alittlefuninstead: (❄I am Jack Frost)
Jack Frost ([personal profile] alittlefuninstead) wrote in [community profile] glocksuke2023-12-17 01:06 pm

jingles ur mingles



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: [community profile] reapsody, [community profile] grimmoired, [community profile] plasmatio, [community profile] subdivided, [community profile] thotordie, [community profile] bluesclues, [community profile] tropicalgetaway, [community profile] notagain, [community profile] redactable, [community profile] snowend, [community profile] 7rings, [community profile] seasonality, [community profile] chasma, [community profile] uturns, [community profile] chroma, [community profile] courtrooms, [community profile] suitedreams, [community profile] superhell, [community profile] homophonic, and [community profile] 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!]
naeddre: (014)

i.

[personal profile] naeddre 2023-12-18 01:47 am (UTC)(link)
[don't mind her she's just behind every shopkeeper stealing things from their stalls as he blesses them.]
inquired: (157)

[personal profile] inquired 2023-12-18 02:52 am (UTC)(link)
[ typical

he allows this to happen for like three shops. also because it takes him at least one shop to notice she's there she's sneaky.

without even turning around: ]


Must we?
naeddre: (021)

[personal profile] naeddre 2023-12-18 02:57 am (UTC)(link)
[places a small wreath that she stole on his head like a crown as she passes him.]

Hm? [what are you talking about. (:]
inquired: (75)

[personal profile] inquired 2023-12-18 08:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, nothing. [ thieves are so troublesome (affectionate) ]

Honestly. They've not even any money - perhaps that's why you're here, and not Partitio...

[ that's definitely why and it has nothing to do with murdergames. yes. anyway he's now got a wreath on his head - temenos reaches up to touch it with one hand, feeling around for the flowers. ]

Very festive of you, Throné. And your match?
Edited 2023-12-18 20:38 (UTC)
naeddre: (035)

[personal profile] naeddre 2023-12-18 08:51 pm (UTC)(link)
[he gets poked by a pinecone or two in the wreath when he touches it. anyway, she has no idea why she's here but she's having a decent time getting into everybody's pockets so hey! it's not a total wash.]

Were Partitio here we'd have another department store on our hands. [she says dryly.] ... I don't know what you're talking about.

[silly temenos you're the only one who gets to look like a doofus with a wreath crown]
inquired: (261)

[personal profile] inquired 2023-12-19 02:03 pm (UTC)(link)
[ he knows that there is no way he's going to be able to get this doofus wreath crown onto throne's head because his reflexes are simply just not fast enough, but you know what he can do. he makes a noise, a "hmm", then looks around...

... and then calls - ]
Excuse me.

[ and from across the way, one of those just adorable penguin servants comes waddling over. temenos squats down to talk to it and gives it his sweetest, most angelically holy smile in the entire world, putting a hand to his chest. ] My dear companion was quite kind to fetch me one of these, and gave it to me out of the kindness of her heart. It was the only one she was able to obtain, though, and while she's been quite generous, I'd hate for her to go unadorned. Perhaps you could fetch us another?

[ the penguin goes !!! and cutely waddles off

temenos's holy smile remains but it has shades of haha sucker i dare you to say no to the cute animal ]
naeddre: (012)

[personal profile] naeddre 2023-12-19 05:20 pm (UTC)(link)
[this is INCREDIBLY rude

the penguin waddles over and her expression shifts from something flat and uninterested to like, still sort of flat but also with big sparkly eyes. look at it!! it's so fat!! it's so cute. she's so distracted by this that she almost misses temenos using this wonderful creature for evil.

she gives him such a look. venomous, even, but like listen, he knows she's not going to say no to a cute animal. she'd rather die.

when the penguin comes back with a wreath, complete with pinecones and cranberries, she crouches down gently and holds out her hand for it. it squawks happily, pleased to have helped, and waits for her to put it on, expectantly.

a beat. and she puts it on, with a big heavy sigh.]
inquired: (93)

[personal profile] inquired 2023-12-19 07:37 pm (UTC)(link)
[


he tips his little wreath to the penguin and then just turns that holy (smug) smile right back on throné with a pleasant: ]


Happy holidays.

[ ♥ ]
naeddre: (014)

[personal profile] naeddre 2023-12-19 10:27 pm (UTC)(link)
[she's going to hit him with his own staff if he's not careful]

Bastard. [:T]
inquired: (300)

[personal profile] inquired 2023-12-20 02:33 pm (UTC)(link)
[ wehehehehe ]

Just getting into the holiday spirit. You look quite lovely, Throné.
naeddre: (021)

[personal profile] naeddre 2023-12-21 02:02 am (UTC)(link)
... Thank you. You look like Ochette got ahold of you.

[she says flatly, but she doesn't take the wreath off. instead, she brushes a bit of dirt off her dress and wraps her arms around herself.]

We should go inside.
inquired: (215)

[personal profile] inquired 2023-12-21 03:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Ah, perhaps I've become one with nature.

[

no.

she's right, though, it's chilly - he makes a little noise and gestures to one of the cute little shops with his open arm? there's like, knitwear and stuff in here. ]


After you. We ought to find gifts for the others, mm?
naeddre: (030)

[personal profile] naeddre 2023-12-21 06:12 pm (UTC)(link)
[the look she gives him is like :T at that first part

but she glances into the shop after a moment, and takes a few cautious steps inside, giving the area a quick sweep for danger. you know, all that danger from shops run by like, christmas elves.

anyway, they should find gifts! she clearly likes the idea of this. she'll do her best to not steal them, maybe.

she reaches out to touch the fabric of one of the cute knit sweaters, because it's soft and she likes it.]


