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]

[ ....Hmmm. What happens if he scratches behind a jackal ear? ]

Good, glad we've got that settled.

[desirestruth]

[She just sort of freezes. And...yips?

her pupils dialated. It looks ridiculous.]

Wh...what are you doing?

[bad_crowmance]

[ He pulls back his hand, grinning. ]

I was curious to see how you'd react!

[ IT'S HILARIOUS. ]

[desirestruth]

[Squinting at him.]

You have a red fortune, don't you.

[bad_crowmance]

[ BUUUUUZZZZ!!! But he looks unrepentant. ]

I would've done it anyway~! ♪♫

[desirestruth]

I am absolutely shocked to hear it.

[bad_crowmance]

I know, I know. But try to keep yourself contained.

[ Meanwhile, he's going to draw another fortune. ]

[desirestruth]

[She'll wait for him to get it. She's trying to figure out how to get him to guess hers without telling him because she hates this--]

I swear the Cat made these to punish us somehow.

[bad_crowmance]

[ To his credit, his expression never even flickers when he gets his fortune. ]

Nah, I think he's just trying to get a few good laughs off of us.

[desirestruth]

I'm not sure I particularly appreciate that any better.

[:T]

[bad_crowmance]

Hey! I can't say I blame him. Maybe after the first Trial I'm working on, I'll do something just to make myself laugh.

[desirestruth]

...Well, that's not at all ominous.

[bad_crowmance]

I can't imagine why it would be.

[desirestruth]

Don't make a kissing game, Crow, there are children on this train.

[bad_crowmance]

[ Crow laughs at that. ]

I wasn't planning on a kissing game.

[ "Yet," his tone implies. ]

[desirestruth]

Yet.

So it's gambling, then?

[bad_crowmance]

And it only took you two guesses! [ So that's a "yes." ]

[desirestruth]

With you, it was a 50/50 shot, Crow.

[bad_crowmance]

You say that, but "fighting tournament" wasn't off the table.

[desirestruth]

...Licorice has an unfair advantage, Lucien'll win.

[A pause.]

Also, could you really bring yourself to make a game that'd make Eliza fight?

[bad_crowmance]

Yes?

[ How is this a question? ]

[desirestruth]

You're a mean one, Mr. Armbrust.

[bad_crowmance]

It's just a little bit of fighting.

[ He literally does not see the problem here? ]

[desirestruth]

Take a moment to consider Eliza and then tell me if you think she's combat-trained.

[bad_crowmance]

[ He has two words in response to that-- ]

Skeleton familiars.