{ halloween }

[dreamposts]

HALLOWEEN

Another Halloween has arrived in Reverein, and the Nightmare Troupe returns from their mysterious origins to help transform the carnival grounds to fit the season. They've added a new feature attraction: The Labyrinth, where everyone just runs around to fight spooky baddies for candy, prizes, and flex one's combat abilities in dreamotion. It's all in good fun, of course!

More details on everything can be found here. As a reminder, events double as our TDMs and information can be found here. Any outside characters participating in the log are canonly logged as appearing in Songerein in October and will remain in Songerein from the IC date of October 25th, just before the event ICly begins. TDM only characters can only thread within this log. Anyone who apps in and is accepted will have their character count October 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 October 25th and Applications will open on November 1st. Our application cycles are bi-monthly so the next cycle after won't be until January.

TDM Toplevel Link Directory (click to view)

Bokurano - Jun Ushiro
Cookie Run Kingdom - Black Raisin Cookie
Dead by Daylight - Zarina Kassir
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves - Edgin Darvis
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves - Xenk Yendar
Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core - Genesis Rhapsodos
Final Fantasy XIV - Emet-Selch
Final Fantasy XIV - Hermes
Final Fantasy XV - Somnus Lucis Caelum
Full Metal Alchemist - Alphonse Elric
Genshin Impact - Ei
Genshin Impact - Nahida
Great Ace Attorney, The - Iris Wilson
Hey Arnold! - Helga G. Pataki
Hi-Fi Rush - Chai
Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword - Zelda
Noragami - Yato
Original - Astralin Turnont
Touhou - Maribel Hearn

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. CARNIVAL

II. LABYRINTH

COMMENTS

I. CARNIVAL

While the carnival grounds still have the standard fare of attractions themed up for Halloween, there are a few new ones popping up thanks to the Nightmare Troupe. Some are similar to what appeared last year, but with a different look to them. Some, perhaps, more terrifying than before.

A. Personalized Costumes. All throughout Reverein boutiques and tailors are in full swing to create costumes for those who wish to wear, either by renting or buying. However, for those who are a bit adverse, the fairy godmothers are out and about ready to employ their fashion magic to grant anyone and everyone a special Halloween costume, just for them! There might be the slight side effect that the wearer may behave like the costume itself, but it's just a temporary phase.

B. Vampring Frights. The vamprings are still out and about, nibbling on nightmares. But now they are also appearing outside of dreams, deciding that a bit of fear could make as good of a snack or meal as any other. Only the ones that are truly hungry will appear, so a little purple blob will bounce and latch onto any part of their target's body they can reach (though they particularly like the top of the head). Those who are bitten in this manner won't try to bite others, fortunately. Instead, they will become something like a "Vampring minion" and try to invoke fear and scare others. (For more information and use the original version of the Vampring, read here.)

C. Monster Swaps. Small monsters will roam the carnival grounds and will swap bodies with random people to go around pulling pranks and tricks in the person's body. The person is now trapped in the monster's body, but has access to the monster's trickster, spooky abilities as well (ie, players can make this up). To return to normal, they must find their original body and bite it. Otherwise, they will have to wait for the monster to get bored and return to switch them back.

D. Carnival Fare. Here are a few of the general games and attractions available for carnival goers to enjoy.

🔫 Zombie Shooter. Ride through a rickety car through a building and shoot the "zombies" that pop up with bright green paintball guns. While most are cardboard, there are a few volunteers that dress for the occasion. Don't mind their pain as they get hit, they're fine.
👻 Spooky Stories. Instead of a fire, there is a boiling cauldron set up where people can gather around and try to conjure up their spookiest story. The steam over the cauldron will change and twist to try and illustrate the story as it goes, and should it proof particularly scary, a manifestation of the terror will crawl out of it to terrorize everyone for a little bit before disappearing.
🍏 Poisoned Apples. Special caramel covered green apples are handed out throughout the carnival. One bite will inflict one or more of the following effects: floating, dizzy, sugar rush, creepy, frightful. (Players are free to be creative and come up with additional effects!)
🧹 Broom Carousel. The horses have been replaced with different styles of witch brooms, letting everyone have a safe experience of flying on a broom. Until the brooms suddenly fly out of the carousel and into the carnival. Hang on or stop that broom!
🎃 Pumpkin Carving Challenge. Pumpkins can be found all over the grounds, and there is a challenge to carve them with dreamotion and light a special candle in them. Doing so will bring the pumpkin to life and behave like whatever expression or drawing carved on them. Whether they behave nicely is a different matter. Blowing out the candle will stop the pumpkin.

