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

[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?

[bad_crowmance]

[ He smiles, the very picture of mock-innocence. ]

I can't imagine what you're talking about.

[ That's a lie. ]

And nah, I'm interested to see what you'd pick.

[voreaciously]

Certainly not.

[that makes her a little anxious actually even if she tries to hide it. She is nearly overwhelmed with options and possibilities. Perhaps a dish? Would he even care about that? First aid is practical and useful so perhaps that, but what if she could do even better?]

...Perhaps to braid a girl's hair? [no that's fumb] Or perhaps how to filter water in the wild?

[that sounds better]