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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... Mm. Maybe.

[Bottling it in. It's possible, but she would have liked to at least known that she had his support. Or maybe Eustace is right. There really is a lot to take in about this world beyond just her, but it doesn't mean that it didn't sting at the time and doesn't still... even just a little bit.

And add to the fact that she remembers how Cloud had been acting before she had been sucked away into a whole new world and into a new life. She had been worried about him then, but that's tenfold now.]

I guess a lot of things just felt... off. Could be that it's just been a while. And, like you said, there's a lot going to take in.

[A long, long time. And in that time, Tifa's changed a lot since she last saw him. But should that connection have felt so... frayed? She must just be overthinking it.

Which is why she tries to shake it all off with a shaky, breathy, forced laugh as she lets her head drop to his shoulder.]

I'm sorry. I don't want this to ruin the night anymore. I don't want you to get caught up in all this, either.

[A small shake of his head before he rests his head against hers.]

You're my wife—whatever you get into, I'm right there with you. And even if we weren't married... I still wouldn't let you deal with this alone.

[His hand holding hers, he entwines their fingers to give it a tight squeeze, their rings brushing against each other.]

But we can set it aside for now... There's not much else we can do, anyway.

[She watches as their rings touch, the metal clinking ever so softly as he locks their fingers together and the aquamarine catches the image of the moons in a perfect reflection, and as their hands fit together, she can feel so much of her sadness washing away. Tifa closes her eyes and his words have her seeking him out for a kiss, her head leaning against his until she finds him, that brief touch of intimacy something much-needed in the moment.

She knew he would never let her face anything alone, but she still doesn't want him to shoulder too much for her. His beautiful soul deserves peace, and she wants to give it to him, not be the source of the things that could take it away from him.

It hurts her heart knowing that the peace will likely be disturbed for a while as she tries to work through her own feelings, to push past all of the doubts that had arisen again when Cloud showed up. She remembers how scared she was when she saw the pulse of mako in those eyes, and the things that she had been afraid of back in Midgar... All of it came rushing back...

But she cannot forget that she has something good here, too. Something right in front of her, her lips brushing against his, fingers threaded together, his arms protecting her heart and her soul...

She kisses him softly again, this one lingering a touch longer than the first, before she lowers her voice to a whisper, barely heard over the sound of the fountain.]

What did I do to deserve someone like you...

[Tifa asks herself this every day when she wakes up next to him, and again every night as she listens to his heartbeat as it lulls her to sleep.

But before they can let this go, she needs to make sure that he knows one thing as those tears now start to glisten in her eyes.]

No matter what, though...? Nothing changes here.

[He can only smile a little wistfully, letting his lips brush against hers in return, seeking her out both in reassurance and just out of natural want.]

That should be my line...

[Truly, what did he do to deserve such a beautiful person? To have someone that he can treasure so deeply. So he only laughs a little after that.]

I know...

[He pulls away just enough so that she can once again see his eyes.]

I wouldn't even let it. Even if for some reason you started to waver... [He kisses her gently at first before his teeth find her lower lip.] I would just pull you back.

I told you before. You are my everything. That will never change.

[He would, too... Just like he does now. Even when she isn't wavering, even when her feelings are concrete, their roots built strong into their foundation, he finds a way to bring her back. Not that they ever would in the first place, but now, when they are chaotic, brewing a storm inside her, he can still pull her free. Bring her back into their world—a world with him where they can pretend to be the only ones who exist for a little while.

She wants to put it all behind her for now, so she locks everything up tight for the rest of the night and allows herself to sigh it all away, and to share with him not the burden of it all, but the happiness and relief that she feels when she's with him. She doesn't want this night to end on a bad note...]

I know you will.

[Tifa leans in to kiss him again, and she brushes the tips of their nose together as the tiniest laugh finds a way out of her, and she tries to blink back those tears.]

How long do we have before midnight...?

Mmm... At least an hour.

[He briefly closes his eyes as he gently nuzzles her.]

What would you like to do?

I dunno. I just...

[Want to spend it with you... is what she would say, but that much is a given. It doesn't matter what they would be doing because anything would be perfect...

