songerein | { gingerbread town | test drive #09

Entry tags:

{ gingerbread town | test drive #09 - december 2022 }

GINGERBREAD TOWN

On Tuesday the 27th, with no warning whatsoever, everyone will awaken and find the entire town transformed into gingerbread and candy, from peppermint candy cane trees, to gumdrop bushes, to chocolate brick roads. They will also find themselves changed into one of the following forms: gingerbread figures, nutcrackers, or wooden figurines. It's a complete transformation—no costumes or partials this time! Although they can move and use most of their abilities, it's a bit hampered when it's also discovered that everything has shrunk down a bit in size. Not only that, but there is an indestructible magiglass dome over the town to prevent anyone from breaking in—or out. So if there is anyone who happened to be out of town at the time, they will not be changed and will be stuck outside. The Tree of Stories, the Observatory, and the Carnival park are excluded from the change and remain normal.

Fortunately a pair of gingerbread twins named "Hansel" and "Gretel" as well as the tapirs are there to help explain what happened. The town has been cursed by the witch who inhabited that suspicious house from the Dream Board, and everyone needs to band together to do two things to break out of curse: 1) gather enough dreamotion music notes to charge up the golden chocolate bell hanging at the Plaza and 2) break into the gingerbread house and destroy the witch.

————— ⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱ —————
More details on everything can be found here, but an important reminder that this event log doubles as our Test Drive Meme and information can be found in this section.

This means any outside characters participating in the log are canonly logged as appearing in Songerein in December and will remain in Songerein from the IC date of December 27 through 31. TDM only characters can only thread within this log. Anyone who apps in and is accepted will have their character count December 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 as people randomly disappear already, 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 Sunday, December 25th and Applications will open on January 1st. Our application cycles are bi-monthly so the next cycle after won't be until March.

TDM Toplevel Link Directory (click to view; updated 12/30)

Adventure Time - Finn the Human
Adventure Time - Jake the Dog
Ai: The Somnium Files - Mizuki Okiura
Bleach - Riruka Dokugamine
Bunjou Stray Dogs - Ryunosuke Akutagawa
Chainsaw Man - Denji
Don't Starve Together - Wendy Carter
Fallout 3 - The Lone Wanderer
Final Fantasy XIII-2 - Noel Kreiss
Final Fantasy XIV - Y'shtola Rhul
Fire Emblem: Three Houses - Bernadetta von Varley
Forgotten Realms - Jarlaxle Baenre
Friends at the Table: COUNTER/Weight - Cassander Timaeus Berenice
Genshin Impact - Amber
Genshin Impact - Scaramouche
Granblue Fantasy - Lyria
Heroes of Olympus - Leo Valdez
Kingdom Hearts - Demyx
Kingdom Hearts - Riku
Persona 5 Strikers - Zenkichi Hasegawa
Pokemon Scarlet/Violet - Penny
Rage of Bahamut - Amira
Shadow Game Series - Enne Salta
South Park - Kenny McCormick
Spark the Electric Jester 1 & 3 - Spark
Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion - Agent 8
Tales of Zestiria - Sorey
Undertale - Flowey

THREAD SUBMISSIONS WILL BE IMPORTANT TO DETERMINE HOW THIS EVENT ENDS FOR JANUARY! We will request them during AC and TDM threads will count. For more information, refer to the Game Notes.

I. IN TOWN

There is a lot to process with everything changed and the appearance of Hansel and Gretel, but by now most people are used to needing to roll up their sleeves and get through the tasks needed to succeed. The giant bell at the Plaza helps serve as a reminder of what they need to do and many will be anxiously watching as the musical notes slowly gather into it. To gather enough notes for the bell, everyone will need to work together and utilize their current forms. Note: all prompts can be done by anyone, however some forms have an advantage over others. Musical notes will automatically appear and go to the bell when the objective is achieved. The gumdrops are also trapped in town and will still pull their "mistletoe" mischief.

A. Woodstock. Those turned into a wooden figure will find they have the least amount of changes appearance wise…but their legs and feet are stuck together, forcing them to hop and slide around. Fortunately they can control their movements and after some adjusting they will find it's not too strenuous to be hopping around everywhere. It can be tough to get up if they fall over, though.

