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Recollé Mods ([personal profile] recollecters) wrote in [community profile] recolle2018-12-05 03:09 pm

DECEMBER EVENT LOG

EVENT
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 [community profile] 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!
cardcaptured: <user name=fleeting> | DNS (And I don't know for sure)

[personal profile] cardcaptured 2019-01-17 03:04 am (UTC)(link)
[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.]
keystaff: (So help)

[personal profile] keystaff 2019-01-19 11:29 am (UTC)(link)
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.
cardcaptured: <user name=rooftop-icons site=livejournal.com> (And people know my name)

[personal profile] cardcaptured 2019-01-22 12:57 pm (UTC)(link)
[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...?
keystaff: (I will be your sold ground)

[personal profile] keystaff 2019-01-24 07:49 am (UTC)(link)
[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....
cardcaptured: <user name=endlesseight site=plurk.com> (that's coming all this love)

[personal profile] cardcaptured 2019-01-26 02:11 am (UTC)(link)
[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.]
keystaff: (I'm sure something is out there somewher)

[personal profile] keystaff 2019-01-26 11:07 am (UTC)(link)
[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.]
cardcaptured: <user name=wistful-icons site=livejournal.com> (By your funny little smile)

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

[personal profile] cardcaptured 2019-01-29 03:39 am (UTC)(link)
[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.]
keystaff: (Keeping it on)

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

[personal profile] keystaff 2019-01-31 11:48 am (UTC)(link)
[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.]
cardcaptured: <user name=fleeting> | DNS (Well it's a big big city)

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

[personal profile] cardcaptured 2019-02-04 02:56 am (UTC)(link)
[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??]
keystaff: (Will be useful to me)

Fanart does not let us down, no.

[personal profile] keystaff 2019-02-05 08:52 am (UTC)(link)
[Sakura clearly isn't anticipating the second kiss. The light press of his lips against hers a second time takes her by surprise. It has her blinking, and perhaps a little redder in the cheeks and nose than before. More because she wasn't expecting it than she's actually embarrassed or something about it, since they had kissed before.

She just can't help initially probably looking a little dazed, confused almost. Not that she minds it, it just kind of threw her initially.]


Xiaolang-kun?
cardcaptured: <user name=fleeting> | DNS (the time is just the time)

[personal profile] cardcaptured 2019-02-06 02:43 am (UTC)(link)
[He can feel his nerve leaking out of him like a broken bottle, each second passing making him want to bury himself in his coat like some sort of turtle. What was wrong with him? He prided himself on his self-control, but he just had to go and snag another kiss from her, like a kid sneaking off a piece of candy. But she had looked so adorable...

... and she still does, with her face all flushed and her expression soft and wondering, and it's all he can do but sink his own face slightly into his scarf. She didn't look upset, or troubled, but... what could he even say in response to that? That didn't sound weird or incredibly awkward?]


U-Um...

[He can barely look her in the eye, his face a bright red peeking over his green scarf (the one she knit for him, actually!!), as he struggles to get the words out.]

... I'm sorry. You just looked... [And his gaze peeks up at her, shyly, as his voice hovers above a murmur--] ... really cute.
keystaff: (Tabula Rasa)

[personal profile] keystaff 2019-02-08 09:19 am (UTC)(link)
I did?

[But then, it isn't like she had a mirror to be able to see what she had looked like, when Syaoran had been driven to show more affection in kissing her again. Sakura tilts her head slightly, when he buries his head more in his scarf.]

I mean, I just wasn't expecting, is all. It's okay.

[It's not like it was their first kiss or anything. There was precedent for him to kiss her, given they were dating and all. It's just that particular time took her by surprise.]

[personal profile] cardcaptured 2019-02-13 02:32 am (UTC)(link)
[He can only nod weakly in response to her question, that cute head tilt sapping his HP reserves faster than he thought possible. Granted, maybe Sakura probably wouldn't have noticed what had made her so irresistible in that particular moment, and he couldn't exactly explain it himself-- it was just like an automatic, magnetic pull that drew him towards her. Of course, had the situations been reversed, with Sakura kissing him out of the blue because she thought he looked handsome... well, he probably wouldn't have understood it, either!

He's quiet for a good moment or two, face still rosy red, digesting her words and debating on what to say next. It was something he had meant to say earlier, after he had kissed her on his own, before he went and got sidetracked by this whole surprise smooch business.]


I just...

[He pauses, his face getting impossibly brighter, before he continues on--]

I want to make our memories of kissing good ones. No bats, no pressure, no... surprises, of any sort. I don't want to ruin it for you.

[Because it was bad enough their first technical kiss was thanks to that kind of nonsense!!]
Edited 2019-02-13 02:32 (UTC)
keystaff: (Sacred simplicity)

[personal profile] keystaff 2019-02-17 08:08 am (UTC)(link)
Good memories. Y-yes.....rather than it being because of the bats. I understand.

[There was something to that. To work on making the association of kissing a normal and positive thing, rather than associating it with being forced like in situations with these bats. She can't help but to agree on that. And in slowly wanting to get more used to such affection, given how they feel about each other.]