But the sound of the trickling fountain calls to her, and with one more affectionate nuzzle, Tifa turns her head to look before she's taking him by his hands and leading him over to it with a grin. It looks like an ordinary fountain, but as soon as they approach it—]

Ah—! What!?

[With a pleasant ring, it sprays a stream of colourful water at them, and Tifa leaps back, jumping behind Eustace to shield herself as it sends another with a different note this time. Okay, she was expecting a lot of interesting things, but not this.]

Hey—!

[Before he can move she went behind him, and now he's been splashed with the colorful water, some of it dripping down his hair and face.

........

WELL THEN.

When it starts to spray again, he moves out the way, actually pulling her with him and shoving her in front.]

Eustace—!

[Tifa's yelp echoes through the gardens when he moves her in front, and she's immediately sprayed right in the face with the stream of water—and then again, and then again as it starts to create a little melody with each one. She's far too startled to struggle at first, but her shrieks turn into giggles which then becomes loud laughter as she tries to use him to shield herself again.

But he's much stronger, much sturdier than she is, and she honestly isn't giving it that much of an effort to move him in front of her. So, instead, she leans over, scoops her hand into the water, and sprays him herself.]

That's for getting my dress wet!

[He half-expected her to do something, and he's too busy laughing to do much about it.]

You're the one who used me as a shield.

[And he'll splash her in return, scooping up a handle of water to flick towards her.]

[She shrieks again through her giggles, though by now, it isn't just them splashing each other, but the fountain spraying them, too.]

What ever happened to you being my valiant knight? You're supposed to protect—

[But she's splashed square in the face again, some of the water getting into her mouth just as she's leaning down to splash him again. Tifa loses her balance against the edge of the fountain and...]

Oh—!

[She starts to tumble in, her hands reaching for Eustace... but will he be fast enough to catch her!?]

[He is indeed fast enough to grab her. And he does indeed try to pull her back to safety. However, because of the water that had pooled around them, the fountain rim and the ground is slippery enough that when he grabs the edge of the fountain, his hand slips and he ends up falling forward.

So they are both getting sent into the fountain.]

[Tifa, meanwhile, snaps her arms around him as they teeter sideways into the pond, hoping that she can help to break their fall somehow. They land with a mighty SPLASH, and the fountain is a touch deeper than she expected—her dress is completely soaked, her hair already a mess as the long strands cling to her skin. The fountain sings as it sprays water this way and that, the colours changing with each one it fires off at them, as if to tease them for falling.

The initial shock of it is jarring with the water being a bit on the cooler side, and it has Tifa gasping as she swipes her eyes clean before she checks on Eustace first and tries to shield them both from the continuing onslaught of splatters.]

Are you alright!?

Edited 2023-03-02 21:15 (UTC)

[There really wasn't much time, so he could only reactively pull her close to him and cradle her head with his hand, fearing she would be injured otherwise. So just going to ignore the stinging in his hand before he's spitting out water and looking at her, the arm beneath her helping her sit up.]

I'm fine, you?

Yeah. Just a little surprised...

[...

.....

But as Tifa looks at Eustace, her eyes widen slightly when she sees his hair drenched, and some of it is sticking up along the side that had hit the water first. He looks so grumpy underneath that big floof of hair, like a dog who hates baths that's just been thrown headfirst into one.

........

And before long, Tifa's concern fades into a smile as she tries to catch it, biting down on her lip, but sooner than she can stop them, peals of giggles begin to fall out of her, one after the other, until she's stuck in them, no longer able to find words in between her laughter.]

[Here he is, concerned over he well being and she is...laughing...????

At first he's bewildered, but it's a little infectious. And... Well although he doesn't realize his own state, Tifa herself is quite a sight with the colorful water spilling over her dark hair, her makeup running a bit. So there's a crooked smile s he watches her.]

What are you laughing at?

[And then a light flick of his hand to send droplets flying at her.]

[That earns another yelp out of her, her arm lifting to shield as if he was splashing her with a handful of water, or like she wasn't already soaked from head to toe sitting in this fountain, but after she gives a light shake of her head, she reaches out and brushes gently at some of the hairs that are sticking out, still laughing.]