... Agnea would love this. [she glances at temenos.] I have been wondering why the rest of them aren't here.
inquired: (197)

[personal profile] inquired 2023-12-21 06:26 pm (UTC)(link)
[ in they go! throné's behavior is standard throné behavior so temenos doesn't even think about it or pay it any mind. he's not thinking about murder right now, or maybe he's not concerned for his personal safety because he's never concerned about it even when he should really, really be concerned about it?? it's hard to tell.

he's looking at a hat with some amusement when she gets his attention again - and that is a curious inquiry, isn't it? the agnea bit gets a hum, but otherwise, he looks more thoughtful. ]


... I was wondering the same. [ do you think we can pspspsps jan to give us hikari ] Perhaps that is for the better.

[ he doesn't need to say considering the circumstances but like. considering the circumstances. ] Frankly, I was surprised that you'd found your way here, too.
naeddre: (022)

[personal profile] naeddre 2023-12-21 06:39 pm (UTC)(link)
[pspspsps jan... where's the most marriageable prince

throné is glad that he goes in that direction, actually, because that's where she was leading. look, what kind of investigator's assistant would she be if she hadn't done some snooping beforehand? she knows what the prerequisite seems to be for arriving here, and she's well aware she hasn't met that, but. throné knows temenos very well, and she wouldn't be surprised if he just simply Did Not Tell Her that he went on an eight week vacation to murderland.

it might also be that this temenos is a different one from the one she knows, but she has no idea how that works and isn't even aware that's an option, which maybe makes it funnier that she's just like no, i know this bitch wouldn't tell me a single thing

anyway. she moves to stand next to him, folding her arms again. absently, her fingers run over the collar around her neck.]


I don't seem to meet the requirements. [she gives him a Look.] ... So, which one did you end up at?
inquired: (280)

[personal profile] inquired 2023-12-21 07:20 pm (UTC)(link)
[ and truly, what kind of investigator would temenos be if he didn't realize the most important part of this conversation - throné is onto him.

tch. he's made it this far in not sharing!!! well. maybe he can continue to lie? he can probably lie more. "maybe you should just tell her you were in a murdergame" no

instead, temenos just shakes his head, resuming his focus on the shopping. wow. knit products are fascinating. ]


Nothing of the sort. Rather, I just thought it was odd - it wasn't as if you and I were together when I received the invitation. The little lamb, however, was with me, so at least the proximity made sense.

[ this is a classic temenos lie in that it's not untrue but it is complete and utter made up on the spot bullshit. ]
naeddre: (021)

[personal profile] naeddre 2023-12-21 07:31 pm (UTC)(link)
[temenos,

he dodges, and normally she'd let him get away with it, but this is important. because:]


If you're talking about Crick, he definitely shouldn't be here, Temenos. [because he's, y'know. unalive, is the implication.] You don't have to tell me the details, but don't insult my intelligence.

[it's mostly wry, though - she's not offended! it's more like she's exasperated that he intends to keep dancing around the subject when she's pretty sure she's right.]
inquired: (325)

[personal profile] inquired 2023-12-21 07:39 pm (UTC)(link)
[ the verbalized 'tch' he makes is equally good natured - busted. the whole crick being present in... any world thing does, unfortunately, out the fact that it was likely temenos's doing and not a miracle, which is the kind of dry joke he's been making about it for weeks.

this is an acquiescence if any, and he quips: ]
Certainly not the 'station'. [ no fuck station. joke aside, though ] Does it really matter which?
naeddre: (026)

[personal profile] naeddre 2023-12-21 07:51 pm (UTC)(link)
[there's a little bit of a like, very ungraceful snort-choke-laugh combination at the idea of temenos at the station and she has to pause to look away and compose herself. good god. she cannot imagine ending up there, she would've just accepted her death, honestly.

absently, she runs her fingers over the clothes on the racks, mostly to keep her hands busy.]


No. It doesn't. [not really. she tucks her hair behind her ear, and then:] Though when I say let me know if something happens, these are the sort of things I'm talking about.

[like if she has to go do other stuff but is like keep in touch she means tell her if you get kidnapped to go to a murdergame, temenos!!!]
inquired: (82)

[personal profile] inquired 2023-12-22 12:28 am (UTC)(link)
Ahaha.

[ scolded... she's got a point, and maybe that makes the fact that he answers more obviously honest, which is - ]

Honestly, I felt it wasn't particularly relevant. Time did not pass while I was gone, and I didn't die or anything of the sort, so.

[ that's the bar here ]
Edited 2023-12-22 00:28 (UTC)
naeddre: (024)

[personal profile] naeddre 2023-12-22 04:42 am (UTC)(link)
[IT WASN'T RELEVANT, HE SAYS

her eyebrow twitches.]


How long were you gone for?
inquired: (44)

[personal profile] inquired 2023-12-22 06:05 am (UTC)(link)
[ well the jig is up now so

Casually ]
Two months. [ as he holds up a silly hat with ear flaps. ] For Partitio, perhaps?
naeddre: (034)

[personal profile] naeddre 2023-12-22 07:21 am (UTC)(link)
Two months?

[HELLO

she pauses and like. turns to him entirely, staring.]


... He'd like that. Two months, Temenos. [partitio may have a silly hat but she's definitely not letting this one go]
inquired: (170)

[personal profile] inquired 2023-12-22 05:15 pm (UTC)(link)
[


listen ]


I told you, no time passed at home. It was fine.

[ ??? ????? ]
naeddre: (032)

[personal profile] naeddre 2023-12-22 05:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Time passed for you. [she says, stubbornly, with a rush of annoyance.] Two months of a game where you were in constant fear of being killed at any point.

[she knows how that feels and she knows how it's like taking a hot knife to your nerves. she's had practice with it, and so has he, in a sense, but that doesn't change the fact that it still can leave scars behind.]

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