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

[Is gil the name of the currency of her world? Anyway he just arches a brow.]

And how would you prove it?

[Tifa just stares at him for a long while before she grins and rushes a few steps ahead of him.]

I'll figure it out.

[And she will once they arrive at the docks where they'd found the family of flowery dogs earlier. Just as they suspected, the mother and the rest of the puppies are there waiting, some of them rushing over to greet and sniff them and their brother. He's still much more interested in Eustace, barking up a storm even as Tifa lets him down onto the ground.

Good for her at least because he'll suddenly a feel a slap on his chest. The sticker did come off, and she's swapped his sticker with hers, sticking the sheep onto him and the dog to her... As for what happens next, she waits with bated breath to see if he'll grow himself a pair of horns...

Meanwhile, there's already a tail wagging behind her, and a pair of fluffy black ears to match her hair atop her head, all unbeknownst to her.]

[...He has an ominous feeling, not unlike the ones he gets when around other members of his group back home. But what kind of prank she plans he really has no idea and instead can only sigh and follow after, his long strides easily catching up.

Once at the docks, his mood lifts considerably as he greets the other dogs, happy to see them still safe. He wonders if he should go back to the feast later and bring back some food for them... But of course there's the brat now barking and growling at him. As it once again makes for a swipe at his tail, Eustace is distracted so Tifa has a perfect opportunity to make the switch. Feeling that sudden smack to his chest he looks at her in surprise...

And then his eyes widen further when he sees her now with the dog ears and wagging tail.

...

.........]

Cu—

[NOPE NOPE INSTANTLY SLAPPING HIS HAND OVER HIS MOUTH AND LOOKING AWAY HE DID NOT ALMOST CALL HER CUTE NOPE. NOPE NOPE.

This is weird seeing someone who was once clearly human now looking more of an Erune even if it's because of the sticker, but more to the point— That shouldn't look cute to him, but somehow it does???? No, no it's just cos of that wagging tail and clearly eager look that makes her more dog like. Yep. He just had a weird MOMENT. She only looked "cute" because she reminded him of a puppy. Yes exactly that. Cute in the adorable puppy sense. Do not misunderstand!

He's so flummoxed he doesn't notice that he has the large ram horns... That probably looks weird since he still has his ears but whatever.

Wolf in sheep's clothing.]

[His reaction says more than enough, as does the way her tail continues to flap about. With a widening smile, she reaches up to touch the black ears on top of her head that twitch in response, before she's leaning in towards Eustace, her eyes flickering with curiosity.]

What was that?

[Seriously, what was it he was going to say? He slapped his hand over his mouth so fast that she barely caught the start of it, but it certainly sounded like he was about to call her cuuu—

You know what else is cute? The way the horns curl around his head under his ears. It does look a little strange, but at least now he'll know what it's like. And she doesn't even poke them, but instead, she grabs hold of the ends and very gently nudges them back and forth to shake his head.

It's just as she suspected: the dog is still growling, although it did pause at first to tilt its head at Tifa, clearly confused at the switch.]

See? Told you. [She holds out a hand, her chest swelling with pride.] Now pay up.

[NOTHING HE WASN'T GOING TO SAY ANYTHING. Although the way he looks at her when she grabs the ends of his horns and starts moving his head—]

...Cut it out.

[—works kind of. Okay not really, but he's still frowning at her, that initial thought now completely buried because now she definitely not cute. He had clearly been caught in some weird delusion.

And his only response after is to reach up and lightly grab her own newly acquired dog ears to give them a small tug.]

Ever heard of a wolf in sheep's clothing? That's all this is so doesn't change.

[...Why are her dog ears so soft, though. He might start unconsciously fingering them a bit, light and gentle strokes with his thumb.]

[The ears twitch and turn back when he touches them, and that prompts her to give another tug on the horns before letting go, if only to try swatting his hands away. Weakly, though, because... if she's being honest, it does feel kind of nice. Soothing. Almost like if he keeps going, she'll fall asleep the same way he did when... no—! It doesn't help that she can't will the tail to stop from slowly swaying contentedly.]

