songerein | { stroke of midnight }

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{ stroke of midnight }

STROKE OF MIDNIGHT

Although the Masquerade is being held on the night of the Fourteenth, some new problems arise in the days after. This log is split into two sections, the Masquerade and Around Town. Everyone is free to participate in either or both, whichever catches your interest.

More details on everything can be found here and here. As a reminder, events double as our TDMs and information can be found here with arrival details here. Any outside characters participating in the log are canonly logged as appearing in Songerein in February and will remain in Songerein from the IC date of February 14 through 28. TDM only characters can only thread within this log. Anyone who apps in and is accepted will have their character count February as their first time in the game without any disruption, so all content will carry over. Those who do not apply will disappear which should not seem too unusual, however players in game can choose to retcon and pretend a character was never there to begin with if it would be easier; or even think their presence was just a dream.

IMPORTANT! All outside characters MUST have "TDM" in their subject line, even if you might not app. This will help people differentiate those who are already in the game and those who are not.

TDM threads are required for samples. Refer to the Game Info for general information and feel free to toss any questions here. Reserves will open Wednesday, February 22nd and Applications will open on March 1. Our next cycle after won't be until JULY.

TDM Toplevel Link Directory (click to view, updated 02/22)

Avatar: The Legend of Korra - Korra
Avatar: The Last Airbender - Iroh
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night - Miriam
Chainsaw Man - Power
Dr. STONE - Dr. Senku Ishigami
Elsworld - Noah Ebalon (Nyx Pieta)
Final Fantasy VII - Cloud Strife
Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core - Zack Fair
Final Fantasy XIV - Erichthonios
Final Fantasy XV - Noctis Lucis Caelum
Final Fantasy XV - Prompto Argentum
Genshin Impact - Shikanoin Heizou
I Was a Teenage Exocolonist - Solanaceae
Katekyou Hitman Reborn - Hayato Gokudera
Kingdom Hearts - Ienzo
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - Link
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - Sheik
Marvel Cinematic Universe - Kate Bishop
NieR: Automata - 9S
Percy Jackson & the Olympians - Jason Grace
Percy Jackson & the Olympians - Nico di Angelo
Persona 3: FES - Shinjiro Aragaki
SinoAlice - Sleeping Beauty
Tales of Arise - Shionne Vymer Imeris Daymore
Tales of Symphonia - Kratos Aurion
Tales of Symphonia - Martel Yggdrasil
Tales of Zestiria - Mikleo
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 - Sena
Your Wings and Mine - Shealtiel

We will request any thread submissions for certain prompts during AC and TDM threads will count. For more information, refer to the Game Notes.

I. MASQUERADE

It's time for the masquerade and the carriages will start arriving before sunset. Upon arrival, everyone who leaves the carriage (or mercilessly spat out if they try to resist) will be greeted by fairy godmothers with an eye for the most dramatic and extravagant fashion. It's a masquerade, after all! For those who already arrive with their outfits, the fairy godmothers may add a little embellishment here and or just change it completely if they think it could look better. For those who did not, they will create a whole new outfit that would fit the wearer perfectly—with magic of course. They will also create the masks and half of the glass slipper brooch that everyone will wear. The masks are enchanted so that regardless of obvious personality or physical traits, they are somehow unrecognizable at first. While it is possible to figure it out through interaction, or if it's someone they already know well, it's more likely they need to reveal their identity first. These outfits can be kept even after the masquerade is over.

A. Get in the Carriage. As the pegasus drawn carriages begin to arrive to transport those who have decided to attend the masquerade, there is some commotion from others. The pair of coach mice—who are only about four feet tall—can be found smiling and cheerily squeaking about the masquerade as they grab and literally throw protesting individuals into the carriage, whereupon the door will immediately shut behind them. Ho ho ho, it'll be such a grand time! Will anyone try to help the poor soul? Or perhaps help the mice? Maybe you're a struggling victim instead. Should anyone want to try and drive the carriage, they might have a chance…but good luck having the pegasi listen to them. Eventually the carriage will land and take them to the front of the castle where the masquerade is hosted.

