auroraexpress | The Nineteenth Trial

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.

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.

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.]

[ 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.

[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.]

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

—Really? Really?

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.]

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

Twas worth it for the look on your face.

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.

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.

[ 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.

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.

Seems like your aggressive socialization is working out for you.

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.

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

Correct. So less aggressive socialization there.

More than likely some presumptuous nonsense.

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

You, presumptuous? I can't even begin to imagine that. I just see the good in all people and nothing else. You know, like the good fun loving lad I am.

I am a refined gentleman with a discerning eye for character and situations.

[Pretends to adjust a monocle.]

[ That actually gets him another smile so good job there ]

I'd say I've been a presumptuous asshole myself, and I've been. But, you know. Kind of a natural consequence of being smarter and more capable than most people. I've met my match from time to time, sure, but not often.

Guess that counts as something I like about myself. I can rely on me more than I can rely on anyone else.

[....you know, that might have been why he was an asshole to the Reds and Blues after hearing Five say it like that.]

[Also concerning it's not just self reliance, but more than other people, but that's a thing to work on.]

Being self sufficient is very good.

[Yeah, probably been five minutes now for roleplaying.]

I like having the mental fortitude to do what needs to be done. Let's me keep the people important to me safe.

Or throw my dignity under the bus.

The more we talk with any degree of sincerity and the more annoyed I get with how similar we are.

I was just thinking the same thing.

Well, not the annoyed part, that's more bemusement.

You'd be more annoyed if you had your actual memories. Makes it easier to go full self-deprecating when you see yourself on someone else.

[ There's a long pause as he considers his next plan of action and then, eventually ]

I can talk about the most important person in my life and tell you a secret afterwards. They're tied.

...maybe.

[Listen, there is a lot of anger and frustration in his memories, and he's had issues with guilt. It's pretty easy for him to believe it.]

Okay.

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