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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

[Oh boy. She winces. Right, she probably sounds like a total maniac. Just the impression she needs to give in front of one of the most well-built men alive.

Although "Zagreus" doesn't seem to care much for propriety. Can't, if he's committing this hard to the bit.]

No, they're j-just cheap holiday gimmicks. [She sighs. Should she bother explaining what a blender is?] A trashy excuse to m-make unwitting victims lock lips, except in the real world—

[Extremely pointed glare of death to the sprite.]

—there wouldn't be s-some shitty elf waiting to c-curse you for walking away!

[Really, Fukawa's overcriticism of things and how she goes about her words remind him of death. The pang in his heart is nostalgic, and he's thankful he drank a special tonic not too long ago to subdue any coughing fits that said nostalgia may cause.

Still, clearing his throat, his lip quirks lightly.] Well, perhaps it's a matter of cultural differences. Though…

[A little sprite comes over to him, little dress billowing as it looks at his flaming laurels. The sprite has clearly decided that the twunk with the strong biceps is safer than the skinny girl.] Do you really have to prank everyone for not agreeing to your rituals?

[The sprite nods. Zag nods back.] I see.

[Though he does frown and looks at Fukawa as if it's the most serious thing in the world to consider what she wants.

Which, to Zag? Yes. He's not like the rest of his extended family, thank you.] Oh, I do understand that going through with it may be an issue for you, though, but it's alright; I respect that.

[It's nice that he's so unflappably even tempered. Most people are ready to walk away from Fukawa after five minutes or less, and yet here he stands! Feet a-flaming, laurels a-glinting, congenial smile ever-present. He even greets the sprite with a gamely nod.]

Don't take their side?!

[Fukawa is scandalized. How dare he reason with the enemy!

And how dare he be such a gentleman about this mess. Her ears burn scarlet red. She might just give him a run for his money, there.]

Wh-what makes you say that? Do you think I haven't been k-kissed?! [She has not.] Or that no one would b-be willing to kiss me?

[No one was. At least not at home. She hopes that someday Byakuya-sama would take her within his arms, sweep her high and give his thanks in tender affections instead of his usual brusque words and insults. They'll get there!

~~NOTE: they will not get there~~]

Oh. Er… no, that's not what I meant.

[Look, he's trying his best, and while he does look like sort of a himbo, he's very well aware that people wouldn't really want to kiss everyone willy nilly. In fact, their conversation from before had been plenty explicit. Neither of them find Zagreus particularly interesting.] I meant that it's alright if you don't want to kiss me.

[The sprite protests in what is probably similar to Animalese and Zag, while not exactly knowing what it is saying, he arches his eyebrows pointedly at it.] Look, just because you do have your customs, it's not nice if they cross someone's boundaries. I'd rather be cursed than make Fukawa here uncomfortable.

Huh?

[Truly they are two morons on different wavelengths. While he assumes Fukawa wants nothing to do with him, Fukawa assumes the reverse. When he states his concerns it trips up her fury like slip on a banana peel. She looks rather stupid, slapped silly and slack-jawed beneath the mistletoe.]

Wh-wh-wh...wouldn't want to? [excuse you? Her head bobs back with great incredulity.] Are you stupid? Have you ever s-seen a mirror?!

[Anyone on the planet would go full Narcissus if they had a reflection like that. Forget that she was just going goading him about assuming she's unkissable. This is the more serious offense. Fukawa points to her own face, flushed and twisted with indignities untold.]

I'm the hag here! Not you! You can't go claiming the right to be unappealing when you look like that! Anyone with eyes can tell who's being punished in this situation!

[It's him. Definitely him.]

Beautiful people are always saying they're ugly, but they don't know what it's really like! I can't stand that pitiful act! Stop playing humble already!

[Huh.

Zagreus knows he's not exactly ugly, either. But when you live surrounded by gods, goddesses, and otherworldly beings, beauty suddenly becomes the epitome of subjectivity.

Still, watching Fukawa rant about how she's the ugly one and how she's probably been hurt by that perception, be it her own or otherwise, reminds him of the conversation they had about her world. Did people really show their cruelest colors when the world ended?

He shakes his head.]

Kissing you wouldn't be a punishment for me. I assure you I never thought of it that way. [He says this like it's the definition of matter-of-fact and is even finding it odd that Fukawa would think of it that way.] You're a passionate person with a lovely way with words; I don't see how that isn't charming.

[A shrug.] I'm only saying you may not want to kiss someone you barely know.

[Please do not ever let her perceive Aphrodite. She would crawl into a hole and starve to death in shame.

There's still coal in the furnace, make no mistake about it, but his steadiness throws a wash of icy water over the flames. She stills. Frowns, though her mouth continues to hang open. It's just a slightly thicker C curling down to her chin. The very picture of a woman gobsmacked.]

