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songerein2022-02-11 05:20 pm
dreamposts) wrote in songerein2022-02-11 05:20 pm
Entry tags:
- !event,
- alastor,
- alphen,
- anastasia romanova,
- balthus von albrecht,
- basil,
- beatrix,
- diluc ragnvindr,
- dohalim il qaras,
- emil västerström,
- eustace,
- hilda valentine goneril,
- hunter de vil,
- ira,
- jude mathis,
- kainé,
- leia rolando,
- lio fotia,
- luca balsa,
- oriphi,
- otto octavius,
- ren amamiya,
- rokurou rangetsu,
- roxas,
- serah farron,
- shionne imeris,
- somnus lucis caelum,
- sora,
- tifa lockhart,
- toge inumaki,
- vanitas,
- yujin mikotoba,
- zelda (botw)
{ lindwormeo and juliet }
LINDWORMEO & JULIET
It is the third dreamshift, and when everyone rouses and becomes aware of their situation, they find themselves dressed in Verona, a gothic city where night reigns everlasting and violence lurks around every corner. Not because of crime, but because of the two main families, the Montagues and the Capulets, everlasting feud. Fights break out almost every other minute and peace is hard sought after. However, peace is perhaps on the table, for the Capulets are hosting a grand masquerade in a gesture of truce. But it's difficult when one of Montague's sons is cursed as a Lindworm, one of the key reasons why there is a feud to begin with.
"But that's not really all that important," a voice echoes around them. It's a voice different from the tapirs that they've grown accustomed to, and after another moment it chimes in again. "Up here my fair little dreamwalkers."
And lo, high above in the permanent night sky is a moon so full and bright that it almost feels as if it could swallow them whole. After learning about the Story Eater's actions against Songerein's moon, the appearance of a face would certainly alarm many. But then the face seems to recede before it changes into a full person holding a quill and manuscript.
"Greetings! I am William Shakespeare and you are now within my own dream, a dreamscape I believe you call it. My works can be found in many places and in many worlds. Yet that accursed Story Eater has been devouring my masterpieces! I must now pen them all over again, but one of its minions is invading my mind and altering everything and I refuse to become a brainless puppet like Marlowe. I have isolated it within this place of my own design based off of Romeo and Juliet. However it seems after my reading of the Lindworm King, my visions have been affected a bit, but no matter. A playwright must find inspiration where he can! But it is now up to you to see this play through completion. Doing so will help those outside draw out the fiend through the accumulated dreamotion energy, and if you could give it a few stabs that will help as well. Not all of you need to partake in my play, and I have already chosen my leading actors and actresses. You should find a brief copy of the script on your person, but you may act however you wish. However, I should warn you—this is a tragedy, so deaths are expected. But fear not, you will leave this dreamscape perhaps a bit tired, but unharmed. It's all a dream after all.
Now that should cover it. I look forward to seeing how everyone's tragic romances will play out. It may give me material for my next masterpiece!"
And just as suddenly as he had appeared, Shakespeare disappears from the moon, leaving it to loom brightly over the otherwise dark city.
I. GENERAL PROMPTS
Reminder that those cast as Romeo and Juliet can participate in most of these prompts, but the timing would be set early on before they move onto their designated scenes.A. Family Feud. Everyone in Verona is randomly split in allegiance between the Montagues and the Capulets, and whenever they meet there is some kind of tension. It could be violent, hostile, passive, petty, or even attraction. Surely Romeo and Juliet aren't the only ones who can love across the aisle. If not pit against each other to fight or exchange snide comments, opposing parties can also work together to deal with Erasers posing as creepy looking family members/soldiers/knights/etc.
» BONUS: TO ARMS. A city-wide family feud makes for good business if you’re in the weapons-and-armor trade. Gather materials to help smithies in creating armor and weapons.
B. Masquerade. Almost as if it's the opening act, everyone, both Montagues and Capulets are to attend a masquerade held within the Capulet's ballroom. It's a momentary "truce," and though tension between the families is still rampant, everyone is welcome to wear the finest clothing they can imagine and to partake in the festivities. The masquerade itself is in the ballroom, but there are also gardens and large terraces that guests can go to if they want some fresh air.» BONUS: PREPARATIONS. Any good party requires a lot of preparation, and all of Verona is abuzz with activity leading up to the big night. Tailors need help getting fabric, jewels, and other baubles to create the finest dresses. Caterers need quality ingredients for the food that will be prepared and served. Someone needs to step up and be the band for the night. There are plenty of ways in which Dreamwalkers can help make the masquerade a success!
