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

[voreaciously]

Follow recipes until you are confident you can get by without them. With pizza or many baked goods, ensure you are putting them in the middle o the oven so they can cook evenly. Pizza is not terribly difficult, the sauce and dough will probably be the most difficult and even then not that hard.

[she needs to make a pact so...]

I can help you make one, if you would like. I will simply guide you.

[spectacularluck]

Sorry, but game or not, I'm going to pass. You're kind of the "I do everything!" type of person when we get to do things, and the last thing I want is to have you take over while I'm trying to cook.

And I'm not about to make an empty agreement, so, you're going to have to work harder for that square.

[voreaciously]

I am not with cooking. It is an important skill to learn and I have helped others do the same. That is why I said guide. You would be doing everything yourself, I would only step in to demonstrate how to do something so you can learn for yourself.

[spectacularluck]

I'm still passing.

[voreaciously]

You can say you simply want aught to do with me.

[like she knows that's the case. she doesn't seem bothered by it.]

[spectacularluck]

I didn't say that.

And it would be more reasonable for you to just change this thing into "let's make a different deal then, Peter! I will stop taking over everything and actually share the workload!".

[ look at him dropping his real name there ]

[voreaciously]

You did not have to.

[like, come on now.]

People are welcome to do as they please, it is simply easier if I do, because I do not need to sleep. Further, we had a work schedule, if you will recall, but the people who used to be around to do it are no longer, I simply took over their days.

[and she likes being useful since she is the only jasmine who seems to be especially present. That aside...]

Would you prefer that I call you "Peter"?

[spectacularluck]

No. Stick to Finn.

And maybe people would be more prone to share the workload if you actually asked them to. You're acting like you're a thing and not a person.

[voreaciously]

As you like, Finn-han.

[but as for that other thing.]

...Yes? That is true.

[that's what she is? thank you for noticing.]

[spectacularluck]

See, that's what really pisses me off. I knew you were going to just say that's how it is.

You're right. I want nothing to do with you.

[voreaciously]

Because it is. I have a function and a purpose and I am glad of it. I do not need anything else. I do not understand your anger, though my apologies that you are angry.

[spectacularluck]

[ YOU'RE MAKING IT WORSE ]

Maybe we shouldn't be playing this together.

[voreaciously]

Jasmine is growing smaller by the day, and I will not suffer a loss when fortune would have it that I am not alone. Let us continue and then you will be free of me.

[and with that.]

I hereby swear to continue to respect your identity, no matter how it changes or how you choose to present it.

[there, sucker, she's getting that square, but it's also actually pretty important to her.]

[spectacularluck]

[ He might be feeling a tiny little bit like a dick now, but he's not going to admit it ]

I'll put in minimal effort to win these games since it's obviously important to you.

[voreaciously]

It should be important to everyone. I am not good with others and forming bonds, but I do my best here to compensate. It is how I contribute. I suppose you would have a better time of things outside trials, however, but please do more than minimal, even if it is not with me.

[it's not like she wants to universe to die




most days.]

I like that you appreciate knowledge for its own sake and that you are quite a studious individual.

[spectacularluck]

I like that I'm smart too.

And sometimes I like that you're determined.

[voreaciously]

[she's blindfolded but it's clear she's staring at him for a moment, lips parted.

even if it's for a game, she didn't think he'd ever pay her a compliment, even a conditional one.]

...Thank you. [she checks her card.]

Let us make a wager.

[you could do something real good finn.]

[spectacularluck]

I bet that you won't last 1 month without doing other people's chores.

[voreaciously]

...can I still do my own?

[spectacularluck]

Only once a week.

[voreaciously]

We do not have enough people for that?

[it's like. her him and randy who is probably asleep again?]

You are going to do chores six days a week? That does not seem fair.

[spectacularluck]

... Three times a week!

[ because no, he doesn't want to take over the entire chore list either - that's less studying time ]

[voreaciously]

The truth comes out.

[like she didn't know that either.]

That is three days unaccounted for.

[spectacularluck]

I'll take care of two, and one we leave as is. We leave the place dirty. And messy.

[voreaciously]

[so five days now, huh.]

That is disgusting.

[hnnngh]

Very well.