EVENT ★ WINTER WONDERLAND

[futurologists]

HOLIDAY PREPWORK The sun might still be AWOL, but that doesn't mean it's time for a vacation! The goblin community seems even more motivated to get their holiday preparations together, working tirelessly to brighten up the grim atmosphere. To that end, they've enlisted the help of the ALASTAIR recruits that've been bumming around. Characters that signed up will be invited or roped into the goblins' various holiday traditions and events. Though they may refuse or fail these tasks, for every one that isn't accomplished, characters will suffer one effect from the curses list for upsetting the holiday balance. Note that those that didn't sign up can still help with tasks out of the goodness of their hearts, they just won't be assigned anything themselves or suffer any curses. Additionally, though PCs are magically bound to work with some partners, they may team up with others as well. GREETINGS FROM LLOYD ALASTAIR sends their holiday tidings! Some characters will find special deliveries addressed to them by name from the mysterious Lloyd of HR. The packaging might be messy and overtaped, and some of the gifts are less nice than others, but it's the thought that counts. MISTLESNOW The first snowfall of the year arrives, and though this may not bode well when there's no sun to melt it away, for now it's pristine and beautiful. Flurries and gentle snowstorms continue for days, blanketing all of Chantes and the outskirts. With it comes a uniquely magical weed epidemic. Mistletoe grows off every surface it can, stems and shrubs of it creeping off of anything it can cling to, including trees, archways, lanterns and buildings. This parasitic plant is a notorious holiday tradition, but in Chantes it packs an extra punch: when two characters step under it together, they'll find themselves magically rooted in place. Mistletoe's spell can only be broken by a kiss, and while chaste exchanges usually work (kisses to the hand, butterfly or eskimo kisses, etc.), more stubborn weeds do exist. This effect lasts until characters smooch or the weed dies from lack of sustenance, which could be anywhere between several hours to a full day. Mistletoe can be destroyed by a third party in a pinch, but be careful not to get stuck under the plant as well! As an OOC note, feel free to be creative on the range and strength of the mistletoe, but please respect other players' boundaries! If you would like to break the mistletoe with a hearty handshake or have your character be immune, be our guest. HAPPY HOLIDAYS All the hustle and bustle aside, the festivities themselves are peaceful and joyous -- and thanks to the ALASTAIR recruits, not punctuated with death or ominous Chimera motifs this time. A large bonfire continues all night with food and mulled wine aplenty. It's time to kick back, make some snow angels, and relax.

Comments

Archer | OTA

[anti_altruisms]

I. Bake On, Bake Off

[ Unsurprisingly, perhaps, Archer finds his time is largely consumed with preparations for the upcoming feast. There is a lot of food to make and not a lot of time to do it, and while he can't even remember the last time he spent so much time in the kitchen or made a lot of food, it comes back to him.

Those exercising their culinary skills will find him hard at work with an apron on. He's baking cakes, cookies (some shaped like his fellow recruits), holiday treats to send along as gifts to those who need or want them. It's serious business for sure, but he's enjoying himself, it seems.

Just don't mess up anything he's working on or there'll be hell to pay. ]

II. Let It Snow

[ So building snowmen, as it happens, isn't such a bad thing. Granted, he isn't entirely sure why they're supposed to look like his fellow recruits but he does his best. (The least flattering of all is Gilgamesh, who is shorter and more portly than he is in real life.)

He is interrupted at certain times throughout the day, so feel free to:

a) chase away a herd of destructive moose!

b) help him catch a red-nosed reindeer!

c) have a snowball fight!

d) go ice-skating!

e) try out his new Nerf bow and arrows!

f) wage war against the Mad Gilgamesh Snowman™!

III. Mistletoe, No

[ There is far too much of this than Archer is honestly comfortable with.

He's done his best to avoid it -- this is one holiday tradition he could do without -- but for whatever reason, the damn stuff appears to be following him. Everywhere he goes, it sprouts around him, even in the kitchen when he's trying to get back to work.

Annoyed, Archer tries to ignore it anyway and makes a point of trying not to get too close to anyone else. (Feel free to shoot down his hopes anytime you like.}

IV. Wildcard

[ Something else you wanna do? Hit me up! c: ]

I

[beyourrock]

[Pearl was down for the task! To bake some cookies? Super easy for the Gem who made them on a regular basis for Steven back home on Earth. She runs towards the kitchen, her arms full of supplies. Ah, to work in a large kitchen, it'd be like a dream come true! Better than the kitchen back at the beach house.

