recolle | DECEMBER EVENT LOG

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DECEMBER EVENT LOG

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Re:Decorate
The city of Recollé sure knows how to celebrate the holidays, doesn't it?

I.
Hello there, Retrospecters. Are you enjoying the snow? Luckily it's stopped coming down in droves sometime the morning of the 5th and the plows in the city are able to start working to clear the sidewalks and the roads. Life continues even with this winter wonderland taking over, and the citizens of Recollé are well on their way to decorating for the holidays.

Christmas decorations are everywhere you turn in all kinds of storefronts and shopping centers, but displays for other holidays such as Hanukkah, Kwanza, and even the winter solstice are out as well. Strangely, the stores aren't crowded even with everyone trying to get in their last-minute shopping. It's as though the city has expanded just enough to allow for all of these people to co-exist peacefully, and everywhere you look it's smiles and laughter amongst the townspeople.

…actually, it's a little odd, isn't it? Everyone seems to be in a good mood even in the worst circumstances, almost as though there's nothing that can deter them from the joy of the holiday season. It takes a while to see it, but if you're lucky you can turn your head just in time to catch a glimpse of a wispy, wintery spirit zipping away after touching the shoulder of a nearby citizen.

If you happen to catch sight of this spirit, well, that's unfortunate for you. With a new target in sight Jack Frost finds himself giddy with delight as he works his magic to make sure you're having fun, too. His idea of fun isn't quite the same as everyone else's though. For those who are more inclined to be happy and joyous on their own, you may find yourself on the receiving end of a snowball to the back of your head, slipping and sliding your way down the sidewalk, or even just a cold, chilled breeze up your spine as snow and frost make its way down your shirt. If you're particularly friendly, take note of a small chirp from above; it seems as though the mistletoe bats from last winter have returned and are working with Jack to make the holiday brighter, leafy wings tangling together and bringing people closer together. Literally.

But for the people who are a little more Scrooge-like, Jack puts in overtime for his pranks. Particularly fussy, loner-types will immediately find themselves tightly wrapped in a large, ugly sweater, ensnaring the closest person nearby to share the other half and unable to be removed until the pair get along and share the magic of the holidays. (And even if you're not a loner, any sign of grumpiness will land you in a pretty hideous sweater.) Those who try to work too hard during this time will find visions of sugarplums dancing before them, stubby arms holding up a tray of cookies and candy canes for you to take. The sugarplums will dance around anyone who refuses to try one of their treats, and the longer you avoid them to more likely you'll find these treats really aren't so sweet. Cookies may be frosted with toothpaste, candy canes may turn your mouth black, and even treats such as hot cocoa or cider will cause literal steam to come out of your ears and nose.

There's no limit to the tricks and games Jack likes to play, and some may be very unexpected. Best be on guard for a while.

II.
Even if you choose to stay indoors for the next couple of weeks, holiday magic will still find you. Going about your day and venturing to all parts of the city, it becomes clear that your path is dotted with a series of snow globes that pop up whenever you pause in place. These globes appear in all sorts of sizes and are foggy upon first glance. The scenery inside appears to stick with the theme of winter ranging from snowmen, Christmas trees, sleigh rides and similar scenes. It's a little hard to fully make out what they are, but it's nothing a good shake won't fix.

The moment you shake your chosen snow globe, something happens. The scene inside the globe shifts and changes to form a picture-perfect replica of something precious to you; a vision of your loved ones and your happiest memories appear inside the glass, or it could be an item that's important to you that takes shape and remains encased in the safety of the snowstorm forever. These globes can be kept and the longer you hold onto them, the warmer and calmer you'll feel.

As the scene settles inside your globe, ice and sparkles swirl around your feet as a gift-wrapped box appears with your name clearly labeled on it. Inside you'll find a small gift, ornaments to hang on a tree or even a batch of cookies for you to share with the people around you. This gift seems designed specifically for you, and upon closer inspection the label bears the Retrospec logo. Hm. Can you trust them? That's up to you.

But what about those of you who ignore the globes entirely? That should be easy, right? They're just snow globes. Where are they going to go? As it turns out, these globes will begin to appear more frequently around you the longer you ignore them, multiplying in size until they're just large enough to encase you and shake you around, trapping you in your own personal cyclone and leaving you on display until someone comes across you. The glass can be broken from the outside, of course, but that seems a bit dangerous. Citizens will have to get a bit creative to figure out how to shake these globes and trigger the magic inside…but you won't receive a present for being rescued. The box that appears for you will be lumpy and damaged, though it will still have your name on it. Enjoy your newly obtained bag of coal!

