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]

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]

[bad_crowmance]

Oh, that water filtering option sounds cool!

[voreaciously]

Acceptable. We can return to that presently when we are outside. Shall we move on, then?

[bad_crowmance]

Sounds good to me. Let's go.

[voreaciously]

Where is best for your lesson, Crow-san?

[say the beach say the beach say the beach say the beach say the beach say the beach say the beach say the beach say the bea]

[bad_crowmance]

I'd say... probably the beach.

1/2

[voreaciously]

[!!!!!!!!!!!!]

2/2

[voreaciously]

[that reaction is totally inward she gotta be COOL BE COOL!!!]

Did you wish to race there?

[bad_crowmance]

[ On the one hand, 80H is a superstrong not-quite-human babe who will almost definitely beat him, and that's not much of a competition. On the other hand-- ]

Let's do it! Count of three.

[ --he's still a competitive asshole regardless. ]

[voreaciously]

One...two...

[She takes her position.]

[bad_crowmance]

[ He shifts into position as well as she's counting. ]

Three!

[ And he takes off! He's athletic and he's got long legs and pretty good endurance, but he's also got human limitations on his body. ]

[voreaciously]

[the way she runs as fast she does in those heels probably should be breaking some laws of physics BUT IT'S HAPPENING and she is off like a shot.

She does not look behind her, she only stares forward.


...

there's probably a moment where we can see up her skirt though as a consolation before she's just gone]

[bad_crowmance]

[ It's a pretty great consolation and he treasures that brief, glorious moment before he eats her dust entirely.

...Well, he knew that was coming! He still runs the rest of the way there, and he isn't even really out of breath by the time he gets there. He's just.... human. ]

[voreaciously]

[She arrives and the first thing she does is bend down to strip out of her boots and then the stockings so she can wade into the water. When Crow arrives she looks over her shoulder.]

Ah, that is some good endurance.

[bad_crowmance]

Endurance I've got. Looks like I'm nowhere near your speed, though.

[ He'll be keeping his boots on, but he watches her wading in the water. ]

[voreaciously]

One day, perhaps.

[it's not even her fastest fufu but she's not really thinking about that.

she really wants to swim, to sink, to let the waves carry her where they might. She stretches her arms above her head.

She's been awake for a while, but being here, in this element is where she feels her most aware.]

This place is different than when we first arrived.