mistleglow: a winter kiss meme

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mistleglow: a winter kiss meme.

The month of December has been a cold one in Anchor, with the bots working hard to bring a little winter joy to the city. This year, there's a little extra surprise - the bots welcome the participation of the nanites, who are able to join in with the winter holiday protocols for the first time in a long time following their long imprisonment.

And what are the nanites doing? Well...this winter wonderland has been missing a conspicuous offender: the mistletoe. That's where the nanites come in...

▶ The nanites will be floating around in little swarms, lit up bright with various colors, and when they run into any sentient creature, they will enclose them in a harmless invisible shield with a radius of approximately three feet by three feet. Once the characters are entrapped, they'll be stuck for exactly one hour...unless they kiss!

▶ There is no compulsion to kiss, and characters are welcome to just wait out the hour and hope they're stuck with a good conversationalist, but if they want to get on their way, they'll have to kiss their fellow captive, in a specific way depending on the color of the nanite swarm that's trapped them.

▶ The bots will be helping by helpfully informing any trapped characters they need to kiss as they pass by. They won't say what kind of kiss because that would make it too easy. But at least now you know, right?

▶ This meme can be counted as game canon and used for AC if threads continue into January (don't forget: December is check-in only) if both parties wish. Characters who are not in the game are welcome, and threads from this meme can also count for application samples! Come join us!

▶ How to Participate: Just post a top-level detailing the types of kisses you're interested in, and then tag around to other people's top-levels.

▶ Kiss Type Legend:

RED: MOUTH ● ORANGE: NECK ● YELLOW: CHEEK
GREEN: FOREHEAD ● BLUE: HAND ● VIOLET: BUTTERFLY

Navigation.

Comments

r e d

[sleepyhollowed]

[Taking walks through the park with Elleru has become a tradition of sorts--as much as a tradition that can be formed over a couple of months, at least--and it's one that Kieran has found himself looking forward to, thankful for any chance to go outside and spend time with pleasant company. Today is no different--at the start, at least.]

[They're probably in the middle of conversation when the nanites start surrounding them. Although they're only visible at first, bright red against the green backdrop of the park, it doesn't take long for a now familiar hum to reach Kieran's ears, and he instinctively stiffens.]

Awww... that ain't good.

[He sounds more exasperated than afraid.]

YEEHAW

[birdical]

[Kieran stiffens, and Elleru gives his hand a gentle, reassuring squeeze. This ain't her first rodeo with the nanites and their kissing shenanigans.]

I do not know what you mean, Kieran. [Her tone is coy, downright playful as she feigns ignorance.] It seems good to me.

[sleepyhollowed]

[Give him a second, Elleru.]

What do ya mean? We're gonna hafta stay in this thing unless we wind up k--

[THERE WE GO.]

...iss...ing...

[Once Elleru's playful tone registers fully, Kieran's face brightens up.]

[Then, right on cue, the obligatory robot pops up and happily informs the two that this instance's kiss will have to be on the lips.]

[Kieran's face brightens further.]

[birdical]

[As Kieran stews in his shyness, Elleru giggles quietly, that same mixture of a girlish laugh and a birdlike thrum that no doubt sounds unnatural on the ears.]

That is no problem.

[She can't help herself as she puts a hand to the side of his face, wanting to feel the warmth radiating off it. Uprights are so cute when they get flustered.]

Unless you do not want to kiss me.

[sleepyhollowed]

[Elleru's laugh is definitely unnatural to Kieran, but it's also taking a backseat to the way his heart is slamming against his ribs and his entire face feels like it's catching on fire.]

[And that was before Elleru placed her palm against his cheek.]

I-I-I-I-It ain't th-that at all...!

N-N-N-Not that I'm bein' forward... I ain't.. That's... I... Y-Yer... It... I-I-I-I'll take a kiss?

[Translation:

Hello Miss Elleru,

You are incredibly attractive both physically and in regards to your personality. In addition, your confidence is equally enticing and overwhelming to an individual such as I, who is still building his self-esteem. However, I do not wish to be forward about those observations for fear that I will be objectifying you as a woman, which is inherently wrong. In addition, I am not interested in a relationship at this moment, as I am still carrying feelings for a young woman back home, but perhaps we can revisit the matter at a later time if you are interested.

