Scavenger Hunt Spin the Bottle-Wheel Valentines Day CHALLENGEEEEE!

[magnetite_plz]

You all didn't think you were getting out of this holiday entirely empty handed, now did you?

There's red, white, and pink heart confetti falling like rain as Nekomata pushes out a ridiculously large gameshow type wheel with a bottle shaped ticker attached at its center. She raises the aviator glasses she's wearing and pulls a few cue cards out of her...actually she doesn't have pockets and it's best not to ask where these came from.

"Lyadies and Gentleman, humies, magi and all creatures alike! It's time for us to play a game mya!" She does her best Vanna White impression as she gestures to the wheel. "You may all have nyoticed the names of Nexus denizens. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to give this wheel a spin and track down whomever it lands on and get a selfie of you two smooching! All selfies delivered to me will be entered into a grand finale drawing. The winner will receive a very special prize everyone in the Nexus is guaranteed to want mya!"

She points into the crowd of the forum. She wants you to participate! Yes, you!

"What are you waiting for mya?!"

[Fun Valentines day shenanigans since I didn't see anything else go up today. Entirely fluffy and for laughs. Feel free to choose your target or have me select at random. I may or may not choose targets based on hilarity. Happy V-Day everyone and accept this loving post from me to all of you~

There's no saying that only one person can be smooched by another, so feel free to double up if you want! Just respect another person's wishes if they say their character doesn't want to be found and lip-molested k?

This is a spontaneous Nexus event that I did not make a sign up for. If you can't get in touch with your target/if you have been selected and for WHATEVER reason do not wish to play or interact with said character, PM me and I will change it discreetly. This is Zero Committment fun time. You may now return to your regularly scheduled smooching ]

Comments

[smartass_captain]

"....Aw, no..."

You asked for this, Jim.

[brave_heart_verity]

Verity snickers and leans into Jim's shoulder to murmur, "Don't let Samus find out."

[smartass_captain]

"Kinda more worried about Felix than Samus."

Actually Felix would probably laugh. And that's worse somehow.

[brave_heart_verity]

"He'll understand the game," she reminds her brother gently. "It'll be okay."

[auspex_caelo]

Felix will understand the game. But will Stratos?

At least the tribune's easy to find, since he's alone at the Legion desk right now. As is his wont, he's standing behind the table while he checks the log book, waiting for the next shift's officer to show up. He's pretending not to take note of the other activity in the forum.

[smartass_captain]

Let it not be said that Jim Kirk is a poor sport.

He will march right over there to the desk and clear his throat.

"Stratos."

[auspex_caelo]

He looks up, mildly surprised but cordial. "Captain. Is there something I can do for you?"

Presumably he wants to borrow Felix- but, wait, no, Felix already sneaked off an hour ago. So what is this about...?

[smartass_captain]

"There is, actually." Jim's got little bits of pink and red and white sticking out of his hair and drifting off of hos shoulders as he leans forward, resting his hands on the edge of the desk.

"Are you still trying to learn more about the Nexus cultures? Because there's a huge event going on at the other end of the forum. Seasonal celebrations. You understand." Why is he talking to Stratos about this?

[auspex_caelo]

To ask or not to ask, that is the question. Perhaps Stratos is too subtle for his own good.

"So I've gathered." He's not dismissive; he just gives Jim a mildly puzzled look. Surely there's a reason you're bringing this to his attention, captain. He volunteers, "I believe Felix has been looking into the details. I fear I can't spare the time from my duties at the moment."

This is a scurrilous lie, but he's closed the log book over so Jim can't call him out on the fact he's basically inspecting the doodles of the day.

Look, nobody ever said they were logging anything useful in there.

[smartass_captain]

"As much as I enjoy your younger brother's assistance in all matters within the Nexus, this is one matter he can't help me with." He's already seen your bored expression when he was approaching Stratos.

"Do you really think I'd be wasting your time if I wanted to bother Felix?" Jim chuckles slightly. "He doesn't exactly make a habit of hanging around you." There's a smile playing at the captain's lips now.

"I actually need you for this specifically. But....I would be willing to compensate you for your time. All two minutes or so of it."

[auspex_caelo]

Stratos raises his eyebrows as he listens, his mouth twitching at that point about Felix. Though it's true, after all. It just adds to the strangeness of this situation, and it's with some caution that he answers.

"You certainly have my curiosity, captain. I would be pleased to assist, but what exactly do you need of me?"

