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

[There is a slight frosty glare at them because how dare they not get the hint and interrupt them, but it eventually fades as he helps guide Tifa out, keeping her on the inside towards the wall so he can hide her a little as they walk away. After some distance, he leans down a little towards her.]

Should we find a restroom?

[A light smirk. Really he could use it, too, as some of her lipstick was smudged around his lips.]

[She appreciates the way that he protects her from their gazes that she knows are following them, and as he leans over her, she pauses, finding a quieter place around the edge of the dancefloor near the wall. Fortunately, all the dancers are too busy to pay any attention to them, and with the masks, she feels a little more confident, so she takes hold of his collar to pull her down to him... almost like she's going to kiss him...

And instead, she swipes a gloved finger over his lips with a laugh.]

Mm. I think we should.

[Her dress is still a bit... twisted and crooked, her hair a tiny bit tangled, and her lips are still smudged in red lipstick, so yes... she'll need to fix a lot of things.

But behind her mask, there's still a shy gleam to her eyes as she tacks on at the end:]

... My prince.

[A light quirk of his lips. It's a good thing her hands are gloved or he would have tried something else with them...]

Are you still so certain I am one?

[Tifa rolls her shoulders in a light, casual shrug, but she's biting down on her lip to stifle a smile.]

Don't know. You haven't told me, but that's part of the mystery, isn't it?

[Still on the fence about whether or not he's a pirate in disguise, or if he truly is a prince who's met his match, but she has all night to figure this one out.

With her finger lingering on his lips, wishing that she wasn't wearing the glove so that she could feel their soft warmth instead, she resists the urge to lean in and kiss them and breaks her gaze away to search the ballroom.]

Now where can a... refined lady get cleaned up around here?

[She clears her throat and runs a hand over her dress to straighten it out again.]

[There might have been a soft snort at the "refined" part. Sorry, Tifa, but he can only play along so much—

Ahem.]

We can try down this way... Might run into someone who can help.

[And just continues to lead her down along the side of the ballroom towards the back where there are a few corridors and hallways, one of which a few of the staff can be seen walking out with trays in their hands. Surely one of them will have a washroom of some kind somewhere.]

[HEY! She's just going to pretend he didn't laugh at her, or that she didn't hear him, but as she wraps her arm through his, she does give it a bit of a nudge.

But as they wander further into the hallways, passing the staff along the way, she hides next to him, tucking herself close as if that will make her less noticeable. The mask certainly helps, but every time she meets their eyes, she feels the flush in her face grow hotter and deeper.]

Oh. [She motions up ahead where there's a small sign in front of a door.] Over there? Only one, but... that's fine, yeah?

[They're just straightening themselves out... That's it. Nothing else. And she'll start to pick up the pace, wanting to get herself cleaned up as soon and as quickly as possible.]

Hmm...

[A sly, wolfish grin.]

Should we go in together?

[That is a terrible idea and he knows it, but he is finding a lot of joy in seeing how she reacts to all his provocation.]

[Despite the flush in her cheeks his grin provokes, she feigns surprise, enough that he'll see it under her mask.]

A prince and a princess seen entering a private room together...!?

[Tifa hums, pretending to think it over as they approach the door, and as she grabs his hand with one, the other reaching for the handle to push it open...]

Think of all the rumours they'll spread.

[... and pulls him in after her with a laugh, kicking the door shut behind them, but not without peeking to "make sure" no one "sees them."]

[It's a bit small for sure, especially with their outfits, but Eustace just laughs when she pulls him in and the door is closed behind them. Immediately his hands go to her waist, pushing her back up against the sink.]

Doesn't look like you care about them.

[She braces herself against the sink, but her giggles echo off the walls of the tiny room as she lets her arms drape over his shoulders. She can steal a brief moment of selfishness before they get cleaned up, can't she?

It's just an embrace, Tifa pulling him to her so that she can rest her head on his chest, wanting to soak in his warmth and his scent before they go back out there. She smiles to herself under the mask, a light hum of contentment falling out of her.]

No one can prove it's me.

[No one but him...

Though, perhaps some people would talk about the blue-dressed woman and her matching prince who snuck into the bathrooms together and locked the door behind him, but no one has to know who they really are. That's what's so exhilarating about tonight.]

Hm... True.

[And with a grin he reaches up to finally lift up her mask, careful to not disturb her hair too much more than it already is.]

Only I will know who you really are.

[And while the smile and tone of his voice is sly and teasing, his eyes behind the mask are gentle and affectionate, glad to finally see her face again.]

[As he lifts her mask, he'll see the way her eyes shimmer with mischief when they meet his, and the way her cheeks continue to redden as he gazes down at her.]

You're not supposed to see...!

[She gently swats at his hand, but not hard enough to force it away.]

It'll spoil the surprise.

[What surprise!? There is no surprise—not yet, anyway—but how is she supposed to pretend to be an eager princess looking to be swept off her feet if he sees her face!?]

[Cute.]

Sorry, but I'm putting a "pause" on our little play.

[He then leans in and seals her lips before she can protest.

Look they were interrupted earlier and she made him run around trying to catch her. Now, he will be GOOD and not be too frisky this time, but he wants at least a little something with just her as herself. No games.]

