Mistletoe Mayhem - Winter Wonderland
Hogwarts has decked the halls this holiday season but one thing seems to be missing - mistletoe! On this cold winter evening, the Hogwarts castle is bustling with energy and excitement with holly and wreaths and tinsel and so many other decorations hung around the Great Hall. A roaring hearth crackles in the ambiance and magically warms the giant room. The scent of roasting chestnuts wafts in the air. The tables dropped with holiday flare. Fake snow is falling magically and gently from the vaulted ceilings and dissipating over the students heads. A perfect recipe for a fated rendezvous!
Unbeknownst to others, Dennis Tumberton, the third year flaming haired Ravenclaw, found a large batch old dusty mistletoe in an old storage closet in a lost hallway. It would be a real shame if these beautiful ornaments were left to just gather dust and cobwebs in a lonely corner of Hogwarts! So, blowing off a thick layer of dust and with a cough, Dennis picked up the box and skipped down the hall. It was time to bring the joy of love and kisses to the other students! Will today be another winter wonderland? He was now on the prowl for his first victim opportunity!
Who will find love? Who will walk away scarred for life? Time will tell and once the mistletoe was in Dennis’ hands, one thing was certain: there was no turning back!
Unbeknownst to others, Dennis Tumberton, the third year flaming haired Ravenclaw, found a large batch old dusty mistletoe in an old storage closet in a lost hallway. It would be a real shame if these beautiful ornaments were left to just gather dust and cobwebs in a lonely corner of Hogwarts! So, blowing off a thick layer of dust and with a cough, Dennis picked up the box and skipped down the hall. It was time to bring the joy of love and kisses to the other students! Will today be another winter wonderland? He was now on the prowl for his first victim opportunity!
Who will find love? Who will walk away scarred for life? Time will tell and once the mistletoe was in Dennis’ hands, one thing was certain: there was no turning back!
WELCOME TO MISTLETOE MAYHEM!
OOC INFORMATION:
1. To participate, you must be indexed. If you are not indexed yet, please apply here.
2. Moderation will occur every week. First moderated post will happen 4 January 2026
3. Your character is allowed one moderated action per round. Please specify your moderated action somewhere OOC in your post. Moderated actions are those actions that requires rolls like casting a spell on someone, physically fighting (like punching) with someone, surprising someone etc. Rolls are not needed for pre-decided or consented actions, like asking someone for a kiss teehee. Each round doesn't require a moderated action if none are present, I will still post the next round to keep things going!
4. Please include your abilities and stats in your post.
5. Dennis will come for a visit after both participants have posted their entry.
6. Please follow all usual HIO rules.
This is the thread for @Pyce Rotanski and Dennis Tumberton
Last edited by Dennis Tumberton on 16 Jan 2026, 02:14, edited 1 time in total.
Adult: Makaio Kāne | iNPC: Maria Leung de Almeida
Mistletoe Mayhem - Winter Wonderland
created by brookline quinn!
Winter break had been inching ever nearer and Pyce had taken notice. With it came the cold that Pyce was never quite prepared for, no matter how many winters they had lived through.
So the little lion was bundled in as warm of an outfit as they could spare today, sat as close to the hearth as they could manage. A mug of warm cider was at their side, and in front of them, their Charms homework was sprawled over the table. Pyce loved Charms, they really did. The class was fun and the teacher was charming, pun intended. But that didn't change the fact that Pyce was incredibly bad at it. Not the writing, no, Pyce could write on about the etymology of any incantations, languages were just interesting like that. The history of any given spell? Easy! Pyce had read up on so many, and never minded reading up on more. What Pyce couldn't do was the more practical side of Charms. For reasons unknown, they were completely and utterly miserable at it.
So they were spending their free time in the Great Hall, studying up. If only reading could equate magical know-how. There were quite a few other students gathered around the hall as well. Most sitting at their respective house tables, but certain cross-house friend groups were bunched at one house or another. Pyce would have sat at the Ravenclaw table just for fun, but their own sorting still stung, just a little.
Pyce had certainly warmed up to Gryffindor since September, meeting and joining the broom racing team, helping win the house cup. It instilled a sense of house pride in them that they couldn't ignore. But something in them still desperately wanted to be a Ravenclaw. Whatever it was, Pyce pushed it to the back of their mind, where it belonged.
They tapped their wand against the table, staring at their papers as if something on them was going to say exactly what Pyce was doing wrong. It hadn't happened yet, but at this point, the only thing that was going to help Pyce in performing spells was a damn miracle.
