metalogs | LOVE POTION #9

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LOVE POTION #9

LOVE IS... not in the air! The reintroduction of Confluences into this world has left it rocked, so the season of love is not quite as lovey-dovey as it usually is. People are stressed and anxious. Valentine's events are being cancelled left, right, and center in fear that a Confluence may catch young lovers unawares.

Unbeknownst to mortals, the God of Love really can't afford his month to be ruined by a few little dimensional catastrophes. This is his month! ... And for whatever reason, he seems to be stranded on the Earthly plane.

Surely he can fix things. Push it along a little. Though Gods don't usually meddle in mortal affairs, this is a personal catastrophe. All it takes is a few drops of love potion on a token of affection, and voila! Instant-connection.

(This event has a blanket warning for dubious consent of the love spell variety. To opt out completely, characters can simply not be in Sunset Falls at the time of the event, which runs through Valentine's Day.)

WHITE HEARTS FESTIVAL

Welcome to Sunset Falls, the most magical place in all of America! Literally. The streets are charged with magical energies, and while it won't be spinning your words into spells, it will give anyone who is magically inclined a comfortable little buzz. Maybe it's the boost you need to get a spell working, or maybe it's just a pep in your step. Confluence-displaced metas who take the Guilds up on their offer to tour the new housing will arrive just in time to witness the an annual tradition: The White Hearts Festival, a festival dedicated to all forms of love - familial, friendship, and romantic.

The whole town is decked out in pinks, golds and reds. Town square has been overtaken by food booths peddling elaborate meals and desserts with various magical effects. (It's probably better not to ask why some of the cookies being handed out are in the shape of anatomical hearts.)

Eat an emoji cookie and find yourself sprouting heart-eyes, or gaining a flurry of hearts above your head.

The Bolder Biscuit - by far and above the densest thing you've ever tried to eat - makes you bold. It compels you to march right up to someone and tell them what you think, good or bad.

And there's also the Firework Delight cake, which makes you shoot off literal fireworks the moment you touch that special someone that makes your life complete... but honestly, they go off when you touch anyone. Sorry if you end up giving off the wrong impression!

In addition, pop-up craft stands sell trinkets that guarantee you'll be together with your people forever and ever. The most popular item on sale this year appears to be the Eternal Bond - which is just an enchanted finger-trap that refuses to let go unless you tell someone a deep dark secret.

There is an altar at the town park where you can make your offering and give prayers to the God of Love in hopes he will smile favorable upon you. Lay your chocolate heart at its base and offer up a prayer to the God so that your life will be full of love and connection.

Truthfully, when it started it wasn't as cutesy as it is now. It became a lot more wholesome when people began to offer only chocolate hearts to the God of Love. Now it's fun for the whole family! ... So long as you don't veer into the woods. Some people still practice the old ways, and there are (what you hope to be) animal hearts nailed to trees. This is Sunset Falls, after all. Weird often goes hand in hand with terror.

LONELY HEARTS

For those of you who don't yet have those special people, lonely hearts still single can collect white rose enamel pins from the festival committee. They're expected to pick someone to give it out to as a declaration of their attraction by the end of the festival. However... there seems to be an issue this year. There's more pins here than there are people in town. Committee members start handing them out to anyone, single or not, and from there that's where things start to get a little weird...

You clip the pin onto your shirt and at once, your life has suddenly become a romcom. Everything is just a little brighter, the sounds a little more musical (sometimes literally), and you're suddenly compelled to reach out and find connection.

And the universe is conspiring to bring it your way! Cliches won't stop happening around you. Suddenly people are determined to give you a makeover so you can catch the eye of an admirer. Your friends are betting on your romantic future. A complex love triangle is springing out of previously platonic friendships.

You're not not limited to one partner, and that partner doesn't need to be romantic. It could be a best friend, or a nemesis that you're compelled to fight over and over again for the joy of it. What matters is the connection and the way the world seems to stop at nothing to give you that perfect three act structure: You Meet, You Lose, You Get.

Reach the end of your romcom's little arc and you'll find yourself freed from the spell... and probably will have some choice words for its caster.

HEARTS ON FIRE

Regardless of how you participate in the festival, everyone is at risk when the town itself falls under a love spell.

This may be unlike anything you've known before. Perhaps it's the first stumbling steps of puppy love. You want to be with this person all the time. Hold their hands and work up the courage for a kiss. Or perhaps this is something fierce and passionate. You want to be kissing them always, pursuing these passions heedless of consequences.

This doesn't need to be a romantic love. It can be strong and familial. Perhaps the sort you've always desired but never had. You could fall into a family unit with others affected by the spell. Compelled to hug each other and say words of encouragement or praise. Perhaps you, while living your own love story, are the best friend in someone else's - offering up the speech that tells them they deserve more than they think they do.

Whatever your flavor of love may be, you're prone to dramatic declarations. Confessions at the drop of a hat. It's go big or go home, and since nobody's going home right now, you might as well go as big as you can. Perhaps you're arranging for Flash Mobs to declare your feelings! Or making plans to move in together despite only having met a few hours ago.

