glocksuke | Jingle Mingle...2

Jingle Mingle...2

Some of you may be used to this by now. For some of you, this may be your very first time being swept away in a flurry of snowflakes. (Though some of you may have been particularly naughty and were shoved into a burlap sack before disappearing into the storm.) As usual, it seems as though the time for bloodshed has passed and when you open your eyes you're greeted with...

...a ski lodge.

Worry not! This isn't the lodge Krampus had taken residence in but it's a rather large and cozy getaway. You may even find that your clothes have changed into something holiday-appropriate for the occasion. It seems as though someone has gone around decking the halls with boughs of holly, lights strewn along the walls, Christmas trees in large corners, and plenty of food and drink to go around. (Yes, this includes alcohol. Please do try to be responsible though, hm?)

Similarly, some of you may recognize the frosty patterns that lightly dust the walls and surfaces and the usual staff and their assistants are back in action. Should you require anything, you may ask one of them and they'll be at your service!

The lodge has plenty of rooms filled with furniture, fireplaces, games and more. And for those of you feeling a little more adventurous, you may venture outdoors. To the left there's a sprawling garden with gazebos, firepits, flowers and lit topiary displays. To the right, you may follow the path down to a hot spring. And straight ahead? There's the path leading you right to a rental shack holding skis, snowboards and snow mobiles.

This almost seems...quaint, doesn't it? And perhaps it's a little too easy, but you should know by now everything comes with a price.

Sprigs of mistletoe are pinned up in every doorway once again, bright red bows and dustings of frost lingering around them. Don't try to escape to the outdoors to avoid it! Ice sculptures appear in every direction each decorated with the mystical plant. You could try to avoid it, really, but avoiding it too long will earn a chilly breath of air directly in your ear as you're pushed straight into the nearest person. Wouldn't you rather choose on your own?

Well! The choice is yours, and you might want to make it fast. There's no way out without paying the kiss tax, after all.

[ooc: it's mgcu time! this mingle is open to characters from the following:

reapsody,

grimmoired,

plasmatio,

subdivided,

thotordie,

bluesclues,

tropicalgetaway,

notagain,

redactable,

snowend,

7rings,

seasonality, and

chasma!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I'm fine.

[ In the key of "absolutely not". ]

You don't sound it, but... If you don't really want me to be the one to listen...

[ But he does rub his neck, there's a moment of hesitation. ]

...It's just that I sort of understand how you're feeling.

[He takes a moment and sighs deeply.]

I don't wanna talk about it.

[If he wasn't so mad he wouldn't have that conversation out in the open.]

[ He frowns at that, hesitating a moment, but... ]

Nero, come on. You shouldn't just bottle it all up. Especially something like that.

It's fine.

[He's learned how to bottle everything up for a good 600 years, and nobody can stop him now.]

I'm fine.

You're obviously not fine. You're upset.

[ Mad, even. ]

[Wow look how fast he can avoid a conversation. He's leaving.]

[ Sorry, but right now he's also going to chase after him. ]

I thought we were getting to be friends. Thought maybe we could rely on each other a bit. Am I mistaken on that, Nero?

[Six hundred years of being like this is a hard habit to kick.]

There're better friends than me. You'd be better off with anybody else.

[ That kind of thing irritates him. ]

That's where you're wrong. I chased after you because I care about you and because I want to get to know you better. Not because you and Sholmes are close, not because of any of that.

I wanted to get to know you better before. I always tried to give you space and not try to invade your business to make you uncomfortable. But I've cared all along. So, don't give me that line of someone else being better friends or whatever.

If you don't want really want to be friends, just tell me straight out. But don't say it's because there's someone better because that's not what I care about.

[He's uneasy and off balance knowing Bradley was in one of these murder things and died. But he doesn't know jackshit about what happened there otherwise.

His only two coping skills are snap and run away and neither one of them is working. Terrible. Awful. Why don't people just leave him alone.]

I don't- I-

[Why can't it just be East? No talking in public.]

[ It's soft, but he reaches out to touch Nero's shoulder. ]

Nero... please. It's obvious you're hurting.

[He obviously can't lie and say he's fine when he's like this.

So he just goes quiet.

While he doesn't pull away from the touch, he doesn't lean into it either.]

[ This isn't something he's good at. He wants to be there for Nero, but Nero doesn't want him to be there for him. ]

...If you really want me to go away, I can't force you to talk to me. I don't want you to be alone, though. If you can't trust me, please at least talk to someone you can trust.

[ Y'know, like Sholmes. ]

I don't wanna talk to anybody about it.

It's obvious you're used to shutting things away, but that isn't going to be good for you. I know you've lived a lot longer than I have, but... without talking about it, you're just going to keep ending up miserable.

[Nero has the air of a cornered cat.

He's survived centuries without talking about anything and he will keep it up. Besides, he does deserve to be miserable.]

[ This is the wooooooorst. ]

...Nero...

[He is stubbornly keeping his mouth shut.]

[And here comes Sholmes, placing a hand on Kotetsu's shoulder. Also, he's slipping a candy cane into Nero's pocket, just because.]

My dear Nero, why don't you get some hot chocolate? I'll join you a little later. [And to Kotetsu:] Ah, let's take a breather, shall we?

[Sweet escape.

He skitters off to mope somewhere else.]

[And much, much later, here's Sholmes, slipping another candy cane into his pocket. His collection.]

So? Did you try the hot chocolate?

I know you're sneakin' those on me.

[He's considerably calmer now, and settled outside.

Disce's curled up next to him and a mug of something.]

I liked the cider a little more.

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[When he feels that hand on his shoulder, he tenses up a little. He didn't expect Sholmes to randomly pop up, but it seemed fitting. Even after he realizes who it is, he doesn't really ease up.]

[And then he watches Nero skitter off like that and just looks up at the sky with a sigh.]

Yeah, I was about leave him alone anyway. You should make sure to talk to him at some point. I obviously failed that part.

Edited 2021-12-14 05:11 (UTC)

Come now. Do you know how many times I've failed to talk with that man? More than I can count. Chin up, man.

[And a peck on the cheek.]

The man's going through some things. Let him be by himself for a while, and we'll reassess, alright? This is simply how he is. Its no reflection of a failure on your part.