Happy Holidays

[polymods]

✖ THE MALL

Ⅰ. THE REASON FOR THE SEASON
Boy, wasn’t November exciting? How about those Black Friday deals, huh? Hope you’ve had fun camping out in furniture stores! You can of course continue to bunk there, but the High Temple is also open to all Travelers again this month if you’d rather sleep there. Don’t forget to stock up on items that could fit inside your Traveler bag - this is the perfect time to get that fancy moisturizer you’ve been missing, some books, or maybe a copy of the hot new video game Bonestorm!

As December rolls in, you’ll notice that there’s even MORE holiday cheer to be found! Pressing in on all sides of you! Suffocating you! Or maybe you’re one of those people who just lives for carols and huge plastic evergreens decked out in tinsel and lights, in which case you’re going to be thrilled!

There are indeed plenty of those aforementioned trees throughout the mall, alongside wire and light reindeer, glowing stars, and oversized novelty gift boxes. If you have keen eyes you’ll notice that hidden throughout the mall are dozens of small, creepy elves with dead vacant eyes. They don’t do anything. They just… watch.

Who on earth could they be reporting to?

---

Ⅱ. HE SEES YOU WHEN YOU’RE SLEEPING
At the center of the mall concourse there is now a miniature village set up, themed entirely in ice and snow and candy. At the center of this plastic paradise is a lavishly decorated chair, and in front of it a camera. At times marked clearly on a schedule at the village gate you can wait in line behind a red velvet rope for your turn to see him.

Who? Well. That depends.

In many worlds, there is a benevolent figure who appears in December, bearing gifts for all the good children. Santa is the most likely person you’ll find sitting on that big chair, ho-ho-hoing and looking as kind and jolly as any creature possibly could.

Maybe you’re from somewhere without a Santa Claus, but with some other equivalent. In that case, you might see what you’re familiar with instead!

Regardless of his exact form, the figure who beckons you to sit beside him has only one concern: have you been nice?

Niceness is subjective, but if you’ve managed it you will be rewarded. With a twinkle in his eye, the Non-Denominational Mall Figure will reach into his magic bag and pull out a gift, JUST for you! What could it be?!

Oh, and don’t forget to smile for the photo! You may pick it up in half an hour once it is developed.

But if you’ve been naughty, or if you sneak over to that chair during the OFF hours? In that case there will be a cracking noise and the sudden overwhelming scent of rank goat.

“Better luck next year,” the Non-Denominational Mall Figure says sadly, his eyes trained on something over your shoulder. Turn your head and you’ll see that your naughtiness has attracted another holiday staple: Krampus.

Yes, this hairy, horned devil carries chains and bitch rods, the latter of which he uses to whip the everloving shit out of you if he catches you. You’ll have to outrun him long enough that he gets bored, or find some other way to distract him or pay him off. Maybe there’s a German market set up in the mall somewhere where you could get Krampus to do a Smorgasvein with you?

Notes:
1. This month if your character has been nice, they may receive ONE special item! They may only receive this gift once - multiple attempts to see the Non-Denominational Mall Figure will result in Krampus appearing instead.

The special item you may pick for your character can be one of the following:

- one animal companion. This animal can travel with your character from island to island from now on. The only stipulation is that it must be able to fit comfortably on the ferryboat. If your animal is too large, your character can instead get a mini version!

- one carriable item from your character’s homeland. In the case of weapons, this must be something that is not game breaking in terms of power level. (ie: yes, you can get a gun, no you can’t get a gun that explodes the sun.)

- a collection of holiday candies, all of which have magical healing properties.

2. You determine if your character’s actions put them on the Naughty or Nice list

---

Ⅲ. WINTER WONDERLAND
As you wander through the mall you will notice that amongst all the holiday decorations a large area on the first floor that was closed last month is now lit up and has a welcome sign standing outside. Whatever could it be?

Perhaps a bigger and better Orange Julius?

No silly! It's an indoor ice skating rink. And as if that isn't cool enough - get it? Cool? - it would seem that for the whole month skate rentals are free. So go on, slap on a pair of skates and take a whirl around the ice rink! Show everyone your fancy moves or just try not to fall on your ass.

