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]

Wow, I don't believe you at all.

[saddleclub]

Believe what you wish. I'm sure I have areas I could improve in but there's nothing I need to change.

[bad_crowmance]

[ He still! Doesn't! Believe you! ]

Guess that one's a bust, then. Let's go for honest compliments instead.

[saddleclub]

Hold on. Answer it yourself.

[bad_crowmance]

....You didn't answer it. Why should I?

[saddleclub]

I answered it fine. Just because it didn't meet your satisfaction is no reason to be petulant.

[bad_crowmance]

[ He shrugs and grins. ]

Heh! Fine, fine. Really, the only thing I'd change is the whole "not-having-my-memories" thing. It's pretty inconvenient!

[saddleclub]

Well, that's reasonable enough. It's certainly something I'd change about you as well.

[bad_crowmance]

Yeah, I'd bet knowing more about a guy than he does is pretty weird!

[saddleclub]

About as weird as the reverse, I'm sure.

[bad_crowmance]

[ He hates it, thanks! ]

It's pretty weird all right.

[saddleclub]

I'm sure it will come back with time.

[bad_crowmance]

Oh yeah, I'm definitely working on getting that done as soon as possible. I've already got a couple more tokens ready to go. Anyway!

[ He glances down at his bingo card to see what squares are available. He'd get a bingo if he went for trust falling, but there's absolutely no way he can bring himself to do those. "Play a prank" would also give him one, but unfortunately all of his ideas are too elaborate to pull off spur-of-the-moment. "Wed, bed, or behead" would be hilarious but he doesn't know who Jusis knows here, so that would make it harder. ]

...Wanna kiss?

[saddleclub]

...

Not really. But if we must.

[Such enthusiasm.]

[bad_crowmance]

You really know how to make a guy feel flattered, huh!

[ He sounds more amused than anything else. ]

I won't do it if you don't want to, you know.

[saddleclub]

I'm aware. And you must also realize I don't indulge in such things casually as a habit. However I do wish to win.

[bad_crowmance]

Yeah, yeah. I did get the idea during truth or dare. Tell you what, I'll even play nice this time.

[ He leans in and kisses Jusis on the cheek. ]

[saddleclub]

[He huffs, and even then gets a tiny bit red.]

You needn't treat me like a child, simply because I'm not a shameless playboy.

[bad_crowmance]

[ He raises both of his eyebrows at once. ]

...Is that a challenge?

[saddleclub]

[Bad idea Jusis! Back off!

....]

And if it were?

[He's not good at backing off.]

1/2

[bad_crowmance]

[ Jusis doesn't have amnesia and therefore should know better. ]

...Well then! In that case!

[bad_crowmance]

[ Crow moves in closer and dips his head down slightly to capture Jusis' lips in a kiss, moving his hand to the back of the other man's neck and resting it lightly there. And this is Crow and he doesn't know how to behave himself, so this is definitely not a chaste kiss. ]

[saddleclub]

[He knows better! He's just bad at backing off from a challenge! And now here they are. With his hands half lifted but just, staying half lifted, unsure where to put them for several moments before he drops then awkwardly back to his sides.

His lips are soft and his mouth is warm and while he has some idea what he's doing his confidence is more the "fake it til you make it" variety than any kind of vast experience. He's not trying to hold back in kissing back though. Because he really is bad at backing down.]

[bad_crowmance]

[ None of this is encouraging Crow to stop making out with Jusis, honestly. He's having fun! And surely if Jusis wasn't enjoying it he'd stop!

That or he's a gay disaster who is terrible at backing down. Crow thinks it might actually be that one.

Either way though, he keeps thoroughly kissing Jusis while he takes his free hand and grabs one of Jusis, placing it somewhat haphazardly on his ass. It's a good place for hands to go. ....Maybe he also wants to see if Jusis will get flustered. ]

[saddleclub]

[It's not like he isn't slowly getting into the taste and feel of Crow's mouth on his, or the play of tongues against each other. Rather, his heart is racing and he's a little bluescreen over it internally. A lot bluescreen maybe. He's very gay and a giant disaster.

Thankfully Crow startles him out of it and when his hand makes contact with Crow's ass he yanks it back and puts both hands on Crow's chest to shove him back.]

Th- that's quite enough.

[His voice is a little rough and his cheeks are red and his eyes are pointed sideways not looking at Crow directly, but he's also looking perturbed. His bitchy "I'm looking mad to hide that I'm really embarrassed" face.]