C. EXTRA SCENES. There are a few specific "scenes" featuring key characters from the original play. Whether taken voluntarily or "beckoned" by Shakespeare, those who participate will have a little "essence" of the original character. No full personality change, but they might feel certain impulses or find it easier to slip into the role. Note: anyone can fill in the roles of "Romeo" and "Juliet" for the Paris scenes; it is not exclusive to those who signed up for Romeo and Juliet.- PARIS V. JULIET. Paris meets and dances with Juliet, taking a fancy with her. With his arrogance believing he can win over the Capulet princess, throughout the night he attempts to woo Juliet, either in the ballroom or the gardens just outside. Juliet must not be swayed! (Or maybe a little swayed, but try not go totally off-book here). Juliet can shut down Paris however they want. (This scene happens during or immediately after the "Masquerade", but before the Balcony scene.)
- PARIS V. ROMEO. Paris bullies his younger brother about the Lindworm curse on a near-constant basis. And to add insult to injury, after meeting Juliet he’s decided that he wants Juliet for himself. Obviously, Romeo is not about to let his stupid mean brother steal the love of his life! They’re going to have to fight this one out, either with words or via fisticuffs. (This scene happens during or immediately after the "Masquerade" but before the "Balcony" scene.)
- BENVOLIO'S ATTEMPTS. Benvolio is trying to find a cure for Romeo's curse, and after some research in the library he finds something! Good cousin that he is, he puts the theory to the test immediately. Unfortunately, his attempt backfires and he gets turned into a lindworm (fully or partially) instead. The poor guy is now out of sorts, and he needs protection so that someone doesn't mistake him for some monster and kill him. At least the transformation is only temporary.
- TYBALT V. MERCUTIO. The infamous duel. Considering how much their families hate each other, the inciting incident can be just about anything. The original story has Tybalt goading Mercutio into a duel by calling Romeo a villain, Tybalt killing Mercutio, and Romeo killing Tybalt. But no one’s enforcing the particulars very closely here, so players are free to proceed with the fight any way they please. (If this fight does end in one or more deaths, please refer to the event details on how death works within the dreamscape.)
D. Love is a Battlefield. As if there wasn’t enough drama to deal with, a large, winged noctaere can be found throughout the dreamscape firing arrows at the residents, turning them into Erasers. It can summon smaller winged noctaere to fight for it, and if a dreamwalker gets hit by the arrows, they will slowly turn into a lindworm that is full of hate. It's difficult to combat the boss itself, but it can be weakened by defeating its minions and those hit by its arrows. Love of any form will be a powerful counter that will hit the boss as well. 
» BONUS: ROSE COLLECTION. In the forests are white and red roses that are hidden under logs and stones. They will sparkle a bit to make them look different than other flowers. They must be collected before the Erasers can get to them. A white rose fed to a lindworm will return them back to normal. Eating a red rose will allow characters to turn into a pink, heart covered lindworm for ten minutes to fly up and try to combat against the winged noctaere or the Erasers.
II. ROMEO AND JULIET'S OBJECTIVES
The following objectives are locked to those who signed up for Romeo and Juliet. Please refer to the notes for all the stipulations and effects characters will experience as the tragic couple. Final reminder that the characters will be aware of the tragic ending as well as reassurance that they will awaken unharmed at the end of their final scene.Click for objectives.
A. Love at First Sight. Time to get your party-crashing pants on, Romeo, because there is a masquerade that you are not invited to but are attending anyway. Who doesn’t love a good party? If you wear a mask, no one will know it’s you! Here Romeo and Juliet have the opportunity to meet and flirt and make goo-goo eyes at each other. And if they really want to get into the spirit of things, they can go into a laborious metaphor about how holding hands is super hot but kissing is way hotter. (Yes, really.) At this point Romeo's curse is only a partial transformation, something along the lines of scales down one side of his body.
