I saw Mommy kissing Samba-Claus (KISS BINGO EDITION) 💋🌿

[beleos]

QIASU (HIGHSTORM)

On December 15th, the marker of the latter half of Takiltu, Kenos comes together to celebrate unity and togetherness, to come together with friends and family, to be kind to others and share in one’s wealth - whether that comes in the form of knowledge, monetary gains, or the exchange of gifts and one’s time. This celebration is an amalgamation of many worlds’ winter festivals, and as such, is known in the two cities as the Year’s End Festival, or Qiasu as Highstorm calls it.

This part of Takiltu is when Highstorm truly starts to hit winter. Snow is a frequent occurrence, but it’s one that the city welcomes, since with the snow comes a few of the most beloved traditions of the city. By far the most popular is heading to Greenwood Yards. The gardens themselves may be either dormant or showing their simpler winter gardens, but you may have noticed an area by the bathhouses left in surprising amount of disrepair… This is because during the winter months, this area fills up with a natural outdoor hot spring! Take a swim under the moonlight, and even explore some of those ruined old manors, now with their first floors warmly flooded. It’s a tradition to bring in your favorite drinks and spend an evening sipping it in a parlor with friends, and to make new ones by sharing your drinks. Of course, do watch out for the ghosts. They’re mischievous more than malicious, but this is their favorite time of the year too!

You can also head to the Great Tree, which is decorated for the season with glittering glass orbs and is the current roost for the pale Moonbugs of Highstorm. Write a wish on a slip of paper and hold out your hands, and one of the Moonbugs will come sit within them. Whisper the wish to the Moonbug and it’ll take the paper and fly away to find someone to fulfill it. Of course, this also means that a Moonbug is likely to come find you! Besides it being good karma to fulfill the wish, you’ll be given a brief vision of the person whose wish you fulfilled and be blessed by the tree for the duration of the month depending upon your Aspect:

• Advocate: People are more likely to buy you meals/rounds and every recipe you make turns out perfectly.
• Exalt: Animals seem to think more kindly of you, and you'll find them much easier to befriend.
• Harbinger: You're given a more silver tongue as your arguments seem to be better at persuading people.
• Iconoclast: You won't be effected by cold weather in any way.
• Savant: You heal much more rapidly from any injury and are generally the very picture of health.
• Stargazer: Your indulgences (whatever they may be) are both easier to find and are of higher quality.

And of course, there’s one more well-known practice in Highstorm, though it’s more of a tradition of Kowloon’s… The Gävle family is a well-known family who has lived in Highstorm for a long time, and they brought a tradition of building a festive Yule goat made straw in the square outside of their businesses. However, it also happens to be outside of Yura Szczepanski’s home. He’ll never do it himself, of course, but if you manage to burn it down? He’ll reward you, obviously. It doesn’t make it any more legal, so those that try generally spend some time in a Highstorm jail, but it’s an enshrined enough practice at this point that not only has it burned down more often than it’s survived, but there’s even a betting pool in Kowloon for whether it survives or not.

Of course, if these traditions aren’t quite your vibe, you’ll also find the city just generally set up for a metropolitan winter. The Antiques & Baubles Market is rearranged to make room for a large ice-skating rink, Tasseography (the coffeeshop by the Tomes) has a seasonal special for a hot chocolate that will fortify you from the cold for a few hours (and make you fire resistant? Weird,), and the city also hosts a full-size gingerbread house that you can indeed take a bite from, to name a few things. Generally speaking, if it’s something you could do in a snowy city at home, you’ll probably find an equivalent somewhere in the city of moonlight.

Be warned, however, if you are visiting from out of town. Highstorm's reception seems just a touch bit chiller than the weather!

YEAR'S END FESTIVAL (SPRINGSTAR)

Springstar will never turn down a chance to celebrate, but eternally Highstorm’s opposite, this is the warmest time of year. With the sun always shining, some days can get near sweltering, but that just means you have a different set of traditions to have fun with it!

The ivy-like vines that decorated the city in the beginning of the month (November) are now in full bloom, and you’re now likely to learn why the Meri consider them sacred. Wherever the flowers bloom, they encourage feelings of warmth and slightly higher inclination for physical contact within those that encounter their magical pollen*. Holding hands with someone by the flowers will give you feelings of liveliness and happiness, and for a few hours, the positive traits of the person you’re holding hands with become more prominent in you and vice versa. These effects do linger a bit longer, since for a month, you’ll also find that being around this person also gives you both a little boost in energy. It’s very sweet! This also comes with a bit of a further game, if you’re at all a frequenter of Psychagogía...

Madame Dee’s hosts a very popular competition simply called Kiss Bingo. Approach the booth set-up outside the brothel and touch your Shard to a special card, and names will appear upon it. From there, the rules are simple. Just give that person a kiss! It can be on their hand, their lips, their [redacted], all of it counts, and once you do, a little kiss mark will mark their name out. Get a bingo, and you can pick from a variety of prizes such as a ticket for a week’s worth of visits at a local buffet, a shopping spree at a nearby store, or a box seat for a day at the Coliseum. Of course, if you’re really an overachiever, fill out the whole card to get multiple prizes. Madame Dee might just give you a job!

With the promise of home that the Meri deeply believe in, they have their own gifting tradition. The Shard-Bearers know best that it’s possible to receive gifts from the Timestream, and for Year’s End, it’s tradition for the Tribune to pull out all the stops. For a week of the Festival, the Tribune works just outside of Heliopolis, and with the help of priests from the Church of Helios, reaches into the Timestream to produce a gift for anyone that comes to ask. This year, however, he's asked Quetzalcoatl and Samba's elves to deliver gifts, but you might not get anything you asked for (or maybe you did!) but they're all gifts the timestream spit out!

On rainy days (or simply the unbearably hot ones), you can also go to Starlight Park, which offers a reprieve from the weather. Inside the dome, you’ll find a idyllic, snowy valley where you can partake in all the natural joys of winter. There’s (highly) competitive snowball fights, sledding, and skiing to partake in, though you might be cautioned away from one slope. Head down that course and about halfway down, you’ll be chased by… a yeti? Luckily it doesn’t seem to be able to harm you, but it’s still shockingly fast and will catch you no matter how quickly you ski. You can also spend a bit of money to rent a yurt along the river for a relaxing and exceptionally cozy glamping experience. Some Yurts are even adorned with the sacred vines. You know, for no reason.

