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

[schrodingerscockroach]

Well, yeah, if we're talking stories, it's always nicer when they end happily. Just nicer when it does have something 'real' in the relationship too.

[awakenerd]

Definitely. But I think that's part of a good story. Characters that make sense, that you can imagine are real, making choices you can understand. A good story will make you involved in the romance, believe they're meant for each other regardless of what they face.

[schrodingerscockroach]

[Nods.] Exactly. If you're going to have a romance in the story, gotta make it so we like them being in love.

A lot of media seemed to miss that. Or just relied on the sex appeal part. [Which is just confusing.]

I think it's your turn to dare though. [There is a Trial, after all.]

[awakenerd]

Does it?

[He can't remember that much or if that's a thing he encountered, but it sounds disappointing.]

Ah. You're right though. Okay. I dare you to say three nice things about yourself that you normally wouldn't admit.

[schrodingerscockroach]

Action movies are the biggest ones who do that. [It's most disappointing. Really, whose focused on kissing when someone is trying to kill you or the world is ending????]

....

[Hand on his chin.]

[Thinking]

[THINKING REAL HARD]

[awakenerd]

[He grins as he waits, fully content to give Dusk a minute to come up with something.]

Take your time.

[schrodingerscockroach]

....okay, so.

Do you mean nice as in it's emotionally and objectively a good thing?

Cause the only thing that is 'I don't normally admit' and is 'definitely nice' is I guess people think I'm hot, so I guess I'm hot?

[awakenerd]

Whatever nice things you can think of really. And it's true, you're an attractive guy.

I was thinking more things youblike about yourself but if you'd admit anything that works too.

[schrodingerscockroach]

Well, I have plenty of things I like about myself that are nice things, but I also don't have a problem admitting to it. The hot thing I'm just dubious on because scars and gray hair, but.... [Shrugs.] I guess it is true people can like that sort of look.

But if we go with things I like about myself that I wouldn't normally admit...

I like I know how to break into places stealthily and quickly.

I like I know how to end a fight quickly. [Which is also pretty fatal a lot.]

[So less 'nice' so don't as readily admit he likes he can do it.]

[awakenerd]

Attractive comes in many forms you know. You definitely are even if you don't see it.

And having pride in your skills, that's good.

[He sees nothing wrong with pride in skills no matter how shady.]

It means you feel they're on a level worth feeling good about after all. A good guy to take on a dangerous mission.

[schrodingerscockroach]

People do like to say that. [Shrugs. It's not like he hates how he looks, just doesn't see it.]

Well, yeah. Sometimes to make good things happen, someone has to do something bad. It's something to judge on a case by case basis, but all the more reason someone who wants to do good should have those skills. So they're only done when they have to be.

But it does make me sound like a criminal, so better to not admit I like how good I am.

[awakenerd]

A criminal or, you know, a convert operative.

[Like. You are.]

But fair enough. It's not really something you want to go explaining.

[schrodingerscockroach]

Which are not mutually exclusive things. Like half my memories, I'm breaking laws. I'm pretty sure taking Doc prisoner wasn't even part of the mission, I just wanted a medic with us.

Did learn I don't do that much at least, I'm terrible at it. He kept sassing me.

Out of context, I just sound like a psycho.

[awakenerd]

...So maybe you're a little unreasonable sometimes.

[schrodingerscockroach]

A bit. But I was worried about something being wrong with Maine, so Medic.

We were just dragging him around the desert without even being in cuffs, so it was really haphazard.

[awakenerd]

Is that really even kidnapping?

[schrodingerscockroach]

I did threaten his life after he sassed me long enough.

He didn't take it very seriously which I don't know what that says about him, but he's also not the weirdest person I've remembered.

[awakenerd]

I feel like this doesn't need to be said but you know asking people to help is generally more effective than kidnapping and threats. Generally.

Well I assume ir worked out at least.

[schrodingerscockroach]

May not have been an option. If I took him prisoner, we probably weren't on the same side. Or maybe I was doing some real questionable mission and wasn't acting officially.

Probably. I....think it was a while ago? It's a little harder to tell because I think I had just been injured pretty recently before hand judging by the pain.

It might have been right before I met the Reds and Blues? I know I'm with them a while and-oh right.

Okay, I dare you to tell me three things you like about yourself before I tell you about Church because I think Church is why I'm used to magic.

[awakenerd]

...

[He sighs but it'd be dumb to refuse the dare he gave even if he's really embarrassed and it's actually kinda hard.]

I guess I like that I'm strong. And that I'm a good cook. And... [hm "useful" sounds too much like 80H how to phrase it.] I know I have a fair number of skills and talents. So I guess that makes me well-rounded interest wise, and it's easy to find common ground with people.

1/?

[schrodingerscockroach]

[Turn about is fair play.]

You really should be ready to compliment yourself more, you deserve it.

[Pause.] Hm. Actually....okay, Crow gave me this dare.

[schrodingerscockroach]

[Crow dared him, if you're not prepared, what are you doing with your life]

[But going down on a knee in front of Rean, taking his hands.]

Rean.

Your kindness always bring light and warmth to any room your in. You are a comforting presence and you make things feel like they'll get better just given a little time.

You're smart, you're really cute when you're flustered, but you also make it really hard to not kiss you when you're snarking back. You're beautiful and cool and somehow really smart and adorably oblivious at once. You're patient and forgiving and know how to adapt to some weird situations.

In short, you're one of the most amazing people I've ever met.

And I've fallen head over heels for you.

[And then gonna kiss the back of his hand affectionately.]

Done

[schrodingerscockroach]

[And then back on his feet.]

Sorry, needed to get that out of the way.

[AND THEN MAYBE CROW WILL STOP BEING DUMB.]

1/?

[awakenerd]

[Even with the warning that it's a Crow dare he wasn't prepared?]

[awakenerd]

[Hey?

Hey man you can't just do that?]