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Entry tags:
- ! mod event,
- another eden: shigure,
- arcane: jinx,
- arknights: shalem,
- danganronpa: fukawa toko,
- encanto: bruno madrigal,
- ennead: set,
- fe3h: claude von riegan,
- fe3h: felix hugo fraldarius,
- ffxiv: cedrik reede,
- genshin impact: tartaglia (childe),
- genshin impact: the traveler (lumine),
- htwmho: rudbeckia de borgia,
- naruto: uchiha sasuke,
- original: kaito nagano,
- orv: han sooyoung,
- orv: jung heewon,
- orv: kim dokja,
- snotgirl: lottie person,
- the locked tomb: gideon nav,
- vld: takashi shirogane
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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.
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.
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. 
► 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.
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!► 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.
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 ✨
Hibiki Fujiwara | Original
[ Of course Krampus is real. She shouldn't be surprised by this fact anymore, considering the large amount of make-believe beings and urban legends that walk among the general population where she's from. Allegedly. The jury's still out on whether somebody's just pulling her chain.
She's "fine" with Krampus existing--but she's not fine about him breaking and entering her space or those of the people around her. Hibiki isn't confident in her ability to take on this horned asshole, but if the situation calls for it... ]
A. HIBIKI'S DOOR
[ To say she's tense is an understatement. There isn't anything she has to hide behind her Door save for her tethers, but only one other person has been in here, and Hibiki would have liked to keep it that way. Jaw set, she doesn't look at the person she's recruited to help check on things, and instead stands with her hand on the door knob.
To people that she knows; ]
Okay, so. No going into any of the other doors unless I'm with you. most of them don't work anyway. [ A beat, as she evaluates the situation. ]
And don't mind Ritsuki. I'm not sure how he'll be with other people, he might just run off. But if you hear thumping, don't worry about it; he's just being over-protective.
[ And for those she does not know; ]
Stay with me at all times. You don't go into any other rooms, and you don't go into the courtyard. I'm going to keep this brief, so try to keep up with me.
[ Taking a deep breath to steel herself, the small blonde pulls open the door and steps inside. Greeted by a small foyer, the mellow smell of old wood hanging in the air, her door seems to lead to an inn of some sort. Silently, Hibiki lets whoever is with her pass before stepping to one side, lifting her leg and reaching for her foot. ]
You can put your shoes in one of the cubbies there, there should be a pair of slippers you can use.
B. SOMEONE ELSE'S DOOR.
[ Maybe she hasn't been hit by the horned criminal just yet or she's already looked through her things. Regardless, Hibiki wanders the Shadowlands nearby on high alert. It's hard to say whether she's searching for or preparing for something to happen, but as soon as she feels another presence there, the blonde's attention snaps to them.
Familiar or not, she isn't going to just stand there in her own little contemplative world, especially if that person looks particularly distressed. No, instead she will put on a faint smile, giving them a quick nod before looking out toward the rows of Doors. ]
I haven't seen him come through here yet, but that doesn't mean he isn't out there. How close is your Door? [ A beat. ] I assume that's why you're out here, right?
[ Hibiki offers a hand without a mote of hesitation. ]
I can get us there quick if you need it.
o2. BUT THE FIRE IS SO DELIGHTFUL.
[ She is officially over this cold. Something about being incredibly tiny must make her more susceptible to it, because she's always struggled to keep warm. But this is on a whole other level, and it's all that she can do to try and keep busy, keep moving in order to keep herself from becoming a tiny icicle.
Her new flat has acquired one space heater-like device that certainly helps, especially since the attic she's renting has little to no insulation to speak of. But she can't just spend the whole winter huddled around it, with every blanket stacked on top of her like a giant, walking pillow fort. If only.
So instead, what you get is Hibiki layered up in an effort to keep warm. Two sweaters, a coat, two layers of pants, a hat an admittedly thin scarf wrapped around her, the small blonde walks the streets with her hands perpetually cupped near her cloth-covered mouth. She really, really should have looked into winter wear sooner, she's having a hard time finding anything. Not even a thin pair of mittens...
