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

[anti_altruisms]

[ 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. ]

[invisiblade]

[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.]

[anti_altruisms]

[ 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. ]

[invisiblade]

[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.]

[anti_altruisms]

[ 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. ]

[invisiblade]

[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...]

[anti_altruisms]

[ 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.

[invisiblade]

[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.]

[anti_altruisms]

[ ...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?

[invisiblade]

[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...?

[anti_altruisms]

[ 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. ]

[invisiblade]

[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.]

[anti_altruisms]

[ 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.

[invisiblade]

[??????

kiss??? what?????? did she hear him correctly???????????

Saber is just going to stare up at him like he's said something utterly nonsensical.... because clearly he has. however, Archer isn't the type to lie about such a thing. if it were anyone else she'd have a much harder time believing their words to be true.]

That is an odd enchantment.

[in her mind there is no logical reason to cast such a spell. she simply can't fathom as to why the Goblins would set such a trap in the first place. what could they possibly have to gain by forcing an enchanted lip lock? certainly not to be romantic or anything like that, no.

mulling overt the possibilities she nibbles at the kremrole some more, clearly agitated by this turn of events.

then as if suddenly realizing something she pauses.]

I take it you have found yourself in this predicament more than once?

[he seems knowledgeable enough about it to know exactly what to do, at least.]