III.
You may have received ornaments from your snow globe adventures, but what will you do with them? Perhaps it's time to make your way down to Tribunal Terrace where a large, 70-foot Christmas tree stands proudly in the center of Recollé Square. The tree is a constant work of progress and Mayor Mayer invites everyone in the city to help decorate it each day leading up to Christmas. Strung with lights and crystal baubles, a "create your own ornament" station is set up thanks to ReVa allowing citizens to paint, sculpt and paper maché their own special creations.

Miles and miles of garland could use some detangling, and the strings of beads can be braided and looped over each and every branch. As you approach the tree whether to hang your handmade ornament or just to admire the beautiful scenery, something catches your eye.

A round bauble hangs directly in front of you, the planet seemingly turning on its own and the scenery changing. Many of you have memories of a world and a city far different than this one, a place your other self used to reside. These baubles reflect these places, showing scenery, buildings and planet conditions of the place you've seen in countless regains. For those of you who've yet to regain anything, the bauble will appear blank but the soft blue glow encourages you to touch it.

In fact, all of these baubles encourage a gentle touch. Hold onto your hats, everyone, because the moment your fingers brush the glass you and whoever's nearby are immediately pulled forward into the ornament itself, transporting you right into the heart of where you used to live. For those of you without memories of the world you once came from, you'll return to the location of your happiest memory in your current life whether that's someone's home, an amusement park, a forest or elsewhere. There's no telling where you'll end up if you remember multiple locations, but all of these worlds are peaceful and covered in a light dusting of snow and winter effects, even if the world you once knew was a dark and dangerous time. The monsters that have haunted your past appear to be away and the world itself is open for you to explore. Take the time to visit the area, check out what you can and learn more about yourself. But beware! There is a time limit. An hourglass hangs overhead and seems to follow you from place to place, indicating that you have one hour to see the world as you knew it before you'll return to Recollé Square. You can't return back after the bauble has been activated, but the ornament is yours for the taking.

There truly is no place like home, is there?

IV.
Surely that's all there is to discover in the city this month, isn't it? No, of course not. Why would it be? Despite the snow globes and the tree that can be seen from anywhere in the city, it's hard to miss the new fixtures that have grounded themselves to the sidewalk of all six districts. Standing proudly, you'll see new snowflake statues glowing that same, soft blue color and lit up in the most magical way. These statues can't be moved nor can they be destroyed and it becomes obvious they're growing straight up from the ground.

A little inconvenient, but not terribly so. The problem, of course, is that the snowflakes are on a timer. Those who are caught in the crossfire, those who touch the statue themselves, or even those who fall victim to one of Jack Frost's pranks will see the statue turn green after a short 30 seconds before they're teleported with a sound like the crack of a whip, disappearing from their space in Recollé and falling straight through a dark portal below. The fall feels like a lifetime, but the landing's nice and soft as you hit a pile of snow somewhere between the city and the region of Magatus. A large, crystalized dome shines in the distance and as you wander closer the snowcapped mountains flank and pop up around you to close in and encourage you onward. As you continue on your path, you may be comforted to know you aren't the only one who's been pulled to this arena.

The sound of the crowd around you draws your attention as you spot several winter creatures such as polar bears wrapped up in scarves, penguins with winter hats, arctic foxes with little snow booties, and, you know, several yetis who are just happy to be here. These creatures will cheer you on and persuade you to enter the winter games held inside the arena. These games include activities such as toboggan races, snowboarding, ice skating, skiing, and more, and the creatures don't have a preference. They enjoy all of these games and will cheer regardless.

Then again, it seems that they won't let you leave until you participate in at least one sport. What's the harm? So what if you've never done this before? Now's your chance to try something new and wow the crowd with your skills!

Who will win? Well. That depends on who you're competing against, doesn't it? Whether it's a foe or a friend, the crowd's ready for some action. Don't disappoint them, now. Find a partner and compete against them. Winners will take home a beautiful trophy...and a bucket of fish courtesy of the animals. With the winners determined and the prizes distributed, it's a race downhill that'll take you home and slide back down into the city of Recollé.