Caroling. What better way to gain notes than making some? With movement a bit limited, singing and playing simple instruments may be the easiest way to help. The catch is the music must be filled with hopeful, cheerful dreamotion strong enough to form those notes, and the instruments can also be a problem. First they have to be found, and then some instruments may try to play music on their own—and it's not always the right genre.
Snowmen Mayhem. Snowmen can be found all over town, most of them built before the town changed. Now they are coming to life, wearing big, giant frowns as they slowly shamble around and chuck snowballs at everyone they see. Melting them or using physical force only makes them reform back into snowmen. The only way to stop them is to participate in the snowball fight until that frown turns into a smile to release a note! People could even just have a snowball fight around them and it would please the snowmen. Perhaps they just wanted to have fun, too…?

B. Gingerbread Run. Those made of gingerbread will find they are quite fast and even have the urge to run for whatever reason. However, although sturdy enough, they are still fragile and can break easily. Fortunately they can quickly repair themselves with an extra bit of dough and icing, but water is the greatest weakness. A few drops or even a brief dousing won't hurt them too badly (maybe make their icing a little runny), but they can't swim and submerged in water too long will make them very mushy.

Obstacle Course Marathon. Some streets are sectioned off to have a simple marathon for those who just can't help but feel restless and want to run, and notes can be released throughout the course. More like a cross country track, there are numerous "checkpoints" participants must pass through while shouting the famous line, "Run, run as fast as you can, you can't catch me I'm the gingerbread man!" Each checkpoint mimics the story of "The Gingerbread Man."
1. Avoid the "old ladies" swinging candy canes (non gingerbreads can take this role to help)
2. Outrun the plush pups and kittens (or just stay and play with them, also valid)
3. Climb up and over the makeshift marshmallow chocolate wall (don't let it melt!)
4. Use the "foxboat" (swan boats altered to look like foxes) to peddle across the river (don't sink!)
5. Dash through the finish line
Since it's designed as a group marathon, participants are encouraged to help each other. More notes gained, the better!
The Chase is On! Those who were not turned into gingerbread figures will feel a strange urge to chase those who are. They may be fully aware, or they may desire just a nibble of that delectable baked good. While punching the chasers in the face to try and knock some sense into them will be an option, those who are gingerbread will similarly have the urge to run, run, run! Passing over any type of water, including puddles, will end it. This chase can be long or short, and at the end of it whether the gingerbread is caught or escapes, a musical note will play and fly to the bell, freeing the two from the weird curse…until it happens again.

C. Nutcrackin' Around. Nutcrackers have a sturdier build compared to the general wooden population, with powerful jaws and already armed with a weapon—even if it might feel more like a toy. Their movements might feel a bit stiff, but they have their strength to make up for it.

Get Crackin'. Built to crack nuts, it's no surprise that Nutcrackers are assigned to crack through as many nuts and hard candies to try and find some notes hidden within. They have to go to the farm fields to find the right trees to harvest from, and anyone can assist in this. If they listen carefully, they might be able to hear the note ringing inside as a hint. But they also need to be careful—some nuts are actually cursed and once cracked open will cause the individual to brandish their weapons (or whatever they have on hand) to attack those nearby. Unfortunately there's no tell, so it's truly luck of the draw. Shove a jawbreaker in their mouth and they'll be back to normal. With a slightly damaged jaw, maybe.
Mouse Infestation. Large, toy wind-up mice are causing havoc around town. Although they are just oversized toys and don't attack, they're crashing into buildings and chasing people. Anyone can try to catch and slow them down, but a Nutcracker is the only one capable of inflicting enough damage to break the gears inside and stop it for good. Doing so will release a note.

D. Candy Monsters. While the town is mostly safe, nightmare energy is seeping in from everyone's initial fears and chaos and absorbed into all the candy and delicious goods that make up the town. It makes them come to life to turn into aggressive and sometimes cute monsters made out of candy. Fortunately, they are not too difficult to fend off even with everyone changed into different forms, and dreamotion abilities are in full effect. Other creative ways to defeat them like dumping boiling water or freezing them can also be used.