Well, two minutes. What could Jim Kirk possibly ask in two minutes?

[smartass_captain]

He's only talking like this because you do Stratos. He's being all Captainly around you. Because that's what's expected between professionals, right? Diplomacy, manners, stuffy proper talk. He can hold conversation one on one with a Vulcan, so this isn't terribly difficult. It helps that Stratos isn't talking about the world ending in some regard.

The smile turns into a smirk once Stratos has agreed. Well then, formalities aside. Jim claps his hand on the edge of the desk, grinning like the idiot he is.

"Glad to hear it. I really didn't want to start my Vulcan arguing techniques. All I need is a picture, Stratos. But you've got to be in it. The little minx chose you after all. It's sort of a 'learn about your neighbors get to know you' kind of event. Find so and so, get picture with them. Silly traditions." Jim's talking to kill time while he sets his phone up and adjusts the settings on it.

"So, here we go, are you ready? Look right there at the screen--there's a good man. Aaand--" The shutter clicks just as Jim pulls Stratos forward, planting a kiss on him before he can pull away from all the inside his personal space. It's over almost as soon as it started.

"...Huh." He's got a stronger jaw than Felix does.

[auspex_caelo]

Oh, dear. That grin portends nothing good for the tribune's dignity. But a man of the Legion has to stand by his word, doesn't he?

Stratos is listening carefully, even once he starts to realize that Jim is talking very quickly and might just be trying to distra- Jim wants him to look at what? "I-"

There's no real resistance when he's yanked forward, just the weight of his armor and the way his spine stiffens in the second after the kiss. He's left blinking at Jim, startled and frowning.

"Captain!" He's too flustered to decide yet how outraged he should be. And besides, it wasn't an unpleasant kiss, per se... "I must assume that's part of the custom?"

[smartass_captain]

"It is, yeah." Jim can't help but chuckle as he pulls away, checking his phone and saving the photo. "I didn't think you'd be as eager to listen if I lead with that, though."

He did try to be chaste about it, considering eeeeverything involved with this is pretty Weird.

"So, what do you want in return. Keep in mind....I will be deleting this picture so there should be no concern there.'

[auspex_caelo]

It is terrifically weird. Stratos hardly knows where to start on that. But Jim already knows, and despite the impression he gives, Stratos isn't necessarily the type for pointless lectures. He looks from Jim to the phone and back, his mouth drawing for a moment in what might be a rueful 'well played'.

He has a certain appreciation for smart maneuvers, even when they're somewhat at his expense. Jim promising to delete the picture is a smart move, as was keeping it chaste. If nothing else he's reduced the blackmail potential tenfold. And besides, under that prim and proper exterior Stratos might not mind being included in the silly ice-breaking party games.

He seems curious when he lifts his eyebrows, actually. "If you plan to erase the picture, what did you need it for in the first place?"

[smartass_captain]

Said lectures would be pretty pointless. But Stratos is full of surprises, and a man with at least some level of a sense of humor is one Jim can get behind. Figuratively, of course. Still Weird.

There's no reason to keep the photo in the first place. Felix finding it would lead to hurt feelings until Jim explained what was going on, and said Weirdness would still be there. And why shouldn't the elder Imperial be introduced to the real Jim Kirk, or left out of silly holiday events?

He deserves to know what 'fun' is too, after all.

"Proof. The lady hosting the event won't include folks into the prize lottery unless they have evidence that they played. Not going to send it to her, I'm not stupid. I'll walk it over and show her, get into the drawing, and then delete it."

[auspex_caelo]

"Very well." Stratos nods, accepting the sensibility of this. He looks in the direction of the event thoughtfully - perhaps he's scheming on what to demand, perhaps he's just trying to regain his composure better.

"Two minutes," he says, his gaze settling on Jim. "I believe it likely this won't be the last odd festival we encounter. That in mind, I'll be content to claim two minutes of your time, when I next have need of it."

[smartass_captain]

"You'll find I'm a very good sport." Jim reaches over the table and claps Stratos on the shoulder. "And you're a much better one than folks give you credit for."

The event itself isn't really that huge of a deal unless you want to get covered in confetti and have a cat girl smother you and push you into playing her game.

"Two minutes Stratos. Find a good use for 'em." Jim's off back toward the festivities, waving his phone as a bit of a farewell as he does so. Not a bad guy at all, really.