Trash Squad Day 5 - TRUTH OR DARE

[chinhotta]

Mornin' sweethearts! Come on down to the cafeteria!

[ Today the cafeteria looks different again, most of the tables cleared out and the space full of pillows, blankets, and love sacs of various sizes. Around the time everyone gets there, Vanilla pops up in the front of the room.. ]

Do you know what one of the most important things in a relationship is? Honesty! Do you know what some others are? Trust! Self-confidence! Communication! A sense of adventure! Sexual compatibility!

...What was I talking about? Oh, right! Today's event is truth or dare! You know how it works! Find someone and ask them if they want a truth or a dare! If they pick truth, ask them any question and they have to tell the truth. If they pick dare, tell them do do anything and they have to do it. Then it's their turn. Try to ask around!

And... I've got something special for you!

[ Vanilla pulls a sheet off a table to reveal a bunch of tiny plastic bottles, each about the size to hold one sip of liquid. ]

The blue ones are Vanilla's Famous Vanilla-Flavored One-Shot Truth Serum! One truthful statement guaranteed! The red ones are Sarsaparilla's Tequillas! Pure liquid courage - give yourself the extra kick you need to get out of your comfort zone!

...You don't have to drink these if you trust each other and are confident in yourself, but in the spirit of honesty in our relationship, I'm willing to make a trade. If all these shots are drunk by nighttime, I'll give you proof the people eliminated and disqualified are safe!

[ The truth serum, as you would expect, makes you tell the truth. The "tequillas" aren't actually alcoholic, but they do make you feel much braver. Both generally only last the length of one answer/dare, but some of them might last a little longer... chinchillas don't practice good quality control. ]

—Oh, by the way! Your scores are displayed in your tablets now! They don't include your second dates yet, but we'll keep them updated!

---

Game navigation
FILL OUT YOUR HOT OR NOTS AND DATE RATINGS BY 6PM PST THURSDAY!

Comments

[motorcycle_noises]

[ I should really stop him from doing that, this is a terrible idea, i should really st ]

....Can I see it?

[artisticliberty]

You may, though be forewarned that it's quite rough.

[he lets go of tatsuya's face for a moment to get the sketchbook and show him--a profile view, details hazy but enough there to recognize that it's tatsuya. he's framed by blooming spider lilies]

[motorcycle_noises]

[ Tatsuya reaches to touch the spider lilies. ]

Flowers... I wonder if they have any meaning in flower language.

[ He glances back at Yusuke. ]

You're pretty amazing, you know that?

[artisticliberty]

I... They do. I chose them because they represent nostalgia and treasured memories.

[his fingers curl and uncurl, and he licks his lips as he meets tatsuya's gaze]

I thought it suited the expression you were wearing.

[motorcycle_noises]

[ Tatsuya starts in surprise. ]

You know flower language?

[artisticliberty]

Somewhat. I'm familiar with the language used in traditional Japanese art. Many woodblock prints of the Edo period utilized flowers to give hidden depth to their subjects, especially in portraiture. Some of these techniques inspired late nineteenth- and twentieth-century artists, and so forth.

[motorcycle_noises]

That makes sense.

[artisticliberty]

These flowers... have other meanings, too. They are sometimes associated with loss and death. And I would not wish that on you, but I understand that you have dealt with more than your fair share of grief. So... please think of them as important memories, instead.

[motorcycle_noises]

Important memories.... Yes, that's how I'll think of them.

[artisticliberty]

Good.

... shall we return to the game?

[motorcycle_noises]

[ I'm halfway tempted to kiss y ]

That's probably a good idea.

[artisticliberty]

[:D???]

Let us adjourn, then.

[heads back into the cafeteria]

... I have forgotten whose turn it was.

[motorcycle_noises]

It's my turn, I believe. I'll go with dare.

[artisticliberty]

... I dare you to hold my hand for the next ten minutes.

[motorcycle_noises]

[ Tatsuya's cheeks flush faintly red, but he takes Yusuke's hand in his, lacing their fingers together. ]

....Sure, I can do that.

[artisticliberty]

[he looks too, too pleased. gently, he squeezes tatsuya's hand]

My apologies. I am being transparently selfish.

[motorcycle_noises]

...That's alright. I would've refused if I had a problem with it.

[artisticliberty]

It's your turn. This time, I shall choose... truth.

[motorcycle_noises]

If you could talk to anyone at any point in time over tea, who would it be and why?

[artisticliberty]

[he's quiet for a few moments before replying, in a voice barely above a whisper]

... my mother.

[motorcycle_noises]

[ Tatsuya's silent for a moment. The implications... Tatsuya squeezes Yusuke's hand. ]

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up a painful memory.

[artisticliberty]

It's not that. There is pain associated with her memory, but it has long since faded to something mild. I know she must have been an incredible woman, and I just wish I had had the time to know her. She... passed away when I was still very young, so I barely remember her. But she left me a gift that has been my greatest source of inspiration for most of my life.

[motorcycle_noises]

What gift is that?

[artisticliberty]

A painting. She was an artist like myself, and ever since I was a child, I have been captivated by it. It's a portrait of a woman holding a baby. Only later did I realize that it's a self-portrait of her holding me. You see, the lower half of the image was cropped out and people puzzled for years over the so-called "mystery" of the woman's serene expression.

[motorcycle_noises]

Why was part of the picture cropped?