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

and back to stupid

[voreaciously]

[you can practically hear the ticking in her mind before it dings and she slowly points to herself in silent inquiry.

Does.

Does that include her?]

[bad_crowmance]

Yes, that includes you.

[ He answers out loud because of course he does. ]

[voreaciously]

But I'm--

[Breeze voice tells her, again, accept the compliment.]

...Thank you.

[She's back to being red.]

Have you not simply asked Miss Eliza?

[bad_crowmance]

Indirectly. I know she's in a relationship back home but it's an open one. So the option's definitely there.

[voreaciously]

Interesting. I wonder if she will oblige you. But I have not met this "Lucky" individual.

[bad_crowmance]

It's worth a shot! Lucky's one of my newer teammates.

can't believe we imeeji now

[voreaciously]

Is that so? What is he like?

NO BULLY

[bad_crowmance]

He's pretty easy to get along with. Charming, outgoing... we were on a similar wavelength during that child-raising simulator, which was helpful.

;Dc

[voreaciously]

Ah yes, your boss of the town daughter.

[Boss of this Motherfuckin' town, she knows, but, manners.]

I wonder what she will achieve in the meantime.

[bad_crowmance]

Achieve? You think they still exist?

[voreaciously]

[


okay, she's at a crossroads here, there are some truths she doesn't want to drop but not letting someone know about their kid is kind of like

really. really bad.

So she sighs, lightly.]

I know for an absolute fact that they do.

[bad_crowmance]

[ There is an entire world in what she isn't saying, volumes of information and he knows he has to tread lightly here. Part of what he likes about her, after all, is that neither of them feel any particular need to unload any baggage on each other. They can keep their thing light, casual, fun.

But still, he's curious. ]

That's a pretty strong statement.

[voreaciously]

Facts are neither strong nor weak, nor are they opinions. You said so yourself, did you not?

[bad_crowmance]

I said that and I meant it. Perhaps "bold" would be a better way of putting it, hmm?

[voreaciously]

[Immediately and with no hesitation.]

I would wager ten thousand sparks on it.

[bad_crowmance]

[ FOR AIDIOS' SAKE, 80H!!! HE DOESN'T HAVE THAT MANY TO BET! She's actually caught him off-guard enough that he gives her a startled stare. ] How do you know?

[voreaciously]

I simply do. Honestly, sparks seem paltry to offer for their lives. I would stake my own on the fact, because it is a fact, if that will be of comfort to you. It is possible we may see them again, but that I cannot promise.

[bad_crowmance]

[ It's an awful lot of certainty for her to lay down, but the fact of the matter is he can't bring himself to trust it-- not when she won't say why she's so sure. Maybe she has her reasons, maybe they're even damned good ones... but without them, he just can't bring himself to believe it. ]

There's never any promises in life. Well, it's better than nothing.

[voreaciously]

But not enough.

[She can tell he does not believe her. It's to be expected, honestly, unfortunately, but that is the best she can do for the moment. Not even just because of Forest, but Shiro-chan is...it still hurts her a great deal.

She moves on.]

I would say death and taxes, but even then, that is only for some.

[bad_crowmance]

Taxes can be avoided if you dodge them well enough!

[ Not that he knows whether or not he's had any personal experience with that... jury's out on whether he thinks he would have. ]

Death's pretty cheap here when people can recover from beheadings, but outside of that I'd say it's normally pretty permanent.

[voreaciously]

It is a pain, though. And illegal. It feels as though avoiding death is easier. It is certainly possible, as well. Death is cheap here, as you say, but I suppose there is the trauma to consider.

[bad_crowmance]

Oh yeah, I'd imagine dying's pretty terrifying even if you know you'll come back.

[ Not! That he knows! Anything! About Dying! ]