359
Vibing, right now
ReducioStamina: 6 ✧ Evasion: 8 ✧ Strength: 4 ✧ Wisdom: 6 ✧ ArcPower: 4 ✧ Accuracy: 7
Comprehend Languages (Parselmouth)
"The only thing stopping me from having a dragon living in my backyard is the law. Absolutely nothing else."
Mistletoe Mayhem - Winter Wonderland
“Jingle bells, jingle bells…” the song played on loop in the Ravenclaw’s head as he pranced through the halls with his box of mistletoe. Life was so grand, aside from a cough or two that seemed to echo endlessly through the passageways even above all the hustle and bustle of the other students. What was with that anyway? He’d have to go see Zach about that later. No time for worrying about impending illness when there was romance to do! And, romance there shall be!
Dennis eventually wound his way into the Great Hall. Everything seemed so ordinary in that way when you look at something larger-than-life for so long it loses its strange otherworldly nature. Well, things would change if Dennis had anything to do with it! There was of course Christmas trees and tinsel and bells and various other bobs and doodads that marked the holiday season but there was one thing missing from all of the festivities: the mistletoes rattling ominously in his box!
The red head took a gander out over the heads of the students until he stopped on one Gryffindor who was, for all purposes particularly pragmatic for Dennis, minding their own business. Bouncing over, his box jing-jing-jingling, Dennis greeted the lion so lost in their own thought. “Why, ‘ello, there. What are you up to? A little bit of studying? Odd for the red team, yeah? Good on ya. Perhaps I might be of some service,” the readily socialable Dennis said as if they were the best of friends already. He sat down and slid the box on the bench beside him opposite his new companion.
Dennis eventually wound his way into the Great Hall. Everything seemed so ordinary in that way when you look at something larger-than-life for so long it loses its strange otherworldly nature. Well, things would change if Dennis had anything to do with it! There was of course Christmas trees and tinsel and bells and various other bobs and doodads that marked the holiday season but there was one thing missing from all of the festivities: the mistletoes rattling ominously in his box!
The red head took a gander out over the heads of the students until he stopped on one Gryffindor who was, for all purposes particularly pragmatic for Dennis, minding their own business. Bouncing over, his box jing-jing-jingling, Dennis greeted the lion so lost in their own thought. “Why, ‘ello, there. What are you up to? A little bit of studying? Odd for the red team, yeah? Good on ya. Perhaps I might be of some service,” the readily socialable Dennis said as if they were the best of friends already. He sat down and slid the box on the bench beside him opposite his new companion.
@Pyce Rotanski
Adult: Makaio Kāne | iNPC: Maria Leung de Almeida
Mistletoe Mayhem - Winter Wonderland
created by brookline quinn!
Pyce's attention caught onto the jingling of bells rather quickly. Usually, they'd think nothing of it. It was Christmas time and it seemed that was just the norm now. However, the sound was approaching them. Pyce looked up from their book to see a rather festive Ravenclaw holding a box. The boy started talking without introduction, not that Pyce particularly minded, especially since he offered to help them.
And now that it was mentioned, Pyce didn't really see too many people from their own house studying. And if this boy was offering to help, who was Pyce to decline! The Ravenclaw took a seat across from Pyce and set his box down on the table.
"Do you happen to know anything about Charms? I'm not really the best at casting spells... I'm Pyce, by the way!" Pyce was definitely getting better at talking to people as the months passed. And, if anyone could help them with their homework struggles, it'd be a Ravenclaw! And then, before they could get too far into homework talk, Pyce thought to ask about the box, before their curiosity could completely derail them. "Also, if you don't mind me asking; What's in the box?" It'd probably take attention Pyce couldn't spare right now if it went unanswered.
@Dennis Tumberton
212
Still vibing
ReducioStamina: 6 ✧ Evasion: 8 ✧ Strength: 4 ✧ Wisdom: 6 ✧ ArcPower: 4 ✧ Accuracy: 7
Comprehend Languages (Parselmouth)
"The only thing stopping me from having a dragon living in my backyard is the law. Absolutely nothing else."
Mistletoe Mayhem - Winter Wonderland
What a cool name Pyce was, Dennis thought. It rhymed with so many things! Nice, dice, twice, guise, mice, wise, rice…rice…man Dennis was hungry huh? “I’m Dennis, Dennis Tumberton. But all my friends call me Denners, if you’d like,” he said returning the salutations. It was his usual introduction, whether anyone actually called him Denners was up to them. “I know thing or two about Charms. Used to be on the dueling team, in fact.” He leaned over, one arm on the bench as he tried to get a better look at the spell that was causing his new friend problems.
