merry merry christmas, and I want you to know

[mansionstaff]

Who: YOU
What: KISSLETOES
When: December 14th - January 1st
Where: Everywhere
Warnings: Sloppy makeouts.

SUDDENLY, AND WITHOUT WARNING...



The entire school has become covered in mistletoe overnight. It grows out of the walls! The ceilings! Everywhere you least expect it? HOW CAN THIS BE??

It's probably best not to think about it. Attempts to uproot the plants or burn them away only makes the plants grow back faster. For the time being, it seems the school must live with it.

[OOC INSTRUCTIONS:
+ Post dudes, get kisses!
+ Some (NOT ALL) plants are cursed. If you manage to step under a cursed plant, you will exchange a memory when or if you exchange a kiss. The memories will be first-person and very vivid, and characters will feel like they are experiencing the memory in real time, though in reality the transfer is instantaneous. Memories can be as short, long, happy, sad, or traumatic as you like.
+ If you'd like to participate, we highly suggest making a list of a few memories (with accompanying links/descriptions) that are up for grabs, and linking or posting the list in your top-level comment. Memory exchange is COMPLETELY OPTIONAL. When in doubt, OOC communication!
+ PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE TAG YOUR CHARACTERS
+ That's it, we love you.]

Comments

HEHEHEH

[thereyouare]

"Yes," Vivian shifted nervously, her hands working against his unintentionally. After a moment she looked in his eyes and quickly leaned to peck him right on the lips. DEAL, BLONDIE.

And what she gave him was likely an unexpected sight. Vivian's eyes opened, to staring at a ceiling. The table she sat up from was cold against her skin, but she had been covered in a nice, thick blanket and clothing sat at her toes. She was a bit dazed, unsure of what was going on, but she reached out for them and carefully dressed herself.

When she finally found a mirror in the lab, she was surprised by what she saw. The stitches against her neck were absent, her flesh properly sealed with surgical glue. She ran her fingers down, a numb feeling but a strange sensation nevertheless. Her mind knew it was touching it and so it created feeling. It made her shiver. She was still human. She could feel.

A metal ring cradled her third eye, much to her surprise, and she realized then someone had fixed her. She could move - that's right! She couldn't move before!

She turned. It was then she saw him - her savior. The man that took her from being erased and destroyed had walked in. Was he checking on her? She didn't know for sure but she was happy to think so.

"T...Thank you."

[awakeningwill]

There's recognition in Kiyotaka's voice as he parts from the kiss and shakily says, "That was... Robotnik."

Disgust wells up in Zero's throat at the mere mention of that name. The memory once again forces its way back into the forefront of his mind, thick and black with loathing. With a scowl, the reploid looks away and spits out the words, Yes. It was.

Knowing someone had forced his way inside him, reached in and tampered with his mind until it was twisted into a dark, unthinking and unfeeling tool - even now, it makes him feel cold with fear inside. The worst fate imaginable. He could've hurt, killed so many people, and be unable to stop himself. The horror of that realization begins to spread over Kiyotaka's face as well, as his eyes widened in alarm. "What did he do to you?!"

But then, the chill of disappointment creeps into his voice as he guessed, "You... must be loyal to him."

Every fibre of Zero burned with hate at the notion. Fists clench, growling, fire in his throat. I'm not his slave anymore.

Not his slave. Not his toy. Not his weapon. Not his anything, never, not ever again, better to die than to be used. Better to destroy himself than let his body fall to the enemy again.

But... Kiyotaka couldn't have known. Stop. Calm down. Voice level again, under control, Zero speaks. Knuckles defeated me before I could cause any real harm, and my programming was restored. If he hadn't...

Then Zero could've mindlessly killed them all in the name of the Eggman Empire.

...We wouldn't be talking like this right now.

Kiyotaka sighs with relief and nods - but his mind is still burdened, knowing that Eggman is still active. "What if it happens again? That man is given too much power here, and his previous crimes are completely glossed over and unpunished..."

Eggman's actions were tantamount to warcrimes. Even Kiyotaka understands this - he's simply too dangerous to be allowed free reign. People like Dr. Weil and Dr. Eggman, they were no longer human.