You’ll also find the Meri heading away from the city of Springstar a bit to head down to some of the beaches that surround Springstar. Being an island within an Island (capital ‘I’ meaning the Kenos kind of island), Takiltu is the traditional start of Springstar’s summer season and all the fun that comes with that. The beaches are bustling, but the cool and crystal-clear waters of the ocean surrounding the city make it worthwhile. Surfing, diving, and sailing are popular activities, but just make sure to stay within sight of the shore. It doesn’t take too long to hit the end of the Island and sailing outside the magical barrier that keeps Springstar floating in Kenos’s starscape generally isn’t survivable.

Just be mindful, if you're trying to escape Highstorm's chill for some summer fun, as attitudes are shifting toward bearers in general, and it might not be as easy as it once was.

NOTES

Weather summary for the second 30 days of Takiltu (NOV & DEC):

• Highstorm is out of fall and into winter. While there are some milder days, snow (and heavy snow at that!) is getting more common.
• Springstar is hot and humid, and it's not uncommon for brief thunderstorms to roll through in the afternoon.

Notable city changes:

• Both cities have experienced changing attitudes toward shard-bearers. You will need to be mindful if you want to travel to a city that doesn't house your faction, as things might not be as easy when it comes to getting around.
• Springstar has had an increase in attacks toward it's citizens, and they are often fatal and destructive. Rumors travel among Springstar's seedier types that these are escaping from Ryad, and they aren't being reigned in. That always comes with a flicker of worry.

CODING

Comments

link 🍏 savant, zenith 🍏 open

[bakedapple]

1. greenwood

[ On this day, about a week after the Harbinger Oracle was claimed by the Meridian, Highstorm's twin moons shine brightly from behind thin, wispy snow clouds. Despite it being especially cold, the weather spurred Link to venture out from his makeshift camp in the Beyond to run a very important errand. It took him an hour to trek across the city to Greenwood Yards, as his usual mode of traversing Kenos — climbing up the outside of the building and cutting across rooftops — isn't going to work today. In his hands, he's carefully cupping a small flowerpot housing a small, sickly-looking flower bud.

But when he arrives, he's saddened to find that the winter season is not exactly the busiest time of the year for the gardens and their botanists. Although he wanders for a while, he can't find anyone to give him the information he's looking for. No, he's not trying to find out who delivered this flower to his camp without him even knowing (although he'd love to know that, too)... he needs to know how to take care of it!

It had been a long walk. To get back to his small camp south of Yima's manor, he'll have to walk all the way back to the south side of the city and then some. When he thinks of having to cart the poor flower bud all the way across town again, it just feels... unacceptable. No, he won't leave until he either finds out how to keep this plant from dying or finds someone who can help care for it. Even if he has to wait all day, pestering anyone he sees visiting the gardens. ]

You! Excuse me! [ Yes, you. You're his next target. He jogs up towards you, although not too fast, as he's still carrying that flowerpot. ] Do you work here? Can you help me with this?

2. hot spring

[ Over the course of the long day that Link spent at Greenwood Yards, he'd gone so far as to wander into the ruined mansions in his search for a gardener, or a groundskeeper, or someone to help him with his little plant. Of course, he didn't find the help he was looking for in a bunch of run-down buildings... but he did find the hot springs.

A place to bathe, with hot water, that doesn't require him to step foot in Yima's Manor and risk being Perceived? Oh yeah. For a guy who's decided he'd rather live in the woods during the coldest time of year in Highstorm, it's a godsend.

The following day, Link travels all the way to the northern reaches of the city again. Instead of lingering in the gardens, he heads straight to the bathhouses and ruined manors. After stripping down into his smalls, he trudges into the water, sinks in up to his neck, and soaks.

Anyone who might venture in will find him in one of the flooded old manors, sitting on the mantle of the fireplace like it's a pool seat. He jumps in surprise when he hears them come in and eyes them warily, but does not move. The water is so nice that it might be enough to get him to talk to someone. ]

3. i want that goat obliterated

[ Link's trips to Greenwood Yards end up being better for him that he could have imagined, because it actually got him out of his head and into the city itself. It doesn't take long for him to hear about the situation in front of Yura Szczepanski’s house. Standing out on the street, hands on his hips, he stares contemplatively at the large goat figure made of straw.

What is he thinking about? Perhaps he's concocting a plan somewhere between those pointy ears of his? Or is he just enjoying the nice view and the seasonal atmosphere? He stands there for a long while, staring, only looking away to make way for people passing by on the sidewalk.

And then, during a period where the street is quiet, and he doesn't see anyone coming... he kneels down, picks up a rock wedged between the cobblestones, and hurls it as hard as he can at the goat. It smacks the side of its straw torso and falls to the ground. Then, he throws another rock, and another. When he runs out of rocks around his feet, he steps down from the sidewalk to grab one that had been just out of reach.

Sometimes, you just gotta throw rocks at trains goats. It's an south Philly Hyrule tradition! Okay yes I wrote this prompt to make an Always Sunny reference. ]

4. wildcard!

((Orrrr tag him with whatever! Link is not traveling to Springstar during all of December, but he can do just about anything in Highstorm! ))

2

[kaientai]

[ with all the gossip going around lately, ryouma has been leaning into the fact that he's still an unknown for the most part. even though he'd recently decided to Harmonise with Meridian, it didn't stop him from coming out to see what was happening in Highstorm.

he spends hours excitedly exploring the city, but eventually, the cold starts to get to him. he might not be human any more thanks to the restoration of his Servant magic, but he still has his preferences; ryouma has never been very accustomed to the cold. a nice soak in the hot spring sounds like the perfect thing in this weather.

it's purely by chance that he decides to explore one of the manors that happens to be occupied. dressed in a black kimono and grey hakama, he doesn't seem to mind that he's found himself standing in water up to his knees. his left sleeve hangs empty as he has his arm tucked casually into the front of his kimono. dressed as he is, his Shards — both of them — are exposed for anyone to see, but he doesn't seem to be concerned about that at all. ]

Oh, hey there! I didn't know anyone else was in here. Does the water feel as good as it looks?

2

[settingup]

[ Not wanting to be perceived? What a wild notion! It's not something that Atsumu could ever relate to, and definitely not something that Atsumu can imagine other people would actually want.

So sorry to Link, but the minute Atsumu spots him, also having come here with every intention of enjoying the hot springs when word got around that they were back for the holiday season, he's making his way over to him.

