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LOVE AT FROST BITE

I. COLD HANDS, WARM HEART

From December through January, high winds gradually rise all across the Netherworld, large flakes of snow causing white-out condition. The wind howls and whistles, blades of icy gusts cutting through your clothes as frost clings to your hair and lashes. No matter where you are, you feel its glacial, bone-chilling force, and no matter what you do, you quickly find that nothing keeps you warm. You're freezing, shivering, teeth chattering. Fire and the proximity of others may offer brief reprieves, so bundle up and find a cuddling partner before you crystalize. If you don't have a Soulmate, now might be the time to search for one.

Unfortunately, when it rains, it pours. Some of you may experience sudden, intense headaches, followed by a sense of panic. Your chest tightens. Your head swims. Your lungs ice over, and you know then: someone's messing with your home in the Shadowlands.

► If you're already in your home, stay alert as light goes out: squint through the dark, and you'll soon be able to distinguish an enormous figure. Krampus.
► If you're anywhere in Stygia and are unable to teleport, crossing the Tempest is particularly perilous on your own, though if you explain what's going on to a Ferryman, they'll oblige.
► Luckily, Krampus doesn't seem extremely interested in your Tethers, but it's entirely possible that he damages a few while being in your home. He's mostly interested in you, and whether you've been a good Restless.

If you feel like your character's done a decent job at silencing their Shadow, Krampus will curse them; every full moons through December and January, they'll be compelled to tell a significant lie. A single lie can be told multiple times to different and/or the same people, and multiple lies can also be told multiple times to different and/or the same people. If, on the other hand, you feel as though they've been struggling -- or worse, enjoying its presence -- Krampus will give them a unique coin: everywhere you go, it'll loudly comment on anyone within 10 feet, giving a brief but accurate description of what your character truly thinks of them. You can't get rid of it, but after its first use, it'll disintegrate within a couple of weeks.

II. DON'T LEAF ME HANGIN'

Kiss kiss fall in love, it's mistletoe time! And its provenance is a little gruesome: some Restless have been coughing them up due to the floral disease affecting Stygia's citizens, and for reasons unknown, the plant's made itself a home in tree branches, bushes, and ceilings. Having the time of its life, probably! Some sprites have taken a liking to them, and started worshipping them as flowery entities. It's believed among them that kissing underneath the mistletoe is the greatest way to honor said entities, while refusing to is a terrible affront; the sprites will start following you and pranking you in retaliation.

► If you walk under mistletoe along with someone else and refuse to/do not kiss, you'll be followed by a sprite for 24 hours, during which they'll prank (see list below*) and just generally annoy you. Only one sprite at a time will follow you, even if you walk again under mistletoe within the 24 hours time frame.
► If you walk alone under mistletoe, this unnamed creature will stalk you from the shadows, whispering and trying to coax you closer, promising delightful kisses you'll never forget. In truth, it just wants to devour your tongue, a delicacy. It'll give up after 12 hours, and will never follow you inside your home.
► An old woman sells mistletoe berry tarts in the Marketplace, and claims it'll help anyone who suffers from insomnia. She's not wrong! One bite and you'll fall dead asleep within the hour, and only a kiss will be able to awaken you. Sweet dreams, sleeping beauty!
► If you do wind up kissing anyone under the mistletoe, you'll find it easier to deal with your Shadow through the month, a blessing from the sprites! If, on the other hand, you don't partake in kissing endeavors, your Shadow will seem louder than usual.

Additionally, many patrons in Mirth host festive and/or cozy soirées throughout December. If you feel like dancing, singing, drinking eggnog in good company and eating delicious hors d'oeuvres, wear your ugliest festive sweater and have some fun! Just be careful, as mistletoe will 100% find its way inside these venues!

PRANK LIST

*you can either RNG or choose! all effects disappear within 24 hours. can be pranked multiple times within 24 hours.

