epidemiology | EVENT ★ WINTER WONDERLAND

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EVENT ★ WINTER WONDERLAND

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.

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[ It's cute.

The corner of his mouth twitches, and though he doesn't quite smile, something in the look he gives her is...less cold than what she's likely used to from him. Most of the time, he's stand-offish if not outright harsh, but those sharper edges of him seem to be dulled at the moment. The fact that he looks so domestic in an apron with sleeves rolled up likely helps.

Archer waves a hand. ]

They didn't turn out quite the way I wanted them to, but the taste should be the same.

[ He looks at her. ]

They're yours.

[it's her turn to blink up at him now in confusion... for a moment there he reminded her of someone younger, and squishier.

but on to more important matters, like food. once he reassures her, she extends an arm out to reach for the platter... revealing a furry brown sleeve. it's a bit of a struggle but she manages to grab hold of it and drag it over to her end of the counter before sinking down out of sight altogether with it.

suspicious..........

munch munch munch. someone wastes no time in sampling the jilted baked goods. quiet hums of approval can be overheard as Saber coos in delight from the other side of the counter. if ever she needed any more proof of Archer's true identity, this certainly seals the deal.]

Mmmph~♥

[ It is most certainly an illusion, Saber. Archer could not possibly be squishy. Not even a little.

Peering down at her with raised eyebrows, Archer watches the cookies disappear and...leaves her be for a little while. He has a pie crush to finish and chill so he focuses on that while Saber enjoys the cookies.

Finally, though, he does decide to lean over the counter to see what she's doing. ]

There's a chair if you want one.

[lost in the splendor of pure sugar and high calorie counts Saber startles back to reality when Archer's voice suddenly sounds much closer than it had been moments prior. she glances up to him, mouth open as she's about to sink her teeth into yet another cookie but she freezes halfway with an expression akin to a deer in headlights. and how appropriate, considering she's dressed in a reindeer onesie with the matching face paint on her nose to give her the appearance of one. her face colors, and she sputters gracelessly for a moment there on the floor where she's crouched down and huddled over the platter of cookies.

she must look ridiculous, she realizes. this is truly a fatal blow to Saber's pride and it takes a moment for her to recover. finally she clears her throat, attempting to regain any bit of poise her usual self might have held in this situation if it weren't for her odd appearance.... if only she weren't cursed into this absurd costume- it's utterly mortifying!]

A-Ahem! That's... quite alright. I'm fine right here, thank you.

[the floor is fine. this is fine. don't make a big deal out of it Archer.]

[ Ironically, perhaps, she's the one making a big deal of it, not him. She isn't hiding anything by crouching down on the floor, and he isn't about to mock her for it.

He lets out a sigh and leans back. ]

When you're finished with that tray, I have something else you can try.

[ A beat, then- ]

You can't eat it there.

[bless him for not bringing any attention to her ridiculous costume. she sighs in slight relief- the worst is over! or so she thinks...

she perks up at the promise of mystery goodies-- only to deflate a moment later. bribing her out of her hiding place with food is cheating!! but she's not about to pass up more of Archer's delicious handiwork, so she eases herself out of her niche of shame and shuffles a few steps around the counter over in his direction. her attention is mostly focused on the spread of various ingredients laid out on the counter, but she does glance up to him, a tad nervous now that she's fully visible in all her holiday onesie glory.]

It would appear you've been quite busy, with all of this...?

Edited 2015-12-29 03:57 (UTC)

[ He might be a rude asshole at times, but he can exercise tact.

For all intents and purposes, Archer appears to completely ignore her (unfortunate) outfit. Wiping his hands on a damp towel, he wanders over to a large pot sitting on a rugged, old-fashion sort of stove. ]

I've been here for hours.

[ So yes, he's been quite busy.

Scooping the steaming contents into a bowl, Archer ladles out a generous portion of a hearty beef and vegetable stew and offers it to her. Sweets are fine, but without a Master, Saber will need something more substantial as well. ]

Try this.

[as he approaches the giant copper pot and swirls a ladle within it's contents Saber's keen nose starts to twitch, picking up on the scent of beef and broth. carefully she leeeeeans over to take a peek-- before startling straight as the bowl full of stew is offered to her. her hands cup the base of the warm bowl and she inhales deeply, steam wafting from the surface of the brew. her mouth waters at just the sight of it, eyes wide with excitement despite the fact she's trying, and failing, to stifle her eagerness.

ah, but she can't forget her manners now, can she? glancing back up at him she bows her head politely.]

