The Thirteenth Trial

[catcophonous]

Who: trialgoers
When: Day 27 all day
Where: The Cat's Zone

[Once again the Trial time has come. Just like the Eleventh, it's the Cat's bar that's appeared in the clearing, and just like then, he's not here for formalities.]

Can you believe you've been dumped on me again already? Lame, I know. But come on in and let's get going.

[But he's not the only voice! The booming, cheerful tone of the Hermit can be heard as well.]

Right, right, come along! This one should be fun for you and us.

[Once you enter the bar, you'll find... it's just a bar. In fact, you are free to come and go from it. The inside, though, has been dolled up -- there are swaths of colourful fabric above the windows, jingly dangly crystal decorations hanging down over tables, and patterned tablecloths. It's the kind of cheesy fortuneteller decor you've seen in the Hermit's tent before!

Otherwise, though, there's nothing strange. There are plenty of tables and an open dancefloor. The cabinets behind the bar are sturdily locked, but there are pitchers of non-alcoholic punch on every table, and on the bar is a jar of paper slips and a laminated instructions sheet.

The name of this game is: Fortune and Lies.]

RULES ☆ TURN-IN ☆ WINNERS & ENDGAME

Comments

[desirestruth]

[Well, how to start, then? It's difficult to think of...ah.]

You seem enthused to be here.

[as lies go, it's low-hanging fruit. She's not sure 80H is ever enthused.]

1/3

[voreaciously]

...

2/3

[voreaciously]

. . .

3/3

[voreaciously]

That is a purple fortune.

[That's just sad, naeva]

[desirestruth]

[BUZZZZZ. yeah you got her. Naeva just honestly looks immensely relieved.]

Oh thank god.

[voreaciously]

Is lying truly so difficult for you?

[desirestruth]

You may not have noticed, but I never lie.

[So, yes.]

[voreaciously]

We are not on such high speaking terms that I would have many opportunities to come to that conclusion. If you were Randy-san, then. Well, even then, I suppose, I would not know despite being my teammate.

[she doesn't seem to realise there's a problem with ANY OF THIS.]

That aside, you are a queen.

[desirestruth]

...More relevantly, I am a witch and my power warps a fundamental facet of reality. My words are often binding. It's much less dangerous to allow others to do the lying for me.

[She's just. Staring at 80H.]

So it's not just me you avoid.

[voreaciously]

Fair enough and yes, I do. Everyone I can.

Though perhaps not Coral-san, especially.

[desirestruth]

Coral...?

[She has not met the smol, it seems! But she's mostly surprised 80H is volunteering information about...anything.]

[voreaciously]

She is friendly enough and appears as a child, but it is clear she is not. I do not know what her situation is, nor have I made inquiries.

[desirestruth]

...I could think of a half dozen reasons, but in the end it isn't particularly my business.

I think I've met her once, when I had the stickers, but I didn't catch her name at the time.

[Hm. Is it a green or yellow fortune...]

[voreaciously]

[:3c]

I am sure she would be happy to make your acquaintance. As for me, I do...apologise for my behaviour. I simply do not get on with others very well at all.

[She looks uncomfortable, a bit red in the face.]

[desirestruth]

...I couldn't begin to guess why.

[She sighs a little bit, and considers.] You're changing your tact, but there was no buzz so you haven't had to redraw...was it a yellow fortune?

[50/50 SHOT...]

[voreaciously]

I simply do not, it is not very complicated nor am I.

[She is still very slightly red.

And there is no buzz.]

[desirestruth]

It seems to me more that you are simply afraid of the probability of pain.

So no, not very complicated.

[Well, having decided to murder an android, she hums lightly. To guess again, or...]

Well, it doesn't particularly bother me either way.

[voreaciously]

[no murder because she ready for this.]

That is incorrect. I am built and made for pain.

[desirestruth]

You seem mostly built for physical pain.

[80H you know she knows you're afraid, we really gonna do this?]

[voreaciously]

Pain is pain. If I cannot handle any and all of it, then there is no point.

[desirestruth]

Point to what? Avoiding bonds until we all die?

[voreaciously]

One person avoiding bonding is not going to doom the universe.

[desirestruth]

...There are, by my guess, less than twenty people on this train. A team has completely vanished. We are losing.

Pretend it has nothing to do with you all you want, but we both know that it is false.

[She pauses for a long moment. Doesn't inhale, because she doesn't need to, but does raise a hand to cover her mouth. Her fangs are elongating. No, this isn't time for it.]

Well, it no longer matters to me. [A lie, but it's better than calling 80H a coward during a game.]

[voreaciously]

You are a poor liar, as established. But I am not doing nothing. I participate in every trial that I am able, which, incidentally, has been every trial since this voyage's inception.

[desirestruth]

[Buuuuuuuzzzzzzzzzzz. Well, whatever.]

And it is clearly not enough. [She turns so she can go redraw.]

Justify it to yourself however you like. But I refuse to let you or anyone else's reticence get the people I love killed.