I...Sh-shut up! Nobody finds me "charming"! [She has the receipts to prove it. At least back home she does. There's people who hate her here too, make no mistake, but there's a truckload of idiots who keep insisting otherwise, even when it's so plain that Fukawa is someone who was made to be hated. Everyone needs a scapegoat. A village idiot, an untouchable. She's always sunk to that spot no matter how fast she scrambled to escape it.

Nevermind all that now.]

And I — l-listen, that m-m-may be true on most occasions! I couldn't stand kissing most people, especially if it's g-going to be the first. But... [She stares at him a moment. Shaking her head in incredulity.] Are you t-teasing me on purpose? You wouldn't want to kiss me. Look at you.

[Like sicking a pig in lipstick on Adonis. It's a wonder the sprite could bear to watch.]

[Aphrodite would smooch Fukawa, too, though.

He shrugs, frowning at her adamant attempt to strike his opinions down. He's trying to calm her down, but his words seem to have the opposite effect.

Really Fukawa, who hurt you?] Well, didn't you say that I was a nobody before? Then yes, you have a cute little beauty mark near your lip that I can't help but be distracted by, and I do find you charming.

[He shakes his head, hoping that his calmness conveys reassurance somehow.] I wouldn't tease you about something like this. I don't want to do it if you're not alright with it, though.

[M-Miss Aphrodite!! 😳 cue instant bisexual panic attack.

Her hand slaps to her chin as if swatting a bug. It's only the beauty mark in question, she's had it all her life, and yet it's startling to have it called out in public. As a positive. Fukawa flushes from her collar bone to the roots of her hair and she whips her head to the side, biting at her thumb.

Can this really...could he...]

Hahaha...using Odysseus' old tricks, huh? ["Nobody" indeed. She titters.] You really are a nerd.

[Her heart has relocated to the middle of her throat. She can feel the pulse of blood in every inch of her skin. Her eyes dart to him, then to the floor. Perceiving him might break whatever spell has been wrought here. Or she'd just burst into flame and die. One of the two.]

If...if it w-wasn't such a p-pain for you...I would. I. Um. [Big swallow, deep breath.] I'd rather not b-be cursed again. So.

[Would he really do it? Would he? Is she prepared for this possibility?

God, she should have done something with her hair.]

[Ah, such are the terrors of Aphrodite's domain.]

If I can help you avoid another curse, I will. [Zagreus steps closer, doing something rare, bending forward a little to try and slip into her line of sight. He silently offers his hand, palm up, waiting for Fukawa to take it. And gods, she's so nervous about it.

He offers her a soft smile.] You're one of the few people who know about him here, you know? I've always wanted to meet him but didn't get the chance, yet.

[How is it that he's swerved back to being effortlessly charming? That he bends to come find her gaze, that he offers his hand? All niceties she's written about in spades and experienced only in dreams. She feels both very small and limitlessly expansive at once.

Her expression stays stupefied as she takes his hand, lip still caught between her teeth. The duality of his stare is something hypnotic. Was there a secret nature to him? He was so obviously beyond human, but the only explanation he's given is impossible.

And of course now he brings it up again. She scoffs, though it's far more fond than before.]

Oh, enough already. Unless th-this is some devious tactic to distract me. [It's worked though, hasn't it? She broke loose of the paralytic hold. She gives him a faint squeeze and faces him properly now. Her shoulders still hitch up, though. No helping that.] I have to kn-know stuff like that. I was a writer, before.

[There we go, hello, Fukawa. Zagreus visibly brightens up when she faces him squarely, glad she finally gave that step. He squeezes her hand in reply gently as he steps closer and arches his eyebrows, impressed.] A writer? That explains why you're so quick-witted; it all makes sense now. What kind of writer?

[Oof. There are taller men around, but as Zagreus steps closer she still has to tilt her head to meet his eye.]

Ah-heh-heh, um. [Oh god this is going to be so humiliating. In a very small voice:] Romance...

[A beat.]

Don't laugh! I know how it sounds!

Edited (icon repeat, i'm tired) 2022-12-23 05:52 (UTC)

[Zagreus actually

looks very impressed. And truthfully so. Aphrodite's power? Not to be dismissed, he's seen first hand how powerful she could be. Achilles himself had claimed she is probably the most terrifying of all gods before.] Oh, so your writing must be incredibly popular, then. I've heard it's very difficult to write good romance scenes.

[The Shades, they gossip so much about that kind of thing.]

[Guuuuuuuuuuh, this is too much. Too much! There needs to be less compliments or she'll slip right out of her own skin and descend into a dark pit. Fukawa barely stifles the nervous titter (though her thumb must bear the brunt of the burden, having zipped up to replace the lip snatched between her teeth), one foot twisting below. It's not fair. The odds are totally rigged against her. How does anyone weather this much attention with an ounce of composure?]

