【EVENT】 New Year's Wishful Dreaming

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Wishful Dreaming Event

On the Eve of the New Year, the city of Starsand is surprisingly quiet. For a place so eager to throw parties, you might think that the streets would be full of life. But instead, Starsand’s streets are quiet and it’s citizens shutting down shops early. In this city, the last night of the year is contemplative and quiet. Citizens might make their last shrine visits, but it’s uncommon to see them out past 11.

They say that it’s important to fall asleep before the New Year, because you want to treasure your first dream of the New Year. Supposedly it’s lucky and prophetic. If you write it down and remember it, that dream can even guide you to your greatest desire. And rumors are always good ideas in Starsand.

Sleep comes easy on this night. Characters will find themselves getting drowsy by 4am at the latest. When they do fall asleep, they fall into a deep and elaborate dream.

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OOC NOTES

The first dream of the New Year will show characters their wishes come true. They will get to enjoy the life they long for. But strangely, they may find other Fallen Stars wandering into their dreams. These encounters may shake them out of their dreamlike state and make them aware that the dream is just that: A dream. If the dreamer denies their dream or has doubts, then the dreamscape will fall apart into a nightmare before both dreamer and visitor wake up.

It is possible to have multiple dreams: Characters must wake between dreams, even if just briefly, then fall back asleep in order to change their dream. There can be multiple visitors before the dream ends for good.

On the morning of January 1st, all characters who had a dream will find a prismatic crystal clenched in the palm of their hands. The crystal will reflect the contents of their dream, so long as they hold the same wish. If they change wishes or lose faith, then the crystal will turn black and melt into Rumor goo.

NPC characters may reply to dreams with clues. Please indicate which characters you want to receive clues by putting a “*” in their toplevel title. You may request clues for up to 3 characters. Thank you for your help!

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Comments

[fauxther]

[ With how much time he had spent searching through the levels, he was certain that he hadn't come across any building like this in the past. It felt too blatant to be the headquarters he was looking for, and yet, the sounds coming from within were enough to cause him to spring into action.

Infiltrating the building, a lot easier than he had anticipated, and seeking out where those sounds were coming from. ]

[mothornly]

[ He'll find bodies splayed around the floor of people wearing animal masks. All of them look distinct, but there's something about their outfits that don't exactly suit the Starsand aesthetic.

White labcoats stained in blood, all of them with a rather particular weapon - a golden stiletto - going through them.

There's another cry in the distance.

If he runs in that direction, however, he'll find the culprit: Yor, dressed in all black, holding a stiletto in her hand, speaking up in a voice that's much colder than usual: ]

After all that you've done to those children... did you really think that I'd spare you?

[fauxther]

[ Whoever was behind this was a professional for sure. Those masks were unsettling, but weren't the focus right now. These stilettos, precisely hitting their mark. Had someone seriously been able to sneak around like this? For that matter... it seemed as if they had the same enemies.

Was this really a Fallen Star behind this?

His thought process is interrupted by the sound of another cry of pain, causing him to dash towards that sound. Once he's there, he looks for some form of cover, before he can actually focus in on what's happening in front of him, and... who... he sees...

Impossible.

A word that Twilight had cast aside recently, with the idea of magic existing, of meeting kami, meeting skeletons, seeing the end result of an attack by one trying to kill a "Distortion". Magic was impossible, until now.

This... was impossible in total. He tries to keep quiet, tries to continue to hide his presence, but there's no mistaking her for anyone else. Her voice, those clothes...

His "wife". Yor Briar.

What was this? ]

[mothornly]

Compared to everything you've done in this world, this is a kindness.

[ The way that she stabs one of the final people on this floor is precise - it's clear that she's done this many times before.

When he slumps over, finally, her cold expression doesn't change.

Instead, she looks off into the distance, towards Twilight's direction, and speaks up. ]

Are you going to keep on hiding over there? Or am I going to have to come to you?

[fauxther]

[ What is he supposed to do? Think, Twilight... he can't make a break for it. All things considered, he wants to see her make it out of this facility alive. As strong as she was, as quick and powerful--

--this would explain so much--

--could she survive by herself here?

Even so, how far did this go? If she were to catch him, would she be forced to kill him as well? Would he have to find a way to non-lethally take her down?

...non-lethally? If she's an enemy... but, she's Yor. His wife... ]

I'm not your enemy! Just let me go!

[ He changes the pitch of his voice, to that of a younger man, one to indicate that he's a bit more frail than the others had been.

This was risky. He had no idea what had transpired down here, and considering this conversation, Yor didn't seem like she was in the mood for mercy... so he had to amplify the fear in his voice. ]

I won't attack you, just let me leave!

[mothornly]

... Not my enemy?

[ She sounds rather infuriated; angry, in fact. She starts off slow in his direction but soon picks up the pace. ]

This entire facility is my enemy. You all kidnapped children for your own nefarious desires. And then you kidnapped not only myself, but many of the Fallen Stars as well. Do you think that I will forgive you for that and simply let you escape to live another day?