She steps into the kitchen, closing the door behind her with a pleased smile. The scent of fresh baked cookies quickly strikes her senses. The heat being emitted from the ovens warming her cheeks. The Gem lifts her head and suddenly takes notice that. Well.

Someone had already beat her to the punch.

Pearl clears her throat and sets her ingredients down on a nearby counter, hanging her cloak up nearby She wasn't going to let her ingredients go to waste, nor was she going to wait. They could share, right?]

Ah, excuse me. I hope you don't mind some help?

[anti_altruisms]

[ Someone most certainly has beaten her to the punch. He's hard at work too, his sleeves rolled up and everything as he rolls out some more dough. He looks up at her, and if he's surprised, he hides it well enough.

Archer recognizes her from Gilgamesh's network post, but he doesn't let on that he knows. Not yet.

He gestures. ]

Feel free.

[ There is a lot to do yet, after all. ]

[beyourrock]

[A sigh of relief passes her lips as she nods. She takes up a spare apron, looping it over her head and tying it around her waist, ready to go! Pearl rolls up her sweater's sleeves.]

Thank you. I'll be sure to stay out of your way as much as I can.

[With a bright smile, she first washes her hands in the nearby sink, those command seals bright on the pale white skin of her hand. She flicks the water off and dries off her hands. Next, she deposits her own ingredients on the counter, pulling out two bowls. One for dry ingredients, and the other for wet. She begins with the eggs first, cracking them into one of the bowls with a gentle hum.]

The cookies smell great, by the way. [She comments, trying to make light conversation, despite his stoic appearance. It reminded the Gem of Garnet. She was stoic most of the time but, that didn't mean she never wanted to talk.]

ii-f

[powerdriven]

[ so the goblins have deemed that he should work together with Archer to complete his next task. Levi has no objections. in fact, while he goes out looking for the man in question, he considers himself fortunate enough to expect an efficient time.

...though seeing as he's been given no specific direction to look towards for the task itself, it takes picking him out among a sea of recruit-made snowmen to start forming a plan. an entirely impromptu one when one with familiar looking, spiky snow hair begins to move.

for a creature made entirely of snow, it's fairly agile. Levi finds this out the hard way when his quick reflexes of swinging Gilgamesh's own sword in a slice for its neck leave him dismayed to discover the area coated with a thick ice. made vulnerable in the recoil of his move, the snowman reveals its hand to the tune of arrows made of sharp icicles raining down above them. Levi rushes to dodge, looking to Archer in the interim. ]

Just what's going on here?!

[anti_altruisms]

[ Archer has had just about enough of this holiday business.

While building snowmen wasn't necessarily the most glamorous task, or one he would normally attempt, it had seemed harmless enough -- relaxing, even, once he got started. No one, however, told him that this would happen.

His blades are in his hands, and when the icicles come raining down, Archer deflects them as they come, fast and deadly, his brow furrowed. His eyes flicker over to Levi for the briefest moment before settling back on Gilgamesh's snow-self. Somehow, the damned thing is levitating, and more icicles are forming. ]

Magic gone awry, I would say.

[ Overhead, the snowman lets out an loud, boisterous "HOHOHOHOHO!" ]

We'll have to destroy it.

[powerdriven]

[ who could have known it, at least without a few old folk tales to arouse their suspicions? Levi's also caught off guard. while he'd have much preferred some gloves for the job of gathering up snow for the snowmen, he'd have taken that over this mess. no use lamenting it though. he has to agree—destroying it is the only option, and that means he won't waste any time getting emotional. or in this case, baring his teeth.

while he moves, eyes moving faster between potential icicles targeted for them, he doesn't risk a second attack without a plan. biding their time's better, as proven by the fast footwork of grappling up a tree, blades sending the ice speared into the snow below. ]

A weak point. It's gotta have one.

[ perhaps there's something Archer knows about Gilgamesh that he doesn't. ]

It hardened its damn skin like a titan. [ like... ice? ]

III. i'm the mistletoe fairy

[defenceless]

[why the mistletoe seems to sprout around him is at least partially explained by the curse afflicting his master. she's noticed it, herself, but she can't be concerned with all the unfortunate souls snagged by the mistletoe that pops up in the wake of her every step or she'd never move anywhere. also, she's curiously finding that it's not so bad.

the holiday spirit isn't so bad. when archer catches sight of rin outside, she's visibly lighthearted and full of more smiles than he'd expect of her. she even aims one in his direction as their eyes meet, purposefully joining him underneath a small sprig of mistletoe that freezes them both in place.

she's damn sneaky.]