He almost forgot about the box in its entirety, and, well, his whole mission for that matter, until Pyce called attention back to it. “Oh!” The Ravenclaw said as if he was struck with the most wonderful idea ever. “This thing?” He asked as he hoisted from its position and setting it on the table with a thump, dust flying everywhere from the half folded lid. He waved his hand to clear the dust from his vision and then opened it. “Know what a mistletoe is, Pyce?” He asked bending over the box to view its contest and looking back at them with a mischievous smile.
He almost forgot about the box in its entirety, and, well, his whole mission for that matter, until Pyce called attention back to it. “Oh!” The Ravenclaw said as if he was struck with the most wonderful idea ever. “This thing?” He asked as he hoisted from its position and setting it on the table with a thump, dust flying everywhere from the half folded lid. He waved his hand to clear the dust from his vision and then opened it. “Know what a mistletoe is, Pyce?” He asked bending over the box to view its contest and looking back at them with a mischievous smile.
@Pyce Rotanski
Adult: Makaio Kāne | iNPC: Maria Leung de Almeida
Mistletoe Mayhem - Winter Wonderland
created by brookline quinn!
Denners sounded like a fun nickname! But what caught Pyce's complete interest was- "You used to duel? That sounds awesome! I don't think I could ever do that." Pyce had so many questions about dueling but those could wait. Because they got the feeling they were about to discover what exactly was in the box!
Dennis moved the box to the table, sending a plume of dust from it. Pyce tried not to cough, but failed miserably. It took a moment before Pyce could breathe like a normal person again.
"Mistletoe?" They started, voice slightly choked from the dust. "It's an obligate hemiparasite! It has white berries and is evergreen. Assuming it's native, the mistletoe would be viscum album specifically.
Because it's a hemiparasite, it can actually photosynthesize a bit on it's own, so it doesn't need to completely rely on a host plant! It's also bloody poisonous. But it's used in potions! In the antidote for common poisons, if I'm correct. Something about it helping build up an immunity? But I think it has also been used in some muggle medicine." Herbology and Potions were very fun and so much easier than Charms. The lessons were even easier to remember! At least, Pyce thought so. They didn't have nearly so many notes on either class since they managed to remember so much from both. As compared to Charms, where Pyce basically copied lessons down word for word, complete with diagrams and other things.
They tilted their head in a manner far too similar to a confused puppy. "Is that what's in the box?"
Shoutout to Wikipedia for finding the scientific name and double-checking my facts for mistletoe
264
Nerding out
ReducioStamina: 6 ✧ Evasion: 8 ✧ Strength: 4 ✧ Wisdom: 6 ✧ ArcPower: 4 ✧ Accuracy: 7
Comprehend Languages (Parselmouth)
@Dennis Tumberton
"The only thing stopping me from having a dragon living in my backyard is the law. Absolutely nothing else."
Mistletoe Mayhem - Winter Wonderland
Dennis paused as this Pyce character explained the botanical nature of the old crusty props that were jingling in his box. The Ravenclaw blinked and gave the Gryffindor an impressed look of appreciation. Not all Gryffindors were dullards it seemed. Good on this one! He cleared his voice and praised the other student, still bent over the table, “Very good. Yes, indeed! Well. In addition to that…” Dennis grabbed one of the jolly decorations and threw it into the air. Taking his wand out in a smooth motion, he cast, “Wingardium leviosa!”
The spell easily took hold (Dennis, WDC 8: 1d20+8=11; PASS) and Dennis turned around and hovered it over Pyce’s head, returning to his own seat. Some of the dust sprinkling into the air but had no affect on the first year (Pyce, Sta DC: 1d20+6=24; NOT INFECTED…yet). “As I was saying,” the third year said with a teasing smile, “In addition to your encyclopedic knowledge, tradition dictates that whoever is caught under one of these has to kiss anyone else under it as well.” He gave Pyce a look as he jiggled the mistletoe overhead, it’s bells ringing clearly through the great hall, even if it started to shake angrily. “What do you say, my friend? Care to have a try?”
The spell easily took hold (Dennis, WDC 8: 1d20+8=11; PASS) and Dennis turned around and hovered it over Pyce’s head, returning to his own seat. Some of the dust sprinkling into the air but had no affect on the first year (Pyce, Sta DC: 1d20+6=24; NOT INFECTED…yet). “As I was saying,” the third year said with a teasing smile, “In addition to your encyclopedic knowledge, tradition dictates that whoever is caught under one of these has to kiss anyone else under it as well.” He gave Pyce a look as he jiggled the mistletoe overhead, it’s bells ringing clearly through the great hall, even if it started to shake angrily. “What do you say, my friend? Care to have a try?”
