, i'm tanuki!" he greeted with a firm deep voice that was definitely compensating for something.. when asked why he chose tanuki, his eyes squinted fondly as he naturally replied, "they're cute." his palms rubbed on his thighs as he cleared his throat, not realizing he had answered honestly with such a lame answer.

quickly moving on, the production team asked him about his quirks, to which he raised his eyebrows to, rubbing his chin. "i don't know about funny quirks, but..." his words trailed off as he smiled, showing off his dimples, unconsciously framing his chin with a v between his index finger and thumb, "i heard my smile is pretty killer." that was not a quirk and the production team was definitely going to cut that out as they begrudgingly moved onto the next question: what makes you a good bachelor?

oof - that was a question he didn't know how to answer. his eyes narrowed before him in deep thought as he leaned back in his seat, crossing his long legs forward. he grazed his finger over his lips as the horrors of his past relationships flooded through his mind until he came to a conclusion, "i'm pretty capable and reliable - or at least i try to be, " with a cordial tone that masked his thoughts. he cleared his throat as he fixed his posture, feeling the mood in the room drop until the production cut the silence with their final question: are you ready to be engaged? to which he could only answer with a little white lie, "of course!"

the ground beneath holds her commanding presence with every precise step lined towards the hot seat.

her piercing gaze travels from the cameras lined up to capture what may be the most embarrassing moment of her life down to the high chair settled in the middle of the room, reminding her of a station’s interrogation room. ‘someone’s getting strangled when i get home,’ her inner voice speaks in flat annoyance—after all, joining a reality tv series masked as a genuine experiment would never cross her mind even if the world decided to crumble tomorrow. unfortunately for the already distressed woman, her sister had other plans—ones that involved messing with her stable and peaceful life.

“miss porcupine, are you ready?” with a quick glance towards the source of the question, the woman simply offered a quiet hum, dryly responding with “well, i don’t have a choice, do i?” which elicited an amused chorus of laughter from the show’s staff. as soon as she comfortably settled on her seat, the lady with porcupine as an alias signaled the crew to start rolling the cameras with a brief nod of her head. while she was the type to let life flow as it is, today’s need to take control of the steering wheel and get the interview done and over with was high.

“hey there, i’m porcupine,” she briefly starts, her tone maintaining a levelheaded delivery of her thoughts, “there’s no special reason with the animal of my choosing. i resonate with porcupines the most as someone who prefers to keep my peace.” she then carefully crosses her leg over the other with a hand resting comfortably on her knee, her slender fingers accentuated with dainty rings drumming over her skin. when presented with the question of what she was hoping to find on the show, a sea of cheery voices rings in her head—ones that belonged to those who admittedly tested her patience every living moment but remained to be the fewest she had most affection for. “hope.” one word was all it took to capture her overall feelings about the show. before all this, the woman was content with seizing the mundane days of fulfilling her job, looking after herself, and most importantly, building a secure future for her child. it’s true when they say that the comfort of being alone ends up becoming a little too restricting, because when a soul finally recognizes the joy that comes with relishing in their own company—chances are there is no going back. commitment was out of the question.

that was, until, she was convinced or rather forced to believe otherwise. “most would have joined with the goal of settling down, i believe. there’s no doubt that some will exit this experiment successfully, and i’m here to witness that love is still alive and fluid regardless of the situation it’s placed in.” she tucks her long locks behind her ear, shrugging at the camera when she follows through her statement, “i guess i’m here to be a bystander.” knowing glances were shared amongst the staff members, with some wearing amused smiles while the rest acknowledged her blunt confession with lighthearted chuckles. ‘these people are crazy. they laugh at everything,’ she thinks to herself, clearing as she awaits the next question to be thrown.

