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]

Touché.

[ after a little hesitation ... hnnnghh okay, fine ]

[ brb ]

[ when she comes back, she's wearing a very accurate costume! which, yeah, say hi to a whole fuckton of scars ]

[survivaltricks]

[. . . WELL]

[WELL!!]

[it's probably rude to comment on someone's scars, especially if they're self conscious about them, but that doesn't mean he doesn't notice them. it reminds him of Dusk, actually, and he just. . . pauses]

[and gives her a thumbs up]

You look cute.

[that, at the very least, is earnest]

[bluediligence]

[ She's not as self-conscious as she could be, all things considered. As weird and mysterious and concerning as they are, they're just scars ... and whatever caused them, she survived. ]

[ That's the most important thing. ]

[ She still blushes though, because of course she does. ]

Ah, thanks ... I feel impractical. [ Plucks at the skirt. ] I dare you to go put those iconic undies on. Over your pants.

[survivaltricks]

[damn it, his attempts at finding a loophole failed. but he just seems amused]

Give me credit for trying. Be right back—

[time to vanish into the closet again]

[and emerge again in the same outfit. . . but with ICONIC RED SUPERMEN UNDIES]

[bluediligence]

[ TWO THUMBS UP ]

That's more like it! Waa, it's a good look for you.

[ heh ]

Hit me with another dare.

[survivaltricks]

[TWO THUMBS UP]

Thanks. I feel super stylish.

[he feels ridiculous but he has NERVES OF STEEL so it is, like. barely fazing him]

I dare you to. . . [trails off; he likes to keep things easy until he gauges the other person's comfort levels, but!! Faito seems OPEN TO CHALLENGES]

Ask someone out on a date.

[LIKE THOSE]

1/3

[bluediligence]

[bluediligence]

[ wh ]

3/4 SORRY

[bluediligence]

[ ask someone out on a DATE???? ]

[bluediligence]

... T-Twilight! [ GRABS BOTH OF HIS HANDS ]

Go out with me! On a date!

1/2

[survivaltricks]

[oh my god]

[survivaltricks]

[C-CRACKS UP]

[he has the. . . politeness. . . to turn away from her and try to hide his laughter with one hand, though. i'm sorry faito. i'm so sorry]

[bluediligence]

[ jesus CHRIST ALMIGHTY she is turning absolutely scarlet ]

[ lets go of him like she's been burned tbh and buries her head in her hands, oh no ]

oh my god shut up it's not that funny!

[survivaltricks]

-- sorry!

[sheepish, and he turns back towards her, rubbing the back of his neck]

You seemed like a woman open to challenges, so I couldn't help but tease a little bit. Was that too far?

[bluediligence]

[ Huffs!! And punches him in the arm. ]

I'm gonna wreck all of your punchlines from now on. All of them. And you'll deserve it!

[ She. She's still blushing. She may never stop. ]

[survivaltricks]

[rocks back with the force of the punch, but like. yeah okay. that's fair]

I'll take my lumps like a man.

-- but also, sure.

[sure to what???]

[bluediligence]

[ He deserves it!! ]

[ Also, wait ... ]

Huh?

[survivaltricks]

Sure, I'll go on that date with you.

[HE SAYS THAT SO EASILY]

We're in a bar; we might as well make the most out of it.

[bluediligence]

W-W-Wait, really? Just like that-?

[ How can he say that so casually?? ]

[survivaltricks]

Sure.

[possibly because he has a very mature and easygoing viewpoint on, you know. dates]

If you want. There's no pressure to actually follow through, though. Actually going on the date wasn't part of the dare.

[bluediligence]

[ He's so calm(??) and mature(???!!) about this, oh no?? ]

[ For a moment she flounders, unsure, but then - ]

S-Sure. I mean, it could be fun, right...? If nothing else, I bet Dusk'd make a funny face if he found out we were on a "date".

[survivaltricks]

He'll get over it.

[SORRY DUSK-OBAASAN]

[bluediligence]

... [ Fistpump! ]

Even if he doesn't, and, honestly, it'd be funnier if he didn't, it's fine! We're teenagers. Teenage rebellion is a thing. [ Nod, nod. ]

[survivaltricks]

[. . . snorts!]

Then, can I buy you a drink?

[a beat, and he repeats with air quotes]

"Buy" you a "drink."

[since a) they're free and b) he'll just get her something non-alcoholic]

[bluediligence]

[ ... pfffft ]

Sure. I'll take anything they've got that's strawberry-flavoured!