II. TRAIN CARS

All aboard the Dreamer Express! The toy train has a simple track that circles around the town with the main station right at the Plaza. Anyone can hop on to either enjoy the ride or help get those notes.

A. Past, Present, Future. There are three particular cars that Hansel and Gretel will encourage most to go through because the notes in these cars will be the strongest. When going through either of the "Past," "Present," or "Future" cars, everyone will have a "Scrooge" experience and walk through either a happy or difficult memory or made up simulation of that set time period. The primary theme for each one is something that the individual can learn or reflect on. The experience can be done solo or with a partner. If with a partner, only one simulation will be active, but the other person's could begin after the first ends. Sometimes the memories will be passive like watching a movie and will only stimulate emotional reactions. However, the stronger the memory, the more realistic it will become, to the point that one will live through it all and must face and interact with whatever is there to get through. Once they reach the exit, the note will be granted.

B Unboxing. Most of the train cars are either passenger cars or boxcars filled with presents. A lot of presents. Guess where a lot of notes are hidden. While opening presents seems like a simple task, it can be tricky when some gifts are actually mimics that will pull unsuspecting individuals inside of them instead. Fortunately they are not too difficult to beat up and free the trapped prisoner.

C. Hot! Hot! Ooh, We Got It! There is a special car that's only purpose is to serve hot chocolate…as a musical number. Witness or perhaps even participate as servers dance around with extremely hot chocolate and somehow not spill a drop—or maybe someone gets scalded by an unfortunate spill. But when it's all done, anyone can enjoy some different flavors that can last for quite a while (ie as long as you want it) :

Regular chocolate: Makes the drinker nostalgic, particularly for something in their childhood.
Peppermint: Gives the drinker a spark of inspiration to work on something creative.
Caramel: Gives the drinker extra energy, making them unable to stay still without doing something.
Raspberry: Makes the drinker want to get back to nature by finding an outdoor activity to do.
Spicy (chili powder and cinnamon): Makes the drinker feel more amorous than usual.

III. WITCH'S HOUSE

Getting the notes is just one half of the equation. To completely beat the curse, the witch behind this needs to be defeated. But it won't be easy with everyone transformed and the witch quite powerful. The gingerbread house has a lot of traps inside, from sticky paper to snapping mouse traps to licorice that try to tie them down.

A. Breaking into the Gingerbread House. The witch's gingerbread house will be the biggest piece compared to everything else. The original defense mechanisms are in place and people can get sucked inside like before, however there is no easy way out. A little stealth can help gain an advantage especially as the battle begins by those who enter first.

B. Escape Routes. While some may try to let themselves get caught to get inside faster, having an escape route would be prudent. Since they are smaller in size, it'll be easier to sneak around the house and try to carve a piece out of it to make a hole, or maybe something from the windows or chimney. Multiple routes would be ideal, just be careful not to get caught!

C. Fighting the "Witch." For those expecting some creepy old woman, they will be in for a surprise. The "witch" is actually the oven itself, moving and operating as if it were alive. Rather, perhaps the oven is what the original witch of Hansel and Gretel has become as an eerie cackling can be heard when the doors open and fire flickers out. Regardless, despite its form the "witch" will be a difficult foe to defeat due to its sheer size and everyone still in smaller forms. Restrain it, try to douse the flames, but another effective way to stop it is to just fill its mouth with anything that can go inside, from candy and baked goods, to pots and pans. The more it consumes, the slower it moves. Time to over stuff the oven.

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[Smirking, Childe makes sure he gets somewhere hidden well enough, sitting down behind some cookware that miraculously didn't get shoved into the witch's mouth yet. Even though he can't participate in the battle anymore, he had a lot of fun bringing an entire ceiling down with Rokurou's help- that alone made it all worth it.

He can hear the efforts of the others as they fight, and after a while he tries to drag himself out. Seems that everything is going well, but he's getting a little wary of staying in one spot for too long in case something happens.

He looks for his companion, when he finally spots him heading his way, and goodness what is that stuff in his hands...]