The man is a Maverick. The next time he tries something... he'll be eliminated like one.

There's hesitation in Kiyotaka's face, and it's clear that his kneejerk reaction is to oppose any killing. But after a moment, even that fades into grim acceptance. He looks away, unable to say a word to oppose Zero's declaration.

As the vision fades from Zero's mind, one thing remains: the image of the man in Vivian's memory. Eggman's presence in her past took the reploid completely by surprise, and in an instant, it felt like a hole had been punched clean through his chest.

But, moreso than the man himself, it was the lingering sense of hope and gratitude towards the man that sent his mind reeling. It repulsed him more than he could describe. As fast as mechanically possible, he cast the emotion out, as far away from himself as possible - but he still felt dirty. Contaminated.

This time, Zero did tear his hands away from Vivian. His eyes flashed with suspicion as they trained upon the girl, reclassifying her as a potential threat. "You..."

[thereyouare]

But Zero would immediately find her in the same position. She was happy to let go, stepping back in utter shock, her whole body coated with caution. Her stance unconsciously switched to someone prepared for fight or flight, unsure of where Zero would take this if something were to start.

"T... That isn't allowed," she stated, not removing her eyes from him. "Violence is not allowed."

[awakeningwill]

Not allowed, as if Eggman himself ever actually followed that rule. What a hypocrite. Besides, Zero was no random upstart trying to cause trouble. Matters of security was, in fact, his job.

"To protect people from that monster," he seethed, "I'll do whatever it takes."

Some people simply couldn't be reformed. They'd keep coming back, spreading pain and hate each time. Just like Dr. Wily, Dr. Weil... defeating them wasn't permanent enough.

[thereyouare]

"You'd ki - " She can't even get the word through her teeth. Standing up straight, Vivian let her breath calm, flowing through her as reserved energy. She had to remain calm in the face of these things.

"I will never let you hurt the Doctor."

No...

Taka... Taka had agreed to this, she realized. After their picnic and get togethers and all he's preached to her? This was the truth? Was that really the truth?

"I'll protect him from you!"

[awakeningwill]

Zero narrowed his eyes and stared her down, scrutinizing the misguided girl and her misplaced loyalty. Despite stepping into his memories and feeling his disgust, she could still defend the tyrant as though he had done nothing wrong. Her calm clashed against the rage in his heart - it sickened him to see it.

"Then you're helping him hurt people," he told her, in no uncertain terms.

"All the suffering he causes, the people who die at the hands of his army... Do you have any idea what kind of man your saviour really is?" Zero clenched his hands into fists, almost feeling a wave of pity for Vivian's ignorance.

"He's just using you."

[thereyouare]

In truth? Vivian was terrified. Zero's hostility in regards to the Doctor was not lost on her. She could feel it licking off like fire from the Sun.

"No," she immediately snapped. "I... I choose to protect him." making it worse good going

Vivian's little fingers curled into fists. "I will protect the humans - " She paused. "Everyone here. No matter who they are."

[awakeningwill]

An ambitious statement - one that Zero could almost admire. It would've been a noble sentiment if it wasn't so utterly deluded in regards to Eggman's true nature.

"Then you had better make sure I never have a reason to go after Eggman," Zero warned her. "If you want him to stay breathing, then you're responsible for his actions. Any person he hurts, any scheme he plots... it's on your head."

[thereyouare]

"He wouldn't..." Hurt anyone.

Well, she thought that of herself, too. Taka as well. But a lot of what she had faced today had been proving her wrong. Vivian could only feel a newfound anger take over her form, an inexplicable urge overwhelming her when she so much as glanced at Zero. However she remained steady, feet planted to the ground, and more importantly: eyes off the target.

"Fine," she murmured, her trust trying to remain absolute.

[awakeningwill]

That was that.

Zero turned away, about to leave - but shot her one last glare over his shoulder. It was a look of both disdain and pity, telling her with a glance, I'll be watching you.

And then he walked away. The heavy metal of his boots clanked against the floor and his hair flowed behind him as the reploid left her with his parting words.

"It's a shame. You mean well... But loyalty is worthless if it's given blindly."