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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[He's a little surprised, but he just smiles as he watches her twirl and then place her back to him, an arm immediately going around d her waist and the other placed over her hand as he leans in closer.]

You should be grateful I like a good hunt...

[A light nip on her ear.]

...And you make adorable prey.

[Golden stars swirl around their feet as they trail after her dress, twirling and gliding across the floor in a long trail behind her until they all curl back in under them, as if they are drinking up the stars themselves, and a bright twinkle ripples over Tifa's dress as he leans in, his voice close to her ear.

And she's far too focused on him to notice that they've risen a little further off the floor still. Only another few inches, but it's her heart that feels light as a feather, fluttering as she presses close into his warmth.]

I knew you'd catch me...

[Tifa takes a moment to sway with him before she leans her head back, craning her neck just far enough that their lips are barely brushing up to one another... Almost... as behind her mask, her eyes begin to flutter shut...

...

But before their lips can even touch, she twirls away again when there's a swell in the music, and this time, the stars come up all around her skirt to her waist like a burst of glitter as her dress flourishes with her movements...

And she'll come crashing back before long, bringing them face to face again, the flush in her cheeks more obvious now.]

But what should your reward be?

[So close... Yet he's somehow not surprised when she pulls away at the last second, leaving him to watch as those stars swirl around her and encircle him as he helps pull her back to him. Once more his arm wraps around her, this time more firmly so as to prevent her from escaping again. With his other hand gripping hers, fingers interlacing with each other, he hums.]

You say that as if I won't take what I want for myself.

[Once more he lowers his face close to hers.]

I'm known as being a greedy "prince."

[She only smiles to herself a little more when she feels his arm tighten around her waist, and she responds in kind by pressing her hips as close to his as possible...

But when he leans in like that, her eyes flutter, and her heart feels like it might burst out of her chest. For a moment, her gaze roams down to his lips, so kissable and so close, but she's going to be a good princess—a good lady, and resist.]

Is that so?

[She has no choice but to bite back another giggle.]

... But we haven't even finished our first dance together yet, my lord.

[Yes, she's back on that again. Whoops!]

[Don't make him. In fact he's already leaning close enough so that their lips brush against each other.]

Could always change that.

[Tempting... So, so very tempting, and a puff of air escapes Tifa in a sigh as she taps their lips together... only barely.

She would twirl away again right now if she could, but she has a feeling she's caught in his trap forever now, so she accepts her fate, and simply smiles where she is as the two of them step lightly to the beat of the waltz, though the music is nothing more than quieted noise in the back of her head now as the sound of his breathing and her own quickening heartbeat fill it instead.]

Well, what kind of reward does a greedy prince like you want? I... suppose I could grant it, if it's within my power as princess.

I think the reward I have in mind...is not something that your noble ears are ready to hear.

[A grin as he slowly spins them around.]

Not in public.

Oh—!

[Flower petals flutter through the air this time as they spin together, and Tifa holds onto him tight, her face resting on his chest before they come to a stop. So strange how she feels like they're literally dancing on air right now, even more so when her heart flutters as she looks up at him again, with glowing petals stuck to her hair.]

What a gentleman. But surely there's something I could do for you right now? Something short and sweet and fitting for a... refined princess like me?

I'm afraid if I tried to take something now I'll just want more...

[It really does feel as if they're dancing on air. But then again, he always felt like that when he was around her.]

So for now...

[He leans in close. So very close. His lips brush gently against hers...]

...Just stay by my side. And give all your attention to me.

[Her gloved hand comes up from his shoulder to lightly sweep over his cheek, her fingers touching his skin gently, as if he were the most delicate thing in the world right now. From this close, he can probably see her lashes bat and flutter as the urge to kiss him continues to rise, that silent, simmering heat growing more powerful inside her, waiting and ready to burst at a moment's notice...

She stops their dance, only for a second, because she wants to savour the intimacy of this moment because she knows that they will soon part ways. That they will need to separate for a while to at least attempt to meet and greet others, see if they could find their friends... but right now, she doesn't want this dance to end. If she had the power to stop time, she would pause them as they are here...

Tifa feels her emotions flow in her chest like a wave, and she has to force her lips away from his before he makes her fall too far before the night is over. The night has hardly begun, and already, she wants nothing more than to slip away with his hand in hers, never to be seen by anyone else for the rest of the night...