[Her phrasing had been specific for a reason, but she can't blame him for not taking it well. Killing someone, deserved or not (and she won't be the judge of that, as the outsider), is not something one generally wants praise for. That didn't feel like a victory.]

I'm sorry you had to go through it once, nevermind twice. For many of the memories we're forced to experience here, the first time was already too much. At least, that's how I felt.

[She won't judge him for being upset by it, either. She's walked out of these trains close to tears before, herself.]

"I don't know firsthand yet, actually! But my partner and a few of our employees have direct experience. We'll be having an office meeting to get everyone caught up to speed, including myself. This month we got a little sidetracked because we had to rebuild the office."

"No idea what that is, but it sounds like a Tesco-Store-Brand Starbucks, so I'm quite sure we're on the same page."

He seized a box of his own, lifting it up and committing to that tried-and-true method of present identification- by holding it up to his ear and shaking the hell out of it.

[She's quiet, both as he considers her words, as he speaks, and for a little while after. Time enough for a glimmer of magic to enter the space of the train around them, dreamotion and the remnants of her memory conjuring the note they'd been seeking. It hovers for a second or two, chiming quietly, the sound of their "victory", for what it's worth. And then it dissipates, floating through the train window towards the bell where the notes are collecting.

She watches it go, blinking rapidly. She won't cry. She refuses. She's cried too much already for people long gone, for the life she's led.

When the silence lingers for what feels like almost too long, she exhales a breath, a little shaky, but more steady, enough that she trusts her voice again.]

Thank you, Somnus. For helping, and... for protecting her, too.

["Protecting me" would be more accurate, but she feels so far removed from that weak and helpless child that she'd rather not acknowledge it in the moment, lest her strength falter again. Perhaps that isn't the lesson she's meant to take from this, but whatever lesson is being taught is not one she really wants from this world.

Still, he'd done good by her, and he hadn't had to do that. She wants to thank him for that much.]

[That outburst has her giggling that she accidentally squeezes the icing a little too hard, and she flinches with a gasp as the blue sprays out and splatters across her face.]

That sounds like a no. I think the gumdrops and the scarves are probably enough.

[As she tries to wipe the icing away from her cheek, but she only smears it further, unbeknownst to her. She thinks she got it.

Her eyes flit across the room to where Eria is sitting, watching them, and she smiles.]

... Does Eria want a gumdrop too?

"...I'm just realizing that we all picked out animal code names," she blurts out suddenly, humming. "It's a shame Fox isn't here to join in, honestly... or Mona. But don't tell him I said that. Like ever." Because the last thing anyone needs is for a sulking Morgana, thanks. Not that he's here, but that's not the damned point.

She's still eyeing Crow's wound, shifting a little as Wolf pipes up about it again. "I mean, it probably wouldn't be a bad idea... still, it might be messy. Moreover, I'm actually really concerned that bite might carry over to when, y'know, we're not all... like this? Is that a thing that can happen?" It's a morbid thought, and one that suddenly makes her eyes widen. "Whoa, if you'd been transformed into a pinata cookie, you would have definitely spilled your candy guts everywhere!"

That's a fun thought, isn't it, gentlemen?

[Eria only turns her head as if indignant! ...But her lightly wagging tail gives her away.]

Knowing her, she'd want some kind of crown or something bright and flashy.

[A wry look over at the wolf before he looks at Tifa...and sees that blue icing. Wife, what is he going to do with you.... But how should he try to clean it? STUBBY HAND...well he'll try to wipe it off carefully.]

There was a lot behind a statement like that. But, general buffoonery aside, he was not stupid. He could tell a sensitive topic when it came up, and so he latched onto the other piece of offered information.

"Is that so? I noticed the blade you carry, and I do approve. There's something to be said about the satisfaction of doing a violence the old-fashioned way. Though I can't imagine what the bauble on the other side must be for."

That's impossible.

[And he says that with the certainty of someone who has experienced this sort of thing before.]

Exoflections cannot return to a world where their original exists. Or are you saying that you yourself were brought from your world into another and then sent back?

[Now THAT would be something new and fascinating indeed. Theoretically, it might be possible, but...]