“huh?” there it was, her unfiltered disposition manifesting in the way her eyebrow twitched while was slightly parted. “i’m not one to make people laugh and cry in the process. if anything, they cry in my presence right away. i must have been an onion in my past life.” the woman braces herself for another question, adjusting her rings around her fingers to somehow calm herself down. “now that is a tricky one to answer. would anyone be interested in getting to know a single mom, i wonder? beneath everything that led me to this situation, i believe i’m a decent person at most who returns the same energy shared with me. some would call it tough love, and to a certain extent, it’s true. i’m not the biggest fan of sugarcoating, and i accept things as they are. whether it means finding a partner after all this or treading the path alone with my integrity still intact.”

a subtle smile tugs on the corner of her lips with the last query, causing her to shift in her position, “getting engaged is the least of my worries right now. we’ll see how it goes when hope decides to light a flame towards that door.” the woman slowly raises her hand to cross her fingers on camera before offering a curt salute to close her interview.

little did everyone know that in the dark, freezing corners of her heart—there was a sleeping desire of wanting to be loved genuinely this time around.

on the silent cue from the director, he commences the filming of his introduction. "hello, i'm blobfish." flashing a smile that reaches his eyes, he holds up both of his hands and shakes them gently, before placing them down on the middle of his thighs. he's sitting up straight, maintaining his good posture, while his arms are slightly bent at the elbow. looking right at the main camera, he continues to speak, progressing the intro.

"i chose blobfish, because i think it fits perfectly with the concept of this show. truthfully, blobfishes aren't the most er—friendly looking of animals, haha ..." he chuckles awkwardly, the tips of his ear burning to a bright pink. in the background, he heard the producer ask out if he'd ever date a blobfish. he laughs, hanging his head slightly. "this is going to be a long interview isn't it ..." he softly says, teasingly acting as if he were getting even more stressed. "in later episodes, you'll also come to know why i chose blobfish. so stay tuned." clearing his throat, he regathers his composure.

"in case the audio didn't pick it up, the producer just asked if i'd ever date a blobfish. the answer is no, because first of all—blobfish live 3940 feet down in the ocean." he says, matter-of-factly. "i'd become a pulp before i even make it to the date. blobfish fact number two; 3940 deep down, they actually look like a normal ocean bottom feeding fish." he points up in the air to his right. "visual effects team, please insert a picture of a blobfish under the sea right here." he then places his hand back down. "it's only when they come up to land, that the changes in pressure make their skin warp and sort of melt off—which is the blobfish that most people know of and recognize." he then points right at the camera, abraham lincoln poster style. "blobfish function and look better under pressure, so don't alleviate them of it. thank you for coming to my ted talk."

softening his gaze and demeanor, he drops his public service announcement act, going back to his usual smiley expression. "funny quirks? my impeccable sense of humor and dad jokes? haha. i guess if i had to choose one, it's that i can spin random household objects on my hands really well?" he's taken aback, amazed as he spots a staff member walking over to him, with a box full of random items— various balls, a cushion, paperback book, markers and pens. immediately, he gets up from his chair to help the staff member carry the box. taking it, he sets it down on the floor. he sits back down, undoing the buttons to the sleeves of his dress shirt. he then rolls up the sleeves, before reaching down to pick up the cushion. "i spin pens the best, but i'll do a cushion, because i can spin it pretty fast." motioning with his hand for the camera to zoom in or come closer, he shows the camera up close where his finger is being placed. "the trick is to not put your finger right in the center, but to go a little off-center—" doing so, he then flips the cushion on to the top of his fingertip, before rotating his wrist ever-so-slightly in a repetitive, circular motion. the pillow begins to spin quickly, as if it were a fidget spinner. "ta-da, the beauty of centripetal force." he then hears the producer asking him something else, to which he cups his ear, unable to hear the first time.