It probably does not make matters better that Atsumu is treating this like a real bath. Stripping down to his smalls? Keeping on his underwear? Absolutely not. He's here to fully enjoy a soak, and so far the place has been pretty devoid of life, plus the first guy he sees is also a dude, so it's fine!

He just also doesn't have nearly the modesty others would probably hope he would...

It doesn't even seem to matter that the last time he saw Link was when he was trying to coax him into giving up something very important that was going to have a heavy emotional burden to it. Atsumu is doing his best to aggressively ignore how poorly so much of that went for them all.

So I'm sorry to say, Link has a very naked guy raising his hand in greeting, and very nakedly strolling over with a very cheerful. ]

Yo! Didn't expect to see you here!

[ Like they've bumped into each other in the grocery store after not having seen each other for a bit under completely normal circumstances.

It's probably not too late to just run past him. ]

3

[alliterating]

[ Fortunately, someone hands Link a rock. Or maybe a brick. A brick is a kind of rock, right? ]

Have at it, blondie.

[ She waves a hand at the goat. Someone's enjoying his destructive tendencies, anyway. ]

2.

[wolof]

[ In one of the manors, the one Link happened to visit, it was already occupied. Not by a woman, no, or at least, not by someone who looked like a woman. Floating atop the surface of the water was a black swan, looking quite comfortable, fluffed up and almost indulgent. If a bird could be said to have a personality, it would be one that was... quite pleased with themselves.

Though when Link entered, and slipped in, the bird almost looked away, as if polite, before it settled back into place, looking comfortable.

After a few moments, it made a sort of soft honking noise. Half to announce her presence, and half to chirp, making sound specifically so Link would notice that she (the black swan, not a human being named Akua Sahelian) was there.

The bird stared at him, with golden eyes. ]

2. MERRY CHRISTMAS

[tattooism]

[The last time Kiritsubo had seen this man, she had been a different woman. Her hair had been a light blonde, her eyes an innocent teal, and her skin nearly white as snow. He had not seen a slip, not a single glitch in her form, because she was not some sham of a shapeshifter barely able to hold onto her transformation through sex... Though, depending on how closely he followed the news, he might have learned some things about her since their little... encounter. She has learned some things about him, too.]

Good evening, lover boy~

[The woman who approaches him in the Greenwood Yards hot springs is nothing like the one he had bedded during the Harbinger Oracle trial. Her skin is a honeyed caramel, and though her hair is blonde still it is now burnished, not clear. Maidenly proportions have been replaced by almost overly generous curves, and her eyes- This time, her eyes are gold, sharp but mirthful when she smiles with clever lips.

Was that chosen little moniker a coincidence, or... Oh, of course, perhaps she'd read it off a headline? With one hand, the woman holds up an almost comically giant bottle of sake as if in offer, and with the other... she is already beginning to undo the sash of her simple bathing robe.]

Mind if I join you... ?

[Ah. She is not wearing anything under that robe. Surely not strange... it's a hot spring, after all!]

3

[kinaesthesia]

((Sorry for the delay in getting to this! Semi-hiatus turned into more of an actual hiatus ;;))

[Spending some time with Link in Highstorm isn’t really a new experience for her. What is new about it, is the fact that they’re both aligned with Zenith now. She’d say she’s surprised (and honestly, she is a little), but considering the sorts of conversations the two of them have had in the past… it almost feels like something a little inevitable, that Link would make his way over to this side of things.

Considering the way his responsibilities back home had weighed on him and the fact that he’s gone turncoat here has him hiding outside of the city out of, seemingly, guilt or shame or whatever, she’s pretty confident in saying that Link is the sort of guy who is a little too hard on himself. And Gavial being Gavial, is never one to allow someone to mope. No, she’s making sure Mr. Elf here is getting his butt out of those woods he’s been hiding in and having some fun for at least a little while.

It’s hard not to catch wind of the situation surrounding the straw goat sitting out in one of the plazas. A little tradition of mischief sounds like just the thing to get into, and as Gavial watches Link start hurling stones at the thing, she’s feeling pretty damn sure that taking up the challenge would make for a pretty fun way to spend an afternoon. So during a pause in Link’s rock tossing, she steps closer and leans in close, almost conspiratorially; her face is lit up with a mischievous grin as she speaks, voice lower than her typical brash volume.]

Y’know, I think we’d have a real good chance of lighting that thing up, if you want to really have some fun with it.

Raphael | Savant | Meridian

[narsinssist]

𝆺𝅥𝅯 SEAL WITH A KISS (springstar et al)

[ Madame Dee's was rather popular in Springstar. Something that Raphael had quickly learned, when he'd idled by, to figure out what the draw was, and when it became painfully obvious, he almost laughed at the irony of a brothel being so popular right here in the heart of Springstar. It was almost funny, and not just because Raphael had oft-attended a room at the Sharess' Caress in Wyrm's Crossing, for the desperate so often would rather be seen leaving a brothel than dealing with a devil in his lair.

The second amusement was the card that was slipped into his hand by the proprietor, who gave him a smile and a wink, and promised him that it would be more fun than what he'd been through recently, and though Raphael felt no ill will... he had to agree.

However finding some of them (the NPCs in particular) was proving to be difficult, given how much they had learned about him during the oracle. He had very unwittingly given away his true form for all of them to see, and though Raphael felt no shame in this, it made things... trickier. Though shard-bearers seemed to be less... aware of things, or at least some, and though all the locals witnessed it, Raphael's "grand" reveal was not posted to headlines or even second pages. The new Meridian was posted to the inside, buried under plenty of other articles, or not at all.

His eyes rise from where he rest — perhaps a local bar? The last dance? Even the park, where the devil man sat in the sun, enjoying the warmth of it, enjoying the scent of (yes those) flowers in the air — and soft, brown eyes meet that of another bearer. ]

You know... [ He said, airily. ] I think that we may be matched.

[ His fingers touch his little bingo card with a self-assured smile. ] Perhaps I could borrow a moment of your time?

𝆺𝅥𝅯 ART THOU... (springstar)

[ Funnily enough, there's so much whimsy in this land that Raphael is having a difficult time with taking all of it seriously. The oracles had been quite the event, yes, but the Savant was... well. Used to the threat of at least one world being destroyed, after all, Toril dealt with that every day didn't they? Then there was all of the fun of the different creatures and beings here...

