songerein | { stroke of midnight }

Entry tags:

{ 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

[Oh, he really got her with that, didn't he? And it's kind of amusing watching her half-hidden face turn bright red, enough that he briefly wonders who this girl is. But as expected, after she finally sorts herself out, she's pushing herself away from him and he just ends up laughing.]

Haha, maybe not, but looks like you enjoyed it.

[Smirky smirky smirk. Is he being mean teasing her? Probably. But for some reason it's kind of fun, but he won't push her too much.

Maybe.]

[Don't you know it's rude to make such assumptions about a lady—!?

She can see him smirking at her, and she only stares him down for a moment before she's stomping away towards the doors leading out to the gardens, mumbling something under her breath still about how it was "so unnecessary." Never mind that her brooch is glowing a little with that touch of emotion that he's managed to provoke out of her.

And yes, she is absolutely expecting him to follow. Come, brooch partner.

And once she's free of the ballroom and out in the fresher air of the gardens, she's never felt more relieved than she does now, and heaves out a giant breath, some of that tension loosening from her shoulders.]

Was starting to get stuffy in there.

[Oh he's definitely following her, still chuckling a little under his breath. He will give her a little distance, though. Let her cool off and all that. Only once they're outside does he come up alongside her.]

Heh, yeah. I was never really a fan of such events. Not that I've really been to many personally, but even just watching from the sidelines can be boring and exhausting.

Boring.

[She answers simply in agreement. At least this much they can agree on. Whatever that twirl was back there—

Not that she's still thinking about it!? WOW NO, YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT IT, ROKUROU.]

Don't know how people can stand around and watch others dance. It's all just spinning and stepping.

Sometimes it can be entertaining. Try to figure out who's the lying scumbag, or see which couple is clearly only there in name while they look for their real lover.

The scandals are amazing.

[She raises a brow at him.]

Are these all things you heard tonight while standing around?

[How did he even come up with these???]

Nah, I've heard them in the past. Like I said, I didn't go to these kinds of things often, but the few times I have I was so bored out of my mind. Listening on the gossip was the only thing I could do, really.

[Especially useful when trying to find a target— Well, not that he was assigned to do any of that. It was all mostly observation and training at the time.]

[Okay. Well, she can't blame him for that. If he was stuck going to these sorts of things, she can imagine how awful that would have been. Forced into a party like this... someone would have to find something to do. Just like they've been forced to do tonight.

Though, this guy seems to be enjoying himself.]

Did you make up stories about the rest of their lives too?

[There's a fountain just up ahead that she wanders to—it looks like a nice place to sit down and kick off these awful heels for a little while... which is exactly what she's going to do.]

Heh, sometimes.

[He'll just continue to slowly follow after before he leans over the fountain, looking into the water.]

Not like they would know, right? Should try it. Helps kill time, anyway.

Hm.

[At that, Velvet lets her eyes roam through the gardens...

...

Until she lands on one disgustingly mushy couple dressed in a matching blue outfits and wolf masks walking through the roses and off down a winding, hidden path, arm in arm, the woman giggling helplessly as she curls up at his side. Gross.]

Alright. What about them?

[Is she trying to kill time? Maybe.]

[He glances over...oh man.]

They are waaaay too into each other. Probably a new couple. I wouldn't say their feelings are genuine, but I've seen a lot of couples that start like that and then break up later, especially if one of them is way too clingy.

[Disgusting.

Even as they disappear around the corner, their laughter echoes through the gardens, and she can only scoff with a laugh.]

Looked pretty genuine to me, but... nothing lasts forever. Not even that. Wonder if they're "dreamwalkers" like the rest of us.

[Velvet leans back against the fountain's edge, hands splaying out to hold herself up, and she heaves a giant sigh.]

Could be, but could be anyone.

[And then a grin.]

How can you be so sure I'm a dreamwalker?

[It's true. She can't be so sure, and that provokes a huff out of her that sounds oddly like a laugh.]

Lucky guess. Was I on the money?

Can't answer.

[Points to the mask with a cheeky grin.]

So you'll just have to think what you want.

[Probably better that way, anyway. If she knew who he was, would she have to tell him? And... it's not as if she actually cares who's behind the mask. Once all of this is over, they'll go their separate ways and never see each other again, so... it all works out.]

Guess I'll have to.

[Is that another laugh? Wow.

But whatever she was about to say next—if anything—is cut off by a light splash to her face.]

Hey—!

[And when she looks down, there's...]

A frog...?

[... sitting there, staring up at her.

...

......

........

...........]

What?

[Oh, she laughed again? Heh, must not be doing a bad job and it's kind of a nice feeling.

But then there's...the frog. And it croaks in response before puckering its lips.

..................]

...Yeeeeeah, I don't think that's happening, buddy.

[Oh my god, is it... is it puckering its lips at her!?

Velvet actually jumps to her feet, noting how dejected the frog looks at Rokurou's words.

"But doesn't my lady want a handsome prince!? With one kiss, I—"]

Not happening.

Whoa, it can talk?

[The frog scoffs at him.

"Of course I can! Because I am no frog, but a prince cursed by those foul dragons!"

...]

Uh huh. I dunno, curse sounds better than being a roasted snack on a stick.

[That gets a croak out of it.]

["What ever do you mean, good sir? Surely, this pretty lady here will give me a kiss?"

He only receives a growl from Velvet in response.

"Unless you are her prince..." The frog pauses. "... In which case, I will challenge you to a duel for her love!"

Velvet sputters.]

Wait, what!?

Oh, a duel?

[IGNORING THE WHOLE "PRINCE THING" if there's a huge clue as to who he is right now is the way his eyes light up behind the mask at the prospect of a duel.

Before he laughs.]

Hah, has enticing as that is, this wouldn't be a fair match at all. Unless you can somehow grow ten times your size at least.

["Oh, I see. So you're afraid of being bested by a princely frog, is that it?"

....!?

Velvet grabs hold of Rokurou's arm so he doesn't start getting any of the wrong ideas because she did see the way his eyes lit up behind the mask. While she doesn't recognize him yet, that look is very familiar to her.]

No one is dueling tonight.

Aw, c'mon. I could turn him into some tasty frog legs.

And no one is turning anyone into frog legs, either!

[NO ONE IS FIGHTING FOR HER LOVE. Or whatever this frog wants to do!

She could just walk away, she really could, and leave this man and this frog to duke it out over someone else, but Velvet takes him by his sparkly arm and starts to drag him away, but she can hear the wet plops of the frog's feet following them.

"We could have a battle of wits instead! Oh, or we might sing~!" 💚

Nope. Nope nope nope nope. She picks up the pace with enough vigour that her mask starts to slip from her face.]

[Oh, she's taking him with her? He'll follow along, but he'll look back at the frog.]

What about a battle of wits and singing?

[Why is he making this worse—because he's having fun that's why. As the frog actually starts to sing in response, he just turns around to look back forward.]

Seriously, I could just skewer him in one go if you really wanted.

[JUST CASUALLY OFFERING FROG MURDER IT'S FINE.]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject