【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

[composalvation]

Lazy...?

[Oh. That she doesn't seem to like. She doesn't seem outright insulted, but. There's definitely something a bit less warm in her eyes now.]

I can't just... apologize for what I did. That would trivialize just how badly I hurt that person. ["Sorry I caused your stress-induced collapse that led to you mentally regressing seventeen years, dad." doesn't sound right at all.] He wanted me to create music that could help people, so that's what I have to do to atone.

[fallenwishingstar]

Then you're scared of being forgiven?

[composalvation]

[Scared...? Is that what it is?]

It's not that.... it's more like I don't think I deserve it.

[fallenwishingstar]

... I see.

I don't know much about forgiveness myself. I've tried over and over to forgive those who used me. This city, which acknowledges spirits for usefulness... I don't know if anyone could tell me apart from the other spirits, unless I did them a favor.

So yes. Maybe you don't deserve forgiveness. Some people are just like that. Good that you figured it out, I suppose. Perhaps watching you suffer into your misery will bring that person some peace.

cw: suicidal ideation

[composalvation]

[... Ah. There's the feeling of something breaking in her chest. In the crack between the curtains, the light from outside dims, like the sun has finally set.]

... Yeah. It probably would make things a lot easier if he hated me for what I didn't, wouldn't it?

[He already cursed her once... what's one more? If her pain could bring him peace, if she could take his hurt and put it all on herself... maybe it's good, then, that she still thinks so often about disappearing.]

[fallenwishingstar]

... Maybe.

[She notices the light dimming, but does not directly acknowledge it.]

Hatred... doesn't feel good either. Maybe in the moment, it was enough for me. But it rotted away at me, until the world looked tainted and ugly.

I wished that maybe I could forgive the world. But no one ever apologized, so hatred became my only comfort.

[composalvation]

[Mmm. When there's only one thing you want to focus on, everything else just falls away. Kanade knows that well, even if what she focuses on is her work, not a feeling.]

... I'm sorry, that nobody came for you. [Maybe it seems a little forced, but... the genuine emotion in Kanade's voice rings clear. She and her friends are all lost in a way, they've all seen deep darkness in one way or another... and Kanade never wants to see anyone wrestle with those feelings, no matter how cruel they might be to her.] Nobody deserves to have everything just... burn away like that.

[fallenwishingstar]

It's never mattered what I deserve or not. That's just how life is for us spirits.

[The girl's arms begin to fold around herself. Hugging herself, because that's the only way that she can ever have such comfort.]

But living a life of hatred is empty. If someone would have apologized... I would have wanted to accept it. Instead, I've thrown my life away for a bitter wish.

Knowing that, do you still resist the idea of accepting forgiveness?

[composalvation]

[...

A creak. Kanade moves, unfolding herself from that hunched position in her chair, so she can shuffle over and sit next to the girl. Not too close, and she doesn't reach out, she just... sits.]

... It depends. I don't want him to live like that. If I can help him avoid that fate... maybe I could accept it.

[Even if it might feel empty. Undeserved. But this isn't about her. It's about him.]

But if I was the one suffering... [As she so deserves.] I don't know if I'd fight it as much.

[fallenwishingstar]

… I see.

[She doesn’t resist the approach. But even as Kanade gets closer, her form remains dark like a shadow. The girl’s body has no heat and to solid form; She’s like a ghost.]

I could never forgive that city for all the pain it caused me… for so many years, that world has teased me with the hope of being human. But even if forgiveness could ease the hatred in my heart, it’s too deeply scarred now.

I pity the ones who cling to hope. I’m not looking forward to their downfall in the next few weeks. It would be easier if discard their dreams before they knew that they had them.

[composalvation]

[Ah. All at once, it's like Kanade's blood turns to ice.]

Their downfall...

[She turns, slowly, like she's afraid of what she's going to see when she looks at the girl.]

... Who... who are you?

[fallenwishingstar]

[The red eyes that peer through the darkness are like fiery stars. And despite her blank expressions until now, a grin peeks through the shadows of her face.]

