songerein | { GAME OPENING LOG }

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{ GAME OPENING LOG }

✵ GAME OPENING LOG ✵
Normally our TDMs serve as intro logs, but we have prepared a special character intro log for game opening! It is a massive, chaotic feast that can only be found in a dreamworld like Songerein. You can also use this to continue ongoing TDM threads, especially as it nears captcha. Reminder that any thread from the TDM can be carried over. Players are also welcome to make their own logs for things if they would rather skip this part. Be sure to read the Mod Announcement for other information and you can ask any questions regarding the log here.

I. THE FEAST

As the sleepy looking sun begins to set, the small little tapir fairies will buzz around to find all the new inhabitants and usher them to the plaza. There everyone will find several tables of various lengths, sizes, and shapes. Yes, that is a star shaped table along with a moon one. A special feast has been made just for them to welcome and celebrate their arrival. Some may even recognize decorations: leaves mottled and changing to an assortment of colors, festive streamers, popcorn strings, glittering garlands and bows, string lanterns, and maybe a few small gravestones here and there. Some areas might look a bit brown and withered while some of the trees take on a more cherry blossom look. It's a bit of a strange mashup, and yet the chaos seems to have a sense of harmony as well—especially when considering everything else that the feast has to offer. This is one divine feast that is going to be completely topsy turvy.

A. What's Your Sign? Everyone will find themselves mysteriously "tagged" with a special sticker and will suddenly gain special characteristics based off the animal: ears, tails, behavioral traits. They're mostly mild and to add flavor, but they may also feel different compatibility towards another, such as more attracted or opposed. The sticker will be hard to remove, but it is possible to swap with someone if they want to try a different experience.

B. Special Bowls. There are many tables and anyone can sit wherever they want. Just don't forget to pick up the special dinner bowl already personalized with their name on it. Of course there are some extra paints and decorations that can be added to it if one desires.

C. Wild Food. Every table has the same kind of food, and there is plenty to go around. Of course, that's only if the food can be caught and if one can keep an appetite for some of them. The boar's head is a bit talkative and might settle down if someone stuffs an apple in its mouth or tells it a joke. However, it might just get several laughs by the barrel of monkeys funnel cake nearby, monkey shaped pastries hiding within it to chuck out various candies and fruits. Not even the candy is safe, at least not the stringed ones. Licorice, chocolate coated taffy, and others will start slithering around and even hiss, sometimes wrapping around the arm of those who try to eat them. Playing some music might calm these sweet serpents so they can be eaten properly. How about that special carousel cake stand with the horse cookies prancing about?

D. Spice Up Your Li—Meal. However fear not. There is normal food around so it is possible to have a proper meal. However, some helpful little dragons may fly by to add a few herbs and spices to the dishes. They are quite friendly and will listen to requests, however if one is rude or too demanding, they may just dump a bunch of a hot pepper and other unsavory seasoning instead. Make a good enough impression and they might make house calls, even follow someone home. They live to spice up food, after all.

E. Drink Tea. Although there is an assortment of beverages, the prevalent one will be tea. They are similar to the ones found in the cafe and all will help bring out festive dreams and restful sleep later for everyone. However, someone is clearly making mischief as they have slipped in some rodentia tea. Drinking it will cause the drinker to shrink to the size of a rat. The only way to return to normal is to find the elusive cat cookies, which can be strangely hard to find; they seem to vanish and reappear at random, but only the ones with wide grins and “Eat Me” written on them can be eaten.

II. FUN & GAMES

Perhaps the food isn't up to one's tastes, or they just would rather have some fun. There are a few games around the plaza that everyone is welcome to participate in and they are encouraged to play to their heart's content. Just beware of the geese as they are being a menace not only at the tables but disrupting games as well.

