【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

[dereban]

... I'm sorry.

[ She apologizes, even if she honestly shouldn't need to or have to. ]

You sound like you've lived a hard life, and honestly: I get it. Being unable to trust the kindness of others because they've stabbed you in the back before, or being afraid that might wind up being the outcome...

It's hard.

It's miserable, and every day, just thinking about that possibility is like walking on a minefield.

I've seen people use 'kindness' like that. But that isn't kindness at all. Not in the slightest bit. That's just their own selfishness. A lie. I didn't change the world into something like this for my own sake. I don't benefit at all from it. I'm not praised or lauded for it. I don't even get to go home. I don't get to see the ones I love... and yet, this is what I chose anyway.

Of course, that isn't to say that I'm not selfish. All of this is inherently selfish. Even if I say that I did this for others, that I kept them in consideration for their choices, I didn't communicate with them at all. That's why this world isn't perfect. But then again - no world truly is, and that's fine.

[fallenwishingstar]

... So you choose to suffer?

[The girl summarizes quietly, her red eyes tracing the beams of the new shrine gate before they settle on Inaba again.]

You're right. It is selfish. You've put the burden of your suffering on other people.

But that doesn't matter.

A world built on the suffering of others... This world is the same as before. I'm sure that eventually, you'll be found out and someone will flip this world on its head again to save you. Maybe you know that much as well. That's the cycle that this world has been going through for many generations, after all.

Does your pain feel good in the moment, at least? Are you satisfied?

[dereban]

They shouldn't have to be concerned over my burdens. I'm just one person out of many.

[ She isn't important.

Or rather, she isn't so important that the world would have to be turned in on its head. ]

But if something needs to be done to change things, then it's that the cycle has to be broken.

[ ... ]

As for your last question, I'm no masochist. If I'm hurting, I'm hurting. I can't be satisfied with that.

[fallenwishingstar]

I see.

You're not wrong. If someone has to suffer, it should be a willing victim. But you also aren't happy yourself. It doesn't sound to me like the cycle of suffering has been broken. Only extended.

Are you hoping that someone will save you?

[dereban]

... I'm not going to hope for that. I'm no damsel in distress.

I was unhappy prior to this. It had nothing to do with [this world].

[fallenwishingstar]

... Is it wrong to want to be saved?

[dereban]

Not necessarily. But you see: not everyone wants it.

[fallenwishingstar]

... I know.

I don't want to be saved by someone, who will only prolong their own suffering, either.

I hate it, actually.

[dereban]

[ ... ]

So do you want to be saved?

[fallenwishingstar]

... I wanted to save myself. I thought that I would accomplish that by making my wish.

But instead, I'm here. I got betrayed by my expectations again.

So no. I don't want to be betrayed anymore.

I don't want to wish to be saved.

[dereban]

Saving yourself through a wish isn't the right way to go, anyway.

[ It a nonchalant answer but an honest one. ]

[fallenwishingstar]

You can say that, because you get to exist. I... do not.

Nothing I do will change anything.

I can only fulfill the desires of others.

[dereban]

You say that and yet... me, seeing you right here and now. Isn't that 'existing'?

If you say that nothing that you do will change anything, or that you're fated to just simply fulfill the desires of others.

Isn't that already giving up?

[fallenwishingstar]

I’m here because of my wish.

I wished to see what it was like to have hope… and what people who have dreams would wish for.

Because I don’t remember anymore. I’ve tried and tried, and only been met with failure.

[dereban]

Having hope, huh... well, I can't say that I don't have that. But dreams are odd, you see? One person's perception of their own wish is not necessarily 'correct'. Nor is it always what they truly want.

[fallenwishingstar]

Are you lying to yourself?

[dereban]

About what I want--no. How to achieve it might wind up being different in reality, though.

[fallenwishingstar]

I see.

Is this the ideal way to achieve your dream, then? It seems sad. I don’t think it will make anyone happy if it happens this way.

[dereban]

I don't know.

[ It's an immediate answer. ]

There's probably better ways. I suppose that this way... was just the only one I could think of at the time.

[fallenwishingstar]

... You seem to think very little of your own happiness, but I would be a hypocrite to complain. I made a wish to see the hopes of others, because I am too frightened to imagine hope of my own.

Still.

It is a pleasant enough dream that you are having. Even if it will likely be used against you.

[dereban]

I won't let that happen.

[ Inaba's words are immediate and swift. ]

[fallenwishingstar]

Are you so sure?

Because unlike you, I am not kind. I am done being 'selfless' and I am done with 'hope.' I traded what remains of my life for a chance to see some final glimmers of it, but it came at a cost. Certainly you know who gave me the power to fulfill my greedy wish and how they operate.

[dereban]

Of course. You say you're not kind, but... someone unkind wouldn't have said anything at all.

[ That goes to beg the question of why bother saying anything at all? ]

And more importantly. I've been determined from the start to not be used by anyone else except for [that person].

[fallenwishingstar]

... I don't agree. I don't say it out of kindness: I pity you all, who make the mistake of having such fragile dreams.

[She shrugs,] Determining to be used by someone sounds foolish, but again. We're the same. I've allowed someone to use me as well. Even if the consequences hurt you, I don't really regret it.

[dereban]

Having a dream isn't a mistake.

[ Just saying that. ]

Well. I can't exactly... exist without [that person] [ she says, as strings appear on her wrists and ankles ] so that's just something that I'm going to have to live with. But nobody else. I'm not going to let them have their way with me.