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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Someone kicked me...

[Just a harsh mutter as he sets down his shirt and starts working on his cloak, shaking it out.]

[Tifa's pretty sure she just heard a low hum come from the river, but it could just be the way that the water is hitting the rocks, or a shift in the wind, so she pays it no mind, turning now to watch Eustace shake the water from his cloak, preparing to shield herself should any of it spray in her direction.

Well, if he didn't get kicked out of the party, then that can only mean—]

Got into a tussle out here?

[ ... ]

And then got thrown into the river. I get that right?

[That's the only thing that makes sense, if not him being thrown out of the party. It wouldn't be like him to voluntarily take a dip in the river, would it?

Her tone is unusually sharp, her frustration with him resurfacing even after having an entire afternoon to cool off from their earlier encounter. Here he is being his cagey self again, and Tifa isn't sure how much patience she has left...]

[His first inclination is to just tell her that it's none of her business and question why she's bothering him. His eyes even narrow at her and it looks as if he really will say something of that nature. But then he remembers the reason why he was kicked in the river in the first place and his own acknowledgment that he had handled things...poorly.

After everything he's learned so far today, including that he had appeared in yet another world, there's no point in being so hostile to her. It doesn't mean he feels comfortable about her knowing some version of himself, but... It's not her fault.

So the tension in the air around him loosens and he sighs.]

You're not entirely wrong.

[At first it seems he might end it there, but after one last shake and spreading out his cloak, he continues to speak as he picks up one of his soaked gloves.]

I was originally out here just to have a break from all the noise of the feast. [It's not that he disliked the festivities, he actually thought it was a good thing that everyone was able to enjoy themselves. But given the nature of the food and everything else...yeeeah it kind of pushed his boundaries and he needed some of that peace and quiet.] Ran into a certain monkey brat who made me listen to a "story" before kicking me in.

[A beat.]

Well, I suppose it was deserved.

[And another hard shake, checking the leather before he works on his other one.]

I find the timing of your arrival rather fitting considering the circumstances.

Edited 2021-09-08 07:56 (UTC)

["You're not entirely wrong."

Her little sheep's tail flicks at that, and then again when she notices him relax, even if it's only slightly.

Tifa hugs her knees to her chest, and she rocks back and forth before stretching them out again until she can feel the cool water splashing her through her socks. She can feel her nerves skyrocketing again, afraid that this will end horribly a second time around, so she isn't quite sure what to do with herself while she listens. So far though, this feels like it's off to a better start?]

Monkey friend, huh? [She knows immediately who he's talking about. Who else would do such a thing? And for no reason? Which brings her to her next conclusion, one that she offers very purposely.] Yeah, you probably deserved it.

[She does have to wonder where he's going with this, so she shakes her head with a laugh, hoping to lessen more of that tension that's still lingering in the air around them.

Fitting, huh?]

How'd the story go?

[She's got a hunch.]

[She's going to make him spell it out isn't she... Well, he supposes that's deserved and fair, too.]

How did he say it... Something about meeting some girl who recognizes people, but they don't have any recollection. And how her first encounter was with a... [He pauses for a moment as he recalls the words exactly.]

"Cagey jackass that just enjoys crushing whatever hope" she has.

[He says this in such a dull, nonchalant tone as if not bothered that it's talking about himself. Well, not that it can—it's not wrong. Coupled with the fact he's used to being called that and similar, it really can't ruffle him that much.

At this point he tosses his glove down with the rest and turns to finally look at her.]

[The only sign of any emotion besides the faintest of smiles is the tapping of her finger on her leg and the flicking of the sheep's tail, but besides that, she watches the water run, and the reflection of the clouds rippling in it. When she told Zidane about it, she wasn't doing it expecting him to take action—it was just to get it off her chest, but she's learned to expect the unexpected with him, so should she really be that surprised?

Pushing Eustace into the lake seems like a bit much, though... But in spite of that, her smile does pull a little wider with amusement.]

Sounds like that guy really messed things up.

[Tifa finally looks at him, but when their eyes meet, it flits away again.]