A. Playing Chicken. A simple game, really, one that will test one's creativity and taste buds. There is a goat cheese fondue fountain surrounded with various platters of cooked chicken: grilled, steamed, boiled, baked, fried. This fondue fountain, however, is special. The flavor of the fondue can be altered depending on the kinds of emotions near it. Joy and love make it sugary sweet, anger and jealousy spicy hot, despair and distrust salty sour. And of course everything in-between including a chaotic mix. The challenge is one person will try and alter the flavor of the fondue, lather it on a piece of chicken, and then hand it to their opponent. The chicken must then be consumed. If not, the one who "cooked" it wins. If it is consumed, then the second person can now do the same to the other. This continues until one forfeits. It should be noted that the emotions of the one eating can also affect the fondue. (It is of course possible to take either the fondue or chicken without playing this stomach churning game.)

B. Gravity of Luck. There is a special wheel lottery set on a table decorated with rabbits. In fact there are a lot of rabbits congregating here and would love a few carrots. Anyone is free to spin the wheel one time per round to determine what kind of special "gravity" effect they receive. Each time the wheel is spun, a ball will drop and the color will indicate the type. A gold ball will cause them to lose all sense of gravity, their bodies starting to float away and although they can fly and float around, they'll need help being tethered down. White balls allow them to jump higher, small mushrooms appearing at their feet so others can follow. A black ball will cause them to be stuck in place, even fall flat all the way to the ground and need help standing up. Those imbued with the power of the different balls can help balance each other out until the effect wears off in half an hour.

C. Ox Go-Kart. For those who really want some speed and action, there are ox driven carts stationed by various streets. Two people can partner up with one driving and the other serving to help try to slow the other cart down. In this race, all non-lethal, non-destructive abilities are allowed to try and disrupt the other racer. Perhaps utilizing dreamotion based abilities may fare better. Just beware of other obstacles, especially any random crying dodos that create giant pools of tears as water hazards.

D. Tiger Fishing. There are special colorful ponds filled with sparkly gummy koi fish. At each one there is a little round tiger(?) with a pair of tiger mittens. In the same vein of fish scooping games, players must wear the tiger mittens and catch the gummy fish with them. It won't be easy as the gummy fish are even more slippery than normal. Perhaps some other skills could be used...but the little tiger will be watching and will latch onto anyone's heads who try to cheat. But if caught, they will make for a delectable treat—or interesting pet.

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[In his defence, Organization XIII was not the best educational setting for young Nobodies. If it wasn't related to his mission of seeking out and collecting hearts, it wasn't important. Roxas frowns at Reaper, despite him still being shrunk down to a fraction of his size.]

Maybe that's how it is in your world. But in mine, hearts are more than that. They're the key that makes a person whole. And your heart can keep memories etched in it even if your mind forgets them.

[He shakes his head.]

You're right; most people fade away without a heart, or turn into a Heartless. But if a strong-willed person loses their heart... at least, where I'm from, they won't die. They'll become a Nobody.

[ A good question, and a good answer. Spoken like someone who knows their way around the truth with a few choice words, though perhaps it's too soon to assume as much about the other man. Wouldn't that make things far more interesting, though? He can't help but hope that is the case. This world already has enough big damn heroes. ]

I quite agree.

[ So with that, he dunks the little dragon right into the glass of milk, before closing his hands over it, preventing its escape. It thrashes and claws against the glass, but Akechi pays it no mind, instead smiling warmly at his companion. ]

There, that ought to do the trick. I wonder how long dragons can swim for...

[ Well. Only one way to find out. ]

Guess that's the thing about history, yeah? It's anyone's guess. You can read whatever records you find, if there are any, but it's only ever a piece of the puzzle.

[Where she's from, those pieces are miserably small, most books old and rotted away to nothing, but occasionally they'll find remnants of the world that was— meager, but it's something.

She raises a hand to make a dismissive sort of gesture as she reaches for a dinner roll with the other.]

'Monsters' is probably the easiest way to describe 'em. Assholes come in all shapes and sizes, and they infest places like rodents, except real big, real destructive ones. All our towns have walls to keep 'em out. They work, mostly.

Well, when you put it like that, how am I supposed to say no?

[Even though she'd already agreed— but if she hadn't, he'd be making a great case for himself right now.

