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

[bad_crowmance]

You don't need shame for that.

[voreaciously]

It helps.

Also my personal amusement.

[bad_crowmance]

What, the mental image of me getting embarrassed?

[voreaciously]

Yes. Over something harmless, mind you, I am not--[you know what nevermind she knows where that thought will lead and crow's not an idiot.

She clears her throat, voice light.]--nevermind, nevermind.

But do not pretend to be embarrassed, that would likely be the same as your "modesty".

If he can get a reaction out of her, he's calling this a bond

[bad_crowmance]

[ He covers his face. ]

...Oh. W...was it really that bad?

jesus

[voreaciously]

[she knows what he is doing SHE KNOWS, AND SHE COULD DENY HIM, BUT HONESTLY

fine take the sparks, she's just gonna roll with it and tug his ear.]

Crow-san.

[YOU ARE FOOLING NO ONE

BUT IT'S AWFUL.]

[bad_crowmance]

[ He can't keep the act up, laughing as she tugs on his ear. ]

[voreaciously]

What have I just now said?

[One more tug for good measure, but she is very careful not to touch his earrings.]

[bad_crowmance]

[ He appreciates it! ]

I couldn't resist!

[voreaciously]

[She pats his head.]

I suppose it cannot be helped. What am I to do with you?

[bad_crowmance]

I've got a few ideas~ ♪♫

[voreaciously]

I am certain you wish to impart that information.

[bad_crowmance]

Maybe after the trial, hmmm?

[voreaciously]

I will look forward to it. A pity we cannot have a third party. The idea has been rolling around my mind.

[bad_crowmance]

I'd definitely be up for a third.... I wouldn't even know who to approach, though.

[voreaciously]

There are a number of very attractive people on this train. I wonder if Miss Eliza would be interested, but perhaps if and when I can be more tolerable.

[eliza's so SMART THO what a brain.]

Mister Or--Randy-san is off the table, I am certain.

[bad_crowmance]

Eliza'd be pretty great, it's true. Why's Randy off the table?

[voreaciously]

He is seeing Lord Albarea and he shot me four times.

[just, casually.]

He might still be upset about it--the shooting, not His Lordship. He is quite an upstanding fellow.

[bad_crowmance]

I'm pretty sure that first one isn't an obstacle. [ JUST SAYING. ] The second one might be, though. When the hell did that happen?

[voreaciously]

Oh? I did not wish to pry. As for that...it was during an earlier trial. It was, coincidentally, set on a train being chased by the rabid undead. The last round involved a sacrifice to be made. Randy-san and I volunteered to remain behind, though I was fine on my own. His Lordship Albarea the younger (i.e. jusis) was strongly opposed. As was someone else.

So, Randy-san changed his mind. I did not. I knew the objective, made my peace with it and wanted to win. I told everyone else to continue on without me.

Knowing I would not acquiesce to his will, my teammate shot me and hauled me onto the train. We lost the trial, and I was, perhaps, little upset over that.

[she doesn't mention being upset over being shot tho.]

[bad_crowmance]

[ Hi, my name is Crow Armbrust and I think self-sacrifice is bullshit.

By which I mean, he frowns a little as he's listening but doesn't outwardly say anything until she's finished. ]

So he prioritized Jusis' feelings over the game and you got a bit ticked over it... I can see why getting shot would piss you off.

[voreaciously]

I was more upset over losing, to be frank.

[She felt...something else over it, but she hasn't really examined it.

She just...did not expect him to do that. Should she have? Perhaps she should have. Perhaps it was her own fault that she did not anticipate that her own feelings and choices mattered so little compared to someone who was not even a teammate, but there is history there. That cannot be helped.


So. She isn't angry over it. So. It is fine. What ownership does she have to anything, really?]

[bad_crowmance]

[ It's a good thing Crow cannot hear her internal processes over the situation because it would actually tick him off a bit. ]

More than being shot? Hell, I'd be fantasizing about revenge if my own teammate fucking shot me.

[ Says the guy who 100% almost betrayed a teammate in a game and definitely stabbed her... though the stabbing was, at least, consensual. ]

[voreaciously]

You know I do my best to win, so that was irksome to me, yes. Follow, it had since come to my attention that I was being unreasonable about the ordeal and should have simply complied with everyone else's wishes. I am still uncertain. He and Lord Albarea were very close. There was someone else, as well. But they'd both threatened to stay behind if I did.

I did not much care about that. I thought that was their choice to make.

[She shrugs, like the memory is weightless.]

[bad_crowmance]

You know... you say that as though your thoughts and wishes don't matter at all. Hell, if I know you hate losing and we're not even teammates, the least that they could've done is considered your point of view instead of deciding what you want didn't even matter. [ He shrugs, though. ] That's just my perspective! If it doesn't bother you, then whatever. [ He says that, his tone breezy but actually he's got a lot of thoughts on the matter. He just isn't interested in pushing it when he's not supposed to care. Doesn't care. He's pretty sure he doesn't. ] Either way, I can see where the whole thing would at least make it awkward for you.. maybe for Randy, too.