It's safe to say, that Raphael is enjoying himself. Which is why he's in a shop, twisting this way and that, as he tries to find something to match his gift. After all, one can't accept a gift and not show it off, right? He has one shirt on, though he's holding another up, as if trying to decide, and if approached from behind, he'll tip his head with a smile, and ask — ]

What do you think? The cream... or the blue?

[ He holds up two vests, clearly trying to decide which would work better with the pants. He also hasn't clearly picked his boots yet, so there is hope to derail this fashion debacle, surely. ]

𝆺𝅥𝅯 LOCAL TOURIST IS RIDICULED (highstorm)

[ Once he heard about the goat, he could not help but take a trip to Highstorm to watch what happened. Sure, the locals seemed to look at him with some measure of derision, but... Well. That was not quite new, was it? Raphael had ended up at a café across the way from the square where the large, straw goat was. Before him was... no food, but he'd procured a glass of wine from the staff. It was bitterly cold, of course, but the denizens of Highstorm were either used to such things or supernatural. The porch seating was still open, because some people didn't mind the cold, and Raphael was one of them. Dressed in his usual doublet, he looked to be dressed for a concert hall, or perhaps even a court. Not... the chill balcony of a café where the wind picked up every now and then.

However, once some of the local denizens realized that he was Meridian, the questions started. 'What if there is nothing to go home to?' one asked, to which Raphael can be heard replying: ]

Why, if it is, I suppose I will have to change my mind, won't I? [ It's said with a laugh, and the good grace of a man who was clearly not so serious about his devotion to Meridian. After all, his motivation was sunk cost, not anything to do with the goodness of his heart. Who could expect that from a devil? The questions continued however, and the longer it went, the more annoyed the man sounded. ]

Now, now. Can a man not enjoy the promise of destruction in peace? [ He finally asked, one of the vampires at a close table narrowed her eyes at him. ] I can assure you, I am stubborn enough to not be convinced.

[ But they just. Kept. Coming. Raphael was stubbornly determined to enjoy it regardless, but... ]

𝆺𝅥𝅯 WILDCARD

[ Nothing here pique your interest? Want to combine some of 'em? Just hit me up with w/e or shoot me a message in the discord/plurk or w/e and I can make something for us! ]

local tourist ridiculed,,

[bakedapple]

[ In the background of the suspicious whispers and distrustful looks being aimed towards Raphael, he might notice the faintest sensation of a familiar mind overlapping with his. By sheer coincidence, Link is also at this café on this same day, at this same time, although he is not enjoying food on the balcony. He is downstairs, trying to buy a supply of bread to take back to his camp — or perhaps more accurately, trying to convince the proprietor not to just give it to him for free. It was the owner's kindness a few days earlier, when he was spotted outside and ushered in for a free meal and an embarrassing level of sympathy and praise, that prompted Link to trek back into the city a few days later and insist on patronizing the store properly.

Just as he's beginning to convince him that, yes, he really does want to pay for things instead of getting it for free, Link too feels the tug of someone familair in the back of his mind. He abruptly stops mid-sentence and squints. It's another Savant, it has to be, but whoever it is, it isn't Cid. Nor is it any of the Meri Savants that he knows well enough to recognize in this way. Which only leaves a handful of other Savants he briefly made acquaintances with during the Oracle, but... why is a Meri Savant here in the first place?

He curtly excuses himself from his conversation with the owner and turns around to scan the bottom floor of the café. No... nobody here, nobody that he can see, is the source of this feeling. Could this person be outside on the street, maybe...? In a neighboring building? ]

Who is this?

[ The fastest way to figure this out is probably just to ask, so that's what he does. This has the effect of turning their passive connection into an active one, and Link picks up that distinct stubbornness. ]

Gray | Meridian | Advocate | OTA + starters

[gravings]

A. The Bingo Prompt

[ It's that time of year again...

Gray stares at the bingo card in her hand, and with a level of sincerity disproportionate to the words "Kiss Bingo," reflects on self-growth. She can remember vividly how insurmountable something as small as a kiss seemed exactly one year ago — and even as recently as a month ago. It's still a tough hurdle for her to approach, but she can at least think about approaching it now.

Romance. Physical intimacy. Such things have little role in the scheme of the Oracle race, and even now Gray considers herself an outsider to such luxury concepts. There's no point in her trying to get "good" at kissing people. It's the struggle itself that holds more value to her, as if she could prove something to herself by pushing past old limitations.

And...

"If you're so sure girls don't do it for ya, try kissing some boys instead! Ihihihi! Are you some kind of idiot who thinks she knows anything without trying anything?! You— oh."

Add didn't have much more to say after she pecked him on one edge of his little box head.

But as much as she hates to admit it, Add has a point. And so Gray has come to have some interest in gathering experience so that she can stop a talking box from mocking her so much. Not that he'll stop either way, but maybe he will mock her a little less.

Though looking at the names on her card, this might be harder than she initially thought. Luckily, with the rising celebrity of Shard-Bearers thanks to the recent Oracle, she can learn more about the people she's unfamiliar with through newspaper headings and word on the street. At the very least, she'll be able to recognize them. There's nothing to do but try... ]

((Note: If you're on Gray's bingo card, feel free to leave a comment and I'll write a starter! Otherwise feel free to hit me up on plurk or discord if you'd prefer to hash things out. I'm totally okay with cheek/hand/etc kisses if that's more comfortable, as Gray is in the younger demographic, and she'll likely gravitate toward those things except in a few cases.))

B. The No-Good Time at Greenwood Yards Prompt

[ Gray finds herself causing a minor incident at Greenwood Yards.

Her relationship with ghosts is not so great. As she heads to the plot at Greenwood Yards she was gifted by a Zenite (Mordred), the unexpected presence of wayward, rampant spirits produces a familiar reaction in her: a pervasive chill, an encroachment on her soul by the raw emotions of the dead, threatening to flood her from her own body.

These ghosts only seek to cause mischief... but seeing Gray's poor reaction — her withdrawn posture, a fearful-looking shiver — some of the ghosts push too far in the name of a good laugh. They whirl and rush toward her, hoping to elicit a nice little fright.

Instead the ghosts disappear into so much thin air as Gray lashes out, the huge scythe that appears in her hand devouring them easily.