I still won the bet, [she pouts, and the dog barks.] See? He thinks so too.

[The puppy waddles a little closer to the two of them, taking a spot next to Tifa and sitting by her ankles, staring up at Eustace with a watchful eye. If there were more space between them, he might have moved in between, but this will have to do, he's decided.]

I'll let you off for now, but you'll still owe me.

[Besides, he owes her something else, she thinks. It was whatever it is he wanted to say...!]

[As his hands release her ears, he only belatedly realized he had started petting them, but whatever, she tugged on his horns, something something revenge and punishment. And he can definitely see that tail wag so there might be a light smirk.]

He's biased. I never even agreed to begin with. ...However I do owe you something else.

Hmm?

[She takes another step towards him, her smile growing expectant. Meanwhile, the puppy is shuffling near her feet, but Tifa's eyes never waver from Eustace's.

Okay yeah, she's going to make him say it.]

[...Why is she stepping closer they're already close enough does she not know personal space— Just. Going to look at her for a moment and straightens back just a little.]

...About earlier when we first met—

[Discomfort aside, he's going to finally apologize dammit.

Except karma is still out to get him because that little brat of a puppy doesn't want them so close so it's darting right in-between them. Specifically between Tifa's feet as if to try and stop her.]

[This pup is so fast that Tifa has almost no time to react. She feels her feet slip on the ground at the same time she tries to bend down to scoop him up again, but all that does is send her tumbling right into Eustace's chest face-first. The puppy continues onwards, powering through between Eustace's feet now, and hopefully he has a better time with that because if he doesn't, they're going to go stumbling to the ground...!

In hindsight, she probably should have maintained a healthier distance between them. Maybe being a little bit of a tease doesn't always equal a fun time...]

[At first he does manage to keep his balance, and he even reaches out to grab Tifa by the arms to help steady her as he takes a step or two back to better deal with the sudden stumble. Unfortunately... The other pups had been watching and seeing their brother cause a fuss, another decides to join in on the fun. This one darts behind Eustace and he catches her movement from his periphery. So now he's trying to avoid stepping on her while the pups run around and—well the end result is not surprising.

Eustace trips and ends up falling backwards. Since he is also holding onto Tifa, he ends up pulling her down with him. On the plus side she...well, maybe it's not quite a "cushioned" landing given his build, but maybe better than faceplanting into the ground? Maybe?

Then again the end result of their positioning will make them want to wish she had smashed into the ground instead.]

[It's not much better, especially when her face gets buried against his damp chest and the wet fabric of his shirt clings to her forehead when she tries to lift her head up, and before she can push herself up, she feels a puppy leap up onto her back and lie down, bringing her nose up so that it can sniff at Eustace underneath her. The mother is standing off to the side, watching, and doing nothing to stop it.

...

As if it couldn't get any worse, the fish have followed them up the river... Or their brethren downstream passed the message because they're starting up their singing again.

Nah-nah-nah, in my head
Nah-nah-nah, in my bed
Nah-nah-nah, eh
Makin' beautiful mistakes...

Great.

It takes Tifa a moment to regain herself and find her composure again, and when she does, all she can do is peel her wet hair away from her eyes so that she can look up at him...]

[This honestly wouldn't be the worst thing if it weren't for the puppies that are now bothering them and the fish singing not helping matters. Seriously, what kind of lyrics are those??? He's just. Going to ignore it.

But he feels one pup licking his face so on the plus side he'll be slightly distracted by that as opposed to being forced to be hyper aware of Tifa's positioning on him. He even reaches back to try and gently push the pup away, but it just moves over to nose his ears instead. Well, at least it's not his face. So he'll take the opportunity to look...down(??) at Tifa before wincing a bit, feeling that bump on the back of his head before his eyes meet hers.

...

There's just a long moment before he finally speaks in a somewhat dry voice.]

...Comfortable?

[WELL SHE'S STILL ON HIM— Granted if that pup is still on her might be difficult for her to move. Though really this is kind of ridiculous. He's been pushed into the river—twice—and now Tifa was (sort of) pushed into him and he was tripped back to fall for a third time. He's half wondering if he should just stay on the ground if he wants to accomplish anything.]

