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]

[ He waves a hand dismissively. ]

Haha, I doubt I'll be changing my mind.

[ Crow grins, tucking his hands behind his head. ]

But if I do, I'll be sure to say something.

[voreaciously]

As you like, then.

[Time to wait FOREVER FOR HIM TO SAY "ACTUALLY--"]

That is another square.

[And bond points for her, since she meant to kill two birds with one stone.]

[bad_crowmance]

[ Oh yeah, he definitely was going for bond points with his, ah, "gift" earlier too. Gotta farm for those sparks, after all! ]

We're making pretty good time with these! I appreciate working with someone who's efficient.

[voreaciously]

I disdain wastes of time and inefficiency so I am doing my utmost to complete these as smoothly as possible.

[sex breaks and crazy gifts are. totally part of the plan, yeah it's fine.]

[bad_crowmance]

[ The sex was multi-tasking! Getting sparks and fulfilling at least two squares for the trial. ]

It's definitely the right way to do it. Anyway, wanna make music for our next square?

[voreaciously]

[Fuck. Well, she expected this one.]

Yes. How would you prefer to do this?

[bad_crowmance]

Well.... that depends. Are you gonna sing or use an instrument?

[voreaciously]

I will be playing an instrument.

[bad_crowmance]

Alright, then the way I figure it, it'll be easier for you to grab your instrument and then play first, and then I'll sing afterwards. Sound good to you?

[voreaciously]

Very well. Please excuse me, then.

[She will leave and come back with a long and large beautifully lacquered case and take a kneeling position on the floor as she pops it open. She removes a large koto and sets it on a low table that she creates out of ice. She slides a few bands around her fingers with flat rectangular picks on the edges and flexes her fingers.

She plucks a string and lets it reverberate, her head unconsciously dipping lower as she focuses on the quality of the note.

Good, still in tune. She tests other strings and does not make adjustments.]

For your pleasure then, Crow-san. This piece is called Sakura.

[She spreads her fingers, exhales out of habit, and lets fingers dance across the strings.

Here.]

[bad_crowmance]

[ Crow closes his eyes as he listens to it, quiet and rapt. It's a beautiful piece, and he takes a moment after she finishes before his eyes slide back open to look at her. ]

That sounded... really nice.

[voreaciously]

Ah...I have recently only resumed regular practise, so I apologise if it was not more pleasing.

[She played, like, perfectly BUT YOU KNOW we can never be happy with ourselves.



still tho that was praise so she a bit red.]

Thank you, though, you flatter me once again.

[bad_crowmance]

Heh! Well, if this is what you sound like without practice then I'd like to hear you when you've gotten some of the rust off.

[ So to speak. ]

Anyway, I just believe in giving praise where it's due.

[voreaciously]

Ah, well, if you wish....

[She would not mind playing for him, she supposes, it's just that it's...

It is music.

And that is always complicated. Still, it is unavoidable. She needs to continue practising every day, lest she grow sloppy in everything else related to it. She still needs to buy kimono, on that note.

But she bows, sincere in her gratitude for his attention and kindness even if she also does it or the points.]

Ah, do you require warming up?

[Can't damage those vocal cords.]

[bad_crowmance]

[ He shakes his head slightly. ]

I did a little bit of singing earlier, so I'm still pretty warmed up.

[voreaciously]

[She pulls off her picks and starts to put everything away, her little table of ice becoming a table of water and then dissipating into nothing as she rises to take a seat.

She needs to steel herself.]

[bad_crowmance]

[ Crow waits until she's settled down, then clears his throat before he begins to sing. And it's Crow so you can be sure he's making a show of it-- swaying, dramatic hand gestures, impassioned singing. The works. ]

[voreaciously]

[He is good. He is very good, actually.

Which makes it all the more painful to listen.

She has to, that would be rude, but she tries to be distant, has to be, to quell the pain her. She has not had to do it for a while, but it is nothing new either. With her eyes hidden, it is difficult to gauge how she feel, but it's clear she is at least staring in his direction even if nothing else about her demeanour makes anything obvious. Yes, the notes are all very nice and he has good energy. She tries to be clinical in her analysis, tries not to think of ache in her chest, the constriction her throat, the burn in her diaphragm.

I want to--

It is over and she begins to clap, polite and genuine.]

Marvellous...You have marvellous stage presence.

[bad_crowmance]

[ Crow doesn't know the pain she's carrying inside of her-- and to be honest, he wouldn't address it if he did. It would be wrong to say that he doesn't care at all, but he's doing his best not to. He wants to keep his emotional distance, and part of that means not going too deep into other people's problems.

All of that is irrelevant, though, because he doesn't realize.

He bows theatrically at her applause. Crow's got a great love for theatrical bullshit-- if he's ever inclined enough to use his team's bond, he could have a great time making a dramatic showing of feelings. ]

Thank you, thank you. I'm here all day.

[voreaciously]

[Show no weakness. Do not falter.

But Crow's personality just continues to grow in its dimensions. It makes her curious as to the kind of person he is or was, but she knows better than to say that. She knows he must be thinking of it all the time without having others mention it.]

A good thing, perhaps, I am quite certain many others will enjoy that.

[bad_crowmance]

I'll have to give them a real show sometime, then!

[ He gives her a wink. ]

[voreaciously]

That is something you would do, wouldn't you.

[It is not a question. He is ever energetic and dramatic.]

[bad_crowmance]

Just give me a stage and an excuse.

[ Honestly, he'd be happy producing behind the scenes just as easily as being the star. ]

[voreaciously]

Sparks.

[There's an excuse.]

It may make matters more pleasant around here to have a stage, actually.

[bad_crowmance]

That is an excellent excuse.

[ It's his favourite excuse. ]