{ stroke of midnight }

[dreamposts]

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.

1. 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.
   
   
2. 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.
   
   
3. 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.

1. 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.
   
   
2. 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!

Comments

III

[girlwiththegal]

[Walking around the garden if nothing else has been peaceful and allowed her to gather her thoughts, still, she likes to be at least somewhat observent espeically with Taion to do it for her. Plus it's really hard to move around in this dress, seriously, why would anyone want to wear this willingly?

She however stops and noticing something on the floor.

A shoe?

[She picks it to observe there's nothing particularly odd about it, besides the fact it's all on its own with no owner. At least none that she can see, until of course she notices a human shaped figure in the fog.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained, besides if they were going cause trouble Sena knows the heavy side of a hammer with their name on it. She moves a little closer as it begins to clear up.]

Excuse me? Did you drop this?

[lemoncandy]

( This isn't how Cinderella went...

Shealtiel is still recovering from losing the frog in his chase when the stranger approaches, but he's quick to straighten. The question means she probably didn't hear anything, let alone see anything, and that's a relief. But. Missing a shoe is kind of embarrassing, and he still has the remnants of a faint blush beneath his mask. )

Aha... Yeah.

( He reaches out to take it right back so that he can pull it back on, sighing as he does so. )

I, uh... Dropped it. With my foot. ( A pause. He's bad at this and everything, please have mercy. ) Thanks.

( Now, the white fountain is left behind, and he's not really sure which way is what anymore... )

[girlwiththegal]

Oh, you're welcome. I didn't think you could drop a shoe with your feet, aren't they kinda made in a way so you can't?

[...Of all the things to ask right now, was that really the most important? ]

...So, are you from here? I kinda just popped in, and I really have no idea whats going on.

[lemoncandy]

Y-yeah, but these shoes were forced on me by a weird lady, so I don't think they fit right.

( They fit perfectly, actually, but he's trying so desperately to leave it at that as he clears his throat and continues. )

Anyway! No, I just showed up here pretty recently, too, and then got thrown in a carriage.

[girlwiththegal]

GASP!

The same thing happened to me!

[Sena isn't the best with personal space in the best of times...this is not the best of times, as she grabs him by the shoulders and lifts him a little before putting him back down]

Sorry! But the same thing happened to me! At first I thought it was normal since the worlds were seperating, but then why wouldn't my friends be with me here? The friends to were supposed to be with me I mean, you see because we-, that's not imporant right now actually!

What is, is that everything's been super weird. I'm in a dress and mask I don't remember putting on, I'm in a carriage I don't remember getting in, and there's a fancy party and food!

And the dragons talk along with other animals. And I don't know what's going on!

[lemoncandy]

Did you just say "gasp" out loud?

( Hold on, that's only the first thing he's latched onto, and it's mostly a mumble before he's picked up. Then he tenses up, both of his hands going up defensively just as he's set down, but he can't even properly yell about it because she just starts...

Rambling? Babbling? He's lost track of what she's talking about three times now. He ends up sticking out his hand as if to stop her from deciding to go on any more than she already has, his other hand on his hip. )

Just hold on a second. Didn't you meet one of those people that explained the whole dream-copy thing?

[girlwiththegal]

[Yes, she did say "gasp" out loud. But that's not important]

NO!...Maybe...I don't know actually. I don't think I was actually paying attention to what anyone was saying.

[Sena in turn blushes behind her own mask, crossing her hands and fiddling with her thumbs]

...It's been a very long couple of days for me okay? I have had a lot to think about even before coming here.

[Sena again takes a good look around]

So...this is a dream? I guess that makes sense, but why does everything feel so real?

[lemoncandy]

Right.

( Well, he can't argue with that. He's been busy and tired too, but... )

They said something like we're just "pieces" of our "real" selves, and it's like we're having our own little adventure. I don't know if I buy it... but I don't have any other explanations.

[girlwiththegal]

"Pieces of our real selves"...

I think I get it.

[Surprisingly, given everything she's seen and been through, this makes the most sense to her. It might not explain everything about the situation, but explains more than enough.

That said, it also puts her at least a little bit more on edge]

I guess there's not a whole lot we can do right now huh?

[lemoncandy]

Not unless you want to go back to that party.

( Shealtiel draws that out flatly and shifts his weight to one of his legs, hand resting at his hip. )

Actually, I got kind of lost, so I don't even know how to get back to the castle. These are the gardens, and I was just by this weird fountain, but I ended up wandering pretty far...

[girlwiththegal]

I can help guide you back if you want! I like to think by now I know how to get around new places, wouldn't even be the trickiest castle I've been in.

...I probably won't be going back to the party though. It's not really my thing you know? I'm happy for everyone there having fun, but I really don't belong there with them.

[lemoncandy]

I didn't even want to go to the party in the first place, but some giant mice kidnapped me.

( So, here he is. Dressed and annoyed about it. He sighs slightly, scrubbing at his face with his scarred left hand. )

I guess it's fine to stay out here. But... maybe we should walk around or something? I'd at least like to know how to get out of here when I need to.

[girlwiththegal]

Yeah, knowing our way around here would probably be helpful.
Though, since this is a dream...

[Suddenly Sena summons a giant hammer that's almost as big as her and twice as wide, which she efffortlessly lifts with one hand and puts it over her shoulder.]

Nobody is going to mind if I "make" a way outta here right?

[lemoncandy]

What— are you crazy?!

( Hold on a second!! Shealtiel lifts both hands as if urging her to stop, though he doesn't move himself any closer or dare to step in front of her. He'll stay over here, thanks. )

What is that huge hammer going to do, anyway? We should just walk normally!

[girlwiththegal]

[Sena can't help but laugh how at serious he is]

Relax. I wasn't serious, I'm not gonna wreck somebody's home, this dream feels way too real.

[She twirls it for a second before putting it back over her shoulder]

This is "just in case" you know? But I don't think I'll actually be needing to use it.

...You should've seen the look on your face though.

[Or at least what she can see from his mask]

[lemoncandy]

I don't want to hear anything from the girl who said "gasp" out loud as an exclamation.

( He's huffy about it, crossing his arms. )

But go on, then, if you're as good as you say at finding your way. I'll follow you, at least for now.

[girlwiththegal]

Sheesh touchy, you really need to lighten up.

[Examining her area Sena points in the direction of the path both of them should go.]

C'mon, let's make our way back.