[There had been so much that happened in those few seconds that the last thing Tifa's able to process is her being right on top of him, despite her nose just recently being buried in his chest, or his shift sticking to her face. It's not until their eyes meet and she can feel his breath on her rapidly reddening cheeks that she realizes, and she leaps back so quickly that the puppy that had been sitting on her tumbles to the ground and rolls several feet before she's able to right herself.]

Are you okay!? I'm so sorry, next thing I knew, she was running right through my legs...

[Despite all of that, she's stretching a hand out to help him up. Meanwhile, the female puppy is barking at Tifa while her brother continues to growl at Eustace.

Hoo boy. Has she earned the ire of one of the dogs now!? She had been licking and sniffing Eustace, how dare Tifa stop her from that.]

[Is one of the pups worried about him?? His heart would melt if his attention wasn't preoccupied with everything else going on. Though watching Tifa suddenly jump back was kind of amusing... And impressive.]

...Aside from a growing headache from everything that's happened so far, I'm fine.

[He sees the hand and is about to take it, but now the young pup starts licking his face again, causing him to close one eye as he reaches out to try and ruffle her head. A small chuckle might have escaped him as he lightly scolds her.]

That's enough, go bark at your brother for causing this mess.

[The pup whines at him before shooting Tifa what could be perceived as a glare...before barking at her brother and going after him, growling even. Maybe she actually understood? Regardless it seems like this might be an opportunity, so he'll finally take Tifa's hand and pull himself off.

However, he doesn't let go of her hand.]

Now, before I'm the one falling on top of you.

[Yep. Eustace is just taking advantage of the distraction to pull Tifa off to the side so they can have some freaking peace and quiet so he can give her his damn apology!!!]

[Her ears flip back when she's tugged along, suddenly being pulled up off the ground and away from the puppies running in circles and barking, but this is probably for the best. Yeah... Whatever it is he wants to say, the poor guy isn't having the best luck saying it. And while him pulling her off to the side has offered some reprieve, the singing fish have followed them and are still going.

It's beautiful, it's bittersweet
You're like a broken home to me
I take a shot of memories and black out like an empty street
I fill my days with the way you walk and fill my nights with broken dreams

Besides the groan under her breath, she's just going to do her best to ignore them. Besides being annoying, they aren't a threat to their balance or their dignity.

But before Eustace can say anything, Tifa raises a hand to stop him.]

Wait. [And she checks over her shoulders, and then over his to make sure that the coast truly is clear.] Okay. Go ahead.

[...These fish, why. But it's true, compared to everything else they're the least troublesome. He'll also release his hold on her hand once they're set, so he just waits before he's given the clear.]

I'm sorry.

[—Okay that might have come out rather brusque and quick, so he clicks his tongue and runs a hand through his by now already messed up hair.]

No, that... Wait.

[Not wanting to get interrupted again, he ended up just saying the damn words right off the bat, but that's not how he wanted to do this. It's too insincere if left like that. So he takes a breath before he starts again, his tone quieting a bit.]

About before when we first met... Even though I had my reasons, I was also aware of how my not knowing anything would have affected you. Whether I believed your words or not, I shouldn't have taken out my frustration on you.

Clearly you were upset... And I apologize for that.

[Damn, finally. Whether she accepts it or not, that's up to her. Although he had felt a bit bad before, the relief he feels is less on alieving that guilt and more that he finally was able to say all this.]

[Tifa bows her head, clinging on to every word of his apology. There's a small smile, barely visible, while she lowers herself to sit properly and as she stares down at her hands, giving him time to say what he wants to, and when he finishes, there's a stretch of silence.

She doesn't mean for it to be as long as it is, but in the event that he wanted to get more out, she didn't want to be the one to interrupt him again. Tifa knew an apology was what was coming, if Zidane's intervention was anything to go by, and while she hadn't sought him out looking for one, she still appreciates that it's there.

Eventually, she lifts her head and a hand... And gently presses her fist to his chest in a weak, playful punch.]