... But I guess she could have done things a little differently, too.

[He catches that amused look, but he doesn't comment or think much of it. After some time passes he'll probably look back and laugh at it a bit. For now he's still drenched and self-reflecting.]

I won't argue. I was aware, but I should have been more considerate of...

[He was starting to apologize as there's no need to drag things out any longer than it has, but his words are cut short when the fish in the river start popping up as they swim by. Except as they do, their humming grows louder and there is... Singing??

Will you be the one to take a chance?
Have demands, spill your heart
Will you be the one to take a stand
Make the girls dance
Spill your thoughts

.............

........................

He has no idea what these fish are on, but they are grossly misunderstanding the situation??? He just wants to apologize for how he acted towards her earlier??? IT'S NOT THAT DEEP.]

[So he just. Tries to ignore it.]

You... ....

[Ah. Shit. He never actually got her name.......... Monkey brat mentioned Tifa—is that it?

There's a slight look of discomfort as he realizes this, but before he'll be able to continue a small blur is going to suddenly leap out of the nearby bushes and barrel straight into the back of his knees, making him buckle and stumble forwards.........

Right towards Tifa and the water.]

[It's important that he knows she's listening to what he's saying, but it's hard to when there are fish leaping up out of the water and... what is that singing? Are the fish singing? Is Eustace singing? She's so confused, and the way her brows crease while she tries to refocus might make it look like she's scowling at him, and—

You could break up clouds with your fist in the air
We're singing out loud as we march up the square
He always goes to put you in your place
And now you're chanting out loud so you can't be erased...

...

.....

Tifa's watching the fish when she hears it. Something rustling in the bushes, then a low thud, and then—it happens so fast that she has no time to react accordingly before Eustace is teetering at her and the weight of his entire body hits. There's a high-pitched, angry bark and some growls, but that's not the worst of it—the splash of the cold water that hits her when she falls back is. At some point during all of this, she must have grabbed on to Eustace in an attempt to save herself because her arms are wrapped tight around his torso, and she brought him with her into the river...

.........

She's just cursed to make things worse between them, isn't she!?]

[He is honestly starting to think that.

Eustace is trying to stop himself, but with his wet boots, the slick grass, and the slight incline, it's just inevitable he would crash into her. But just as she grabbed onto him, his arms automatically wrapped around hers, an instinctive act to try and protect her as they slam into the water.

Once in, it's dark. Very dark and it's at first difficult to orient himself, but fortunately the singing fish will be helpful for once and nudge them up towards the surface. Even if Tifa let's go, he'll keep an arm around her to help pull her up as they swim towards the surface, the weight of their clothes not helping. But he'll gasp for air as they break the surface, coughing out some of the water he had swallowed.]

You...you okay?

[He looks at her, arm still around her to help give her some support.

Let's just not mind the fact that he is completely unaware that his hand is basically up against the underside of her chest.]

[Tifa's sputtering and coughing, trying to get the water out and the air back into her lungs when she finally breaks through the surface of the river, the air suddenly much colder than she remembers it being. She's still clinging on to Eustace for dear life, her head pressed right up against his chest, while she tries to process what's happened. Rustling, the singing, and then water, and now... he's still so warm...

Wait, what?

It took a few seconds, but...]

Y-Yeah, I'm fine!

[It's gentle but deliberate in the way she moves away from him, hands giving his arm a small shove, and she can feel the fish swimming around their legs, keeping the two of them far enough above ground that they don't need to worry about being splashed in the face. Not that it matters, considering they were both just completely submerged in it, but it's the thought that counts?

She pauses to cough again.]

Are you okay? What...?

[Tifa was about to ask what happened, but before she can ask, the answer comes in the form of more high-pitched barks coming from the shore. Standing there with its tiny teeth bared is one of the flowery fairy puppies from earlier, and it's eyes are fixed on Eustace while he tries to growl menacingly at him. Grrrr!]

[He only keeps his hold on her until she's able to support herself, and when he feels that light push away he releases her. But then he hears the sounds and when he turns to see the pup...

...Ha.

