{ 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

[mortal_son]

Shinjiro sighed as Ken flinched away from him, remorse now settling in heavy and deep. Clear on his face, weighting down his chest - his shoulders hunched a little as he shrugged. "It aint your fault. There's nothin to apologize for."

His face twisted a little. "You aren't the one who died. You aren't the one who fucked up three years ago. You aren't the one who ran from that - you aren't the one who left everybody, kid. I don't regret what happened last night - months ago for you - but I do regret you had to go through all that, and you feel bad enough to apologize now for tellin me the truth."

Glancing at Ken from under his bangs, Shinjiro told him, sincere and gruff, "I don't know if it matters, but I'm ... impressed, and proud, with everythin you've done. You deserved better, though. Don't blame yourself for givin me the news or anythin, all right?"

[whatsamada]

He said that there is nothing to apologize for and yet, Ken had plenty reasons to. He knew that deep down, his mother's death was an accident. They just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Mumbling to himself, he didn't say anything at first. Instead, he swung his legs as if he was figuring out his words.

"I know you don't. I just wish that we had a little bit more time to talk about everything before you died." Although, looking at things now? Perhaps it was a blessing that he was given a second chance to say something.

Especially now after hearing how proud Shinjiro was of him. Ken didn't really do anything. He simply just realized that he had to grow up and it wasn't that impressive. Shaking his head, he didn't couldn't quite agree. "I don't know, I don't think I did anything that great. I think our leader and the others did most of the work. I just wanted to believe in the right thing."

[mortal_son]

Maybe it would've been better if they could've had a real conversation. If Takaya hadn't - well, but what was done was done. And it was better for him to go out quick like that, where it actually mattered to save Ken's life, instead of in an alley or in a bed as his body fell apart around him. Or helplessly watching Castor wreck havoc before someone put him down like the dog he was. Yeah, it was better it happened how it did.

But.

Shinjiro fixed Ken with a look. "Don't sell yourself short. I know - I have t' imagine, it don't feel like you did too much. But you know what I did, when shit got tough? I ran. I ran and I tried to forget. I let the people who mattered t' me think I didn't give a shit, left their asses hanging in the wind, watched as those Strega assholes pushed 'em around."

"People don't usually recognize it, but," Shinjiro told him, "it takes real strength to move forward. To not give up. To keep on just plain living even when life is shitty. And you can't tell me, after that asshole Ikutsuki manipulated us and Strega kept doing their thing and you lost Arisato - that it wasn't shitty. But you kept on anyway."

"You're stronger than I was."

[whatsamada]

What a predicament they were in. Both wanted to the best for each other and yet, they found themselves not sure what to do. After everything they been through, all Ken wanted to do was to hope that Shinjiro could have a better life here. Despite Ken trying to reassure his teammate that he did nothing amazing, it seemed that he might have made things worse.

Looking up from the carriage, he thought about arguing against him. He really didn't do anything that great. While he had to admit to himself that it does take a strong person to keep moving forward, he had his friends back him up. Without them, he really would have quit.

Chuckling to himself, he shook his head. "You really don't want me to feel down on myself, do you? You're really making hard when you're trying to cheer me up..."

Now that Ken thought about it, this was the first time he laughed since he went here. Not that he could blame anyone for how serious everything was. Still, it felt as if the weight on his shoulders disappeared for that one moment.

"I could say something to you in return but I have the feeling you probably wouldn't want that, do you?"

[mortal_son]

There's only a select few who were able to know Shinjiro that well, that they could call him out that effectively. Apparently Ken now was one of them. It's not that Shinjiro minded, exactly, it'd be a dick move to complain - but it's a bit embarrassing.

"Hn." He looked away, faint color in his cheeks. Shinjiro bit down the urge to tell him he didn't need any cheering up. Ken was just trying to help, after all. "You're a good kid, Ken. Glad that hasn't changed, either."