Which brings her to Esmeralda. Having a portable handwarmer sounds amazing right about now, and while it won't help her in the long run, right now she can only think about the short term. She may or may not be losing feeling in her fingers.
So, with a crystal in her hands, she cups that while still breathing warm air onto them. Who to ask... ]
o3. BUT SINCE WE'VE NO PLACE TO GO.
[ Ah yes, mistletoe. She officially hates this stuff. After getting cursed once or twice for not abiding by the rules (in what world does kissing someone's hand not count, it's super romantic!), she isn't going to let that happen again. Especially as her Shadow drones on in her head, building on that natural sense of guilt the blonde feels whenever something goes wrong because of her.
Would she really let someone else suffer because she doesn't want to follow the rules? It's just a kiss--nothing more.
To say she's being hyper-vigilant is an understatement; and as she sees someone cross her path as the snickering of a nearby sprite rings overhead, the small woman will grab at the person's coat (or shirt, or whatever non-winter approved attire) with a look of indignation on her face. ]
Stop. Don't take another step.
[ She doesn't mean to sound threatening, but this really is a potentially dire situation. ]
o4. LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW.
[ After dealing with way too much mistletoe for her liking, Hibiki spends most of the rest of this month in the wilderness. She finally has some proper camping gear, that means that she can be out for extended periods. Whether its taking on odd jobs for others to pull in some coin or seeking out Spectres, this girl is keeping busy.
For the most part, she can be found near the Shadowlands, close to the coast. It seems like a random place, but judging from the way that the blonde walks around and takes notes in a small journal, there may be some significance to the area.
Whether someone accompanies her or happens to find the young woman camped out next to a fire, her mittened hands held out as she tries to soak in as much heat as possible, she will beckon them to come over. ]
Here, sit next to me. It's really warm over here.
[ It's cold as hell out here, how can you say no? ]
oX. INSERT HOLIDAY SONG LYRICS HERE.
[ Feel free to slide something in here or msg me on Discord (Pearl#7619) or![[plurk.com profile]](https://plurk.com/favicon.ico)
impearls to plot! ]
2ish!
he sees another restless nearby with a recognizable crystal in hand, and approaches with a smile. looks like they saw the same notice board posting... ]
Need a hand? I know I do.
[ he holds out his palm, showing her one of esmeralda's wares. same hat! ]
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She's shivering, but she isn't going to acknowledge it, and while her mouth is still covered by a scarf, a smile catches in her eyes. ]
Well, th-that's convenient!
[ A two for one deal, huh? The blonde holds her palm out as well. ]
You think we can just... smoosh them to-gether and get it to work?
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[ sylvain nods and gestures to a bench outside one of the shops—somewhere to sit so they don't have to stand around. after getting situated and out of the wind, ]
Let's give it a try...
[ he brings their hands together, trying to glimpse between their palms to see if there are visible changes to the crystals. but also, the deathly chill of her fingertips sends a shiver darting up his spine. ]
...Your hands are like ice. Are you okay...? [ ??? this doesn't seem normal??? ]
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4!
either way. his tethers are safe. his room is krampus free. and now, keith is on his way to the pickup spot, hoping to get back to stygia before his best friend goes into his own panic mode.
and this is where he comes across hibiki. the thing is – it is ridiculously cold out. it’s the kind of chill that seeps in and stays, freezing from the inside out until mobility slows and stops altogether. keith’s hands, with their impractical fingerless gloves, are already growing stiff. he doesn’t want to stay but…
maybe he could benefit from a few minutes, before resuming his trek. so he walks over and sits down, close to the fire but not necessarily her; he does like his personal space. ]
Thanks. [ he guesses?? of course, it doesn’t take him long to scrutinize his surroundings and uh – ]
… Are you… living out here…?
