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

[ Find up...go look upstairs? They don't stop at any other junctions or open any closed doors or turn down side halls, so--aha, yup. Azula comes across a staircase and begins heading straight for it with nary a word. Or sign. That's fine though--he's beyond used to that after living with the Infected in his home world so for long.

Unnamed follows her, pausing at the bottom of the staircase to put his hand on the banister. It's smooth and polished beneath his palm, and for a second he just marvels at that, running his hand over it.

#easilydistracted ]

[Azula gets a glimpse of the top of the stairs, and something about it feels weirdly familiar- but before she can look more thoroughly, she notices her travelling companion has been... delayed.]

[By the bannister?

Spirits, he was distracted by the bannister.]

[She expects to be more annoyed at him, but somehow she can't muster much worse than mild aggravation.]

[She sighs and heads back down the stairs to retrieve him before he gets himself in trouble.]

[She reaches down and grabs his hand to lead him up the stairs again, signing with his other hand-

"Rails up there, too."

YOU CAN TOUCH THE SMOOTH BANNISTERS LATER, SIR.]

Auwah...

[ LISTEN ALL THE BANISTERS BACK HOME ARE ROTTING AWAY AND NOT SMOOTH AT ALL--but baw, guess that's done for now. He stumbles a little the first step she pulls him up, but gets his feet under him pretty quick after that.

What he wants to Sign in response to her comment is that I wanted to slide my hand up the stairs a.k.a slide his palm up the banister as they went, but Azula's not exactly facing him, so it's a moot point. Plus, he'd need both hands. Maybe he can slide his hand along it on the way down. ]

[Azula is indifferent to the fun that she's spoiling, because she's evil!

...or, more reasonably, because she's distracted and concerned about being discovered. A concern that becomes secondary as she pulls him up the stairs, and looks down the hallway to see... the velvet ropes, and beyond them, the dancers in the ballroom.

What? How was that even possible?

She turns back toward the staircase behind them. It goes up, not down. Azula stares back and forth between the stairs and the dance floor, her grip on his hand tightening slightly in frustration.]

[ She's not the only one confused. He follows her gaze down the hall and sees what looks like the same ballroom as before--but that can't be possible. Do they have a second room for dancing, and a second party? Did so many people show up they had to put another room together so that everyone could enjoy it...?

He doesn't even bother to look back the way they came like Azula does, his confusion driving him to step forward--until the grip on his hand stops him.

"Two parties?" he signs back at her as best he can, baffled. ]

[She sighs and lets him go after he tries to pull away.

'Not two parties. I think dream magic.'

That would explain why they hadn't had many guards up there- they were relying on Dreamotion to keep unwanted guests where they were supposed to be. Figures.]

[ Not a second party?? But then how...

Unnamed looks between the party and Azula, huffing. "But how does dream magic move the staircase?? Dream magic only makes things!" As far as he knows, anyway. He's never seen it used for anything else. ]

['All magic here dream magic.'

That's why trying to figure it out has been so important to her, after all. Though she's certainly started with the creating items factor- particularly since she had a master of that specific skill around to use as her benchmark for accomplishment.

`Like face hat that made me smell gone. That dream magic also.`]

[ Ohhhh--Azula can see the moment that understanding dawns on him. That explains so much. But also? Blows his mind. Dream magic can be used for more things than he thought! He's going to have to ask a lot more questions about it--mental note to file that away for later. Maybe he can ask Trahearne? He works in the house of books. He could know!

"Dream magic is wow..." Like, for real. "Does that mean no more adventure? We can't go up?" ]

[Apparently not. Ugh, that's so frustrating. Perhaps if she'd been better at dreamotion-

But she wasn't. In fact, she'd only realized within the last couple of weeks that she could use nightmare energy for the job, which had worked a lot more effectively. Frustrating. Beyond frustrating, almost infuriating. She was going to have to get better at this dreamotion much, much faster.

Huff.

'No. No more adventure.']

[ Unnamed's shoulders slump. He was so excited for that, darn. His first castle adventure, over after just one floor! Alas...

At least there's still technically the party, right? It's got food (he won't eat), music (that he can't hear), and all the fun costumes. It's still a fun place, even if it's not what he was hoping for. Azula looks a little bummed out too. After a moment's thought, he gives her hand a light squeeze and points to the masquerade.

