Winter has Come (Open)

[frozen_witch]

Who: You! (This post is meant to be a weather-related event that anyone can use. Elsa herself will have a top level.)
What: The first and last snows of a new winter fall in the month of March. It's quite heavy and very cold. Elsa's still working on her control. Might as well have some fun?
When: March 7-20, the beginning of spring.
Where: All around, though there's patches of warmth for those who don't feel like dealing with this sort of thing.
Warnings: If players choose to include it, feelings of melancholy are amplified during the snows. Please include warnings if you do anything rough in the scene. But otherwise, it's just snow and ice.

After about a week and the return of "her" priesthood, Elsa had finally felt the power of winter fully under her control. A few scattered flurries had fallen to herald the return of a god of winter. Now, however, she had been asked to exert her power and show the world that winter had, indeed, returned in force. The goal of this snow was to be cold enough to ensure that bugs in the spring wouldn't be too strong and that the spring would be a welcome reprieve.

But, between the fact that she had only just now returned and was still very worried about her sister and being trapped in this place, things weren't going according to plan. Heavy snowfalls began to land on the 7th and a bitter, fierce cold covered the land through to the end of winter. Thankfully, the throne of spring had been claimed, but for the remaining weeks of winter, the land would be covered in a heavy blanket of snow. The whole of the waters around the city froze over and nearly a foot of snow fell. Everything, however, had a dirty feel because of the air quality and the brown, brackish waters that were feeling.

With it, the whole environment just felt a bit depressing. Winter had come, and it would freeze deep into the soil. It was going to end soon, hopefully, but it wasn't necessarily the most pleasant of sights.

So, what's happening?
-A foot of snow or more falls and stays through from the 7th until the 20th. It will melt with the official start of spring and temperatures will abruptly begin to warm once again.
-Temperatures are well below freezing in town, the waters near town are frozen entirely, but because there is no water deity or air deity, the snows and ice are very dirty and the air quality is still poor.
-Melancholy is easier to feel (though not everyone will feel it if you'd rather not), and it is very easy to feel the season is a bit more depressing than normal.

Options:
Hey, it's a winter thread. Want to make slightly dirty snowmen? Snow angels? Snowball fights? Drink hot cocoa to get past the weather? Come complain to Elsa in the temple of winter? Go ice skating on frozen, muddy waters? Go nuts. The world is your oyster. Feel free to do a starting post with your own prompts and bring your friends. I'll have a top level for Elsa and can happily join yours too. She will be a little mopey because this doesn't go quite as well as she'd hoped.

Comments

Elsa | Frozen (OTA)

[frozen_witch]

Temple)
Elsa was in her temple for a lot of the remains of winter, hearing complaint after complaint. Admittedly, these complaints were mostly coming in the looks of people who were clearly upset with the conditions and the harshness of the winter. It was much worse than you would expect in March. Thankfully, with someone claiming the throne of communication again, she could understand what was said, but she could do little more than apologize and promise that she would do what she could to help.

It was frustrating, exhausting and a bit depressing. Elsa looked sad as she had a momentary reprieve in the petitions. She was doing what she could, but her control wasn't powerful yet. Thankfully, the Temple of Spring was awake, so hopefully this wouldn't last forever. But, for now she was easy to find in a white gown that looked fashioned of scintillating frost and seated on her pale throne, looking at the person who came to speak to her.

Out and About)
When she was not serving as a 'goddess,' Elsa wanted to visit and see her snows, the creations that she had made. While they were dirty, it was still snow and the cold itself barely touched her. She walked out into the midst of the glimmering and white beauty, looking with sadness at it all.

It was hard for her to bring herself to smile, not the way that she wanted to. This would have been so much easier with Anna around, and she felt terrible for thinking such a thing. She would not wish for her sister to suffer all of this, not if she could help it, but the loneliness was powerful right now.

