{ 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

[sagesurvivor]

[That, he does perk back up at, lending further credence to Zelda's intuition. Though a bit of guilt nags at him for taking this beautiful lady away from the ball for something so rote, it would be foolish to refuse, given his position.]

You continue to earn my gratitude, miss; any knowledge you would be willing to offer would be deeply appreciated. [He says with a hand pressed to his chest, pausing for a beat before continuing.] The... creature I encountered upon my "awakening" was less helpful than I would have liked.

[He may or may not have spent his first hour chasing down that damn tapir for answers. Any success he may or may not have had was... negligible.]

[multidisciplinary]

[ That earns a little laugh out of Zelda, who lifts her hand instinctively to cover her mouth and connects with the mask instead. Ah, right. ]

They do their best... [ She offers sympathetically. ] Even though their best isn't terribly good to begin with.

[ They're cute little creatures, the tapirs, but a bit more devil-may-care about things than Zelda would prefer. ]

I suppose they informed you of the basics, then: that this world we find ourselves in is a dream world called Songerein, that these bodies we inhabit are "dream versions" of our true selves, and that the world is filled with a silly sort of magic called "dreamotion."

[ She makes air quotes where appropriate and there's a note of derision to her tone when she says 'dreamotion.' ]

[sagesurvivor]

[A hum of acknowledgement is all he offers regarding the topic of the tapirs. Perhaps, given time, he will grow to view them with the same gentle sort of pity as she does, but for now the indignity is still fresh.

He's far more interested in the rest she has to say, regardless. She sounds... unimpressed with the world at large, which could come with its own biases, but as a self-proclaimed woman of science and one who has shown generosity at every step in this conversation, he's willing to believe she speaks more truth than not. So he's willing to allow an undercurrent of anxiety to be heard in his voice when he says:]

And that the lands we hail from are not affected by our being here. Is there evidence of this, or must we take them at their word?

[He was kiiinda in the middle of something back home...]

[multidisciplinary]

[ Zelda nods in affirmation. She understands his concern completely. The princess was also engaged in an important task before she awoke in Songerein (a task that she still worries over to this day). ]

It is a proven fact, yes. Time here flows... strangely. Incongruous to the flow of time in our own worlds. Our presence here is both cause- and proof that our true selves are presently asleep in our own world—and while we remain conscious in this dream world, our true selves remain asleep. Essentially, the flow of time has paused for our true bodies while we inhabit this dream world.

[ Even though she's lived here for a long time, Zelda still has a hard time explaining how things work. Even thought dreams are the norm of Songerein, these explanations always sound like nonsense to her. It's such a strange, changeable place that hardly follows any rules or logic—even its own. ]

If you wish to verify this with your own eyes, there is an observatory in town that can grant you a brief glimpse of your world. The operators require a special currency in payment, but I should be happy to give you one, if you wish.

[ Zelda usually has more baubles than she knows what to do with. ]

[sagesurvivor]

[He listens to her, intent and focused, and despite Zelda's own uncertainty in her ability to explain the oddly mutable nature of time in this realm, he seems... mostly understanding. For a brief moment, he looks down to his hand, flexes the callused fingers that - for this night alone - have been released from the binds of protective tape, and considers, musing softly to himself.]

An unseen island amidst the river of time... what an unusual place.

[Time nonsense is always a bit difficult to wrap one's head around, but he's had some practice at least. Shaking his head as though to clear it, he returns his attention to Zelda. Again, guilt nags at him, and a bit of pride too, but... this isn't something he can refuse. He has to know for sure.]

... I would accept your offer, under the condition that you would permit me to do some favor for you in turn. It would not feel right for me as a complete stranger to accept something so precious without at least that much in exchange.

[Words that could come back to bite him, but... somehow he thinks it'll be fine. Just a feeling he gets.]

[multidisciplinary]

[ Zelda stops herself from chuckling at "something so precious." She felt that way herself when she received her first bauble from the fairies, but nowadays, she can't manage to spend them as fast as she acquires them. It's tempting to argue that it's okay, Sheik really doesn't need to repay her for the bauble, but Zelda decides to let it go. He sounds very intent on this. ]

I am happy to accept your terms. [ She nods her consent. ]

It seems that we will be obliged to meet again after this party. I wonder if that goes against the rules of a masquerade ball. [ Zelda remarks with a light laugh. ] Is it a faux pax to disobey the rule of anonymity, even after the party has ended?