You're always welcome back, of course! But maybe one game was more than enough for you.

BONUS.
It's quiet at first. You think you you're imagining the pitter-patter of steps in the evening as you go about your business. Even further, you think you're imagining the whispers that follow you wherever you go. But when the moon's out and you're settled for the evening, you'll soon find yourself approached by a small myth-like figure. With a clipboard in hand, this elf will scroll down to your name and peer at you inquisitively, not even bothered that you might not be alone. As they look at you and then at their notes, their expression appears...disappointed, actually, as they shake their head.

"Oh no, oh no. You've been very bad this year, haven't you?"

Whether you agree with this elf or argue again its claims, they will disapprove of your claims and provide you with a deadline. You have twelve whole days (December 5th to December 17th) to clear your name and prove that you've been good this year, or Santa will give them permission to punish naughty citizens. What does it mean to be good? It can be anything from performing a kind deed for someone in the next twelve days, or being on your best behavior, or even rescuing someone from a snowdrift. The elves will take all of these into consideration...but every evening there's a reminder of your ever-approaching deadline.
Good luck.

NOTES.
Welcome to

recolle's December event!

Following the game's new format, this is the first event log! The second log will go up on 12/17!

Characters will be able to explore the city, areas such as Jabberwock Island, Rainbowland (de-Retrospec'd), and Wall Maria, and the four regions (Pesgare, Respatrum, Bosuma, Magatus.) The four regions currently match the descriptions on the locations page.

You can claim two freebies on this log!
-Players may claim one freebie for engaging with a snowglobe or an ornament on the large tree (please do not claim freebies for both!) This thread must be at least 5 comments from you.
-Players may claim one freebie participating in the winter games in competition with someone. The winner does not matter as both participants may submit the thread. This thread must be at least 5 comments from you.

-Please note, you do not have to use the pranks we mentioned in the log! If you'd like your character to be targeted by Jack Frost, you are free to make up pranks in a similar vein.

-As the bonus is bonus, you do not have to engage with the elf! However, if you would like to see what happens if your character is naughty or nice, please fill out the comment and reply here! Effects for these choices will go live with the second event log.

Finally, any questions you have regarding this event may be directed to the mod comment here. Be sure to review the mods' question thread on the plotting post for additional information as well!

( coding by fleeting )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He can't help a small sigh of relief himself, hoping this meant an end to all of their troubles-- at least, of the mistlebat variety, anyway. His hands give hers a soft squeeze, a silent show of affection and comfort.]

That's good.

We should probably get out of here before--

[He pauses then, hearing the chirping at just the same time she does. It couldn't be. There's no way. That thing was blasted well above their stratosphere, and by the time it'd reach city-level they should have been long gone. And yet...

He glances up in the direction of the chirps, the disbelief clear in his face. There looks like a tiny green dot, plummeting towards them faster and faster, louder and louder...

And with all the grace of a bean bag being dropped on table, the mistlebat lands square on Xiaolang's head, bouncing off of it and onto Sakura's with a small squeak, before plopping to the ground. It's... fine. Probably?? But they were straight up screwed if they had planned to escape now.]

E-eh.....? Oh.

[She tilts her head as it lands on his, though then when she straightens it, it's just in time for the bat to land on her head. Well. This didn't quite work out in them avoiding a repeat of this. At least this time though, they were...kind of more comfortable with it. Even if neither of them appreciated this in it being forced.

Still. She blinks, her cheeks tinging pink along with her nose as she glances to Xiaolang.]

Um. So if we just....

[It takes a moment for the shock to properly wear off, just in time for the mistlebat to flutter unsteadily back in the air on it's leafy green wings and chirping it's tune off-key. How?? He had spent all that time and effort trying to get it off their trail, just for it to not matter in the end. Was he just that bad at his abilities? Or was fighting against whatever weird stuff was thrown their way completely useless in the end?

Either way, he's going to baulk at the little bat for a good second or two, still trying to wrap his head around what happened, when Sakura's hesitant words snap him out of his thoughts. That familiar heat rushes across his face as his eyes catch onto hers, the shy expression on her face as well as the realization of what they now had to do hitting into him like a truck. Even if it wasn't new territory for them anymore, and that their relationship had made it slightly less awkward... it still wasn't the most ideal situations. He didn't want her to kiss him because she felt obligated to, after all, and he certainly didn't want to force one on her, either.

