{ 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

[theheroics]

—Hold on, Midgar? [ Yeah, that stopped him mid squat. Shiva, none of this was making any sense. How was Cloud already in Midgar when they were currently on their way there?

No Zack. Calm down, play it cool. His memories were all whack, remember? Or maybe this had something to do with the crazy place they currently found themselves in.

This place didn't look like anything he's seen in Midgar before, much less Gaia. Maybe some weird time materia magic was involved, or maybe Cloud really was... different? He couldn't be too sure yet. ]

Man, so you did make it. [ The relief is still hanging in his voice but he's curious. So to piece together his own suspicions, he'll press just a little further. ] Lemme guess: mercenary work?

[spikyheaded]

[The way he stops mid-squat almost makes Cloud wonder if he was going to topple over holding that position. Almost.

More importantly, the gears began turning in Cloud's own mind. Had he known ZAck for longer than he was letting on? He didn't have a lot of friends while he was in Shinra, much less in SOLDIER— But he was speaking as if he knew of Cloud's plans for when he made his way over there.

Maybe he had said it in passing before. Not that he could remember very clearly.]

Yeah. How'd you know?

[Cloud's own curiosity gets the better of him, his tone guarded once again, with just a bit more edge.]

[theheroics]

[ Huh. So something really was going on.

Zack didn't know quite yet, and it probably wouldn't be until later on, but the Cloud in front of him... it was almost like he was from a different time. Sometime in the future, perhaps? As weird as it sounded in his head he could only draw the same conclusion time and time again the more he thought. His appearance, Midgar, and now even this.

The conversation rang loudly in his mind.

"Mercenaries, Cloud. That's what you and me are gunna be!" ]

Isn't that what everyone does? Seems like the quickest way to make some gil coming from what we use to do.

[ He'll continue his squats for two or three more sets before finally stopping, letting his hands rest on either side of his hips. ]

I dunno if you could do that here, though— maybe? Still haven't figured out what this place even is. [ He turns to Cloud fully now, offering another small smile. ]

Think we could check it together?

[spikyheaded]

[And there goes the squats again. Must be some kind of odd mannerism of his. But who was he to judge?]

Guess so. Yet sometimes you keep having to add a little extra for the things people ask for.

[While he and Barret have stopped butting heads as often since, Cloud still found it frustrating how much the bigger man kept delaying his pay. He realizes that had slipped out without him meaning to, but it wasn't more information than he was willing to share right now. So he settles for moving his hands to cross his chest once more.]

We're in the same boat there. Didn't have much time to get my bearings before I was brought here.

[We're not going to talk about how he was somehow overpowered by mice. When he was able to fight them back, more of them kept coming.

His eyes stray to gesture behind them, the large, looming castle still alight with the ongoing party, a few balconies dotted with occupants whispering sweet nothings to one another or otherwise. Would a place like this need someone like them? If the dragons were any indication, maybe.

Cloud doesn't accept the offer outright, still not quite finished sizing Zack up. His eyes turn to meet the other man's, seeing the same glow as his own mako eyes again.]

You any good at fighting?

[theheroics]

[ Stick around him for long, and maybe you'll start picking it up, too!

Heh. So even Cloud was negotiating his pay? That's a far cry from the usual timid disposition he almost always gave off. Zack kept having to remind himself this was the same Cloud despite the differences, but he was proud that he seemed to have gotten out of his shell. ]

Brought here? So much for a proper welcoming. Looks like we're on our own to figure it out. [ There's gotta be a dragon or fairy or mouse that knew something right? He didn't quite get the opportunity to ask when he first arrived. However, now that he was reunited with Cloud, it seemed like a better time as any to look for information.

Cloud's question made him pause, before his smile shifted into something a little more playful. ]

Not to brag or anything [ he was ], but I'm kind of a big deal. [ For the first time since he arrived here, Zack will laugh. Genuinely. He throws a thumb to his chest, grinning wildly at the blonde. ] Dunno if I'm as good as you, though. Anyone who can fight in heels has way more skill than me!