Don't feel like skating? That's okay, there are dorky performances happening at noon and 5pm where a group of people dressed up as holiday creatures will skate around in formation and do tricks.

If you’re more mature, at 8pm there's a live jazz band that will play music for the skaters.

There’s plenty of beverages and foods to be sampled from the holiday kiosks that have popped up close to the rink.

Notes:
1. This is a public ice rink so you will have to share space with people, so if you plan on throwing out a triple lutz or whatever then you might want to make sure you don't hit or slice into anyone with your skates.

---

Ⅳ. ALL I WANT IS YOU
Cheerful generic holiday music fills the hall as the Christmas celebration hits full swing with a slightly panicked glee. The same rotation of a dozen different carols cycles through, one after the other, hour after hour. There are only a few refuges from the mind numbing music through the mall - that one New Age import shop that hasn’t changed its world music CD in a decade, and Spicy Subject which only plays pop punk covers of carols. Even the bathrooms aren’t safe from that rise and fall of notes that let you know a certain diva is going to tell you that you’re all she wants for Christmas.

Just as the hundredth iteration of the song is about to drive you mad, there’s a tremendous crash. A twenty foot tall Christmas tree that had once been suspended in the middle of the food court has crushed the Pizza Corner and taken out the power source for half the Mall’s sound system in one go. A caped figure escapes along the rafters that once supported the tree in a cloud of heavy fragrance. He pauses only once to bow as banner unfurls. Crude letters have been painted over a previous black Friday announcement: You have been warned: The Phantom!

The crowd begins to murmur and huddle in groups, and if you get nosy there are plenty of rumors. A teen from one of the ear piercing boutiques mentions a ghost story about a Luxuriate employee who got in a terrible accident while mixing bath bombs on site that rendered him permanently aromatic and with a permanent splitting headache that would have killed a lesser person. An older man from the Hotdog Hut pipes up that he disappeared into the labyrinth of hidden hallways that allow employees to navigate the mall for restocking and avoiding the overly aggressive salespeople. Every year the Phantom emerges in an attempt to banish the sky high notes of that ever popular Christmas carol, and every year the people who run the mall put it back in rotation.

Even after the incident with the choir.

A mother with two small children who are more puffy coat than person hushes the hotdog seller. It’s all nonsense of course. Some kind of interactive theater to drive up sales before the holidays. The looks that pass between the other employees, and the signs that the poor twenty-something postgrad working at Pizza Corner might have been crushed say otherwise.

So does the pungent waft of multifloral scent that starts to stalk you through the mall. Apparently, someone’s formed a crush, or are you giving him a terrible headache? What is it about you that you do better than anyone that might be appreciated by this deeply eccentric murder? Or what makes you the most annoying? Either way, it might be good to keep your hand at the level of your eyes because you’re about to be whisked away to the depths of the Mall into the Phantom’s lair.

Notes:
1. The Phantom is now more archetype than human. Killing him will probably not solve the issue, but it will make you smell like you’ve been eating bath bombs and drinking essential oils until New Year. Which could be fun.

2. Alternatively, if you agree with him about the music, you can always agree to team up to take out the rest of the sound system.

3. The Phantom has an excellent tenor voice. Just, you know, in case you were wondering.

Come on Jessica, come on Tori! Let's go to the mall, you won't be sorry!

Network · Logs · OOC · Memes · Plurk

Comments

[neverwither]

( She blinks. Her brow furrows. Wires have seemingly gotten crossed. )

That’s what I was trying to say. Considering the experiences we’ve shared, I was concerned that what I said about another android may make you feel, well, invalidated. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to take a tone with you.

[unkindled_madness]

...it's fine. [Just another case of other people considering his feelings when he's used to ignoring them completely. Always confusing.]

But I don't believe my feelings have any relevance to your relationship with Connor. We are allies. He is your... boyfriend? [Is that the right word?]

[neverwither]

I think they matter. As allies, you matter to me and therefore your feelings matter. ( Even if he doesn't agree or want to acknowledge any of his feelings at all.

Perhaps a slight change of subject would be the way to go. )

What do you think to the three of us watching the jazz band together? ( More low-key than throwing Connor and Sephiroth together and waiting for the two of them to strike up conversation. At least an activity provides a framework. )

[unkindled_madness]

[He gives her a skeptical look, but agree to disagree.