B. Balcony Scene. The time for light flirting is over–this is where Romeo and Juliet get to declare their undying love for each other. Romeo really needs to work it as his brother, Paris, has also made moves on Juliet. There’s some strangeness in the dreamscape at this point that seems to have mistaken Shakespeare for musical theater, so the loving couple must sing their love for one another. With that spirit in mind, the moment should be suitably big and dramatic! Immediately after this scene is when Romeo and Juliet get married, so there’s no reason not to put it all out there. Shakespeare will lend a "helping hand" in giving them knowledge of the lyrics to sing, though they are free to create their own song and freestyle it. (Players can use existing songs or make it up as they go.)C. Elope. Being the very mature and intelligent lovers that they are, Romeo and Juliet decide to get married after knowing each other for a whole day. Time to get to the chapel, meet with the Friar, and exchange vows. Shakespear will lend a helping hand by providing wedding attire fitting for those who are cast in their role. That's right, every Juliet will have their own special bridal dress, isn't he so considerate? And then it’s time to do whatever it is that newlyweds do, if that's what they are into. Otherwise, Romeo and Juliet will need to return home to prepare for their future.
D. Runaways. Juliet learns that she is being forced to marry Romeo's brother, Paris, which is a problem because she’s already married and also she doesn’t like that other guy anyway. In a major divergence from the source material, Romeo and Juliet decide to make a run for it instead of that whole poisoning-yourself business. It’s just a better idea all around. The goal is to get out of town undetected, which means that this is a stealth mission. Romeo and Juliet must follow a path and avoid getting caught. Whatever it takes to get past the guards and would-be snitches that would turn you in!
E. Find the Cure. Even after making it out so far, fate is against them. At this point Romeo's curse is advancing, so they need to look for the cure. Just outside of town they encounter a very trustworthy set of three witches who provide a list of items for them to retrieve and mix into a potion: rainbow mushroom, feather of a dove, three snails, and lavender. No one said this was going to taste good. However, while it will work temporarily, only Juliet is told that the final ingredient must be the blood of his lover. It's a cryptic message, however they do not specify how the blood is taken. Do they mean just a few drops? Or her life? F. Tragic Ending. Upon learning of the young couple's running away, the Capulets have declared war with knights out hunting to kill Romeo and bring back Juliet. They are soon found and no matter what they do, death will await them. But how? Players can direct this however they want. Did the soldiers catch them? Did they decide that the whole double-suicide poison thing was a good idea after all? Does one tragically sacrifice themself to save the other? Does Romeo go full Lindworm and eat Juliet? The possibilities are endless. At this point Romeo is capable of turning into a full lindworm if he's taken the cure without Juliet's blood. If he drinks the cure with Juliet's blood, then he will revert to a normal human (teenager) with no extra powers.
[Mod Note: Details on this event can be found here and we request all thread submissions to be made here.]
no subject
Guiding her inside, it looks more like a storage building than a house—but that just makes it a perfect cover. And inside it opens as a big empty room, old debris left as if deliberate as he leads her to a door in the back.]
Yes, that's at least one thing going for us.
[There were many options their little place could have been set in, at least this for once fit their preferences.]
Although there's an attic, everything is on the ground floor.
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What do you mean, "everything"?
[There isn't a lot here—at least not at first glance, but looks can be deceiving as she's learned, so when they arrive at the door, she does peek around him at it with curiosity. Maybe the Prince had more saved up than what meets the eye? It would make sense that he wouldn't be stuck in this dark old storage cellar without much.]
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[Easier to show, so he opens the door and reveals another portion of the building. Still not "glamorous" as one would expect from a "prince," but it's neat and tidy. It's an open floor plan, so kitchenette on the side, sitting area in another corner, bed in another, and another door that presumably leads to the bathroom.]
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[Said quietly to herself when she steps in. That's what he meant by everything. It isn't much, and she wasn't expecting much, but this is much more than she imagined there would be inside this abandoned building. The fact that there's almost a full-on small apartment with much more than what she had in her own is impressive, but he is nobility after all.
But Tifa doesn't wander into the room just yet. Instead, she'll walk up to Eustace and wrap her arms around him. Now that it's quiet and they're alone, she at least wants a proper moment with him. As "newlyweds" and as them. She rests her head on his chest and inhales gently.]
