The Sixth Trial

[hot_mess_express]

Who: unfortunate (?) souls
When: Day 15, afternoon
Where: some shady tent

Come hither, Heroes. Prove thy worth.

[Oh boy it's Trial time guys!!

That is to say there's the usual slight shake of the train, and outside a trial area appears! This time it's a highly decorated cloth tent, reminiscent of a fortune teller's stall, and the voice calling the heroes forth is a deep, aged and manly one. A warm light peeks out from behind the curtained entrance, welcoming you inside.

Those who go in, by their own will or compulsion, will find themselves in what seems to be a theatre lobby. There's a pretty, golden fountain with bench seating around it and lovely flickering oil lamps on the brocade walls.

For a little while, you're left to mingle.]

SIGNUPS ☆ PREGAME MINGLE ☆ RULES ☆ ROOMS ☆ WINNERS & ENDGAME

Comments

[howlsitgoin]

It was awful at first. But then it just kinda... felt natural.

[This is why he's staring.]

...I've been thinking. You lied to me, didn't you?

[cawnflict]

[ ... well. there's no point in continuing it. so he's giving him a placid smile and... ]

Yeah. Probably a few times, actually.

[howlsitgoin]

Specifically, I mean acting like you don't remember everything.

[cawnflict]

Yeah. When I woke up, I was concerned that I'd be singled out if others weren't remembering things but I was.

[howlsitgoin]

Okay. I get that. But I want you to tell me the truth.

[He's looking him right in the eyes, with all his usual earnest honesty.]

Why did I shoot you?

[cawnflict]

[ ... that look is hard. ]

You didn't like my forced takeover.

[howlsitgoin]

Takeover of what? I only remember one thing, but in that memory... you were a good person. I looked up to you! But it felt so familiar just now, saying all that. That you're on the wrong side... What happened to us?

[cawnflict]

... this is one of the reasons I didn't really want to remind you of anything. [ a pause. ] And if I told you what I remember last, you'll be even more confused.

[howlsitgoin]

I can't get more confused!

[He's so frustrated by it. And covered in fruit, which is wiping away his makeup as it drips down his face.]

Every time I look at you I feel like I'm missing something important. And I didn't want to know what that was, actually. Because-- Whatever it is, it hurts. But now it's like it's on the tip of my tongue or something... So I want to know. But I can't remember it fast enough even if I go turn in tokens right now. So just tell me already!

[cawnflict]

I'm not sure where to start.

[ that's almost like a challenge!

ciabatta doesn't... want to explain. it's hard when he's still dealing with his own emotions, even while he remembers them. he's just that bad at them.

what to say... this poor puppy. he's earnest and soft and he really can't say anything mean to him right now. ]

My ideals were too extreme. Because people like me were disliked by our society, I became the person who would do the dirty work in order to gain any control. I wanted to change everything at once, and in the end I became the exact type of person that was expected of me. Needless to say, you aren't the type of person to go along with that.

[howlsitgoin]

...So we really became enemies...

[He can believe it, because it feels right. But he can't understand it without perspective, when it hurts so much even without remembering.]

...But I don't hate you.

[cawnflict]

You probably should.

[ SIGHING. ]

But it's not like that was the end. Things were falling into place without the bloodshed I had believed to be necessary.

[howlsitgoin]

...How so?

[cawnflict]

I'm not doing all your work for you.

[ licking his thumb and now he's using it to smooth out a fruit tuft of fur that's been staring him in the eye. it's a good distraction. ]

Why are you believing me, anyway? I lied to you.

[howlsitgoin]

Because it also felt familiar when I kissed you.

[take THAT honesty to the face, you dumb bird]

[cawnflict]

[ you little shit. ]

Maybe to you! It was a lot different than how you tasted the last ti... me.

[ ah.


he's realising the dam kind of broke there.

ah..... oh. ]

[howlsitgoin]

[CAUGHT YOU RED-HANDED YOU CRIMINAL]

Oh, so we did make up!

[cawnflict]

[ tsking. ]

I still hate them. It's not like everything is immediately perfect. But you wanted to get along and I was open to it, even when you puked all over my home.

[howlsitgoin]

...Did I really...

[cawnflict]

Yes! And then you kissed me, promised a better one later, said some embarrassing things, fell asleep and then forgot everything!

[ he's surprising himself with that. he's had it bottled up for awhile. ]

[howlsitgoin]

Wh-- Then that was right before here?!

[cawnflict]

That's right. It's not your fault, but I was very annoyed at you regardless.

[ he is expressly bitter because of it, thanks. ]

[howlsitgoin]

Well I'll work on remembering now.

[Instead of. Putting it off.]

[cawnflict]

Don't get mad at me if you remember something from a long time ago instead of your confession.

[howlsitgoin]

I'll get mad if it's you doing something I should be mad about.