Impromptu Snowball Fights)
No matter how sad she was, though, when a snowball struck her from behind it was hard not to smile. The reason was because of the source. There were children out and about, hurling the little orbs at each other and playing loudly. Apparently her snows were interfering with school, and the children were all taking advantage of the chance for some good old fashioned fun.

She grinned and balled up some light snow to return fire, grateful that children so often seemed immune to that deep melancholy winter could bring. Her second snowball throw, however, definitely didn't hit one of the kids. She managed to look a little abashed as she waved and covered her mouth with her hand.

Wildcard)
(OOC: Want something else? Feel free to ask. Hot cocoa to stave off the cold, ice skating, almost anything.)

Temple!

[ichoosefight]

Steph was curious to see who had taken up the throne of Winter - namely, curious to see if it was that Kylo jerk again. She was pleasantly surprised when she walked in and found a woman on the throne. Not even that Abigail person who seemed to have taken far too much pleasure in causing a little chaos. Elsa looked nice, but that only went so far really. Shiva looked nice, and she definitely temporarily murdered her own daughter once.

"Hi," Steph starts with a wave once Elsa is free.

"I'm Steph. I'm the local coffee god. Love what you've done with the place." She was from New Jersey, so the bitter cold in early March didn't really bother her that much.

[frozen_witch]

That Kylo jerk seemed to be busy in one of the other temples at this time, though she had yet to meet him. Elsa looked up from her throne when she saw a guest come in, one who was not looking upset with her for the moment. That alone was enough to improve her mood just a little.

Rising from her thrown, she bowed to Steph and motioned for her to take a nearby chair if she wished. "Thank you. I am Elsa. I am called the Snow Queen. I am glad at least someone appreciates the snow. I am afraid that I am still working on control for now."

[ichoosefight]

"Snow Queen?" Well, what she lacks in subtlety she definitely makes up for in style. Steph chuckles.

"Yeah, tell me about it. For a coffee god I can't seem to make my coffee much less awful. I guess it'll come with practice, probably."

[frozen_witch]

"It is an old title where I come from." Not actually true, not entirely. She was more or less the origin of that title and old story. But it saved her from being called 'goddess of winter,' so that was so much better. A little bit of lacking subtlety wasn't bad as long as it avoided being outright blasphemous.

"There is actually a temple of coffee? They were only just importing that to my lands around the time I ruled." That and tea. Quite the pricey luxuries in the early 19th century. But royalty had perks. "I am glad to hear it gets easier though." Even if winter seemed a mite more difficult than coffee to her right then.

[ichoosefight]

"Oh yeah, where I'm from it's pretty commonplace. And addictive. And necessary to my daily life." You might be able to understand why Steph chose the coffee throne.

[frozen_witch]

"Addictive?" she said, raising an eyebrow. The concept of addiction was something a little new and novel, though there were people who had a bit too much to drink in her time. "I have only had a cup or two in my life. It's quite strong, and very bitter though warm. How much smaller the world must be for you, that it is as common as that. They had to bring it from across the world to bring it to us."

SNOWBALL FIGHT

[heirtonothing]

"Oh!" Nobody has ever thrown a snowball at Zelda before. In fact, as Central Hyrule is far enough from the Hebra Mountains that it gets only the lightest dusting of snow in winter, she's not really aware that throwing snowballs is a thing that people do. So when she turns to see who threw it and finds Elsa looking contrite she's really just very badly confused.

"Ah, I... it's-" She's really not sure what to say, either, but having identified a stationary target the children begin throwing snowballs at her too. She yelps her surprise, but manages to take cover behind a tree before more than one more hits her. The children are laughing. Is this a game? Her shirt is getting very cold, very fast.

"What in the goddess' name is happening?" Strangely, she finds herself chuckling as she hears several snowballs hit her tree cover and one goes sailing past it.

[frozen_witch]

"It is a game children play. They throw snowballs at each other." She managed to laugh as she saw the girl taking cover and went to get a ball of snow together. It was easy for her to pack otherwise. When she threw it at one of the kids, they laughed in turn and returned fire with gusto.