It turns out the people of Highstorm don't take kindly to a Meridian Shard-Bearer suddenly waving a large weapon around. People nearby raise their voices, some alarmed, some angry. Though Gray quickly collapses her scythe, the damage is done. The people crowd her extremely mortified self as she tries to explain herself, blocking her from escape.

Are you a Zenite? Then perhaps a member of the crowd recognizes you as a Shard-Bearer and insists that you do something to take care of this rogue, surely dangerous Meri.
Are you a Meri? Then...... maybe you help your fellow Meri and get sucked into this, or maybe you walk on by even faster, I'm not the boss of you ]

C. The Wildcard Prompt

[ do you have the GUTS to choose this option ]

closed to Mordred

[gravings]

[ Here is the mental equivalent of Gray tugging on Mordred's clothes... Pay attention please (communion edition). ]

Mordred?

wildcard

[lockedon]

[ With hot, humid summer now in full swing, it only natural that the native citizens of Springstar are constantly looking for some place to get out of the sun. And that means business has been booming for Ugly Squid Books, especially after the news that the staff there includes two T2 Meri. (Did one of them die during the last Oracle? It's fine, don't worry about it.)

While the extra business is certainly appreciated, it means that Eustace doesn't have much time to converse with his fellow employee (it's Gray today) until store hours have come to an end and they're preparing to close up shop. There's trash littering the tables, books stacked in chairs and odd corners, and while there's still plenty to do before they clock out for the night, it's the type of earnest work that comes with its own type of satisfaction. ]

I can get the books in the corner. [ He's shelved these titles so often by now he could put them back in his sleep. ] It looks like your pies are becoming pretty popular.

[ I'm godmoding that they sold out because who is going to stop me. ]

closed to Atsumu

[gravings]

[ It's......... Starlight Park.

Somehow or another, Gray and Atsumu have come to be here with snowboards in hand (and sometimes on feet). Gray is in her element, her fluff-lined hood finally a completely normal thing to wear against the aesthetically wintery yet freezing weather of the dome. Along with her snowboard, she's been given the normal accoutrements of snowboarding: bulky helmet, bulky goggles, bulky gloves, bulky boots. It's quite a bit more equipment than Gray was expecting, and she feels a bit like she's going out to battle as she tromps through the snow to the top of a slope with Atsumu. Add jangles in his cage with each thick step. ]

... Have you ever been snowboarding before?

[ She wouldn't be surprised if Atsumu has. He seems like a sporty person (maybe because he's an actual sportsman) and a student of the modern world. If movies are to be believed, it's normal for teens to go with their friends on vacation to places like this. ]

b

[baltimores]

[ He's only just entered the greenhouses to the sounds of a commotion, which... seems very off, considering how that sort of thing doesn't tend to occur in most places in Highstorm, let alone the gardens. Who the fuck starts shouting around plants?

Amos has been trying to come here more often — is this how he develops a green thumb? A meaningful one, for the world to come? Hopefully it's a starting point, especially since he lives so close by and really has no excuse — but not often enough that he would think he'd be unceremoniously grabbed and dragged over to the eye of the storm, with cries of there's a Meri with a weapon! and get rid of her!

And, oh.

It wasn't that long ago that he'd had a chance meeting with Gray in this very location, and his initial instinct had been to attack her. But since there's no Oracle at stake at the moment, and also he does not pay attention to politics in the slightest, that instinct is not present.

Even though people are yelling. Possibly at him, now, since for a moment Amos seems almost as mortified as Gray that this is happening at all. Who the fuck shouts at Gray?

It takes him a second, and then Amos springs into action, muscling his way through the crowd to Gray and putting himself in between her and any and everyone else. ]

Calm the fuck down! [ His voice has a decent carry to it, which helps; his presence as a highly harmonized Zenite does the rest in stilling the commotion. ] Nothing's happening here, alright? Go do whatever you were doing before. Get the fuck out of here.

[ Punctuated with a hand on Gray's shoulder, which could mean that he's going to lead her out of here or pick her up and throw her like a football through a window or something, but, no. It's for her. He doesn't know if she's gotten any better with crowds over the past year — that's on him — but getting yelled at by a bunch of strangers probably doesn't help, even if she has. Amos glares out at the crowd, silently demanding they disperse — and gives Gray's shoulder a little reassuring squeeze as he does. ]

A? KIND OF? it'll come up i swear

[salvageable]

[ It's early morning in Springstar and Dokja is actually at Ugly Squid Books for once. He's a poor store owner, in and out but mostly out, leaving most of the work to his trustworthy employees. It's very uncharacteristic of him to be in at such an early hour, especially because he's not a morning person, but hey, he needed a change of scenery after being holed up at home for way too long.

In need of a distraction, he works, carrying in a box of new arrivals to set it down on one of the cafe tables. They haven't opened just yet, still setting up in preparation for the opening rush, and he figures he can sort through these books in the meantime.

And why not ask for a helping hand? It's not like he's alone on this fine, sunny morning, so as he flips open the box, he calls out to Gray. ]

Gray! [ He pulls out the first book. A manhwa...? It has two men on the cover and it looks... rather intimate. Hm. ] Our latest shipment came in. Want to help me sort them?

B.

[erbe]

[While Rin is prepared to push through the crowd, they actually part for her instead. Upon recognizing who she is, and what she was prepared to do, they all quiet down in as they prepare for their Zenite semi-celebrity to give Gray a verbal lashing.

However that doesn't happen. Rin's arm slings around the other girl's waist as she gives the crowd one of the coldest looks she can manage.]

You think this is how we win? By harassing guests and bullying little girls? I thought Highstorm had more dignity than that. Aren't you all ashamed?

[A wave of murmurs begin ebbing through the crowd. The offending people seem to look to each other for reassurance — or simply to avert their gaze from Rin's icy stare.]

If you're worried she's here to cause problems then I offer to accompany her until she leaves. Now get out of my face.

[Some words of discontent bounce between a few of the people, but eventually most of the crowd begins to disperse. The ones that stick around seem like they're just watching to make sure Rin makes good on her promise.]