@Pyce Rotanski
Rolls:
1. Dennis: WDC 8
1d20+8=11; PASS
2. Infection: Pyce Sta DC 10
1d20+6=24; NOT INFECTED…yet
Adult: Makaio Kāne | iNPC: Maria Leung de Almeida
Mistletoe Mayhem - Winter Wonderland
created by brookline quinn!
Pyce preened a bit under the praise from Dennis. They tried their absolute best to be as smart as the Ravenclaw they wished they were, so it was nice actually hearing that from a real Ravenclaw. However, it was completely on Pyce for forgetting what mistletoe was typically used for during the holiday season. Hecate was the kind of person who insisted they have it in the house, and Pyce supposed that they just regarded it as another Christmas decoration.
They watched the charmed mistletoe to float in the air, and briefly glanced back at their notes. Clearly, those would have to wait a little bit.
Pyce flushed red, cheeks heating up. "Well- um- that's-" It was a bit embarrassing, wasn't it? Pyce bowed their head slightly, hair falling over their face and obscuring their expression.
What did they say? It wasn't like they had ever been put in this situation before! Stella had gotten it into her head that being under the mistletoe meant hugs, on the occasion Pyce had been to her house over the holiday season. And that was... A few years ago. Her hugs could be more like chokeholds too. Overall, pretty good hugs, so long as you were okay with not breathing for a bit.
That was- Not what was happening. Pyce floundered for a little bit longer. It wasn't like it was an actual problem, they could just answer the question, and it'd be over! Well- maybe with a quick peck or something. That was fine, right? Pyce was overthinking. They really needed to stop doing that.
@Dennis Tumberton
263
Overthinking, poor thing
ReducioStamina: 6 ✧ Evasion: 8 ✧ Strength: 4 ✧ Wisdom: 6 ✧ ArcPower: 4 ✧ Accuracy: 7
Comprehend Languages (Parselmouth)
"The only thing stopping me from having a dragon living in my backyard is the law. Absolutely nothing else."
Mistletoe Mayhem - Winter Wonderland
Pyce continued to prove to be the paragon of health as the disastrously disgusting dandruff snowed down on the pair (Pyce, Sta DC 12; 1d20+6=12; PASS, Still not infected). Seriously, what does it take to get this Gryffindor sick? While others in Dennis’ path have fallen victim to the sticky icky mistletoe, of course unbeknownst to our flaming hair boy wonder (Dennis), Pyce was clearly built different.
For his part, the Ravenclaw watched with amusement as his new friend shifted between a variety of emotions. First there was a slow dawning of realization that they might have missed a key part of the plan up until now. Second there was panic set in their eyes as they also realized that Dennis was asking consent to kiss them. The Gryffindor stammered a bit clearly flustered by the proposition before giving what looked like a timid yet resigned look. Was it explicit consent? Well, no, but it was good enough for Dennis. He leaned over the short distance separating and, feigning to kiss the younger student, planted a peck on Pyce’s cheek. Dennis gave the first year a little wink and a playful smile as he sat back down. “Merry Christmas!” He grinned as he levitated the mistletoe back in the box. With that, like the playful and mischievous Puck he was, Dennis got up, gave Pyce one last knowing look, and skipped away.
For his part, the Ravenclaw watched with amusement as his new friend shifted between a variety of emotions. First there was a slow dawning of realization that they might have missed a key part of the plan up until now. Second there was panic set in their eyes as they also realized that Dennis was asking consent to kiss them. The Gryffindor stammered a bit clearly flustered by the proposition before giving what looked like a timid yet resigned look. Was it explicit consent? Well, no, but it was good enough for Dennis. He leaned over the short distance separating and, feigning to kiss the younger student, planted a peck on Pyce’s cheek. Dennis gave the first year a little wink and a playful smile as he sat back down. “Merry Christmas!” He grinned as he levitated the mistletoe back in the box. With that, like the playful and mischievous Puck he was, Dennis got up, gave Pyce one last knowing look, and skipped away.
@Pyce Rotanski
Action: Dennis exits.
Rolls:
1. Pyce, Sta DC 12; 1d20+6=12; PASS, Still not infected
Adult: Makaio Kāne | iNPC: Maria Leung de Almeida