[ Just going to... casually do a once over at Cloud's outfit. It was too good of an opportunity not to take it. ]

[spikyheaded]

[While he had gotten a crash course on arrival, he hadn't believed what he was being told. Before he knew it, he was in front of a castle in a dress. He made a mental note to find that fairy godmother later. To get some answers and otherwise.

Though he had been receiving a number of compliments throughout the night, he had brushed off most of them in frustration. This one, however, he had not expected. Not with what the two of them were discussing prior.

A noise somewhere between shock and embarrassment tumbles out of his lips before he could stop it. Almost instantly after, Clouds's brows shoot up in his forehead, his mouth hanging open in surprise. His eyes widen as he makes eye contact with Zack and, almost as quickly, he turns away, looking to the ground as a hint of red colors his cheeks just so.]

I'm not wearing this when I have to fight.

[Even his stance shifts, his arms now seemingly more defensive than guarded. The movement was enough to make the dress rustle around him, almost feeling like it poofs out even more. His embarrassment even causes a few nearby red flowers to fully bloom, feeding off the dreamotion coming off of him.

Did this dress have to be so extra?]

[theheroics]

[ And there it was—

For a moment Zack was convinced that the Cloud he knew was no longer; replaced with a more stern, slightly grumpier version of his former self. But he caught it... that smallest bit of nervousness that creeped back in, almost too quick to tell.

The reaction was almost too good, and Zack had to resist every urge in his body not to tackle the other man with a hair ruffle.

No, not yet. For now they were just strangers, acquaintances at best. He would have to work harder if he wanted to get the Cloud he once knew back. ]

Ahaha! Shame, I'd be really impressed if you could. [ He attempts to stifle the last bit of laughter with a hand over his month, trying not to tease the poor man any further. ]

Let's go find you some other clothes, then. Sure we could grab some more information along the way.

[spikyheaded]

[It had been embarrassing having to deal with his outfit the entire night, both when it came to the comments about it, as well as just moving around in it. How he had managed to do so back in Wall Market still surprised him. But he had been able to mostly brush it off because people hadn't known him. Their opinions didn't matter and if he was lucky, he wouldn't have to deal with them again.

Unfortunately Tifa had seen him earlier—seen him in his get up again. Now that was when he truly felt shame that night, having someone he knew see him that way, especially because it had been her. And now, though he didn't not recall Zack well, he felt it again for the second time that night.

Cloud had been of the mind of turning on his (unfortunate) heel and leaving when he hears the last thing out of his companion's mouth. He's unable to stop an audible exhale as a wave of relief washed over him.]

That's the best advice I've heard all night. [Then he adds, his tone just a little cockier:] And if we're lucky, it'll come with a stiff drink.

[Because man, did he need one right now.]

[theheroics]

[ Despite the obvious hell both of them seemed to be going through that night, the tension that had lingered in the air had slowly began to dissipate. It wasn't going to be an easy road for sure considering the large amount of obstacles in their way, but... hey, Zack knew a thing or two about taking the long way home.

There were still more questions than Zack had the answers to, and as much as he wanted to find them as quickly as possible, it wasn't his pace they were walking to right now.

He wasn't going to leave him behind. ]

Now that's what I'm talkin' about! [ It was with the acceptance of his proposal that allowed Zack to return to a bit of his old habits, a wide grin splitting across his face.

He'll move past Cloud, eagerly smacking a hand against the back of his shoulder blade before making his way towards the door to the green house.

But right before his hand goes to the door on his way out, Zack turns to look over his shoulder and onto the lilies he saw when he first arrived. They were a little brighter now; still slightly withering from the rush of negative emotions he felt earlier... but they were alive. It was almost as if someone had recently finished watering them as the leaves held a bit of glimmering light over its surface. It looks like it'll take him longer than he thought to get back. He hoped she could wait for him... just a little longer.

A sigh, his spirits regaining before mustering a laugh over his shoulder: ] As long as you're buying...!

[ He'd keep up this charade for as long as he needed to. For now, even as painful as it was, he'd put on a brave face.

The answers would slowly come in time... but for now he was going to focus on what was ahead of him.

One last mission. ]