This is all fine and well at first, but it may become clear pretty quickly that characters who try to hold their burning passions are likely to burn themselves! If you're the repressed type and you try to resist the compulsions that the love spell puts on you, you might just burst into flames, and someone will need to put you out. Don't worry — move quick enough, and there won't be any lasting damage, and if there is, the Guilds' healers can help you out.

MEET CUTE-PID

For those paying attention to that sort of thing, one constant of all these wild declarations can be spotted in the background. A tall man with curly blonde hair and an all too charming smile never seems to be far from the romance.

Those who are curious enough to follow will find he retreats to a lavish mansion on the outskirts of town. The mansion has the gaudy and abundant decor of a honeymoon suite on the Las Vegas Strip, with lights attuned to music and a massive twirling heart above the roof of the building. Peer inside and you will see hundreds of tiny viewing windows, each depicting a different romantic story unfolding outside of town. The door to the mansion appears to be locked tight and the windows are magically sealed, but some quick thinking may get you inside.

If anyone wants to engage him, HERE is a top level where we will summarize encounters. The more PCs involved in an encounter, the bigger its outcome will be. We will determine the impact on the god of love on Valentine's Day, so get your comments in by end of day on the 13th! You may also use this top level to ask event-specific questions about the effects on this page! (Please refer general questions about the setting to the FAQ, and refer any player plots to the PLOTTING page.)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It's of consequence for me. So I'll see you fed, but for me...

[He shrugs. But hey, Loki looks happy and David can't help the fond smile. Until he realizes it's there. He's usually better at quashing that. What is so wrong?]

But what's wrong with cookies?

[ Asked around a mouthful of one, he loops an arm in David's so he doesn't lose him in the crowd. ]

These are totally enchanted, I don't know what — [ Tiny pink hearts burst into being around Loki's head, making his smile brighten as he laughs. ] Ah. That is adorable, is it not?

[It's nice to be this close, and with Loki's arm around his, David maybe pulls Loki a bit closer. It's just because he doesn't want to lose Loki either, really. Nothing to do with how cute he is right now, or how the coolness of Loki's body is a relief against the strangely building fever in David's. Maybe he was getting sick?]

Sugar and butter, means lots of things that can add calories to work off, not to mention fat. I like to be fit.

[Then the little hearts burst onto the scene and he laughs at the image it presents.]

Now you look like a god of love.

You're no Volstagg, I wouldn't worry.

[ He takes another bite as David laughs, creating more little hearts that pop into existence and float around, shimmering prettily. Loki tips up his chin for effect. ]

I am the thieving patron of some of their favourite activities, it's true. Although, this is far more a fluffier side of patronage than I would usually deign to dabble in.

[ He stage-whispers for David's benefit, since everyone around is fussing with the food or laughing, and not really paying them attention. There's no one to offend, is there? ]

Oh, have some cookie, won't you? Just a bit? [ He leans in against him as they walk, offering a tiny piece between thumb and forefinger as he wheedles, ] For me?

You are yet to tell me which activities. I remain curious.

[Curious, and definitely trying to figure it out. But he'll not press too much. Not as much as he could. Then there was Loki, just offering him the bit of cookie.]

You really want hearts floating around me too?

All the very best ones.

[ He stops them, offering the cookie to David's lips. Pink hearts swim around Loki's head, popping of their own accord as they fade. ]

They may bring out your eyes, who knows?

[There are so many things he could say. He wants to say 'show me the best ones', and 'your eyes didn't need that help', and even 'you just want me to suck on your fingers.' And none of it is appropriate. The heat was building up in his body, even if he didn't know why.

With a sigh as if he didn't want to do this, he leans forward to daintily take the cookie bit from Loki's fingers. And he did chew and swallow, only to be rewarded with a flock of his own shimmery hearts around his head, his taking a bit more of a deep gold tone that mimicked the light of his energy projection. And they were shedding little sparkles of light on his shoulders.]

Happy?

[ The satisfaction is plain on Loki's face even if he weren't surrounded by drifting hearts. ]

Excessively. I ...

[ Pausing, his smile falters and he looks away from David. All around, like a fox hearing hounds in the distance. ]

I, uh. David. [ The ozone smells clearer, blood tingling in him as the hairs rise on his arms and neck. Loki glances back to David with a new uncertainty. ] I can feel something happening.

Something happening?

[What in the world could it be? Still, it's what they're here to look into, isn't it?]

Where?

Everywhere. Here, in this place. It's ...

[ The sense of forces trying to find their way into any malleable corner of his mind has Loki gasping, resisting. ]

It's a spell!

[ The air feels like it's made of angry beetles burrowing into his skin as it heats up from his perspective. Shuddering, Loki drops the remaining cookie and holds his head, shaking it as if to clear a migraine. Just as with the Axis enchantment his bones sing to be joined with magic and the more he fights the compulsion the worse he feels. ]

Who ... ?

[What? David reaches out, his hand coming to rest on Loki's arm.]

If it's hurting, we should get you out of here. Far away.

Feels like ... heat.