A, with some wildcard flares(?) let me know if it doesn't work

[furibund]

[ Nebula's seen the booth. ]

[ And so far no amount of money or fancy prizing has been enough to have her get close to it. Physical Intimacy is something that, for much of her life, only involved literal torture and massive amounts of pain. A hug from someone she trusted may no longer result in a defensive maneuver, but an unexpected touch from a stranger was still the quickest way to get her to break a limb. ]

[ It's funny to think that the idea of snapping someone's arm feels far more normal than shaking a hand does (though the latter isn't so difficult anymore). ]

[ So in a strange way she avoids it. ]

[ It's the shrill sound of the box that catches her attention, then, grating on the mechanical hearing she relied on. She turns her attention quickly and readily to yell at the noise maker and... Stops. At who it is. Scowls a touch, turning her attention to the strange box. ]

You can throw it away if it's being rude.


[ Helpfully. ]

D | Meridian, Advocate | OTA

[damnpire]

a. highstorm

[A familiar dark, gloomy guy is wandering around the one place giving him the least amount of welcome, though it doesn't appear to be deterring him at all. The darkness is a nice reprieve from the blistering weather left behind in Springstar where the days have grown miserably (for him) sunnier.

As much as his general vibe helps him blend in, so too does it make him stand out. Plenty of Zenites offer him distasteful glances.

But he isn't snooping in any more personal places for now. The festivities, shops, and market stalls only get passing surveys from him with little stopping and next to no conversation. (He definitely doesn't touch anything for sure.) Just a lil guy out for a Highstorm stroll during some of the most tumultuous faction times.]

b. illicit hand holding

[If anyone happens to be wandering around in the pollen-ridden streets of Springstar, they will be suddenly accosted by a young man's pale, long-fingered hand. Sorry about that.

For little coherent reason, D really just wanders up to whoever he may find to take their hand in his own. They should hold it and be glad because it's the only one he's got right now. There doesn't seem to be anything beneath the edge of the long cape on the left side except dead air...]

Thank you.

[??????

It is a travesty he doesn't have a croaky, weird parasite making fun of him for this in his head anymore. Someone else will have to do it in Left Hand's honor.]

c. smooch bingo

[Despite not going to Madame Dee's and getting a card of his own, he has figured out--probably by way of propositions--what people are trying to do when they appear to be attempting to get his attention.

No one ever wants this much of his presence. It's weird?

Whoever is hesitantly, or perhaps begrudgingly lingering around for him will finally get his full attention. He doesn't seem annoyed, but could perhaps do without being on so many bingo cards...]

Can I help you?

d. wildcard

[Feel free to wildcard me anything if none of this works, or you have something else in mind. You can hit me up on Discord, too, if you have an idea.]

b and c

[lockedon]

[ D holding his hand with his one remaining hand...cute. 🥺

People don't usually hold his hand outside of Dokja, so it's a little surprising when someone just casually grabs his hand like it's no big deal and wraps their fingers around his. The years have mellowed him out though, and instead of yanking his hand away at the first point of contact, he simply turns with a frown on his face. (It helps that they're in Springstar and not Highstorm, and that he's already experienced the pollen once before.)

Some of his displeasure fizzles out at the familiar face. ]

I see you've been outside for too long.

[ The POLLEN!! Though if there's another reason why D has suddenly chosen to hold his hand, he is unaware of it. ]

B.

[settingup]

[ D can rest easy, because without Left Hand here to make fun of him for holding onto Atsumu's paw hand this way, Atsumu will just do it himself!

It's surprising to feel a hand reach for his own, especially given how piss poor the treatment he's been receiving in Springstar has been since he took one of his usual trips into the city, and he tenses up expecting more of the same bullshit he's been getting from the citizens since he stepped foot onto the streets here.

So when he sees it's a familiar face who has never been particularly aggressive, he relaxes even as the pollen unconsciously makes him feel the urge to wrap his fingers around D's one remaining hand. ]

What're you thankin' me for? Where the hell didja even come from? I didn't hear a thing, and I've got pretty good ears.

a

[baltimores]

[ Double take. Oh, hey, wait! He recognizes that guy!

Amos so happens to be shopping at a market stall when that very familiar, incredibly gothic — even for Highstorm — figure passes by. He takes a second, then figures he can double back and do his shopping later.

So here's a Zenite jogging to catch up with a Meri, with absolutely no ill intent. Actually, his voice is downright friendly when he does speak up, so that D knows this isn't just some rando chasing him down. ]

Hey. You find a good spot for that portrait?

[ In a fireplace could technically be a good spot... it was freaky, but as long as D was happy with whatever he did with it, ]

KISS BINGO: SET, BONDREWD & DRIZZT EDITION.

[redsoil]

[ Another year, another round of Kiss Bingo.

Set can be found enthusiastically pursuing the individuals on his Bingo Card (top), chasing those he is familiar with into all their favorite haunts and hiding places. However, he spends more time waiting for other characters seeking him for their own Bingo needs to find him in one of two places — lounging on the beaches of Springstar, expecting them, or working diligently in the Greenwood Yards to maintain and enhance their greenhouses. Maybe also to visit an ornate sword that has been embedded in the ground in the location of the Exalt Oracle happened in.....

In contrast, Bondrewd spends more time looking for people than waiting around to be found. Having received his Bingo list (bottom) from a very sour looking Madam Dee, he seems utterly unbothered by the fact that 99% of the people on his list are probably not going to want to kiss him. Helpfully, he also remains in one of two places — Starwatcher's Spire, or the Tomes, in Highstorm. He's not exactly welcome in Springstar, even though he's a low-tier Zenite. Whatever he's been up to, it's been a very quiet affair... that's probably not good, since the last span of time where he'd gone radio silent was abruptly terminated by the presence of Link and Dark overloaded on Discord. :(

Lastly, Drizzt ventures to and from Highstorm and Springstar without hesitation. Used to being vilified just for his lineage, he is a cautious and respectful figure that avoids Meri-faithful crowds and uses his relative newness to spend his time engaging in local customs. While he does not have a Bingo card to fill out, he tries to make himself visible enough for those seeking him out to complete their own, and seems very, very shy about the whole thing. His main haunts are Starlight Park in Springstar, enjoying the winter sports there, and a patch of the Beyond very close to the Court, where Yima's seat of power resides. ]

( OOC. While the open is Kiss Bingo flavored, I'm down for literally anything relating to the event, as well as any follow-ups or fallout from the pre-Oracle gossip posts and/or the Oracle itself! Wildcard me with a starter, or just tag in if you've been wanting to engage and I'll write a starter for you. :> )

he doesn't the deserve the most awkward way possible to be introduced to set but here we are

[kaientai]

[ ryouma finds set on the beach, having recently left his brand new boat (!!) to head back to the city; it's going to take a little bit of work yet before he'll be ready to live on it. he still has no idea who is who around here, so most of the time, he ends up approaching anyone he can find with a Shard. ]

Hello! [ he raises a hand in a friendly greeting. ] I'm trying to find everyone on this card, but I don't really have faces to put to the names. I understand the game involved, but it's also an excellent way to meet people, don't you think?