Running for the 'cover' of the tree, she waved a hand, the snow beside the tree rising up some to make a makeshift wall as she too cover. "I do think that they have wanted to do this for a while!"

[heirtonothing]

"For fun?" She sounds incredulous, but there's definitely mirth in her own voice. The wall seems like an excellent idea, and Zelda takes the opportunity to grab some of her own snow.

Sadly, she does a terrible job of compacting it and despite the considerable force in her swing it falls apart about halfway to the kids. They start laughing at her, which makes her blush even as she huffs in frustration.

[frozen_witch]

"Oh yes, definitely. It can be quite fun if you join in," she assured her, grinning when the snowball disintegrated and shaking her head. "But you should pack it just a little bit more. It will hold together when you throw it." She was thankful, though, that Zelda had joined in. It made her feel better to see people finding ways to have fun right now.

[heirtonothing]

Zelda hasn't played a lot of games in her life. This seems as good a time as any to make up for that... and get back at the kids for making ice water drip down her shirt. She picks up another bit of snow and takes a little more time packing it.

"How's this?"

[frozen_witch]

"Yes, just like that. Don't pack it too hard or it might hurt, but that should be perfect." Elsa grinned as she nodded in Zelda's direction before lunging up to toss one at one of their playmates of the moment. Oh yes, this was already picking her mood up quite a bit, and the kids certainly seemed to be enjoying themselves.

Snowball Fight

[milkisgross]

Edward had actually been on his way over to Elsa's temple to find out what the hell was going on with this weather. He felt like he had just gotten away from Briggs and the ludicrous amount of snow up north and made it back to Resembool where Spring was in full force when he wound up back in deep snow.

At least there was good news. His upgrade to northern automail was certainly a saving grace here and he didn't have to worry about frostbite from that. He had also managed to find himself another winter coat and warm gloves to keep out the cold wind.

Bundled up in his bright red coat, he approached the temple where it looked like a bunch of kids were playing, and Elsa was joining them. Snowballs were flying everywhere, but he didn't expect to become a target, and Elsa's snowball hit him square in the face. He stopped in his tracks and brushed the snow off, revealing an annoyed expression. "What? It wasn't enough to just bury this place in snow?"

[frozen_witch]

She couldn't help it when she laughed. Ed had a kind of amusing look when he was annoyed. Coughing and trying to bring herself up straight, she was caught broad-side by one of the children and laughing again. "Sorry about this. I am still working on control, but they were insistent that there should be a winter." She managed as her hands were going to scoop up more snow.

"At least the children are enjoying themselves?"

[milkisgross]

Ed's face retained the annoyed look until one of the children ran up to him and cocked his arm back to toss a snowball at him. He looked down at the child, who hesitated, and then his expression softened a bit. He couldn't fault kids for being kids. Ed bent down and scooped up some snow to make his own snowball and he tossed it at the child, who managed a rather good dodge before giggling and tossing his at Ed. It hit him in the arm, and the child ran off to get back with his friends.

"I had just gotten away from cold and snow before I got dumped here. So does part of your duties include babysitting?" He could understand kids playing in the snow. There was that one winter he remembered when Resembool had gotten a lot of snow, which was rare due to it's geographical location, and he and Al had a blast. He found it curious that they chose to play in front of the temple of all places.

Another snowball soared through the air behind Ed and smacked him on the back. He whipped around to see that boy from before, but now with a little entourage of friends, all armed with their own snowball. He looked back at Elsa, a mischievous grin spreading over his face. If they wanted a snowball fight, he'd give them a damn snowball fight.

[frozen_witch]

"My apologies, though the spring will come soon enough and with it my control should fade," she said, which was not to say that she didn't have her powers regardless, but she'd be all too happy to hand over the reigns to the goddess of spring, just to give herself time to practice and prepare for the next winter, assuming she didn't find a successor before then.