B. Half of a Pair. Near the entrance, everyone is encouraged to pull out one or more of the shoe brooches contained in a large bowl. The rules are simple: 1) use the brooch to lead them to the person wearing the other half; 2) spend whatever time or activity with them, be it general socializing, a dance, a walk in the gardens; 3) keep the brooch or return it to a designated "Used" bowl. The brooches will absorb whatever kind of dreamotion energy is formed between the two, and the stronger it is, the brighter (if positive) or darker (if negative) it will glow. The interaction can be romantic, platonic, or hostile. For those who do happen to "click" and wish for some privacy, there are numerous terraces and balconies available. Some are public, but there are quite a few with curtains, so be sure to close them to signal the balcony is occupied!

C. Dancing in the Air. The main draw will be the dance floor, and the ballroom is wide and spacious to accommodate numerous pairs to dance to their hearts' content—the music is played by enchanted instruments so they'll keep going without much of a break! Of course, what makes this dance floor truly special is how it uses dreamotion energy to lift everyone up—literally. Pairs who are having a fun time may find themselves floating up and dancing in the air instead of on the ground. Somehow they can maintain some balance…but it's just as easy to lose it.

D. Royal Banquet. There are numerous tables one can use and be served an assortment of foods. In fact, one could make special requests and somehow the dragons serving will be able to make it, or at least as close as possible. One just has to imprint the idea of the dish onto a special card that the chefs will use to recreate it. There are also two bowls filled with special tear drop chocolates, one with only white, pink, and red, and the other filled with the other colors. The "game" is to randomly choose one from each bowl and share a kiss depending on what is picked.

E. Out in the Gardens. Every castle has extravagant gardens, and this one is no different. Filled with numerous pink, red, and white flowers, the gardens have their typical fare…with not so typical effects.

Extravagant mazes that one could easily get lost in are common, but what's special about these gardens is that the flowers will emit a soft, sweet scent that will feel as if they are walking through a dream. In fact, the section they are going through will begin to change to look like a place from their world and must now find their way out. When this change happens, only those who are in the area will be affected and no one else can enter the area until the main person affected gets out. Those inside can help, and there are no threats—it's all in simple fun…unless the place evokes certain memories and emotions for the person. Might not be as fun for them, then.
A crystal greenhouse where the temperature is perfectly warm (or cold!) and houses various different flowers. Here some may recognize flowers from their world, the scents also creating nostalgia. There are instructions left that indicate anyone can try to help grow the flowers. The key ingredient will be dreamotion energy, and should they succeed in creating a blossom, a small marble containing a symbol of their home. There are also special daisies that can be used to play the "they love me they love me not" game. If the last petal is "they love me," then become extra flirty and clingy. If it's "love me not," they become angry, jealous, and possessive. The effects only last for a short time…unless they keep plucking flowers.
The white fountain in the center of the gardens will have a bit of a musical playful side. It will splash colorful water at any who pass by, chime-like notes playing out as it does. But if one were to drop a flower that has absorbed positive dreamotion into its water, it will calm and let people sit to look and relax. There is also a strange frog wearing a crown that claims to be a prince. For those who believe its words that a kiss will free him from the curse, they will be sorely disappointed as nothing happens and the frog just laughs and hops away.

II. AROUND TOWN

A. Mask Up. Attracted by the masquerade, some enchanted masks have found their way to town and are now finding their way onto people, be it by tricking their victims to be put on or just forcibly latching themselves on. Depending on the type of mask, the wearer will behave based on a festive, dramatic emotion. While wearing the mask, the dreamotion that is projected is stronger. Examples are angry emotions will cause tremors and cracks on the ground, happiness could blind people or will cause confetti to fly everywhere, while sad ones will cause clouds and drizzling rain to appear overhead. The only way to remove it is to somehow make the other person feel the opposite of whatever emotion the mask is using. Once the mask’s emotion is countered and stabilized, it could be removed or even fall off if the countering emotion is strong enough. Masks can also be captured and collected before they attach to someone.

