sevenhorrors | [baby it's cold outside]

Who: everyone!
When: the weekend of September 5
Where: around
What:
Warnings:

[The "staffing issues" from last weekend have seemingly resolved themselves; the food at the cafeteria is back to normal levels of mediocrity! Which is good, because something else seems to be stalking the school hallways today]

[You hear it before you see it. Footsteps that echo behind yours, perfectly in sync with every step you take. Turn around and there is no one there. . . but you do see a set of bloody footprints trailing after you. They aren't your footprints (they belong to someone's bared feet, while you're presumably wearing shoes), and they slowly vanish the longer you stare at them. Creepy! Weird!! Unsettling!!]

[But maybe not as creepy as the ghost of a hand you feel brushing against your shoulder. It's a light touch. It's a cold touch, ice flowing through your veins as it chills you from the inside out, sending your teeth chattering and your body trembling. No matter what you do, for the next 24 hours, you cannot seem to warm yourself up. Blankets don't work. Physical activity doesn't work. Hell, even a steaming hot shower back at the dorms doesn't seem to thaw you out. You're not quite hypothermic, you may be close!!]

[What does work to dispel the cold, however, is. . . . . . . . . . . body heat. Snuggling up with someone else and/or sharing a blanket will warm characters up in a pinch. Maybe it's pillow fort and/or sleepover time?? Go find a partner and take care of yourself]

[The footprint ghost will linger throughout the weekend before disappearing on Monday morning]

[ALSO PLEASE USE THIS POST FOR ANY AND ALL MINGLE THINGS EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT RELATED TO FOOTPRINT GHOST. I'M NOT THE BOSS OF YOU]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[oh my god]

Is that actually a thing??

Yep. You go crazy from the cold and start thinking you're too hot.

If that happens, can I trust you to put me out of my misery?

[HE'S JOKING. . . PROBABLY. . .]

It’s okay, your failing nervous system will take care of that when that happens.

But I heard it happens around when the body gets the instinct to burrow under somewhere sheltered…

But not before I embarrass myself in front of god and everyone?

[a little wry as he shoots her a Look(TM)]

I'm not that gullible.

[giggles UNABASHED and crouches down to climb under the table with him]

It's true, though! You're fine, but it really does happen. Both things!

[?!?! gives her a bemused look, but otherwise scoots over to make room]

. . . really?

[huuuuuh]

I've never thought too deeply about what extreme cold could do to a guy's head. . .

I mean, it's not like it's a fun thing to think about.

[wryly]

Can confirm, considering I'm probably two steps away from becoming the world's first living ice cube.

[ducks further into his blanket burrito, pulling it up over his mouth and nose]

. . . seriously, this is the worst.

For you and the rest of us.

[scoots closer to his burrito]

Lift your arm.

[blinks??]

[. . . but then obliges, slowly unfurling from underneath the blanket so she may tuck herself beneath his arm]

That's it? Not even a polite "please?"

[cozies up under his arm and gives him her MOST INNOCENT MOST PRETTIEST smile]

Pleeeease, can I help you not freeze into the next Iceman mummy~?

[. . . looks away!!! if his cheeks are a bit pink, no they aren't!!]

Oh, so you're doing this for my sake? And not because you're trying to steal my extremely comfortable blanket burrito?

Both things can be true. It is an extremely comfortable blanket burrito.

Of course it is.

[as though he was the one who made it comfortable?? either way, he drapes the blanket across her shoulders before withdrawing his arm, wrapping it around himself as he huddles next to her side, body still trembling with shivers]

If I'm going to be miserably cold, then I'm at least making myself cozy for it.

[pulls her knees up to her chest and hugs them for just that extra bit of warmth]

You're uncomfortable but still also comfortable?

[yes]

Two things can be true at once.

[rocking a bit towards her, instinctively chasing the warmth of her body heat]

Hey, no! Don't use my words against me!

[a cheeky smile]

But that's one of my best talents!

Edited (when u hit enter too early) 2025-09-13 02:55 (UTC)

[swats at his shoulder and laughs, nooo!! don't be proud of that!!]

That's not a talent, that's a parrot!

[rocks away a bit with the swat, quirking his brows at her]

No, a parrot just mimics exactly what you say, without regard for timing or meaning. I pay careful attention to the last two things.

[scoots a little after him]

So you're a smart parrot.

[she scoots after him just as he rocks back in her direction, which means they're much closer now, sitting pressed shoulder-to-shoulder, with enough warmth to thaw Puck's chill blossoming between them. if his cheeks are pink. . . once again, no they aren't!]

Not a parrot at all! A wordsmith.

Edited (ONE DAY I'LL PROOFREAD BEFORE HITTING SEND) 2025-09-15 21:17 (UTC)

[she leans against his shoulder and laughs. she doesn't have any shyness about space! she's just happy to be warm]

Oh a wordsmith, I see! This is artisanal sass.

[ARTISANAL SASS. . .]

[an amused li'l grin]

Glad you're recognizing my craft for what it is.

[art?? is his craft. . . art?? he does not actually believe that it is; he is just being a li'l silly]

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