A sort of tension left his shoulders, too. There's still the whole matter of - why were they both here? Why was Shinjiro alive? What was going to happen to him now, how was he going to be able to control Castor going forward? But -

Ken's going to be okay, he thought. Shinjiro tried to think of a way to change the subject before the kid did try saying a bunch of kind crap in an effort to cheer him up. He's not sure he could stand it. "So if you're not dead - what is this place? What are we even doin here?"

[whatsamada]

As he heard a laugh, Ken was glad to see that Shinjiro was in a better mood. Perhaps this would be the start of repairing their broken relationship. Now that things have been cleared for them, they can relax knowing things will be okay. Or at least, for the most part considering how this world can be so strange.

With that, he gave a small shrug. "I'm not really sure. It's supposed to be a dream like world where a lot of things can happen." Not only that, but there was also always something weird happening all the time. As he scratched the back of his head, he wasn't sure how to describe it.

"But so far, nothing seems too dangerous. We just go into people's dreams and see what their memories are." There was some hesitation as he said those words. He didn't need to explain why. He just hoped that Shinjiro would understand the sudden pause as soon as he said those words.

[mortal_son]

"A dream-world, huh," Shinjiro said, frowning a tiny bit, considering that. Dreams could be positive, sure, but he's more familiar with nightmares, lately. How real was this dream they were in? Was he going to put other people in danger just by being here, again? Or did none of it matter?

Ken didn't need to explain. He's sure he was just as unwilling to visit his memories as Shinjiro was - let alone share them with strangers. He winced.

"I don't suppose there's any way to keep people out of our heads, is there?" Shinjiro asked wryly.

[whatsamada]

"Not that I know of. But I guess that's why there are so many people practicing now to get better at it." Ken said with some frustration. There wasn't much he could and yet, he had to be prepared for it. Right now, he considered himself lucky that nobody had attempted to look through his dreams. However, he wondered how long that would last.

All Ken could do was wait.

"I thought I should warn you in case...something happens."

[mortal_son]

“Thanks,” Shinjiro said simply. He didn’t like it. For the kid’s sake, for other people’s sake - usually what’s in people’s heads was private. It’s goddamn rude that it isn’t, here.

It made him all the more concerned he could be dangerous to someone else. What’s in his head … wasn’t nice. Ken might think what happened three years ago was an accident, but Shinjiro didn’t. If Castor or a dream of Shinjiro’s hurt someone again here - he’s going to blame himself as much as before.

But he’s not focused on himself right now. He looked at Ken. “If you end up needing a hand - either with a dicey dream, or if someone won’t back off after this place shows ‘em something - let me know.”

His powers might be something he’d want to get rid of, ASAP. But he still had Ken’s back.

[whatsamada]

He shouldn't be surprised that Shinjiro wanted to make sure he was okay. What he didn't expect was how he said it so bluntly. As he stared at him, he briefly looked to the side as he debated whether or not to take up his offer.

"I wouldn't worry, there aren't bad people around here. I've meant a couple of interesting people but I know they wouldn't do anything to harm me."

That said, he gave another pause or two. He couldn't just leave it at that, could he?

"I know I met someone who was really interested in fighting and someone who really wanted me to babysit their dragon." Another pause. "And someone who was a little rude but we managed to get along fine."

Raising an eyebrow or two, would Shinjiro say something about that?

[mortal_son]

Shinjiro won’t say he’s a good option for help. Might actually be one of the worst here, considering their history. But Ken, somehow, didn’t seem to hold their past against him. For his sake, he’s grateful - it’s a lot healthier for Ken to take that route. But he wouldn’t have blamed him.

Of course, if there was someone else he trusted here to watch out for the kid - Shinjiro would certainly take a step back. (Or try. It was damned hard to actually keep his distance, even before, as much as he tried.)

He raised his eyebrows. Bemused, he drawled, “I don’t know about a dragon … but otherwise. Sounds like you got homesick.”

Someone rude and someone who likes to fight? Sounded like him and Aki, respectively.