It would be unfair, so she resists... For now.

Though, as they are, it really does feel like the world has stopped spinning for everyone except them.]

Your wish is my command.

[It's a quiet, soft whisper—a promise to him. He has her attention. All of it. He always has and always will. It's followed by an equally gentle laugh as she follows the steps of the dance once more.]

Twirl me.

[He really does want nothing more than to just take her away from here. Find a place for just the two of them. He knows it's irrational, knows he's acting like a fool who has fallen head over heels in love. And yet that's exactly what it is. That's exactly how she moves him.

One year...

A year of ridiculously high ups and absolute devastating downs that tested them over and over, even to the breaking point. And yet they persevered. Shaped them to be who they are now. Perhaps it's crazy and unbelievable to others, yet this is just how their twisted path went.

And he would have it no other way.

So he stares down at her, his gaze more heated than before before he steps back to raise his hand and twirl her around. To let her spin and let those stars once more erupt and sparkle around them, filling the air with their brilliant, twinkling lights. It's as if there's nothing else but them, no one else but them.

And when he stops and pulls her back to him, he can no longer hold back. This time his lips will firmly meet hers for that kiss they've been teasing for so long.]

[She can see it in his eyes, burning bright as if they weren't sealed behind a mask at all. Tifa knows that look. She knows what it means, what he's feeling and thinking, and what it promises later, and it's the same look that she can never look away from. It swallows her whole, enveloping her entire being, consuming her focus and her attention and her restraint, until—

The spin breaks her free from it. He twirls her, and as he does, she can feel the stars erupt around her, glittering and gold, some of them bursting into showers of snow that trickle down to the floor, melting before they reach it. Beneath her feet, she dances over them, the constellations creating a pathway for her as she twirls her way back to him, her dress blooming like a starry firework in a golden night sky until he's catching her in his arms again...

And crashing his lips to hers.

Her arms go around him, holding their bodies close as she returns the kiss with equal passion, and the sweet perfume of starflowers fills her head, mixing with his scent, and she swears she might melt away in his arms right there.

This truly is the happy ending to that night one year ago. The dance that could have been. The kiss that could have been... and the love that it became. If all had gone their way, is this how it would have ended? Is this how that night would have gone? Would they have taken that leap together instead of being too afraid back then...?

She'll never know, she supposes, but maybe she doesn't want to know the answers to those questions. It doesn't matter, anyway. What matters is that they are here now, as a result of everything that happened then.

As she parts with him, there is one thing that she wishes to do...

One thing that she can no longer resist.

Slowly, her fingers reach for the edges of his mask, and she gives it a gentle pull, as if waiting for his permission...]

[He almost chases after when she parts, that desire for her, growing by the minute. He's long forgotten where they are, the music so distant to him now. Really that should have been a clue, but his attention is so focused on Tifa that it doesn't matter to him. He just wants...

And just as she reaches for his mask, one that he would willingly let her left, he feels something brush against his ear. It only makes it flick a little, but then there's a quiet tinkling sound like crystal against metal. And when he feels it brush against his ear again, a little harder this time, he frowns and has to pull back away from her hand to look and—]

—!?

[His eyes widen in surprise when he sees the chandelier right next to them and a quick glance down reveals how high up they are.

...

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

Just going to...... Suddenly hold Tifa closer to him.]

...Don't look down.

Edited 2023-02-26 04:26 (UTC)

[The sound of crystals is like distant chimes in her head, the gentle noise nothing more than what a breeze would be on a summer day. She pays it no mind, far too focused on Eustace and his beautiful eyes that are unjustly hidden behind his mask. She wants to see him... She wants to drink him in—all of him—and perhaps that's why he looks so ethereal right now with this beautiful, warm, golden light shining behind him.

...

She doesn't notice the flick of his ear at first, as her fingers slowly begin to pull the mask back, and she holds her breath as it begins to reveal his cheek, and then his—

?]

Wh...?

[He jerks away from her hand and it startles her, and for a moment, Tifa thinks she's done something wrong before she's wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close.]

Don't look?

[With her face buried in his chest, she has some trouble, and rather than look down, she looks up at him. And it's only then that she realizes that... is that a chandelier!?

And is this...]

Oh god.