B. Special Messages. Throughout the month, valentine's are being delivered to people all over town. Some are even receiving some from the fae and dragons who live outside… Perhaps some caution should be had from those. Regardless, while the messages are brimming with both platonic and romantic (and questionable) love, the messengers are a bit… Well they need help.

Insightful Mockingbirds. Special mockingbirds are flying around and perch on random shoulders. They have the ability to "read" a person's thoughts and repeat them out loud. Without warning. Hope there aren't any secrets because that bird is going to make it public, especially if it's an observation or thought—good or bad—about another person. Good luck shooing it away, too—it'll stick around for a while because it might enjoy sowing this bit of chaos.
Arrow Delivery. The group from last year have decided to use their prank arrows for good and start a business in delivering special Valentine's messages via arrow. A "shot to the heart" in the less literal sense this time! While some of their archers are skilled, others are…less so. Some are hitting a bit too close to comfort or way off the mark. Some messages are going to the wrong person entirely. Help avoid, retrieve, or even deliver these messages around town.

C. Candy Kisses. A special assortment of flat bottomed, tear shaped chocolates are currently selling like hotcakes and can be found practically everywhere. Their main selling point is they come in different colors and each color has a special effect that will make the eater want to kiss the person near them in a certain way (see chart). Some people are deliberately swapping the wrappers around, so be careful!

D. Bleeding Hearts Return. It's Valentine's, yet Cupid is nowhere to be seen. That is because he's still corrupted from last year and now he's thirsting for love, any love. Using the Bleeding Hearts from last year, Cupid is using them to gather all that jealous, possessive love, but of course that's going to make it worse. We're not tackling Cupid here, but the main goal will be helping those who are afflicted by the Bleeding Hearts and purifying them via dreamotion instead of just destroying them. Purifying the Bleeding Hearts with pure love—romantic, platonic, familial, reminders of how they are loved and cared for by others—will help Cupid. Of course this could backfire and make the person feel worse, so be careful!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Huh?

( That's so accusatory!! And here he was going to ask about the weird glowy spot, but now he's frowning, scrubbing at the side of his cheek with a finger. )

I didn't leave, I... just sort of ended up back home.

( A pause. The word "home" sounds weird, when he thinks about it in context, and that's not true, was it? He doesn't have a home. He frowns harder now, clearing his throat. It takes him a moment, but he pushes himself up to his feet, beginning to wring the water out of himself, hair first. )

Or whatever. The point is, I definitely, probably didn't leave on my own. I don't even remember how I got out of that place, but where are we now? Is what everyone's saying real?

[That was leaving. That was the leaving. He left her-

"Azula," the voice insists, "he didn't mean to leave you." Rrgh. Before, the violence had at least kept her at bay for a while. Without even thinking about it, she snaps at the reflection in the window-]

He abandoned me!

[... aaaaand she had said that out loud. Rrgh. This was intolerable. It was worse because the intervening months had almost made her forget how insistent her mother's voice was, how maddening, how-

She suddenly forces a calm smile, addressing him as if he somehow hadn't just seen her insane outburst]

... what the Tapirs told you is correct.

...

( Um. Is he supposed to pretend she never said that? He thinks he's supposed to pretend he never heard that, at least.

But it's a little difficult, considering how emotionally she'd just spat it out, and how it makes his own stomach sink a little in guilt. But that's not fair, he immediately thinks afterwards. He's had no control of where he's been or what he's doing for ages now, and...

