The Ninth Trial

[advisories]

Who: everyone
When: Day 18, starting just after dawn
Where: The Hermit's Tent, and all around

[This morning as the sun begins to pour through the train's windows, there's the tremor that signals a Trial.]

Come hither, Heroes. Prove thy worth. Or something like that!

[It's the same older man's voice from the sixth trial, and outside is the same fortune teller's stall. Today the front flap is lifted to show a normal interior -- there's a wooden table, carved with geometric patterns and painted in bright colours, lit by teal-coloured carved candles.

At the table sits a man of indeterminate age, somewhere between 30 and 60. He's wearing what appear to be monk's robes, teal with patterned trimming. In front of him is a crystal ball and a stack of bingo cards, along with a stand-up sign bearing the rules of this Trial.

Across the top in large font, it says:

Icebreaker Bingo

Good luck and have fun!]

Comments

[bad_crowmance]

[ The still-present grin on his face is completely unrepentant. ]

Tell me how you fell in love!

[desirestruth]

[She actually flinches. Hard. About that landmine you just stepped on, Crow...]

...It happened over time. I didn't...I'd resigned myself to otherwise, but we...had a journey we had to make. I'd hoped we could at least become friends, since that would make marriage much easier. And I like to think we did succeed in that, at least.

But he is...reliable, and noble-hearted, and tempers ambition with sweetness and genuine compassion, where he can. There is no room in the world for a gentle King, but wherever he can be, he is.

[her expression and tone do soften there, a little wistful.] ...I suppose when I think about it like that, it's not surprising. But I wasn't prepared for it, and falling in love is a little similar to falling down the stairs. It is difficult to know how to handle it.

[bad_crowmance]

Haha, you make it sound dangerous!

[ He's absolutely convinced it's dangerous. ]

[desirestruth]

Everything worth anything is.

[He wouldn't be wrong.]

[bad_crowmance]

You're probably right there.

[desirestruth]

I know I am. Accept the wisdom of this old lady, Crow.

[But, since we're here, she eyes the card. And considers it.]

You may as well fill that one in with me.

[She won't be offended by the answer, is the implication.]

[bad_crowmance]

...My most important person, huh? Well... they're incredibly attractive, smart, funny, charming...

[desirestruth]

Silver-haired, red-eyed, and incorrigible?

[Yeah, she kind of expected this.]

[bad_crowmance]

[ He winks at her. ]

Got it in one!

[desirestruth]

You're awful.

[she laughs though, and shrugs it off. It's been six days. She doesn't really see anything wrong with him being what's most important to himself, anyway. But she's looking back over the card...]

...Some of these seem a little difficult to do unless we have access to the shop.

[bad_crowmance]

Most of 'em should be easy enough without. I'll let you pick the next square we do.

[desirestruth]

[She's considering this, and the card, for a long moment.]

Can you sing?

[bad_crowmance]

I'm probably not a professional but I can definitely carry a tune.

[desirestruth]

It's not like I'm a professional either. I'll go first, then.

[She giggles, and this is embarrassing, but she takes a breath, to sing, well...it sounds like a lullaby. It sounds a little like this, with a faint lisp from her fangs.

This may be throwing a gauntlet down.]

[bad_crowmance]

You have a really nice voice.

[ He considers for a moment, then he holds his hand to his chest and starts to sing. ]

[desirestruth]

Oh...!

[Well, she's patient and listens. She can appreciate the sound.]

You're pretty good, yourself.

[bad_crowmance]

[ He grins at that. ]

Told you I can carry a tune.

[desirestruth]

I never doubted you, Crow. Your turn to pick, then.

1/3

[bad_crowmance]

[ He gives her a considering look for a moment..... ]

[bad_crowmance]

[ Then dips in and kisses her on the--- ]

[bad_crowmance]

[ --cheek! ]

[desirestruth]

[A wise decision. She would have bitten him. But as it is, she just giggles a little, and returns it with a kiss to the forehead, even if she has to lean up a bit to do that.]

I should have seen that coming.

[bad_crowmance]

[ Look, despite appearances sometimes Crow isn't actually stupid. He values his life too much to kiss Naeva on the lips. ]

You should have!

[desirestruth]

[Self-preservation instinct is a rare thing in jrpg characters. Treasure it, Crow.]

You really are shameless, huh?

[bad_crowmance]

[ Look, Trails of Cold Steel has Rean Schwarzer, someone had to have some self-preservation. ]

Completely! I have no use for shame.