auroraexpress | The Seventeeth Trial

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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

-- 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?

[ 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. ]

[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???]

[ He deserves it!! ]

[ Also, wait ... ]

Huh?

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.

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

[ How can he say that so casually?? ]

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.

[ 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".

He'll get over it.

[SORRY DUSK-OBAASAN]

... [ 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. ]

[. . . 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]

Edited 2019-08-17 20:35 (UTC)

[ ... pfffft ]

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

I think they make strawberry virgin cocktails here.

[TIME TO CHECK]

[he's going to get something coffee-flavored himself]

[ She will follow! And peer over his shoulder. ]

[ ... Or around his shoulder, he's probably taller than her. ]

[ Whispers ] Kitty bartender ...

he is 5'9" so yes, likely he is much taller than her]

[muttering in return]

I know, right? I want to take them home with me.

Wouldn't it make more sense to buy one...? I don't think they're too expensive.

[. . . shrugs]

Any cat I get won't be a bartending cat. What's the point, then?

I bet it could be a bartending cat if you really wanted it to be! Although ... you'd need to buy a bar, too, and find somewhere to put it ...

[ That might get unwieldy. ]

Edited 2019-08-17 21:34 (UTC)

Dusk-obaasan wouldn't let me buy a bar for Clover.

[he is pretty sure]

[although, like. if he really wanted one, even Dusk couldn't stop him]

He can't stop you, and I'd fight him if he tried.

[ he's like three, four times her size. it's fine. it's fine ]

[HONESTY, HE ADMIRES HER SPUNK]

I can't argue with you there.

Good, you shouldn't. We actually did get to a fight the day we both woke up.

[ she says it so casually ... ]

Do you want another dare, by the way?

[. . . that explains why she's named. . . Faito]

Is it kosher to play truth or kiss during a date?

[he sounds amused; that's not a no, but he'd be pretty satisfied just hanging out for the duration of the game. also: virgin strawberry daiquiri, get!]

[for Faito, ofc]

[ It sure does, doesn't it. ]

Thank you~! [ For the drink, which she immediately sips with an appreciative hum. ]

It's not not kosher ... but I'm happy to hang out if you are.

[streeeeetches across the counter, almost like a cat himself]

I'm trying to get to know everyone here a little bit better, now that I've had a few days to earn my bearings.

You came here without memories, right?

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