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

[desirestruth]

Yes. [She'll take the bag with a nod of gratitude.]

It's a little silly, but for something like this, I can't really complain.

[nihilmancy]

Quite. But hmm. I think... I'd rather get some of the difficult ones out of the way first. Um... it's only been a few days, but I feel like I can talk to you better now. Don't read too much into that, though.

[desirestruth]

Well, it's up to you what squares you'd like to clear, then.

[She's not going to comment on the other part. There's no need to. Friendship is happening.]

[nihilmancy]

I probably don't need to work too hard, since Crow seems to be quite busy. But I'd like to do my part. And I... well, I don't know.

[She wants to unburden herself.]

Ask me something, and I'll try to answer it.

[desirestruth]

...For your secrets, or your fears?

[She considers this.] Let's go with a secret, then.

[nihilmancy]

...I've tortured people to death. And enjoyed it. And I still don't regret it, because they deserved to die. The main reason I'm still alive is to pursue revenge.

[Well, that was heavy.]

[desirestruth]

[Naeva's quiet, for a very long while, and then--]

I had to kill and eat my mother.

[nihilmancy]

...I see. Um, also I was forced into murdering all of my friends, one by one, watching them cry and beg me to stop, but unable to do anything.

Haha, we took the cheer right out of the air, no?

[desirestruth]

Who keeps happy secrets? It is the way of things.

[nihilmancy]

No, they don't. Can... Can we hold each other? Just for a while.

[desirestruth]

I...

[She hesitates. She's not comfortable with touch, but...

There's a long second, and then, well, now there's a jackal there, where naeva was.]

It'll be easier this way. Just, um, just don't pet my ears.

[That'd be lewd.]

[nihilmancy]

...Sorry. It's strange that I'm okay with this, isn't it, despite being so closed off about everything else?

[Gently strokes, as tears come to her eyes.]

[desirestruth]

No, it's not.

[She huffs out one of those dog sighs, and just. leans gently against Hlasoh.]

There's nothing strange about it at all.

[nihilmancy]

[Holding the therapy doggo.]

That's why that game got me like that. It asked me to sacrifice a team member, and I did it, because she asked me to. I stabbed her with my own hands.

I... I really don't know why I'm telling you this. I'm a pathetic, broken husk now. I died long ago, but I just keep existing.

[desirestruth]

I died as a child. But...we're still here. As long as we exist, there is still meaning in that.

[It's okay, hug the therapy jackal. Let the grandma powers soothe you.]

I was born to make sacrifices. To be a sacrifice. I am sorry that your life has treated you much the same. But we're still here...nothing is over. It's not too late to change the course of fate ourselves. Perhaps these are nothing but empty words but...they are things I must believe in, myself.

[nihilmancy]

I don't know if I can believe in this words, but they are nice words.

[desirestruth]

Don't force yourself to try and believe anything. If they can be any kind of solace, that's good enough.

[nihilmancy]

Mm.

[She starts to cry in heaving broken sobs, but keeping it quiet so others in the room won't hear.]

[desirestruth]

[It's okay. Naeva will just sit here and allow Hlasoh to cry herself out. there's really not much more she could say, at this point.]

[nihilmancy]

[Continuing to pet the jackal, though. Eventually, she speaks in a hoarse voice.]

I'm sorry. That wasn't very dignified of me. And you had problems of your own.

[desirestruth]

I don't require you to be dignified, Hlasoh.

[She's not going to address the other point.]

[nihilmancy]

That's not it. I don't know what it is, though. I'm not even sure why I told you this so soon. Or asked you. But, thank you, regardless.

[desirestruth]

['Because you're lonely, Hlasoh.' No, let's not say that out loud.]

You're welcome.

[nihilmancy]

[Well, she is. She sniffles loudly, and lets the jackal go.]

Um, give me a moment.

[desirestruth]

Take your time. [She's going to change back, though, if Hlasoh's done with hugs for the moment.]