"you want me to continue the rest of the interview spinning this?" he laughs, amused at the ridiculous request, but doesn't object. continuing to spin the cushion, he returns to finishing off his intro. "i'm clearly looking for a circus partner—just kidding, i'm looking for a life partner that can also be my best friend. bonus brownie points if you laughed at least once while watching this."

it's her worst nightmare come true—partaking in a reality tv show, and a dating one at that. people are watching her—most, if not all. nearly every pair of eyes is on her, observing her every blink, breath, tremor, and twitch. she feels like a deer in the headlights—frozen in fear before the ever-seeing inanimate eyes of the camera. she stares blankly into the dark, abysmal demises that were going to end her and all that she had worked for. robotically, she scans slowly, looking left to right. she counts six—six cameras—six sizable machines of termination. she gulps—she's doomed.

clack! the noise of the film slate being struck jolts her into a startle. involuntarily, as if she had been classically conditioned, she snaps her head to look—glare murderously, right at the main camera, in which the main producer of the show sat behind. her reaction does the unexpected, draw laughter—chuckles reverberating in the foreground. her expression stays rigid for a split-second longer, before she realizes what she's done. instantaneously of becoming aware the situation, the muscles of her visage soften. humiliation hues onto her face, her cheeks blushing a bright pink, while the tips of her ears burned in embarrassment. her eyes widen in horror. she doubles over, folding in half, showing off to the camera the crown of her head.

"i'm so sorry!" she exclaims, holding her bowed posture for a few more seconds, before straightening back up into a straight sit. her heavy strands of hair lashes back haphazardly. like a dog shaking off their dampened fur, she wags her head quickly, allowing her mussed up hair to fall naturally back into their rightful, tidy place. she then puts her hand over her chest, right over her heart—the circulatory organ palpitating forcefully against her chest. "i apologize, i'm s-still so n-nervous ... " with a long, purse-lipped exhale, she picks up where she left off.

"h-hello." she says timidly, springing up an abrupt hand. "this is fox—blinded fox!" with her hand still put up, she takes an awkward pause before reciting her practiced and rehearsed lines. "this may sound childish ... but the reason i chose a fox was because it was my patronus animal on pottermore." she brings her raised hand to her lips, chuckling softly into her palm . "so i guess i'm looking for someone magical?" her eyes suddenly falter from whomever's watching, looking lost, swept away into her own world. "not a wizard ... not someone who can create an illusion, but—someone who will constantly put in the effort—to making someone believe that magic is real ... because that's where the truth lies ... i think love is like magic."

she casts her gaze back up, her lips curving into a slow smile. she brings up the back of her hand to , to stifle her bashful laughter. "maybe i sound too naive ..." she moves on, remembering the next question that she had memorized from the guidebook that the production team had given to her upon the first initial meeting. "umm in all honesty, i don't think i have any funny quirks ... i've been told that i'm not t-that f-funny, haha. but i'm slapstick comedy funny? i'm um very accident prone and clumsy—even my dad, he says i'm so accident prone that it's no wonder that i was an accident baby ... never mind, i think that was tmi." she mumbles to herself in disappointment. the upper half of her face scrunches into discord, while the lower half of her face tries to maintain a sheepish, but enthusiastic smile. "anyways, that's all fox has to say for now~ bye bye~" waving her hands furiously, she motions her farewell.

the hands of fate extends toward the hourglass, slowly flipping the fragile encasement to signal the flow of time.

there's a first for everything, and it was now or never.

motion ceased to exist in the space she entered the moment she cued, "i'm ready!", with a wave of her hand and the sound of her jubilant voice piercing through the studio's hustle and bustle. momentarily experiencing the life of a person of importance brought her nothing but skin-crawling jitters laced with an audibly racing heart, and while she was questioning her decisions—there was no other way to go about her goal for someone as reserved as she is.

restless footsteps gather and march along every corner of the studio, her curious pair of gleaming, dark hazels watching their every move with anticipation. succinct instructions were declared, followed by focused pairs of eyes watching her take a deep breath through the lens—hands over her chest. "and we're rolling in three, two, one... action!"