[She swallows when she stares up, and discovers that they are only a couple feet away from hitting their heads on the ceiling. Meanwhile, they've gained quite the audience down on the floor, and several of the people who are floating around them, though none quite as high.

She clings to him.]

How did we get up here?

Edited 2023-02-26 04:38 (UTC)

...I'm not sure, but let's just...focus on getting back down.

[DO THEY HAVE TO DANCE THEIR WAY DOWN. He's already scanning to see if there's a second floor railing or something they could use instead because...even if there are other couples in the air, this is clearly rather embarrassing.]

How...

[If he knew the answer, she knew he would give it. But she only holds onto him tight, and this time, she really does look down...

It's as if the stars that had spread out from them have formed a dancefloor of their own, and as Tifa moves her feet, they shimmer underneath like glass. It's magical, sure, but incredibly embarrassing for her too, as the couples closest to them stare at them in complete awe of their magic.

But as they continue to linger in the air, floating—ah, that explains so much now—Tifa starts to... giggle... as she hides her face in his chest?]

... Maybe we should've stuck to the terrace after all.

[She's probably not helping them.]

[As he now can actually feel and notice them rising, he's not sure how to feel as he starts to connect the two.]

I'm of the mind to at least return and stay there now.

[Still, he can't help but feel a little helpless as it's not like he can tell her to stop feeling happy.]

Ah—!

[As they spin and float, Tifa narrowly dodges her hair getting caught in the loops of the crystal chandelier, but it only makes her laughter grow. It's so hard to be afraid and confused for very long when she has him holding onto her so tight and keeping her safe... Embarrassing, yes, but it is a little funny how they ended up getting all the way up here before either of them noticed a thing.]

Think if we just danced our way over there, we'd make it down? ... I wouldn't mind heading outside for a while.

It's worth a try. At worst we dance towards the wall and try to climb down.

[Said in jest...

...

But he does have it under serious consideration—]

[She holds onto him a little tighter, her fingers digging into his shoulder and holding onto his jacket as if she might fall if she lets go...]

We'll just keep pretending we're the only people here... Keep our eyes on each other.

[As she looks up at him, she realizes how easy that is the moment their eyes connect... and she's serious about this, so she'll position herself for a proper dance towards the wall if he is willing—!]

[A small laugh.]

That won't be too difficult.

[And he'll start to lead them again, his eyes completely focused on hers while somehow still keeping enough awareness of where they need to go.]

[It's hard to look anywhere else but at him. Even if she wanted to, she trusts their instincts to take over enough to carry them to where they have to be... and the stars light up the air beneath them still as they dance their way towards the wall. Though, Tifa does pay a little bit more attention to the music as it shifts into something with a brighter, slightly quicker tempo. Of course, with the two of them, it isn't a problem, and they fall into step easily enough once more...

And once they reach the wall...

She finally breaks her gaze from Eustace's with a sheepish smile to look around and...]

Well, we made some progress, at least.

[Enough that they are no longer nearly touching the ceiling, but their feet still aren't on the ground... with the stars and flower petals holding them up. But they are low enough that if they were to suddenly fall, it wouldn't hurt...]

Think if we just went outside, we wouldn't suddenly drop?

I'm going to assume the magic must end at some point... Unless it's now our dreamotion that's keeping us up.

[A small shake of his head, still a little bewildered they're even like this.]

But we can try.

[Tifa slips out of his arms so that she can properly take his hand in hers now, and she looks out the wide doors leading out to the gardens. Fortunately, all of the people who had been watching them have gone back to dancing, so if they were to suddenly stumble and fall as soon as they walked through the doors, no one would notice.

Nor would anyone care. It's not like they'll know who they are—

With her free hand, she swings the door open and takes a breath.]

On three...? [And she'll start their countdown with a light squeeze of his hand.] One, two, three...!

[Together, the two of them will have to duck under the top of the door, and Tifa squeaks a little, half expecting them to hit the ground as soon as they do—!

Except they don't. Not right away... but they do start to lower gently, like a pair of snowflakes drifting from the sky towards the ground...]

[He follows after her, and really he hoped they would drop. At least then it would be done and over with. But instead they have their slow descent...which was all right he supposes. At least they are descending.

And when they near the ground, Eustace takes the first step down before turning to pull Tifa down to him, twirling her around in place as he does before finally letting her down.]

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