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

LOOOOOL you're lucky i left

[voreaciously]

[crow like why do you have a brain.]

Oh, have I not?

[she seems surprised.]

HONESTLY I AM

[bad_crowmance]

[ Because the Goddess saw fit to grant him with an overabundance of gifts. Strong, handsome, and smart.

Also, he totally doesn't believe that innocent tone but he won't call her out on it. Yet. ]

You didn't! And I'd hate for you to miss out on a square by accident.

[ "Accident." ]

[voreaciously]

[she resists the urge to tut.]

Yes, that would be awful.

[she does want to win, after all, but this square...]

Very well.

[she thinks.



and she thinks.






and she thinks.

She starts and stops a couple of times, actually.]

I have never been late--[no, not quite right, she has been too late for some things]--for an appointment.

[YEAH #NAILEDIT]

[bad_crowmance]

I'm guessing your own attractive face isn't that high on your list.

[voreaciously]

[she pauses like, give her a moment. she's not judging him or anything it just takes her time to arrive.

oh, wait--he is serious?]

...Not particularly, no.

[she says it slowly, carefully, like she's waiting for him to interject with something.]

[bad_crowmance]

It's too bad, you're really hot. Wanna go for the next square now?

[voreaciously]

Thank you. And yes, please.

[her voice is polite and a little confused before she comes to some sort of internal acceptance.

That he is obviously mistaken, but lets not dwell.]

I aspire to become a capable sorceress.

[bad_crowmance]

[ She's the one that's wrong, but he figures she's got her reasons for being blind to how hot she is and he's not interested in prying. ]

Mine's to get my memories back.

[ Just because it's obvious doesn't mean it won't count. ]

[voreaciously]

Understandably.

[that's all there is to say on that. she gets it.]

Teaching skills...?

[hm.]

[bad_crowmance]

[ Hmmm. ]

I could... teach you how to shoot if we go someplace with less people.

[voreaciously]

With what?

[that's interesting, potentially.]

[bad_crowmance]

[ He reaches at his sides and pulls out a a pair of guns. Were those there before? Shhh don't worry about it. ]

With these!

[voreaciously]

How did you do that?

[THEY WEREN'T THERE BEFORE!]

Were they in some kind of other space?

[bad_crowmance]

Hmmm? I just sort of...

[ He puts them back at his sides and they disappear. ]

Took 'em out?

[ He does it again. ]

Why, where do you put your weapons?

[voreaciously]

[YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO YOOOOOOOOOOOO???

what the fuck

she is just walking from side to side and circles him once, eyebrows high and her chin cradled between her fingers.]

Fascinating. Oh, mine? That is complicated. It depends on the weapon.

[bad_crowmance]

Okay, let's go with whatever you use most often.

[voreaciously]

[still complicated, so she skips ahead and simply gives him an answer.]

...My tactical support units managed my inventory.

[bad_crowmance]

Tactical support units?

[voreaciously]

Yes, they assist me in combat among other functions.

[and nag her and judge her life choices.]

They are surprisingly obstinate, but reliable.

[...she misses them, actually. that's what's surprising.]

[bad_crowmance]

I take it they didn't make it here with you?

[ Mainly because he hasn't seen them with her. ]

[voreaciously]

No. I have lost a lot of things in coming here. I may be able to purchase them, we shall see.

[she shrugs a shoulder elegantly. either she will succeed or she will not. she will deal with it (or not) when that time comes.

but...she does hope she can get them.]

At any rate, are you certain you want to teach me that with your own weapons?

[bad_crowmance]

Sure, why not? I doubt you'd screw up so badly you'd break 'em and if you did, I'd ask you to replace it.

[voreaciously]

No, not that!

[she sounds a little mortified]

I mean that weapons are often personal for people.

[bad_crowmance]

It is, but I don't mind letting you handle my gun for a little while.

[ He winks at her. ]

[voreaciously]

[she's a little pink despite herself]

That sounds entirely inappropriate when you put it like that. [small exhale]

Very well. As for me...

[goodness what can she teach him.]

Is there something you have a preference for?