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

[time5kip]

Five is good enough. My father's been the only one who ever used "Number" as well.

[ Following, since she's going, and then it hits him that maybe he should try to be a decent person if she's helping him with a second card ]

I can turn around and just hand you my clothes for the exchange.

[bluediligence]

Five it is, then.

[ ??? His father calls him a number?? That seems rude as fuck - but it's not her business to pry. ]

That works for me. Thanks. Ah, and I guess this counts for following an order ...

[time5kip]

The order was "Give me your clothes", actually, so you were already following one.

[ He's going to turn around so he's not seeing her undress, and starts getting his clothes off as well. He doesn't actually care about whether people see or not so he's just. Doing it fast and quick before he simply leaves the pile of clothes on the floor for her to grab ]

But I'll need to follow a second one myself, since I took the card after you already issued yours.

[bluediligence]

[ She takes hers off one at a time, quickly replacing whatever she removed with something of his so she's never naked naked. ]

[ hopefully he doesn't mind short skirts. ]

How about ... I order you to take a selfie with me!

[time5kip]

[ He braved shorts he can brave short skirts. He's not happy about it, but he's doing it.

THEN HE HEARS HER ORDER. ]

—While wearing each others' clothes? Jesus, that's messed.

[bluediligence]

Eh? Ah-! We, we can change back first, if you're not comfortable-!

[ good job thinking that one through, faito ]

[time5kip]

I don't rock a skirt as well as my brother does, so yes. I'd rather change again first.

[bluediligence]

That's fine-! Sorry, I didn't think that one through ...

[time5kip]

Not so good at giving orders, are you?

[bluediligence]

I can give orders just fine! Most of the time! ... Sometimes, maybe ...

[ SIGHS ]

[ But, okay. She's dressed now. ]

[time5kip]

[ He's going to turn around to look at her now that she's dressed up, and he doesn't really bother to hide the fact that yes, he's staring up and down.

And eventually ]

Did it hurt when you fell from heaven?

[bluediligence]

[ she's lightly plucking at the pants, making a Face. Ugh, pants. ]

- what?

[ ??? ]

[time5kip]

[ He's at least only an inch taller than her so their sizes aren't terribly unmatched ]

It's a pickup line. Had a square for it.

[bluediligence]

Oh! Oh, I knew that. [ No she didn't. ]

[ Clears her throat. ]

Ahem. Oh, Five, you're the one for me.

[time5kip]

You're only saying that because of the skirt.

[bluediligence]

Not at all! Your eyes drew me in from the start, and, uh ...


Uhhhm.

... Yeah.

[time5kip]

Could never work between us. You're too young for me and you should keep to guys your age.

[ Is he joking or is he serious. Who knows. ]

I'm considering this enough reprimandation.

[bluediligence]

Too ... young? You're older than me?

[time5kip]

My body's 13, my consciousness is 58. Doubt you're any older than what - sixteen?

[bluediligence]

Ohhh, wow. That must be a pain.

[ Imagine, being that old but looking that young. ]

As for me, I don't know for sure. I think I'm closer to twenty than fifteen.

[time5kip]

Doesn't make much of a difference.

You don't have your memories then?

[bluediligence]

Eh? Really?

[ But she nods. ]

Yup. I've got seven so far, and from what I remember, I wouldn't have had any abilities to lose anyway.

[time5kip]

Being twenty instead of fifteen means you're just barely out of childhood.

[bluediligence]

Oh! So that's what you were referring to.

[ She doesn't seem to be offended, though. ]

You're not wrong. A kid is a kid, in the end.

[time5kip]

[ He didn't actually mean to offend, and it was just a statement. But he's still pleasantly surprised that she agrees instead of getting defensive ]

Pretty much. But the good news is that age doesn't have anything to do with whether we can complete this bullshit card or not.