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.]

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[Diluc glowers at the flower she holds down for him as if it, not Beatrix and the cursed arrow that struck him before, is responsible for all of the trouble he's found himself in at the moment. Seeing as he's given no choice in the matter, he snaps at her hand and takes the flower from it, wolfing it down.

Slowly, the haze of hatred clears from his mind and the partial transformation of his body begins to undo itself. After several tense minutes, he groans softly. It's a profoundly human sound, chagrined and exhausted and embarrassed.]

You can get off of me. I'm no longer a threat to you.

[Her hand withdraws only as he snatches up the flower she offers him. Although it's less an offer and more an inevitability. And she waits. Only when he finds his words again does she begrudgingly remove herself from his back, considerably more careful in that than she was when she practically tackled him down.

Even as she's righting herself, putting herself back together, Beatrix fixes her sword on him, wary and sceptical. She, wisely, puts paces between them, gaze locked on him intensely.]

Debatable. [She begins, motioning with her free hand.] Rise slowly and let me get a better look at you.

[Diluc's sigh is deep and exasperated, but ultimately he cannot blame Beatrix for her abundance of caution. Just minutes ago, he was trying to rip her throat out like some kind of common beast. He's lucky she is giving him even this much benefit of the doubt.

As instructed, he gets off the ground with slow and deliberate movements. Once back on his feet, he raises his hands in a show of surrender and turns to face her. He's dirty, and the impact point of the arrow's graze is still bloody, but otherwise there's no sign of the lindworm transformation left in him. The man standing before her is fully human, and - despite his best efforts to hide it - more than little mortified.]

I should have been more careful. I'm sorry.

[As he rises, she strafes across the ground thoughtfully, gaze intent upon him. She leaves her sword on him as she assesses him from a safe distance. He looks... normal. Considerably more normal, anyway. More like the Diluc who came to join her at the beginning of all of this. Although still wary, Beatrix decides what she sees is... enough.

Her sword lowers and she shakes her head. Apologies. She can't decide if she dislikes saying them more or hearing them more. Maybe a combination of the two.]

These things happen. We were prepared in the event that we needed to be. In my opinion, that is all that matters.

[She draws up her free hand and traces touch along her neck. Will it bruise? Perhaps. It's not as though he was gentle with her. No matter. What's done is done. An opportunity to put her white magic to the test, she supposes. Or whatever this world will make it out to be.]

Status?

[She asks as she settles her attention back onto him.]

[Diluc feels a pang of guilt as Beatrix feels where he tried to strangle the life out of her. But there's no need for further apologies. She's made herself clear that it's not needed, and to press the issue would just waste both of their time. His need to get over himself is not her problem.]

Been better. Been worse. I can still fight.

[It's the most accurate assessment he can provide. The wound on his shoulder smarts, but it's not so painful that it'll impede his abilities at all. He can bandage it when the threat has cleared.]

Fortunate, then. I have little interest in picking up where your inadequacies may show.

[It sounds perhaps ruder than she means for it to, but she also suspects that he may understand a bit where she's coming from. A general, no matter how they may wish to, cannot halt all things for one person. Oft in such heated moments, it is the weight of many lives versus a single one. An answer there, to a question asked or unspoken, is an obvious one.

If Diluc holds her back, her only option is to leave him behind. It may not be much for camaraderie, but it is just a soldier's input.]

We have a job to finish here. Let us see it done and I will tend to your wounds when we are done.

[Because she can do that.]

[Her statement isn't rude; it's practical. Diluc's an experienced enough combatant to understand that the mission comes before the soldier. If he weren't able to keep up the fight, dragging him onward would only needlessly weigh her down.

Honestly, that understanding is part of why he prefers to go it alone. When he was younger and more idealistic, this sort of reality bothered him. But he's no longer a child, and can't afford to be soft-hearted on the battlefield. If there's no one else there, there's no need to worry about it either way.

The offer to heal him once this is over, however, surprises him. He's grateful.]

Understood.

[Slowly and deliberately, he goes to where he's left his claymore and lifts it.]

We've lost enough time. Let's go.