Finally.
no subject
Tired?
no subject
[Not in the sleepy sense, but in the "I'm so done with people and things" sense. There's been a lot going on since they landed in this dreamscape, and now that she's finally away from it all, she's only just now realizing how much she didn't like it. This, coming from someone who is naturally a social butterfly, and who thrives in being surrounded by people all the time and never likes to be alone...
She isn't alone, though. Far from it.]
The ball, then that... Feels nice to finally get away from it all for a while, you know? Don't have to worry about putting on the act right now.
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It's strange. Rather than acting it feels as if we're immersed in it. Not sure how I would be if I was with someone else.
[Would it be easier? Able to disassociate better and not feel...so much?]
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Imagining him doing all of this with someone else... Her hands curl his jacket into her fingers, and she squeezes her eyes shut, trying to push the image out of her head of someone else being here instead of her.]
I don't think I'd want to do this with someone else.
[Whether it made it easier or not—whether it made it easier for her to act it out and fully remove herself from the role and fill the shoes entirely, it didn't matter. She'd have run away from it all if that were the case—if her Romeo was anyone but the one that she has now.]
It's funny... I think this is the luckiest I've been since I got here... ending up with you. For what it's worth, things have gone... pretty okay so far.
no subject
...I feel the same.
[Even if it would be easier, he'd hate it. Even if it's just for pretend, to have to try and profess "love" to anyone else would be the worst.
He closes his eyes and sighs.]
I'm glad it's with you...
...
But...I also wish it wasn't.
no subject
[If it could have a happy ending, then this would be the perfect place for it to be. The lovers, having escaped the castle together, elope in a chapel and then run off to be together somewhere no one else knows... It was right out of the pages of a book.
Tifa knows that isn't the case, though. They're going to have to see this through to its tragic end together, and that's the only part she wishes it didn't have to be them. Why couldn't they just be the characters in the background, like all of the others mingling at the dance? It's easy now, but it's about to get much more difficult for them...
She pushes back far enough to look up at him, a smile and a flush spreading.]
But we should just try and enjoy what we've got right now, right?
[That's what they always do.]
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[The only good thing about all the hustling and bustling for all the previous scenes was that it allowed them to not think about what lay ahead. But now that they've reached this point, it's harder to ignore what lay ahead.
And there is also the curse.
He doesn't notice most of the time, but every now and then he's feel a strange soreness in his right arm, a kind of tension. It's always brief and sometimes gone before he can even think much more of it. And whenever she touched those scales whatever discomfort he might have had instantly fades. But he worries. Worries that it will soon begin its advance because wouldn't this be the perfect tike for it? And what would happen? Is it just a physical change or...?
At least this time he is aware and can try and prepare himself to resist. He refuses to let himself be once again fully possessed and harm her. So as he gazes down at her, his expression still a little pensive, he unconsciously hugs her a little tighter.]
no subject
...
With a deep breath, she slides back so that she can take both of his hands in hers before closing that distance again with a step towards him, and her fingers run over his ring. There were so many things that she wanted to say to him back at the chapel, and even before that. Things she wasn't sure she could put into words, or if she was the one feeling them at all.
But being with him now she realizes... she never needed a script to tell her how she felt about him. She didn't need a play, or a character. These were all things that she's held near and dear to her heart since long before they met here. Tifa may not be ready to fully accept some of them, but they're there, and she can ignore them as long as she'd like to as they only continue to grow, but they aren't going to disappear.
She clears her throat.]
Romeo...
[Her face is turning a deep red now, but from between the floorboards at their feet, the very same flowers they left a trail of begin to sprout, their leaves still tiny and the petals still closed buds. Her eyes drop away from his down to their hands.]
I didn't know what to think when I met you here. You had no idea who I was, and here was this girl who knew your name, and knew you from another world. I was sad, and scared... but... funnily enough, I guess the world always has a way of making itself right. Strange ways of doing it, I guess, but we're still standing here now, aren't we?
[Tifa gives her head a shake with a small laugh, and although she believed in every word she said, she sounds more resolved in them now. She just wishes she were better with putting her feelings into words.]