Sheesh, you r-really lay it on thick, don't you?

[Her books were popular, it's true. And not just with the masses, but with critical circles and intellectual upper echelons. There was a reason she was selected for Hope's Peak Academy. The problem is that pushing images from her head to the page is wholly different than playing the part in real life. Which is why she falters a bit now. Why she has to beg forgiveness.]

I...mostly wrote from delusions, though. I don't...I've been on a date before! [Keyword: "a". Singular. And it would be more accurate to say half a date: the boy left in the middle of the movie, and later she found out he'd only approached her as punishment for losing a bet.]

But I'm not, um. I've never done this. So...you c-can't hold anything against me! All right?

[She's going to be so underwhelming. It's inevitable.]

[While he does look sheepish, he's aware that even if he said he's telling her the truth and not complimenting her just for the sake of it, it'd just seem defensive. Zagreus shakes his head minutely, somewhat amazed and partly shocked. Do mortals judge each other on the experience of their feelings? In their short lives, it seems they rule themselves and each other over a lot of criticism.]

I would never. [He shrugs.] A kiss is a kiss, and I find it rather silly to judge someone's performance when it comes to a gesture that conveys affection.

Although… [He tilts his head.] Considering that, would you like to take the lead? Or should I?

[This is the sort of grace she wouldn't believe unless it was unfolding before her very eyes. Which it is, and it's still hard to digest. Wasn't that the common unifier among all sentient things? Being judgmental assholes? Even animals have pecking orders, and several push out the weak or sickly. Ever seen a bird of paradise try to get a mate?]

Uh. [Whoooo. Her pulse is picking up already. Fukawa wets her lips. Can't help the glance to his. Idiot!] I'll mess it up for sure if I try.

[God, look at his neck. His hand is so warm. Sturdy, broad, but not brutish. Not even close.]

...Can you show me?

[I hope you're having fun with the game!

Brushing Fukawa's knuckles, he hopes to be reassuring. With a nod, he bows his head.] There are no expectations from this kiss. We'll keep it simple, alright?

[His other hand tucks her hair behind her ear before tipping Fukawa's head higher by holding below the hinge of her jaw with the curl of his fingers. He's doing everything gently, as if she were fragile, including on the press of his lips to hers. It's a simple, chaste kiss but soft. Eyes closed. If Fukawa does weigh her first kiss so heavily, then he'll make sure it's something that she can cherish, using his thumb to soothe her along the jawline.

When he draws back, he opens his eyes to look at her searchingly.] How are you feeling?

[i played for like 8 hours straight i'd say it's a fair good time

Through the replay of cinematic lovers and the specters conjured through words on a page, Fukawa recognizes these motions. The press of his fingerprints on her jaw dash those memories away. He's very sweet, very kind, much kinder than she ever expected. Her free hand rises unbidden, lighting on his shoulder. Her eyes shut as he draws close.

Like all good things, it's over all too soon. She can't help the smile drifting hazily over her rosy cheeks.]

Good... [She says softly, dreamily. She beams up at him, buoyed by the butterflies flitting in her chest.] It's r-really nice.

[Her heart might be set on a man who she may never see again, but it's hard to remember at the moment. If she can't share a first with Byakuya-sama, Zagreus is far from a let down. Miles away.]

[Ooooh, I'm glad you're enjoying it, it can be a rough ride.

Zagreus smiles. He'd hate for Fukawa to think it was a terrible experience to kiss someone like him, so seeing her smile like that is a relief.] Good. I'm glad.

[He clasps the hand that the writer rests on his shoulder with his own.] I'm sorry that these circumstances are terrible; no one should be forced to kiss anyone for fear of consequences. But I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[Because, really, that's the worst part of it. Not how good or bad the kiss is, but how it takes away a lot of agency from people. Sure, it may spur some relationships along, and he does respect the rituals of these little sprites, but a belief system is a belief system, even if it wasn't based on myth alone. Achilles had told him how some city-states would discriminate against each other in the surface, and he hoped at least this place wouldn't do so.

So much for that. He looks up at the sprites.] There you have it, then. Happy? [They wave their little fingers goodbye as they carry the mistletoe away.

Looking back down at Fukawa, he sighs.] Will you be alright?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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perhaps it is both....

🫣

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Sorry for this extremely rational and calm response

SHE'S SO GOOD This is chefs kiss <3

zag is a saint and a boon unto himself, i'm crying over him daily

just pick him over another boon if you need to choose and everything will be alright <3

ALWAYS pick zag, no question

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btw i've been gifted a console and have made my way up to Theseus already, Zag is such a good boy ;;

omg Welcome to The SASS™ one day I'll have Zag be as cheeky as he is in his runs

PLEASE YES i need the sass

🫡 I'll give it my best shot