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]

Yeah, I wanna get as many bingos as I can.

[voreaciously]

[same hat]

Very well. Where shall we begin?

[bad_crowmance]

We could start from the bottom-right corner and work our way around.

[voreaciously]

Very well.

[she isn't certain if she'd rather go clockwise or counter-clockwise. She does not want to talk about her fears.

At all.]

Nicknames, then.

[bad_crowmance]

Let's see.... making a nickname out of "80H" isn't easy, so maybe not one involving your name..... "Babe" seems too generic.... How about Blue?

[ For her hair and eyes. ]

[voreaciously]

Blue is fine!

[she says it a little quickly.]

[bad_crowmance]

Are you.... sure about that?

[ That sure was a quick response. ]

[voreaciously]

Yes. Blue is fine. Unless you feel strongly about something else you cannot take it back.

[bad_crowmance]

No, I'll stick with that...?

[ He really feels like he's missing something here. ]

[voreaciously]

I have had worse suggestions made around me, so really "Blue" is very fine.

[bad_crowmance]

Alright... Anyway, you should probably pick a nickname too.

[voreaciously]

[she is thinking about this.


really thinking about it.

She runs through possibilities--Yata, Goku, Sterling, Loki--but she settles on--]

...Yuki.

[bad_crowmance]

Yuki? Does it mean something?

[ His tone's curious— he's actually interested! It's clear she put a lot of thought into the name. ]

[voreaciously]

A lot of things, actually, depending on how it is written. but the meaning I had in mind is "snow".

[bad_crowmance]

Sounds like a good nickname then.

[voreaciously]

[!

that sounds like a praise that sounds like a praise!!]

A-ah, if you are sure...then I am glad.

[bad_crowmance]

[ It's definitely praise. ]

I'm sure. So, our next options for square, depending on which direction we wanna go, are either "give a kiss" or "talk about a fear." Lady's choice!

[voreaciously]

[god she REALLY REALLY DOES NOT WANT TO TALK ABOUT FEARS BUT

she hates losing she hates it]

A fear, then.

[it's best to just rush through it. but it's a piece of herself that she hasn't readily admitted. she doesn't tell anyone anything. she doesn't even know if kat--if Marigold knows these things about her so.

There are so many to choose.]

...I do not want to lose my eyes.

[her tone is even she tries to keep it unaffected, but it is slightly quieter than usual.]

[bad_crowmance]

....A fear. Alright.

[ He isn't going to acknowledge what she said, won't make it harder for her than it already is-- and he can tell it was very difficult, with the quiet tones she murmurs the words in. This is her fear, and he'll respect that with one of his own rather than trying to give platitudes that won't mean anything. ]

....I don't want to die.

[voreaciously]

[he did not prod at it and she is grateful for that. she will do him the same courtesy, but a part of her cannot help but be bitterly amused.

At herself.

Death, is it?]

...A pinky promise? What is that?

[she's glad for her ignorance, it gives her something to focus on.]

[bad_crowmance]

[ Look, memories are gonna happen one day and that fear is gonna be bitterly fucking ironic to himself. ]

It's when you make a promise and hook pinkies together to shake on it. It's supposed to be a solemn vow.... usually among kids.

[voreaciously]

[fucking rip. literally]

Oh, I see.

[that would explain a lot]

The little finger is quite an important one, so that makes sense.

[she dumb]

[bad_crowmance]

[ He holds out his pinky finger. ]

I promise not to tease you for not knowing about that.

[ No one said this promise had to be fucking serious. ]

[voreaciously]

O-oh. I suppose it really is a common thing then, isn't it....

[...

but he says he won't tease her about it so there is that.]

Ah, very well, then.

[bad_crowmance]

[ He hooks his pink with hers and shakes their hands up and down. ]

You gotta complete the whole thing.