Archer... [surely she's mocking him.] You know what mistletoe is for, right?

[give some sugar to your master, and not the baking kind.]

oh boy

[anti_altruisms]

[ This is definitely some sort of Hell he's walked into.

Of course, he sees Rin before she approaches (they're connected, he couldn't miss her presence if he tried), and he does note there's something different. She has more of a spring in her step than he's used to, and even if that isn't necessarily a bad thing, there's something in the smile she flashes his way that makes him think it might be better to Not Be Here, right now.

He doesn't walk away -- can't, really, since she's already noticed him -- though he does regret not moving when he notices a spring of mistletoe hanging over their heads...

She is definitely mocking him. ]

Rin...?

[ For the briefest of moments, even her usually serious Servant looks like a deer caught in the headlights. ]

8)

[defenceless]

[she enjoys that look on him. (later, she'll connect the dots and realize why. some aspects of this... person never change.)

waiting for his new dilemma to sink in with a judicious amount of time, rin's beaming as she rests her hand softly against his chest and delivers one command:]

Lean down.

I

[servant]

[Look Archer, just because you have a bit of a...specialized diet, some sorcerers need to eat actual food. Merlin's followed his nose to where Archer's preparing for the feast, and taking it as seriously as a knight preparing for a joust from the looks of it.

Speaking of dangerous activities, Merlin's stealing a cookie.]

[anti_altruisms]

[ Listen, he can't help his ~specialized diet~ okay.

And you really must like living dangerously, Merlin. As your hand goes for that cookies, he's looking up with serious eyes. ]

Those are for later.

[servant]

Err, yes, which is exactly why I should sample one now. What if they're burnt? Or not cooked through? You'd be thanking me.

[Still, his hand lingers just inches from the cookie before slowing withdrawing. Merlin folds his arms across his chest to resist the temptation for as long as possible.]

Would you mind if I at least watched?

I.

[burdenoftruth]

[Verity decides to check out the kitchen somewhat curious about the kinds of ingredients she'll find. She'd like to see about making some popcorn garlands, but she's not sure she'll be able to find popcorn here. Failing that, though, she supposes there's always festive cookies.

Of course when she enters she finds someone already hard at work. And he really seems to know what he's doing given the scents that are filling the room.]

Wow, it smells great in here.

[She gives him a wide berth, though, because she honestly doesn't want to get in the way and her sweater is kind of bulky. ]

[anti_altruisms]

[ There is definitely a pretty big stockpile of food in here -- some prepared, some not.

He's working on a few different things at the moment, and while the place may seem to be a bit overrun with sweets, there are other types of food in the works. It is a feast they're supposed to be preparing, after all.

He looks up when Verity comes it. ]

It's been a busy day.

[ To say the very least. ]

Is there something in particular you're looking for?

[burdenoftruth]

[She's already looking around, trying not to get too distracted by the sweets. They look really good, okay.

She glances at him when he speaks, though.]

Yeah, actually I was kind of hoping to find some popcorn.

cue the least romantic thread ever ; iii

[riastraid]

[ What with having to do things like move and work and generally function in a state beyond immaterial spirit cloud, Lancer eventually goes looking for food. Not the greatest sustenance, but it'd do for now, and all it really meant was a quick detour into the kitchen where the festival food was being prepared.

What he doesn't seem to catch is that the window he's suddenly vaulting through (doors, who needs 'em—) has an innocuous bud of mistletoe sprouting along the sill. Secondly, he's not expecting someone to be on the other side.

Much less someone like Archer. Whether or not he accidentally kicks him in 'greeting,' Lancer lands with a brow inched up incredulously. ]

What're you doing here?

disgruntled 12-year-old boy thread ahoy

[anti_altruisms]

[ Lancer's heel catches him right in the face.

Normally, he could have and would have dodged, but preoccupied as he is with preparations, he missed it.

The accidental hit knocks him off kilter for a moment, but the scowl on his face is almost...uncharacteristically annoyed. Looks like someone got interrupted in the middle of making cookies. ]

What does it look like, you numbskull?

[ Achievement unlocked: Genuinely Irritated Archer. And over cookies, no less. Good job, Lancer. ]

There's a reason there's a door.

[riastraid]

[ See, had it much of anyone else, he would look apologetic right now, help brush them off and get them back on their feet. Unfortunately, for Archer this is just karmic justice. And he should be able to dodge a kick or two!! Lancer is wholly unrepentant, he's done nothing wrong.

It's interesting to see what actually gets under Archer's skin, though. Lancer'd almost killed him before and it still felt like he was the more irritable of the two then. Weak spot discovered: cooking perfectionism...? ]

I thought this would make a more dramatic entrance.

