EVENT MINGLE: AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR

[asgardmods]

Who: Everyone!
What: The event mingle for the And A Happy New Year event.
When: Days 555-557
Where: Anywhere in town!
Rating: PG-13 tops! If it gets worse, move to a private log please.

DAY 555 (Dec 14-15)

As the last of the black ice is cleared from the city - and the last of its natives wake from their gray slumber - a cautious winter celebration begins. The city itself opens its doors wide to the allied forces still camped outside it and the natives invite the Travelers to observe the beginning of Winter and the approach of the end of the Asgardian year with them.

The day begins with what seems like a typical party in the streets. There is food, music, and an attitude of general warmth and hope from the Natives that hasn't been quite so present in a long time. It will be interrupted in the early afternoon by a snowball fight that starts in one sector of the city and quickly snowballs out of control. For a few hours, the city itself will become a veritable warzone, with most of the city's native children and adults alike getting in on the fight! Watch your back and take no prisoners. (NOTE: Please check THIS LINK for player plot information about the snowball fight!)

DAY 556 (Dec 16-17)

Day 556 sees a brief return to old - and maybe familiar - tricks. The festivities continue on outside, but some Travelers throughout the course of the day may find themselves influenced by magical impulse… all in the name of good holiday fun, of course.

The effects of these miniature curses will last anywhere between ten minutes and an hour and happen spontaneously, and most of them are echoes of similar curses that have been laid upon the city before. Travelers may find themselves:

• Unable to lie or actively compelled to blurt truths, consequences be damned
• Only able to communicate in poetry or song
• Given a nagging urge to (sincerely!) compliment anyone they come across
• Compelled to just hold hands with whoever they're near
• Caught under sprigs of magic mistletoe that seem to appear at arbitrary times at equally arbitrary places (though they can either be kissed or just wait a few minutes for it to disappear again)

Your character can be affected by as many and as often as you'd like, but none of them are mandatory. To reward the Travelers for putting up with that silliness one final time, they will find in their rooms that night a basket of chocolate, a horrendously ugly Christmas sweater, and one item from home. The item can be anything that fits within the game's technological and magical rules! If you'd like your character to receive something, please just drop a comment HERE to get it approved.

DAY 557 (Dec 18-19)

Day 557 marks the final day of celebration. That evening, twinkling, magical fairy lights will cover the edges of buildings and the branches of trees all over the city. There are light displays of amazing proportion all over the city, and the Welcome Halls are done up in entirely their signature color. the Travelers will be invited into the castle again for a ball much like the one last year. Thor will announce the end of curfew and tell everyone to party hard, because the hunt for both Surt and a way to heal the World Tree will begin after this.

The party will last until midnight, when everyone will be shuffled out into the courtyard for a brilliant fireworks display. It represents both the victory over Thiazi and the hope that the celebration of this coming new year will not be the last.

[ This is the mingle log for the And A Happy New Year event. Please include your location and the IC day in your top-level comment or your subject line when starting a thread! ]

Comments

[izanyagi]

[Okay okay! Fine he'll just stand there for some reason (please don't notice the vines anchoring his feet) as he raises his hand, keeping the scarf's position intact. The vines go around Yosuke and try to pull him. But that's odd...

...he doesn't appear to be moving no matter how hard those pieces of bamboo pull. The only hint to his surprised reaction is the way Souji's eyebrows push up. But he can't get too close to his friend right now! It's dangerous!]

[windbreak]

Ow, ow! [They sure are pulling at something - he's hardly about to check, even though it doesn't look like anyone is nearby besides his partner, but he's pretty sure these plants are going to bruise.] Okay, I get it, don't help! [He throws Souji a thoroughly put-upon look, as if to add: jerk.

But then, without meaning to, he carries on staring.] What's with all the layers, anyway? It's not that cold today, dude... Wait, did you come down with something again?

[izanyagi]

[He's not trying to be a jerk! The bamboo stops, sinking back into the ground when he realizes there's no way he can push that off without being closer. But the problem right now is there's just all these motions and emotions he's having problem with.]

...

[But if Yosuke wants to see, fine, he'll show him. Or more like, he'll hear it. Slowly, he moves the scarf, opens his mouth and...]

