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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[Gokudera wishes he could keep cool, but when his boss isn’t around, it’s a lot harder to care.

And when he has company, she gets little more than a glance. He doesn’t exactly want to be left alone, but doesn’t much want company, either. He’s got to figure out what he’s supposed to do. He feels absolutely lost. No boss, no home, no nothing. It all just feels like a weight hanging over him, and very little is helping.

The last thing the teen expects is for her to talk to him, and what she says gives him pause. He glances over without turning his head, then looks back out at the grounds spread before them, enjoying the air, as unfamiliar as it is.

Who is this lady? Why is she talking to him? He can’t be in any kind of rush, considering how long he’s been standing out here, so he isn’t looking to leave. He’ll humor her for a little bit.]

Nothing really ever does.

[His voice is somewhat young, graveled, and the accent is hard to place. He sounds uninterested, but maybe that’s just because he isn’t sure how his night is going or should be going. What’s the point of him being here… He doesn’t really know anyone.]

[ She doesn't quite smirk at that, cuz that would involve Patsy... smiling... but nevertheless, some dry humor dances across her red lips. She takes another puff of her cigarette, killing it down to the butt, before tossing it on the ground and stepping on it rather sharply with her pointed high heels. ]

Maybe s'just not enough, eh?

[ And with that, she reaches up beneath the black tulle headpiece she's wearing, long thin fingers carefully digging into the back of her blonde beehive, and from the depths of her hair, proudly produces... a joint. Yeah, that's definitely a joint. This lady just pulled drugs out of her hair. She holds it up with a playful little flick, raising her brows at him. Still not exactly smiling, but— well, it's implied. ]

[Gokudera doesn’t know what she’s on about, and it… seems like she’s offering something to him. He’s only ever smoked cigarettes, but that doesn’t mean he’s completely unfamiliar to drugs.]

Hm? What’s that?

[A joint, obviously. But Gokudera’s never really smoked one before. He’s not sure what it would be like, and she’s practically a stranger. It’s… isn’t it dangerous? He wants to be cooler about this, and accept, but… he’s still so new and careful. He’d accept if she takes a drag before him. Gokudera puts out his own cigarette and pockets the butt somewhere in his fancy jacket. He’s not completely disinterested.]

Well, it's not Turkish tobacco, darling.

[ She pulls her monogrammed Zippo lighter out from her waist pocket, flicking the flame on deftly with well-practiced flair. She puts the joint between her lips, but pauses, holding the light just an inch or two away from it, as another idea stills her hand. She speaks out the side of her mouth with the joint still firmly pressed between her lips, cocking her brow at him. ]

That is— unless you'd rather a bit of pick-me-up, you know.

[ And gives a few sharp, audible little sniffs, flaring out her nostrils rhetorically. Patsy is not the generous type to just give away drugs for free, these are for emergencies, but finding a cute boy chain-smoking alone counts as an emergency, right...? ]

Turkish tobacco? [What…?]

[He has to admit that he’s very curious about whatever she’s on about, and the frown on his face is less intense. It’s more relaxed, almost amused by her. His eyes are on the joint between her lips, and he feels anticipation build, only to sputter into more confusion at her next words.]

I-I don’t! [He responds almost a bit too loud and awkward, blushing beneath the cover of his ornate mask. What does that even mean?!]

Look… lady, I’m not from around here. I don’t know what you’re talking about.

[He’s not telling her to go away or anything, but awkwardly floundering.]

[ That draws a confused, amused brow up for Patsy, in turn. ]

Oh. You're cute.

[ She goes ahead and lights the joint, then, careful and practiced, holding it between her French-manicured thumb and forefinger. Classic. Holding a deep hit in, she saunters nearer to him, handing it off. She holds the smoke in indefinitely, waiting to release it until he takes his own first hit. She may be giving kids drugs, but, y'know, at least she's polite about it? ]

[That comment just tints his pink face a more brilliant and noticeable shade. Who is this lady?! Why is she being nice to him?! He doesn’t even fucking know her! He’s only about sixteen! A teenager!

A teenager who smokes cigarettes, builds explosives, and works for the mafia. He’s done worse. This is already a strange place where no one knows him. He has no home or any idea of how he’s supposed to keep moving forward in terms of finding his boss.

He needs to relax. Maybe this will help. Maybe she’s right. Gokudera isn’t going to turn down her offer. If this ends poorly, he reckons he’s likely been through worse. Gokudera follows her lead, but the drag is shallow by comparison. He breathes it in to his lungs rather than keeping it in his mouth. It’s not his, so he won’t take any big hits, and certainly won’t hold onto it and let it waste. She can take it back, he’s offering, and exhaling.

The flavor is much more pleasant than that of his cigarettes, has a distinctly herbal flavor, and it’s so smooth he doesn’t even cough. It does not taste bad at all, but he doesn’t feel anything, and isn’t sure what to expect.]

Not bad, lady.

[He isn’t going to thank her, but a compliment on her taste would land better, Gokudera figures. She looks like she put a lot of thought into her outfit. Or… spoke with the spirits that dressed her up. He can’t tell, but he’s also a lot less tense.]