That said, kissing you would be an incredible opportunity that has me feeling quite flustered since I, a gentleman lacking in self-esteem, am not used to any sort of forwardness that isn't, frankly, unhealthy. This is a somewhat novel experience that has me excited and nervous for the prospects of sharing a kiss with someone who is genuinely invested in my well-being and I really would not like to mess this up.

Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to this smooch.

Sincerely,

Kieran Duffy.]

A+ ambiance

[birdical]

[Oh bless him, he's so... what is the upright word? Discombobulated? Yes, that one will do. She keeps her hand on his face to help guide him to her lips. Thankfully, she's not that much taller than he is -- a rarity around these parts -- but she doesn't want him to miss. He might pass out from embarrassment, and she can't have that.

She leans in close, close enough he can likely feel her breath upon his face, and brings her voice to a whisper as she sets her other hand on his shoulder.]

You do not need to be nervous, Kieran. I will show you how, and I will be gentle.

[And for someone who implied she'd maim anyone who tried to hurt him, she is gentle. Her nose brushes against his first, so lightly that it might have been an accident. Next, her lips barely come into contact with his, delicate as a butterfly landing, just so he knows she's there. And finally, a second later, she presses her lips against his, her face tilted to one side just like in the novels; she can feel how warm he is, and she tries to reciprocate, her own lips smooth and inviting. He may feel her smile during that smooch -- his whiskers tickle.]

can't go wrong with classical music + southern letter-reading twang!!!

[sleepyhollowed]

[He may pass out anyway, Elleru, but good looking out.]

[Kieran has been forced to place an implicit sort of trust into every single one of his friends ever since his newest affliction and, so far, they've approached the task not just with aplomb, but with the kind of sensitive care he'd only ever dreamed about. Elleru's soft touches and demeanor as she gently guides him highlight every facet of concern Kieran received over the months and, honestly, it's enough to melt away all of his anxiety, like sheets of ice thawing away to allow him a chance to be free.]

[He's careful not to push too hard against her lips, he's sure his own are rough and worn, a byproduct of harsh conditioning and, until recently, a lack of self-care. However, when he feels Elleru smile, he can't help but match it with one too, accompanied by a single, disbelieving (but quiet) chuckle.]

[Maybe it's because he's over the moon and his nerves aren't nearly as frazzled anymore, but he tentatively goes in for one more.]

[birdical]

[No need to worry about being too forward, Kieran -- she trusts you. And if she didn't, she'd probably do the aforementioned maiming for having the gall to steal another kiss from her. However, this one isn't stolen so much as readily given: he goes in for one more, and she lets him have it, the smile still on her lips as they meet again. She takes this one slower, really savoring it as she adds just a bit more pressure to let him know she doesn't mind the texture of his lips or the tickle of his facial hair. That chuckle of his, so earnest and authentic, makes it all worth it.

She keeps her hand on his face as they part; she's slow to pull back, still relishing that feeling of bringing someone some genuine happiness. The nanites, apparently satisfied, lower the barrier and flit away, the hum softening with the distance.]

There. Now was that 'ain't good'?

[She's clearly better at kissing than she is at common.]

[sleepyhollowed]

[It's okay, he can forgive it. He was barely able to speak words of any kind like fifteen seconds ago.]

Naw... that was amazin'.

[Kieran still has that goofy smile on his face as he pulls away, but his heart's stopped trying to escape his ribcage and he's considerably less red in the face, although the tips of his ears are still tinged pink.]

[Now that he's firmly back on earth, Kieran rubs the back of his neck.]

D-Did it work?

[birdical]

[Elleru looks around -- not a nanite in sight. Kieran might not be able to see it, but she's beaming at his smile, delighted that she's the cause. Such a helper she is.]

It did. We are free.

[And with that, she takes his hand once more.]

Come. We have more walking to do. They will not bother us again.

[And if they do, Kieran is in good hands.]