"Oh, I do not think I am much of a babysitter. They are simply enjoying themselves." She grinned as she saw the latest group arriving. Reaching down, she patted a snowball of her own and sent it sailing at one of the freshest arrivals. "I fear I have never been good with children." This really was a first for her. She was usually kind of aloof around them, unsure of her footing. She gave him a nod, though, clearly hinting that she was on board with a proper snowball fight.

This kind of playing with kids at least she understood.

[milkisgross]

"Right." The children were enjoying themselves now. At Elsa's nod, Ed clapped his hands and touched the ground, right as a volley of snowballs from the children came raining down. With a flash of bright light, a wall of snow formed around him and Elsa, and the snowballs that were thrown thudded into it. It was high enough that neither he now the snow queen would have to duck to stay behind it, and there were little ramps and ledges for them climb up to rain down snowy terror from above. A large pile of pre-made snowballs lay beside each ramp for easy ammunition.

Without looking back at Elsa, Ed ran up the parapet and grabbed an arm full of snowballs, laughing as he looked at the kid's faces. He had made a fort for them too (though it was a little smaller. Ed never said he would fight fair.) "You want a snowball fight?! You got one!" He lobbed snowball after snowball at the group, which dispersed yelling, scrambling to get behind the walls of snow.

Temple

[reluctantaccessory]

Marie had decided after a couple of days in relative solitude after taking the throne of Spring to venture out into the bay and see what had changed since she had "returned" and to meet the others who had taken thrones. As she walked past the various temples that made up the temple district of the bay, she tried to squash down a familiar repeating voice that had once given her the instruction that she could have no friends or anything familiar and eventually decided to drown it out with her repeating "don't really have any choice here" over and over as she took quick steps and rubbed her arms.

Eventually, the woman decided to start with the temples that made up the seasons, much like her own, she figured that if there was anyone she would likely have to work with - it would be anyone who took these thrones.

Eventually and cautiously, Marie then found herself taking cautious steps inside as she heard the final words of an unhappy local. Marie couldn't blame anyone of them for being worried or unhappy. March in most places wasn't supposed to be this cold, but as much as Marie hated cold, she was also aware that with how things here seemed to work - it was better to have something working than no season at all. Or at least it was going to have to suffice for keeping her warm until she could get some warmer clothes than a light sweater and sundress. It was better than getting nostalgic about past events anyway.

Eventually, it became quiet and she carefully took a few steps toward to face the younger woman who seemed to be the one who was in charge of winter. She gave a little smile, though it was a little uneasy, and tried to call out.

"Excuse me?"

"Um, well," Then she quickly went, "It's not a complaint," as she cautiously but jokingly raised her hands, "Honest."

[frozen_witch]

Elsa sighed when someone else approached the throne. She noticed the choice of clothing and gave her an apologetic, almost slightly concerned look. Turning to her priest, she motioned for a blanket to be brought out. That was going to become a pretty regular gift while people were here, the goddess was starting to think. And a sweater and dress didn't seem like enough to keep warm right now.

"I apologize. I am still getting accustomed to, well, everything." She was having a little trouble believing it when people said it wasn't a complaint, though she was hopeful. "How may I help you?"

[reluctantaccessory]

Marie quickly shakes her head, "No, no. That's nothing to apologize for. I think a lot of us are in the same situation..."

Marie found herself looking embarrassed at the motion of the priest and the expression on Elsa's face and wondered if she did something wrong. Her words started to spill out in case she had.

"There really isn't anything I need help with," Marie started to attempt to answer, "It's more like I came here to meet you. I mean, I've kind of decided that since I took the thone for spring and all that I should get to try to meet a few of the others since we'll be working together..."

Marie quickly realized that she was going a mile a minute in her accented words and she turned a slight shade of pink for a brief moment. She mentally kicked herself as hard as she could then tried to finish explaining herself.