gently tipping her head to the side, her slim fingers flutter in front of the cameras with a pink-glossed smile enough to disarm an army of thousands, "hiya, i'm dove! not cameron or the soap bar, but your dove!" a soft chuckle escapes her lips, her raised hand now resting against her cheek to gesture a secret about to be spilled, "fancy knowing why i named myself such? you better listen carefully! this is a historical moment on television!" in that moment, she shares a knowing glance with one of the stylists—causing her to shake her head in utter disbelief and growing embarrassment.

the young bachelorette straightens her posture, now finding comfort in the center stage as she glazes her hands mid-air to the motion of a rainbow, "so you see, on my way here, all i wanted was a peaceful moment of my arrival but a little chirping friend decided otherwise! as i was getting out of the car, i felt something sticky land on my hair and god forbid, it wasn't unwashed shampoo but—" she pauses, clasping her hands to a fist with a deathly sarcastic grin on her face, "pigeon poop! lovely, isn't it? definitely what i needed for a poorfect day!" she tucks a strand of her locks behind her ear, pursing her lips for a moment after catching a glimpse of some staff members holding themselves back from laughing. "now you're probably saying a pigeon isn't a dove, but did you know that they belong to the same family of birds? google can back me up!" she points to the camera in a joking accusation. "so as the better sibling of said family, i've named myself dove to bring nothing but joy to the people around me and hopefully, set myself free from the unwanted disturbances of a pigeon. like any day, there's a silver lining. while i'm not one to believe in myths, is it true that getting—" she releases her hands from one another to do air quotes, "'dropped on' signifies good luck? we'll see! please don't try this with your siblings."

when met with the next question, it took the woman a few minutes to think of an answer. she clasps her hands loosely, letting her chin rest on top while in deep thought. humming softly, she casually reveals, "i'm looking for a fitting bachelor who will make my mom and her facebook friends stop from hounding me with the: when are you getting married? query. no offense, mom! love you all, aunties!" she smiles sheepishly, lightly patting her cheeks to calm herself down. "as someone who rarely pushes herself to interact with people, especially strangers, i'm here on a journey to put myself out there in the most exhilarating way possible! i'm someone who prefers to keep to herself on most days, so to discover likeminded individuals i can share bits and pieces of myself with while discovering unearthed parts of myself in the process sounds like a plan, doesn't it?"

a hopeful gaze lands on the lens in front of her, its hollow opening a tempting invitation to open her heart and her mind to endless possibilities that await. "news flash! i've never dated my whole life, so we're treading on a tightrope here to meet my endgame. that's not to say i've never fallen in love or how you'd like to call it, but i've never crossed beyond that line; this is my first, and hopefully my last." her cheeks turn into a bright shade of red, and she fans herself with her hands in response. "a person i could share my firsts with... that's not too much to ask, is it? this isn't considered a red flag, right?"

"woah, friends, i'm opening up in public... kinda inappropriate to be this bare," she laughs her heart out, swaying her torso from side to side to exude excitement. "if there's anything i need to warn you about, i might just be on the job to be this show's comedic relief. please proceed with caution, and lungs, hopefully. that is, if you'll still have them by the end of it all. keeping everyone's spirits high is my love lunguage, after all. keep an eye out and remember to live, laugh, dove!"

prompting the end of her set, the woman stared into nothingness in disbelief and amazement. after all, it was the longest she's spoken in public without being a sobbing mess. as she stood, she bowed towards the staff, her chirpy voice echoing in the studio, "well, that was fun! now, i'm off to hibernate for another century. thank you, everyone for your hard work!"

as he entered the interview area, his enthusiasm was palpable, but so was his slight clumsiness. he managed to trip over the edge of the entrance carpet, catching himself with a quick stumble before regaining his composure with an embarrassed chuckle. the crew members, amused by his lighthearted reaction, exchanged smiles as he made his way to the designated seat, his cheeks still tinted with a faint blush from the minor mishap.

"whoops, off to a great start," he quipped to the crew, his voice carrying a playful tone. flashing a sheepish grin, he adjusted his posture, ready to dive into the interview despite the initial stumble. despite the small mishap, his energy remained infectious, and he was ready to tackle the interview head-on.