[ He tries to shrug off the enchantment but it's made by no mere spellcaster, and too late he realises it has a god's fingerprint on it as Loki is shoved off his feet by an impatient invisible force, left panting wildly on the gravel as the love spell sweeps through and locks down its hold on him.

He blinks dazedly, a groan rising. ]

[Oh dear. That... explains things, like how David was burning. But he didn't get to say that because Loki was on the ground. David went to a knee, reaching to touch Loki's shoulder.]

ARe you okay?

[ The pain is inconsequential when he blinks up at David, green eyes darkened and dilated.

He says nothing, hooking a hand around the back of David's neck as he surges up to kiss him, hungry and lewd about it. No chaste peck does Loki offer, rising up to get an arm around those shoulders so he can stay there, humming in satisfaction. ]

[The look in Loki's eyes almost had David pulling back in concern, except... Except is really just the only word that works here. Except he likes the kiss. Except he's leaning forward into it because that's a burn he gets. Except it feels right in the moment to yield, even with it hungry and lewd and their being in public. No, he is pinned by the man's strong hold, trapped in a space he wants to me, and he can't help but reach a hand to Loki's chest.

Fuck this, this position is awkward. He pushes against Loki's chest, not to push him away or break the kiss that feels like its own sort of deep engagement, but rather to push Loki back down against the ground to kiss him back with just as much vigor.

Strange, how he isn't even flustered about the when or where, or even the tittering laughter of some around them and one cheerfully spirited call of 'get a room'.]

[ As the world rewrites itself a god of mischief in love, Loki threads his fingers around David's neck and keeps him close as they make-out on the gravel pathway, the taste of him a burning swathe across the coldness of Loki's mouth.

When he hears the jeering something snaps inside and the self-control he would usual exert roils with anger at the mockery.

The ground around David is safe but otherwise ice lashes out across the pathway to freeze shoes and feet alike as Loki twists his lips away to glare at one of the onlookers. How dare they he thinks in a flurry of possessive anger, David is mine, we will do as we wish. The alarmed shrieks and screams mean nothing; not when having David in his arms is everything. ]

[The from earlier, the burning and fire, it's gone now. Or at least it is in David. With the unspoken longing fulfilled, the fire in him has changed. It's just longing now, with a possible outlet. And it's enough to have him overlook what Loki's doing. Though only to a degree. He doesn't get mad like he might otherwise be. No, instead he reaches up at the glaring god, touching his cheek.]

Pretty sure it's me they envy, not you. Who else showed up with a god?

You flatter me, my love.

[ A tender smile melts back into place as Loki sits up, cupping David's cheek in return to kiss him once more. Loki breaks it only to rise, offering David both hands up to reel him in with, an arm draping over a shoulder. ]

Let's find somewhere more secluded and you may continue.

[ The people with frostbitten feet ought to have minded their business, really. ]

[Love. His heart flutters and David smiles. He wants to grab him, to wrap possessive arms around the god. But nope, Loki's standing, and David's getting pulled up. Fuck, that strength is hot as hell. And the cool arm over his shoulder is welcome.

He feels like the cat that got the canary, and is smiling to himself as he nods his agreement.]

See, that I can completely agree with. Thing is, I'm wondering if I've got the skills in this genius mind of mine to get this cool body of yours burning up.

[ Loki's attention remains zoned in on David as they wander the fair, now one of many more couples schmoozing along between the stalls. He brushes his fingers up the back of David's neck, letting him have some cool caresses along the shell of an ear. ]

The only math you need do is you minus those clothes.

[Those cool caresses earn a shiver from David and he wraps an arm around Loki's waist to pull him closer. Possessive, yes, he's feeling that in spades right now. This was his, and anyone looking too closely at the god will be glowered at.]

See, that might get you warm, but I think I'm capable of inspiring greater fire than that. After all, being with a god should be its own form of worship, and I always figured if I got into religion, I should be very... Vigorous in exploring it.

I am running a little short on worshippers on this world.

[ Finding a secluded spot between the backs of two stalls, he ducks under a swoop of fabric and tugs David along with him, pinning him to the wooden wall. Nose to nose, he grins. ]

Pray, silently. Whatever you want to say to me.

[This was definitely secluded, yet it also had the thrill that came with the potential to get caught. Something David didn't know really worked for him. Or perhaps it didn't normally and it was the love spell he didn't realize he was under that was making this a totally welcome thought. Though being pinned by Loki makes him smile.]

So you're saying I should talk to you with my prayers?

I am a god.

[ Something David seems pretty turned-on by. He leans in so their bodies meet, flush from thigh to chest, and brushes the curl of his knuckles down David's neck, mouthing not-quite kisses along his cheek. ]

So pray.

[This wasn't what he'd expected, and honestly? David loves it. Forceful, possessive, controlling? He loves it from either side, and so this was particularly hot.

But if he had to SEE Loki being that beautiful and almost predatory, he doubted he'd be able to think straight enough to pray. Pun unintended. But the figuring this out could be an interesting puzzle. And one that would leave Loki free to get up to any mischief he wanted while David was trying to think on this. Pray. Come on, David, Pray.]

I would beg my god for a kiss, were he so kind as to bless me.

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