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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

[ when she climbs out of the snow, he's surprised to how light she is, which probably can be seen in the way his eyes widen momentarily. then again, who knows if it's in regards to that or the way she seems to retract her grip all too quickly. still, he doesn't hold it against her.

much. ] You say that and yet you seemed so keen on avoiding any contact with me. [ he stares at his hand as if to further his point, but really, he's not upset in the least and it probably shows in his more easygoing expression. but, that said... wow aura and scent??

while there's a lot he could say to it, instead he focuses on her second statement. ] Your door? [ there's a quiet hum of consideration before he firmly nods his head. it made sense why she seemed to frazzled earlier. with that said, he looks back towards the door. ] Lead the way. You weren't planning on going alone, were you?

Uuuh... [Did she fuck up again? His expression says no but his words say yes. An impossible equation for a girl with no social skills.] Did you w-want me to warm your hands?

[Is that an acceptable middle ground?

Regardless, there are important affairs afoot. She's stunned that he would offer, honestly, she's not worth the effort of safeguarding. But he speaks so assertively that she can't question it, biting back the protest for a tight and gracious nod.]

I was, b-but, I also didn't expect anyone to be here. [She turns, beelining them to a dark blue door not fifty meters away.] Why did you c-come all this way, Your Highness?

[ actually...

it might be an acceptable middle ground, after all. he reaches over and holds his hand out to her. in reality, he's not exactly looking for her to warm his hand as much as he just wants to make sure she doesn't stray too far, or... sink into another snow hole. that said, he doesn't even wait a second for her to responds to grab it, as he already reaches for her hand. it might have seemed like a hasty motion but, he figures it would be better for them to err on the side of caution.

they did have a mission here, after all. ] I was just going to check on something. You could say, I just had a bad premonition. [ a weird feeling of restlessness he wasn't exactly used to. but, maybe it worked out?

that said, once she opens the door, he's debating whether or not he should go first. but, he's not sure how useful that is when he isn't very familiar with her door or what's behind it. not that he doesn't think he could fare okay with figuring it out on the go considering most of his life was traversing through unknown lands in the midst of war. ] But, you better warm my hands well even when we're inside. [ meaning: don't let go or get lost. ]

[!!!!! H-holding hands....

Fukawa is both terrified and all too pleased by this sudden development. Perhaps, maybe someday, Callisto might see her as more than a tool? Or rather, that she could use this as a blueprint for her quest to win Byakuya-sama's affections. Yes. Her loyalty has not once wavered. It's with pure practicality that her fingers curl over his. The mittens are in the way of a true connection, but the gesture makes her heart pound all the same.]

You too? [That could mean other people have been affected too. Maybe there's more on the way.] Was it your door, d-do you think?

[What else could it be? Nothing else out here was worth protecting.

The door swings open and they step into a small, stale world. It's a dorm room, well used in some past life. Books and manuscripts litter the place, plentiful pens, a vase of flowers.

But none of that is as striking as the window. Or rather, the lack of one. She's pasted notes and plots all over it but the broad steel plate still gives a sinister gleam. It's bolted in place, immovable, shuttering out the world. More distressing is the camera that juts from the roof, sitting at a perfect vantage to catch every move. There's a monitor on the wall, too.

Fukawa's jaw clenches tight as she slows her steps. Her shoulders hitch. She glances around the place with unusual disquiet.]

I d-don't...see anything unusual.

[Not yet.

There's a noise — something muffled, far away. Beyond the door at the end of the room.]

Did you hear that?!

[ admittedly, it isn't a bad sensation to share the warmth of another in weather as harsh as this. even between a glove and mitten. callisto being survival-minded keeps it to that though and makes sure to keep his pace even so she doesn't accidentally misstep. if she notices, there is definitely some mild strength to his grip.

when they enter, he knows it's her home, not just because it was obviously her door and "space" by extension— but that it fit the profile of the same woman he had encountered in the bookstore. in that sense, despite it being entirely new to him, there's an odd sense of comprehension at that. but, no doubt, it was a strange room. closer to a prison than anything else. obviously, he knows and can't say anything about the technology present, but...

it's peculiar. before he can pin point on anything specific, he also hears that sound and he instantly stiffens. quietly: ] Let's hope whatever it is... a dagger is enough to fight it off. [ this is why he should find a replacement sword as quickly as he can, really.

that said, he doesn't seem afraid despite being heavily on guard. he keeps confidence as he leads them closer to the door. despite something being heard in the door, it seems to be moving. all too muffled. was something really there?

could it be something else? ] I'm assuming you're not storing anyone captive here, my lady?

