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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 ✨

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[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.

[We can save that for another day haha

~~unless?~~]

The food? Again? [She draws back now with a miserable sigh, throwing a glare to the snack tray.] Wh-what the hell is this? Should we be expecting to hallucinate or grow extra arms every time we sit down to dinner? Or is this some perversion of Persephone and the pomegranate?

[It's a pretty common theme across several mythologies. Cursed food from mystic sources. So far the stuff they've been fed aims to annoy rather than permanently trap them in an otherworldly realm.

Unless that's the real reason they can't move on past Stygia?

A thought that tugs her towards an existential quandary, until there's a sharp yank back to the present moment. Courtesy of one word, starts with a K.]

What?

[Excuse?

He

put

He kissed?

D...kiss...her? Fukawa? He kiss Fukawa????!]

Whaaaa-ha-ah...w-w-what? [There is big Error 404 energy here. She points at him weakly, as if to verify. As if he could mean anyone else when saying "I".] You d-did that? For me? To me?

[Help.]

[Well, instead of replying right away, he lifts the glasses between both hands and unfolds them. Then he slides them carefully back over her bewildered face.

Now she can see him in glorious 4k HD while she blue screens from what he has said.]

It would not have been polite to leave you asleep here on the bench.

[That in itself is rude, but also she would be vulnerable to who knows what kind of mischief; worse, what kind of assault.]

You have my apologies for doing such a thing while you were not aware.

[D: would gladly stab the worst people even if they are asleep, but refuses not to have some common decency about this.]

[Is he really going to...

Fukawa shuts up at once. Though she does flinch, she remains still enough for the spectacles to slide back into place. Her glasses don't magnify her eyes, thank god, but her eyes still turn owlish behind the lenses.]

N-no! No, I'm sorry! [Look, if this were nearly any other man she'd have clawed his face off. She lives in fear of many things, and one of them being the wicked ways of men, but her familiarity with the curses, the damned mistletoe (was that in the tart?) and his being really, ridiculously good-looking make all the difference.]

Th-that you had to defile yourself for my sake, I'm...I'm s-so sorry. [And here, her cheeks begin to burn. She whips her head the other way, clutching her cheeks. The heft of the matter is coming to her in full now, and her head has gone spinning.] To th-think that you would waste one of your precious kisses on someone as vile as me...I c-can only be...eternally grateful...

[definitely gonna be super normal about this]

I do not think of you as vile.

[Rather than try any useless attempts at convincing her to believe otherwise.

If she wants to think she is horrendous, he likely wouldn’t be able to change her mind. However, she should know he does not find her such a way. His own perspective is the one thing he can be in control of here.

Also, he doesn’t bother trying to assure her she is beautiful. Those can be seen as distrustful platitudes. The fact he gives her his attention and bothers to assist her is all she needs to understand how he feels about it.

Even if she might consider such a thing pity at most.]

Be careful of what you eat and where you stand. This place is taking more liberties with surprising us.

[He's wised up to her ways, good. Not that she buys his denial completely either. The important thing is that she doesn't drag him into a circular argument, and is instead reminded of the underhanded tricks Stygia keeps playing on them.

The flush stays in full, however, and now she can't meet his eye for new reasons.]

Every day it's s-something new, isn't it? Are these supposed to be tests of character?

[GASP. AN IDEA?]

You d-don't think the mistletoe is a ploy p-push potential couples together, do you?

[… :/]

It could be a natural occurrence with the environment. If it isn’t, then it could be someone’s manifestation.

Unless this place is sentient.

[He dealt with a sentient, he isn’t against thinking a whole dimension can’t have it out for them somehow.]

Have you not made a bond with anyone yet?

[:')]

It's s-sentient enough to spite us all, I know that much.

[Nevermind. This wasn't a matchmaker's paradise. She's been stuck under enough of these plants with people she despises to know better. This was just a freak coincidence, a handsome man coming to her rescue. He's probably dying to get away from her.]

I...h-had a soulmate, at first. By accident, but, um. She's vanished. [What a strange one she'd been, too. Asa Mitaka, another young girl with dual personas, battling for control of their limited body. She never got to ask her much about it, which is a pity. It would have been nice to talk to someone who understood.] I d-don't expect anyone to try bonding with a pest like me. And I don't know if I want them too. Having an extra person in your head all the time, it's terrible.

Most people seemed to have paired up anyway. So.

[She shrugs.]

What about you?

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