Ugh. But he knows what it's like to be left alone. Shealtiel tries to keep the awkward silence short. )

...And you've been here this whole time? It's been... ( Weeks? Months? Ugh, actually thinking about the time specifics makes his head hurt. )

[How long had it been? Actually, she couldn't quite remember what day it was. Was it a week after the masquerade? Two weeks? Well, before the masquerade it had been-]

Four months.

["It's a long time to be alone"

Shut up, mother. Rrgh. Ridiculous. As if she was some sentimental child, weeping just to be alone. As if she hadn't been alone for years.]

It's been cold and miserable. How have you been?

[No. No. Too bitter. Too-

"You don't have to do this, Azula. Just tell him."

Her lip curls into a snarl as she glares at the window again.]

( Talk about mixed emotions. Shealtiel may be stupid, but he's not so blind as to ignore what Azula is showing here. She missed him? Why?? And yet, even if he can't understand it, his chest swells a bit with warmth at the idea of someone— anyone, really— caring about him that much.

He'd probably even be confident enough to comment on it if it weren't for the whole... psychotic break thing she has going on here. Or what is it? She keeps looking at the window, and she keeps flicking between supreme upset and faked calm. )

...Not great, but don't worry about that. What do you keep looking at?

( Another pause, and he takes a single step forward, like he's considering something. )

You have something on your chest, too. What's going on?

It's nothing.

["Azula, he's your friend. You can trust him."

You know my thoughts on trust, mother, shut-

Wait. Something on her-

She glances down. She'd... seen that, but it was like she'd had the thought driven from her mind. A manifestation of the nightmare dreamotion she's been practicing with, or another hallucination like the maddening voice in the reflections-]

I don't... know.

Azula.

( The way Shealtiel speaks isn't usually this intense, but it's clear that there's worry there. Seriousness is written across his face, and his fingers flex at his sides as he contemplates pulling his weapon out. The thing is... )

Are you seeing things? It could be some kind of a demon. It looks like whatever it is is inside of you.

( His main theory, so far, is that she's being possessed. Part way, maybe? By a dangerous entity? His stomach sinks with guilt, with complex emotions he hasn't sorted through yet, but he knows he wants to help Azula.

That's love, isn't it? Protective love, the love of friendship. That might be enough to make that creature stir, even if he doesn't know it. )

[A demon?

She recalls, at one point, researching them. Because of him, actually, like angels, but it was... later. She didn't think any were here- Well, except a couple of the fellow villagers, perhaps, but she rarely interacted with them.

Her train of thought is interrupted by an odd twisting feeling- a clenching in her chest, something painful and deep, as much emotional as physical, and the faint reddish hue from her chest suddenly flares brighter.]

What-

[She suddenly forces her face back to a more neutral expression.]

I've dealt with these hallucinations before. They pass with time. I'm fine.

["He's trying to help you, Azula. It's not the first time, why won't you believe him?"

She narrows her eyes, but otherwise doesn't respond.]

( There— the red glow is reacting! Is it coming closer? Maybe it feels threatened that Shealtiel is onto it? He's not really thinking about the fact that if this demon is a demon, and does show itself, he definitely would get sick looking at its wings. He also doesn't think about how he's never managed to kill one before, or how extra conflicted he's been feeling lately.

Instead, he's thinking about what Azula must be going through. Remembering her stubborn refusal to mention her own difficulties at all. The bandaging of his own burns, the scolding of him rushing into a fire when she had done the same... )

First of all, I don't think hallucinations are normal, but we can skip that for now.

( He's a lot more willing to confront her when she's not his direct superior or comrade. And... maybe being friends has helped, too. Even if it's been a while, and his memory strangely hadn't recalled her during it at all, he now can clear as day. Why?? Ugh, frustrating.

He points straight at the glow on her chest with his left hand, frowning more intensely. )

Second of all, look! It's glowing brighter the more I talk about it! It clearly knows I'm onto it. Get out of there so I can slay you properly, foul demon!! You picked the wrong human to prey on.