[He gets it. She can tell just by looking at him that he does. As such, she only watches him for a few moments more and then she nods, taking the time to fit her hold about her sword. As her grasp tightens, she feels her resolve strengthen.]

I could not have said it better myself.

[She'll be taking point this time. Not because he's incapable, but because she expects him to know his own limits. She's not going to reprimand him on it. Besides, he isn't one of her soldiers. He's just a man. And she is just a woman in this world. But at least she still has a couple more of those roses if they need it.

Hopefully they won't.

All she wants is to erase the plethora of nonsense that's stood against them. Which is precisely what she means to do. Beatrix isn't Beatrix unless she's throwing herself into the fray.]

[They're on the same page. They very often are, he's noticed in his dealings with her.

Which makes this next part easier. It makes sense for her to take point, after what's happened, and he falls in. He's no longer a knight, and she's even less his commander, but a battle like this one doesn't have the luxury of splitting hairs over such details. They need to cut down the rabble to get to their leader. That's all there is to it.

It helps that Diluc also has a tendency to throw himself into these kinds of things wholeheartedly. Beatrix re-enters the fray, and he's right behind her.]

[Before she really launches herself back at the hordes of things, she casts a look over her shoulder... Well. Some have called them Erasers. She supposes there's no shortage of names for them. Little noctaere offspring or something? Beatrix can hardly say herself what they are. Annoying. That seems to be the only important identifying characteristic.

She doubts she'll be able to take out the larger one. She doesn't have the ability, she suspects, though she'll step in if she has to. For the time being, she settles on trying to carve a path through their immediate opponents. Using her sword, she repels an arrow off to the side, and then a second one.]

You and I are not going to be able to do away with all of these. Let us take out what we need to and find a place to compose ourselves.

["Annoying" is certainly an excellent descriptor for them. "Tenacious" is another. While Diluc and Beatrix are skilled enough to cut them down, it seems that the tide of Erasers from the winged noctaere is continually refreshing itself. Beatrix is correct--they won't be able to bring them all down.

As for their leader... Diluc is somewhat confident that they could take it if they worked together. But he's admittedly less certain after his brush with lindworm-ness.]

There's an alcove to our left. Let's make our way in that direction.

Heard.

[It's all he needs to say for Beatrix to put spoken word into action. Better that he's in the back, evidently, for she's not sure she would have taken note of such an out, especially were she alone. Sometimes in the heat of battle, one completely loses themselves. Rather, Beatrix certainly seems to.

It's a very gradual process, the one that begins to cut through to the alcove he's indicated. Gradual, but effective. Diluc may have been momentarily setback, but he isn't incapable. She doubts very much a temporary draconic brain is enough to stop him. At least, that's what she'd like to think of him. For how little she seems to think of him, it's evidently a bit more.]

Are you fine back there?

Never better.

[A temporary draconic brain is certainly a major setback, and it would be a lie to say that Diluc's not still a bit thrown off by the experience. But he's not about to let that slow him down until the danger has passed, and that's not going to be for awhile yet. He can sort through everything later, when the fighting settles down.

It's slower-going than he'd like, but having to stop every few paces to cut down an Eraser or block additional nocataere arrows with the blunt edge of his sword is inevitably going to make movement a tedious process. Beatrix is dealing with the situation similarly, which is something that doesn't surprise him in the least. More than even he is, she's a consummate fighter.

They finally make it to the alcove and away from the fray, and Diluc takes one last look behind them before pulling some overgrowth over the opening. Better to remain as out of sight as possible, but he can burn through the brush if they need to get out quickly.]

Fighting these damn things feels like treading water. How are you faring?

[When they manage to reach the alcove, Beatrix has the opportunity to catch her breath. It would be easy to look at her, simply define her as formidable. It's not an inaccurate assessment either, but Beatrix knows better than anyone that she is not invincible, no matter how much she might like to claim that she is. Not... that she's inclined to admit to that aloud. Not now. Probably not ever.

She looks past him, eyes the overgrowth he uses to shield them both and then after a moment's consideration, she sheathes her sword after examining it closely. She'll have to spend some time sharpening it. She doubts its kept its edge after all she's used it on since her arrival. Her attention moves back onto Diluc and she wears just a subtle turn of the mouth, though it disappears quickly enough.]

