Mingle for ten minutes

Everyone get into first impression mode talking with each other. The ladies trying to see who matches their energy the best. The men trying to see who is the easiest or who they want to get with.

Jackson's eyes are locked on Mia. He practically materializes at her side. "Well now," he drawls, a lazy grin spreading across his face. "Ain't you a breath of fresh country air. I'm Jackson."

Mia throws her head back and laughs, a loud, uninhibited sound. "Mia. And you look like you know how to have a good time." Her eyes gleam. "How about you and your friends form a committee and help me with a... project I have for tonight?"

Adriana, meanwhile, has already made a beeline for Matt, her steps precise and calculated. "Adriana," she says, offering her hand. "I have a feeling we're the only two people in this room who understand that this is a game. One that requires... strategy."

Matt's smile is thin, but genuine for the first time all night. "Matt," he replies, taking her hand. "I couldn't agree more. An alliance could be... mutually beneficial." They immediately form a bubble of quiet, intense conversation.

Deshawn, true to form, floats between groups. He ends up near Sky, offering her a charming, easy smile. "Hey there. I'm Deshawn. This whole thing is a little crazy, huh?"

Sky's smile is soft and appreciative. "Sky. Yeah, a little. It's nice to meet a guy who doesn't look like he's about to sell me a car or... try to start a train." She subtly nods toward Mia and the rapidly growing horny Jackson.

Across the room, Chad has cornered Rae. He doesn't say much at first, just lets her feel the weight of his gaze. She nervously tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, looking anywhere but at him.

"Those are beautiful," he says, his voice low as he gently, unexpectedly, traces the line of a peony tattoo on her forearm. His touch is light, almost reverent. "Do they have meaning?"

Rae jumps slightly, her cheeks flushing. "Oh! Uh, yeah. My mom... she loved peonies." Her voice is a near-whisper. "I'm Rae."

He just smiles, a slow, devastatingly handsome thing that makes her blush deepen. "I know. I'm Chad."

And then there's you, John. You find yourself standing alone for a moment, the battlefield of mingling egos spread out before you. You see Mia's challenge, hear Adriana's and Matt's whispered scheming, witness Chad's effortless conquest. A moment of decision hangs in the air.