Due to the darkness it takes him a second, but he finally recognizes it as the pup that had been playing with Tifa earlier.]

...I'm surrounded by brats...

[Specifically ones who want to dunk him in the river. But there's only a small sigh of exasperation followed by a light laugh before he looks back at Tifa.]

Seems you have a number of "knights" ready to defend your honor. Now let's get out before I get blamed for you catching a cold.

[Really he should be more annoyed—and he is—but seeing the pup and both of them in the water... It's come to the point of it being ridiculous enough that he can't help but laugh a bit.]

Edited 2021-09-10 16:39 (UTC)

[Laughter is the last thing she expected from him. Here they are, standing in the freezing river with fish still trying to sing over them and a puppy barking at him, it's dark and it's cold... Need she go on? But perhaps it's the puppy itself that's lightened the mood, because if she knows anything about him, the one thing she's sure of is that he has a softer spot for them.

Maybe this is all just a little bit ridiculous, too.

Before they wade back to shore, Tifa gives him a playful jab in the arm, but there's a pointed sharpness to her voice, too. She doesn't need anyone to defend her! Nor does she want that.]

I don't need knights to defend my honour. I could just push you in here myself if I really wanted to.

[Okay, now they can make their way back to shore, but on the way, she swats her hands at some of the fish when they leap up at them. As for the puppy, it's sitting now, but still barking at Eustace as the two of them try to drag themselves out. So scary, so threatening!!! Even Tifa has to laugh.]

You better watch out, though. Looks like this one's got it out for you.

You had plenty of opportunities.

[Just a wry quip in return as they swim back. While he appreciates the fish making sure they don't drown...could they stop singing he's not even sure what the tune is now and he's not going to try and listen.

Once at the bank, Eustace manages to pull himself up and holds a hand to help pull her up if she so chooses.]

It can bite all it wants, I find its loyalty admirable. But you may need to be the one to watch out as it might get overprotective.

[As if to retort back at Eustace, the dog barks. It doesn't make a move to attack, however, but trots up to sniff at them both, barking again when it decides it doesn't like how either of them smell. Like fish and river water, no thanks... and she can't really blame the pup for that.

When they wander up to shore at last, Tifa shivers against the evening air and suddenly, going back into the water is starting to feel more appealing. She doesn't respond to him at first while she loosens her hair from its ponytail to start wringing it out, and from over the river where she's leaning, she peers at Eustace through the long, inky locks cascading over her face.]

Don't give it a reason to be.

[AKA: stop being such a stick in the mud with her! And Tifa remembers what he was trying to say before they both got shoved in, so she straightens, flinging her hair back over her shoulders. Her expression is softer now as she slowly closes some of the distance between them.]

Should we be worried?

[Well he was trying to make amends, but then this happened!!!

...Also maybe Tifa shouldn't stand so close because...he has the dog sticker. Which means he...kind of has the traits of a dog right now. And this is not something he normally does, but he just has this...sudden urge...to shake.

It's more like a quick shudder, but his floofy tail manages to whip out a nice spray of water right into her, and when he realizes what happened he stiffens.]

—Sorry, that—

[HM. WELL THIS IS AWKWARD AND A LITTLE BIT EMBARRASSING.]

[Tifa's a bit too slow on the draw shielding herself, his tail having whipped about without any sign of what was coming, so there's only a surprised yelp when she feels it splash her newly dried face and hair, even the horns. Her own smaller sheep's tail flicks, and she brings a hand up to wipe it all away, and to protect herself from any further onslaught.

When more doesn't come (she hopes!) and when she deems it safe, she peeks through her fingers when a realization dawns on her. Their new limbs work the same way they would if they were the real thing, don't they? And what does it mean when a dog's tail wags like that? Her lips pull up into a lightly teasing smirk.]

... So, does that mean you're happy to see me?

[SORRY, SHE KNOWS THIS IS EMBARRASSING BUT SHE CAN'T RESIST]

[IT WASN'T A WAG HE WAS JUST DRYING HIMSELF OFF!!! ... ...You know not sure which is more embarrassing, honestly. Maybe the wagging is better—

So he just gives her a very flat look.]