Still I stand. 'Tis good enough for the circumstance.

[She looks him over rather shamelessly.]

Let me take a look at your injuries.

[In Diluc's experience, no one is invincible. That doesn't make Beatrix any less formidable in battle, in his estimation. Were she from Teyvat, she would be blessed with a Vision for certain. Geo, perhaps, given how steadfast she seems to be.

As she looks him over, he can't help but raise an eyebrow at her. It's not until she speaks up that he realizes what it is she's looking for. Most of his injuries are superficial, which is a small miracle in and of itself, but there's a gash in his left shoulder from the arrow impact that hasn't quite closed over because he keeps straining it to heft his claymore. Some attention to the wound probably wouldn't hurt.

So he takes a seat.]

Go ahead. Let me know if you need me to remove the sleeve to get a better look at it.

[It wouldn't be the first time he's torn his clothing to investigate an injury. Plus it can double as field dressing for the wound.]

[Beatrix takes the moment to her advantage, what she expects will be a fleeting kind of peace and she sheathes her sword. He seats himself and when he offers his sleeve, she cocks an eyebrow. She's heard plenty of strange things since her arrival, but maybe none quite as strange.]

No. I doubt that should be particularly necessary.

[Has nothing to do with her feeling weird about being faced with a naked arm. Almost nothing, anyway.

She thinks back to her time with Eustace. She can do this. She knows that she can. It helps that it doesn't look absolutely terrible from what she can see. After just a breath of hesitance, she rests a hand to his shoulder, right outside of where his wound lingers.]

Just here, then?

[Diluc shrugs as Beatrix denies the offer to get the fabric out of her way. There's no difference to him either way, he just figured he'd offer if it would help. He's not entirely sure how she intends to handle the injury, after all.

She puts a hand on him, and he gives her a nod.]

Yes, just there. Everything else isn't worth our attention on the field like this.

[I.e., they're minor cuts and bruises. They won't slow him down at all and can be tended to after the fight is over.]

Understood.

[There's a pause before she puts any concentration into what she's about to do.] This will not be perfect. I have not entirely developed my abilities here. They are, unfortunately, a work in progress. It will do for the time being.

[It's the only warning she gives before she shuts her eye. She thinks back to the day Eustace put her to the test. The very notion that he was only more than willing to intentionally harm himself simply for her benefit. She must not let that be for nothing.

All she has to do is think. Desire. White magic doesn't work the way it does back in Alexandria and it doesn't need to. As she settles her touch more firmly to him, she's able to use her own dreamotion energy to inspire an invigoration into the wound lingering at his shoulder. Enough to alleviate the pain. Enough to spare him from infection.

As she said, not perfect, but it's a considerable improvement.]

[Diluc is quiet the entire time she works, careful not to distract her or make her work more difficult. Concentrating on something so unfamiliar is a process that requires focus--he still struggles, sometimes, with using dreamotion to compensate for his Vision when the latter is unavailable or un-strategic to use.

The healing isn't perfect, but it's more than enough. As the dreamotion settles into the injury and alleviates the pain, he rolls his shoulder a few times to test it out. Whether it's on par with her ability to heal using the magics she's used to is irrelevant--she's done him a great favor here, and for that he's grateful.]

It feels much better. Thank you.

[She draws back to let him test the movement of his arm. To see him have full mobility of it does bring her some significant relief. She is capable of the healing, then. She doesn't want more opportunities to test it out. To hone it. But it'd be important that she can. At least she knows she's capable of it. That, perhaps, is the most important observation to make here.

Regardless, she folds her arms and offers just a subtle nod, keeping a close eye on him. Nothing else seems to be out of place. In short, it would seem he is... 'right as rain.']

It was nothing. I am pleased that it was successful.

[Implying she wasn't sure it even would. Although Beatrix isn't inclined to say as much.]

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{ lindwormeo and juliet }

hot ;)

of course he'd like that

don't kinkshame him

i want diluc to live his best life

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