"hey there, i'm panda," he introduced himself with a friendly smile, the earlier stumble already turning into a humorous anecdote in his mind. "i chose panda because, well, i resonate deeply with their love for sleeping. if there's one thing i excel at, it's finding the cosiest spot for a good nap!"

"as for funny quirks," he continued, his eyes reflecting a mix of excitement and nervousness, "i have this knack for turning almost any situation into a pun-fest. i can't help it; humour is a big part of who i am." the camera panned to capture his animated expression as he talked about his quirks, highlighting his playful nature and ability to find humour in everyday moments.

"what i'm hoping to find on the show is a genuine connection," he explained, leaning forward slightly. "i'm ready to meet someone who shares my passion for adventure, someone who appreciates the simple joys in life and isn't afraid to be themselves."

when asked about being ready to be engaged, he nodded affirmatively, his smile growing a touch wider. "absolutely, if i meet someone special and we're both on the same page about our future, i'm definitely ready to take that next step."

as the interview wrapped up, he felt a sense of accomplishment. he had taken a step outside his comfort zone and was excited about the adventure and potential connections awaiting him on the show.

Heart thumping. Cold sweat slides down on the back of his neck as he stared at the cameras in front of him, clearly not used to something like this. Why did he end up in this show again? Well, he would have to answer that question later on as well.

"Camera roll! We'll start recording at.....3....2...1! Go!"

The shouting from the producer snapped him out of his daydream; albeit his posture was still slightly awkward, he lifted his hand as a little greeting towards the camera, a soft shy smile on his face as he looked at the camera while the producer asked him the question that probably being asked to the other contestants as well.

"Um... hello. My alias is Hawk. And why the animal? Well, you see, I always love a hawk. I think it's very majestic and regal when you look at them flying up in the sky. And not to mention I like the Hawkeye character from Marvel studio, aside from Spiderman hahaha. He has sharp eyes, and I hope I can be as sharp in catching attention. Good attention, of course." He quickly added with a little laugh. 'Oh come on, let's not sound too geeky now...' he mentally chided himself, but luckily the rest of the production crews were kind enough to laugh along with him before giving him the second question.

"What I hope eh..." He took several moments to ponder, while it is true that he didn't enter the show voluntarily, but his friends signed him up for it, there was a part of him that feel excited about this whole thing and how it would turn out. "I hope to make good friends, for a start. Someone outside my old circle of friendships or outside workplace. I love you guys, really, but I think it's time for me to spread my wings and fly, no?" He winked at the camera; another laughter followed up soon after. "But yeah, aside from good friends, I think it would be nice if I really find someone to settle down with? Not necessarily straight to the wedding, but as lovers. It's been quite a while since my last relationship too. As for my funny quirks... I think I have a pretty good sense of humor? Although sometimes it would be a straight dad jokes but hey, if they laugh, it's what counts, right? hahaha."

Now visibly more relaxed than before, the jokes came out more freely compared to the start of the introduction recording and honestly, he was glad that everyone gave him such a good reaction. "What makes me a good bachelor... Hmm... I am a handsome lad? hahaha and also I'm financially stable too. I paid attention to details and good at remembering things, so you can expect me to never miss any important dates. It's kind of embarrassing to brag so, I think our dear viewers can judge when they see me what kind of a person I am. Just don't be too harsh on me hehe."

The question about getting engaged, however, caught him off guard. But without missing a beat, he answered confidently. "Yes, if my partner wants it too, I see why not? I plan on having a long-term relationship anyway, so hopefully even until we both grey and old, surrounded by our grandchildren... haha that must sounds so corny right? But I hope through this program, I can find my perfect one. I might be not her first, but I shall be her last."

