The Eleventh Trial

[catcophonous]

Who: everyone
When: Day 23, evening
Where: The Trial Zone

[Just as twilight darkens the clearing, you hear the train's customary shift, the sign of a Trial.

Outside in the clearing, a brick building has appeared. It's shabby, paint peeling from the heavy door, but the windows are full of neon signs advertising various brands of liquor. From inside you can hear the thumping of bass, and the faint sounds of a rowdy rock song.

A voice chimes in, lazy but amused.]

You all know what this is. I'm not "come hither"ing you. Just get in here.

Comments

[bad_crowmance]

Playing cards! Do you know how to play poker?

[voreaciously]

No, could you show me?

[bad_crowmance]

Sure thing! C'mon, let's head out somewhere we can sit down.

[ So his room, probably, but not for [nsfw] this time. ]

[voreaciously]

[she will bring all the cake with her, but will otherwise dutifully follow]

[bad_crowmance]

[ Crow has zero objections to the cake. He leads 80H to his bedroom, settling into a sitting position on his bed. ]

Alright, c'mere and I'll teach you one of my favourite games.

[ It's not quite Blade but he still enjoys it. ]

[voreaciously]

Very well.

[As a nerd, she will pay very close attention.]

[bad_crowmance]

[ As a card game enthusiast, Crow will very patiently lay out the rules of the game to her. ]

[voreaciously]

[It's cute that he's so into it, but once she has it, she is ready to play!]

Very well, let us begin.

[bad_crowmance]

Let's do it!

[ She's smart so he's absolutely not going to underestimate her by taking it easy on her to start with-- he's pretty sure that's a surefire way to get his ass kicked immediately. ]

[voreaciously]

[It turns out that...




she is actually abysmal at poker! She has subtle but obvious tells and a terrible sense for, well, all of it.]

[bad_crowmance]

[ Oh no, that's charming. Well, when he realizes she's actually fucking terrible at it, he does ease up a little bit on how badly he's beating her. ]

NO WAIT NOT THIS TAG NVM. TAG COMING UP LATER

[voreaciously]

[She continues to play very terribly, perhaps showing a little promise before--nope.

Nope.

She's just bad at it.]

Hm...p-perhaps if we play for stakes, then, yes. I can do it! I am not truly losing, it, um, it is only that there is nothing on the line. Yes.

[This...is a desperate lady.]

I WILL DELETE IF YOU STILL WANT TO MAKE A NEW TAG

[bad_crowmance]

Stakes, is it?

[ Crow smiles at that, looking positively cheery. ]

It's true that people play harder when there's something on the line... Wanna start with a hundred sparks?

NAH WE GOOD FOR NOW I PROMISE THANK YOU

[voreaciously]

We could do that too, but also...[She gropes for a word, what was it again?]

Ah, strip poker?

SWEET ALSO JUST GONNA TAG THIS AS NSFW NOW

[bad_crowmance]

[ His grin takes on a wicked edge to it. ]

Strip poker, huh? Heh! That works for me.

HECK YES

[voreaciously]

Somehow, I did not think so.

[Her own mouth forms the barest of wry expressions, even as a shiver rolls down her spine.

Crow needs to be less attractive.

Anyway, she's gonna lose a hundred sparks and she takes off a glove.]

[bad_crowmance]

[ Crow would tend to disagree, he's the ideal level of attractiveness and he wouldn't have himself any other way. But he'll accept those sparks and he watches as she takes her glove off. ]

Wanna try again?

[voreaciously]

[You don't get a say, Crow!!]

Yes, I do.

[And she loses again. There goes the other glove. Again, and she removes a boot.

Again and the other.

Finally, the dress, which leaves her in her stockings, leotard, and blindfold.

And out four hundred sparks.

She is chewing her lip. She does not appear to realise it.]

I-I am going to raise my bet. Three hundred.

[She needs to recoup some of her losses...but at least she has the sense not to bet four hundred, maybe? Maybe.]

And I will use my breasts next time.

[bad_crowmance]

[ If Crow were a better person-- or maybe if he weren't a gambling addict-- he would gently cut her off at this point. But he isn't a better person, and his eyes light up at those terms. ]

You've got yourself a deal!

[ He's gonna have no mercy this round. ]

ok let me know if THIS is okay

[voreaciously]

[Yeah, it's super serious now, she is nearly naked and she has something he wants, there is no doubt Crow is going to be amazing, but--]

Royal Straight Flush.

[--She is just a little better.

She's not stammering any longer, nor looking nervous or irritated.]

I believe that is my win.

BEAUTIFUL

[bad_crowmance]

[ He looks momentarily startled, but then he grins as he removes one of his belts. ]

You've been holding out on me!

[ It's an accusation, but he sounds.... admiring, actually. ]

:D

[voreaciously]

"What are those?" "Could you show me?" [She says in amused imitation of herself before taking the deck to shuffle very smoothly.

This clearly not her first time around.]

I could not resist.

[And she is actually having a lot of fun for it.]

[bad_crowmance]

I was surprised you were so bad at it.... I've gotta say, this is much more exciting.

[voreaciously]

It was quite worth the payoff to lose, even if it felt like stabbing my own hand every time.

[She does not smile obviously and openly, but it is there in her voice and it is a lot less difficult to hear this time. Less subtle. ]

[bad_crowmance]

I happen to like what those hands can do. I'd rather you didn't stab them.

[ He's honestly pretty turned on right now. ]