Now, this is a story all about how My life got flipped-turned upside down And I'd like to take a minute It won't take long, Well...it's not like you can move, anyway I can't speak without song.

[The leaf covers it again, even as he gives him an apologetic look...and blushing? Do you see what's happening now?]

[windbreak]

[Well, he's definitely staring, but for a moment the entire world is one big blank as his brain struggles to process what just happened.

At last, however, it manages to tease out the important details.]

... Does that even count as singing?

[The important details.]

[izanyagi]

[He looks back at him, and the leaf goes off again. You asked for it.]

Yo, partner, you dissin' my rhymes?
Cause you be careful, big time!
You might not think it's fresh,
But these words...they just mesh,

Now I'll cover my face up again,
Before you start to complain.

[Mic Drop Souji out. The plants cover his mouth again, otherwise it might have go on for longer...]

[windbreak]

Okay, fine, that's a no, suit yourself! Just - look, I said you don't need to talk. Just nod or shake your head. [With that, Yosuke leans over and drops his voice to an urgent whisper - because there is no power in the universe, plant-based or otherwise, that can stop him complaining entirely.] Listen! This stuff's been happening all day, and I seriously need to go, and you're the only person I can count on not to take it the wrong way! So...!?

Idk what I'm writing anymore this is all freestyle

[izanyagi]

[Just nodding isn't going to help here. He shakes his head, and then decides just to go with it...maybe it's just the weird effects of the day, but in the end, he can't help his friend if he can't speak, and if that means busting some rhymes to him, then so be it.]

Alright here's the plan,
This is it man,
You need to go real badly,
Growing an outhouse would be handy,

But today from what I've learned,
The way out must be earned,
So for you to take a piss
All must be sealed with a kiss,

...Don't know if it needs to be on the lips,
It would be hard to come to grips,
But that will guarantee your departure,
If you get me, partner.

[Haha, maybe if he keeps his usual zero emotional face despite what he had on a few minutes ago, it would pass much better.]

idk what the fuck you're writing any more either

[windbreak]

[Yeah, definitely not real singing. If actual music could be this painful, he'd swear off headphones for life.]

Shut up, shut up! [He bats at the air as close to Souji's head as he can reach, in the vain hope of knocking a little sense back in.] I know, dumbass! And if you keep yapping about it instead of getting it over with, somebody's gonna hear...!

[Or worse, see.]

I'm out of control

[izanyagi]

[Excuse you, Souji's words are flowing out like a beautiful angelic voice, how dare you think he's bad--he sighs and then just walks closer to him until they are nearly touching. Then vines burst around them, forming a sort of makeshift cover with the top still open so light can seep in - as least no one else can look, but it does look pretty suspicious to have bamboo growing there.]

I don't know if this is better or worse,
But this is one mean curse.

[Uh...yeah. So what should they do now? He looks back at Yosuke, shrugging. And why did he have this weird feeling in the back of his mind like a lost memory of one time before they'd been forced to--nah.]

Should I make the first move,
Or will that put you in a bad groove,
The faster we do this,
The faster you can go piss.

[Thankfully the curse hasn't made him say worse things...yet.]

[windbreak]

[Yosuke starts at the sudden appearance of the bamboo screen, and being startled is not a position he wants to be in right now. Still, through dint of herculean effort, he avoids catastrophe. Unscrunching his eyes, he looks back up and -

- whoa, okay, Souji's standing close. Sure. Close. Nothing weird about that. He did more or less ask.

Really close, though. Really close.

Really. Really, really -]

H-Huh? What? Did you say something?

[He blinks. What just happened there?]

[izanyagi]

[You know, most people would just blush a little, awkwardly say something about not having to do this, trying to at least look a little more sympathetic, attempt to lighten the mood..

...then there's Souji who will dutifully repeat the exact same thing attempting to keep the same disposition because Yosuke asked for it like he pressed the 'do you want to hear this explanation again' button in a video game.]

Should I make the first move,
Or will that put you in a bad groove,
The faster we do this,
The faster you can go piss.

[But then he adds, brushing the back of his neck (which is admittedly hard to do in this slightly cramped space.]

Sorry for all of this...

[windbreak]

[It's funny how the one brief flash of near-sanity can be the jolt Yosuke needs to snap out of whatever strange, dream-like reverie he was lost in.]

