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

[bluediligence]

[ oH NO ]

[ She makes a small, jerky movement like she really is going to run away - and then just sits down hard right there in the sand ]

[daydreamshimmer]

[She's laughing, sorry, but sitting down beside her.]

I remembered I had a prank square. I hope you will forgive me, my gem.

[bluediligence]

[ pls no bully ]

... You're a menace, geez.

[daydreamshimmer]

I know.

[bluediligence]

[ and she is failing so hard at this roleplay ]

[ deep breath!! ]

Ah, Romance Ore. You ... sure know how to make a girl feel special.

[daydreamshimmer]

I try. You, my dear, are worth the effort.

[bluediligence]

And you're worth the embarrassment. You brighten my day - nay, my life!

[daydreamshimmer]

Oh, my gem, how you make my heart flutter.

[bluediligence]

W-Well, they do say that love gives people wings ...

[ Nobody says that, Faito. ]

[daydreamshimmer]

And you're the wind beneath them.

[bluediligence]

And! You're the sun that shines upon them-!

[daydreamshimmer]

[Preens a bit at that.]

And you're the blue of the sky above.

[bluediligence]

[ fidget, fidget, fidget ]

I don't know what I'd do without your warmth and light.

[daydreamshimmer]

But you are so warm yourself, my jewel. I could stay in your arms for....

Five minutes?

[bluediligence]

For as long as you want, m ... my ... ... ...

L...ove.

[daydreamshimmer]

Oh, what joy.

[And going to spin without letting go of Faito's hand and practically in her lap now.]

[And guiding Faito's other arm around her.]

[bluediligence]

[ ohhhhh my god ]

[ she doesn't stop her, but she sure is holding Very Still. very, very, very still ]

... Yay ...

[daydreamshimmer]

[ACCEPT THE CUTE GIRL FLIRTING WITH YOU]

Relax, my gem. I'm not going to bite.

[bluediligence]

Are you sure about that?

[ Because she isn't! ]

[daydreamshimmer]

Well.

I might if you ask.

[bluediligence]

N-Nope! Nope, I'm very okay with not being bitten, actually!

Pretty sure I've had enough of that already ...

[daydreamshimmer]

What do-

[She starts, looking down at Aoko's arms and for the first time really taking IN the scars on her arms and she can't help, but think]

[What IS the story behind those.]

[And gosh, she can't pull memories that don't exist, but certain magic is definitely suddenly digging to get context for her question.[

[bluediligence]

I've got a lot of weird scars, that's all.

[ The first thing she gets is Faito looking down at herself, seeing the scars not just on her arms, but all over her body. The next is ... well, this ]

[daydreamshimmer]

[Faito might have caught the brief flash of white in her eyes]

[The next thing she's going to know is Solar Flare suddenly jerking away and throwing up in the sand.]

[Well, at least they probably hit the handhold time limit.]

[bluediligence]

[ whoa whOA WHOA ]

H-Hey! Wh ... [ Quickly follows after her, reaching out to hold her hair out of the way and rub her back. ]