The Fifth Trial

[hot_mess_express]

Who: ALL
When: Day 11, noon
Where: Outer Space

Come hither, Heroes. Prove thy worth.

[ That familiar silence befalls everything following the call, and just like before the third trial there’s a glittering void, points of light twinkling in the air. As you step into the space it expands, seeming to consume you, the Aurora, and all that exists in general. There’s a feeling of vertigo as this happens, frozen lights swirling all about you and once again it's all accompanied by obnoxious giggling.

This time, however, when the darkness fades, you're...

Back inside of the Aurora? No, this is actually an entirely different train. Outside the windows, you can only see wispy, dancing lights illuminating the surroundings, which you can't quite make out. The doors outside don't open. ]

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Comments

[fisherofmen]

[




starts walking up the ice ]

First of all, I do care! Secondly, what even happened?

[voreaciously]

Talk to our teammates about it. I have more pressing matters to attend.

[like sulking]

[fisherofmen]

But I want to hear it from you, too.

[ . . . ]

80H, why are you so strange with me? Did I do something to you?

[voreaciously]

[she stops for a moment. just one.

then decides no, she's not going to do this because she will make a black box reaction seem like a spark if she pursues this.]

You have not done anything to me. We've only recently become acquainted, after all.

[casually used the name he never ha]

[fisherofmen]

Yet you're so cold to me.

[ he is gaining on her, climbing over the ice easily ]

[voreaciously]

I am like this with everyone. It is the height of vanity to consider yourself specially exempt.

[fisherofmen]

Yeah, but you'll say strange words, too! Like, what's a shirosen?

[voreaciously]

[









fuck's sake. She cannot even hurt him properly. Has she ever? No, probably not. He always comes out on top.]

Ahhhh, that is right, that is right. Truly I should give up.

[fisherofmen]

Give up on what?

[voreaciously]

Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

[fisherofmen]

See? This is the sort of thing I mean! You talk like you know so much more, like - like I'm supposed to know something!

[voreaciously]

You are not supposed to know anything.

[fisherofmen]

[ kicking at the ice ]

Then stop treating me like I'm supposed to! Stop sidetalking at me! Why don't you just be honest!

[voreaciously]

[



honest]

I will do you one better and simply cease speaking to you.

[SOLVES ALL THE PROBLEMS.]

[fisherofmen]

How in the world is that doing me one better!?

[voreaciously]

[listen.]

There will be no more expectations to fail.

[fisherofmen]

Is that really your concern here!?

[voreaciously]

We cannot hurt each other if we do not interact with one another.

[Find, a concession.]

Beyond what is necessary.

[as to be dictated by her, obvs.]

This is not.

[she is bad]

[fisherofmen]

Just what part of 'my teammate is injured after a trial and I'm trying to be there for her' is unnecessary?

[voreaciously]

All of it. I am fine. See to Mister Orlando, if you must.

[fisherofmen]

[ narrows his eyes briefly ]

Gods, you really just want to be a liability, don't you?

hey...that's mean...

[voreaciously]

[yeah that gets her to pause you manipulative shit.]

Excuse me?

:)

[fisherofmen]

You run away from your teammates trying to help you. You have to be "subdued" by being shot by your own teammate, or so I hear. You won't talk to anyone, you aren't honest, you only shut down.

I'm not the best teammate here, but I'm trying my best. But you act like this, you shut me out like that, and I'm not going to be able to trust you in a trial. You're sorely mistaken if you think that this isn't necessary, because that's what this entire ordeal is all about - passing the trials, making bonds, saving the universe, getting our memories back, going home.

You, shutting me down like this? That achieves none of that. And I can work with everyone else on my team, and I can do all of that, but everything you're doing here just makes you a liability. Something to work around. You just want to be an inconvenience to everyone, don't you?

don't u smile at me

[voreaciously]

[she pauses and stares him, eyes a little wide as she stares past him, through him. this would have been a bitter pill to swallow if it came from anyone else, but maybe, maybe she would have swallowed it. she is supposed to be useful.

maybe she would have realised she is backsliding, because she learned better.

maybe she would change. maybe she would properly explain herself, her intent, what she hoped to achieve.

maybe she would stop holding kuuha's crimes against whoever this person is.

but she cannot.]

Fine. I am useless. Would that I could throw myself in a trash compactor. Alas.

heh

[fisherofmen]

Alas, you can't.

So, shape up already.