You looked like a grumpy puppy that just fell into a bath.

[His hairs, of course, just stick right up again.]

So fluffy.

[A snort.]

Well you know what "grumpy puppies" do to dry off, don't you?

[And without any further warning, he's just going to shake his head to fling more water at her.]

[She knows what's coming, and she's ready. Tifa tries to crawl away from him, but the water weighs down her dress just enough that she can't escape in time and she's caught in the spray of the water. There are a few couples who wander by and stare at the two of them as they pass, but she's too busy laughing and shrieking at him to care or even notice...

Too busy living in this little pocket of joy that she knows won't last forever...

But before he can finish shaking, Tifa throws herself at him instead, arms going around his shoulders and catching him with a kiss as she lands in his lap, only soaking both of them further. The kiss itself lasts for some time, and it grows in need, Tifa chasing that feeling it gives her that helps to battle away the worser thoughts lurking in the shadows.

And she only parts so that she can whisper to him quietly, only loud enough for him to hear over the sound of the fountain...]

Thank you.

[The water begins to calm, and along its surface, starflowers float over the ripples that they create.]

[A laugh bubbles up as he hears and sees her trying to escape, and when she launches herself at him he's forced to lean back, but he smiles into the kiss, an arm wrapping around her waist to help pull her in deeper.

Really, no one, especially not himself, would ever imagine himself in something like this. Just goofing off, acting so silly in a public place—it's the complete opposite of how he usually is. But right now, he doesn't care...and it really does feel freeing. To feel so happy and filled with joy.

So that smile remains, his eyes shining as he just answers by closing the distance more to give her a softer, loving kiss. They should be feeling cold from the night air, but instead everything is warm around them, the fragrance of their starflowers soothing and sweet. And while he doesn't really care about whatever attention they create.... He doesn't want anyone to really see her soaking wet. Not in this dress, especially.

After lingering a few moments more, he finally pulls back and murmurs quietly against her lips.]

...We should go somewhere and dry off.

Hm...

[Tifa agrees, but she wants to stay here just a little longer. Just a few more moments of this bliss before she's forced to face everything again. She lingers, her lips brushing against his, the tips of their noses cold as they nuzzle together gently, her smile spreading until it can't spread any more. Her cheeks ache, and her stomach hurts from all the laughing, but she can't recall when the last time was that the two of them have laughed quite like this. It was likely not that long ago, but time feels like it stretches on when she's with him, all thanks to her desire to make every second with him last as long as possible.]

I can help with that.

[Her giggles echo off the water's surface, and with one more kiss, she climbs off of him and tries to lift herself out of the water... but her dress is a bit too heavy and she stumbles a bit. Not only are there starflowers floating around them, but gold stars sparkle alongside them like the fountain has washed them from her dress as she tries to gather it up.

A little help, maybe.....?]

[A light chuckle as he watches her struggle.]

Here.

[He manages to stand, the weight of his own cloak making it difficult, but he manages. He then takes her hand and helps her to stand before carefully climbing over and down the fountain where he'll assist her descent from there as well, ready to catch her should he stumble again.]

[She accepts his help, her smile turning a bit sheepish as she climbs out of the fountain with his hands in hers, but as she tries to step over the edges, she does stumble a bit—or maybe it's on purpose? Who knows, but she uses that opportunity to catch herself in his arms...

To which she bats her lashes at him for—]

My hero.

[—before straightening and letting the bottom of her dress fall. The weight of it is still a bit much, but they really do need to find somewhere to dry off. Someplace... private.]

Think they'll let us into the bathroom like this?

[Was it on purpose indeed, and he just gives her a knowing look before she straightens.]

The better question would be if we can find one...it'll be a bit of a walk.

Hmm...

[He has a point... and she isn't looking very inclined to let him go as she clings gently to his arm, fingers wrapping around the hem of his cloak to keep him close. It's a little cooler now that they're out of the water and drenched in the rainbowy colours, so she seeks his warmth, stepping up to his side and avoiding the gazes of onlookers.]

How about our special spot then?

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flamekthunder - 2023-03-03 04:10 (UTC) - Expand

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starshower - 2023-03-03 15:09 (UTC) - Expand

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