songerein | { lindwormeo and juliet }

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{ 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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[There's a small laugh, mostly at himself. He hasn't been very good at this.]

I'm of the same mind. And it made more sense to me to work with fellow dreamers, rather than the residents of this dreamscape.

[Having been through a few of these, he's skeptical of how helpful they are.]

There is no reason we can not play at both sides. Act our roles and act with consideration in mind. That said...

[Maybe this is all working out fortuitously for her. Who better to have made the acquaintance of than a member of an opposing house? Pragmatism takes hold of her and she, under the act of purely expectation in the eyes of the dreamscape, lifts a hand and rests it to Ira's forearm. Provided he lets her.]

What information can you share with me of your house? Have you heard of anything? Anything we may need to intercept?

[He does, playing in to the part. And this is all part of working together after all. The families are supposed to be interacting. He's certainly not caught off guard or anything.]

I don't believe anything specific has been planned, though there are those who's grudges run deep. They seem quick to react to insults.

And it might not be well known that the second prince is cursed.

[Anything to make it seem as though they are... Beatrix doesn't even know. Friendly? Familiar? Things that she really isn't at all with much of anyone. Just the word 'familiar' is one that would leave a bitterness on the tongue.]

Cursed.

[Beatrix echoes him and she raises an eyebrow.]

What do you mean 'cursed?'

From what I've heard, the second prince is doomed to transform into a lindworm. Granted, trying to find the source of the rumours has been a little difficult.

[Though, not for lack of trying. Being whisked away to a party makes it a little difficult to get to the library.]

Is it not possible that such rumours could simply be baseless?

[Beatrix shakes her head. It would be a wonderful way of diverting attention from anything bigger that might be at stake.]

I suppose we would have no way of knowing unless such a thing truly did happen. Let us hope it does not, for if it should... [She trails off for some moments before she draws her gaze back onto Ira.] I hardly need say it. The chaos of such a happenstance would allow things to escalate very rapidly.

I suppose it is, and I agree the possibilities could lead to several messy situations.

[Though, given the way dreamscapes have gone, he can't shake the feeling that it's all connected.]

I can't help but wonder if that might be the intention.

It is likely. Very likely, even.

[Nothing worse than fighting an enemy they couldn't see. Nothing worse than facing a battle where she has no idea what strategy to use.]

We cannot even consider evacuating people with inciting panic. I wonder, are you good with a weapon? If so, there is a possibility it will be needed. Provided you came prepared.

[Ira nods, both in agreement of the sentiments and as an answer to her question.]

I am. Though I hope I do not have to use it here, my keyblade is at the ready.

[He can feel it at his fingertips, though he'd prefer a less-populated place if he were to summon it. No need to create panic at the moment.]

[Keyblade.

...Keyblade? She's heard that word before. The boy who sparred with her, though she supposes 'boy' is a little insulting. Sora had told her he was eighteen years of age, though he hardly looks it.

Her expression gives her a way, just in slight. Not her gaze, of course, so much of it hidden beneath her mask, but the way her other features shift. Just various other pulls of her face.]

Are you associated with that Sora boy?

[Old habits die hard. Evidently to her, Sora is still just a boy.]

[Ira nods, and almost smiles. He considers Sora a boy as well, but that might just be their difference in ages.]

I know him. I believe we come from the same world, though our first meeting was in this world. Or Songerain to be more precise.

[Though, Ira has come to believe that there are a considerable amount of years separating them]

I've taken him on as a student.

[For several moments, she simply nods along, as if committing all of that to memory. The thought of Ira being a mentor of sorts makes her eye him all the closer. Sora has promise as a combatant. If that's the case, it would imply something of the same of her current companion. What is he like with a sword? A worthy adversary, perhaps?

Unsurprisingly, Beatrix seems to think so much more of combat. Not because she takes pleasure in harming others. Only that it seems to fulfil a part of her that she is otherwise lacking in this place.]

Would you consider yourself formidable?

I suppose so. In my world, I would be considered a Master.

[He's not sure how much weight that carries here, and perhaps a little pompous, he supposes. He doesn't always feel pleased with himself and how he acted as a master.]

Why do you ask?

