songerein | { 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

Yeah. Never heard of Elysia, but they roamed the forests outside Aball. Sometimes I'd find bigger ones than normal.

[She does laugh a little at the thought that they would exist anywhere else... but for that half a second, she did wonder if they came from the same place, or maybe that it was Rokurou or Magilou hiding behind that mask so that she could smack them instead.

Alas...]

Would hunt them and bring them back for food all the time.

[He's never heard of Aball either... it could be a coincidence, or it could be differing places/timelines. Hardly anyone knows about Elysia in any timeline (it's a hidden village for a reason) and he hasn't seen enough of the world to know every town or city regardless of time.]

That's amazing... to think our homes would have something so particular in common.

First I've ever heard of this.

[Though, should it be so surprising given what she's been told about all the people here? Or her own situation?]

Who knows. Maybe you're from some different timeline, too.

[Rokurou and Magilou already are, and it's both frustrating and confusing. Who's to say that he isn't as well?]

Who knows, indeed. The world, and history itself, are both big enough that that could be a viable theory. You wouldn't be the first person I've come across here who hailed from the same place.

[Not the first, or the second, or the third... there's a few of them here, turns out.]

Good to know that despite all our hunting, they manage to survive.

[It's said with a small, amused huff of laughter. Small. Quiet... but it's there under a ghost of a smile.

She hardly notices that her brooch shimmers a bit with added colour, but for some reason, she feels compelled to at least offer one thing to him before they part ways.]

Velvet, by the way.

[The conversation has been surprisingly pleasant.]

[Look at them, getting along! Even he's pleasantly surprised.]

I'm Mikleo. Nice to meet you.

[And he means it. His own brooch is glittering a little, in echo of hers. It seems that they've reached the threshold of what's required of them.]

Though I guess that sort of defeats the purpose of these masks, huh.

[Oh well, good thing he doesn't actually care about that.]

[She taps the edge of hers with a light shrug, but there is the slightest, although easy, quirk of her lip.]

Eh. They're uncomfortable anyway.

[And as much as she had been here for the brooch, she thinks that maybe... somewhere deep, deep down, she actually maybe made a...

...

Even the thought is a bit strange.]

I was thinking of trying to get out of here anyway. If the mice'll let me.

Not a fan of the party?

[He says it primarily in jest. He can tell just by looking at her from the start that she hadn't been thrilled to be here.]

Maybe I can help. Give you a little cover.

You'll help?

[That's a bit surprising. Here she was prepared to steal a carriage all on her own, mice and consequences be damned, but if someone else is willing to step up and provide themselves as bait cover? Then who is Velvet to say no?]

Could maybe be useful to have someone distract the mice. And the annoying fairy godmothers.

Sure, why not. Here-

[He leads them back to the entrance, where a few people are still filtering in and poking through the brooch bowl. The fairies have been able to perceive him, but some of the guests can't, and for those who can, he has a way around that as well. During one of the moments the fairies are preoccupied with a few arriving guests, and one of them has their hand wrist-deep in the brooch bowl, Mikleo waves a hand in front of himself, and a thin veil of mist envelopes him, erasing him from view even for her. Nothing happens for a few seconds, and then suddenly the woman at the bowl yelps and yanks her hand back as if she'd been bitten, and a bunch of the brooches come flying out, scattering across the floor. Immediately several nearby guests and both fairies at the door are distracted by the mess, ducking down to pick them up again.

The door is unguarded, and Mikleo reappears next to her, the veil spreading to conceal her as well. He lifts a finger to his lips and tilts his head towards the door, moving to lead her out. Let's go, time is ticking!]

[What in the world... is going on...?

Velvet watches the whole scene unfold in front of her, stunned into silence as Mikleo disappears from view, and the woman screams and knocks a handful of those brooches to the floor. Several of the fairy godmothers come scurrying over to help, others to dote on her, but lo and behold, it leaves the door unattended. For how long, Velvet has no idea, but this is her way out—!

She rushes for the door, careful not to make any noise, and as they break through the entrance and walk out into the cool, refreshing air, she can see the carriages all lined up, waiting to take their attendants home at midnight and not a minute sooner.

... Except she is going to be the exception.

Quietly, she hisses under her breath to him. Normally, she wouldn't care much about making a ruckus, but she wants to get the hell out of here and not waste Mikleo's efforts so far.]

What about you?

[Mikleo shakes his head, his voice just as low.]

Don't worry about me. I still have someone here that I won't be leaving behind. I don't mind the party, anyway.

[It's fun to people-watch. He also has no idea how long her escape will last- if the fairies forced people here at the start, there's no guarantee she won't be dragged back here unceremoniously five minutes down the road. He'd rather skip the indignity and get back to Sorey.]

I hope you have a better evening elsewhere than you had here.

[...

That does get a bit of a smile out of her. Only a bit... and that will be Mikleo's thank you before she's turning around to head for the carriages, and she realizes as she rushes away that she hopes that he can at least enjoy the rest of his night, hopefully in better company than Velvet.

Unfortunately...

It's true.

She will get dragged back unceremoniously five minutes down the road. She might not even make it that far, but if he listens carefully, he may hear a familiar voice shouting from the entrance about how they can't keep her locked in the ball forever!!! And how she filled up a brooch, just like they asked!!!!

No matter. She will try again, and drag Rokurou into the mess as well. Alas, they also don't make it very far.]

{ stroke of midnight }

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wrapping this! 🎀💕