Gah!

[Though maybe not quite as funny for Souji, because if he's standing close enough for Yosuke to hear his breathing he's certainly close enough to be shoved backwards into the wooden screen behind him.]

You're creeping me out big time! You know what? Forget it! Forget all of it! Forget I even saw you!

[izanyagi]

[He snaps back to the plants, and looks back at Yosuke, exasperated. Look, he knows this isn't your cup of tea, but at least try to take it like a man. A few of the bamboo poles sink to the ground, opening a place to walk out and leave him like he asked.]

If that's what you really want,
I'm not here to taunt.
I'll see if I can find Mirabelle-san,
It will be a better game plan.

[But just as he tries to move, he finds himself stuck, just like his partner. He moves his arms, nothing, tries to push himself, also nothing. It looks like...]

Now it's two for one,
Guess it wouldn't let you have all the fun.

[He stares right at him.]

[windbreak]

[Oh. Uh oh.

... Is it too late for a pat on the shoulder and a "whoops"?]

Dammit, don't give me that look! I, you, you know I wasn't trying to...

[His protests quickly dwindle into little more than a squeak. Now what?]

[izanyagi]

[Well, he's going to at least ATTEMPT to make this a little less awkward, since it looks like they have no choice. Then again, what Souji constitutes of less awkward might not be so for the other.]

Maybe just physical touch like a hug,
Will be enough to get rid of this plant bug?
I haven't heard the contrary,
The results all seem to vary.

[A pause and then,]

Besides, you're a pretty swell guy,
I've always been happy to have you as an ally.
No more than that, as my best friend,
And that's true no matter how this all ends.

[windbreak]

[Awkward is Yosuke's life, and he feels this has never been more true than at this exact moment. Shrinking back as far as the doorway will allow him, which isn't far, he gives Souji a wary look.] You... You're just trying to butter me up in case it's not enough, aren't you!?

[izanyagi]

[Even if he doesn't show it as much, this is pretty much the worse case scenario, as far as Souji is concerned.]

I can't lie right now,
The truth is all it will allow,
So no, there's no buttering you up,
Even if this needs more than a closeup.
From helping you up from your bike fall,
Not to mention out beach brawl,
I never made much friends before,
Moving from shore to shore,
Inaba will always be,
Izanami or Grand Prix,
Where my heart shall lie,
Even after I die.

[windbreak]

[That's all well and good, not to mention sufficiently far removed from the topic of hugging for Yosuke to cool off a little, but they're still stuck in a doorway.]

Well, dying your way out of this would be pretty extreme too... [He sighs.] Fine, I'll... close my eyes and count down, how about that? Wait, no, not count down.

[izanyagi]

[Fine he'll just do this quietly. He waits until his friend has his eyes closed...actually why not just close up the sky too, leaving just tiny bits to breath properly, and then he'll just hug him in the dark. It's not too hard to close the gap, and Yosuke might remember the touch from when they had talked in what seems like forever ago on that beach. Somehow there's a bit more emotion to it than last time...is Souji shaking? Nah...

A few seconds after, he opens a side that is away from view and tries to move both of them out. No dice. They still aren't moving.

He sighs. So it really was a kiss or nothing...but he doesn't want to make his friend any more uncomfortable as it is. What should he do?]

[windbreak]

[Meanwhile, Yosuke looks down, and it's not entirely because this experience has been so traumatic he can no longer look his partner in the eye. Not at all, if he's honest.] Yeah, we really should've figured - huh?

[He tugs his hand away from Souji's hand, and Souji's hand comes along for the ride. Then he tries to pull his fingers out one by one, and only manages to interlock them with Souji's more tightly.]

... Ohhh, no. Tell me this isn't happening again, too.

[But don't literally try to tell him, please. He has a feeling he'll break down in tears (or worse) if he gets serenaded again.]

[izanyagi]

[He can't figure out why he's holding on to his hand so tightly, nor why he keeps pushing them into his friend's hand, but there they are, cramped in a small man-plant-made cabin. His heart is beating a mile a minute, and he is sure he could feel it right to the tip of his tongue, thoughts racing in his mind, making it near impossible to look at this from a logical standpoint. He tears his gaze away for a second, thinking of his options. Of what to say. He can't lie, and there is an urge to just tell him everything about how he felt for him...for everyone. But that is something for an another day, perhaps a secret he'll never share in this world.]