► the sprite enchants your clothing to make them colder and colder.
► the sprite swaps your character's voice with someone else's.
► the sprite steals an object that belongs to you and puts it in another character's pocket/room.
► your breathing becomes loud and obnoxious.
► when it snows, you perceive every flake as a human face.
► everything you eat tastes like ashes.
► you feel compelled to scream everything you say.
► you think you are the world's greatest bard, so sing your heart out!
► you gain a forked tongue.
► when breathing out in cold weather, you exhale black smoke instead of white breath.
► anomalous orifices begin appearing on your body, such as mouths, eye sockets, etc.
► you can now hear all heartbeats within 10 feet of you.
► you hallucinate a worm in your chest trying to eat its way out. you can’t feel it, but the skin on your torso ripples as it burrows beneath.
► you feel like your body is slowly melting, like a candle with a too hot flame. it's not.
► your ears constantly hear a repeating brief tune.

ooc note

► As always, check out the Notice Board if you'd like additional prompts! Older quests from previous months are always available as well. You'll also find the Calendar right here.
► If you have questions, check out the plotting post's thread here, or ask new ones here!
► Cozy ambience for your cozy nights in Mirth!
► HAPPY HOLIDAYS ✨

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Unfortunately for everyone else's enjoyment, this is not a Radiance party, so he shows up in... exactly what he always wears. Truly, he stands out like the ugliest, sorest gothic thumb. He appears to be gauging the festivities with a curious, but professional look around.

And he doesn't seem bothered that he a) stands out, and b) is out of place here as he is. He also doesn't appear to acknowledge the wary, wide berth some give him, or the infatuated gazing some are doing in his direction.

He does stop by Fukawa and her book and tea, though.] You look nice in your dress. [That's all he says... before he starts to move on...?]

[When the shadow encroaches on her refuge she was ready to curl up tighter and angle her body away. Strangers DNI.

Then that honeyed voice drips into her ear and her head snaps up, jaw dropped. It's him: D, the handsome, mysterious specter that whisked her to safety. And he's given her a compliment? And then LEAVING?

She whips up to her feet so fast that her book thuds to the floor and the tea splatters over.]

YOU GOOD TOO!

[That's not even a sentence, you soiled chum bucket!!!]

Edited 2022-12-08 18:01 (UTC)

[This is the funniest reaction in the world, BUT... it gets him to actually stop. Carefully, he turns around to glance back at her, half facing her direction again. You good too...

It's okay. He has no interest in making fun of her. That isn't his style. He makes fun of arrogant people who are full of themselves usually.]

How are you doing after what happened?

[Despite hiding away in the corner, she seems... to be... doing better? Better than being shoved in a prison in rags, dirty and scared.]

[Thank you for being a bro.

She's already wincing at her own idiocy, clutching at her head and sidling ever so slightly away from the pool of tea. She didn't bring any napkins, whoops.]

Uh. I'm. I'm b-better. Thanks to you. [She relents and drops her hands, though now she worries each finger between the others. Her eyes dart to him and then quickly away.] The c-cough comes and goes.

Did you — ha, I bet you dragged out tons of people after you got back. Were you okay? D-did you get hurt?

[She doubts it very much, big strong man that he is.]

[If the spilled drink bothers him, he doesn’t show it. He really doesn’t act embarrassed for her, or disgusted by her.

She has his full attention.]

That’s good.

[That she is better and the cough isn’t quite so bad.]

I was okay. I helped a few others. Some of those not imprisoned had arrived to offer their help as well.

I kn-knew it! [Nevermind that she'd been adamant he'd be killed at the time. Her hands clasp together, her eyes sparkle. Senpai is so cool!!] Y-you're not like other men, you've got something sp-special about you, right? What, um. Oh, h-here.

[Her sanctuary has been a long display ledge that doubles as a bench, caging in a clutch of artfully arranged poinsettias. More than enough room for two.

Fukawa pushes her things aside and sets the book along with them. Scoots the teacup under the ledge and then crouches just enough to reach the puddle. She starts mopping up the spilled tea with the bottom of her dress.]

If you w-want to sit, I'll c-clean this up! It's no bother at all! Haha...

...

[Truthfully, this isn't the first time anyone has ever told him something about being special, or different, or strange. So he doesn't comment on that.]

You don't have to do that.