[...A 'master?' Beatrix raises an eyebrow with undeniable interest. It's a bit of an arrogant word, though little about Ira makes her think he would be any such thing. Not impossible, but between the two of them, she's certain she comes off as more... boastful. Her head tips with interest as she examines him and then she offers a slow nod.]

Curiosity.

[Of course it's more than that.]

That boy challenged me to a spar. He has promise, but I think his heart is too soft for combat.

[To be fair, Beatrix wasn't the most compassionate with him.]

[Ira smiles at that.]

I admit that I had a similar reading of him, though his heart may be stronger than you think. As keyblade wielders, we're called upon to fight the forces of Darkness. And those can be very dangerous opponents.

[Sora is like one those puppies that needs to be snarled at from time to time.]

I think... his heart is in the right place. What he desires is a proper reason for one to take up a weapon. He asked me if he could become a knight, that he might protect his... friends.

[She hesitates over the usage of the word. 'Friend' is not a thing she wants to use much. But that's how Sora put it. It'd be a dishonour to take that from him.]

I would not say he is weak. Only soft. On his behaviour alone, I would not have been able to determine that he had any history of combat.

[But oh, how war affects all people in different ways.]

It hasn't stopped him from having high ambitions. His friends must be very important to him.

[It reminds Ira a lot of himself in a way.]

I have not asked him about it, but I have no doubt that he has struggled against the Darkness.

[Perhaps he should.]

Would you grant his request for knighthood?

Knights are not appointed by generals.

[Is her initial response, though it occurs to her that this man has no idea who she is. What she is. And given her state of garb, it would be easy to assume by how she carries herself that Beatrix isn't just playing at nobility, but that she is nobility. She supposes, in some small way, Alexandria may perceive her in just such a light.

Beatrix shakes her head.]

That is, a knighthood is bestowed by a king or a queen. I am neither of those things. I do not have the ability to knight him, even should I have want to.

[She lifts a hand and settles it atop her hip.]

When I joined the knighthood in my kingdom, I was younger than him. I have to admit that children should be able to live their lives as children. I would desire him to be older. I feel he is too young to be touched by such things.

I see. I suppose he will have to wait then.

[Said with a bit of humour. He's been trying to temper Sora's impulsiveness a bit.]

I do agree with that, though I was around his age when I achieved Mastery. I suppose the circumstances are different for everyone.

I was also enlisted in the knighthood at an age younger than him. Simply because that was the way for me does not mean it ought to be the way for others. As you have said, circumstances differ from person to person.

[Beatrix shakes her head slowly.]

Our circumstances also affect us in different ways. [Just because her position has turned her into the person she is at present does not mean it would do the same for Ira. For Sora. For anyone else. It is not a sign of weakness. It is merely a difference in individuality and how one handles a situation.] I would not wish for him to lose the passion he has.

I agree. His is a Heart full of Light, and that should be encouraged.

[Their ideas seem to be aligned in this.]

May I ask why you enlisted so early?

[His question draws from her a particularly weighted pause. It's a bit prying, isn't it. She wonders what the harm is in answering. If there is any harm at all. Her weight shifts and Beatrix rests a hand atop her hip.]

Familial expectation? Societal expectation?

[Her shoulder lifts in something that seems either casual or dismissive. Likely the latter.]

I was made to hold a sword. It suits me more than tailoring or embroidery. It is where I belong.

[Ira appears satisfied with that answer, not that there was anything in particular that he was looking for.]

Expectation aside, it sounds as if you made the decision for yourself.

I am not certain of that. On some level, I suspect I desired it. On another, I suspect I sought the validation and approval of those around me. I doubt very much it was fully a personal desire.

[She shakes her head.]

Rarely is anything ever that simple or straight forward. All things possess a certain complexity to them. The wants and desires of people are oft not as simple either. What brought about your interest in keyblades? Necessity, mayhap?

You have a point there. Necessity, yes, and because my Master saw potential in me.

I suppose at that point, my path was chosen for me, though I'm not sure I could have ended up anywhere else.

[And he's not really thought of other options.]

{ lindwormeo and juliet }

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I think we can wrap this up here!

Sounds good to me!