the tenth trial?

[hot_mess_express]

Who: everybody
When: Day 22, starting bright and early
Where: the jackal zone


[What was it...ah, yes. Come hither, Heroes, prove thy worth.

The familiar tremor of a trial comes with a voice that's probably familiar to a lot of train denizens. Entering the door to the trial reveals that somehow, yes, it is in fact Naeva who's done this.

The game room is a beautiful tea garden with elegant, victorian-style tea tables set out throughout. Naturally, the tables all have tea, a variety of snacks, and flower arrangements featuring the herbs from each team. The garden is also full of crystalline jonquil, though they can't seem to be picked up normally.

There are baskets set out for everyone who arrives, and a sign explaining the rules of the game. Across the top it reads Bonding Game.

Cardamom, you've made a huge mistake.]

Comments

[voreaciously]

[yeah, she's a fucking idiot. but then he wouldn't say something if she did it wrong probably. he'd just dump her. that's bad end.]

All this time...

[bad_crowmance]

[ She's not wrong, he'd just dump her if she did something wrong. But also, he wouldn't call it that because that's a loaded term. Makes it sound like they're dating. ]

Were you holding back on purpose?

[ He's trying not to laugh again and mostly succeeding, but the amusement is still evident in his voice. ]

[voreaciously]

[tbh she was thinking dump like trash anyway so it's fine.]

No. Because I am delicate.

[bad_crowmance]

[ She was absolutely doing it on purpose. ]

Right. Well, let's just get started on the trial.

[voreaciously]

Very well.

[muffled regrets in the distance]

1/3

[bad_crowmance]

I'd say we've already got "friendly conversation" covered, so next on the list---

[bad_crowmance]

[ He leans in suddenly and whispers into her ear. ]

You're a fantastic lay.

3/3

[bad_crowmance]

[ And then he pulls back away. ]

So that should take care of "compliments."

[voreaciously]

You are incorrigible.

[bad_crowmance]

I like to think it's part of my charm.

[voreaciously]

You would.

[not gonna admit that he's charming or anything of the sort.]

You are a capable fighter.

[won't cop to his sexy self either.]

[bad_crowmance]

[ It's okay, he already knows. ]

Thanks! I like to think so, too.

[voreaciously]

[she knows that he knows so...

hm.]

You have good taste in fashion, mostly.

[bad_crowmance]

I'll pretend I didn't hear that "mostly."

[ His taste in fashion is flawless, excuse you. Bandanna and all. ]

[voreaciously]

[wait until she sees his second game outfit she'll pitch a fit.]

Whatever you require to cope.

[bad_crowmance]

[ That one is next on his to-buy list, actually. "But didn't he see Jusis' memory of him dying in---" It's next on the to-buy list. :) ]

I know my tastes are flawless.

[voreaciously]

Tell me honestly that you wouldn't adore to see a lady in the skimpiest bikini humanly possible and I may consider it.

[bad_crowmance]

Enjoying that does nothing to disprove my statement.

[voreaciously]

Incorrigible.

[bad_crowmance]

You bet I am. ♪♫

[voreaciously]

[oh right something else--]

My apologies, however. Thank you...for the earlier compliment.
[
god ACCEPTING COMPLIMENTS IS HARD. she doesn't sound ungrateful, but it's clear she has difficulty forming those [particular words in that particular order.]

[bad_crowmance]

[ It's cute that she's bad at it, though. ]

It's easy to say when it's true.

[voreaciously]

As long as you are satisfied, Crow-san, that is what matters.

[bad_crowmance]

[ Hmm. He thinks maybe he likes it better when she's not this submissive. Time to tuck that thought away and not say it out loud. ]

Hmmm. So that makes "sharing something about yourselves" and "learning something new about someone" as the next ones on the list.

[voreaciously]

[hi crow, i'm dead.

No, but not for the first time, she has considered telling him. She does not know when, but she has, at some point, decided that she should tell him, that he should know.

She just...cannot. It would mean talking--thinking about Forest actively, more so than usual, and to do that in the privacy of her mind is one thing, but to bring another entity into that, who may react badly is entirely another.

She is just...tired and wary.

But she keeps this to herself, thinking all of it in the space of a moment. It's become less conscious thought and more instinct.]

I will attempt most anything at least once.