E. House of Mirrors. The House of Mirrors will have new mirrors installed that have new special effects…many making everyone inside feel not quite themselves.

🎭 Jekyll and Hyde. A black framed mirror where the opposite version of the viewer appears to taunt them.
💅 Narcissism. A gold framed mirror where one will see the best version of themselves and will stand stuck in front of it admiring themselves. They will need to be forcibly dragged away…else they may get stuck on the mirror.
🛌 Dream or Nightmare? A silver framed mirror that will reflect either a good dream or a nightmare that's on the viewer's mind. It will be a strong image, so strong that the viewer may be tempted to dreamwalk into the mirror, either to be a part of it or to destroy it. Some help may be required to help them either accomplish their goal or pull them out.
🪞 Mirror Version. Sometimes, a "mirror version" of the viewer may reach out to switch places, trapping the original inside the mirror while the mirror version goes out to cause some chaos. The trapped person can only traverse through mirrors, and can only be freed if the mirrored version is shoved back into any mirror. One way to tell a mirror version apart is that they will randomly reflect things off their body.

F. Haunted Ryokan. A haunted Japanese styled inn is the theme for this year's "haunted house." On the outside, it looks invitingly eerie, with life-sized traditional Japanese dolls as their hosts and guides. They hope their new patrons will enjoy their stay…forever.

🏮 Peony Lantern. At first a beautiful woman will appear holding a lantern and take a person's hand to lead them through the narrow halls lit by floating lanterns. But whenever they pass under a lantern, the woman's form changes into a skeleton. Once they are noticed, they will screech and chase them through the hallways and rooms to the next location, but if left alone it will quietly lead them without issue.
🛁 Bathhouse. Somehow they get to the bathing area where the steam rises thick around them. Without warning a ghostly figure of a long-haired drowned woman will crawl out and chase with a bloody knife. Fish spirits will also fly out to impede them, but they could be used to smack the woman instead. Should someone slip in the water, they'll feel hands grab at them, trying to pull them under…
🪦 Graveyard. Past the courtyard is a graveyard where all manner of Japanese inspired ghosts and demons roam. A special paper talisman is available, and once powered with positive dreamotion it will create a shikigami that will help ward off and defend against the ghosts. But it must have constant dreamotion poured into it, so should it ever go out, the ghosts and demons will suddenly rush into chase.
🐕 Shiba Statues. Should anyone be having a truly terrible time, special little shiba inu statues will trot in to dispel the "evils" and give the visitor some much needed comfort and respite. They will even guide them to the exit if needed. Those who manage to pass through on their own will also meet the shiba inu statues and have a chance to play with them as if in congratulations.

II. LABYRINTH

A big structure now occupies the area just beyond the Fairgrounds. Towering stone walls hide complex pathways inside, and it turns out its express purpose is not to get people lost, but for a little bit of exploration. There is no entrance/exit, just a special circular teleportation pad that will take them inside and there is no end goal. It's not difficult to get out once inside, but the winding paths encourage visitors to check behind corners for treats because there's a lot of treats AND tricks!

A. Halloween Creatures. The labyrinth is populated with silly creatures held together by craft glue and duct tape both dreamotion and nightmare. These creatures will attack on sight, but subdue them and reap the rewards: candy and silly toys! It's all for fun, after all.

