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]

[ He's definitely not petting her and also not going for anywhere that isn't the shoulders or neck. He's getting to work on those knots, slowly loosening them up as he does. ]

You're not comfortable?

[desirestruth]

...I'm not used to being touched.

['By most people' goes unsaid. She doesn't need to paint that kind of target on herself when she's sure he can figure that out himself.]

[bad_crowmance]

[ He considers that for a moment and then--- ah. That does make sense, doesn't it? ]

If you'd prefer, we can skip this square.

[desirestruth]

Too late now, isn't it?

[It wouldn't be fair.]

[bad_crowmance]

Of course not! We can just hit up something else.

[desirestruth]

...Are you sure? That feels a little...uneven.

[bad_crowmance]

Don't worry about it.

[ He shoves his hands into his pockets. ]

But if you feel that bad about it, you can find a way to make it up later.

[desirestruth]

I forsee this ending with me giving you more whiskey.

[But, she'll stand back up then. She didn't actually expect she'd be let off the hook so easy.]

[bad_crowmance]

I won't lie, that was the first place my mind went.

[desirestruth]

Well, you won't run out anytime soon, then.

[bad_crowmance]

I won't complain about that.

[desirestruth]

I somehow thought you wouldn't.

[She does laugh a little.]

You should pick the next square, though.

[bad_crowmance]

Let's do a round or two of "wed, bed, or behead"!

[desirestruth]

...Alright, then. 80H, Eliza, and...[Pause.] Finn.

[bad_crowmance]

Hmmm.

[ He takes a moment to seriously consider that. ]

Wed Eliza, bed 80H, behead Finn.

[desirestruth]

Oh no. Poor Finn.

[She snickers a bit.] Eliza really is good marriage material though, isn't she?

[Like, seriously. She's engaged but she can recognize.]

[bad_crowmance]

Finn's a good guy, it's really a tragedy. But Eliza's definitely the kind of girl to work hard and bring in the money, so she'd be a great marriage choice.

[desirestruth]

Ohhh, in it just for the support, Crow?

[bad_crowmance]

Why else would I be getting married?

[desirestruth]

...For you, I can't see much other reasons, it's true.

[Shrug. There's no judgement to it. But he's clearly not in the market for love, and she doesn't think he comes off as the kind of person who'd have to consider politics...finances are a perfectly legitimate arrangement.]

[bad_crowmance]

Exactly! It'd work out pretty well that way.

[desirestruth]

As long as you both knew what you were getting into, at least.

[bad_crowmance]

Of course, I'm not a complete asshole.

[ His tone's amused, a grin playing on the corners of his lips. ]

[desirestruth]

No, of course not. You don't like opening up, but you're pretty honest about your intentions, right?

[This is an incredibly funny statement and Naeva will never know why.]

[bad_crowmance]

Heh! I could be subtle about 'em but I don't wanna.

[ He's going to ignore that part about him not liking opening up, thanks. ]