[She doesn't have to clean up the spill, he means. He's already, after a moment of consideration, ventured over. The cape he had given her during their escape is, of course, waterproof. He isn't really worried about the spill.

And he carefully sits a respectful distance from her on the bench without much care for anything.]

No, no, I've got it!

[She flashes him a smile, shaky and unpracticed though it may be. She swipes the offending spill away and the bottom of her skirt is now soiled, but she seems rather pleased with herself. She takes her seat but wedges her limbs in, close together, taking as little space as possible. Lest she overstep a boundary, not now that he's actually willing to talk to her.]

My s-service is all I have to offer, so it's no t-trouble. It's my pleasure!

[She clears her throat. Her eyes have locked onto his and though she strives to stay pleasant, there's a mounting sense of dread within. How do...how do you talk to boys??]

So...where are you f-from?

[SHE REALLY DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT TO HER DRESS. Damn. Well, not much he can do about it now, so he lets it go. It sounds like she feels she has accomplished something for him...? Unnecessary, but who is he to deny her?]

The Frontier.

[He does not mind even bad attempts at small talk. The more other people talk, the less he has to talk honestly. A win for him. Unfortunately, he is very adept at giving people his full attention when required, so she gets him looking at her in return.]

What about you?

[That answers nothing. Also, he stares back nearly as intently as she stares at him. Is this a good thing? Most boys can't stand to focus on her for more than a few seconds. Is there something on her face?

She pats at her mouth and finds nothing. Maybe he's just fascinated by how any human person could turn out so ugly. She is an exceptional exercise in ungainly genetics.]

Um. J-Japan. Tokyo. Or T-Towa City, now. Then. [Once again, they are "Dead."] I think there's some people from similar p-places here. What's the F-frontier like?

[Slightly flushed, now:]

Are th-there more people like you?

[Exceptionally powerful, extremely handsome, etc.]

[There is nothing in her face, and he continues to look at her. He has a lot of respect for people until they prove to him they don’t deserve it.

He spared her from another of his recollections of how a world with Japan hasn’t existed for him for about ten thousand years. It’s depressing for others to keep hearing. Her world may not be his world.]

There are some.

[He doesn’t know if she means vampires (exceptionally powerful, extremely handsome), dhampirs (only sometimes powerful, only sometimes handsome), or Hunters, but the answer is the same regardless.]

It’s a dangerous and desolate world where humans are trying to live again.

[That day will come for Fukawa I am sure.

He might be deliberately vague. That's fine, she's more than willing to fill in the blanks herself. It's a bad habit of hers, leading to assumptions aplenty and searing heartbreak thereafter. For now she invents benign things: he's not the only one of his kind, but he's being squirrelish because it's a secret he has to protect. That she's being trusted to protect it herself.

To think, he would grant a worm like her with such a privilege! And moreover?]

Oh. [She looks bashful suddenly. Even gives a little titter.] F-funny you should say that. My world's been destroyed, too.

[How adorable. She's blushing coyly, pulling helplessly at a loose strand of hair. It's as if he'd read her a sonnet.]

I g-guess we have something in common after all.

[STOP.

These wild fantasies… Help. But actually… she isn’t… that far off? Regardless of the vague answer because he hadn’t been sure what she mean specifically, he is often holding his cards close to himself when it comes to who he is really. So she isn’t filling in the blanks as wildly as it may seem.

He’s the son of the first, most powerful vampire, and he has been made into one of the most perfect successes of existences in his world: very beautiful, very powerful, ageless, few weaknesses. Secrets he guards as best he can.]

What exactly happened to your world?

[Hate that she pegged him like that. Must be the literary genius in her, sniffing out the tropes.

Fukawa ceases the simpering when he asks for an explanation. Right. Apocalypses aren't meet-cute fodder, get a grip girl.]

Oh. [Heavy sigh. This is awkward now.] Um. It was sort of complicated, but. I s-suppose you could say everyone just lost their minds. Th-there was a movement, a g-group of people who wanted to f-fill the world with Despair.

[Fukawa's lips twist and she gives a sour shrug. She tucks a hair behind her ear, though it falls loose not three seconds later.]

I know it sounds stupid, b-but it worked. Every country, every city — they went crazy and t-tore themselves apart.