"Or, um, well, I'd think we'll be working together? Maybe more like hope. I don't really know anything about this kind of thing, I guess in any case it just seemed like a good thing to do. To give a face to go with being the person helping with spring?"

[frozen_witch]

"I should be better than this though. I already have these powers, after all." Yes, but she didn't exactly have complete, absolute control over them yet now did she? However, when the explanation came there was an obvious look of relief in Elsa's features. So, there was someone on the throne of Spring?

"That is wonderful news, and yes. I had thought much the same. I should really contact summer and autumn soon for the same reason." She breathed out a sigh that she'd been holding in for a moment. The accent wasn't too hard to get through. It was similar enough to the sort a guest might have had in her own court that she could keep up. "I do not know exactly how we will be working together, other than that in a few weeks I will pass the torch to you, as it were."

"Still, it seems good for the four of us to be in touch." And at the very least not competing. That would lead to disaster.

[reluctantaccessory]

"You already have them?" Marie tilts her head slightly but there isn't any judgment in her eyes when she asks that question - only a little bit of confusion and a little bit of curiosity but she decides against trying to pry further, "Um, I bet that's personal, so um, well, maybe things work differently here?"

Marie knows that it is not her place to pry further even if she was curious, so she instead chooses to just listen.

Eventually, she tries to give a smile as she shrugs.

"I don't know if it's wonderful news that I took the throne or not and I suppose I was jumping ahead of myself for a moment, but, I'm not exactly sure how things are supposed to work here. If it's up to how we want to do things or not, but maybe we could try to come up with something. Even if it's just some sort of, um, agreement on how to handle switching seasons, stepping in if someone isn't listening to people?"

Her words trail off before her next idea and eventually, Marie manages to nod in agreement. Nothing good would result from everyone competing against each other. Being in touch would at least be something. She seems a little surprised at herself by her pitching of ideas and turns pink again.

Then she voices that agreement to Elsa, "It wouldn't hurt to be in touch. That way, we at least know who we're turning the reigns, I think that's the expression, over to when the season switches?"

[frozen_witch]

"I have had power over cold and ice for as long as I can recall. But yes. I believe you are correct. There is a pool of power I feel in this place. It is hard to describe, but it feels almost without limit, though I do not have control over it all yet." And it terrified her a little to think of having that kind of control really.

The proposal got a nod. She was thinking about it for a moment, tapping her lips with a gloved hand as she considered how best to approach. "Yes. I think we could agree on the time when the seasons should change, and try to avoid one of us having too long at the helm, if you will. The seasons have to flow naturally, after all. Winter, for one, should come to an end in about two weeks, should it not? I hope I will have these snows under control before then so it can properly melt."

Edward Elric | Fullmetal Alchemist (Manga) | OTA (Sad FMA stuff)

[milkisgross]

i. Out and About
Ed couldn't say that he was happy with the weather. It had been cold when he arrived, but now it was as if he had been dragged back up north to Briggs. He didn't have anything personal against winter weather, but the sheep festival had been in full swing in Resembool when he found himself transported here, and it took place during warm spring days. The snow felt like a slap to the face now that he had been teased with nice weather.

Despite the cold, Ed's going to be exploring the town in a bit more depth. He's going to poke his nose inside some temples, and if anyone is there he's try to see what he can learn from them. He'll also be found out and about the town, dodging children playing in the snow and looking generally unhappy about everything.


ii. Melancholy
The snow seems to brought melancholy along with it. While Ed couldn't pinpoint why, he seemed to be going through some kind of depression. Memories of his mother and Nina kept nagging him, and the fact that he had yet to find Alphonse before he wound up here was also bugging him.

It wasn't like Ed to mope, but as the weather worsened, he found it more and more difficult to push those thoughts from his head. Going out and exploring helped to distract him, but he still found himself staring out of the windows of cafes with a cup of tea that got colder and colder the more he lost himself in his thoughts. Feel free to approach. He could use a distraction.