【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

[applehearted]

..... Kanade.

[ She's not mad.

But concern traces her eyes and the strings are cut. However, there are consequences to these actions. A noticeable one in fact, as that same familiar voice can be heard overhead. ]

"...Mafuyu? Where are you now?"

Ah-

[composalvation]

[Ah

There's a sharp pang in her chest, like her heart is trying to turn itself inside out. Was that worry? Fear? Whatever it is, it's damn near physically painful and causes Kanade's breath to catch in her throat. This isn't good, this-]

Let's go.

[This is something they can't wait out. They need to get away from that voice, and fast. Kanade takes a few steps backwards, towards the edge of the stage, rather than the curtains, but keeps her hold on Mafuyu's wrist. She's not forcing Mafuyu to move just yet, but she's not going to leave her either.]

Come on, we can get out of here.

[If they can just get out of the theater, maybe...!]

[applehearted]

[ She can feel the iciness in that voice that she can't entirely explain and while there's a part of her that feels discomfort in her chest - the way that Kanade holds onto her wrist is a contrasting warmth.

Quietly Mafuyu nods, knowing that leaving is probably better than staying here. ]

[composalvation]

[Kanade keeps walking backwards - it's a little tricky, as she keeps glancing over her shoulder to make sure she can see the steps leading off the stage, but she's not turning away from Mafuyu now. She keeps her hold gentle, and she maintains eye contact as much as she can. As much as the voice looming above them worries her... Kanade tries to keep her smile soft, reassuring...]

We'll be out of here soon. If we can just get out of the theater...

[She's not sure if they'll be safe. But it's better than where they are now.]

[applehearted]

Where is the exit?

[ Mafuyu certainly doesn't know where it is. Or rather - she wasn't allowed to know.

There just seems to be long, endless hallways after all. No exit in sight. ]

[composalvation]

[Ah. Not good.

Kanade's grip on Mafuyu's wrist tightens, ever so slightly, when she finally makes it off the stage. Are there normal walkways down the rows of seats or is it something completely different...?]

I don't know. But we'll find it. There has to be a way out.

[applehearted]

Mm.

[ There are in fact normal walkways, but they seem to expand further and further in, almost endlessly with no end in sight. ]

[composalvation]

[That's fine. She'll walk as far as she has to, terrible stamina be damned, to lead Mafuyu out of this stifling place.]

... Mafuyu. Can I... ask you a question?

[applehearted]

What is it?

[ She asks the question; it's clear that she doesn't mind. ]

[composalvation]

[As they walk, Kanade keeps her free hand just barely brushing the wall closest to them. She read once that an easy way to solve maze puzzles is to just keep moving and follow a wall, so maybe it would work here...?

But she only seems to be half paying attention to it. Mostly, she seems to be focusing on mulling over whatever it is she's about to ask Mafuyu. It's... a tough subject, after all. She doesn't want to hurt her, but...]

... Does she... [The director. Your mother.] Does she... talk to you like that a lot?

[applehearted]

... not all the time.

[ She answers, a bit hesitant. ]

But... she just wants what's best for me, I'm sure.

[composalvation]

... But it's hurting you, isn't it?

[Kanade is... lucky. The worst she has to deal with in regards to her parents is worrying whether her father will remember her or not. She can't quite understand what it's like to be in Mafuyu's shoes in this. But even so...]

You... you didn't want me up on stage. Where she could see me. [There's that guilt again, seeping into her voice.] Having to hide like that, promising to give up music... if it hurts you, it's not good for you.

[applehearted]

It's fine.

[ They're words that she tells herself - words that she's telling Kanade. ]

Once I graduate... I'm sure she'll understand.

[composalvation]

... But can you hold out that long?

[As much as she wants Mafuyu to be happy, as much as she wants everything in her precious friend's life to be good... it's Mafuyu who's the priority here. Not her mother.]

Even if she understands... how much more of you will be chipped away because of that hurt?

[applehearted]

I'll be fine.

[ ... Will she, though?

She doesn't really know. But she wants her own words to be the truth. ]

[composalvation]

[I'll be fine. I will be fine, in the future. It's a spot of hope, and Kanade wants to believe that Mafuyu can find her true self and some spark of happiness, but...]

... Are you fine now?

[applehearted]

I don't know.

[composalvation]

[That's not... good. It's not bad either, as it's so often Mafuyu's response when Kanade asks her questions on how she feels, but...

Honestly, it's making her nauseous.]

... I promised I'd use my music to save you. I promised I'd use it to make you smile, make you happy...

[Her grip on Mafuyu's wrist loosens, brushing past the severed remains of the marionette's strings on Mafuyu's wrist, so she can take her hand. She holds it tight; Kanade's grip can never be enough to hurt, with how frail she is, but it's still... noticeably more firm than it usually is. Like she's afraid to let go.]

And now I promise that I'll use it to drown out her words. You don't deserve to hear them.

[applehearted]

[ Mafuyu squeezes back, making sure to keep herself close, but she doesn't say anything more. All she can do is nod. ]

[composalvation]

[There's a new feeling in Kanade's chest that blooms as they walk. It's similar to that feeling she's now starting to identify thanks to Yuuto, but still... different. Warm, but a sharper sort of warmth.

... Hm. She'll have to think more on this later. For now, she has to focus. Are there any doors or hallways leading elsewhere? Anything that might catch her eye that seems out of place?]

[applehearted]

[ There are no doors.

However, there is one hallway--it's a long, long one but eventually it leads to an end. That end is not doors, however: what it is seems to be a computer, the monitor flickering.

If she looks at it, she'll see that the screen is devoid of any personality. A simple default background and a single, familiar file. ]

[composalvation]

[Hm. That catches her eye enough that she zeroes in on it. Her steps are careful, like she's listening for that voice again, but determined in how she moves forward. She will find the key to leading Mafuyu out of here.]

Ah..

[She leans closer to examine the computer. The file... what is it?]

[applehearted]

[ It's Kuyamu to Kaite Mirai.

It's clear what this means. ]

[composalvation]

[Of course. Kanade smiles past the pang of homesickness in her chest; it's been far too long since they've seen Miku and the others. The Sekai has always been the perfect escape, and there's no way that terrible voice can follow them there.]

... We can leave through here. [Kanade turns, back towards Mafuyu, and steps to the side just enough so that Mafuyu can approach the computer.] Do you want to play it?

[She wants to take Mafuyu out of this place, far away from her mother's voice. But she's not going to take this choice away from Mafuyu - she can't, after what she's just seen and heard.]

[applehearted]

[ Slowly, she nods. ]

...do you want to click it together?

[ She moves closer to the computer and places her hand on the mouse. ]