auroraexpress | 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

[ tugs at her sleeve a bit.............. looking a bit. chastised? embarrassed?

like she'd much rather be literally anywhere else. ]

...Miss Elaine?

[Are you ok.]

If you don't - ah, rather, should playing for a time suit you, Naeva...

We can play, but are you quite alright? You seem uncomfortable...

This fortune isn't quite to my tastes, if I'm to be frank.

I am sorry to hear. Well, I'll see how quickly I can guess it, then.

Thank you.

I'd tell you, but that is against the spirit of the game somewhat, I suppose, and if it's to be light perhaps it would be best to participate.

I confess, some of these are harder to signal than others.

[Pausing. Tilting her head a little. Let's go a little obvious, then...]

I have named the pet jackal--Estelle--after a dear friend from back home, but I admit I am somewhat concerned about the inaccuracy, since she was a fox.

I see...

[ a thoughtful pause ]

I did once have a dream, I suppose - wherein my brother became a creature somewhat akin to a fox, though he behaved no differently from any other dog. Ignorant though I may be of canid cognition, I confess - I doubt there is much in the way of difference where it most matters.

It does matter a great deal to most of us...where a jackal is more closely related to coyotes, they do fill a similar ecological niche as foxes. However, while the Estelle here would not care about being called anything, I worry that the one at home would be a little upset, but...

...Well, I do miss her. I never got to meet any of my sisters until I was wed, and so, she is the closest I actually had to that feeling...

... I see... My apologies.

That man is your husband, is he not?

Lucien, yes. He does not yet remember...and truth be told, from the point I last remember, we were still admist all the, ah, legal processes of a marriage of state. Even though we mostly agree, these things still take an interminable amount of time...

[She pauses for a while, and sighs deeply.] I do not wish to dictate to him the man he is. I have only known him for a portion of his life--it would do him a disservice to not let him remember the context of his memories himself. But still, I...find the waiting difficult.

Of course.

[ a pause, ]

Though there is, I suppose - within such a place as this one... that is to say, rather, the means through which those that have been separated from their memories see them regained in this place - it does provide you the opportunity to add to such knowledge, I suppose.

Edited 2019-06-09 22:21 (UTC)

It does. I'd prefer to see it if he chose to show it to me, but I can't pretend I'm not...very curious.

It is nevertheless a topic of discussion, is it not?

That is so, just not one I'm particularly adept at.

Ah, that is...

... I can't say I'm quite skilled with men. My apologies.

...Eh?

[Wait when did we start talking about sex.]

... Speaking with them? Certainly there is my brother, and studying physics many in my cohort are men as well, but to speak with them as lovers is rather...

[ hmmm ]

... Though, to reflect upon the matter, perhaps I'm simply ill-spoken.

I don't believe you to be particularly ill-spoken, though at times you do seem rather inexperienced and uncomfortable around others.

[When she tilts her head, her ears wiggle...]

I do sympathize, however. I had...very few people to talk to, at your age. Many of the people I would come to count as friends and advisers had not been born, yet.

That is...

[ . . . ]

... Save for a few, it is not you, but rather this - simply this situation, I suppose.

'Save for a few'?

[She considers this, and sighs.]

It is difficult. I don't think anyone could argue it isn't. I cannot ask you to be more comfortable with it, it would be unreasonable to believe anyone could be.

And you need not say anything for a yellow fortune, if you don't wish to tell me.

[ exhales, relieved ]

. . . Thank you.

Though it is honesty owed aligned with the conceit of our stay here - to behave in such a manner remains taxing regardless. My sincerest apologies.

Your self-awareness already puts you a step ahead of several people on this train.

[She says it pretty dryly, even as she shrugs.]

It is alright. I would much prefer that, should you chose to be open and honest with me or anyone else, that you do so because you wish to be.

Ah, her case is somewhat...

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