glocksuke | jingles ur mingles

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:

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!]

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[ you know, he understands, sort of. okay well not really because his sister is actually perfect and wouldn't do this shit to him so it loops around to kind of being funny. ]

Uh...a few people knew, I think. Aquarius's journal was floating around for a while and people read it, but Cloud was the only person to come to me and know it wasn't mine. [ mostly because cloud did not believe a 15 year old would be engaged. also he's not sure how to tell jason that it's possible he doesn't know because it's a dick from a timeline jason's not alive yet. ]

From what I know, not everyone where you're from knows. There's a whole...complications of being from different universes thing. But he met Bruce and hates the guy so there's that.

[Nico is blessed with not mentally unhealthy in some way Bat siblings. It's fine.

Luckily, this makes him start laughing despite the sad wtf around people being from different timelines. HELLO, YES? Another Bruce disliker. Okay, maybe he can jive with Dick's soon-to-be husband.]

When you put it this way, I might just get on really well with the guy.

[Sorry, Dick, you're surrounded. By dicks. Jason uses his jacket sleeve to wipe under his mouth like he hasn't grown out of being a terrible teenager.]

Great. So not only would I suddenly get the late engagement announcement, but I'd also have to do first introductions with a guy I've known half my life.

[ is it fine. is it. but then jason's laughing and nico's shaking his head because that was easy. ]

Junpei's...probably a weird hybrid of you and Grayson in terms of his personality, but I've only talked to the guy a couple of times before he and the original Aquila left the hotel. ] I don't think you'd have to introduce yourself to your brother, at least. It's just Junpei. You know how all of us were from different places? It was like that.

[IT'S FINE. DON'T PERCEIVE.]

I meant he wouldn't know me. This me.

[Hell, what people knew him anyway when he crawled back from the dead? It'd be like that all over again, he thinks. In a way. His free hand waves the conversation dismissively away as he moves over to sit in a chair nearby.]

I think it's up to Dick to introduce me to his future husband. You know... kinda like... it's up to someone else to introduce me to his special little pookie?

[Just gonna drop his hand on Nico's head as he passes to annoyingly ruffle the hair.]

[ he opens his mouth to argue or reassure him before remembering that this is jason and he and jason are fundamentally the same. reassurance can be nice, sure, but it's still a little embarrassing. so...he moves to follow, sitting on the ground near his feet even as he glares up at him. ]

First of all, never call him that or say the word "pookie" ever again. [ there's a little disgruntled noise as he swats at jason's hand. why is it always big brothers who do the hair ruffling? why!! ] And second of all...you seriously want to meet him?

[The reaction is what Jason is looking for, of course, and he barks a bit of amused laughter. He knew pookie would get Nico. Because, duh, pookie would get HIM, too. TWO OF THEM.

Anyhow, he reaches down to pick at Nico's arm and try to get Nico to exchange sitting on the floor to at least sit on the edge and opposite side of the chair once he scoots over more. He doesn't have too many cooties, it's fine. Watch out for his dummy thick legs.]

Yeah? I think only I, a true blonde connoisseur, could accurately vet your blonde. [He grins.] Kidding! Kidding.

But yeah. I wouldn't mind meeting him. No rush. Whenever you spot him again. I wanna see how you're doing, you know? Oh nooo, the Christmas spirit got me. It's terminal. You been hopping any subway trains lately?

Edited (MY TYPOS) 2023-12-19 22:34 (UTC)

[ jason todd is such a shithead. like through and through. and yet here's nico, stupidly still very okay with him. TWO OF THEM. but he moves fairly easily when jason's pulling on him and he settles into the chair, having the audacity to throw his legs over jason's just to make sure there's room for both of them. how this is helping, we don't know, but it is helping. ]

You do have more experience with blondes. [ sagely. but he's grinning in spite of that because it's a dumb joke. ] Whenever he comes back I'll let you meet him. I think he's too busy socializing with anyone he can get his hands on.

[ exhausting. his boyfriend is exhausting. with that though, he pauses a little as he tilts his head. ]

We did take a train into the city recently. [ can you hear the "but" in that sentence? ] The rest of it though...I'm not sure you're going to be happy to hear it. But everyone's fine now.

'Ey.

[He's got nothing.

This is the worst sibling energy in the world. IT'S FINE. Jason accommodates Nico's legs as if they are lil unintrusive twigs.

Nico gets a frown over the cup, of course.]

Yeah, I don't like the sound of that. What the hell happened?

[ hehe? it's fine, nico's legs truly are nothing. but he knows the frown is not great, so. ]

Well...the good news is we saved our friend that needed our help. The less good news is it was down in Tartarus and we wouldn't have gotten out without his help to begin with.

[Nico's power aren't in the legs, but in the sick, powerful gothic heritage. Jason understands this.]

Okay, but you got out. Right? Even if it was Tartarus, and even if it was hard as shit. You got out. And... hopefully in one piece with everybody? You did the best you could. That's what counts.

[ i hate you, but also correct. ]

Yeah, we got out. Brought along a few...well. I guess they aren't really strays. But some extras. They wanted to come along so we let them. [ anyway i hate to say this but given i have now made the choice to make crau2 nico post-tsas and without the actual time from heroes like heroes!nico, he actually kind of looks a little overwhelmed at the notion of doing the best he could which is why he refuses to actually look at jason because the last thing he needs is to have jason see him get teary about something that's already done. ]

I can't decide the hotel did or didn't prepare me a little better for everything. But it's over, so...maybe it doesn't matter.

[STOP, DON'T MAKE OUR BABY SUFFER!!!!!!