I wasn't sure how things were gonna go, or if we'd even be... friends... but I'm really happy that we are. I'm happy that you're here with me right now, and every single time before. You're always there with patience, and to catch me when I fall, and I promise... I'll do the same for you. Just like I can call you, you can always call me. No matter what happens tomorrow, or the next day, you're stuck with me because I'm not going anywhere. And honestly? I wouldn't have it any other way.
[Through her lashes, she affords a single peek up at him.]
I...
[ .......
She pulls him in for another embrace.]
Thank you.
no subject
Although he wonders a little about what she was trying to say at the end...it doesn't matter. This is enough for now. Maybe in the not so distant future he might feel a little greedier and want more, as he's always said this is better for them.
So he just hugs her close, the warmth around them spreading to fill the whole room, more little white buds peppering the walls, a few starting to bloom with the rest.]
When this is over...
[His voice is a quiet murmur against her ear.]
...I want to take you on a real date.
no subject
Promise?
[It feels like such a silly thing to ask for, and she knows he means it, but a little reassurance goes a long way when they're stuck teetering on the edge of being a whole other person. And when she pushes back again to look up at him, her gaze roams down to his lips expectantly, almost pleading to be done with all of this.]
no subject
[There's a soft, warm gaze as he looks down at her.]
We might have been hesitant before, but we can't stop fooling ourselves. At least I won't.
[He reaches up to first lightly brush his hand over her cheek, a sweet, gentle caress before going to the top of her hair to undo the veil and other pins holding her hair up.]
That isn't to say we should rush into things... There are still things we need to figure out and we should still take things at our own pace.
[As her hair falls his fingers thread through the long, dark strands, as if guiding it down. The sound of the accessories falling is a stark contrast to how her hair pin fell when he had been influenced by the Bleeding Heart. With all the flowers around them, it's a softer sound, almost non-existent, the sound of the veil falling a quiet ripple as it drifts down.]
...But I don't want anymore ambiguity. Call it whatever you want, you're the only one I intend to be with.
[His thumb brushes over her lips as he leans in closet, voice lowering.]
The only one...I want to be with.
[His gaze deepens as he finally voices the feelings and thoughts he's held for longer than he realized. Maybe they'll work out, maybe they won't. But as he said, after all they've been through, especially after this dreamscape, they would be fools to deny they don't hold something deeper for each other. That it would have to take something they can't work through, something catastrophic to tear them apart.
His lips lightly brush against hers, but instead of the much desired kiss, he whispers something against them instead.]
...Say my name, Tifa.
[Even though she has said it as part of their plan, he still doesn't want to hear her utter another man's name, fictional or not, when displaying her feelings...and especially not when they're together like this.]
no subject
And when he leans in, his lips barely brushing over hers, she tries to snatch the things she desires from him. To finally snap that string that's been pulling taut inside of her since she spotted him in the gardens outside the castle. Closeness, companionship, affection... To allow these feelings that have been building up to finally be set free. Not Juliet's, but hers. Those feelings that have been building and shaping themselves since that day at the riverbank when she laughed at him being drenched in water. Or maybe long before that, in another universe. Feelings so deeply-rooted now that Romeo and Juliet could comprehend. Tragic ending or not, they weren't real, and they haven't seen or been through half the things that they have.
Tifa understands what he's saying. What he wants, and what she wants. This ambiguity... it was never about them. It was always clear what they wanted. Tifa never kept it a secret that she wanted to be with him, and her heart called out to him no matter how many times she thought back to how much she missed Cloud. Even when she cried over him, it always ended with "but Eustace"...
Why him, she would always ask herself, and she thinks that she's finally found an answer.]
Eustace...
[She can barely get his name out before she's trapping his lips with a kiss so burning and eager that she feels it in every inch of her body, and she only pulls away to say it again and again, shedding every last bit of Juliet that remained until all she was left with was herself and the raw feelings that dwelled inside, and she wants this kiss to do the same for him.
In the end, this story was never about two star-crossed lovers. It was about them—about realizing the depths of their feelings for each other at last. For Tifa, realizing that there was no one else she wanted to be with. Not here, not in Camelot. She could go back to Gaia tomorrow but tonight...
Tonight, it was only him.]
No more talking...
[Words could never do the things she wants to say justice, but she intends to make them known.]