The Sixteenth Trial

[advisories]

Who: trialgoers
When: Day 37, afternoon
Where: The Hermit's Tent

[With the usual jostle of the train, the Hermit’s tent appears in the clearing. His deep, cheerful voice rings out:]

That last Trial was a bit of a mess, wasn’t it? Well, rest assured our dear Vampire friend is very sorry about it.

Of course that doesn’t make you feel better, but how about a mood booster? “Come hither”, and let’s think positive!

[Upon entering the tent, you’ll find yourself on a round, black-tiled platform at the bottom of a clear glass elevator. Look outside and you'll spot the other two groups in their own elevators, facing you on the other walls of a triangular pit. You can't reach or hear them at the moment, but they look safe enough.

In your own elevator, you’ll find a podium with a speaker and a push-to-talk microphone. Taped next to them is a laminated paper containing the rules, titled:

Raise Eachother Up

Time for some cheer and positivity!]

Comments

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[schrodingerscockroach]

[....cute.]

[Truuuuust.]

....you know, I'd say you were joking, but I'm also not sure if you know what blushing is?

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[fisherofmen]

[ , ]

It was definitely a joke. Jeez.

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[schrodingerscockroach]

....

You can be honest, you know. I mean, you are an amnesiac.

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[fisherofmen]

. . . what. Even you knew?

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[schrodingerscockroach]

...you were hiding it?

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[fisherofmen]

[ covering his eyes now, with the palms of his hands ]

. . . Yeah.

No use now. They already know, but -

[ there's a long pause, and then a helpless sort of bitter sounding laugh ]

I was that bad at it, huh.

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[schrodingerscockroach]

....to be fair, I assume most anyone is going to have amnesia and I'm good at picking up things between the lines.

And your responses during the secret game pointed to amnesia.

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[fisherofmen]

Haah.

[ with a sigh ]

I would have liked to keep it going for a little longer. Oh well.

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[schrodingerscockroach]

Why?

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[fisherofmen]

[ watching the stars, his eyes narrowing; he takes a long moment, and then he murmurs ]

I've been here before.

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[schrodingerscockroach]

Then why woul-

[He starts and then stops. Because it clicks.]

You were trying to pretend you were the same.

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[fisherofmen]

. . .

80H, Randy . . . Elaine . . . I still don't know what to call that person - they all knew me before. They all looked at me like I should know them, too.

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[schrodingerscockroach]

[80H just doesn't win.]

And you didn't want to hurt them?

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[fisherofmen]

[ with a little stretch now, before he rolls over onto his side and curls up, loosely drawing his legs to his chest ]

I wonder? It just seemed like something I should do.

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[schrodingerscockroach]

[Well, that has concerning implications along with other things.]

[He moves a hand closer. In easy reach for Cael, but not touching him first, but offering.]

....you know it's all right to just be yourself, don't you?

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[fisherofmen]

[ as dusk shifts he lifts his head up, eyes following his hand. briefly, he watches it -

then, he moves his hand to press on top of dusk's hand. ]

. . . Trying to be me is all I've ever been trying to do.

[bond]

[schrodingerscockroach]

[Once Cael touches him, he'll turn his hand, holding his hand. There, but easy to pull away from.]

....the you they remember or the you right now?

Re: [bond]

[fisherofmen]

[ drumming his fingers against his hand for a moment, pensive ]

. . . Either way, it's me.

Re: [bond]

[schrodingerscockroach]

Yes, but how you're looking at it matters.

People change. They grow and adapt and over time. A person isn't going to be the exact same person they were five years ago. But trying to be that person they once were could make it so they can't be the person they are now.

Re: [bond]

[fisherofmen]

[ closing his eyes, now ]

That doesn't bother me.

Re: [bond]

[schrodingerscockroach]

What doesn't?

Re: [bond]

[fisherofmen]

[ considering for a moment, before giving a little shrug ]

Who I am without memories - that person doesn't interest me.

Not being that person - that doesn't bother me.

[ a beat ]

Not that I have a choice now.

Re: [bond]

[schrodingerscockroach]

.....what do you want then?