... well, at least they were holding hands, so that was one step in making this a bit more romantic, anyway! His fingers curl a little around hers, the touch hesitant and unsure.]

Ah... y... yeah.

[His gaze pulls away from her momentarily, taking in their surroundings. It seemed isolated enough, thanks to all of their running, but...]

Did you... want to find somewhere more private?

Um, if we can? But as long as nobody else is around.

[Not that most everyone probably doesn't already know the two are dating, but still. If possible, it would be preferred to have some measure of privacy, however quick this might be. In having such a simple solution to get rid of the bats. In theory, anyway.

Not that she feels as nervous or uncomfortable about the idea. Not now they were dating and all. But even so, she still would prefer this to be discreet as they can manage it to be.]

[He nods quietly in response, one of his hands remaining around hers as he begins to search for where they should go, ignoring the bat that was chirping brokenly behind them. Despite the hugs and the kisses, the holding of hands, Xiaolang still wasn't comfortable with hugely blatant shows of affection. He adored Sakura to the very depths of his heart, but making a production of it, and potentially embarrassing the both of them in the process... it didn't sit right with him. Maybe it was his nature as a more shy, reserved person, but he relished the more personal, private moments between them, where it was just them and no one else around to break it. How they decided to be close was their business, and not necessarily anyone else's.

So he was relieved when she agreed to his suggestion, glad that this was something they were both on the same page about. Of course, finding a suitably private spot that wasn't like... an alley or something was tough, but his eye falls upon the perfect cluster of trees near one of the buildings that could do the job. It wasn't the most romantic of spots, but it beat smooching next to some garbage cans, anyway.]

Is... this alright?

[His thumb brushes against the back of her hand, feeling the butterflies start to emerge in his stomach. Even if they were being pushed into it at the moment, a kiss was still a kiss, and it never failed to make him a little flustered.]

J-Just... let me know whenever you're ready, okay?

[As long as they remain together and stick close enough, the bats don't seem to mind their shifting slightly to get a little more privacy. Though they do while the two are moving, get a little more insistent with their chirping. As if protesting and just urging the two to get on with it already.

Still, Sakura does her best, keeping up when Xiaolang shifts them a little over to the trees to get a little more privacy. She swallows, before giving a nod in agreement to this. To the location, to.....well. Figuring this.]

A-alright.

[This....this was just a kiss. They were dating. And yet, it still makes her get worked up a little. In being nervous? Excited? This was still kind of new, after they had only kissed a handful of times prior. Even so, she bites her lip, before saying she was ready, leaning in slightly as the bat hovers near her shoulder insistently.]

[There's a little grumble of irritation in the back of his throat at the bat's insistent chirping, the urge to swat it away strong. Of course, it wouldn't do them any good-- the bat proved itself to be a tenacious little menace-- but being goaded into something like this so much was annoying. If they had to kiss, at least let them get a good mood going so it wouldn't be even more awkward than it already was.

The color grows in his cheeks as she gives him the okay, his heart pounding deafeningly in his chest. She seemed fairly nervous herself, and it was hard to tell through his own nerves whether it was a good nervous or a bad nervous. This was still new territory for them, and he didn't want to force anything upon her that she didn't want. Even if they kissed in the past, it didn't necessarily meant she was up for kissing him all the time. But what could they do? They were stuck with this thing until they gave it what it wanted, at the expense of their comfort.

So when Sakura leans in, the mistlebat keeping an eye on everything, he swallows down his nerves and makes a decision. Raising his free hand to delicately cup her cheek, he ducks his head to close the gap between them. Except... it's not her lips that his lips fall upon, but the bridge of her nose, brushing the softest of kisses against it. The bat wanted a kiss, after all, and he wasn't about to make her smooch him if she wasn't happy about it.

He pulls away slightly, eyes on the mistlebat, expression challenging and almost daring it to stick around and chirp again. ~~Xiaolang, no, don't tempt fate with this!!!~~]

[Of course she was nervous. In a good, while unexpected kind of way in this not exactly being planned, in them having their hands tied about this. But the more they did this the more used to it they would get, the less worked up, the less awkward they would be over it.

Still, she isn't expecting the kiss to her nose, which causes her to scrunch it up in surprise when she feels it, blinking at him. Well. It was a kiss. She's not sure if that might be enough to shoo the bat away though, and she glances to the creature.]

Is....is that it?