[ Because she won't allow it. Hence why she tries to get closer and closer-- ]

[fauxther]

[ --Hearing those words from her voice, the explanation of what they had done, caused him to freeze. He had already heard about their experimentation on children. That alone was enough for him to want this place crushed. Still, if it was to reevaluate this information he's been given, he'd gladly use their identity to his advantage and escape, returning back to the top level, returning back to being Loid Forger.

But. The rest of what she said caused his composure to crack.

"Kidnapped not only myself,"

Plenty of this was unforgivable. Twilight would condemn them front and back. For once, he felt sick to his stomach that he tried to even impersonate one of them.

Yor was completely right. As frustrated he was at what he was seeing, as if several pieces were clicking at a rapid fire pace, whatever questions he asked could stop. Right now, his anger's getting the better of him. ]

Yor, wait!

[ He's dropped the voice.

It's authoritative, it's angry, but it's Loid. Unmistakably, the voice he always uses. ]

[mothornly]

[ It's hearing the voice that he normally uses that causes Yor to freeze in her steps, dropping the stiletto in her hand, clattering it onto the floor.

Oh no.

Her mind goes into a panic and at first, she can't think of what to say. How can she make any excuses for this...?

This -

It's wrong, he shouldn't be here, he isn't supposed to find out this way -

Her throat feels dry as the name comes out of her mouth. ]

L... Loid?

[ It's strange, how small she feels in this moment. Terror fills her voice. She's scared. How much did he see? How much did he hear? No, it doesn't matter.

He...

... probably hates her now, doesn't he?

The dream cracks, the starts of fissues appearing on the ground beneath their feet. ]

[fauxther]

[ This isn't good. Yor had certainly kept this a secret for good reason, but it makes him nervous. How much more did she know about him? Did Yuri know about this-- no, none of this mattered right now.

What mattered was the trepidation in his actions, the outright fear in her voice, and... whatever was happening underneath them. His fists clench, and he has one, clear question for her.

"Are you Thorn Princess?"

"Have you been like this the entire time?"

"Why did you agree to this marriage?" ]

...Were you telling the truth? Did this Facility kidnap you?

[mothornly]

[ Yor's mind reels, thinking of what Loid might say. Being absolutely terrified, even. If he said what she'd feared, then... she doesn't know what she's supposed to do.

Run, maybe?

Knock him out, hope he forgets the whole ordeal?

Or even worse: kill him? That last one is one she wants to prevent at all costs. He's a good man, after all.

But the question she winds up hearing from him is something completely different. ]

I... Yes. A few months ago. There was this video they showed - of how they treated the children. I couldn't forget it. I wanted to make sure that nothing like that would happen to any child ever again.

[fauxther]

...There's a lot I want to say right now.

[ Words he can't be too sure about. Questions upon questions, seeming like an interrogation. Right now though, as he feels the side of his arm connect with the wall beside him, there's something more pressing at the moment.

Psychological torture, a desperate attack... the precise way that she took out these scientists (?) was no coincidence, and it would stick in his mind. He's not the type to think "good riddance" in this situation... but, the path to peace was often traced in blood.

He's hesitant to move further ahead, to fully see Yor in the state he found her in. There is however, no hesitance in his words. ]

You must be tired. Let's go home.

[ His tone is as calm and neutral as he can get. He couldn't be soothing in this case, couldn't assuage her fears. All he could do was, from his hiding point... hold out his hand.

Twilight.

What in the world are you doing? ]

[mothornly]

[ In any other circumstance she'd say yes, take his hand and allow herself to go home.

But here... she finds herself conflicted.

What is he doing? ]

Is... it really okay?

[fauxther]

[ It's not. He knows it's not.

Ultimately, it puts him at a strong disadvantage. Having worked at city hall, there was nothing to dispute that she could have, at one point, worked for the Ostanian government. The second that she finds out he's a Westalis spy, there would be no saving Operation Strix. For that matter... the Forger family would cease to be, and there would be a very strong chance that between the two of them...

...One of them would have to disappear for good.

Still, he doesn't retract his hand. He... owes it to her to be honest. ]

I don't know. [ A momentary pause. ] When I see your face... will I see Yor Forger, or will I see this "Thorn Princess" I've heard about?

[mothornly]

"Thorn Princess" doesn't have any reason to deal with you.

[ Don't give her a reason.

She doesn't want to.

She... wants to stay with him. That's her selfish wish. ]

So...

[fauxther]

[ He wants so badly to believe her.

...why? Why does he want to?

Twilight finally retracts his hand, only to come up with a follow up "threat." ]

I'm going to come to you. You and I can go back home together.

[ Twilight slowly makes his way towards, ensuring his hands are up.