The camera kept rolling for another few second before the producer announced the end of the introduction. Sighing in relief, he stood up and bowed to the crew while thanking them then made his way out of the recording room. He hoped that he made at least a good impression for everyone.

he had made a last minute decision to paint his nails for the first interview, where all the viewers watching the show would be seeing him for the first time as a contestant—but sitting down in the chair in front of the camera, he wasn't sure it was the best choice to make. after all, it lended a bit more to the morbid stereotype his occupation often offered him.

"hello there, i—um—you can call me raven." he brought a hand up to tuck a stray lock of coloured hair behind his ear before the corner of his lips quirked up in a slight moment of amusement. "yes, like dc comics raven. she's not why i chose this name though, it's just—it's an inside joke with all of my coworkers, actually. goes along with my job, and—i can't really say more than that, but yeah."

cheeks flushing a bright red he was sure was visible through the makeup the stylists had done on him, he ducked his head before remembering to lift his chin back up so he could look into the camera. it wouldn't do good to be too shy for the cameras rolling—this was a television show after all, and they didn't need to see a grown man stammering his words like a child just learning how to speak.

"i'm a romantic at heart. i was born for it, which is another joke i can't really explain—anyway, i just—" at this, he cleared his throat before shifting in his seat, closing his eyes to centre himself for a second before opening them once again. he was charming, he had facial features that all of his former lovers had commented on appraisingly, there was no reason for him to be shy, was there?

"i'm ready to settle down. i'm ready to meet the love of my life, get married, and have a family. whether it's with children of our own or a few pets, doesn't matter to me. i'm ready to spend the rest of my life loving someone and being loved in return." straightening up in his seat, he smiled brightly at the camera, bringing his hands up to frame the bottom of his face cutely before he slumped with a loud groan. "oh no, that was too cheesy wasn't it?"

if there was any easier way to summarise just how this female contestant perceived life, then she would simply say— life is like a movie. each memory, each experience told in the form of an ever-evolving story swept in a myriad of genres under the producer of fate. but lucky for her, this time she would be in control.

had there been any solution to steer her rocky love life into submission, then this would be it, and she would make sure of it. (now.. if only she could stop being so fascinated by every camera she spots enough to introduce herself.) in time, however, the contestant eventually sits back with a beaming smile to greet, and a honeyed gaze of warmth to match.

“heeey, it’s tigs! why the name you ask? well, it’s cute, don’t you think?” with both arms crossing against her chest in rather comical timing, she’s cheekily narrowing her eyes at the camera before breaking out into a soft chuckle. “in all seriousness, i just thought it would suit me best so i figured, why not. i’m here, i’ve got my claws out, and i’m ready to stay on the prowl for what’s meant for me!”

“as for what or who that might be? honesty, i can’t say i’m 100% sure. but all i know is, once i’ve got my eyes set, just know i’ll be going in for the kill.. with kindness, of course. i promise, i’m nice!” with her fingers curled into makeshift claws, out rolls a soft rawr, followed by the gentle crinkle of her nose as she continues o smile with excitement practically brimming through every fibre of her being for what adventures were sure to come. “please look out for me well!”

“Ahh ahhh, ahem. ah- wait did it start already?” The male contestant asked as a sheepish grin stretched across his lips. Embarrassing. He was already making a fool of himself a couple seconds in to stepping foot on set. Maybe he wasn’t meant for reality tv. Or maybe that was what made him perfect for it. After rubbing his neck in embarrassment, he sat up, smiling into the camera. “Hello everyone. I’m Blinded Mouse and I’m ready to meet my forever.” His eyes shifted towards the cameraman who motioned him to keep going. “W-Why I chose this animal? Ahh people often underestimate mice a lot. They’re tiny and often misunderstood to be dirty, but are highly intelligent animals, mentally and emotionally. I want to show my future husband or wife that despite what people think or say, I’ll have their back 100%. I’m in your corner. I’ll protect you,” he smiled, cheesing at the camera.

“Are you dirty, though?” The production crew behind the camera echoed.