[ it's a joke, despite this being no situation to. ]

[A dagger?

Her eyes flick to him, curious. It figures he would arm himself to come out here, but that doesn't seem like the best weapon to use when you couldn't tell what your opponent was. Not that she could talk. And not that she will talk, not unless she's forced to. The less people that have to witness Syo and her bloodlust up close, the better.]

Of c-course not! [Hissed, exasperated. As if she would ever. Though, if perhaps Byakuya-sama were to arrive, this would be the safest place to keep him. He'd be most grateful to her, and she could fetch him meals and come dote on him in peace and quiet, just the two of them, forever, and ever, and ever.

But now is not the time.]

Let's just...crack the door open and look.

[Yet as she approaches, she realizes something is deeply amiss. There, on her doorframe. A vibrant knot of a plant, antithetical to the stale dead zone of her old dorm. Mistletoe, complete with a giggling sprite waiting in the wings.]

What? [She gasps, nearly backing into Callisto as she draws away.] Even h-here?!

[HOW DID THAT LITTLE SHIT GET ITS STUPID PLANT IN HERE? If the earlier noise weren't something so obviously loud and clumsy, she might blame this bastard sprite for the whole shebang.

This? This is just insult on top of injury.]

[ being the tyrant and crown prince of iron and blood... he likely could have related to some level of bloodlust. but, fortunately, it's nothing either of them visit for today. but, he would mostly agree that whole farce is far from ideal, and he can only really mentally prepare himself for a fight that likely wouldn't be easy. he figured that's how fate liked it, however.

though, with that said, he can't deny that despite this being a high tension scenario with equally questionable stakes... he still finds humor in the way she jumps on the defense at his words. to be honest, could... anyone blame him for considering it a possibility for her?

memorize his scent, was it? still, as funny as it is, it's short-lived when he hears her initial shock, and when she jumps back, he is already readying himself to strike. ]

[ except, then his eyes fall upon the sprite who opposite to this whole mood, seems pretty damn pleased with himself. there's an annoyed twitch of his brows before he settles his gaze back on fukawa.

almost as if she were the source of this. ] You really...

[ desire me that much, or so his expression seems to say. a mix between shock and maybe?? a look that says he's kind of impressed by her determination? ] Perhaps, you have more control over this place than you'd like to believe.

[Is he implying...]

No?

[He's looking at her a little funny. Is this amusement? Or incredulent disgust? She gasps.]

N-no! No! I hate th-these things! They're an assault on the sanctity of romance! [don't even get her started. Except, too late.] Kisses are a sacred act b-between true lovers! Not some cheap party trick to amuse a bunch of flying rats!

[The sprite actually gasps in offense. So rude!!]

[ while some may have been genuinely offended at that, he honestly only finds it a bit humorous. he's never sure if her words are mere exaggeration or if she simply did feel that strongly. considering the depth of her reactions, well, he presumes there's some truth to it.

still, despite this being such a dire situation, it doesn't mean that he can't be relaxed at approaching this matter. ] Hate?

You seemed to willing to follow my orders at the bookstore. How is this different? Unless, you're claiming we were acting as true lovers...? [ he's obviously joking, but still, he does seem to come in closer.

the sprites may not be so forgiving, though. obviously not going to be pleased with anything but a legitimate kiss that only "true lovers" would have. ]

If so, show me. [ is this the front row seat the sprites truly desired? ]

Wuh—b-b-but that was different! [For example, he is hot. The sprites are not. Also there is far too much mistletoe everywhere, surely there has to be a damn limit. They're all going to catch mono at this rate.

She's wised up at least marginally by now. He doesn't mean it when he calls them lovers. That doesn't mean there's no embarrassment. Fukawa pulls a face and cringes, looking around the room as if there might suddenly be an audience. Well, more of one than they already have.]

Uuuuuh... [She raises her hands. Winces. She can still feel the tug of something desperately wrong, something just beyond this door, messing with her stuff. This is serious, and she's already had to kiss people before this. Just not under quite so much duress.]

Is it okay? If I, uh, p-p-put my hands here? Your Highness? [Reaching up for his shoulders, will only commit with permission. Having two extremely chaste pecks on the lips are no kind of preparation for initiating things. Also he's very tall and she is quite short even if she's hiking up onto her toes. She needs cooperation here.] You'll h-have to bend closer, too.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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actually delays fight scene because life is short and I want a smooch

1/2... i am... more than okay with this. #blessed

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Shakes your hand, pleasure being horrible with you

sometimes you can only take comfort in the fact you're not alone

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