[sagesurvivor]

[Sheik's tone, thus far rather formal if quiet, immediately dries up like a raisin in the desert.]

Considering I was made to attend rather against my will, I cannot say I am personally very concerned with whatever rules of etiquette are in play here. Should there be any consequences for disregarding such social niceties, you may place the blame squarely upon my shoulders.

[Fight him. He'll be ready for the mice next time.]

[multidisciplinary]

[ This time, Zelda does laugh aloud. ]

In that case, perhaps I might be equally willing to shoulder any blame. I am in attendance tonight against my will as well.

[ Something to be said about "captive" princesses, perhaps.

Zelda tilts her head thoughtfully. ]

Well, in the vein of committing social blunders, would you care to step outside with me? It will be easier to converse away from the din of the crowd.

[sagesurvivor]

[Oh! She laughed! He is going to get a good grade in social interaction, which is normal to want and possible to achieve. Half hidden by his scarf, the corner of his lip twitches upwards.]

Ah, of course. I could want for nothing more. [He pushes himself away from the wall, and, after a moment's consideration, sort of... juts his elbow out away from his side in her general direction. It's a bit awkward and stiff, but that's something fancy gentlemen are supposed to do for fancy ladies, right? And Goddesses forbid he loses her in the crowd as they make their way outside; he'll never be able to find her again with the magic of the masks.] Please, lead on.

[multidisciplinary]

[ It's a good thing that Sheik thinks to offer his arm, because Zelda might have walked away without thinking twice about what might happen if they were accidentally separated. Instead, she places her hand lightly on the top of his proffered forearm in such a way as to subtly guide him to adjust the position of his arm. Pretty close, though! ]

It's this way. [ Zelda inclines her head in the direction of the open double doors that lead out of the ballroom. She leads the way, taking a careful pace so that it doesn't look like she's leading. It's not polite for a princess to drag someone around; she is to be escorted.

It only take a couple of minutes to exit the ballroom out onto the sprawling gardens. The late night air is brisk, but not unpleasantly cold. Zelda takes in a deep breath. ]

Much better! I do enjoy parties, but there's only so long one can mill around in a stuffy room without getting antsy.

[sagesurvivor]

[Sheik... does his best with appearing like a Proper Gentleman with Zelda's subtle guidance, though it's likely obvious to anyone with a real education in etiquette that it's a part he's unfamiliar with playing. It would, perhaps, be something to be self-conscious over, but instead his mind is occupied with noting how her hand fits on his arm, how her gait falls into an even tempo alongside his own.

(She will need to know these things, when Ganondorf falls.)

They reach the gardens and Sheik is tempted to take a similar breath, tension melting from his shoulders. Instead - after a moment's hesitation - he reaches up to remove his mask, shaking his bangs from his face to better feel the cool air upon his skin. It's fine for him to make this reveal first, he thinks; it's not as though the fairies' gift is the only thing obscuring his identity, after all.]

It has been quite some time since I've seen so many people gathered together in one place. It will take some time more before I'll navigate them with the ease you possess, I believe.

[Another worry for later, but, well. It'll be a long time before Hyrule is rebuilt enough to throw balls like this, anyway.]

[multidisciplinary]

[ Zelda lightly laughs off Sheik's compliment, partially out of self-consciousness and partially because she knows there are those in Hyrule who would disagree with him. It's easy to think kindly of an anonymous young woman you've only just met who shows poise and grace at a party. It's harder to think such of a princess who should be perfect, and Zelda is hardly perfect. ]

You need not worry overmuch. Formal events like these are few and far between and, even though this is a castle, there is no court to impress.

[ Zelda carefully lifts her mask up and over her head. Finally free! Why in the world did the fairy godmother see fit to give Zelda a full-length mask? A half-mask would have been perfectly sufficient (and breathable).

Now that she has her full range of vision, she can get a better look at her partner. His red eyes are quite striking! Even in so diverse a place as Songerein, Zelda doesn't see a lot of people with red eyes. She still tends to think of the Sheikah whenever she happens to see someone with red eyes. But her partner doesn't appear to share any of the other common characteristics of members of the Sheikah clan, so Zelda puts the comparison out of mind. ]

[sagesurvivor]

[continued here.]