Unfortunately for Nico, this kid is about one of the few people who might get a stupid, soft boy reaction out of Jason. He watches Nico's face too carefully while listening. He lowers his arm over the chair and puts his cup on the floor by the leg, and then reaches out to take Nico's to do the same.

Sorry that you have to deal with two dudes named Jason who are like this.

He tugs at Nico's arm to see if Nico will come to him (rather than smother Nico himself, let's Nico be the one to do it). Come give him a HUG.]

Hey, it's alright for things that have happened to still bother you. Look at me: when am I not pissed off a clown blew me up? You shouldn't have to prepare for wild shit like that at your age, you know. But I'm sure plenty of people are thankful for your help.

[ I LITERALLY DID NOT WRITE THE BOOK.

anyway it's fine, he easily allows for jason to take his hot chocolate from his hand and set it on the floor. he hates jasons. he hates jasons so much why are y'all like this. maybe that's also part of why he does actually move to go from one side of the chair to the other to sort of faceplant into him. maybe that's surprising, given how touch-avoidant he usually is, but it's been a time so sure. a hug is a thing. ]

To be completely fair, I'm also still pissed off a clown blew you up. [ mumbling. he knows enough about jason's history to be bothered, and he does remember witnessing a memory of jason unearthing himself afterwards. a lot of the things that have happened to jason todd are, in nico's opinion, unfair. ] I...sort of knew what to expect, in a way. I'd been there before once, and I couldn't keep avoiding it as long as Bob was in trouble and trapped down there. But I don't think I would have come back without Will. We were down there for like a week.

[This tired, grumpy, sad baby. Jason lets Nico flop then gives him a lightly squeezing hug around the shoulders while patting his back. Why would gods do this to a baby boy? Pardon.]

Well, I'm glad to know someone is on my side at least.

[WHY DOES HE MAKE IT SOUND AS IF NO ONE ELSE IS ON HIS SIDE, help. Jason is terrible. Please bring back the other Jason and get rid of this Great Value Jason.]

You did come back, though. And now you're here, enjoying a big, shitty Christmas party with one of your most favorite people. [haha.... Okay, all joking aside:] You wanna talk about it?

[ sometimes...gods are terrible. he decides it is probably a good idea not to tell jason that hades is the one who sent nico on this quest. but it's fine. he can deal with great value jason even if he rolls his eyes a little. ]

I tried to go without him and he got mad. [ he says, like this is somehow unreasonable? but he doesn't mean it either. ] But now we're here at a random Christmas party and I know you're being facetious about that but you are a favorite.

[ to the question though, he frowns a little. ] A lot of things happened. I don't know where to even start, or if I want to. The whole thing was kind of a trap anyway.

[Nico is so dingdong. He reaches up to ruffle the back of Nico's head affectionately. Shh, don't say he is a favorite, it'll go to his head.]

That's cool. You don't have to tell me anything. And hey. [Nudges him a bit.] Of course he'd be mad. We don't want you left behind, ir hurt.

I'd be mad, too. And wouldn't you? If it was him? Or me, or Cloud?

--Wait, whoa, hold on. Go back. It was a what anyway?

[ don't just call him a dingdong wtf. i mean he is, but also. he's trying not to lean into the hair ruffle because he refuses to actually act like a fifteen year old, but you know. ]

It's not that I don't want to. It's that I know it's gonna make you even more mad and it's Christmas. [ factually, with a nudge back. ] I mean...obviously, but I'm the one who's been there before. So it made sense for me to go alone but I know now that was a dumb idea and we didn't even do it. We went together.

[ but. yeah. he hums softly. ]

...it was sort of a trap by the Goddess of Night. She wanted me to come back to her.

If it makes you feel better, I'm always pissed on your behalf because of the shit you go through.

[Hehe. RETURNING THE FAVOR OF BEING MAD FOR NICO.

He reclines on the side of the chair with Nico, patting his back occasionally.]

Oh yeah? Uh--Nyx, right? What'd she want you back for, to be prince of the underworld or something?

Demigod, Todd. [ just a reminder that he is born for suffering, etc. he doesn't like nyx, but he does feel a little pleased that jason at least knows that much. it's nice when he doesn't have to explain things. ]

But yes, her. [ he does not think it's important to also point out that he kind of already is the prince of the underworld because that's not relevant. instead, he shakes his head. ] Close, sort of. She...I met her the first time I was there. She found me before she gave me over to the giants to be used as a hostage for my friends. She wanted me to embrace what she thought was my true nature and stay down there with her.

Demigod, smemigod. You're still a person

[He wants to say "kid," but doesn't want it to be an insult. HE JUST MEANS NICO HAS A LIFE, DAMN!!]

Sounds like Tartarus needs an overhaul from the Boomers. Do what you want to do. Don't let adults, especially gods, force you into anything. You can embracd what makes you you without having to be an underworld shut-in.

[ he rolls his eyes a little because he is not surprised by this response either. ]

You might not be wrong, but I can't say I'll be the one suggesting the overhaul. Though she did offer visitors' brochures to us. [ he does not want to go back to tartarus anytime soon. ] Anyway that's what Bob said. Nyx didn't think I could possibly change and that she knew who I was, but she didn't. She only had assumptions and she didn't know what I'd do. But when my children turned against her and listened to me instead I think she realized she was in trouble.

[ready to turn on autocorrect for all my typos

He rustles Nico gently in something like congratulations.]

There ya go. Don't let 'em boss you around. Sometimes, you have to do what you have to do. I'm glad you and Will got back, though.

[Nico might have gone through it, but Jason would be a liar if he said he wasn't impressed--and glad.]

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jingles ur mingles

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