She smiles faintly, letting out a soft chuckle that's surprisingly warm, given the rest of her posture. The Nier she knows always brings that out in her. Why not this one, too?]

You really like that word— 'friends.' But you're right. I've probably told you before, but... where you go, I follow, that right?

[That much, she's sure remains the same between Kainés.]

Could be.

[She softens somewhat as well, frowning thoughtfully. That bit resonates with her— people will do anything when they're desperate. She's been there. But anything... it really can mean anything.

She sighs, prodding at the contents of her plate with her fork.]

It's all seemed pretty safe so far, I guess. That just makes me even more concerned, but... not like we should just sit here and starve because we don't know for sure. That would be a waste.

[Her grandmother would be disappointed in her if she did let it go to waste, she's sure.]

Do they? How can you tell?

[Are some of them smiling? She's not convinced lizards are all that expressive, but... well, one had managed to look dejected enough, earlier. She guesses they could be happy just as easily.]

Think if you just invite them over they'll follow? You know your spices. Bet they like that.

You make it sound like that's supposed to be a privilege.

[Yeah, right. She snorts, moodily turning her attention back to her food.]

Most people who are alone have a damn good reason, even if it's by choice. But nobody wants to be around people like that.

[Who the hell would? Unless they're fucking weirdos, like Nier. He's kind of a special case. Stubborn in his own right.]

[ Since Naminé knows full well that he's the prickly type of person who would absolutely hate it if she insinuated being aware of even half what she's already learned about his past, she's careful to neatly set aside any notion of coming clean about it. There's no need to upset the poor guy, much less give him any extra reasons to dislike her. (Or, for that matter, start a fight she'd rather not lose and rather not try to win. The consequences could be dire for one or both of them.)

The girl gives a soft noise of understanding as her brows lower slightly, one shoulder rising in turn in what might almost be a shrug. Relenting, she amends, ]

I don't mean that we're from the exact same world.

[ And she's not about to get into how they both technically owe some part of their existences to Sora. That can wait for another time. No, more innocuous is the, ]

You've noticed by now that most of the people in places like this come from worlds that are far away from the ones you're used to, haven't you? It might even be that they're from different timelines or universes entirely.

[ The details of that are always pretty sketchy, but she's got enough experience in the matter to say as much with some confidence. ]

But the worlds that you and I come from are much closer together than that.

[ One of her small hands lifts slightly, like she means to put her fingertips against each other in an unconscious illustration of her point; she realizes a beat late that this makes the uncomfortable sensation of weightlessness feel like it's trying even harder to pull her up, and she replaces her grip on the post. Looking only mildly sheepish, she continues, ]

We might even know some of the same people.

Mm... [ Her tone is caught between a contemplative 'yes' and a hesitant 'no'. Turning her head partway, Naminé considers Sora sidelong. Surely, she thinks, he misses his mother. But ultimately the blonde herself isn't comfortable with the idea of his family being exposed to a world as still-uncertain as this one, and it probably wasn't a real question besides, so she agrees, only one beat late and a little quiet, ] Yeah.

[ Watching him take his pick of the snacks, Naminé follows gradually along behind, quietly adding a few of the same things to her own plate purely for novelty's sake, but in smaller quantities. She's interested in the more colorful treats, too - a chocolate-covered strawberry, a bit of pink taffy, a second-guessed but shiny green lollipop. ]

Me too. Even when there were parties before, there were never so many sweets. [ And they weren't trustworthy besides, but Naminé skates over that part as her head turns again, curiosity lifting anew. ] Did they not have this sort of thing in that other world? Where you were before this, that is.

[ She can't really call it his world, can she? ]

Right! No matter what happens, I'll be there for you.

[ Nier smiles softly when he speaks and there's conviction behind his words. His resolution is firm and unwavering when it comes to this particular topic. There are these tiny flowers blooming right next to him. ]

Is there anything else you want to do, Kainé? Think about something you want to eat!

Obviously— what, you're not encouraged?