[Sounds wild. Luckily for her, he does not offer her an expression which says any of it sounds stupid. He's been alive long enough to know none of that is a hard feat to accomplish when the world is terrible and who knows what kind of people can be ready to break.

Despair? Go right ahead.]

I see.

[This calls into question how she got here, but he doesn't ask.]

Perhaps we have a little in common.

[She seems much less pleased to hear it than she was to say it. There's a grimace and a tight nod of the head, and a low mutter after.]

F-figures it would be the worst thing imaginable.

[There were still days where she woke slowly, and in that hazy interim thought it must all be a dream. Maybe that's the lingering effects of the memory loss, still pushing to erase the truth.

Fukawa twists to collect the small plate of snacks behind her. None of the tea got on them, thankfully, so she can silently offer it to D.]

What about you? What happened to your world?

Many people find comfort in knowing they are not alone in experiencing terrible things.

[Sometimes.

His eyes lower to the snacks. He wonders if she will find it rude if he declines, so he reaches out to take one… but only ends up idly holding it politely in his hand as if he is considering eating it in time.]

Humans destroyed it a long time ago trying to destroy each other.

Right...

[They'd had a similar conversation in jail together. Something about Naegi, and why he might consider Fukawa a friend after all that happened. That only twists the vice on her chest, a pain she's not realized has set in until now. Better to focus on D and not think about it.

Though he doesn't give her much to go off of. More sparse words to speculate on, as usual. Fukawa considers him a moment.]

So, the inevitable, really. [Everyone knew that it would happen sometime. You couldn't advance weaponry without advancing destruction, and humanity was too stupid to keep from picking fights. Maybe it wasn't her brand of devastation, but it was probably something close.] Are th-there any left? Humans, I mean?

[And as he answers, she takes a delicate bite of her own snack. A tart of some kind, she'd grabbed it off the table in a rush with the others. She chews once, twice.

Then keels over face-first into his crotch.]

Edited (when you edit a word into THE WRONG PLACE) 2022-12-21 05:19 (UTC)

[As overpowered as D is written, he is still not prepared for some things to happen, and this would be one of them.

He starts to say,] There are so— [but only gets out that much before she tumbled forward right into his lap.

From the perspective of a very recent outsider, he’d look like a pervert. It doesn’t startle him so much as it bewilders him. He sits there, paused, for several long seconds. He doesn’t worry if she’s dead; he can heart the beating of her heart, the sound of her breathing.

But now it means she must be unconscious… or perhaps asleep. Hmm… Does she have a condition…?

He places his own snack on the bench beside him, and then he slips a hand over her chest right below the neck, allowing him to lift her up without jostling her around. His other hand settles on her upper back between the shoulder blades. Balance.]

Can you hear me?

[There seems like there might be life in the old girl yet. As he rights her to a sit her head drifts back into proper alignment. Her eyelids flutter.

Then she lops to the front. Her glasses slip loose and clatter to their feet. All the while Fukawa remains limp as wet spaghetti, the damning crumbs still stuck to the center of her lips.

Nearby and not nearly far enough from earshot, a gaggle of girls and one wee English fella start gossiping. "Aye, Michelle, look over there! That girl's gone the same way you done an hour ago!"

"Nooooo, no, she looks stiff dead to me. Maybe he's done her in, you reckon?"

"She can't be dead Orla, being that we've already gone for our tea!"

The most buxom and big-haired of the bunch scoffs. "Well if she ate one of them tarts, all she needs is you to go put your greasy lips on her, Claire. Seein' as you were so eager to put 'em on me."

There's a squawk. "I wasn't eager! It's only 'cause James wouldn't!"

"She's my cousin!" whines the boy, looking plaintively to each of the girls in turn. "It'd be indecent!"

"God, you were just hoping she was dead for good."

"Yeah, don't be such a deck, James."

"I just want it to be known, I wasn't eager to kiss Michelle! Being a lesbian doesn't make me eager to kiss just anyone! We gays have standards too you know! It was an emergency, the water didn't work! Slapping didn't work! It seemed like the only natural escalation!"

