❄ I just wanna keep on waiting underneath the mistletoe ... [sisi voice] A Jingle Mingle

[alittlefuninstead]

Wherever you are, whoever you are, you'll likely find yourself blinking one moment and teleporting in a flurry of snowflakes the next. Luckily for you, there's no murder this time! (Probably.)

Rather, you'll hear Christmas carols aplenty as you approach a winter castle, snow lightly falling and various paths leading to gardens filled with still-blooming flowers (how.) and lit topiary displays.

Upon entering the castle, you'll find it's brightly lit and decorated...welcome to the party! Frost lightly dusts the walls and some nearby surfaces and guests will find there are halls and floors aplenty to explore. There are rooms filled with plush chairs and fireplaces for those looking for something cozier, rooms filled with all kinds of games and toys, and naturally there's a large ballroom prime for dancing. Spread through you'll find tables of snacks, full-course meals, drinks, desserts, and even champagne towers. Are you looking for something specific? Simply ask a member of the staff. Watch your step though! Their assistants really are doing their best to help, and the jingling bell may be too faint to hear if you aren't paying attention.

It seems as though you've all been invited to a wonderful holiday party for no reason at all...but there is one thing amiss...or, should I say...amistletoe?

Pinned up on every doorway is a sprig of fresh mistletoe, decorated with bright red bows and dustings of frost. And sure, perhaps it's easy just to avoid the doorways if you want to be a spoilsport. But should you avoid it for too long, it will seem as though the mistletoe is following you, almost as if some asshole is hiding out and purposefully trailing behind to keep it dangling over your head.

Oh. And did I mention you can't leave the castle grounds until you play along? Pucker up.

[ooc: this can be any past murdergame characters y'all, go nuts.

for clarity sake, this includes characters from: reapsody, grimmoired, plasmatio, subdivided, thotordie, bluesclues, tropicalgetaway, notagain, and redactable!

edit: and by popular demand any of you from the above games can also bring your yuggoths and your tikirobos. The Robowests were in CRAU and therefore don't count goodbye.]

Comments

[hegemonstrous]

[Here is Edelgard, hurrying away from the doorway towards the champagne tray instead. She is also wearing a very terrible festive ballgown.

Sighing out to whoever is nearby her.]

This is ridiculous, isn't it?

[fishingforcompliments]

...um, yes, a little.

[Ridiculous and a liiiittle bit awkward. But like, she's not super dead, so maybe Edelgard will assume she heeded her advice and didn't go home! Ha ha!]

[hegemonstrous]

[Hahaha. God. She definitely looks startled to see Flayn. Awkward.]

. . . Oh.

[fishingforcompliments]

[Hm. What to do about this? Flayn flounders for a moment, and then just says the first thing that comes to mind:]

That color is very flattering on you.

[hegemonstrous]

[Wh. . . what.

She legitimately has no idea how to respond to that.]

Th - thank you? I usually wear this color, so. . .

[Ahem.]

You look lovely as well?

[fishingforcompliments]

[Cut her some slack, Edelgard, she's just trying not to ruin the festive mood.]

Ah. Thank you.

[Actually now that I'm thinking about it she is absolutely wearing clothes from somewhere else. So! That may also make it look like she's heeded her advice.]

...things here appear to be peaceful enough here... [But then, mumbling: ] Though I suppose it was not immediately dangerous before, either, although that "bus" was rather odd...

[hegemonstrous]

[Honestly cute. I mean, listen. She won't know one way or another; she hasn't seen Flayn or Seteth recently. So, fine. She doesn't have enough ill will against Flayn's family to begrudge being polite to her at a party, as long as she's not in Fodlan.]

Personally, I'm troubled at the implication we can be dragged places like this. But I suppose this at least seems harmless so far.

[fishingforcompliments]

Mm...

[Flayn falls silent for a moment, and seems to be focusing on something -

And then she lets out a brief sigh of relief.]

Well, I do seem to be in possession of my abilities, still, so if it does become... harmful, I can at least be of some assistance.

[No one is dying on her watch, thanks.]

[discernments]

[ Well. Perhaps it is a little ridiculous, but....

