The Nineteenth Trial

[hot_mess_express]

Who: Everyone
When: Day 43, evening
Where: The Mermaid's Beach

Come on, come on heroes...! Come hither!

[ There's a playful giggle and the sound of splashing as the Mermaid's beach appears in the clearing. ]

Let's play a game...!

Comments

[schrodingerscockroach]

Of course he went with that kind of bet. [Sigh.]

Well, I'm all for winning. What do you need?

[time5kip]

[ he's just up and handing him his bingo card so he can check for himself ]

I don't even know how to begin with the roleplay one and there are some spots I don't want to cover with just about anyone.

[schrodingerscockroach]

Pick a character and stick to it. Like the posh gentleman, the valley girl, the drill Sargent, things like that.

Any of those squares ones you'd be fine doing with me? [Comparing them now, holding them so Five can see.]

[time5kip]

You getting enough squares is an essential part of us winning this game. I'm fine doing each and every one with you, if you want to make it quick.

We can start with the ones we share.

[schrodingerscockroach]

Fair. [Shrugs.]

Use a cheesy pick up line, I have give an order and you follow an order, talk about your most important person, say one thing you like about yourself, beg for something, pet someone for five minutes, confess to someone, the roleplay, beg for something, and give a mass-why do you have that twice?

[time5kip]

Someone's idea of a sense of humor - or people here are really stressed. Either of, really.

I'll start roleplaying a kid who's extremely enthusiastic about these task. [ Give him a second, he's clearing his throat and getting into character and then ]

Gee, do I love social gatherings. My very favourite thing in the world.

[ it's completely deadpan ]

[schrodingerscockroach]

...well, I mean, there are a lot of stressed out people.

[He snorts.] Such enthusiasm.

[Considers.] Well, I said it, might as well.

[Straightens himself up a bit more.]

Why, I say, curb your enthusiasm, young lad. [He actually does a pretty good posh gentleman voice.]

[time5kip]

[ There's an actual smile at that because okay, that was definitely funny ]

Well, you know me, 'ol pal. I see people and I can't help but want to interact with them. You know. Get to know them.

Because I love people so much.

[schrodingerscockroach]

A bit of patience, young man. Take time to know people, smell the roses, as it were.

But I do say, we still have a game to play. How about you get me a drink, use that energy productively.

[time5kip]

How daring and wild of you, friend. You know how playful and youthful I am. I might just think of playing a prank on you while on the way there.

[schrodingerscockroach]

That's how you earn the reputation as a rapscallion and scoundrel. I'm sure a friendly lad like you would know better. Now off, that's an order from your elder.

[He knows he's probably gonna get pranked, but hey, it's more squares.]

[time5kip]

[ He totally said that to give him fair warning, but he nods and not for the first time, is annoyed that he can't just blink away to the drinks table. Hopefully this won't last long! So. Off he goes, walking like a normal person.

When he comes back, he's got a cup of coffee for him, which he hands over to him. He kept it tame and there's just salt instead of sugar in. ]

Here. For my esteemed elder.

[schrodingerscockroach]

[Yeah, he's sure there's something in the coffee, so he drinks it with some trepidation.]

[Then he figures out what it is.]

.... [Debates a few seconds.]

[And fuck it, downs it all in one go.]

[time5kip]

[ Now that is not something he expected so he's gonna break character because are you fucking shitting me ]

—Really? Really?

[schrodingerscockroach]

I was in the war. A chap learns to drink what's offered because they've certainly drank worse.

[But he's certainly grinning like a madman even through the poshness.]

[time5kip]

I scavenged for food and drinks for 40 years and even I wouldn't have drank that shit. You're just disgusting.

[schrodingerscockroach]

Twas worth it for the look on your face.

[time5kip]

Right.

[ He needs to get back in character and he sighs after crossing his arms at his chest ]

I forget what a jester you are sometime. You deserve congratulatory petting.

[schrodingerscockroach]

Good lord, no one has been able to segue to that without it being peculiar.

[First the begging, now this.]

[But he'll sit down because he definitely needs to sit down for Five to reach.]

I suppose I could talk about my most important person.

[time5kip]

[ He's giving him a look at that, kind of like "are you sure you want to do that while I'm petting you", but he does initiate the petting regardless ]

I'm listening.

[schrodingerscockroach]

A way to keep the mind of things.

[Will let him pet because he just gets pet a lot, he doesn't even know why, really.]

[He has to actually think a minute because who IS his most important person???]

[Actually, it may be a reprieve because it does take him a minute of thinking, so don't need to do the acting.]

I suspect this answer may change. I have a number of friends and family back home, but it can be hard to pick amnogst them when most things are so far apart. If I was a betting man, it might very well be Tucker. We seem to be closest, though I can't quite pin down as to why.

Here, there's a few people. At least one I don't remember, and another whose quite suspicious. [Because 80H ain't fooling him.] But putting aside the maybes and what ifs, all that supposition a proper gentleman shouldn't use for importance.

I'd say Rean. I don't know if you've met him yet, but he's a delightful chap. He has this way of making things seem more hopeful and while he can be worryingly optimistic, he has a sensible head. At least for situations and how he interacts with people. Mostly. Kind of person prone to heroics, but also a very good friend.

[time5kip]

Seems like your aggressive socialization is working out for you.

[schrodingerscockroach]

At least some of the time.

Though I'm quite the asshole sometimes back home, to the Reds and Blues specifically, so who knows how that all works out, quite the mystery.

[time5kip]

You've mentioned your fear of being a jaded asshole.

[schrodingerscockroach]

Correct. So less aggressive socialization there.

More than likely some presumptuous nonsense.

[Probably getting close to the five minutes for roleplaying now.]