jingles ur mingles

[alittlefuninstead]

By now, some of you may very well expect this. In fact, for those of you who were in attendance last year, you’ll soon find yourself lovingly agitated by a small elf who waves a golden envelope at you. As you open it, a flurry of snowflakes blasts you in the face and the letter unfolds to reveal its contents.



Then again, even those of you who are new will find yourselves with a few elves underfoot, biting and slamming their little fists into your shoes until you read the letter. The moment you register the words, however, the snowflakes begin to turn around, almost as if they have a mind of their own as they soon encase you in a cyclone of winter-y chilliness. You feel as though you're shoved inside a freezer, like the kind you'd find at a supermarket, and everything around you goes dark as you slip and slide your way down, up, side to side and upside down.

This year you're dumped right into a pile of snow, but worry not! There's a small outlet mall consisting of four shops for all of your winter clothing needs and beyond that down the slope of a small hill you'll see this year's location. It's a different village than the year before, but you can feel the magic in the air everywhere you turn. Tis the season and all of that, and it seems like the brightly-lit buildings and cobblestone paths are welcoming to everyone who wishes to explore.

Though please take notice of the large, twinkling sign that kindly states that murder is prohibited, as usual.

❄️ Sleigh Rides
Literally where do these horses keep coming from. Who's in charge of all of this? Oh well, perhaps it doesn't matter. For those of you who wish to tour the village or simply don't feel like walking, the sound of jingle bells will soon reach your ears as a horse-drawn carriage arrives. Climb aboard and settle in for a cozy ride over the river and through the woods. The horses are friendly, and while seating might be a little cramped it’s a good excuse to snuggle up to someone, don’t you think?

This year, however, in addition to the horses there are a few other friends helping out. Mind the beaks.

❄️ Christmas Market
An upgraded Christmas market is available for everyone to peruse, and while money isn't necessary for goods the shopkeepers will ask you to trade favors or holiday cheer in exchange for their wares. Whether that's singing Christmas carols, helping to bake fresh cookies, decorating small Christmas trees, etc, there doesn't seem to be a rhyme or reason or hard limit to these tasks. The shops themselves sell everything imaginable, just in time to buy gifts for everyone on your holiday list. If you can think it, you can find it. There are kiosks serving all kinds of winter treats and drinks (both non-alcoholic and alcoholic in variety), but this year there are also warm, savory foods such as bratwursts, sliders, mac and cheese, tamales, stews and more. There’s no limit to what magic can do, even for the casual window shopper. But if you can’t find exactly what you’re looking for…?

❄️ Santa’s Workshop...sort of.
Actually, it kind of looks like a bounce house with a sign that calls itself Santa's Workshop, but that's okay. Entering the playful exterior proves that the floor is not quite as bouncy as you'd think and the inside is much bigger than the outside. Should you be brave enough to wander inside, you’ll find a few rooms for arts and crafts to build your own gifts. There’s art studios, pottery wheels, power tools, fabrics, sewing machines, instruments and more. Scratch that creative itch and let your imagination run wild! There also appears to be a machine in the corner, programmed to dial into any universe tied to any guest for all of those special-order items you may wish to gift. Plug in the place, scour the catalogue of items and voila! Hot and ready and wrapped in a bow.

❄️ Winter Sports
Toward the south end of the village is a large ice rink with a beautifully decorated Christmas tree in the middle. Skates of all sizes are available for anyone to borrow and the ice is always clean and smooth no matter what time of day you come by. Just beyond that, you’ll find a small stand nestled among some trees holding all sorts of winter items including skis, snowboards, snow mobiles, toboggans, and sleds. The snow is fresh and the hills are alive with the sound of laughter. Or screams. Depending if you know how to ski or not. There are a few plowed trails heading into the mountains as well leading toward icy caverns for exploration, and the forested area around the village is home to all sorts of small woodland creatures. And bears, probably. Become one with nature as you wish...just don't freeze.

❄️ The Party
But we all know why you're here. Even if you don't actually know, other guests will likely be able to catch you up to speed and mention the holiday party for everyone invited. Hosted at the largest house in the village, there are rooms with fireplaces, games, food and more. Christmas music echoes through the halls, and just like last time should you require anything special the staff will answer every beck and call. Icicles cling to the outside of the house in beautiful patterns, frost drawn across the windows spreading messages of holiday cheer and the occasional game of tic tac toe. The garden out back appears to be more of a Christmas tree farm, boxes of ornaments set in accessible locations for those who wish to do a little bit of decorating.

This year there is also a small shed-like area...a mystery shack, if you will, given the question mark spraypainted on the door. Should you choose to enter it, you may find yourselves in a simulation that's familiar whether that's familiar to your home or familiar from the place you resided in for a few months.

...you didn't think you escaped the ever-dreaded (or anticipated) mistletoe, did you? This year, the plant truly seems to have a honing device attached as it persists the more you resist. It can, and will, appear at random in places you might not expect, and often times it will show up at inconvenient moments. That’s a little troublesome, but worry not! You’ll probably come up with some way to avoid it if you really want to, right?

But do keep in mind if two people are together and avoid it for too long, you will find yourselves stuck together for one hour or until a kiss is shared. Dealer's choice.

Happy holidays!

[ooc: it's once again mgcu mingle time! this mingle is open to characters from the following: reapsody, grimmoired, plasmatio, subdivided, thotordie, bluesclues, tropicalgetaway, notagain, redactable, snowend, 7rings, seasonality, chasma, uturns, chroma, courtrooms, suitedreams, superhell, homophonic, and becomehero.

however. you may also bring special guests in the form of characters you considered playing in previous games or characters you are anticipating playing in the future. this also includes any characters you may have brought to past endgame mingles for extra shenanigans because honestly, we've all had the itch of "OH X WOULD BE SO FUN OFF OF Y" and our castmate missed connections. otherwise, have fun mingling with strangers!]