“No! I mean, no, I shower every single day, I promise. I also got my rabies shot that one time a dog bit me. I’m perfectly healthy,” the mouse rambled a little as his hands motioned with every word. “So you’ll never wake up to empty shampoo and conditioner bottles. Toothpaste? You won’t have to cut the tube just to get the last bit of toothpaste out. Hm? What I’m looking for? Mmm… My best friend. My soulmate. My other half. I want someone who matches my energy and someone who is also able to wind down with me. Someone who loves to eat and try new things. I’m ready to find you and ready to be your forever.” The camera remained rolling as he sat there silently for a moment before he lifted up his fingers slowly, making a heart to which the production crew bursted out laughing, cutting the cameras.

//entering the room, she smiles widely, one hand lifted to wave at the crew. a few quick, short strides through the room before she takes a seat on the provided couch, giving one last wave, this time into the camera, the smile remaining on her lips throughout//
hi! i'm pika! nice to meet you! please treat me kindly. uhm...right! the reason why i chose a pika is...they're small, adorable little critters. i've seen a couple videos of them and immediately fell in love with those tiny creatures. especially the squeaky sounds they make! so adorable! did you know they belong to the same family as rabbits? even though their ears make them look more like a mouse. so cute, right? my goal is to one day see one in the wild! oh and also, i love pikachu, so that's another reason why.
//she chuckles, her smile soon turning sheepish//
sorry, i got a little off track. as for what i am hoping to find here on the show...i'm a romantic at heart so ideally? my soulmate, my best friend for life. someone who just gets me and loves and accepts me as i am. someone who will bring out the best in me, who challenges me to become better. someone who is affectionate and loves to receive affection as well. someone i can picture a future with. though i'm also happy enough with just making some friends here along the way...
//trailing off at the end of the sentence, she looks off into the distance as if in thought before focusing back on the little red lamp of the camera//
i'm not really sure if i'm a good bachelorette or not. but i think i'm a pretty decent person, both pretty and decent. some people say i can be a little bit...too much? like i think you can already tell that i'm a little more talkative, overly excited, pretty self-confident, someone even said too honest. but i don't think they're all necessarily bad things. I just think that it's important to express yourself and your thoughts. i'd rather heads and talk about things to find a solution than to stay quiet just to keep the peace. honesty is very important to me! so...even if i seem a bit overwhelming at first, i hope people can look past that first impression and see other sides of me as well. i promise, it'll always be a fun time when you're with me!
//grinning widely into the camera, she winks at the audience//
lastly....as for a fun quirk about me....i think you'll just have to watch the show to find out! hehe! thank you for watching my introduction, i'll see you on the show soon, okay? until then, i hope everyone's having a fantastic day! bye bye!

I swear I didn’t know that this would be our alias! (waves hand in front of me in protest)

production crew: it was in the contract…

you see… I promise you I think I read it and it wasn’t there… anyways. (looks back at the camera) geoduck here… when I was applying to blinded, I saw a geoduck video on tiktok and fell into a rabbit hole. I put it in my application as a joke and here we are… haha.

am I ready to get married? (long pause) I guess so. are they ready for me, is the question. I’m a handful for sure, but I hope my future soulmate will be able to handle me and will be looking forward to a future of fun and thrills. I’ll make sure that their smile never falters and that the only time they’ll cry is when they’re laughing too hard. look forward to it!

hey, it's quokka. it's a pleasure to meet everyone and be here to potentially meet my partner and wife. i'm a chatterbox, so bear with me. i chose quokka because they just seem to be friendly and positive. that's the vibe i want to present to everyone. it's pretty cliche to say this, but i'm hoping to find genuine love. the kind of love that's present in a friend before a lover. it's easier to be friends with someone before building a facade of a persona while finding a partner. honesty is what i cherish most. some funny quirks about me? oh, boy. when I find an instant connection with someone, it's hard for me to shut up. prepare to be sick of me. i tend to daydream a lot, too. i'm a good bachelor because i'm attentive. i like to enable and indulge my partners to tell me about their passions and hobbies. i'm ready to be engaged, but is my future partner?