[It says something that Xiaolang hadn't fainted over all of this yet, so his threshold for kissing and general affection has definitely gone up over the past year. It still was a lot of pressure, though, having to kiss at the insistence of a silly mistletoe bat, and that added more to his nerves and reluctance than the actually smooching did. He does dimly note the scrunching of her nose at his kiss, and he wants to kick himself for being so sudden with it, but there was something undeniably cute about that expression on her face.

But! He could admire how adorable his girlfriend was later-- right now, they still had the bat to deal with, and it didn't seem all that perturbed by the stares being sent it's way. Instead, it seemed rather put out by that excuse of a kiss, and after a brief bout of silence... it chirps. Again. There's something almost exasperated as it squeaks out that familiar tune, pushing them to kiss-- but like, a better one this time, guys!! It went through all that hassle with Xiaolang's magic, so it had to be worth it!

Xiaolang, of course, doesn't seem hugely thrilled by this, looking equally exasperated by the whole situation.]

W-Why is it still here? It was fine with a forehead kiss last year!

[Granted, that was before they were dating, so of course they were let off the hook, and Sakura kissed him on the cheek too, but...

His eyes travel back to Sakura, his face warm and shy, resisting the urge to fidget.]

Are you... okay with trying again?

Maybe this is a different bat? Or something changed for this year?

[It was a guess. Not something she was necessarily actually sure about. The way their hands were kind of tied in needing to do this to be free of the bat made this a little more awkward than their rare kisses usually were, but still. She gives a nod in answer to his question. They knew from last year what it had been that made the bat flee. So they just had to kiss again, she assumes. There was still something to be salvaged here, in trying to be in the moment and enjoy the affection with him, even if it might be more public and forced than they were used to dealing with.]

[His brow furrows, turning those guesses of hers over in his mind.]

Maybe whoever's responsible for them make them more stubborn? It would explain a lot...

[Like how obnoxiously it's chirping now, urging them to just!! KISS!!! GET THIS OVER WITH!! But the reality sinks back in, and he has to fight down the color blooming on his cheeks when she nods in response to his question. Maybe, if he ignored the bat and all the noise it was making, it would be somewhat romantic, even if this wasn't the ideal location for it. Resisting the urge to bite his lip (because kisses, no matter the situation, never benefited from chapped lips), he keeps his hand cupped around her cheek, his heart thudding wildly in his chest as he leans in.

But, again, instead of her lips, he aims for her other cheek instead, pressing a gentle kiss upon it. It's a little less brief than the last one, but he pulls away soon enough, hoping that this did the trick this time. After all, Sakura had kissed him on the cheek the year before, so this should work, right? Hopefully? ~~Probably not~~]

Maybe? The app can be strange.

[Or. Well, she just assumes this has something to do with the app because almost anything weird usually is. Still, that was hardly the important thing here. Which is....getting rid of said mistlebat. Which is why and how she blinks and glances down to the side when he leans in and kisses her cheek. Her cheeks were already flushed as it was, so they probably don't tinge any brighter pink than they already are, but she hopes this might be enough.]

[He opens his eyes as he pulls back from her cheek, his own face rosy red as he regards her softly. Her skin is warm under his fingertips, and she's never been lovelier than she is now, pink all over like the cherry blossoms that were her namesake. It's enough to make the breath still quietly in his lungs, half-wondering if this was too much after all. Was she getting overwhelmed by all of this? He certainly felt close to his limit himself, his hand trembling ever so slightly against her face. He honestly didn't mind kissing her, or being affectionate, but not if it made her uncomfortable.

But the obnoxious chirp jolts him abruptly out of his thoughts, and he glances over behind her to see... yup. That goddamn bat still hovering behind them, looking about as frustrated as he feels right at this moment. It flutters it's wings in exasperation, clearly not appeased by this either. It swoops in towards them, intent to headbutt one or both in the back, trying to push them closer together. Because, honestly guys!! Does it have to spell it out for them???

Xiaolang can't help but groan, clearly at his wit's end, his voice dangerously close to a whine.]

Oh come on! What more do you even want?!

[Ordinarily she wouldn't be quite as nervous or worked up about this. Slightly less, at least. She tries not to focus on their witness, their audience and observer. Judge? If the mistlebat could be deemed as such with the way it was figuring what it deemed satisfactory from their affection with each other to make it leave them alone.