"Haha! A revolutionary! You, young man, are a..." He faltered. "Whatever-the-hell-you-are after my own heart! Cast down the oligarchy! BREAK FREE OF THE SHACKLES OF TEDIUM THAT FETTER HUMANITY TO ITS LURKING MASTERS IN THE DARK! SIC SEMPER TYRANNUS, YOU UNCONSCIONABLE MOTHERFUCKERS-"

Somewhere, mid-rant, a sword had come out, an ornate two-handed affair that in spite of its toylike appearance, in the circumstances, still found its way into an approaching clockwork. "Truly, there is no finer aspiration."

I'm sure that we could make—

[She's interrupted by Eustace's hand rubbing against her face, and Tifa turns to look at him, her red icing eyes widening ever so slightly an air of surprise as she, too, starts to rub at the other side with pink cheeks.]

Did I miss a spot? It's so sticky...

If only we weren't gingerbread...

[Just a low mutter because she knows his preferred method of cleaning her up—]

But I think I got most of it... Might want to try washing off the rest, I don't want to...smear things around.

[ SO MUCH IS HAPPENING WHY??? ]

Sh- Sherlock--?!

[ She almost sounds offended, but there will barely be any time to go on. The more Leo continues, the more questions she seems to have, but then there are flames and screaming and she's almost tempted to scream right alongside him. She instead simply holds up her arms to protect herself from the flames as Leo dashes off.

She can't watch. ]

[ ...

......

.........For a moment it almost seems to work, but once things calm down, Susato lowers her arm, noticing burn marks in the crumbs. All is serene and quiet until the snow starts to move near Leo's feet, and the snowmen start to reform. ]

Mm, yeah... It'll be worse if it completely dries, huh...? I'll be right back.

[She pushes herself up to her feet and waddles to the bathroom. There's a moment's silence where she pauses at the sink with her hands over the tap, and she wonders how she's going to turn it on without proper fingers and whether or not it's going to be water or more icing that comes out of the faucet. As soon as she touches the handles though, it turns on like magic, and she heaves a sigh of relief when it's water.

She takes a towel that's now a candy wrapper and runs it under the water, wetting it just enough that it's damp and lifts it to her face to wipe away the little dots of blue that have sprayed across her face. It's starting to wipe it away, so Tifa returns to the room with it still pressed against her face...]

I think I managed to get most of it, but...

[Little does she know, the pink and blue icing has smeared and the gingerbread cookie part of her face has started to grow soggy under the wet cloth and melt away, forming a little crease in her cheek.

She stops just across the threshold when she catches a few of the dogs staring at her as if they've just seen a ghost.]

... What?

[Why is everyone looking at her like that?]

[ The note chimes as innocently as a nightingale, vanishing thereafter. It would be a soothing and pure sound, but with the sound of weeping from a scared and starving child so fresh in mind, the note falls flat. He finds himself exhaling, though, at seeing it vanish. One more note for the curse’s melody, and one hard-fought.

When she speaks, he turns his head, looking back at her. Although her gratitude isn’t warranted— it had been a vision, and her brother would have protected her— he understands her sentiment, and so he tips his head in a slight nod. Still, what misery there is in her eyes…

And the idea alarm him, for only a moment, that she is the same as the Chosen, or himself, or his brother, enshrining sorrow with porcelain and silver and steel.

None of his family will live into the future. But perhaps she—

”We deserved better than that, too.”

—her words apply to this, as well. She deserves better than to suffer with sorrow alone. She had her brother then, but what of the present? ]

Once we leave this train… is there someone with whom you can speak?

[Eustace notices about the same time and his own eyes widen.]

Tifa—

[He is IMMEDIATELY rushing over to her, his hand reaching out to grab hers and pull it away.

No, his eyes...didn't deceive him.]

...Your face, it's...

[...HOW IS HE. SUPPOSED TO TELL HER and he is actually kind of panicking. Or rather doing his best to suppress it but THIS IS HIS WIFE'S FACE THAT'S LOOKING LIKE IT'S MELTING—]

[She gasps when he snatches her hand away...]

