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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

[Guess bullying at a royal academy goes a little differently than OTT anime high.

Deserve is a funny word to use. Sure, she was mistreated and ever so sour for it, but at times she wondered if the thousand tiny blows weren't meant to account for the major ones Syo struck. Karma was a bitch like that.

She could say a number of things, how she'd rather wait for Byakuya-sama, how expecting miracles was for fools, but his final words are so baffling that they knock her protests away.]

You mean that? [She blinks at him, stunned stupid.] But...how? How is that possible? Are they b-blind?

[ The disbelief is sweet of her, though she seems to have an unusually high opinion of him—likely because they've had to battle through terrible circumstances together.

Claude doesn't doubt that he has a pleasing face, and he does take care in his appearance, but looks hardly outweigh the controversy that comes with being a leader during wartime. Not to mention that he's not unaware he has a difficult personality, even on a personal level. ]

Looks aren't everything, you know. [ He shrugs. ] If they were, you wouldn't have been bullied either, would you?

[ Well, maybe. Beauty was one thing, by hygiene is another... ]

[Considering all that he's done for her since she arrived, how can she have anything but a high opinion of him? The fact that he's stunning only cements the idolatry in her mind.

Even so, she can't possibly take him seriously when he says crap like that. Fukawa rolls her eyes and grumbles.]

Don't bother t-trying to patronize me. It's ruining the mood.

[She shakes her head.]

Well, whatever. Everything you s-said to me counts for you too, you know! [She even points to him to press it all home.] Just b-because you might be dead, doesn't mean this can't be a second chance for you either! Forget those other idiots. They're obviously too stupid to know anything about human worth!

[Slight pause.]

You are human, right?

[Never can tell anymore...]

Edited 2022-12-24 02:27 (UTC)

[ He wasn't being patronizing, but he doesn't argue when she tells him off, just watching her reaction. She's trying to cheer him up, he thinks, which is... kind of touching. He knows that it isn't often that you find someone who's so considerate of your feelings. ]

I'm human.

[ ... ]

Are you? I would guess so, but I did see that other side of yours take down a giant monster with just a pair of scissors.

[Thank god. Though that doesn't rule out magic powers. Like how Dimitri suddenly confessed to inhuman strength, or Sakura willed her wounds to heal.]

Huh? [She blinks. Then seizes up.] No! Not at all! I mean, I'm human! One hundred percent!

[The fit deflates and she gives a sour aside.]

Though I can s-see why you'd think that. Since she acts like a disgusting d-demon all the time...

She is very...

[ He crosses his arms, trying to figure out how to articulate his thoughts. ]

Sexually liberated.

[ Too liberated. On one hand, he thinks that any woman who implied having interest in physical activities would be branded a harlot in Fodlan, and so he's glad that she can express herself without fear of repercussion.

On the other hand... it's a lot. ]

[Fukawa pulls a face like she just took a whiff of hot manure. That's understating it. Also, is he not aware of exactly how she is "liberated?"]

...Did she try something with you?

[ Her expression... It almost makes him laugh, but he manages to refrain. ]

No, I think she's too infatuated with Dimitri and Sylvain. [ He's not offended. ] I'm sure they can both handle her.

[ Well, maybe. She did take a giant skeleton on singlehandedly after all. ]

[That expression now warps into unimaginable dismay.]

I-I-I — aha. [Swallow. Deep breath.] I'm c-certain that won't be a problem any longer...

[Being that Sylvain promised to kill her if it was. Oof. She should just move out. Maybe there's a hovel in the Hinterlands waiting for her.]