( Wow, he's not even embarrassed saying that. He cares! )

["He can see it, Azula, he's concerned for you."

Absurd. Nobody has ever been-

"I'm concerned for you."]

You're not even here.

[She shouts that at the window, then blinks. What if Shealtiel wasn't even here? He hadn't been the subject of her hallucinations yet, but...

No. It was family before. People she cared about- not that she cared about them. Should have cared about? If she weren't a monster?]

It's probably just the nightmares. They're unpredictable, but they're the only way I can-

[And then she suddenly doubles over, gritting her teeth as the sensation in her chest gets worse, as the red glow seems to start pulling away from her chest.

She remembers pain, deep, searing agony in her shoulder as they relocate it. She remembers every other sense failing her. She remembers crying out. She remembers grabbing him, clutching to him for support without even realizing she was doing it-

The glow intensifies again and slows.]

Azula!

( This seems actually bad. Even if he's potentially making progress, is it causing her pain? But is there any way to get it out otherwise? It's not like he could stab her to get rid of the thing. As Shealtiel worriedly lurches forward, he places his left hand firmly on her shoulder, gripping to try and distract her attention elsewhere. His other hand summons his angelic weapon, wielding it to his side, but not with the intention of doing anything while this thing was using Azula as a shelter. It was defensive. In case it popped out. )

Get out of her, demon!! Come face me, instead!

( He squeezes again, not knowing what else to do. )

I'm here, even if whatever you're seeing isn't! So focus on me, and maybe that will help!

[The feeling of his hand on her shoulder grounds her, keeps her focused. She tries to ignore the pain, tries to compose herself. It doesn't happen. Her hand raises to grasp at his, clutching it tightly- too tightly- as the being suddenly wrenches free of her heart and lunges toward Shealtiel.

She staggers back, her mind still foggy, but then her eyes focus on the thing that just emerged from her. As it coalesces into a physical shape, she snarls in rage, calling a dagger of fire and swiping at it-

And then promptly missing the core as she passes out.]

( His eyes are immediately drawn to the wings, rather than the core itself. Black, dark, like a demon's— but so feathery and soft they can't help but remind him of an angel, all the same. His stomach twists in disgust at the image and the feelings it invokes, but he moves swiftly. It's unfortunate that he has to allow Azula to collapse without any aid, but his eyes now shift to the core, and holding back the sickening lurches of his stomach, he stabs forward with an accurate aim at the red crystal in the center. )

Not a chance!

( It shatters, and Shealtiel has to shield his eyes from the bright glow of the red that bursts and then fades away. But he did it, and he moves to drop next to Azula, leaving the weapon on the ground next to him as he tries to roll her onto her back and assure she's not hurt physically. )

Azula! Are you okay? ( ...A long enough of a pause will warrant him checking her pulse. He doesn't see her soul nearby, so she's probably fine, but... )

[It does take her... a fair bit of time to come around. Fortunately, her pulse and breathing are still normal, but it's over a minute later when she begins to stir- and suddenly jerks upward, calling the fire dagger again.]

Where is it?

[She seems more focused, at least?]

I... killed it.

( Thank goodness she's okay. Shealtiel relaxes a little at the sight of her jerking up like that, but he does reach out to touch her arm, as if to keep her from getting up too suddenly. His angelic spear is still on the floor next to him. He's too worried about another one of those "demons" showing up if he puts it away. )

At least I think I did. I shattered that red gem where its heart would normally be, and before I could move to behead it, it was gone. You collapsed right after it came out of you.

[She takes a few steadying breaths.

The panic, the anxiety, the conflicted emotions, they're... gone. What was that thing? She'd assumed it was about the-

...At least her mother's voice seems to have finally left her alone. She glances at Shealtiel's hand on her arm, seemingly puzzled by something, but apparently it's not worth mentioning, and she slowly climbs to her feet.]

I suppose I have to thank you. Again.

