"I do not play games!"
"O come on, Halt. This game is really funny. I spent an entire day preparing it!"
"Then you need this afternoon to catch up with your paperwork!"
"And I brought Arridian coffee!"
"Are you trying to bribe me, commandant?"
Crowley opened to the door en pushed Halt inside.
"Good catch Crowley!" Pauline grinned. "Now sit down Halt, it's good to spend some time relaxing and enjoying with friends during the holidays. Be quiet please, so Crowley can explain us the rules."
Halt looked around for help.
"Sit down Halt. That's an order from your king." Duncan spoke. Finally Halt gave in and sat down between Horace and his wife. Cassandra handed him a mug of coffee.
"Ok, listen everybody. This game is called Who am I?. Pauline, Halt, Horace and Cassandra, you will be team one. Alyss, Will, Jenny and Gilan, you will be team 2. Duncan agreed to be the jury. And I am your quiz master!" Crowley jumped around the room in excitement. "There will be four rounds with a… different types of personalities. When it's your turn, your job is to find out who you are."
"I am Halt." Halt tried to stand up but was pulled back to the couch by Pauline and Horace.
"Thank you." Crowley said to Pauline and Horace. He continued: "I show the other team a note with your name. You may ask them any question that can be answered with "yes" or "no". All questions must be answered truthfully. Duncan will see to that. Your team members are allowed to help you. After five minutes, I'll ask you who you are. If your answer is correct, your team scores one point. Questions? No questions! Great! Shall we start?"
"I'll go first Crowley." Pauline said.
"Excellent, excellent!" Crowley looked as if he was about to get a laughing fit. "The first round is animals!". He walked over to Alyss and gave her the first note. She smirked when she read it and passed it on to Will. "This is going to be interesting…" Will said handing the note to Jenny. Gilan looked over her shoulder and started giggling. Then he passed the note to Duncan. Crowley looked at Pauline: "Are you ready"? Pauline nodded.
"Alyss, am I a pet?"
"A pet?" Alyss looked at Will.
"Answering questions with questions…" Halt sighted. "Don't you know what a pet is? An animal owned by a person and living under his roof! Crowley, wh.."
"I am sorry, Halt. Yes, Pauline, you are a pet." Alyss interrupted Halt while Horace kept him seated.
"Will, am I cute?"
Will looked at his teammates, exchanging grins. "The cutest of the household!"
"Jury! Questions should be answered with 'yes' or 'no'." Halt looked annoyed.
"No Halt, it should be possible to answer the questions with 'yes' or 'no'. But the answer only has to be truthful." Duncan replied.
"It was a stupid question anyway! Who cares if animals are cute? All newborn animals look cute." "And all old ones look grim and act moody my dear?" Pauline asked.
"Jenny, do you serve me in your restaurant?"
"Your kind is not favoured by most people, but you're definitely edible." Jenny answered.
"Although you might be a little too old to taste good." Gilan added with a serious face. Crowley giggled and Pauline noted Duncan hiding a smile.
"May I ask a question, Pauline?" Evanlyn winked at Pauline. Pauline nodded.
"Gilan, do you consider whatever Pauline is an intelligent being?"
"Yes. More than his owner!" Jenny punched him but Duncan remained silent.
"I suspected that".
Horace looked surprised at his wife. She leaned over to him and whispered something in his ear. He glanced at Halt en Pauline en grinned. He looked at team 2 at the other side of the fireplace and asked: "Is Pauline loved by her owner?"
"Well," Will started, "he will never admit that." Gilan interrupted: "But he secretly feeds you a treat every day." Team two laughed, and so was Crowley. "Time is running out Pauline! One final question?"
"Hmmm…". Pauline grinned and winked at team 2. "Do I have a maid?"
Will and Gilan looked at each other: "Yes!" and the rolled of the couch laughing.
Crowley rang a little bell, whipping the tears from his eyes. "Now, Pauline, tell me, who are you?"