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

[voreaciously]

It is your turn, I believe.

[schrodingerscockroach]

I dare you....to sing something on stage.

[voreaciously]

[She is silent for many moments.]

Very well.

[schrodingerscockroach]

[Why does that get a pause.]

Okay.

[voreaciously]

[any trace of a playful mood is gone and as she walks toward the stage, there is something sombre about her gait, like she's walking to the gallows.

She starts to sing in the microphone but it's very, very quiet. It is Habanera from Carmen, but it is nearly impossible to tell. Her voice is scratchy and off. Once, once, there's a moment, a set of notes that ring clear and it is a tremendously beautiful sound, brilliant, like lightning arcing across the night sky, strong and effortlessly worthy of attention, but it is gone just as quick and she is back to quiet, awful murmuring until the song is complete.]

[schrodingerscockroach]

[That is]

[That is certainly A Thing.]

[He's just watching her as she gets off stage, studying her, a look of concern on his face.]

Are you okay?

[voreaciously]

[she does not answer for a moment. she holds herself up high but there is a tension that was not there before.]

Yes, I am fine. Let us continue. I dare you to construct a pyramid of glasses that is eight by eight at the base.

[schrodingerscockroach]

[It says something when it's clear 80H is a mess of a person, but this is what actually seems to have her shaken.]

[What the fuck even.]

[But if it's that bad, it's not something to push right away, especially not in a trial.]

All right.

[Time to get glasses and clear out a space on the floor to work.]

I dare you to tell me your most entertaining Jasmine story.

[Hard subject change from singing.]

[voreaciously]

[she has none

she could bs it but she doesn't feel like it.]

I almost beheaded my teammate, once.

[that counts righ]

[schrodingerscockroach]

....you and I have very different definitions of entertaining.

[voreaciously]

Can it not be entertaining even if it is dramatic?

[schrodingerscockroach]

Traumatic usually counters entertaining.

[Building up this pyramid.]

[voreaciously]

I see. Well, if it is of any comfort, I did not do it, as stated.

[ssssssssssssssssssssssomeone else did.]

That is my most entertaining story. I do not get along with my teammates, for the most part.

[schrodingerscockroach]

....a bit. [Not really.]

Really? Why's that?

[voreaciously]

I have a terrible personality.

[she says this like it is obvious]

After you are finished, I dare you to dance.

[schrodingerscockroach]

Still not seeing it.

Got it. [Stacking takes time. Even if he's got a good rhythm for it.]

[voreaciously]

You do not see me as often. Nor do you have to live with me.

[schrodingerscockroach]

Still pretty dubious on that. Especially considering how your teammates are. They don't seem terribly easy to drive off.

[voreaciously]

[she would laugh if she laughed]

You would be wrong on that. But it does not matter.

[schrodingerscockroach]

Hm.

I dare you to tell me about the most complex project you've ever completed. Hobby, job, whatever.

[voreaciously]

One of my dolls, certainly, she is a combat model. Her name is Desdemona. She can channel magic and her guiding system is the smoothest I have ever designed.

[gradually she sounds...a little better. Pleased? To be speaking about this.]

[schrodingerscockroach]

Channel magic and a guidance system? Those are really impressive dolls. Anything else about her?

[voreaciously]

She is beautiful, very elegant. Her reaction times are in the top percentile the delay is incredibly minimal.

[schrodingerscockroach]

That is impressive. Is she like....just a magic creation, or is there tech involved too?

[voreaciously]

That is a misnomer, there is often technology in magic and magic in technology. It is a process with much engineering and uses many disciplines.