"Want to dance?" ]

[Ah. Ah. She thinks not.

'Dance not good.'

Is she saying she's not good at dancing or that dancing isn't good? Who knows? ~~Not her, obviously.~~]

[ Come ooooon, it'll be fun--

"You don't know how to dance?" he asks, trying get gain some clarification. "I can teach! Dancing is fun. You don't need to be good at dancing to have fun."

Because that is clearly the issue here when it comes to Azula. Yup. ]

[What no that was not the correct answer abort mission abort mission-

"Dancing not look fun for me."

There. Easy. Even with the language barrier. It's fine. Toooootally fine.]

[ P s h a w.

"Why? You move so wow! I think you would be a good dancer." He's seen Azula's backflips. No way she's not coordinated enough to absolutely rock a dance. ]

[...Flattery will get you nowhere, sir.

"Yes. But..."

Ah. Well, she... has no more excuses, really. She doesn't want to? He'd just ask why. Maybe later? Why not now. Ugh. Ugh.

"... Fine. One dance. But we should have face-hat. For party."

Yes. Definitely because of the party, and not because she refuses to dance without the anonymity of the enchanted mask.]

[ "Don't like face-hat..." But. For Azula, who looks like she's already pretty reluctant and doesn't much want to try in the first place? He will pull his out and plop it on, making sure it stays in place before he gives her a nod.

"One face-hat dance! I promise." ]

[She doesn't like the masks any more than he does, at least not on anybody else, but if she was going to dance, she felt entitled to the compromise to protect her dignity. And then he puts his mask on.

She knows how the masks work, but understanding the concept and actually experiencing the effect are two very different things.

One moment, she's talking to Nanashi. The next, it's like a complete stranger is standing in front of her. Individually, she can see all the individual features that reveal his identity- the oddly pale and slightly blue-tinged lips, the same shape of his jaw, the slightly stiff posture, the eyes behind the mask, and of course she recognized the outfit as well. It was like the part of her brain that could recognize him was simply turned off.

Bizarre. And disorienting. Oddly, it makes her want to dance with him less. Which is ridiculous, it's not like she's particularly inclined to dance with him anyway, but the lack of familiarity...

Well. It didn't matter. She slips on her own mask again.

"Good. Now what?"]

[ It really is a bizarre situation, knowing who someone is but being unable to recognize them. All the things that tell you who they are are there, but his brain just doesn't want to make the connection. He can't help but sniff the air on instinct in an attempt to find her scent, but alas.

Seeing her Sign is a comfort though. He offers a smile and motions for her to follow.

"I learned to dance from E-M-E-T. Follow me!"

Unnamed holds out a hand for her. ]

[She stares at the hand for a few moments, tentatively.

It's just Nanashi. He's harmless.

She reaches out and takes his hand. Most hands are colder than hers- quirk of being a firebender- but his is colder than most. There's a familiarity to it now. It sets her at ease, though she can't explain why.

It occurs to her, as she tolerates being led to the dance floor, that it will be quite difficult to take instruction with their hands occupied. All the other dancers had their hands in a peculiar frame- holding hands on one side and resting on each other's shoulders with the other- which would make signing impossible.

Ah. Hindsight.

Well, she'd have to figure it out from his cues, then.]

[ If there's one thing that doesn't need words as much as most other things, it's movement. And Unnamed is very deliberate about his; he wades them through the throng of dancers to a spot a little bit off to the side and avoids the middle. One reason for this is that there's too much movement there for him to pay attention to while dancing, and the other...is that he thinks Azula will prefer it. As much as she's confident in most things, this doesn't appear to be one of them.

He gives her another smile as they come to a stop and turns to her. He'll wave one arm down in front of him and give a slightly awkward bow--his leg swept back in the opposite direction it's supposed to, but oh well. He was taught to give a little bow before dancing and he's gonna do it no matter how silly it looks.

There's two ways he knows where to put his free hand, but he wants to know which Azula prefers: so! He taps his own shoulder, then side, and gestures to her. Which would she like?

Because yeah, Emet-Selch taught him to lead. CHOOSE, AZULA. ]

IT NEVER LASTS, ALAS...

1/5 Is this bit funny?

2/5 No.

3/5 But is it at least interesting and original?

4/5 Also no.

5/5 I'mma keep doing it anyway, though.

lmdfgjs Azula

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