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]

[ She lets go easily, bouncing a bit as she steps back ]

Thanks! And, you know, double thanks for teaching me. It really was a lot of fun.

[time5kip]

... You're welcome.

[ at this rate he's gonna be like two steps away from adoption papers ]

Tell anyone I taught you and I'm going to claw my eyeballs out. I'm trying to keep a reputation.

[bluediligence]

[ he might need to fight dusk for them ]

Ehehe, don't worry; your secret's safe with me.

[time5kip]

[ It's okay he's adopting them both ]

You can do the massage. But make it quick.

[bluediligence]

[ uwaaa ]

Really? I owe you big time! [ you're so good to her, five ] How do you wanna do it-?

[time5kip]

What's the less intimate option you can think of for massaging someone?

[bluediligence]

[ Thoughtful hum ... ]

Hand or arm, probably.

[time5kip]

Arm.

[ He didn't like the hand one, so. That's better ]

Like I said, make it quick.

[bluediligence]

Got it!

[ Holds out a hand, and, once he's offered his arm over, she'll give him a brief massage. very brief, like she's doing the minimum required for it to class as a massage. ]

[ (though she is, for the record, Pretty Good at them in general) ]

[time5kip]

[ He's not as tense as he's been for like literally every other massage, but there's still noticeable tension at the touch even if he didn't have any problem with initiating the dance ]

... You're good.

[bluediligence]

[ Glances up at him with a small smile. ]

I think I've done it before. It feels familiar.

[ She can feel that he's tense, though, and she pulls away before too long. ]

[time5kip]

[ Thanks Faito he appreciates it ]

Muscle memory again?

[bluediligence]

Uh huh.

[ Looks at her hands, wiggling her fingers a bit. ]

It's weird, but I'm not gonna complain.

[time5kip]

Makes things easier. It's something to count on while your memories are gone, if nothing else.

[bluediligence]

Exactly! There's always a bright side!

[time5kip]

Not always. Definitely not always.

[bluediligence]

[ hmmnnnn ]

... You really think that?

[time5kip]

I don't think that. I know that. And as endearing as your naive optimism is, it's not going to do you any favors to think that.

[bluediligence]

[ Scratches her cheek ]

Well ... maybe there's not always a bright side, but still. I'd rather focus on what I can do to get the best possible end.

[time5kip]

That's better. Blind optimism won't take you far. But determination and the will to act can.

[bluediligence]

Then it's a good thing I've got a whole lot of both! I'm called Faito for a reason, you know.

[ hint: it's because she's a nerd ]