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]

[No bully!]

Ahh, well...it is fine.

[She starts to take a step, but then realises oh right she is nearly taken and washes and dries herself with her magic before slipping her stockings and boots on, then her dress and gloves. She undoes her hair a little before adjusting it--it's never been all the way down that he's seen--and decides she is satisfied.]

...A swimsuit may be ideal....

[bad_crowmance]

[ 80H is banging the wrong guy if she doesn't want to be bullied.

While she's getting dressed, he's putting his shoes back on and adjusting his clothing slightly, making sure it's neater and less rumpled. He's ready a bit quicker than she is, but that's to be expected and he really doesn't mind. ]

I bet you'd look great in a bikini.

[voreaciously]

[Gothic lolita takes some time. But she is pretty prompt in spite of everything.

God she misses her pods, they made dressing easier and faster.]

Bikinis are very revealing, Crow-san! No modesty at all.

[bad_crowmance]

Well.... Yeah.

[ That's the entire point??? ]

It'd show off all~ your curves! Man, I'd love to see that. Bikinis are definitely sexy.

[voreaciously]

You really are red-blooded.

[Listen.]

Something should be left to the imagination, a little.

[bad_crowmance]

Look... you said you're an android, right? So someone had to have designed that body. It's their work of art! And it should be appreciated. A bikini would be a great way to appreciate it.

[voreaciously]

[she's dying inside and he doesn't know. CAN NEVER KNOW. for as long as she can help it.

There is so much embarrassing irony at "someone designed this body" that wants to be screamed out, but she swallows it. It is a challenge, but she does.]

The true works of art are my internals. [Wait, that might still sound bad.] That is to say my structure, processing power, capabilities. The shell is...

[Lewd. Very lewd.]

Not very slight. Not feminine enough.

[bad_crowmance]

[ "Not feminine enough." ]

[ ... ]

[ ....Not.... feminine enough?

Crow blinks at her in confusion for a moment, then takes a long moment to check her out, his eyes following the lines of her curves. Curves that are only enhanced by that sexy little outfit she's wearing. His eyes slowly move back upwards, lingering on her lovely breasts before he looks back at her face.

Nope. Still confused. ]

Just.... what definition of "feminine" are you using, exactly?

[voreaciously]

[She watches him watch her, calmly curious. Is he looking for something? She wonders.]

...Ah, slighter, smaller. Daintier seeming, sometimes. Less...overt.

[bad_crowmance]

Let me assure you that "lusciously curved"--

[ He gestures with his hands in an exaggerated hourglass figure. ]

--is definitely considered feminine in my book. I wouldn't be surprised if more than one woman wished she had a body as nice as yours.

[voreaciously]

[That seems...



Very fake.]

Perhaps different ideas of femininity, then.

[bad_crowmance]

"I don't believe you, Crow." There, I said it for you.

[ He shrugs. ]

You know I wouldn't have wanted to fuck you in the first place if you weren't attractive, right? I seriously don't understand how you can stand there with a straight face and say you're "unfeminine."

[voreaciously]

[Goddamnit Crow don't see through her.

But he is right, she does not believe him, but she is trying to be careful so she gently presses the point.]

Well, people do have different ideas of it, as we have both just explained.

[She keeps her tone light, like it does not matter. Because, really, how she sees herself really does not.]

What is your type, incidentally?

[bad_crowmance]

[ He could keep arguing the case but he really doesn't want to. If she doesn't want to listen, that's her business. It has nothing to do with him in the end.

That said, he'll take the topic change. ]

"My type," huh...? I don't think I have just one. I guess I'm a fan of big breasts and pretty faces.

[voreaciously]

[Well, that is one out of two at least. But she's not dumb enough to say that aloud.]

I suppose I cannot say that I am surprised.

[But as they return to the train she ponders something.]

Did you wish to come to Jasmine?

[bad_crowmance]

Yeah, I don't think I've been subtle.

[ He shakes his head, amused. ]

Anyway, that's the kitchen you're used to, right? It'd make the most sense.

[voreaciously]

No, I suppose not.

[She rolls her eyes behind her blindfold but remembers he can't see that.]

I do cook in the communal area as well. Whatever your preference is is fine with me.

[bad_crowmance]

[ Maybe don't wear the blindfold, 80H? ]

Let's hit up Jasmine, then. I'm curious what kind of decorating scheme you guys got stuck with.

[voreaciously]

[but it's mysterious and nice.]

The best one. It needs more plants, however. Everywhere does.

[She does not hesitate and leads him there where it's UNDER THE SEA]

[bad_crowmance]

I didn't know you felt that strongly about plants.

[ He will follow her, then! ]

[voreaciously]

It is not simply that I feel strongly it is that... [She pauses, gropes for words to express it.]

Imagine living in a world with no sky after living that way most of your life. Something is fundamentally different, missing, even if you are not personally attached. It is like that.

[bad_crowmance]

[ He considers what she's saying for a moment. ]

So you're used to there being a lot more plants around-- is that it?

[voreaciously]

They were everywhere. They grew along the walls, in homes, outside buildings, as part of the infrastructure, to say nothing of whatever else people kept or themselves.

[bad_crowmance]

[ Yikes, that is a lot of plants. Possibly way too many plants. But he won't say that out loud. ]

So everything here must seem really... sterile to you.

[voreaciously]

Yes. There is a time and place for sterility but I would not apply that to the whole of the world. [She's fine with talking about it, but she does not want to be a poor host.]

Tea? Coffee?