The Zoom grid updated, and Wilbur Soot’s face filled the screen. He sat in front of a warm, dimly lit background, wearing a knitted sweater, adjusted his round glasses, and offered a calm, slightly charming smile to the camera.

"Good evening, everyone," Wilbur said, his voice deep and smooth as he leaned into his high-quality microphone. "Welcome to the show. Chat, please be on your best behavior tonight. We have an absolutely wonderful group of people here, and I'd like to actually make a good impression for once."

Austin Show’s frame lit up right next to him, his loud, energetic game-show voice immediately shifting the tone."

Welcome back to Love or Host, everybody!" Austin announced, gesturing smoothly toward his camera. "Tonight we are here with the musician, the orator, the one and only Wilbur Soot! Wilbur, you've got twelve incredible contestants waiting to get to know you, but remember—by the end of this first round, three of them are going home. Who are we starting with?"

Wilbur tilted his head, his eyes scanning the grid of contestants with a thoughtful, analytical gaze. Looking around the squares, the competition felt incredibly stiff. Several girls were popular influencers with flawless glam makeup, professional ring lights, and perfectly curated aesthetic backgrounds. Next to them, you felt a sudden rush of stage fright, wondering how your setup was going to catch his eye.

"Let's see," Wilbur murmured, resting his chin on his hand. His gaze finally settled on a girl in the middle row named Clara, who had a shelf full of vintage books and vinyl records behind her.

"Clara, hello," Wilbur said, his tone shifting into something a bit more theatrical. "Let's start with you. First question: If we were trapped in a classic British seaside town on a miserable, rainy Tuesday, what is the exact album we are putting on to pass the time? Choose wisely, because music is non-negotiable."

Austin let out a chuckle, leaning into his mic. "An absolute cultural test right out of the gate. Clara, the floor is yours."

As Clara smiled and took a breath to answer, the spotlight stayed off you for a few more moments, giving you a chance to lock in your strategy before Wilbur's sharp focus turns to your square.