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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

So...

[Tifa says slowly, her fingers toying gently with his tie.]

This would be the first real time then, huh?

[She giggles and lifts her head from his chest to look at him, her eyes shimmering like stars behind her mask, her smile barely contained.]

It's kinda funny when you think about it... We've been here for so long, done so many things together. Probably some things crazier than this, and yet... We've never really waltzed together in fancy outfits.

[A light laugh.]

For all the festivals that occur, formal ones like these seem rare.

[He then leans in a little closer, his voice dropping lower.]

That just makes this all the more special.

Mm. It does.

[His voice near her ear again makes a dangerous shiver run over her skin, and she huddles even closer to him, if that's even possible.]

Not even just the festivals. Everything. The dreams, the changes in the town. We turned into candy before we even got to have a real dance like this.

[And though not all of those memories were happy moments, they were still memories with him, and that's what makes each of them special. Every one had brought them together, and she knows that they will only continue to strengthen their relationship and their resolve to be with one another.]

But I couldn't have asked for a more perfect anniversary. To have the dance we never got to have.

[A low thoughtful hum at her words.]

Anniversary... I suppose it is one, isn't it? Do I need to take you to a banquet and formal dance every year now?

Would you, if I said yes...?

[She's kidding of course, but it's not so out of the realm of possibilities here, is it? They could dream one up and do that... and maybe they should someday. A whole ballroom all to themselves...

Tifa giggles at the thought.]

You know, isn't it kind of our one-year wedding anniversary?

Is it a true one year or is it more like one and a half...

[How would they count their time in Avalon??]

[Have they even talked about this since they got here...? How would they count all of their time together?]

Well... I meant since we got married the first time, but...

[Tifa pauses to mull it over, letting the music fill that beat of silence.]

I guess... if you count Camelot, it would be about that long, wouldn't it? It has been a while... Honestly, sometimes I forget that we were in another world before this one.

[A small huff of breath.]

What happened in this world is more prominent, isn't it? ...If anything, our time in Avalon seems more like the dream.

It does.

[She never thought about it that way, but their time in Avalon feels so far away now that it's like a distant dream, with small pockets of very vivid memories that still exist. She remembers that photo tucked away into those small lockets of theirs that she had brought back to this world, and it feels like so, so long ago that it's almost surreal to even be talking about it now.]

We never really got the chance to be together for long there, did we? Not like this...

...No.

[His arms tighten around her with a little remorse.]

But given what happened, perhaps it's for the best.

[She senses that little shift in the way his arms tighten around her, and tipping her head, Tifa reaches up and gently taps him on the cheek to look at her.]

Hey.

[It is sad to think about, but—]

If none of that happened, who knows where we would be now.

[He looks down at her at the tap and lightly smiles, lowering his head so his forehead bumps against hers.]

...That path may have been different, but we would have been here regardless.

You think so?

[Tifa does too—with all her heart, she believes that they would have ended up the same. Madly in love, dancing together in a giant ballroom, so close and intimate, like they are the only two people left in the world...

It has their feet rising slightly off the ground, but she's far too enraptured by him and the memories to even notice yet.]

I guess... before you even knew who I was, I might have had feelings for you already. I was in love with you before I knew it.

Hmm... But it was with a different version of me.

[IS HE STILL ON THAT—]

[Is he really still on that...

Tifa responds with a withering smile, and her steps stop. Please, Eustace...]

Was it? But you have all the same memories.

[MAYBE.... A LITTLE......

He glances down at her when she stops.]

And if I never got them back?

[Of course the answer is obvious. Nor is he being too serious about it. But he may be teasing her a little, wanting to hear her words, anyway.]

[The answer is obvious, but she knows what he's doing and why, and it's adorable. After all this time, is he really jealous of himself still?

Tifa pretends to consider her answer, humming quietly in thought as she resumes her steps again.]

Well... you did fall in love with me before you did, didn't you? A whole year ago...?

[Said with a cheeky grin.

Or maybe earlier than that, even?]

Didn't need your memories.

Edited 2023-02-25 18:01 (UTC)

[Hmmmmm. A soft, low hum as he pulls her back into the dance.]

I suppose so. You pushed yourself into my life... And then tried to run away.

Both times.

But it worked, didn't it? You still chased me.

[A giggle bursts out of her, and as he pulls her back into their dance, she frees herself from him for a moment for a twirl out, and then back in, forcing him to catch her with her back to his chest now.

As a hand slides up to brush against his jaw, urging his face to draw in just a little closer, she turns her head just so, far enough that he can see her smile.]

... It worked tonight, too. How do you think I got a dance with my prince?

[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.

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