Yosuke...listen to me when I say...

[He turns back to him, moving in closer as much as this place can let them, cheeks burning with embarrassment. He's afraid of what he's going to do. No, what he needs to do to free them. Damn this place. Damn this is not what he wants to give to his friend.

But damn he'd be lying if he pretended he isn't enjoying this a little.

He places a finger on his friend's lip as he speaks. That is enough, thank you. Don't make it worse for either of them. Well...especially yourself.]

...Shut up, okay?

[It isn't serenading. And he isn't trying to be cruel with his words, just letting the flow of the rhyming forcing them out of him. His plan is been simple enough; just a peck on the cheek. See what happens after that, and if they need to go farther. That was it.

Nothing more, nothing less.

But whatever curse had been placed, the same one that had intricately tied his hand to his, made him misjudge his angle after he closed his eyes and it isn't cold skin that he comes in contact with, but his friend's lips. He should half yelped, but keeps silent, feeling like he crossed something he shouldn't have too fast. If Yosuke is looking, he'll probably notice that Yu seems as surprised as he might be.

...But he's not pulling away. He should be pulling away. He knows it's the right thing to do. But instead he's just standing there in shock, paralized.]

[windbreak]

[Yosuke might be looking, but he isn't seeing. He can't. At that instant, the inside of his mental universe turns a blank, searing white.

Apart from that single point of contact: close enough to hear Souji's breath catch in his throat, a little bit soft, a little bit cooler to the touch than he might have imagined it.

He freezes.

...

Like hell he's ever imagined it.]

Gah!

[The realisation that he's free to just back off now doesn't dare limp into his brain before his prolonged internal screaming starts to die down. By then, it's too late to stop his first thought - if a reaction so primal can even be called that. He can't do anything as convenient as throw up another bamboo wall between them, but just for that moment, every fibre of his being simply wants Souji's face away.]

[izanyagi]

[The effect is both terrible and would be hilarious for anyone watching by who had a twisted sense of humor. Souji feels himself thrown away violently that he instantly slams into the bamboo wall; no time for him to move them out of the way. The surprise makes the blades react in turn, which causes them to sling him right back like a rag doll. He can't place himself properly, hell, there is no way you can fall on your best friend which you've just awkwardly kissed without making this situation even worse. An arm somewhere, a leg on a place that would make anyone blush, his head was spinning from having the air crushed out of him from the push to the fact he was completely panicking.

And in this tight space, no one can hear them scream.]

Shii--

[...Well at least the rhyming curse seemed to be cured.]

[windbreak]

- hrk!

[As Pong-like as this may look from the outside, having a fully-grown Souji barrel straight into certain sensitive areas is a pretty efficient way to postpone any impending racket. With no more than a gurgle, Yosuke crumples. The only thing left for Souji to land on is a burning pile of pain on the ground, just past the doorstep.

...Hey, did he hear something break? It seems unlikely, but Yosuke's stunned and reeling mind would much rather grab onto that kind of thought for dear life than whatever the hell just happened.]

[izanyagi]

[A wiz of an emotional roller-coaster leaves Souji with not just mental, but physical wounds at this point. He's pretty sure one of his kneecaps hit the ground, and the other....well...it's best not to talk about where the other ended up.

Still, he doesn't seem as badly damage as his friend he just fell upon on, and a wave of guilt overcomes him. Sure it felt...well...not exactly how he expected it would go down, but he couldn't help but be a little bit glad. And that...was something he'd probably never tell the other, or anyone else. He'd probably feel the same thing with the other two, and then he feels all at once that maybe he's just not made for this.

All at once, the things around them come flying off, the piercing white light and lack of walls giving them no comfort...but at least if Yosuke tries that thing again, Souji won't slam right back into him. Somehow he manages to get up. He's not sure how he manages, but he looks at Yosuke one last time, and there's a slight color, probably due from the cold. Obviously.]

I should go. W-we'll talk later, partn-[No it seems almost wrong to say that here right now.] - Yosuke.

[He's not exactly waiting for the other to respond, as he turns around, his fallen scarf on the ground next to his friend's left leg.]