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!

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[Percy looks at the hand on his shoulder, and then at the boy. he raises his eyebrows, and then sighs.]

...You're not one of those future guys again, are you?

[please don't stress him out again with spoilers like Leo did Jason--]

[Jason frowns, pausing where he was about to turn to sit in the opposite seat.]

The what?

[ what the fuck does that mean ]

[yeah, Percy realizes that probably doesn't make sense.

he sighs.]

Some kid named Leo showed up not too long ago, acting like he knew me and stuff. He told me a bunch of stuff that happened in my future, even though it doesn't make much sense to me.

[yet.]

I haven't seen you before...and if you know my name, you're either a monster finally coming to get me or a future guy.

[nailed it.]

"Some kid named Leo".

[The repetition is dripping with disbelief. Jason stares at him for a long moment with plenty of options for how he could respond to that – Leo being confirmed alive and well and present not even topping the list. But Percy doesn't sound like he's kidding, so that eliminates at least one of those options.

Finally, he sighs and drops heavily into the seat opposite Percy, running a hand over his face.]

I guess this is what it's like being on the opposite side of this situation for once...

[It's more talking to himself than an actual response. God, he's sick of this shit.]

That probably sounded bad. He's pretty cool, he's just got a lot of energy -- which is weird, coming from me.

[because he always thought he was the crazy one. Leo sometimes made Percy look normal.

but then he raises an eyebrow at Jason's next comment.]

What do you mean?

[Jason waves it off, slumping back in his seat.]

No, I get it, I know what he's like. He's my best friend. I'm just... I've dealt with the whole memory loss thing before. Not recognizing people or remembering anything we apparently did together. I know what it's like.

[It's just frustrating that that it's apparently an inescapable theme of his life, one way or another.]

[ah...that's rough, buddy.]

It kinda sounds like different times. I remember everything up until the Battle of Manhattan...and camp stuff.

[cough. making out with Annabeth in the lake.]

I remember hearing about the prophecy of the seven or whatever...so you're another one of them, I guess?

Yeah. I'm Jason. I don't know how much Leo's told you, but I'm the son of Jupiter.

[A beat, and he sits up to offer a hand to shake. It feels super weird introducing himself to someone he's spent so much time with, but it's how he wished people would have acted when he was on the opposite side of this problem. Not remembering things was stressful enough without people carrying on like he did and making him feel even more out of the loop.]

[Percy snaps his fingers, realization dawning on his face.]

You're Jason!! Yeah, Leo's...talked about you a lot.

[the understatement of the century. he hasn't shut up about the guy, but Percy hasn't shut up about Annabeth so he supposes Leo's valid.

but then he squints at Jason.]

You mean Zeus. [he sits up a little straighter, giving Jason another look now with a different light now.] You don't seem so bad, though.

[even though he definitely feels the need to prove himself to Jason now--because Poseidon is better and all that.]

Edited 2023-02-19 14:05 (UTC)

[Another sigh. Of course Leo didn't happen to explain the complicated stuff already.]

No, I mean Jupiter. I'm Roman. It's a whole thing.

[One he doesn't really feel like digging into at this exact moment with his head still throbbing from smacking it.]

I think you know my sister, though. My actual sister, I mean, not just godly related. Thalia actually is a daughter of Zeus.

[listen even if Leo had told him, he had infodumped so much that Percy probably didn't get all of it on the first listen anyway. that's been a whole thing.]

...Huh.

[maybe you shouldn't smack your head so much, Jason.]

Yep, I know Thalia. You're very... [waves his hand around.] chill in comparison.

[that's one way to put it.]

[Jason chuckles, the corners of his mouth twitching upwards a bit. He's been a bit stiff through this whole reintroduction, but just the mention of Thalia seems to soften him a bit. It's a step away from the default Son of Jupiter persona towards something slightly more relaxed.]

Yeah, you definitely know what she's like.