She starts, her green eyes widening in surprise when she feels the bat smack into her, pushing her into Xiaolang as he complains about said bat. And, well, given she was just looking up at him as he talks, her gaze is slightly tilted up to meet his. Which is how she stops his complaining by her lips meeting his, however briefly and unintentionally.]

[... well. This is certainly happening.

His arm shoots out, automatically, to wrap around her waist when the bat jolts her into him, but the entire world seem to screech to a halt when Sakura's soft lips bump against his. Any words he was going to say in that moment gets abruptly cut off, the suddenness of the whole situation short-circuiting his brain. He doesn't even have time to close his eyes, staring straight back at her with wide eyes like brown marbles, his entire posture stiffening like a rock as the seconds tick by.

It feels like an eternity passes before he finally gets the sense to pull away, his whole face lighting up like one of the many Christmas decorations on display. His mouth moves, wordlessly, trying to process what had just happened, horrified that this happened without either of their consent, but feeling the gentle tickle of butterflies in his stomach regardless. The mistlebat, on the other hand, seems largely satisfied by this result, flapping away from the befuddled teens and into the distance with a cheery chirp. Shipping fodder accomplished!

Xiaolang's free hand hovers over his lips, still feeling the residual warmth from their accidental kiss still upon them, as he struggles to form a coherent sentence.]

I--I... I, ah...!

[REAL ELOQUENT THERE, BOY]

S-sorry! I...I didn't mean...

[To bump into him like that. To so unexpectedly kiss him. She's more concerned in ensuring he is alright, the flushed cheeks of both of them aside. It's only once she glances to check he seems alright and he wasn't hurt when she bumped forwards into him that she glances around, noting the absence of that chirping.

It seemed that was enough to satisfy the bat at least. Which was probably the idea of it smacking into her back like that. Sakura's hand comes to raise to touch her fingers to her lips then, her gaze lowered for a moment before she glances back to Xiaolang.]

[He can only shake his head hastily at her stammered apologies, refusing to have her take the blame for something like this. The accidental kiss had left his mind in a tizzy, but it wasn't that that he had an issue with.]

N-No, it's... it's okay! You-- You didn't do anything wrong.

[It was the stupid bat's fault, for shoving her into him like that, and possibly hurting her if he hadn't caught her in time. With that in mind, his eyes give her a careful once-over, ensuring she wasn't injured or in any disarray, before his gaze makes it's way to her own. The slight touch to her lips is what grabs his attention, and his hand moves from his own to settle gently on hers there.]

What about you, though? Are you alright?

[He hardly notices that his fingers were close enough to graze her lips, his eyes instead locked on hers with soft concern. His nerves and hang-ups over personal space took a backseat when her safety and well-being were involved.]

I -- I'm okay.

[Just surprised. What with the sudden bat to her back that had her stumbling. Still, she isn't physically harmed, given Xiaolang was able to catch her. She gives a nod in attempt to reassure him, before glancing to note just how close he is, how close his fingers were.

Which doesn't necessarily help her stop being so flushed at her cheeks and nose. At all.]

At least, the bat is gone.

[His brow creases at her reassurances, still quietly fretting over possible bruised lips or him accidentally biting her somehow, despite the evidence to the contrary. If she said she was fine, she was fine, but of course he was going to worry...

She notices his close proximity the same moment he does, and it's a knee-jerk reaction to want to pull away, his own face flaming a bright red as the realization hits. But... something stills him somehow, keeping him glued to this spot, with his arm draped protectively around her waist and his fingers nearly ghosting her lips. Maybe it was the cute pink that was coloring her face, or the lingering need to keep her close after the headache of this ordeal, but now he didn't want to let her go...

His heartbeat was practically reverberating between them, deafening in his ears, and what she says doesn't register until a couple seconds later.]

A-Ah-- yeah, I guess it is.

[It's said almost distractedly, his attention more caught on the girl in front of him than the situation they just got themselves out of. The bat was out of the picture now, but he didn't want to let the memories of their holidays together be tainted by the awkwardness brought by that thing. And he didn't want that to be the case for their kisses, either.

Leaning in carefully, to give Sakura an opportunity to pull back if she wanted to, his eyes glance at her questioningly.]

Can I...?

[While they have kissed before, it was. Probably preferable that they would not only do so because they were forced into it by the bats. So that's why, once she is sure he is alright too, giving him a quick glance over in that she didn't hurt him with the slight collision.