Thank you for the meal...

[once that's said and done she lifts a spoonful to her lips, pursing them together and blowing softly before giving it a taste.

a shiver of delight quickly climbs the length of her spine and beyond, all the way up to her ahoge standing tall and alert with enthusiasm. it's clear she's enjoying herself by the way she hurriedly shovels another spoonful into her mouth, not even bothering to blow. a burnt tongue is easy enough to heal, and the pros definitely outweigh the cons in this situation. nevertheless her face does scrunch at the heat and she shifts her weight in discomfort for the briefest of moments before swallowing.

that's good stuff right there.

and so it's one spoonful after another until it's all gone in a matter of seconds. following which, without thinking, she extends the empty bowl back out to him... silently asking for more.]

Edited (IT WASN'T READY... also grammar...) 2016-01-03 11:27 (UTC)

[ It's the simpler things in life, more often than not, that Archer finds the most rewarding now. As silly as it might be to some, he enjoys baking and cooking because he actually feels as though he's creating something with his own hands. He rarely has a positive word to share with anyone, but food is something everyone understands and appreciates.

And so it is with Saber, as she takes the bowls and devours its contents with gusto. She enjoys it, it brings something a little like happiness to her face, and it inspires an odd sense of déjà vu. He doesn't feel much of anything anymore outside the negativity he so often directs at himself, but something in his chest lightens a little, watching her.

She offers the bowl back to him, and the briefest flicker of a smile touches his lips as he turns away to refill it. Scooping out another generous portion, he hands it back to her. ]

You can have as much as you like.

[ He can always make more. ]

[if there's one thing Saber appreciates in this world, it's a tasty meal. she brings her hands together in thanks as he fills the bowl with another heaping portion of stew. her gaze travels up to watch his face, admiring his calm expression of concentration toward the task at hand and catching that ghost of a smile, she mirrors it back to him.]

I appreciate the offer... though I would not wish to keep you here all night.

[in other words... she could probably consume the entire pot full... and then some. Archer would be stuck in this kitchen for far too long trying to replace the amount of food she'd devour if given such freedom. still, asking for seconds shouldn't prove too great of a hindrance to his work.... or thirds.... or maybe even fourths?

he'd better find something else to keep her preoccupied or she'll wind up licking the kitchen clean of every last crumb.]

[ Archer simply waves a hand. There's no need for her to be concerned. ]

I'll be here all night, regardless.

[ He doesn't need to sleep, the work itself isn't particularly strenuous, and unless Rin absolutely orders him out of the kitchen, there's no reason to stop. Not when he's making such good progress.

He gestures at all the ingredients strewn about. ]

Do you want to watch?

As long as you are enjoying yourself...

[he can't hide the genuine gratification that cooking and sharing food obviously brings him from Saber's perceptive gaze! she supposes an all-nighter in the kitchen doesn't necessarily have to amount to being a bad thing, in that case.

she nods politely, downing another hefty scoop of stew.]

I will gladly oversee your productivity... so long as I am permitted to aid you in the continued examination of your progress.

[in other words more taste test pls!!! plus she'd like to keep him company, too. she imagines he's... spent far too much time alone.]

[ You're imagining things, Saber. He doesn't enjoy any of this!! It's just busy work...

(Yeah right, Archer.)

Either way, the last comment earns a faint, wry smile. ]

I'm sure I can find something for you.

[ He ushers her a bit closer. ]

I have a few other things back here.

[ A table all for desserts, in fact. The question is, will they get there with a dark green sprig sprouting right in front of it? Archer hasn't seemed to notice it. ]

[never underestimate Saber's determination to get the booty. and by booty I mean loot. and by loot I mean cake.

cough.

her eyes light up at the sight of the scattered sugary treats an their various ingredients laid out on the table and she's instantly drawn over to it. she's so enraptured by the sight and smell that she too fails to notice the mistletoe dangling overhead by the table side.]

What's this?

[she gestures eagerly to a cream filled pastry dusted with powdered sugar, hardly able to contain herself.]

[ Normally, he would notice. After his little "run-in" with Lancer, Archer has been especially mindful about exterminating any mistletoe that happened to appear in the kitchen, but right now, he's just a little bit distracted.

She looks delighted at all the food, and it tickles something very like nostalgia and amusement as he watches her.