Do I know you?

[Gokudera is giving her his full attention now, clearly interested.]

[ Hard proof they're in a alternate universe dreamland: Someone just described Patsy as nice. That's about to deftly disproven.

She watches him take his hit, almost as if appraising him, and is at least impressed he doesn't cough up a lung like an inexperienced teenager might. What a turn-off that'd've been. She's not entirely sure of his age, not able to see his face, after all, so her best assumption is he's in his 20s. But she's not... not interested, if it turns out he isn't... Sixteen is grown, in her eyes. She was definitely doing much worse things when she was his age. Patsy fully participated in the 1960s... and never really stopped...

She doesn't release her hit until he hands the joint back to her, then lets it out like an effortless breath. No coughing here, either, naturally. She takes another hit, and Gokudera's next question tickles her pink. She holds it in less long, but exhales it in a smooth, clean puff, blowing it upwards pointedly. She keeps her eyes on him as she does, and finally cracks a smile, a smirk traces her lips. She leans in closer to him, holding eye contact confidently even despite his mask. ]

You could if you want to. I've also got a packet of three in my brassiere.

Edited 2023-02-16 03:08 (UTC)

[He’s only had his female classmates hit on him, and even then, it was obvious that they were. Gokudera has never had anyone act this way towards him, and possibly have some motive to do so. Nothing ever so indirect, and what seems to his naive mind as nice.

Gokudera gets the feeling he’s being watched with every motion he does. It feels a little… hungry, like she wants something. He’s used to people being rather disgusted by him, especially the fact that he smokes. Who wants a delinquent around? Only nice people, that’s who. The tough loner act just helped to keep fake people away, or so he’d say. It totally wasn’t just because he thought it looked cool. Totally not that.

There is not much tough-guy loner act at the moment. Just genuine surprise, and a willingness to speak with someone that could help.

The eye contact is kind of weird, though. Very pointed. He’s never felt so pinned by a pair of eyes before. It’s enough to make him gulp nervously.]

Uh… I- what?

[He flounders some more, because what does that even mean?! A packet of three of what? Why there?! Gokudera looks down, as if his eyes say ‘down there?’ HE VERY POINTEDLY DOES NOT LOWER HIS HEAD. He wouldn’t stare her down like she’s doing to him. It’s… did she get closer? Gokudera backs up a half step, but doesn’t go anywhere. He was casually leaning against the railing of the balcony after all.]

Y-You’re very pretty! [He needs to compliment her, because she’s close enough to him that he feels like he’s kind of in danger.]

But I don’t get it… What you want from me…

[ Who wants a delinquent around? Another delinquent, that's who.

Patsy takes not of that half-step away, though is still relieved that he stays. Telling her she's pretty is nice, yes, quite, but... "pretty" wasn't what she was going for. And his age is starting to show itself at last, cluing her in on just how clueless he must be. And after a beat, she kind of balks, not yet turned off, but certainly a bit put off. She purses her lips, staring him down more skeptically now, clearly considering her options here, giving him the once-over with a slight scowl now. It takes her a pause, but she responds derisively, decisively, once she realizes she's probably got a virgin on her hands. Not not hot, but. Eh. She's not in the mood for that kinda kink. The clueless act is only cute for so long. She stays put, letting Gokudera put that bit of distance between them, then leans back and narrows her eyes, taking a short puff of the joint between her retort, holding the smoke in even as she speaks. ]

...It's a come-on, darling. [ Drag... ] Not a mugging. Calm down.

[ Not quite accepting defeat just yet, she's still generous enough to hand the joint off to him again. Kid clearly needs it, anyway, as far as she's concerned. Christ... ]

[The leaning back is a comfort, but Gokudera’s also starting to feel a bit… odd. Sluggish, confused, and kind of dumb. Thirsty, too. His eyes are plenty narrow enough on a regular basis, but they’re even more so with the effects of the drug.

Is she mad? He can’t tell, and gives a little sigh, actually relaxing more than he had been. Whatever he’d smoked, it definitely took some of his anger away.]

Not used to it, [he says in a slight grumble. Gokudera accepts the joint and takes a bit longer of a drag than he had before. There’s no coughing, but he’s handing it back eagerly. Only when she has it will he turn his head away to exhale long and relaxed. Yeah… calm down. She’s just coming on to him.

Wait-! That’s not right.]

Please [He tips his head slightly, raises an eyebrow at her. His body language is much more relaxed. Despite who it is and what their intentions are, Gokudera likes his space.] Are you serious?

[He’s blushing again. She’s kind of cool… but still! Why him?! She was looking at him as if he were food. Gokudera’s so off-guard and his worries from before don’t seem so important. That doesn’t stop this from feeling off. But again, that could just be what he’s smoking with her. Gokudera stares at her legs, then finds himself staring off somewhere past them.]

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{ stroke of midnight }

!!!! Yessssssssss

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CW: underage drug use

CW: adult attempting to seduce a minor... this thread just took a quick turn south.

/keysmashing

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