...Should I run up and start licking your face?

[...What if he took a step towards her? And another. She's not that far from him, really.]

[Deny it all you want, it sure looked like a wag to her, and she's going to choose to believe that!

The flat look he gives her does nothing to wash away her grin, nor would his steps towards her. She'll hold her ground, hands on her hips, waiting to see if he dares take another. However, the closer he gets to her, the louder the dog's growls become, and then those growls turn to more tiny barks.]

If you're going to, at least do it before I dry myself off.

[Yeah, she's calling his bluff. Tifa thinks she knows Eustace well enough that he won't.]

[Eustace ignores the noise before as he is now just standing right in front of Tifa, his expression as neutral as indeterminate as ever. Will he do it? Will he not do it? Anyone who knows him knows he won't, but he does lean in just a little bit, close enough so that he's just a few inches a way before he just goes:]

Woof.

[Yep.

That's it.

That's all he does before he leans back and walks away.

Was there any point to this action??? Aside from making her think for a moment that he really was going to lick her—no, not really. It can just be summed up with him messing with her a bit.

He's also going to be distracted by the pup which has now decided to try to "attack" him, nipping at his leg and even jumping up to nip at his tail. Reaching down he just picks him up by the scruff of his neck and holds him at arm's length, carrying the pup as he starts "arguing" with it to knock it off, his mild scolding unsurprisingly met with wiggles and more barks.]

[Ah yes, there's the man of few words that everyone knows and loves.

She was able to stand her ground against him, her smile not faltering an inch even when he'd leaned in. Tifa absolutely knew he wasn't going to do it, but wanted to see what he would do, and she was not disappointed. Even as the puppy nips at his ankles, she ignores it, giggling into her hand.]

So scary.

[She's talking about him, but the puppy is also very terrifying as well, with his little barks as he tries to wriggle its way free from his grip until Tifa swoops in to save him. She scoops him out from Eustace's grip and into her arms, but he still yaps away at Eustace with his ever so threatening barks.

Over him, Tifa peers up at Eustace expectantly.]

So... now that we've got all our bad luck out of the way for the night, what was it you were trying to say?

[Tifa, you're just going to give that pup weird ideas.

Eustace just stares at the pup in her arms before rolling his eyes a bit. He then catches her looking at him and... ...Well.

Again he looks at the pup yapping away.]

...It would be better if we didn't have so much noise.

[He honestly does want to finish what he started, but. Yeah. Even as he talks the pup just growls even more.]

Let's bring it back to its home and get dried off. I'd rather do this properly.

[Tifa hugs the puppy closer to her, and that seems to do something to calm it down, but not enough that it doesn't continue to growl low at Eustace. It's so quiet that she can only feel it reverberating through its body, but she senses that his ears will be able to hear even that.

She only nods in response, but there's a warm air about it. She never was planning on making him say it, and still isn't, but the fact that he's making such an effort to is... sweet. Tifa had been upset about what happened earlier, but she had forgiven him by the time she left the docks, and this here? It would be enough.

But she'll allow him the chance anyway.

Lifting the puppy so that he's looking at Eustace, she waves a paw his way.]

I think you should say something too.

[He barks, and she sighs.]

Not exactly what I had in mind, but we'll work on it. Alright, lead the way.

[Eustace just gathers his clothes as Tifa deals with the pup, frowning a bit at how damp everything still is. He'll just put on his shirt and other pieces but just carry his cloak and gloves as it would be too uncomfortable. Ugh, he should really look into how to use these new abilities...

Anyway, when he straightens and returns, Tifa is holding the puppy out and... He's just going to give them both a flat stare before he starts walking.]

I don't think it wants to hear anything from me. If anything...

[His eyes move from the quiet growling pup that, yes, he can clearly hear up to the sheep horns on Tifa's head. He had noticed them earlier, but didn't really think much about it given everything else that was happening. But now with the current situation, he just smirks a bit before poking the horn nearest him.]

He's trying to be a tough sheep dog keeping away the big, mean wolf.

Edited 2021-09-17 02:12 (UTC)

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