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]

[Well]

[The smile suddenly vanishes as tension hits his shoulders and his face blanks, it was like flipping a switch.]

I'm fine.

How is she?

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[awakenerd]

[Oh jeez, you poor man. Crossing his arms and hmming.]

Lets go elsewhere.

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[schrodingerscockroach]

[This is coping right]

....okay. [Will follow]

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[awakenerd]

[Gonna lead him to the lounge, that's comfortable enough and no one should be around right now.]

What happened?

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[schrodingerscockroach]

...

The affect of the Vampire Game meant we craved flesh, blood, and warmth.

By the time I got to Faito, I had already sustained an injury from Crow, had to deal with two teammates trying to shatter their own heart, and it compromised me more than I thought.

She was very warm and touchy.

[Said with no feeling at all.]

[Coooooping.]

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[awakenerd]

[Buddy]

And?

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[schrodingerscockroach]

...

I bit her.

I dropped her.

Spat out what I could manage.

And left.

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[awakenerd]

[Oh my god you...

Rean sighs and then gestures Dusk to step closer.]

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[schrodingerscockroach]

[He will step closer.]

1/2

[awakenerd]

[He reaches up and... lightly, gently presses his knuckles to the top of Dusk's head. It's not even a noogie, just a light tap.]

Just his once, I'm going to sound a little preachy.

That sense of guilt you've got? It's okay. It's just being human. You're human. You mess up. You messed up this time, and you know that. But I want you to be able to look her in the eyes when you two talk. She's okay. She's real sick and needs rest, but she's probably as worried about you as you are about her.

I'm not going to tell you not to feel guilty about it. That's up to you when you face her and hear what she has to say herself. But let it help you figure out what to do next time. Guilt's a tool you can use to improve, if you can face it instead of letting it get to you. If you're hitting your wall, it's okay to ask for help.

And next time you push yourself without asking for backup I really will punch you.

[He drops his hand, pinches one of Dusk's cheeks and tugs lightly.]

Just because you can get all detached and handle things methodically doesn't mean you should try to do that alone. And I know you know that. So I'm not going to lecture you more than this. Figure out your feelings, face Faito when she feels better, work out your conscience with her.

[bond]

[awakenerd]

And next time you need a hand, ask for help. I promise I'll do what I can.

Re: [bond]

[schrodingerscockroach]

[There's....something there. Something niggling at the back of his mind because on one hand, he hates it. He hates himself that he did that, that he broke and hurt her. She deserves better. Especially when he can see some of the scars, what they could potentially mean.]

[He tried to eat her. He doesn't think he deserves forgiveness, even if he wants it. But there's something in the way Rean says it that....hits something. It's a tool. It's a way to remember. It's a way to improve. It's a way to not repeat.]

You can do more if you carry a pebble than a boulder. [A small mutter. Words that ring in his heart for reasons he can't explain. At least until the day he remember he's had a heart game and someone made that apart of it.]

I wasn't going to run from her. I know I shouldn't. But I don't know.....I need to find out what she's accept in a way of apology. If she would. That's something I need to hear from her. Then I can figure out....the rest of it, exactly.

...I did think I was fine. I had it under control so fast, I thought I was.

[Bond] x2

[awakenerd]

[He changes the cheek pinching to a gentle hair ruffle. And then tugs Dusk into a hug because the guy needs it. It doesn't have to be a long one if Dusk pulls back, but he's getting the hug.]

I know you weren't going to run from it. I just want you to remember you aren't alone, either then or right now. And that little saying? Keep it in mind.

Just because you can handle things doesn't mean you're fine. And that's okay.

Re: [Bond] x2

[schrodingerscockroach]

[He's tense at the sudden hug and just]

[Nope]

[He puts a hand on Rean's shoulders and gently pushes him back.] Not for this. [Gentle, but firm. Getting affection after he hurt someone, someone he cared about, it felt like too much right now.]

...it's.... [He opens his mouth, closes it again.] I need to....talk to her. To figure it out. When she's better. It's too....jumbled.

Re: [Bond] x2

[awakenerd]

[Buddy.

He lets Dusk push him away, putting a hand on his hip as he appraises him.]

That's okay. To be jumbled up I mean. But you deserve comfort too you know, regardless of what you've done. But it can wait.

Re: [Bond] x2

[schrodingerscockroach]

[There are times he just needs to Not Be Touched. This is one of those.]

It's too much. At least right now, it's too much.

Re: [Bond] x2

[awakenerd]

[He can respect that! And is. He said he'd respect boundaries, he has no intention of pushing his ideas of what's comforting on anyone, so his hands are kept to himself.]

Got it. You've had a busy few days. Wanna help me cook up a lot of pizza? I thought some comfort food for all the teams might not be a bad idea right now.

Re: [Bond] x2

[schrodingerscockroach]

...maybe for a bit. My exhaustion is probably going to catch up.

80H put my heart back.

[SO]

[you know, come to a trial after having his chest cut open]

Re: [Bond] x2

[awakenerd]

....Never mind, go get some rest. Or you can help me by sitting and being my taste tester.

But you, mister, are not going to do any more work until you've had a break.

Re: [Bond] x2

[schrodingerscockroach]

Technically I've had one. [Pause.] Two.

But I should have probably slept more after surgery.

[awakenerd]

Dusk! Do I have to tie you to a bed?

[schrodingerscockroach]

Could at least take me out to dinner first.

[awakenerd]

--! Listen you little shit...

[schrodingerscockroach]

[SO]

[REMEMBER HOW HE'S STILL CHARMED]

Punishment too? I didn't know you were into the rough stuff.

[awakenerd]

You're lucky you just had surgery so I can't kick your ass mister sass. Come on, you're going to sit and suffer watching me cook and not get any until I'm done.

[This is a lie he will feed Dusk safe raw ingredients as he makes food.]