🦴 Skeletons. Their bones are made of rubber and most physical attacks will bounce off them. Have to get in close to blast with dreamotion!
🕷 Glow-In-The-Dark Plastic Spiders. Will shoot sticky licorice webbing that will trip up and trap any caught in it. Have to eat through it to get out, and the flavor could either be red or black.
🔺 Candy Corn Golems. Chuck giant pieces of candy corn that are delicious, but hurt! Golems will melt under intense heat.

B. Mysterious Doors. Sometimes, you may find a door at one of the dead ends. Knock, and most of the time a kindly old lady (where did she come from? Don't worry about it–) will present you with special trick-or-treat bags. The other times, a swarm of genuinely sinister nightmare creatures will come pouring out. Oops! Try again next time! Here are some of the items the old lady will give and their effects (they can be taken home after the event):

🧙 Witch's Hat. The hat will automatically fly on top of the person's head and will allow them to cast silly hexes of misfortune on their targets.
🧹 Witch's Broom. Can fly at fast speeds for a few minutes at a time. Only goes up to three feet in the air.
🤓 Plastic Fangs. These fangs will fit themselves in the person's mouth and will allow them to bite any candy corn golem or sticky spider licorice webbing with ease. And normal foods, too.
🕸 Spray Can of Licorice Webbing. Releases a spray of licorice webbing similar to the ones used by the plastic spiders.
🧻 Roll of Toilet Paper. Exactly as it says.
🍫 Nougat Center. A delicious treat that will temporarily boost one's stats dreamotion abilities.

C. Beware of Steve. If you're very unlucky, you may hear an ominous clatter in the distance... The low rumble of a revving chainsaw... Those who spend lots of time in the labyrinth will know soon enough–those are noises that mean you need to run. Because STEVE, THE 20-FOOT-TALL CHAINSAW-WIELDING SKELETON, takes no hostages, and he's out for blood!!! He will continue chasing people until fought, and anything goes with this foe. While dreamotion attacks will work, using the items given by the old lady in the doors will inflict greater damage. Anyone who is "killed" by Steve will be knocked out of the Labyrinth unharmed.


D. Grand High Viscount of Candy Corn. On the other end of giant "horrors" is a giant golem made of candy corn with a large top hat that may appear out of one of the doors. Its main attack, besides trying to punch and pummel, is spewing sticky candy goop that will trap anyone caught in it. It'll wear off, but until then, any caught in it will at first feel very energetic and attack more quickly before becoming sluggish and unable to do much, as if they suffered an extreme sugar crash.

I. CARNIVAL

II. LABYRINTH

COMMENTS

Comments

[intertwinedfates]

[Placing Uesama on his lap to free up a hand, he reaches out to take one of Hiyori's, giving it a gentle squeeze. She's right of course. There's no point in getting worked up even if his dad is here. They'll just have to take things as they come, together.]

Yeah. No matter what happens, I'll protect you from him. I won't let him lay another finger on you.

[And sure as hell no more lips!!

Tucking the plush under one arm, he finally finds his feet, adjusting his grip on her hand so they're properly holding one another again. His smile finally reaches his eyes as he gazes at her, thumb rubbing lightly over her knuckles.]

Still up for more games? It's okay if you've had enough though.

[wwtd]

[ doki.

th-this is not the time to be getting flustered. not after what they just talked about. but she stares up at him and is unable to look away. it takes yato mentioning games before she's startled out of her own head. ]

Um! Um. [ what if they run into someone else unsavory? fujisaki takes the cake on it, but. they've been moving nonstop. hiyori certainly has. ever since his scent first blew past her nose. sitting down isn't so bad. to just breathe. calm the heart (Which she needs to do, stat)

pulling her hand away from his might help. she doesn't. ]

I wouldn't mind hanging out here for a while. Sometimes, I just like watching people. [ yato and yukine being her most favorite to watch. ]

N-not in a creepy way or anything!

[intertwinedfates]

[Feeling more and more like himself again the longer they hold hands, Yato watches her curiously as she seems a little out of it. He's just about to tap her on the cheek when she finally responds. Sheesh, and he thought he was affected by what happened...]

