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]

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.

[voreaciously]

I suppose they did not to any of them? But I suppose I did not care, either. Although, trials were not comfortable experiences in the beginning, and I was used to and fine with making difficult decisions. Thank you, though, I appreciate your input.

[look at all this NOT CARING.]

Randy-san is still incredibly handsome, however. I would, even if he would not.

[bad_crowmance]

Yeah, Randy's really hot. Easily top five hottest on the entire train. [ This is a much safer topic. Also yes, he could easily answer who his top five hottest on the train are. ...He could even answer for if he had to take his own name off that list. ]

[voreaciously]

You have a top five.

[It's not a question.]

[bad_crowmance]

Doesn't everyone?

[ LIKE, SERIOUSLY? ]

[voreaciously]

Knowing you, your list is meticulously curated with as much qualitative and quantitative data as you are able to muster.

[If he could get his hands on measurements and dick sizes she WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED.]

[bad_crowmance]

[ ASK HIM ABOUT HIS HEADCANONS ON DICK SIZES--- ]

Obviously! What kind of list would it be otherwise?

[voreaciously]

A list normal people may have.

[She just



sighs.]

Who is on your top five list, Crow-san?

[bad_crowmance]

Quick question first-- do I include myself on the list?

1/2

[voreaciously]

. . .

2/2

[voreaciously]

No.

[bad_crowmance]

Alright! In that case-- one, Rean. Two, Randy. Three, you. Four, Eliza. Five, Rufus. [ He doesn't even hesitate in his response. ]

[voreaciously]

W-w-w-w-why am I on the list?

[No? No????]

[bad_crowmance]

[ He just makes a gesture imitating her breasts. ]

[voreaciously]

[Crabs his hands gently like STOP STOP THAT RIGHT NOW!]

Focus on the others! Lord Rufus! The Instructor! Randy-san! Who all do not have breasts! And Miss Eliza, who is smaller than me, how lucky.

[bad_crowmance]

Randy's got a pretty great chest, lack of breasts aside. Rufus would top out a "prettiest" list, but this is a "hottest" list. Eliza's smaller breasts is one of the reasons she was slightly lower on the list, but her personality more than makes up for it. Rean's got a great face, which is one of the reasons he ended up so high. His chest leaves something to be desired, but in his case I feel that being overly muscled wouldn't suit him.

[voreaciously]

I suppose he is rather built that way.

[She has seen him in pjs, at least.]

Lord Albarea is exceptionally beautiful, we are quite agreed. Miss Eliza does have a wonderful personality, though you could stand to be less of a breast fanatic. Honestly.

[She crosses her arms which like, does. nothing. to make them smaller.]

I suppose the instructor is decent-looking enough, as well.

[SAYS NOTHING ABOUT HERSELF.]

[bad_crowmance]

You could stand to appreciate breasts more. So, what would your top five list look like?

[voreaciously]

I appreciate breasts quite well, I will have you know. I like all of them.

[So there.]

Eh?

[What. Seriously.]

I...have not thought of such a thing.

[...Maybe.]