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

[bluediligence]

I like the way you think, Twilight! ... Twilight-kun...?

[ how does one honorifics in magical multidimensional train-land ]

[survivaltricks]

[OH MOOD, HE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM]

Just Twilight. Or, you know, Spark. Otherwise it's too formal.

[bluediligence]

Ehh, but Twilight is so much cooler! It's almost mysterious.

[ Claps her hands together. ]

I've been trying to figure out whether or not I should use honorifics for days now ...

[survivaltricks]

[his mouth twitches but he honestly doesn't mind Twilight, so. no arguments there]

Dusk was pretty clear I shouldn't use them with him, so I dropped them for everyone. No one has seemed to mind.

[bluediligence]

He was? Huh ... [ Brings a hand to her chin, suddenly super extremely thoughtful. ] Not even Dusk-okāsan? Or Dusk-tan?

[ HUM. ]

I haven't heard anyone use them since I got here, come to think of it. I guess dropping them would make the most sense.

[survivaltricks]

[. . . HEH]

I found that "mom" works just fine.

[clearly dunking on Dusk is a fun pastime]

I think you should do whatever makes you most comfortable. But you definitely don't have to use them.

[bluediligence]

Dusk-rin, Du-rin ... Wait, isn't that a fruit? No - Dusk-chama ... Mama Dusk! "Mom" words too, I guess. [ It's just not quite as fun. ]

[ Because, yeah. Dunking on Dusk is a great pastime. ]

That's the thing, though. I can't decide at all. It's like ... it feels like I'm out of practice with it?

[survivaltricks]

[he thinks it's fun!1]

Or the best one of all: Dusk-obaasan.

[SPARK!!]

And out of practice. . . in not using them?

1/3

[bluediligence]

[ omg did he just ]

[bluediligence]

[ SNORTS WITH LAUGHTER ]

[ excuse her, please ]

[bluediligence]

I wanna dare you to call him that for the whole of the rest of this game!

[ As for his question - she nods ]

Yeah. Kind of? I used honorifics all the time in my memories, but it's ... [ Waves a hand! ] I don't know. It's like it's been a while.

[survivaltricks]

Is that an official dare, or a declaration of intent?

[HE WILL DO IT]

[in the meantime, a thoughtful hum. this may seem like a non-sequitur, but—]

Kiss or dare, Faito?

[bluediligence]

Hold that thought!

[ Because — ]

Hit me with your best dare.

[survivaltricks]

Well, it's not my best, but. . .

I dare you to avoid using honorifics with anyone for the duration of the game.

[bluediligence]

[ She's taken aback for a second - but then she grins. ]

Got it! Kiss or dare?

[survivaltricks]

[another twitch of his lips, another barely there smile, and he lifts his hand like he is going to adjust a pair of glasses that. . . aren't there, oops]

Dare.

[NATURALLY]

[bluediligence]

I dare you~ ... to refer to Dusk as Mama Dusk-obaasan for the whole of the rest of the game, no matter who you're talking to.

[survivaltricks]

Challenge accepted.

A pleasure doing business with you, Faito.

[bluediligence]

You're my new favourite.

[ she loves being a little shit sometimes ok ]

Give me another dare.

[survivaltricks]

Aw. I feel honored.

[he shifts his hand like he’s reaching for his glasses again, only to drop it back to his side. he super needs to invest in a new pair]

I dare you to sing karaoke on stage. Just one song is enough.

[bluediligence]

[ He's done that twice now ... ]

Okay! Back in a minute!

[ TIME TO BELT OUT A CLASSIC, and sweep into a perfect showman's bow once she's done. ]

[survivaltricks]

[old habits die hard. . .!]

[SHE IS, OF COURSE, GETTING POLITE APPLAUSE WHEN SHE IS FINISHED]

[bluediligence]

Thank you, thank you!

[ Skips back over to him. ]

Sorry to ask a weird question out of nowhere, but, Twilight, could it be that you need glasses?

[survivaltricks]

[blinks a few times]

Hm? Ah— no, actually. I can see just fine.

But I do remember wearing glasses back home. Maybe they were just a fashion accessory?

[bluediligence]

[ Glasses as a fashion accessory?? ]

Huuuuuuh ... [ Peers at him, tilting her head. ] ... You would look pretty cute in them. Or! Maybe you were in disguise!