[Balthus just lets Akechi's doubt roll right off him— look, it's hard to give someone a proper pep-talk on the fly, but he's trying to keep the spirit of competition burning, here!

His lead may be small, but his work is solid and his pace is steady enough that the space between them is starting to narrow. Akechi's attempt to throw him off-balance doesn't work quite as intended, but—]

Eh, probably just another termite. I'm busy, I'll take care of it in a minute!

[... does that qualify as 'falling for it?' Because he certainly seems to believe, at least.]

A what?

[Alright, yeah, he's definitely offended. It's official.]

I am not. It's not like I was tryin' to flirt with the boar or anything!

[Because yeah, that would make him a pervert, but he didn't!]

[Hey, anytime!

He warmly clouts her on the shoulder with one hand; if her actually calling herself a 'kid sister' bothers him or makes him reconsider his words in any way, it sure as hell doesn't show— but he is pretty concerned about the other point she'd raised.]

Huh. Hadn't even thought about that. What do bulls eat? Hay, right?

[He's not feeling it.]

I dunno, I think we're in the clear. I still really feel like eating a steak.

[Unexpected and somehow, even more unsettling than when it had been talking.

He presses his lips together into a tight line, straightening up and leaning just a bit away from the table as he gives Akechi a sidelong glance.]

I can't believe we killed it.

[Well. It was kind of a joint effort.]

At least— not like that. Who knew laughter was so powerful?

[What ever happens to laughter being the best medicine?!]

Good to meet you— thanks again, too.

[Can't forget to thank her for helping him up off the ground.]

So this kinda weird isn't new for you? Do you make a habit of floating up into the sky, or what?

[Probably not, given her reaction, but he's still curious!]

Yes sir! I think you're a sir at least! (╯•ᗣ•╰)

It's really MAGICAL ٩(＾◡＾)۶

[Shuzo laughs and winks.]

We could have fun!

We match! You're a dog now, and I'm a snake!

[He laughs, and wiggles his ears.]

So fun!

Same to you Balthus~

[He winks at the man, and smiles.]

Shall we go eat, then?

It does!

[He smiles, and winks, before-]

And hey, we can be nachos together! Cheesy!

[In his opinion, it was a matter of 'kids these days', which was totally him leaning into his age. Of course, maybe in single cities were actual planets then that might explain much, but this kid was apparently well traveled.

The fact he was having this conversation with a tiny version didn't bother him at all. He'd seen some weird crap over the years and Deerington had definitely opened up his imagination on what was possible.]

This sounds likes it's going to be going down the path of 'friendship is magic'

[His tone was dry and sarcastic, though he honestly wouldn't be surprised if that's actually what was going to be coming out of this kid's mouth. Rainbows and hugs everywhere... just gross.]

Heartless. Of course [He was taking mental notes anyway.] A Nobody? It sounds like fading would be better than just being a face in the crowd.

[His smile widens.]

And you can call on me too if you ever need anything.

It feels like it has been.

[Pause.]

Sorry, I didn't mean to talk about something serious. It's a party and we should enjoy ourselves.

[It's a little strange to watch these things move around, but... can she really say much of anything when they're the ones that helped free her from the confines of the strings and popcorn? Besides a quiet "thanks", she's more silent in astonishment than anything else—a good enough distraction to keep the popcorn from popping anymore. There are still the rogue kernels that lightly pop, but nothing as violent as it was before that... Thank Gaia.

Tifa's able to smile at him now, at least, warm and encouraging.]

Well, there's a first time for everything, isn't there? I'm sure there're plenty of ways to watch movies around here.

[Can they just dream up a movie theatre!?]

Edited 2021-10-07 14:32 (UTC)

If you mean because of the color of your hair, it's pretty misleading, because you have soft eyes. Kind and innocent like someone who has yet to really let themselves experience the world.

[ A small pause as he tilts his head in her direction. ]

Anyway, I don't think anyone in their right mind would want to dance with a cursed spirit. She's my younger sister.

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{ GAME OPENING LOG }

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I literally flipped a coin to see if it would work

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