The Seventeeth Trial

[catcophonous]

Who: trialgoers
When: Day 39, evening
Where: The Cat's Zone

[Have you enjoyed your day playing in your new train cars? Great! Because now it's Trial Time.

With the usual alert, the Cat's bar appears in the clearing. There's no "come hither" -- instead, just the pounding of bass from the speakers as the door cracks open. Inside there's flashing party lights, upbeat club music, and high-top tables surrounding a wide dance floor. The stage in the corner is empty except for a single microphone.

At the bar you can get free drinks, but you'll have to contend with the bartender -- a black cat curled up on the shelf between the bottles.

On the bar, and on every table, is a sign showing the rules of this game, titled:

Kiss or Dare

If you want to dress up for the club, or want costumes for daring purposes, there's a dressing room behind the stage with a magic closet. You'll find whatever you like in it, but when the trial ends you can only take home what you're wearing!

Good luck!]

RULES | TURN-IN | THE CAT / DISQUALIFICATION

Comments

[bad_crowmance]

[ Crow cheers loudly. ]

TAKE-IT-OFF! TAKE-IT-OFF!

[schrodingerscockroach]

I hope you know I have no idea what the fuck I'm doing!

[But hey nothing like a classic to play along.]

[He's getting onto the stage and he'll groove with the music. There's not a lot of people here yet, and he's used to locker rooms, so he's not unbearably stiff at stripping, but it's really just a bunch of swaying as he unbuttons his clothes.]

[Maybe thrown in with a turn or two. He's trying even as he's bright red.]

[First goes the vest. Then the shirt and]

[So what skin was exposed from Clover uniform had a lot of scars. Shirt gone? He's got a lot more. There's burns and bullet holes and shrapnel and he should really be dead five times over with those injuries.]

[But he's just going with the song, and gone are the shoes, and then the pants and he's still in boxers and a strip tease doesn't mean he has to be completely nude, so he'll pose at the end of the song in boxers and socks.]

[bad_crowmance]

[ Crow watches with interest, whooping and cheering him on the whole time. The scars don't bother him one bit (Randy's scarred beef too after all and he's into that as well), and he applauds loudly when Dusk is finished and standing in nothing but underthings. ]

Yeaaaaaah!

[schrodingerscockroach]

[Okay]

[Song is done and GETTING DRESSED AGAIN]

[He's actually stupidly fast at it, go go military dress times.]

[And getting another drink, ponders booze, and skips it.]

You really don't hold back.

[bad_crowmance]

Where's the fun in that? If you want something, you've gotta go for it.

[schrodingerscockroach]

Well, if you wanted me out of my pants, you could have just asked.

[bad_crowmance]

Hah! Let's put a pin in that for later. Right now I need a dare out of you.

[schrodingerscockroach]

[CONSIDERING.]

I dare you to go put on a dress.

[TIME TO FIGURE OUT WHAT MAKES CROW FLUSTERED.]

[bad_crowmance]

[ Crow grins and nods. ]

Sure, gimme another moment.

[ He leaves for a moment and comes back wearing this number. He does a twirl and winks. ]

[schrodingerscockroach]

[So not that. Oh well, he'll work on it.]

[At least he can appreciate the view.] Nice legs.

[bad_crowmance]

I don't normally put them on display so enjoy 'em while you can.

[ He winks at Dusk. ]

[schrodingerscockroach]

That really is a shame. At least I have a good memory.

[bad_crowmance]

They're too much for people to handle for too long!

[ No, he just doesn't like shorts. ]

[schrodingerscockroach]

The train might have the will to stand such beauty.

[Okay, he's teasing now.]

Dare.

[bad_crowmance]

[ Crow laughs, shaking his head. He's definitely having fun with it. ]

I dare you to loudly and dramatically admit something to someone. It can be anything you want, as long as it's extremely dramatic.

[schrodingerscockroach]

Loudly and dramatically admit something, huh?

[GOD, what even would it be.]

[Give him a minute, there is so much dramatic, but what would be fun. Because if you're going to be dramatic, it should be fun.]

[bad_crowmance]

[ He nearly said "confess" but thought the better of it. ]

Yep! Anything you want.

[schrodingerscockroach]

[He doesn't have a lot to confess either way.]

Oh! Got it.

[And then]

[Hands are on Crow's shoulders.]

[And giving Crow the most intense and serious look.]

I can't hide it any longer Crow.

[bad_crowmance]

[ LIKE ROMANTICALLY.

Crow gives him a wide-eyed look, clearly playing into it. ]

What... what is it?

[schrodingerscockroach]

[....listen, he's still under the Charm, he could and would do it.]

I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. [And he's being loud. Not screaming, but he knows how to project his voice to be heard across the room.] I saw you so scared, in so much pain, I didn't know what else I could do!

[Letting go of his shoulders, turning away and putting a hand over his heart.] But I couldn't just walk away. I didn't know any way to end your suffering, but I thought-maybe-just maybe! I could keep you from suffering after the fact. To not be eaten by guilt and misery!

I had to do it even though it hurt you.

It was me, I'm the one who took your guns!

1/4.

[bad_crowmance]

[bad_crowmance]

[bad_crowmance]

Look, I wasn't scared.

[ This is an important clarification. ]

Done.

[bad_crowmance]

So can I have my guns back now?

Re: Done.

[schrodingerscockroach]

You were surrounded by monsters, who isn't scared?

[And the anguished look is gone and he picks up his drink.]

Yeah, I just wanted to make sure you were done hallucinating. In case there was other stuff impairing your judgement. One's in my room, but I got the other wrapped up with my stuff.

The rock didn't bruise you too bad, did it?