[How could she protest? Even if she wanted to—which she never genuinely would—Tifa tilts her head just so to meet him when he leans over her for a kiss. While deep, it's laced with a sweetness, and a sort of playfulness that only they could share with each other. One that has her grinning madly into it, trying to stifle the giddy laughs that threaten to consume her as she returns the gesture.

It's strange, and kind of funny to her that although they've just spent all this time together, it feels as if this is the first time they're meeting again after hours of being apart. Like he really is pressing pause on things and she's broken character, and she can have this moment with Eustace rather than the rugged prince that she had spent all this time running from.

Her gloved hands trace lovingly across his jawline and his neck, and then up over his mask to tease it a bit, and further still to tickle the hairs that line his ears, and when she pulls back, she lets her lashes flutter, eyes opening to meet his.]

Been a while... husband.

[His hands lovingly rove over her skin and back of her neck as he holds her, pressing just a little closer against her as the kiss deepens. Really, acting like some youthful, teenage lovers at his age... He would certainly never imagined it. But this light, fluffy, warm feeling is the beautiful gift she's given him, and he wants to continue sharing it with her.

She has truly become his spring.

So he just smiles at her words, eyes so soft yet with that little glimmer of rare playfulness.]

Too long, wife.

[And he can't help it. He can't help but kiss her once more. However, he keeps it brief, actually enforcing those restraints this time as he pulls back a little to gaze down at her.]

I feel like this is our real tryst.

[A soft laugh escapes him as he tries to pull further back so that she can finally clean up a bit.]

[Her own laugh is bubbly and loud, and anyone passing by the door will likely hear it, but she's stopped caring. The magical thing about being in his presence is that he can make her forget the world and only focus on the moment that they are spending together, and she savours that feeling, holds onto it as tightly and closely as she can.

Even as he tries to pull away, Tifa clings to him just a little longer, hands gripping the collar of his coat for one more breath.]

This? [She does let go of him to gesture to the room.] A tiny bathroom hidden away in a giant castle? Wow, we really went all out, didn't we?

[She does turn around, playfully bumping her hips into his once her back is to him, to check herself in the mirror and wow, he really smudged her lipstick. It's a shock no one pointed it out on their way here...]

[He was a great husband in keeping her hidden away.

But wow, that hip bump. That only makes him stay behind her and place his hands on either side of her as he presses up against her, lowering his head to lightly drop a few kisses against the back of her neck.]

Better than a broom closet.

[She leans forward over the sink, her eyes closing briefly to the kisses he presses to her neck, but even as she gives him a small wiggle of her hips, she tries to focus on cleaning up the red lipstick that's been smeared across her lips with a napkin, but in the mirror, her eyes dart up to meet his briefly.]

I'd be up for the challenge.

[She's feeling bold tonight. Even just saying that...

Her cheeks turn bright red, and she straightens, pressing her body flush to his, and her hand slides down, down, down... slowly, until it reaches his pocket. From there, she slips out the stick of lipstick that she hid in there earlier and pops it open.]

We've already done the moonlit tryst anyway, yeah?

[Leaning forward again, she starts to apply the fresh lipstick, her lips turning as red as her cheeks are.]

[......Bold, wife.

Very bold.

There's a slight flash of his eyes as keeps his lips near her neck by her ear.]

Hm... What's another place...the gardens?

[A low whisper as he'll return the "favor" by slowly running his hands over her sides and waist, up around the front of her chest...to gently "tug" at the cleavage of the dress to bring it back more to the center.]

Ah—!

[The noise she makes is a cross between a gasp and a yelp when she feels the tug on the cleavage of her dress, and what does it say about her that she hadn't even noticed yet that it was slightly askew. Then again, in her defense, she wasn't given much time to look in the mirror when they got in before her husband stole her attention and held it captive...

Clearing her throat, Tifa checks her lipstick.]

Under a rosy arch? Behind some trees? [Tifa pauses, and her smile blossoms wider.] Wouldst thou like to... meeteth with me there for a most secret... rendezvous?

[...

...............

He's just going to stare at her reflection in the mirror before he sharply bites her ear.]

You're testing me now, aren't you?

[As if she wasn't before—

But if she speaks that horrible Shakespeare one more time—]

[He provokes another surprised noise out of her when he takes her ear between his teeth, but besides that, she simply slides her mask back over her eyes and leans back once more, dropping the lipstick back into his pocket, but making sure that her fingers linger along the way.]

What fair maiden wouldst I be...est... if't I were to... testeth... mine own prince?

[She's no better at this than she was a year ago, is she?]

[...

.........................................

There are a few different ways he could react, some questionable, and some that would definitely keep them in this bathroom for a long while.

So after staring at her for a few seconds, he's going to slowly remove his hands from her...and then slowly pull back...

...

And then just open the door and leave, shutting it behind him.

REJECTED.]

[Tifa doesn't even move a muscle as she meets his eyes in the mirror, retracts his hands, moves back...

...

And then leaves, making sure to shut the door behind him.

He'll hear her bark with laughter from the other side, her uncontrollable giggles echoing through the bathroom. It takes her a moment to come down from them, and an even longer moment for her to come out of the bathroom.

Under her breath, she mutters as she steps out...]

Where art though, mine prince...?

[Hopefully he didn't go far!?]

[OH HE WENT FAR.

HAVE FUN FINDING HIM IT'S HER TURN NOW.]

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