She blinks, not trying to back away but not having initially expected him to go for another kiss like this. But maybe he has the right idea in getting more practice so they don't always associate kisses with being forced into it. With the bats and their incessant chirping. Which is why she gives a slight nod of confirmation.]

Yes....

[His cheeks remain flushed as she gives that small nod of agreement, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it could break out of his chest. It was silly to be this nervous-- it wasn't the first time they kissed, and he was the one who asked, so he should be more confident!! But even with that in mind, he can't help the small tremble in his hand at her back, or the fingers that brush slightly at her lips before curving them to cup her jaw. There was always the lingering worry there, the fear that he'd mess things up and make it awkward, and it probably wasn't going to vanish immediately. He liked kissing her, despite all of his nerves-- it was whether she liked it too was the concern here.

Tilting his head slightly, to try to avoid bumping her nose, his eyes slide shut as his lips press gently into the warm swell of hers. It's a sweet, careful thing, in decided contrast to their abrupt collision just earlier, taking the time to savor the moment between them without any pressure. The hand on her back softly grips at the fabric of her jacket there, instinctively keeping her close as the world seems to spin to a stop around them.]

[There's something to be said for the simple press of lips to hers. But this time, it's different. Not rushed and forced. But on their terms. Or, much moreso than before with the bats, both times. Sakura can't help but to savor this. Far more than she had their kiss just before.

There's not a huge height difference between them yet, but her chin does lift slightly when his fingers urge it to, as they tilt their heads and close their eyes. This time, when her lips meet his, they are more prepared. More willing and able to have this moment for themselves without an audience. There was something to be said for this moment, as her hand curls to rest at his chest when he pulls her close.]

[His heartbeat flutters under her hand, strong even through the many layers of winter clothing, thrumming just for her under his skin. It was easy to get lost in it all, just the sweet warmth and scent of her all around, an eternal second in time when all that mattered was each other, here and now. Threading his fingers slightly through her hair, he presses just a tad deeper into the kiss, lips still gentle and soft against hers, trying to prolong the moment for just a bit longer. It's not the most passionate of kisses, given their age and inexperience, but what it lacks in fire, it makes up for in tenderness.

... of course, there was only so long they could go without really... breathing... and Xiaolang is the first to break the spell, pulling his face away just slightly as his breaths fog up the chilly air around them.]

[There's a certain warmth to be had regardless of the weather, given the flushed heat of their faces in such an intimate moment together. Still, she tries to savor the moment. A rare, consensual kiss between them. It doesn't happen often, yet, so they should probably enjoy these moments.

Her fingers clutch tighter at his shirt, fingers clutching and gently pulling at the material of his clothes as he deepens the kiss. When he pulls back again, she bites her lip, their breath mingling in a rising trail of fog between them.]

[He can feel the fabric pulling taut at his shoulder as she tugs it gently between her fingers, pulling him that much closer to her in the process. The hand at her back respond in kind, carefully gathering a bit of her jacket within his grasp, his own fingers curling further and further the longer they kissed. These voluntary kisses-- without the influence of bats-- were indeed rare, but that could be chalked up to their youth and innocence. It was all so new, after all, and neither of them knew what they were doing with all of this, exactly-- but practice makes perfect, so they'd wind up figuring it out eventually. (Or they would, if Xiaolang wasn't so darn shy and insecure when it came to these things.)

It takes him a second or so to open his eyes once he breaks the kiss, his cheeks rosy and warm, gaze lingering on hers for a moment before being drawn to her lips. There was something about the way she was worrying it with her teeth that made him want to soothe it over with his own touch, a magnetic sort of pull that was hard to resist. Without really thinking, he closes the space between them once more, brushing the most feather-light of pecks against her lips before pulling back again.

The reality doesn't sink in until a moment later, his face heating up something fierce as his actions suddenly replay in his mind. He can't help but chew on his own lip a little, his eyes lowering briefly in shyness, internally kicking himself on such impulsiveness. Was that too forward of him? Did he take her off guard? Was she upset with him??]

DECEMBER EVENT LOG

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CLAMP make these two kiss so I can have proper icons dammit

I don't expect more than hugs. But yes. Icon material for cute kisses would be nice.

AT LEAST WE'LL ALWAYS HAVE FANART....

Fanart does not let us down, no.

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