auroraexpress | The Thirteenth Trial

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The Thirteenth Trial

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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[her face is deeply fucking crimson right now, don't mind it. she has mixed feelings. She doesn't think she's at all pretty, so third is fine, but she strives to be beautiful all the time in everything she does and, well, if you are gonna lose to someone who's first, lose to Rufus.

But also hnnngh is she mediocre?

She really does not know how to feel about it, but she doesn't look upset just embarrassed.

She thinks Elaine is much more beautiful, but also.

Suck it, Elaine!!!]

Quite a curated list. Lord Albarea needs to explanation, Miss Eliza has a dazzling personality that only highlights her features--[SKIPS OVER HER WHO'S NUMBER THREE]--Miss Hlasoh is lovely and has that intelligent, reserved charm. Miss Felkin is quite a beauty too. Sometimes your taste is fine.

My tastes are always great. Actually, if I had to be honest-- I'd say spots two and three are pretty interchangable. So it's more like one, two equals three, four, five. There's a lot of pretty stiff competition on the train, though.

Your taste in bikinis leaves much to be desired beyond "it exists". There are certainly a lot of beautiful people present, yes. I think an honourable mention goes to Mister--Randy-san.

[fucking fuck]

That hair of his is very nice.

Edited 2019-06-09 02:44 (UTC)

My taste in bikinis is impeccable, you're just afraid of exciting clothing options.

[ DON'T HATE. ]

I just can't justify putting Randy on a "prettiest" list-- he's really hot, but it's not really in a way I'd call "pretty."

[Her voice is flatter than a pancake.]

I fight in gothic lolita and five-inch heels.

[That's pretty fucking exciting.]

I do not disagree with respect to his attractiveness, but I think he is and could be. The hair is versatile. If you put him in a fetching suit, combed it back, perhaps braided it, I think one could make an argument for both.

But, again, this is why he is an honourable mention, I would not put him in my top five, perhaps.

[deep thoughts on the science of prettiness of the man who shot me four times.]

Yeah, but none of that shows off your midsection.

[ He pokes at her side. ]

He'd look really hot like that, not gonna lie, but I wouldn't call that pretty. Find a dress that he'd look good in and then we'll talk.

[She fidgets a bit, not expecting the poke.] Is that a red fortune.

He is very tall with long legs so a mermaid cut gown would be flattering. Perhaps with opera gloves and a diamond bracelet...perhaps all in black.

Nope!

[ Sure enough, there's no buzzer. ]

I'm not against visualizing but I'd like to actually see it before I make the final call on that.

Yellow.

That is fair, I am simply considering options for myself. Perhaps you could convince him to wear some dresses. That could be fun. Crossdressing can be rather enjoyable.

Wrong again! Although sending Randy a message out of the blue asking him to show up in a dress sounds really entertaining.

[She sighs.]

Green.

[Has TO BE.]

Please do and let me know what comes of it. I would even buy the dress.

Still no. I'll send him a message sometime soon, then. Then we'll see who's right on this.

Shall we make a wager?

[:D?]

[ Interest immediately flickers to life in his eyes-- she's gotten pretty good at managing him, though it helps she's aware of his gambling problem. ]

Three hundred sparks, you think?

I do think. Pity, I cannot be directly involved for obvious reasons, but his hair would need doing. Perhaps Miss Eliza could, if he agrees, of course.

I'd bet Rufus could do it, if he asked him.

Hm. That may do. I would have assumed, perhaps, that he would have had attendants to do it, but he is lacking in them as far as I am aware, and His Lordship's hair yet remains fabulous. Purple.

[ BUZZZZZ!! Crow laughs, though, not at all bothered. ]

You were just guessing from what was left. I wasn't even lying.

Actually, a thought occurred to me, much too late for my liking: you could have lied at some point. You are very clever and intelligent, it would be very like you to play the long game in order to win and intersperse your lies carefully in between truths and mundane conversation, which is what I assumed you were doing.

[Because it

is what she would do too whoops]

Am I wrong?

[ The smile changes character, something a little less cheery-- a little more dangerous. ]

You're not wrong.

[Oh dear, that is a problem, because a shudder runs down her spine at the look, the lurking danger. Her lips part very slightly and she lets him see, because she does not mind it, any of it.

She is not afraid of Crow, but she knows he is more than he seems. He isn't a fool, either, so he very likely knows that she knows. To say nothing of those grains of truth he's chosen to share of himself. He must remember that.

She's called his bluff and he's shown his hand, but this game is not over yet. Not by a long shot. Not when she doesn't even know what they're playing for.]

My, you are just several flavours of trouble. [It's a nod to his honesty, but she's walking a very fine line, here. She doubts she will get more than a moment or two of this.

She is curious now and wonders if this is how others feel when she lies an they know it but cannot pick her lies from the truth.]

[ The look on her face is deeply satisfying-- the way her lips part, the way her breath catches for the briefest of moments. There is something, too, in realizing she's letting him see this reaction-- she's every bit as good at hiding behind her facades as he is. He wonders, briefly, how much of herself she leaves in her presentation. Does she use pieces of herself as a mask, not unlike the way he does? How much truth is there to her?

It's an exciting puzzle, a game that he's enjoying playing. ]

It's only trouble when I get caught. And even then, I'm sure it's negotiable.

Edited 2019-06-09 05:01 (UTC)

Mmmm, well I did, so what to negotiate, I wonder.

[She is keeping herself under control, she well and truly is, but she wants him, and there are threads of desire weaved in the undertones of her voice.

She does not bother hiding those, either. She cannot continue--not so publicly--but she dances on the line for the moment.]

I wonder...

[ A very different smile is playing on his lips. ]

Perhaps we could come to an... arrangement?

[She feels the stirrings of excitement, though she manages them. She cannot act on them here.]

I am listening.

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i can't believe i had to write all this because of a two line fucking tag i hope you're happy

I'M VERY HAPPY

I'M GLAD I GUESS o`////o

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