[ His tone's dry, slightly distracted by all the warm sugar and vanilla in the air. ]

Are you...?

[ dare he say it, baking ]

II (a+b and maybe e because!!!)

[inroad]

...Damn it. You coward! [ Masamune fumes, skidding short as the otherwise adorable (????) reindeer that he has been chasing very elegantly leaps into the heard of moose that have conveniently appeared and are... apparently taking it upon themselves to create property damage. Landing safely amongst the group, the reindeer's ears twitch at Masamune's insults before it glances innocently back at the LOSER that had been stupid enough to think catching its red-nosed ass would be a piece of cake. It uh yews or some sound effect that deer make at the samurai, causing his expression to twitch because god it's like that dumbass deer that kid runs around with back home. He wants to kick that kids ass again already just thinking about it. And this reindeer...!!! Must know this. It's mocking him. Translations are not necessary for what the animal is trying to tell him.

come get me, my moose squad mean business!

As if testing it, Masamune feints forward towards the edge of the herd only for a few moose (that might as well be local town rioters with the way they are plowing down a couple crates of dried fruits) to stop what they are doing and all focus on him, particularly that shiny sword of his. ]

...You're a real sassy furry bastard aren't you.

[ that reindeer is toast. is it supposed to be caught alive? if so, no promises.

Hope you like failure curses, archer. Times two possibly... ]

[anti_altruisms]

[ Masamune, you're such a loser.

Somewhere from above, a multitude of what appear to be black and orange arrows rain down from the sky. They scatter the herd of rampaging moose and drive them back (without harming them amazingly enough).

As for the snotty red-nosed reindeer, actual swords appear, driven swiftly into the earth as they form a ring around the samurai and the wayward creature. Archer lands a moment later, and he spare Masamune a quick glance before turning his attention back to the rampaging moose.

Divide and conquer is an excellent ploy. ]

points at eyes points at archer's ass

[adlantisag]

[ Someone's very obviously delighted with the season. Kida has her much-beloved sweater on, along with a hat and a pair of boots, but is otherwise letting the snow fall where it will, too fascinated by the sting of the cold to really think that she might get sick. (She won't, not badly; her pendant will keep her safe. But that might be beside the point.)

She doesn't exactly walk into Archer--she does have slightly better peripherals than that--but she's closer than she might otherwise be before she really notices him. She doesn't care. Everything is wonderful right now, her mood is much improved over the last time they spoke. ]

Ah, Archer! Supak.

[ That would be a hello. She makes her way to him, snow sticking to her hair and giving it the appearance of downy feathers. In this way, they match. ]

points to U

[anti_altruisms]

[ Good lord, Kida, that sweater.

Archer is busy making snowmen (snow people??) at the moment, but he looks up when she hails him. He's wearing his typical red, though it is a big heavier than usual with some white around the edges. Maybe he's getting into the holiday spirit, or maybe someone just made him wear it. It's hard to say.

Either way, the sight of her earns the briefest flicker of a smile. He straightens to greet her properly. ]

Supak, Kidagakash.

[ His pronunciation, as ever, is perfect. ]

You seem to be enjoying the snow.

I. with a pinch of III. thrown in c:

[invisiblade]

[Saber is also exercising her culinary skills, which is to say; she's currently snooping her way through the array of goodies in the kitchen and sampling other people's actual culinary skills because she has none. 5th century kings didn't need to know how to cook, okay? she had servants to do that for her. oh, the irony.

naturally she's drawn to the heavenly smell of an Emiya's cooking, and so it is Archer may perhaps soon take notice of a peculiar pair of antlers poking up from the other side of the counter he's working at. slowly, those antlers rise to reveal they're attached to a hood, which is attached to a Saber. bright green eyes peek their way over the counter's edge to curiously ogle the treats he's working on.

stealth 101 always scope out the target ahead of time to properly form a plan of attack.]

fufufu

[anti_altruisms]

[ Archer blinks.

Thankfully, he does not stare very long when Saber appears in...whatever it is she's apparently wearing. He's learned by now it's better not to comment on such things so, despite the oddity of it, he refrains.

It does smell very nice in the kitchen, though, and judging by the state of his apron, it's clear he's been at this for hours. A faint smile briefly cross his lips, there and gone in a moment.

He's working with pie dough, at the moment, but he takes the time to reach for a platter of cookies. The shapes didn't turn out quite right, but otherwise, they're perfectly fine and delicious. ]

You can have them, if you like.