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]

You're really into this, aren't you?

[voreaciously]

Well, consider! [The answer is yes! Yes, she is! And she gestures idly with her chopsticks for emphasis.]

If someone or something suspects you unarmed, you could exploit that readily if you've skill enough. Of course, it is not foolproof and the strongest individuals can adapt, but it is not something to be discounted, either.

[Considering her own preferred fighting style, at times, that is particularly attractive.]

[bad_crowmance]

I've definitely got the skill.

[ And the confidence to back it up. ]

[voreaciously]

[Ah, did he remember that he could fight, then? Curious.]

If you face someone, I would like to see it.

[bad_crowmance]

[ He's remembered an entire dungeon's worth of fighting! It made for a pretty good crash course. ]

If it comes up, I'm sure you'll be able to.

[voreaciously]

So you have remembered. That is good.

[Ah, but she is nearly done her food...she could go for more, but that would probably not be ladylike. At any rate, she does not want Crow to know she's insatiable.]

[bad_crowmance]

[ He already knows she's insatiable— ]

Yeah, I remembered doing some fighting. It's why I picked up the guns-- since I know how to use them, keeping them around seemed like a good idea.

[voreaciously]

[FOOD insatiable.

She sips at her soup, delicately.]

A very good idea, in fact. It will very useful, to be certain. Considering.

[There are dangers in the jungle, but ah, he was not here on day one. That was wild.]

[bad_crowmance]

[ As far as food goes, Crow is significantly less insatiable, and the meal 80H made is plenty filling for him. ]

Yeah, I've heard it can be dangerous around here.... Kinda wish it would be!

[ He gets very Bored sometimes. ]

[voreaciously]

Go out into the wilds, you may find some light exercise there, depending, but it is nothing compared to the first day.

[bad_crowmance]

Oh yeah? What was the first day like?

[voreaciously]

Disorienting. Annoying. [Katsuki was here then, at least--]

The second day, the train was attacked by a gargantuan mutant dolphin, however. It was large enough to swallow the train. That proved interesting and somewhat challenging, in hindsight. [A beat.] It did not make for a bad soup after tenderising, either.

[bad_crowmance]

Wait, I missed that kind of action?!

[ That's so unfair?? ]

[voreaciously]

You did.

[Soup sip.]

It was somewhat challenging due also in part to the terran; the water was a lot more malevolent and malicious at the time. It could be controlled, but it would not hesitate to devour and corrupt if a single slip was made. So, really, it was combating two entities.

[But she just went the fuck out and did shit because she could.]

[bad_crowmance]

Guess that's what I get for not showing up sooner....

[voreaciously]

[Her voice is casual and polite.]

Do not fret, Crow-san, I am certain there will be other great horrors to come that will threaten our lives and possibly existence as we know it, in the future. Patience is a virtue that pays dividends.

[bad_crowmance]

I'll keep you to that.

[ He winks at her. ]

[voreaciously]

I am hardly a navigator of the ship called fate, but it only seems a reasonable conclusion. At any rate, the sabre tooth tigres are nimble and the geckos think themselves tricky. There are a variety of them, at any rate.

[She ponders. Oh right--]

The snakes may prove annoying, however. For most people.

[bad_crowmance]

Oh? Why do you say that?

[voreaciously]

Not everyone is immune to most venoms and poisons.

[bad_crowmance]

[ Crow grimaces at that. ]

Pretty sure I'm not immune, either.

[voreaciously]

If you get bitten, I can take care of that.

[Ah, but she is finished her food, now. Sadness.]

[bad_crowmance]

So you can heal that too?

[ He's finishing off the last bits of his own meal, looking at her in interest. ]

[voreaciously]

That is correct. I have confirmed that I can heal this poison so it is not an issue, though I have not been able to test all its effects, as yet.

[This whole not having pods, not having a studio, not being a scanner model is kind of butts, actually.]

I will be certain to rectify that, however.

[But she will start to gather and tidy up their dishes before moving them to the sink.]

[bad_crowmance]

Well, being able to heal it's the important part.

[ Poisons aren't of any particular interest to him, so he's less concerned about the effects of it. ]