My face!? What's—

[Her own free one shoots up to touch it and feel around, panic immediately setting in that she had done something terrible to it... And as soon as she feels it—that small indentation where her cheek should be—Tifa feels the pit of her stomach drop like an anvil, and the room's temperature shoots up several degrees.]

Eustace!? What's... what's going on!? Where did my... What happened to my cheek!?

[WHERE IS HER FACE GOING?!?!?? HUBBY? HELP???

Her own panic doesn't seem to help the chaotic choir of barks that the dogs descend to, all of them screaming about mom's face! She's melting!!! Dad, do something!

And she notices that one side of her hand has also started to melt away from the wet rag.]

Oh god!

[And she hurls it to the ground.]

[There's still that trembling wave of his own panic and fear, but when he feels the ground starting to tremble as well as the room starting to darken and crack from everyone's emotions, he hardens his heart and takes control.]

Everyone, stop.

[It's not a shout, but it's very loud, very firm command that rumbles out like thunder. Immediately the dogs cower and whine, but they are still worried about what's going on, everyone staying far, far away from the thrown cloth.

Taking a breath, Eustace places a reassuring hand on Tifa's shoulder as he takes a closer look at her face, discomforting as it is.]

Don't worry, we'll figure this out... [Quickly wracking his brains.] If we're actually made of gingerbread...and you used the water... [A sigh.] It's my mistake. The water must have moistened the... [...Bread?? Dough?? Whatever.] Let's just try to dry it off for now...maybe add some heat?

[She's learning! That's good news, especially if they're going to be working together in the future.]

Is that not your intent? [After calling herself an inspector and all.] Or have I mistaken your ambition?

[That sense of obligation, the desire to help—they're qualities that Barok himself attempts to embody, ones that were instilled in him by his family. He nods his acknowledgement.]

As pure a motivation as any should strive for.

[But on the other side of the car, the scene starts to shift from the station that the younger Zenkichi left; an enormous window surrounded by equally gargantuan clockwork casts patterns of light into a regal but stark office, where a very tall, severe-looking blond man stands near his desk. A younger van Zieks, unscarred but distraught, pleads with his apparent superior.

Lord Stronghart, I beg you—let me lead the case! I must see that justice is served for my brother!

After some apparent deliberation, the intimidating man turns and hands the younger van Zieks a folder of documents, and sets a hand on his shoulder. The present, older version watches, his stone-faced expression unchanging.]

... but even those who face that fight and pursue it with all our being may be misled by our biases, young or aged.

[Tifa's hand is shaking, her eyes are wide with horror, and even she starts a bit when Eustace's warning rumbles through the house. If she has bones, it shakes them too. But she can tell he's trying, his hand on her shoulder doing wonders to help calm her. With it there, she takes a deep breath and looks up at him with worry, trying to focus on him and his presence to help steady herself.]

It's not your fault. But...

[Tifa lifts her hands, and she breathes in again, trying to even out the scared tremble in her voice.]

Should I try? With dreamotion?

[It will either be a great idea or a terrible idea, and there's nothing in between.

... As a small little moist crumb falls from her cheek and plops to the floor.]

[There's a slight tremble in his hand when he sees the crumb fall, desperately trying not to imagine this as if it were her own flesh. What kind of body horror show is this—]

...We don't have much of a choice. If we have to consider ourselves exactly like gingerbread, it makes the most sense.

[As nonsensical as all this is.

...]

Here, you can try it of on me first.

Okay...

[She fumbles a bit as she moves forward, stepping up close to him just so that she's nearer, leaving herself only enough room to lift her hands. It's easier for her to focus this way on more stable emotions, even with all of the dogs watching in horror and with bated breath to see if this will work. She wants to hide her face from him and from everyone, and she's afraid to know what it even looks like...

Tifa can see the tremble in his hand, and she reaches out to tap hers against it. She can't hold it, so this is as close as she'll get.]

Here I go.

[With their hands connected, she lets the dreamotion take over. First, there's just a small, tentative thrum of warmth before it grows into something more tangible... An envelope of heat that pockets over them. And she closes her eyes as she prays that it works and doesn't end up hurting him.]

Is... Is it working?

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{ gingerbread town | test drive #09 - december 2022 }

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