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]

[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. ]

[voreaciously]

Music is often emotional so that should do nicely for your team's bond, among other things if you were to be creative.

[She lets her mind wander a little. She's never been to a concert, but she's seen a few things and, ah, she has no doubt Crow could tease and work a crowd.

Hm.

Hm....]

[bad_crowmance]

[ Is she sure it's a crowd she wants him to tease and work-- ]

You know... I hadn't thought of that, actually. That's a good point.

[voreaciously]

[Her thoughts are good and pure.

So pure it takes her a second to catch up to him because of all this

Purity.]

Hm? Oh yes, it would be a good way to affect many others with one, albeit intensive, action. But you are not averse to working hard.

[honestly it's hilarious because if anyone told her that crow could be lazy sometimes she would double take. but then either everything has demanded his attention and effort, or he's willingly given it out of his sense of competition.]

[bad_crowmance]

[ ]

[ Crow glances around the otherwise-empty train car before making a shushing motion. ]

Don't say that where people can hear you, they might get... ideas.

[voreaciously]

Heaven forfend people think better of your character, Crow-san.

[bad_crowmance]

[ Crow grimaces. ]

It would be the worst! I don't want anyone to have expectations!

[voreaciously]

[Her tone continues to be Polite.]

I would say your secret is safe with me, but I am quite certain it has become apparent to a number of people. To whit, those with functioning eyes.

[bad_crowmance]

Ugggghhhhhh. Looks like I've gotta do damage control....

[voreaciously]

Godspeed working hard in trying to correct the impression people have of you working hard. It will not be an exercise in self-fulfilling prophecy, of course not.

[Irony. Do you taste it?

She's not laughing but this is fucking hilarious, honestly.]

[bad_crowmance]

Honestly.... I doubt anyone other than you has that impression, anyway.

[ He's just going to aggressively slack off in public for a while. ]

[voreaciously]

So you hope. [And she is going to grind that hope beneath her very fashionable leather heels.]

There was the play for our trial in which you were instrumental, and we may not have been grouped together every time but it is difficult to imagine you not putting for an effort for other trials. You are also doing your best for this one. [And your team is gonna beat hers by one

FUCKING

POINT OH MY G--]

And not only are you competitive, you follow through.

[bad_crowmance]

There's a difference between hard work and being competitive! C'mooooon, you can't really be serious.

[voreaciously]

You will notice I said "follow through" as in, you do it well; as in, when you have committed to some pursuit or goal you do not give up frivolously. Though it brings me no joy to bear you this tragic news, being competitive and working hard go hand-in-hand in this particular case.

[It's funny how you can earnestly compliment someone while bullying them.]

[bad_crowmance]

Ugggghhh!!!

[ He's in!!! Despair!!! ]

[voreaciously]

It is terminal, I am afraid: you are a capable, competent, driven individual and I am likely not the only one who knows it. I suggest you get your house in order.

[She delivers this terrible news in the most solemn of tones as it warrants. Hopefully, he can come to terms with it.]