Alright then. Here-- [He leads them back to the bench, flopping down and dragging her with him. Thankfully for them both he resists the urge to snuggle up closer to fight off the slight chill in the air. Instead he drops Uesama between them, nudging it with an elbow until it's upright and seems to be sitting watching the passersby along with them.]

It is probably a good idea for us to take a break anyway. You must be at least a little tired. [He certainly is after that.] Heh, in that case I'll watch too.

[Draping an arm over the back of the bench, he turns his gaze not to the crowd of people, but to Hiyori herself. His favorite person. To watch, of course.]

[wwtd]

A little.

[ hiyori sits more gracefully but she laughs under her breath at yato sitting uesama between them to watch, too.

from there, she looks out ahead of them. from small families to couples, all manner of people are enjoying the carnival as much as they have. hiyori is watching a young girl try some ice cream from her parent's when she notices yato is staring at her.

she goes red and self-conscious. ]

Wh-what? Why are you staring at me?

[intertwinedfates]

[All trace of the earlier disturbance gone, Yato merely shakes his head, smiling fondly. How can he come right out and say what he really feels? What he's actually thinking? That there's no better view than the human who's saved his life over and over again. That she's more fascinating than any sappy couple or happy family or friends going about the carnival.

To him, she encapsulates the whole of humanity within herself. He has no need to watch anyone else when she's present.]

Nothin'. Just... thank you, Hiyori. For today. [And every day.] It's been fun despite everything, and I don't think it would've been without you by my side.

1/2

[wwtd]

[ there's another pulse of her heart that makes itself known above all other beats. like it's crying out at those words. yato isn't often so soft (he has been more often) but every time he is, she's reminded that he does have a gentler and more sensitive nature than she ever imagined. that even if he did scary things in his youth, and now does creepy things to her, she's important to him and he doesn't know better.

sitting together like this, listening to yato be honest about what he's thinking is just as rare. ]

O-oh. Um. I, um.

[ her mouth opens to protest. she didn't do anything special besides be here, but that's what's significant. she was here. she closes it. it has been fun. far more fun than if she had been alone or with anyone else. yato is-- ]

Yeah. Me either. There's no way I would've gone on any of those rides on my own or tried any of that food on my own. I would've just wandered around.

[wwtd]

[ hiyori looks down at uesama between them and holds her breath. she clenches her hands at her knees and stares HARD at his derpy zombie face. since they've been sitting here, yato's smell has been more noticeable in her nose than ever. it makes her want to -- she did it before when he was sleeping. because he wAS SLEEPING!! but what's the difference now? isn't he sleeping wherever he is?

picking up uesama, she sets him in her lap and does a little scoot. to get closer. just to test. she's not subtle, turning her head and watching that family like it's the most interesting thing in the world. waking or dream.

another little scoot, her butt sliding on the bench. ]

[intertwinedfates]

[It's likely the attack of honesty is a result of being scared shitless by that phantom of his father; in case something were to happen, he wants Hiyori to know that despite everything, today was fun, wonderful day. One of the best he's had in recent memory, and that's saying a lot.

He shakes his head, smiling all the while.]

I bet you would've at least tried some of the food on your own. You're braver than you give yourself credit for, Hiyori.

[With an arm draped over the back of the bench, he takes a break from staring her down to follow her gaze to the family, smiling wistfully. Someday Hiyori might have a family of her own just like that. She may even take them to Capyper Land for adventures not unlike what they experienced today (only hopefully not so dangerous??) It leaves an ache in his heart thinking about it, yet at the same time he knows it's what would be best for her. To live a life on the Near Shore, safe and with her own kind.

Lost in those thoughts, he seems not to notice Hiyori's unsubtle attempts at scooting closer. Yet at the same time he finds himself leaning in her direction without Uesama between them, so that after a couple of scoots from her they're side by side, allowing him to drape an arm around her shoulders.

It's just. A friendly gesture. Yeah, that's it! Friendly!! Gesture!!! Nothing odd or special about it-- right?]

[wwtd]

... Maybe. I guess you're right.