Jeanne smiles. ]

I think the spirit of it is in the right place.

[hegemonstrous]

[Laughs. Anyway, she smiles at this person.]

It certainly seems harmless enough so far, but you never know. . .

[discernments]

What are you expecting?

[ Jeanne hasn't seen a mistletoe yet. ]

[hegemonstrous]

[Sex. . . demons. . . maybe.]

Don't worry about it. Have you tried the canapés yet?

[discernments]

[ LSDJFSALJF jeanne would expire learning about sex demons. ]

... If you're sure, I won't press it, but if you do have worries, I'll listen.

[ It's one of her skills. ]

I have! [ Her smile is bright. ] They're delicious. At the very least, the food here isn't something to worry over.

[hegemonstrous]

Thank you. I don't see any reason to make a fuss when I've nothing but my own sense that they wouldn't have gathered us here merely for a party.

[Or would they.]

At the least, it's been a pleasant enough gathering so far.

[discernments]

A little caution doesn't hurt anyone.

[ As long as no one goes overboard, it should be fine. ]

Do you trust your own judgment?

[bowfaire]

(It's a teeny bop Claude is he even old enough to be Duke Riegan yet who knows when Claude's grandfather actually dies its fine everything is vague. He's probably wearing some formal suit or something right now don't make me search and link things on my phone I'm begging.)

Well, well, if it isn't Her Excellency looking like a real flower this evening.

[hegemonstrous]

[Oh no. How cute is this? Honestly, she's used to running into some pre time-skip lords, but Claude is a new one. And she really has no bad feelings towards Claude at all, so. It's purely just sort of adorable.]

Your flattery could use more practice, I think. I believe I look fairly ridiculous in this get-up.

[bowfaire]

(He's never had ill feelings towards Edelgard either. It was always in the Alliance's best interest to not really play favorites with the Fodlan's leaders. But well, sometimes one of those leaders declares war against the others and you have to choose which side to take!

Or not choose. Which is what he's been trying to do even if he might have some personal leanings here or there.)

Flattery? I meant every word! (She looks just like a flower! A thorny one, maybe, but a flower all the same. Everyone loves roses, you know?) But really, I'm speaking more of you than the outfit itself. I'm sure you could make anything look good.

(He's! A! Charmer!)

[hegemonstrous]

[Uh-huh. She looks like she probably isn't buying it, but at least finds it amusing.]

They clearly mean to test your theory. I feel silly, whereas you look dashing as ever.

[repress]

[ This is now mistletoe that magically keeps you in the same area until you deal with it one way or the other, because otherwise there would be too much excuse to leave, though he hasn't noticed it hanging around yet.

Instead, Dimitri just. Looks at her. Looks at her gown. ]

...These places do enjoy their absurdity.

[ Are they back at camp? He doesn't know anymore, but regardless, this is the most awkward encounter possible. ]

[hegemonstrous]

[Yeah, because she is trying to find a reason to spot someone across the room and walk away as soon as he's nearby, but somehow can't. And now he's talking to her directly, so she can't leave. He has to be the one to leave.]

Truly. The dress code is the least of it.

[repress]

[ Why does he have to be the one to go? Maybe she should leave. (She can't.) They're the two most stubborn people in all of Fódlan, so they'll be here all night. Or rather, Dimitri probably can't budge very far either, so now it's just him, Edelgard, and this champagne tower. ]

Mm. Though I suppose it's fine so long as we aren't expected to start killing each other again.

[hegemonstrous]

Hah. I wouldn't get your hopes up. These situations have a way of escalating. Best to prepare yourself.

[It's fine, she's standing here because she wants to be!!!]

[repress]

[ Maybe a few months ago he'd have taken the opportunity to start another murder game by attacking Edelgard in the middle of a cute winter ball for cute winter people, but as it stands he just gives her a beleaguered look. ]

I would rather not expect the worst just yet.

[ Though he's not surprised to hear that from her. ]

We've managed to keep the peace thus far, haven't we? [ it's been like 2 minutes ]

[hegemonstrous]

Thus far? For the past several minutes, you mean?

[It's not exactly something to brag about!]