[Possibly more than Jason himself, which is not a nice thought, but he shoves that down. It's not very productive to dwell on everything he's forgotten and/or missed out on.]

Oh yeah. We almost got into a fistfight within five minutes of meeting each other.

[he talks about her like she's a pain in the ass, but he does miss her too. she's pretty cool, all things considered.]

But she's cool, after we got past all that.

I can definitely see that.

[Between Thalia being the way she is and Percy being fairly punchable sometimes? Yeah, he can see how putting the two of them together would go.

He pauses for a moment, thoughtful, before digging into his pocket and pulling something out. He holds it out to Percy – a photo strip featuring a younger Thalia, Annabeth, and Luke.]

I found that in Cabin One when I first came to Camp Half-Blood. Annabeth was the one who first told me about Thalia.

[as Percy leans forward and looks at the pictures, his heart squeezes almost painfully. Luke. Annabeth. even Thalia...they looked so young and innocent then.

he smiles in a sad way, thinking about her.]

Yeah, they were pretty close, those three.

[he still thinks it's incredibly sad, the way it all ended up.]

So you didn't know about her?

[Jason gives a little shrug, like it's no big deal, or at least like he's trying to think of it that way.]

Like I said, memory loss and all that. I hadn't seen her since I was two, and I couldn't even remember that part really. But seeing this helped spark that memory.

[He took the photo strip back, tucking it away in his pocket again. He liked to hold onto it for that same reason. He didn't want to ever forget her again.]

Are you sure it's some kind of...dream time-travel thing for you? Maybe it's just regular old memory loss and we could find something to remind you like that.

[he nods. it's not all that surprising, given how fucked up most demigod lives are.]

Leo thought that too, but then he looked at my arm.

[he holds out his bare forearm to Jason.]

I'm supposed to have something there, right? He said I got a tattoo or something.

[Oh, that's a solid point. Jason's eyebrows arch up at the bare skin and he nods thoughtfully.]

Ok, good evidence. Yeah, you had one like this.

[He rolls up his sleeve to brandish his own forearm with the SPQR tattoo.]

[he frowns at the tattoo.]

I didn't think Mom would let me get inked yet.

[and he looks back up at Jason.]

What's it mean, anyway?

"SPQR" is Latin, Senatus Populusque Romanus. "The Senate and People of Rome". The eagle is for Jupiter – I assume you had a trident for Neptune – and the tallies are for each year of service to the Roman Legion.

[He has...a lot of tally marks. Jason gives an awkward little laugh.]

Honestly, I think I like Camp Half-Blood's method with the beads better.

[...huh.

Percy fingers his own necklace that he still wears to this day, looking down at the tattoo one more time.]

So basically you've been doing Roman stuff since you were in diapers. Got it.

[A brief wince flits across Jason's face – Percy hit the nail in the head, and he definitely has some feelings about it – but he shoves all that away to shrug and smile lopsidedly.]

Roman stuff and Greek stuff isn't that different. The Roman side is just a little more organized.

[That's putting it mildly, but he's trying to keep things light.]

[there's a long silence, and Percy crosses his arms. he is a little curious, maybe because it's such a recent thing for him, and because he still thinks about it at night. whether the gods are even still honoring his requests, if his absence is noted, if they're wrong with time not moving while they're here.]

Do you all actually learn who your godly parents are on the Roman side?

[it's still something he very much has strong Feelings about, either way.]

[Jason frown, thoughtful.]

I think so? Godly parents aren't as big a deal on the Roman side, though. They don't separate people into cabins based on it, and some people are legacies instead of a direct child of a god.

[It says a lot that he defaults to "they" over "we" now, but that can be unpacked later.]

[he nods a little, rubbing the side of his head. it's a pretty noncommittal answer, but he supposes he shouldn't be too surprised.]

Well, so long as they're not getting neglected to be eaten by monsters or something, it's already a step up.

[...yeah.]

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oursavinggrace - 2023-03-03 13:10 (UTC) - Expand

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