[ he would use kiss bingo as an excuse to network... ]

Yuri Leclerc | Meridian | Harbinger | OTA

[wolfish]

I. Hot Spring Haunt
[ Whether Yuri has managed to wrangle company for the excursion or not, he finds himself compelled to check out the hot spring. It might just be because of a certain memory he received, but he can't help his curiosity... Even as he finds himself reluctant to peel his clothes off.

If someone spots him from a distance rather than coming along with him, this leads to a curious, lingering stare at the water. It's less the exposure that concerns him and more the bitter cold. Seeing as how he's bundled thoroughly in insulating layers, it might be easy enough to guess why.

Talk to him? Shove him in there while his guard is down? Up to the whim of fate. ]

II. Highstorm Holiday
[ It's a curious tradition, writing wishes down. The way it's explained is that someone else will be expected to grant it, and Yuri finds himself yet uncertain about the practice even after trying his hand at wish-granting. Sure, his participation meant someone else out there may be willing, but... Anything he might wish for seems beyond others' ability to give.

Then again, hadn't he just received some impossible gifts?

These conflicting thoughts leave him staring down a blank slip of paper as he lingers under the Great Tree for longer than he'd like to admit. Ultimately, he finds himself more comfortable with the idea of giving to others than receiving what he suspects others couldn't grant him, so when a(n un)familiar face passes by, he hastily stuffs the paper into his pocket and focuses on them. ]

So, you plan on making a wish?

[ It's a casual question. Color him curious, which must be a shade of purple, surely. ]

III. Starlight Snowscape
[ The last time Yuri paid Starlight Park a visit was back when he was new to this place. Byleth had managed to finagle his way into projecting Fódlan's stars upon the sky and invited him along to see it back then. It's strange to think about how long ago that was, and how much has changed for the lot of them. How much more complicated their situation feels now.

Yet the park is the picture of serene, pastoral winter. He strolls his way along without apparent or particular aim, humming some odd tune to himself... At least until he reaches the odd structures near the river. Has he ever seen a yurt in his life? Decidedly not! Which means after stealing a glance around, he's venturing in to investigate. Rare is the opportunity to sneak up on him, but here it is, as he audibly ponders whether this is supposed to be a tent or some kind of residence.

On the other hand, one might just get pelted by a stray snowball of they're not paying attention. Faerghus is known for their winters and their snowball fights can be highly competitive. This is extremely normal. ]

IV. Wildcard
[ ooc: Want to do something else entirely? Feel free to hit me up on discord or DM, or throw it right on in here. ]

Closed Prompts

[wolfish]

Shez | Meridian | Advocate | open unless stated

[sheezit]

I. Highstorm - Kiss Bingo
[ What is more ill-advised than a Meri wandering the streets of Highstorm on his lonesome in the current political climate? Why, it's a Meri getting lost in the streets of Highstorm, with a very special card in his hands-- courtesy of an equally ill-advised visit to Madam Dee's to ask for directions. In his defense, the booth was set up in plain sight outside the brothel, and his curiosity had been piqued both by the unusual number of patrons stationed around it and the promise of rewards in exchange for succeeding at the challenge. What kind of mercenary would he be if he turned it down?

(Besides, participating in the bingo game gives him a good excuse to linger in Highstorm without raising suspicion, to say nothing of how it facilitates a quick escape from any citizens accosting him along the way with a multitude of hypotheticals. He can't blame them for trying, but giving up on his home world and people was just not in the plans for him.)

As he sets out on his mission, any Shard-bearers in possession of a bingo card (or not, he is determined to win and not at all shy) will be approached with flash of his own, a means to preemptively indicate what he means when he asks: ]

Hey! Sorry to trouble you for a second, but-- mind lending me a hand with this?

[ The truth is he's still unacquainted with most other Shard-bearers, so what he really needs is help with assigning a face to many of these names, but if one of them happens to be your character's, well! ]

II. Springstar - Snow Emblem Warriors Edition
[ As the spirit of competition follows him back to Springstar and well into Starlight Park, so does nostalgia for the closest thing he had to a home back in his original world. Ah, Faerghans and their inexplicable love for their half-frozen stretch of dirt, how contagious they could be...

With all due sentimentality swift but carefully folded into a figurative pocket for later indulgence, he decides to shift his focus to the ruthless battlefield ahead: an off-season winter wonderland, a stark contrast both to the weather outside and to all heated animosity settling in among players. The main and only rule is simply to land as many hits as one can for the duration of any given round, not at all the elaborate and overly belligerent Faerghan affair Rodrigue would often describe in the tales of his youth, but it should be enough to at least help Shez prepare in advance. If anything, it's good target practice.

And so he prepares a small stock of ammunition in advance, takes cover behind a tree or a snowman as a meat (ice?) shield, and bides his time. And once the opportunity strikes, so does he! ]

Hey, don't give me that look! You shouldn't go wandering in the crossfire if you can't take the heat!

[ Is it an ass hit? A face hit? A non-hit?? Either way, he's not backing down! ]

III. Arson as a Scapegoat - closed;
[ The last time he remembers having to make a run for his life, the Ashen Demon had been in pursuit; today, he runs alongside Shez on a joint daring escape.

With the last several days gone by in a haze of palpable tension and unspoken words, the idea of attempting to set a giant straw goat on fire as a bonding activity seemed entirely ridiculous-- stupidly so, as though to match this weird atmosphere between them. The fact that they failed so miserably at the task only adds to the embarrassment, and perhaps to Shez's budding reputation as a delinquent ever since certain Oracle incidents were made public, but he can't say he minds that. They're only risking a little jail time, it's not like their lives are on the line!

(But if they had been in any real danger, then this would have been the right way to do it: side by side to the end. It's about time they both remember that.) ]

I think we've lost them--

[ It comes through heavy panting, his chest heaving from the impromptu mad dash and rush of adrenaline. Though the guards seem to have let up on their chase, they take cover in the shadow of a building, all quiet whispers and eyes on the lookout. ]

Phew... That was a close call, huh?