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Watching Keith as he sits down, her gaze slides back toward the fire—until he asks the question. Blinking owlishly, the small blonde looks at him before fighting back a snicker. It's not at him, she swears! ]
Not like this! Nah, I've got a place in Stygia, just out here checking things out. Same as you, I assume.
[ Her gaze flicks down briefly to his hands, noting the fingerless gloves. What kind of reckless idiot... No, she shouldn't just assume. He was probably just coming back from checking on his Door. Exhaling a quiet puff of white, the small blonde reaches into her pocket, pulling out one of the heated crystals. ]
Hey, catch.
[ She tosses it underhand toward him. ]
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she is, though; welcoming, that is. first an offered seat by the fire, now a…?
crystal caught one-handed, keith opens his palm, looking it over. it’s a unique thing. familiar in shape and make, enough for keith to recognize it. he never bought one himself, having balked at the sell condition of having to imbue them with warmth prior to purchase. yeah; not happening.
… but perhaps he regrets it a little now, because warmth radiates and seeps in, spreading from palms to fingers and up his forearm. ]
Woah!
[ quickly, he clasps both his hands together, trapping the crystal in between. ]
This works great. Guess I should’ve bought one. [ a small, wry smile. ]
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o2. BUT THE FIRE IS SO DELIGHTFUL.
so after realizing his single winter coat didn't make it over into this otherworldy version of his trailer, he's shit out of luck with his leather jacket and a five-finger discount scarf to keep him warm. with his guitar on his back, eddie shuffles through the cold.
he stops as he spots hibiki walking over, bundled up to brave the cold. he offers a grin, tilts his head giving her a look over and pretends he's not shivering and stuttering a little when he speaks. ] Y-you're s-s-starting to look like the Michelin Man over there.
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Hearing a familiar voice call to her (she thinks—or maybe she's dying again), the small, shivering blonde turns to see Eddie. ]
What th-the heck is a Mi-chelin?
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[ he shudders, wrapping his arms around himself. ] Hot chocolate with ma-marshmallows sounds like a sinful dream right about now. Something warm to eat.
[ but here he is; foodless, cold, and striking out on charm. ]
3!
But the reason why becomes obvious immediately, his gaze flicking up, immediately exhausted. ]
...This again.
[ He stays practically frozen mid-step for a moment before slowly drawing his foot back. But the sprite is staring at them with its tiny, horribly, beady little eyes anyway. Does this already count as being underneath mistletoe together? It probably does. ]
My apologies. Do you think it noticed?
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Maybe a little unfairly, maybe not. Doesn't mean they won't have to figure out a way to work this out. But at least he apologized this time.
A mittened hand still gripping his coat, the smaller blonde looks up toward the mistletoe-wielding sprite in time to see them making kissy faces at the both of them. Ugh. ]
That would be a no.
[ She hates this so, so much. Letting out a hard sigh, her gaze slides away, brows furrowed deeply. Stupid voyeuristic sprites. ]
They won't let you get away with a kiss on the hand or anything like that, either. Trust me, I tried.
[ So no half-assing this. ]
03 - but then they turn around and there is a second, stronger mistletoe
Who — g-get off of me!! Get off! [Fukawa does her feeble best to wrest free of the stern grip. Is she being arrested? Did they think she was shoplifting? Or that she was too poor to shop in an upscale boutique?] Stop it! I have a right to be here! I'm a p-paying customer!
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The small blonde offers her a tired smile, stretched way too thin from a combination of being out here in the frigid cold and having to practically pin this girl down at the same time. Why is this her unlife. ]
I don't care if you're a customer? [ Oof, that came out wrong. Let's try again. ] But I can't let you get away.
[ Wow, that's even worse. That's two strikes—is she going to have a chance to try for a third? ]
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[Matters are growing more dire by the second.
