[Xhex has been enjoying a run around Xanadu. Mostly. The random strangers stopping her along the path that appears to be covered in mistletoe has her a little unnerved.]

I usually prefer picking my own partners for kissing. Or anything else. That last guy was lucky I decided to just break his hand.

Someone remind me to check the network before going out next time?

[Unfortunately for her, Xhex has a ways to go before she's back at the entrance and able to make her way home. She probably won't actually hurt anyone else for cursed kisses. Maybe.]

What is this, some kind of messed up holiday tradition? [ s i g h ] Cute, City. Real cute. If I could, I'd be staying inside today.

[Unfortunately (for him), though, he can't, even if he were the type to put things off for a day. He's wearing a scarf today both for the warmth and the slight hope that it might be an obstacle to any surprise smooches, but he's not too hopeful in that regard.]

( OOC: totally open to action mwah mwah come get him \o/! )

[Setsuna looks up and just stares at the plant above his head. He knows what it is, yes, but he doesn't understand why it's over his head.]

Huh? What're they hanging this stupid plant everywhere for? [He has the screen of the device zoom in on it, just to show what he's talking about. And yes, he doesn't know what mistletoe looks like. And he doesn't know the tradition behind it, either.] Weird....

[Educate him, or kiss him. Or both. Or he might kiss your character. All options are good.]

[Text, because she doesn't want to worry anyone;]
Is there a curse today? One that causes monsters to appear in normally safe places?

[Action;]
[See Tohru. See Tohru running in the Underground, breathing hard. She leans against a building, hand over the middle of her chest, eyes wide. There may be mistletoe above her head. There may be a monster she needs to be saved from. Maybe you can have both!]

[The device clicks on, and it does look, truly, like Percy intends to actually say something properly on it. He's in Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, which is all decked out for the holidays, and perhaps he means to film an ad or something - but then he's distracted by something above him.]

What in Merlin's name - is that mistletoe? I won't have that. Accio!

[Alas, the Summoning Charm doesn't work, and he mutters something before starting towards the doorway. As he does, a young woman steps through, and he greets her ... and then his cane clatters to the ground as they kiss. This isn't just a regular kiss, ladies and gentlemen, this is a Kiss. When they finally break apart, they're both a bit flushed, and she grins widely at him.]

Merry Christmas to you, too, sir.

[Blushing, Percy looks down and realizes his device is still on. He sputters, fumbling with it, and then the feed abruptly ends.]

[ooc: anyone want to come visit the shop? :D come kiss a ginger!]

Nothing's changed here. The usual idiotic curses. The usual whining.

But it beats the alternative.

A poisonous plant to symbolize romance. It fits.

[ 'Li' occupies a bench, legs stretched out before him. His head is tipped back to watch the stars, the curve of adam's apple silhouetted against the dark by a streetlamp. The loose lines of his body, the colder pitch in his voice, telegraph an ennui that is ... not very 'Li.' ]

[ He must be tired. That's the safest explanation. ]

......... I guess the City can expect an outbreak of mononucleosis in the coming weeks.

[ Definitely tired. Or. Something. ]

( ∅ Action/Backstory-ish )

[ OOC: Hei is back from his canon update, with a slight distaste for his now-redundant alias 'Li' -- although he'll continue to derp it up for the sake of security/appearances. If you want to run into him for kissus~♥ feel free. But pls note, he may shove you away/bitchslap, or fluster-&-flail like the fakest of mfers. Reactions are upto you<3 ]

[Luke is holding a sprig of mistletoe in his hand, looking at it thoughtfully, and not looking entirely pleased.]

The tradition associated with this...it's a bit odd, really. I mean, it looks more harmless than holly, in terms of festive winter plants, but it's dreadfully poisonous, and a parasite on trees besides. I suppose it might be trying to make something good out of something associated with something rather less good, but I'd think it would be best to leave it alone altogether. Find a different kissing plant.

[A pause. And then the mistletoe bursts into fire in his hand and he reaches and turns the video off.]


[ooc: Of course, despite his distaste for it, Luke is all over the City anyway. Anyone, and everyone. Specify if you want him as his girl self!]

Snow always makes me feel more Christmas-y. Hard to believe that this is my, wow... my fourth Christmas in this place.

I see the mistletoe is out in full force today, so be careful around it if you don't want to be kissed by random people. Or, you know, arrange to be under it if you want to be kissed by someone in particular.


[Mercy's out and about today, dropping off baked goods at the Welcome Center, working at the magic store, doing some last minute Christmas shopping, and, of course can always be found at some point at her house or working on the project car in her garage. Somehow she always gets distracted enough to forget about the mistletoe, so please come kiss her!]

[There's giggling. Lots of giggling.]

A deer just licked my cheek! I think the mistletoe got to her too!

I'm going to work now, but I wanted to tell everyone because it was just so funny!