[She sounds mildly frustrated about it, but then, her voice always did sort of sound like that anyway.]

( Shealtiel is hesitant, letting his hand slip away from Azula as she stands. But after a moment, he stands too, his angelic weapon fading from where it rested on the floor. He rubs at the back of his head, a little uncertain on how to approach his concerns here.

She was... acting a little over the top. But she must have been dealing with so much. Who had she been seeing? What was she hallucinating? Did she mean any of the stuff she had yelled? )

You don't owe me anything.

( He wants to get straight to that point, recalling the incident with the explosions, the fire... But what had even happened after all of that? His mind feels fuzzy, replaced with everything that had happened back at home, and he frowns slightly as he drops his hand once more. )

I really don't know what happened. If you came here directly, and I didn't, that doesn't make any sense...

( He's pointedly not looking at her, and looking off to the side, instead. It's difficult to talk like this, to express his own feelings, or address her revealed ones. It's awkward. He feels bad. )

['You don't owe me anything.' So he kept insisting. She half-expected another intrusive memory to assail her, but fortunately, it didn't. Mostly, she felt... less, since she'd passed out. Less agitated. Less angry. Less of the odd pang she'd felt when she first saw him again.

It was a relief, if she was honest.]

Time seems to work... oddly here. Different people can travel here from different times, apparently. Oddities of a dream world.

What about that thing that was inside of you? That demon?

( Was that an oddity too? Shealtiel crosses his arms, finally looking back at Azula. )

Are you really okay? It was causing you to see all kinds of things. ( And she seems... tired. Normally he'd at least be feeling some sort of sass from her, but even that feels muted right now. That can't all be from the awkwardness of a reunion. )

[That, she had no answers for.]

It's dead now, that's what matters.

[Yes. Definitely. All that stuff about being abandoned and seeing things isn't important in the slightest.]

You told me it wasn't the first time.

( Shealtiel sounds a little more short than he normally dares to with Azula. There are a number of reasons for that. The concern, the progress of his own self after what he'd dealt with at home, the fact that she wasn't his superior here at all... They're just friends, as far as he's concerned.

There's something else he wants to say, unfolding his arms after a pause. )

You know I didn't actually leave on purpose, right?

[If she's bothered by his attitude, she doesn't show it. She does, however, narrow her eyes slightly at that last point.]

...of course you didn't. Don't be ridiculous.

[She doesn't address the other point. In fact, she doesn't address anything she said while she was... unsteady.]

Okay, good.

( Hmmm. You know what, he'll drop this for now, but not before giving a long and slightly sad stare at Azula's face.

Afterwards, he decides on something internally, scrubbing the side of his arm with the other as he turns slightly. )

Say, I got here pretty recently... So I haven't really found out where I should end up staying. I've just been wandering around.

( He does look a little sheepish about this. )

Do you have any suggestions?

( Is he shyly trying to be maybe-neighbors again? Perhaps. )

[She stares at him for a moment- probably a little longer than she really should. Was he-

She coughs, stumbles, and slumps loudly against a door. Not hers. The neighbor, the pathetic one- Shealtiel. Right. He wasn't so bad.

She breaks eye contact.]

Housing here is free, you can simply claim something that's unoccupied or find somebody to stay with. Most of the dwellings are treehouses.

[After a moment, she adds-]

I can show you mine, if you want some idea of what they're like. It's a bit out of the way.

[Nice and alone. Not many around her, because who would want to be near her, obviously.]

I don't mind out of the way.

( He feels... awkward, asking her directly like this. He could definitely figure it out himself. Wander somewhere, sit in some house and call it his temporary home. But...

Maybe it's their time in Hell, or maybe it's his time with Luciferen, but he doesn't want to be too alone anymore. Not like that. Personal space is very important, don't get him wrong, but... )

You should probably head back to rest anyway, so if you're already going, I could just tag along.

:>

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