First of all it's galling to be restrained so easily by someone even shorter than Sooyoung — Fukawa's a piddling five feet and three-to-four inches, but she has dignity enough to know she'll look ridiculous losing her ground to this woman. Secondly, why is she being restrained in the first place?! Third, what is with that weird smile?]
Wh-what do you mean by that?! You— [AHA. She twists again, trying to look her direct in the eye.] Are you d-dragging me to the Forges?
[It's the only explanation.
It's also why she now tries to slap her in the face.]
I'M NEVER G-GOING BACK THERE! UNHAND ME!!
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3
mavis had come to find her for a blanket — and, perhaps, the reassurance that mavis was no longer living outdoors given the climate — and that had turned into accompanying hibiki to look around the city and scope out real estate.
none of it should have required grabbing. ]
Or what?
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House hunting will have to wait, apparently. ]
Or that one will make our unlives a living he'll.
[ Hibiki got off easy with a voice swap the last time. She isn't sure if the punishment for not adhering to the Mistletoe Etiquette grew exponentially, but she isn't eager to find out. ]
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shinichiro's gonna have to wait to hear the latest in mikey-existential crises, because he's not going to just leave hibiki alone like this. all bundled up, but in his hands, his childhood blanket remains intact, a promise of a good night's sleep once he made it into his door.
hibiki could use it, too. once he's close, he gently drapes it over her shoulders. it's not long, nor particularly warm, but it's an extra layer, isn't it?)
Hey, what you doing on your own like this? You could've called.
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Feeling his presence a split second before he makes himself known, the smaller blonde turns her head as he drapes a small blanket over her shoulders. Hibiki clearly sees him, but there's a brief disconnect between that and registering who she's seeing. She still isn't quite used to Mikey looking like this. ]
Huh? Oh, hey.
[ A faint smile tugs on the corners of her lips as she brings a hand up to her shoulder. ]
What's this?
[ A blanket? What's he doing with this so far out there? And why is Mikey even out here to begin with? ]
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1. A
Needless to say, Kainé knows exactly what's happening.
Kainé stands outside Hibiki's door with the other woman, swords in hand.]
You got it. Now let's fucking kill this bitch!
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Holding a hand up, she bars Kaine from going in any further. ]
No killing. We chase them off, but otherwise try not to pick any fights. Especially not in here.
[ "In here" she says, as she lets Kaine move deeper into her Home, looks to be some sort of... inn perhaps? Much more modern than what she would be used to, although still dated when it comes to Hibiki's time. ]
ox - i'm here!!
[He climbs onto a small raised part of the living room near the hearth, where blankets and cushions gather together, and a tray with a glass and a small bottle of what was once tonic lay there. He picks up the tray, takes it to the counter by the sink, and then sits in front of the small hearth to flare embers to life.]
me too! sorry for the delay!
(A soul for the chain and setting, another for the glass. And however many it would take to keep something that wasn't technically living alive indefinitely.)
Shuffling inside, mittened hands cupped over her mouth as she tries to breathe feeling back into them, the small blonde looks around the flat in surprise. It's cute, and not quite what she expected from how it looked on the outside. ]
You sure? I don't mind helping.
[ You'd think working at an inn would make her a good guest, and yet... ]
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2!
What the fuck, you're gonna freeze your ass off if you walk around like that. You gotta get some gloves.
1a-ish —;
Stay with me at all times. You don't go into any other rooms, and you don't go into the courtyard, she says. ]
Yes, ma'am.
[ Joel nods. He sure as hell doesn't need to be told twice. It's uncomfortable enough being in the Shadowlands away from his own home, but to be in someone else's ... he knows what it means. Knows how easy it is for soulmates to form accidental bonds by touching any object in this place that shouldn't be touched. ]
Nice place you got here.
[ It's like nothing he's ever seen before except in pictures and movies. He ... hesitates at the thought of taking off his shoes though. Fighting a monster in bulky, too-loose slippers feels a little like it gives his opponent an extra edge it hardly needs. ]