Comments

portgas d. ace / becomeheroes

[selfimmolation]

1. what snow

[ puts a giant scar on his chest and back because now that i dont have to hide that he died i think its very sexy to just do that. "what about his tattoo" can you imagine how funny it is to have to sit down to fix a tattoo because you DIED. so funny

this is irrelevant to this prompt, which is that there is a shirtless (scarred) man hanging out outside in the snow for some reason, except wherever he is the world is suddenly a lot less cold and the snow is melting. it's a very nice warmth. it will also ruin all the reindeer winter games. he's staring at the invite ]

... So what's Christmas?

2. market

[ RUNNING FROM SHOPKEEPERS WITH FOOD IN HIS MOUTH AND HANDS. THIEVERY? ON CHRISTMAS? ]

3. party...smooches...?

[ why is he standing under mistletoe. he is just staring at it with his head tilted to the side, occasionally taking swigs of eggnog (alcoholic) (the drink) (also ace) ]

Hey, are the berries on that edible, do you know?

[ DON'T EAT THE MISTLETOE? ]

3

[gogoghostpowers]

Well, I've never heard of anyone eating it, so...probably no?

[selfimmolation]

[ squints ............ where are dan's babysitters... who left him unattended.... surely this can't be any other similar looking guy ]

Wouldn't it not being edible mean someone tried it to tell anyone about it?

[gogoghostpowers]

[ he is completely oblivious to ace's confusion ]

Yeah, but it doesn't mean they lived to actually tell people not to eat it. They might've just keeled over dead and someone else saw it happen.

...but one little berry on its own probably wouldn't be enough to outright kill you. Probably.

[selfimmolation]

[ with any other person ace would go haha!! funny joke

because it is dan (definitely) he is like :/ ]

Trying to get people to poison themselves seems like it'd go against the whole "no more killing" deal you've got.

2

[sharkgirl]

[i mean listen

there he goes, and also now suddenly there's a bright pink horse galloping up next to him and hooking him up and onto her back, disney movie style. there is an apple in her mouth and a chain of sausage links around her neck. thievery! on christmas!!!]

[selfimmolation]

[ accepts this with the grace of someone who got way too used to having a getaway shapeshifter partner ]

Nimona! [ his mouth is full he has to swallow as they go ] You wound up here too!

[ thank god. he was wondering if he was going to get gnawed at for vanishing (again) (ace stay in one place challenge difficulty impossible) ]

[sharkgirl]

[eats the apple so she can answer:]

Yeah! Where are we! [there's a shopkeeper just shouting christmas curses at them in the distance as she gallops away] Did you get punched by a thousand tiny elf fists too?

[selfimmolation]

Yeah! [ waving at the angry shopkeeper and going "thanks for the food", like an asshole. ] They weren't taking no on an answer for that invite. I guess we're at some kind of winter party?

3

[factoring]

[ Sipping on the worst coffee known to man. ]

The entire plant is poisonous.

[selfimmolation]

All of it? Why would you put it as a party decoration?

[ why would a party decoration be edible. ]

[factoring]

Why would you try to eat a party decoration?

[selfimmolation]

Why else would you decorate with food if not to eat it?

[inquired]

[ why ]

All this sumptuous food, and you're eating plants...?

[selfimmolation]

I'm not eating plants!

[ yet. ]

[inquired]

Yet.

[selfimmolation]

Maybe not yet! It's why I'm asking if they're edible!

i

[unrecked]

[me looking up how tall ace is like why are these two fucks almost the same height

He is now also looking at the invite. Ah yes, Christmas.]

That time of year when your family forgets to invite you to the Christmas dinner, or get you a present.

[☺️]

You mind turning down the heat, Human Torch? [THAT'S THE WRONG PUBLISHER.] You're melting all the snowmen.

[selfimmolation]

[ takes out jason at the shins so ace can be taller ]

Doesn't sound like your family's all that great if they forget you. [ IS THAT HOW YOU TALK TO STRANGERS? yes. and then he laughs ] Sorry! It's kind of automatic.

[ he does lower the temperature... enough that the snow doesn't melt anyway but it's still too warm. rip snowmen. ]

[unrecked]

[NO WHAT THE HECK HIS LEGS]

Damn, cutting me deep with the introspection.

[WHY IS HE SO STUPID AND HIS HUMOR SO BAD. The snowmen have already given up the ghost (steals Danny's schtick).]

It's too late for them now. Rest in peace. You a metahuman, or something?

[me suddenly wondering if jason would actually know one piece removes this knowledge from his mind palace]

[selfimmolation]

[ GET SHORT TODD ]

Hey, I'm not judging, but you brought it up.

[ idly kicks at the melted snow. woopsies. ]

Metahuman...? [ wassat. ] Don't know about that. I ate a fruit and now I'm a flameman.

[ which is a normal thing for people to do? obviously? how did ace spend two months in a superhero game without learning ANY dc lore ]

[resumed]

[ a mock sigh. ]

You got my explanation about Halloween when I sent it to the newspaper office, right? I'm going to have to leave Christmas to somebody else. [ unfortunately that somebody else is jason who this nico doesn't know, i guess. ]

[selfimmolation]

[ immediately drapes on nico like he hasn't seem him in years ]

Whaaaat. No. Tell me.

[resumed]

[ WAH. ]

You're heavy! [ he is not, he's just exaggerating and even if he's kind of slaping ace's arm he does nothing to push him off. ] Do you really want to know or do you want to keep the mystery alive?

[selfimmolation]

[ nyehehehes and ruffles nico's hair and does nothing to move away ]

The mystery of why I was invited to a party? Why would I want to keep that?