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

[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.

[desirestruth]

None whatsoever?

[bad_crowmance]

None whatsoever! It's a useless feeling and I have no desire to indulge it.

[desirestruth]

I suppose it's fair. It's not easy to discard for those of us born with it, so have a little pity for us imperfect mortals?

[She's teasing him. Mostly.]

[bad_crowmance]

I can spare some sympathy for those with an overly developed sense of it.

[ What he doesn't know is this: It's possible for him to feel shame, it's just.... really hard to trigger it. ]

[desirestruth]

[One day, Naeva will have her vengeance.]

Oh, how magnanimous!

[bad_crowmance]

[ Good luck, Naeva. ]

I do try. For the sake of the less fortunate!

[desirestruth]

[She snorts, but she's looking over the card again.]

...I need trust fall and nicknames to make a line. I'll let you pick.

[She's easy to catch, but she's worried about catching other people, tbh...]

[bad_crowmance]

[ He barely even considers that. ]

Nicknames! ....I could call you "N."

[desirestruth]

With just one letter, little brother? Really?

[Did you expect her not to pick the absolutely most obnoxious one she could think of?]

[bad_crowmance]

...."Little brother?" Really?

[desirestruth]

No one said we had to keep using these after today.

[He reminds her of her twin, but she is very certain he's younger than her.]

And you're definitely not older than me.

[bad_crowmance]

I don't really think of myself as the "little brother" type, but fine. For today... N.

[desirestruth]

It's your turn to pick a square, little brother.

[They're gonna irritate the fuck out of each other all day.]