Stepping beside her to get a better look at it (and failing to notice the mistletoe right above them), again, there's a brief flicker of a smile. ]

A Kremrole. I have to save most of them for later, but if you'd like a sample...

[ He has no problem indulging her. (As if there was any doubt of that. ]

[her head snaps back around to look up at him as she nods excitedly. like a child in a candy shop, eagerly awaiting their parent's approval to indulge. her head bobs up and down repeatedly with more than a fair share of enthusiasm, as sparkling eyes shine up at him, hopeful.

he did just say he needs to save most of them- but that didn't mean he had to save all of them, right? still she'll wait for his permission first. she's not yet completely lost all sense of tact, even in this hungry rampage.

... her bottom lip might even be puckering out a bit to pout at him imploringly.]

[ It most certainly is a very strong, if not almost jarring sense of déjà vu that grips him now. She's the same woman he knew, and yet also not. He could never truly go back to his own timeline and undo what's already been done, but there are days he still thinks about it -- reminisces, even, over vague, tattered memories.

He's almost surprised he never forgot her face.

His expression softens, ever so slightly, and after a moment, he picks up one of the pastries and offers it to her to sample. ]

[further delighted upon his offering, she takes it graciously with both hands and brings it to her lips to taste. she licks first at the cream center before nibbling at the soft flaky crust. lost in a world all her own as she sinks her teeth into the heavenly treat, not at all mindful of how the powdered sugar sweeps messily across her nose and cheek as she nourishes the eternal rumbling of her bottomless stomach.

meanwhile a pot of water Archer had set on the stove a few feet away begins to bubble as it approaches a steady boil. perhaps his attention is best suited there at the moment, if he can manage to tear his attention away from his former Servant...]

[ As riveting a sight as Saber makes savoring one of the treats he made, Archer does indeed remember himself enough to hear the telltale sound of water coming to a boil.

He turns to check it, and only then does he realize that he not-so-conveniently...can't. Glancing up quickly at the now-expected bow of mistletoe, annoyance does register, but it's mild in comparison to uncertainty.

Archer looks back down at her, at the light dusting of powdered sugar on her face, and he's honestly torn. How, exactly, is he supposed to handle this?

He clears his throat a little. ]

Saber.

[she's really enjoying that kremrole, her attention fully devoted to it as she chomps away at it. even so his voice does manage to register when he calls out to her. with cheeks full of pastry she blinks up at him innocently, entirely oblivious to their current situation.]

Hmm?

[she would speak a bit more eloquently but... her mouth is a little full at the moment.]

[ ...why this? Seriously.

Archer lets out a sigh and tries to force down the sense of urgency rising over the prospect of the water boiling over...and of course, the situation at hand.

He points at the sprig of a plant sprouting overhead. ]

Have you seen mistletoe before?

Edited 2016-01-18 04:29 (UTC)

[Saber's gaze rises higher upon his instruction where she spies the peculiar looking sprout of greenery overhead. had that been there before? she can't be certain, she was too busy ogling the arrangement of sweets on the table. her brow furrows and she squints, picking up on the faint presence of magic wafting from above. quickly she swallows the bite of pastry she'd been working on before responding.]

I have not.

[returning her sights to him she realizes he seems quite unsettled all of a sudden.]

You seem rather troubled by it...?

[ He is very unsettled, but that's beside the point. Deciding how to explain this properly is going to be awkward, to say the least.

Archer pinches the bridge of his nose. ]

The plant is traditionally part of the holiday season, but the goblins consider themselves clever. You'll notice, neither of us can move out from under it.

[ Stupid magic mistletoe. ]

[wait what-]

Surely you jest-- ???????

[her face suddenly scrunches in confusion... she's willing her body to move but it's not responding?????]

What sorcery is this?? You mean to say I am to suffer yet another meaningless curse at the hands of these meddlesome goblins!?

[SHE TRUSTED YOU, GOBLINS.... NEVER AGAIN.]

[ Unfortunately, he is not jesting. In fact, he's just as dismayed over this current turn of events, but it simply can't be helped.

He lets out a quiet sigh. ]

As far as spells go, it's relatively harmless. Those trapped underneath it simply have to kiss, and both are released.

[ A beat, then- ]

As far as I'm aware, there is no other way to reverse it.

Edited 2016-02-13 05:42 (UTC)

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invisiblade - 2016-02-22 02:16 (UTC) - Expand

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