No issues whatsoever. No concealed weapons (that she could see) ... just, the hope that the sight of his face doesn't end with his untimely death. ]

[mothornly]

[ She doesn't move from where she stands, instead just waiting for him.

The last thing Yor wants is for him to see her as a threat -- as someone who would hurt him.

...the opposite is true.

If she was told to assassinate Loid, she doesn't think that she'd be able to do it. ]

[fauxther]

[ No response, then.

It was a standstill. To trust anyone in this line of work was foolish, and he'd never be sure if he can reveal who he is. Even now, for once, slipping into the role of Loid Forger, father and husband, was difficult.

However... if she hadn't decided to kill him yet...

Slowly. Carefully, hands raised palms forward, Loid finally appears before her. He wishes he could greet her with a smile, but instead simply... just meets her gaze. ]

[mothornly]

[ The second he meets her gaze, red eyes immediately dart away as if ashamed of herself.

Why was she so ashamed?

She was proud of her work - with it, she could actually protect the lives of others.

But the way Loid was approaching her, the way he was looking at her...

...this wasn't what she wanted. A part of her wants to cry, but she refrains. All she can do is speak up, dully: ]

Let's go home.

[fauxther]

[ He sees her. Despite how she's dressed, the blood splattered on her, he still didn't see Thorn Princess.

He takes two actions.

One is to take her hand. As he had planned to anyway.

What he hadn't planned was for his other hand to rest on her cheek, to caress her slightly. Something about this whole set-up was odd, and even his behavior here...

...had to be a part of this. Naturally.

Quietly, he speaks. ]

It is you, Yor.

[ Beneath this all, she's still Yor Forger. The woman that he-- ]

[mothornly]

Y-Yes...

[ And now her face is red, if only because she finds herself rather surprised at how odd he was acting. How he takes her hand and even is gentle with her, in spite of the bodies that surround their feet. ]

It's still me.

[ Despite it all. ]

[fauxther]

[ He may have questions when he wakes up, and if this is who Yor truly was, then it only reinforced how much he had to keep his emotions in check. He can't grow attached.

..."Grow". The wrong verb. ]

We'll discuss this later. Perhaps over breakfast.

For now... let's get out of here. There's not much left for you to do here.

[ If there are some surviving Facility members, then that might be a problem later on down the line, but that's something for him to do later--

What time is it right now? ]

1 / 2

[mothornly]

Right.

[ She can feel her anxiety spiking up nervously about that conversation. But she nods, allowing herself to be led -- but the dream starts to blur and fade, trying insistently to wake the users of it up. ]

2 / 2

[mothornly]

[ ....except when she wakes up, she's in a panic, eyes wide and staring at the door like she's going onto her death. She doesn't notice the crystal on her bed just yet. Instead, she's just absolutely horrified at the prospect of Loid finding the truth about her and leaving her for good.

And while she'd like to say that she'd like to stay -

In her addled panic, she just.

Chooses to not go out the door and instead sneak out the window.

She just needs to clear her head! It was just a dream! She can't panic here, or else she'll be found suspicious! She can't have that!

Anyway, she's jumping out the window like a cat and running the hell out of the house for a nice jog. That's what it is. It's barely even sunrise and she's just gonna.

Get on the horse and have it run into the sunrise or something. ]

[fauxther]

[ Truthfully, in waking up in his room was a slight relief. Dreams are hardly admissions of anything really, and he could always phrase it that way. Mention the wild dream he had, sweep it under the rug, and then... potentially, force himself to go and tail Yor for a little bit. See if there were any hints of this possibly being true.

Unfortunately, the hint that he got was more damning than that. When he woke up, and knocked on her door to no avail, and searched the house... she was gone. The horse that she had won was even gone as well.

...He doesn't go right away. He needed to process this. Yor Briar of Ostania. Clean background, brother in the secret police, brought into a marriage of convienence to avoid suspicion. Evidence of abnormal strength, agility, and even, while drunk... nearly attempted to kill him during their performance for Anya.

So many things, clicking into place that it was hard to ignore the truth. The only question was: what now? There were very few people that Twilight could rely on in this city. Only one left from his world, and she could become his enemy in an instant--

No. No, she wouldn't. That's not who Yor is--

Who is she? No, right now, the bigger question is why is he the one not leaving? This was a dangerous situation he was in all of a sudden, and he simply wanted to speak to her. Who is she to him? His wife of convienence...

Damn it.

He was still alive. Isn't that evidence enough?

Once dressed, he takes off to search for her. Outrunning a horse would be too great a feat even for him, but as long as there were tracks, traces of the direction they had gone in, he can track them down.

Damn it, Twilight. You don't have much time.

What are you going to say to her when you find her? ]

[mothornly]

[ Eventually she needs to make sure that the horse gets some rest, so she can eventually be found at a park with lots of space. She can't help but apologize to the poor horse as she just hops off it and finds herself sitting next to a tree.

What is she supposed to do now...? ]