IV. Wildcard
[ ooc: For anything else! If your character is on Shez's Kiss Bingo and/or vice-versa and you'd like to hash things out beforehand, hit me up on discord or plurk! Otherwise just go for it! ]

III

[fishfearme]

[While running from guards wasn't a novel experience for Byleth - who, in his long career as a mercenary, had run afoul of the local law enforcement every so often (usually Jeralt's fault) - it was the first time that he had ran away from a 'crime' so thoroughly fumbled that a part of him was actually tempted to let himself be caught as deserving punishment for his incompetence.

Their target had been a stationary straw goat and the aim had been to set it on fire. Somehow, two highly skilled mercenaries with a kill count in the hundreds and a terrifying reputation that greatly preceded them, had failed. They had failed to set a straw goat on fire. Byleth was a mage with a fire affinity, and he had failed to set a straw goat on fire.

It was this that winded him the most after the chase, not the actual sprinting, parkouring and vaulting they had done to shake off their pursuers. He was just flabberghasted at himself. Was this how far he had fallen? He couldn't even best inanimate straw goats now...]

Yes... a little too close...

[Byleth sounded a little rattled as he peered around the corner of the building. The guards were nowhere to be seen, but the street was buzzing about the chase they had witnessed. Best lay low until the chatter died down.]

My prolonged bedrest has weakened me more than I thought. That we failed such an easy mission...

[His voice was a low mumble as he leaned back from the corner and clumsily delved a hand into his satchel to pull out his Emergency Fish Jerky. Unfortunately, while he did grab his jerky first try, he'd almost pulled out half of his satchel in the process, the jerky's packaging catching onto something as he pulled it out. With a clatter and some rustling, what tumbled out of his satchel and onto the floor was: another pack of jerky, a few pieces of paper firmly folded into solid wedges, a pencil and... a familiar looking whistle...?]

KIRITSUBO (ZONE-00) 🔮 EXALT (ZENITH)

[tattooism]

01 ⛤ HIGHSTORM HOT SPRINGS (🔞 NUDITY)
⛤ Form: A Dark-skinned Blonde

[Now hot springs are something Kiritsubo has always enjoyed, like she had a penchant for most things leisurely and pleasurable. When she heard word of the seasonal occurrence, of course she decided to see things for herself, even though she had been doing something that could be considered "laying low" in the aftermath of the Harbinger Oracle trial. That was easily fixable, though. She just seamlessly shifted into a form that no one had seen her use in those stone-enclosed tunnels.

Some people are modest in their enjoyment, seeing as the bath is... open-air, mixed, and very popular this time of year, but. Kiritsubo is not. She is... fully nude where she lounges in the steaming waters, generous curves shrouded only slightly by steam with her golden hair piled atop her head to keep it from sticking to the back of her sweat-damp neck. Full aware of what she looks like (and fully ready to use it for her amusement or advantage), she shifts at the sound of another's approach, holding up an almost comically giant bottle of sake.]

Care for a drink... ?

[Thanks for bringing her the nice sake, Samba's elves. You're cute.]

02 ⛤ SPRINGSTAR SAND
⛤ Form: Natural Human Form

[Though she had largely been avoiding the forms associated with her that had been outed by the mystery broadcast of the Oracle events, not feeling at the moment like dealing with anything troublesome that might stem from being recognized when she preferred to blend into the shadows and work behind the scenes... Well, she hadn't done anything terrible during that trial. And she was interested in who might come out of the woodwork.

She seems to have found a bathing suit somewhere. Which is good, because she's also chosen to take to the beach, where she now lounges on a towel on the warm sand, sunning her backside. Her colorfully tattooed backside. And when a shadow crosses and seems to linger over her, cutting off her sun...]

If you aren't here to kill me for being a Zenite... Mind helping me with the suntan oil?

[She points without even looking at who her caller is. There's a bottle nearby on a lounge chair.]

03 ⛤ KOWLOON KISSES (🔞)
⛤ Form: Whichever Appeals to Her Target Most (Pick Your Poison)

[Okay, not Kowloon, I just couldn't resist the alliteration pattern. This prompt can take place anywhere. The point is... You are on Kiritsubo's Kiss Bingo card... and she thinks it would be quite amusing, to get a "bingo" or two. If she gleans any interesting information in the process, well... That's just a bonus! She has been lurking in all of Kenos' cities for months now, always on the move, constantly shifting forms, and she's read all the papers she can get her hands on, listened to all the gossip...

It isn't hard to track down the names on her card. And once she does...]

My, my, what do we have here... ? ♡

[Her greeting is light and flirtatious, whether it comes from an elegant lady perched on the edge of a cafe chair, a tough-looking young man leaning against a wall, or a kindly-faced young woman in a crowded street. Whoever they are, wherever they are... they take out a card from Madam Dee's and flashes it with a smile.]

Looks like someone on my list...

04 ⛤ WILDCARD

[LMK if you want a custom starter! Kiritsubo is gunning for Kiss Bingo! Please fill out fortune-telling information if you have the chance!]

FOR AMOS 🪷 A BLOOMING LOTUS

[tattooism]

[Within the very first hour they had met, Kiritsubo had made it very clear that she wanted to lay her hands on Amos Burton. Hands holding her needle-tipped tattooing tools, of course. (Hands on flesh, too, sex, yes, but- they'd taken care of that within the first hour they met as well.) There were so many interesting canvases here in the world called Kenos... and he was one of the more fascinating ones. Oh, there was potential and power in almost every shard-bearer, yet there was something she could「see」on his skin, something strong just begging to be given shape for all the world to see, not just her.

And now, after the Harbinger Oracle trial had concluded, as Highstorm was blanketed in snow and a holiday season was approaching... it seemed Amos agreed with her.

When Kiritsubo arrives at his shop, though, it is not the Kiritsubo he had come to know. Laying low since a few of her shapes had been outed by the mysterious broadcast of their actions in the maze, she had not returned to the form Amos knew her as: tall, long of leg, athletic, and sharp-featured. The woman who comes in the door today has skin like caramel and hair like burnished gold, her shape generously curved and not at all hidden by her fur scarf and the pale excuse for a coat she's wearing. Her lips move the same, though, when they curl into a playful smile, playing as if it were her first time walking through that door.]

Pardon the intrusion~

[He may recognize the same tool belt worn loosely at her waist, though- the ones she'd had him service, which she was itching now to apply to his flesh.]