insertmeathere | You knew this was coming

•Mistletoe Meme!•

The Situation:
Crew members who were on Stacy last December remember this. Because GLaDOS is a troll, she has positioned little sprigs of mistletoe on the ceilings of areas of the ship. In hallways, at the entrances to quarters, in a department doorway, at a tavern, she doesn't care how inconvenient it is!

It'd be less inconvenient if it were voluntary, but in this case, the sneaky AI has deployed shields around people who wander under the mistletoe that have not been broken by any known alternate method so far. Any attacks against the shield are absorbed. Attempts at attacking the mistletoe get you singed. The only way to be freed from the confines of your little bubble is to receive some form of affection from another crew member---a strong hug will work for the really uncomfortable, but at least a cheek kiss is expected for most. If GLaDOS wants a mouth kiss, though, let her push for one! Species equivalents of kisses/affection are also acceptable.

So---you're stuck until someone comes to rescue you with a kiss, kids. Have fun, thank you for participating in this crew study experiment, and watch out for the nargles!

((Characters not in the game are of course welcome to join too! It's just on this community this year because it's proven difficult to fit the event around December's plots.))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Catches it and starts fiddling]

It can get worse. What if no one had heard us? Months ago, I was trapped for several hours and I didn't have the benefit of this device. I was taunted by GLaDOS until someone found and freed me.

[Frustrated fiddling and pushing] I'll get this out as fast as I can.

Of course, you've been working on that where Stacy could see it since last year, so GLaDoS probably knows about it.

[Angie leans against the shield wall.]

How do we get out of it?

[Mutters under his breath] It's still worth a try.

The expected response is to kiss, and that's always worked, but I'd like to find an alternative---not because I find the idea of kissing abhorrent, but because I understand that not everyone will want to.

[He's not still afraid of cooties, he just...wants to spite the AI]

[Angie snorts at that, still leaning against the shield.]

That's an interesting one. Though, one supposes, understandable given the mistletoe 'bait'.

Yeah, it's an experiment to 'foster and study affection between crew members'.

[He keeps working, making small noises of frustration]

I've been through the whole spectrum, should I check again? The shields will give a little if your intent is to kiss, but I'd rather we weren't forced into that.

See, you say something like that, Billy, and it totally hurts my feelings.

[Okay, not really. Because there's a definite teasing note in her voice.]

[He gets up with a sigh, holding his hands out in an attempt to placate.]

No, my issue is with the forcing. I understand that this is a Christmas tradition, and that we're meant to take it in stride. I just...

[...don't know how to ask.]

That was a joke, Billy, honest.

[She's smiling. Seriously, didn't hurt.]

I'm fine with holding on while you work.

All right, one more time...but I worry about how much work time is passing.

[He tests every point on the spectrum he can find once more. None of them work, not even a slight wobbling. He kicks it in frustration.]

...I'm sorry. You're right, she must've blocked everything as soon as I thought of it.

It was a good thought. It's just that...well, it's GLaDoS. She's basically a sneaky bitch.

[She smiles at him and straightens.]

Look, don't beat yourself up over it. One of these days, we'll get her shut down somehow.

[He chuckles darkly.] I'll look forward to the day.

[Okay, relax. Billy takes a breath and tests the barrier. It's still there, but if he focuses on what he has to do it starts to give. The barrier changes shape, removing the walls between them and wrapping around them in a bigger bubble.]

Are you sure this is okay? I can call someone else.

[Angie moves forward, pushing the bubble into Billy's.]

I'm here. And it gets us both out of trouble. [A quick smile.] And I'm not upset about the idea.

[He nods.] All right. I'd say Merry Christmas, but I don't think it's quite the season. We're being tampered with again.

[He thinks a moment about how to do it---then leans up and kisses the armored cheek. So long as he isn't frozen to it, it's fine.]

[Nah, she's not that cold. Especially not in Stacy's halls. Though the armor is a bit cooler than one might expect, but that's more because Angie has it shunting heat away to keep herself cool.]

[And, of course, once he's kissed her, the shield shimmers and falls away.]

See? Not that difficult.

[And she adds a kiss to his cheek, too.]

I...suppose not.

[He blushes, a soft smile appearing] Thank you. I'm sorry about all the trouble, but if we're careful it won't happen again.

You knew this was coming

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