"The only escalation there was, was you escalating yourself onto my mouth, Claire," says Michelle with a toss of her hair. "Face it, you couldn't resist me. None of you could. I'm a total ride."

Everyone rolls their eyes, and they move along, too invested in their squabbling to pay the unfortunate scene any more mind.]

[Every time I look at this tag, I laugh. KABBY!!! I can’t pretend like D doesn’t hear any of this because his hearing is amazing. Thank you, British Nightfell comedy act.]

…

[Wow. Okay.

Carefully, he cradles her back in one hand while bending over to retrieve her glasses. It’s going to look like he took them off to specifically kiss her while she was unconscious. A creep. Not much he can do about that. The glasses get placed on one of his thighs. Then he reaches up to remove the hat… polite. She is truly missing all of the good stuff here.

Like how he takes the time to brush the crumbs away from her mouth with his gloved fingers.

There is a lack of parasitic plant involved here, but he doesn’t for an instant think this place wouldn’t pull other tricks too. Like cursed food.

He doesn’t sneak glances around to check if they are being witnessed by God and everyone; it doesn’t bother him. It’s disrespectful to leave her snoozing for no reason on the bench. So, holding her by one arm, he leans in to press a chaste kiss against her lips for a moment before he pulls away.]

[lk;ajdsf thank you 🥺 Derry Girls is required viewing for all humanity, cocks gun

Anyway NPC exposition aside, it really is a pity that she can't witness how gallantly D takes matters into his own hands. She'll at least have the memory of him half naked in prison.

All throughout his cautious ministrations, Fukawa remains a non-entity. Her sleep is unusually blissful. Perhaps more elegant than usual too: she's typically playing pillbug with the bedsheets cocooned around her, and on occasion a wet spot will grace her pillow. Figures it would take literal magic to grant her a lick of poise.

She stirs not one bit as he brushes the crumbs away. Nor as he draws her closer. The space between them grows short as the seconds grow long.

He pulls away.

At first there is nothing. Then slowly, Fukawa leans forward. Her hand rises, searching.]

...Bya...kuya-sama?

[Her fingers come to rest on a sturdy chest. Her eyes are still closed. It's the thinning edges of a dream she's chasing, and hopes to find in the lips that just left hers.]

[This isn’t the first and won’t be the last time someone confuses him for someone else. He’s been Anubis, he’s been Charon. Why not also be the elusive Lord Byakuya too?

Respectfully, he continues to hold her while she lingers in the closed-eyed revelry, allowing her to brace herself in return. She can have a few moments of whatever fantasy she is hoping it to be.

Then, quietly, he says,] It’s only me. You fell asleep. [She at least has the very beautiful visage of a young man above her whenever she opens her eyes again. Androgynous and handsome, with long dark lashes and perfect skin.

Maybe not Byakuya, but not bad on the eyes anyway.]

Are you alright?

Hmm?

[Her lips have failed to land the mark a second time, and the voice, though deep, isn't the same commanding timbre she expected. Fukawa's eyes flutter open.

Indeed, it is a very beautiful visage. So much so that she's too stunned to pull away. She's got the far better end of this deal: many former peers have assured her she'd lose a beauty contest to a toilet. A dreadful sentiment she feels magnified in the dazzling inches between them. She shouldn't be here. Held close, considered. What was that lingering tingle on her lips?

The irrationalities that dogged her in that miserable cell have risen anew. D is a hypnotic man, but the light of his countenance casts damning shadows on all who fall within his pull. More than human, more than she deserves.

So, why is she here?]

Asleep? [Her brow furrows. Then a slow horror takes hold.] I — d-did I do anything weird?

[Psychotic. Is he holding onto her because he had to rein in Syo?]

Mm. Some of the food made you sleep.

[Imagine if he had to wrestle Syo while she was conked out.

He uses his hand to sit her a little more upright again. Then he takes the glasses off his thigh and offers them to her.

He really doesn’t try to clarify what has occurred while she was asleep… Maybe he should, so he doesn’t look like a creep.]

…I had to kiss you to wake you. Pardon me.

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d (like his name)

d as in don't fight it

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Danganronpa Spoilers

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