Took you long enough.

[Laughing quietly, she lets it fall back into her lap.]

I should apologize, too. I wish I had all the answers for you, I really do. I shouldn't have thrown all that at you without thinking. I know it can be a lot.

[Normally he likes silence, but somehow the stretch feels a little more tense to him than usual. Which is a little weird. It's not that it would matter to him how she would respond. But perhaps after everything he had to endure to get to this point, even he would want some kind of response. And the tap to his chest...

Not quite expected.

He looks at her with a quizzical frown before she speaks.]

...It was, but it was an unusual situation for the both of us. I was suspicious and you were confused.

But then I was told I was in yet another world... If you had approached me after I heard it from someone else, I wouldn't have been as... Harsh.

[To put it mildly.]

[Tifa arches a brow at that. She tries not to let the disappointment show, but there's a flicker of it in the way her eyes cast downwards again, and how her shoulders square up with tension.]

So, why was it so hard to swallow coming from me?

[It's probably a question she shouldn't be asking right now, if only because it might just make things more awkward, but... if he'd heard it from someone else first, would he have believed them? She can't help but feel at fault for how it all went down, more so now.]

Was it the way I said it?

[A slight shake of his head.]

No, that's not what I mean. I would have been just as suspicious and wary of whoever told me such a thing. I don't know how much I told you in that other world... [...Honestly he suspects not much unless she had directly asked him about it.] But where I'm from, there are creatures—primal beasts—capable of creating illusions and even small dimensions to trap people in. There are also other beings capable of posing as doppelgangers and pretend to be those we know, including the deceased.

[He frowns a little here.]

I was already wary of being in this world because of that, and truthfully I'm still a little suspect. So you can imagine my unease when I heard that someone knew me from a different world. I had to wonder if who you saw was really me or perhaps some illusion or figment if it were true. So to hear someone else say they saw me appear in yet another world, along with their own experiences...

Even if I didn't immediately believe it, should I hear it a second time it would give me pause and consider the possibility more readily than the first.

[Tifa smiles up at him.

That was more explanation than she was expecting, but not an unwelcome one. The idea of doppelgangers sounds... terrifying, to say the least. She couldn't blame him for reacting the way that he did earlier, and less so now after hearing all of that. She would be wary too if she had the same experiences and knowledge that he did, and if people could pose as others and be a possible threat, she would have reasons to suspect too.]

It's okay. I get it. Thank you... for the apology.

[She laughs, now with a bit more humour and less weight in it.]

I'm surprised Zidane got you to come around so quickly.

[A small sigh.]

I was already going to without his meddling. [Just a low, half grumbling mutter as he looks out to the water.] ...Though I suppose I wouldn't have been as quick about it.

[Stupid monkey brat. He had already told he would handle it but noooo. He had to kick him in the water and steal his—

Suddenly Eustace's eyes widen as he lets out a small curse before summoning his journal into his hand, the wolf etchings on the cover briefly visible before he flips open the pages.]

Dammit, that brat still has my dagger.

Edited 2021-09-28 15:09 (UTC)

[Tifa watches the journal flit into his hands like magic, and leans in to see what he'll write, poking a finger into his view before he starts.]

Tell him Tifa said to give it back.

[With how Zidane handled the whole thing, it might make it easier...? At least that way, he'll know that Eustace apologized and she accepted his apology, as unnecessary as she still thinks it was.]

If he gives you trouble, you let me know.

[He only glances at her when she leans in, wondering if she's like this with everyone or if only because she knew him before and was for some reason comfortable enough to do so. He's going to assume the former before he starts writing the message to Zidane, his handwriting neat. Despite it written in his world's language, it's always a little amazing that anyone could still understand it due to the magic of this world.

"Zidane,

I've spoken with Tifa and apologized. I'll be waiting at the treehouses to retrieve my dagger."

But then he pauses and looks at her again before holding out the quill.]

Here. I'd rather have this confirmed from the start so write something.

Edited 2021-09-28 15:36 (UTC)

{ GAME OPENING LOG }

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annnd wrapped