He was 100% expecting the "thrown together and forced to converse" scenario, so the suggestion of an activity makes him pause.]

Would that be easier in some way?

[neverwither]

Well... yes. I thought it might be. It's another point of focus, isn't it?

[unkindled_madness]

...I suppose I'm unused to scheduling leisure activities.

[People don't do that with him.]

[neverwither]

Then it’s fortunate I’m used to scheduling all sorts of activities. I’ll make sure it’s not too formal an introduction.

( As much for her own benefit as for his and Connor’s. )

[unkindled_madness]

I'm sure the jazz will be adequate.

Although I do wonder how one might achieve formality, under these circumstances.

[neverwither]

Hmm… Top hats and tails from the menswear store? I could don a fabulous gown?

[unkindled_madness]

Hm. Best we're keeping it casual then. That isn't my style.

[A top hat would mess up his hair.]

[neverwither]

( Chloe would hate to mess up his beautiful, beautiful hair. )

That and I doubt the island is ready to be dazzled by us in our finest.

[unkindled_madness]

I don't know. The people here don't seem terribly attentive to our activities.

[neverwither]

…I was just being silly.

( Neither of their fortes but, as much as she encourages it, she’s nervous about this whole meeting Connor situation. )

It seems even more odd here that they wouldn’t bat an eyelid, considering we’re all quite literally living in the mall. I suppose it might not be the first time they’ve seen it. Or that the Ancient’s power makes it seem like a perfectly normal thing to them.

[unkindled_madness]

[Well, they succeeded at being silly for... a few seconds. That's something.]

I don't suppose you can tell... That is, with your capabilities-- How real are they? Are they even human?

[Maybe her scans are only visual, but it occurs to him that he's asked people with magic but not technology.]

[neverwither]

( Let this day be marked in history as one of monumental progress. )

As I said, I don’t just go around scanning people but… they do register as human to me. However, I couldn’t say for certain as there may be magic at play to make them appear so, for all intents and purposes. Or magic that may be interfering with me, considering my physical capabilities aren’t exactly the same here as they are where I’m from.

[unkindled_madness]

[Why not just scan the mall people though? They don't matter.]

In what way?

[He really hasn't asked much about what she can do as an android. Is it rude? Oh well.]

[neverwither]

( As CyberLife's flagship model, Chloe's used to questions both rude and not. Sephiroth's doesn't qualify as rude in her book. It's only natural for those who are unfamiliar to be curious, as she's curious about them and their worlds. )

Being able to eat, most notably. It's quite an experience.

[unkindled_madness]

You mean to say that you've gained an ability.

That's one I could do without, but I suppose I can see the appeal in its novelty.

[neverwither]

That would seem to be the case. Connor has also gained the same ability so while two isn't much of a sample size, it would point to something universal rather than personal. As far as I'm aware, nothing else about my physicality has been humanised, as such.

( Have Chloe looking pretty boggled. ) You don't like to eat? I can understand physical processes being inconvenient but that one certainly has its perks.

[unkindled_madness]

It's a strange thing to alter. [Adding all those physical processes and all. Although maybe for her it pretty much goes... straight through?? Since she doesn't need the nutrients?] Do you find that you gain anything from it? Energy?

And I do find it inconvenient. I'm not certain what the perks are.

[neverwither]

Only the enjoyment of it, really. Perhaps the Ancient sees fit to help those who aren't exactly human, or something close to it, feel less... well... alien?

Hmm. I'd say taste is a perk. Being able to share in a meal with others... But I suppose it all seems more alluring when it's new.

[unkindled_madness]

I wouldn't be so quick to attribute it to kind intentions. Eating also makes you susceptible to whatever poisons she might provide. [Apparently we're calling the cotton candy a poison now.]

...but I suppose if you can enjoy it, then you may as well.

[neverwither]

Well. There is that. ( He makes a good point, she can't deny it. ) It may be easier for me to be more lenient in my views, considering all being here has given me thus far.

[unkindled_madness]

Being able to turn a situation to your advantage doesn't mean you need be grateful for it.

[neverwither]

I know. I just am. Grateful, that is.

Do you ever experience the same? The sense of it being more than being able to make circumstances work in your favour?