[Rain can be found at or on her way to the Library or at random places around the City as she looks at the pretty window decorations. Please come and kiss her!]

[ video / open action ]

[Looks like this video is coming from a security camera. For once, Miss Weasley isn't out on the street doing her Christmas shopping when this curse comes around. (At least, not yet.) She's at Passioné for work, moving through the boutique with far more confidence and ease than a few months ago, helping others with their last-minute shopping.]

Morning, sir. Here, let me help you with that.

[She crosses the shop to a gentleman struggling to open the door with his purchases in hand and as she does so, a sprig of mistletoe can be seen hanging over the pair of them. Suddenly, bags and parcels go scattering across the floor as Ginny and the man get swept up in each other's arms for one hell of a kiss, deep and passionate and somewhat inappropriate for work.

When they break apart (several moments later), they grin at each other, sheepish and somewhat unruffled, save for the blushing. Ginny helps him pick up his things, shaking her head.]

That time of year again, is it? [She raises an eyebrow at him.] Not your first time, from what I can tell.



[ooc; Ginny will be at Passioné, out and around the City for her own Christmas shopping, and picking up a random late-night shift at the Blue Light later on, so have at her!]

Yes ma'-

[Some stuttering, here.]

No, I'm truly so-sorry, uh-

[And a crash]

Thank you ma'am, I'll see to it that my eye heals up, yes, thank you, it was nice to meet you, bye!

[ooc: catch him anywhere!]

Alright, here's the deal. If you so much as fucking think of kissing my wife, I'll shoot you.

Otherwise, keep your damn lips away from me.

[A pause then...]

Oi! Gazelle. Make sure you tell me the names of anyone who gets a kiss from you. I need to make sure to shoot them in the face.

[ When Merlin starts the recording, the smile on his face is a wry one. ]

So it's that curse finally, is it? I've heard about it.

[ A pause, and he shrugs. ]

Could be worse.

[ Not that he's happy about it, but it's not worth staying home for. Which means that you can encounter him in the Magic Shop, as well on the streets on the way to (and before this post, then) and from work.

But he's definitely not going out again once he's back home. ]

[ TEXT ]

Is this the City trying to be romantic? Or merely embarrassing? From what I understand, the latter is likelier, though really I'm just worried it's all a bit unhygienic.


[ ACTION ]

[That said, he's not necessarily against it. It's less that he's interested in partaking, and more that it's amusing to watch people's awkwardness. Or occasional enthusiasm, which is perhaps even funnier as it's not always matched between partners. Ah, young love.

But it takes a bit more than an unexpected kiss to unsettle Isaak, so... yes, do feel free to bump into him as he goes about his business.]

[Some people actually enjoy such innocent curses such as these. Then again, some just enjoy kisses, cursed or not, which explains why Hatter can be found around town looking relatively normal and enjoying nemself. And everyone else.]

There have been worse days but very few better. These could be more frequent if someone were keeping track.





((ooc: Hatter will not be adding nir own curse to any kisses today.))

[ The video starts just as Amy draws back after having kissed someone, lips slightly pursed and a rather satisfied expression on her face. ]

So — this curse again, yeah? The birds are a nice touch.


[ ooc; She'll be around the City! Catch her in the park, while she's Christmas shopping, or in a café. ]

 Some may see a mistletoe curse....which it is. I feel like this is the perfect opportunity to screen for halitosis. It's not a diagnosis. It's a symptom. For the layman---THAT'S YOU GUYS---it's bad breath.

Why is this important? Well, for one it improves your relationship with everyone else. If you have a bad odor coming out of your mouth who wants to spend their time engaged in a close, intimate encounter? No sane person. Duh.

Food for thought. Or Tictac. You're welcome.

[ A tall, blond teenage boy appears right beside the fountain, and it's a close call that he doesn't end up emerged in the water, stumbling away from it as he tries to regain his balance, somehow still as graceful as ever, and takes in his surroundings.

He thinks about removing the stele from his pocket, drawing runes upon his flesh to help him fight, but he decides against; if he looks beyond the fact he's been kidnapped, standing in the middle of a city he doesn't recognise, he doesn't sense any threat here. And there's always the blades holstered around his waist if he needs them.

The weight in his pocket wasn't there before, isn't one he's familiar with, but before he can take whatever it is out, he's being approached by a stranger who feels the need to kiss him, and worse still, that he suddenly finds himself wanting to kiss back.

Clary, he thinks, panicked, eyes darting around in case she's here, too, lost somewhere, alone, and with who knows what waiting for her out there. I need to find Clary.

Finally pulling out the device, he switches it on, figures it out enough to get a video feed going. ]

So, does someone want to tell me what's going on? I'm not really in the mood for guessing games. And what's with all the tongue action I'm getting here? I know I'm attractive, but it's not the welcome I'd choose.