[ hiyori concedes quietly. an answer at both trying some food and being braver than she gives herself credit for. sometimes she thinks she's not brave enough. sometimes she thinks she's too brave at the wrong times because she can say things without thinking to the wrong people.

another scoot has her hip pressing gently against his and her side brushing his. she inhales deeply and slowly at his arm settling around her shoulders - a warm weight - doing her best not to look at him. in case he's got some embarrassing expression on or it prompts him to say something ridiculous--

he's quiet. which makes her thundering heart all the more louder.

the bravery that yato mentions must take hold of her now. in an area she's not used to being bold or brave at all. with his silence, she pushes herself just an inch more.

a very friendly, completely platonic, unspecial leaning into his side.

... she would never do this in reality, huh? not with yato awake, anyway. dreams make you do things you wouldn't normally, don't they? with that in mind, she carefully lets herself relax next to him. the longer he says nothing helps, too. the death grip she has around uesama loosens, but she doesn't take her eyes off his place in her lap.

she feels so safe. so comfortable like this once she gets over herself. her tail would probably be winding around him if it were out. soul seeking his warmth. as much as she wants to keep silent and just exist in whatever this is, she needs to tell him something. something that's ever on her mind, but never found the right moment to say or was way too embarrassed to admit, ]

Hey, um. Yato? [ no, if she waits for him to say something in response. she'll lose her nerve. IT'LL DISAPPEAR. the sentiment that was there in the shrine she made him: ]

I'm... glad you're here.

[intertwinedfates]

[Hiyori has always been stronger than either of them believed. From the first moment she stepped out into the street to when they were being attacked by the frog ayakashi to every other time she's saved him, her unwavering strength has carried them through a lot.

It's one reason why he feels compelled to keep his usually silly remarks in check and allow her this moment. ...aside from the fact that he too is enjoying the quiet warmth that their closeness brings. It's been so long since he's been able to get a tender arm around her without fear of retribution, rightly deserved though it was. This is... nice. A welcome reprieve from the hectic day and all the chaos it brought.

Despite that though, he can't help but be slightly grateful for it all, feeling as though it's brought them closer together. Enough for him to allow his head to gently lean on hers. She might throw him for what could be seen as a typical couple's snuggle. But it's worth the risk. She's so warm and he's feeling so tired all of a sudden...

No so much that her voice can't break through, however, drawing his eyes towards her. Not that he gets a chance to respond before she's plowing on ahead. It's fine. What she has to say is well worth it, warming his hammering heart to an unbelievable degree.]

Hiyori..... [No no no, if he lets himself, he'll start crying again, like a huge ass dork! Blinking rapidly, he turns his head to smile into her hair, hot breath blowing over her scalp.] ...me too.

[He's both glad to be here, and glad that she's here.]

[wwtd]

[ maybe if he was being weird before this, if he let a goofy remark slip, she would have thrown him the same way she did when he was lying in her lap earlier. hiyori only tenses briefly at the pressure of his head on hers until she relaxes again. not even yato burying his nose into her hair and feeling his breath there gets her to embrace touno-sama and put another one of his moves to the test.

she sits there, flushed deeply, with her throat dense with a myriad of emotions. too jumbled for her to pick apart or make sense of.

saying anything else would ruin it, and might make her rethink this, so she says nothing. like she did when she found yato napping on a hot summer day, she breathes him in and closes her eyes.

maybe the day did bring them closer together. something did. maybe it was a promise to take her somewhere to see the stars. maybe it was allowing themselves to hold hands without becoming two reddened wrecks. maybe it was sitting on a witch's broom together, yato casually leaning against her like it was completely natural for him to do so. maybe it was winning a little zombie plush by accident and naming him uesama. maybe it was yato cheering her on at every little thing she could be cheered on for. maybe it was sharing food and drinks. maybe it was a fond, tender look down at her when she woke up in her body again. maybe it was yato telling her he would protect her.

maybe it was all of these things.

maybe it's yato's thanks for being at his side through all of these things.

but there's nowhere else she would rather be... ]