I am the Rumor of The New Year’s Dream. I had my wish granted, in exchange for giving that person access to your first dream of the New Year.

[composalvation]

That person...?

[Oh no.]

Is... is the Wish Maker here...?

[fallenwishingstar]

Depends on how you define ‘here.’

For example, they themselves could not enter the other dreams. One soul is easy to transfer, but that many? Surely even the kami of Dreams would struggle with that.

[composalvation]

[Ha... haha.... this is great....]

But... you said you gave them access. Does... does that mean they can see all of this? Are they trying to...

[She takes a shallow, nervous breath.]

Is this how they're trying to win the challenge?

[fallenwishingstar]

Something like that.

It would be awful amusing if Fallen Stars, recently reminded of their hopes and wishes, became the next Rumors.

Likewise, watching you all squirm and tire yourselves out would put them in a position to overpower you when they show up late and rested.

… But their plan backfired. In granting me the power to see your wishes, I was also able to see theirs. Their wishes and the desires of those who control them. And wishes are weakness.

[composalvation]

[... Ha.... does that mean they saw her dream? Her collapse? If the Wish Maker didn't think she was pathetic before, they probably do now....]

... So what are you going to do with what you saw? [A pause as she hesitates.] Would you... help us?

[fallenwishingstar]

‘Help’ is a strong word.

But if trading information is helpful to you, then sure. My offer can be called ‘helping.’ But I don’t believe in giving things away for free.

[composalvation]

[Right... that figures.]

I don't really know too much about everything going on here, so I'm not sure what help I might be... what sort of things do you want to know?

[fallenwishingstar]

Interesting things. Entertaining things. I lived a dull and lonely life, so I'm easy to please.

But- If your information causes you pain, I will give you information that hurts your enemies. Otherwise, I merely have amusing tidbits to share.

[composalvation]

[Interesting... entertaining... nothing about Kanade's life seems to fall under those words enough to warrant valuable information. There's her time with Niigo, the songs they produce... maybe she could play something for her? Kanade shifts, reaching for her phone-

"If your information causes you pain, I will give you information that hurts your enemies."

- ... but pauses. Kanade... doesn't want to hurt anyone. She's hurt enough people as it is. She hates the idea of more people hurting. But... they have to stop the Wish Maker. Even though she hopes they can be helped, if they're running out of time...]

...

[Her hand falls to her side. She's quiet for a moment. And then-]

I don't know if this information is important to you, but... ["if your information causes you pain"...] My father was a very gifted musician. The best I've ever heard. All I ever wanted was to be like him, to play music like him. I could listen to him play for hours...

[The newspaper clippings on the wall. Mentions of a musician hospitalized. Critical condition.]

... But I destroyed his hopes and dreams. He was hospitalized, and he no longer remembers me.

[fallenwishingstar]

... I see.

It sounds to me that he solved his issue of forgiveness. He doesn't need to forgive you if he forgets, does he? [she could stand be nicer in these trying times!!!!

But the Rumor does acknowledge that Kanade has given up good information. The newspaper clippings are amusing and the information will help Wishmaker hurt Kanade. So it's only right that the Rumor offer information in equal measure.]

They were once children, who had many hopes and dreams for their futures. But the Facility took them for their red eyes and tried to turn them into kami. Those children failed their tests... and somehow, they became this creature called 'Wishmaker.'

Bitter. Lost. Angry. Hatred.

Those emotions overtook their hope. They, who have forgotten how to believe in wishes, bring others down to their level. Do with that information as you... 'wish.'

[composalvation]

[Well. The good thing is that the girl is just digging the knife deeper into an already open wound in Kanade's heart, rather than opening a whole new wound. So while she flinches again at the comment, what's more important is the information she was just given.]

So they're lost and hurting, and lashing out because of that... that's so sad...

[She frowns. God, that hurts as much as the girl's comments about her father...]

... Is there really a way to help them? To at least separate them into the children they once were, instead of that shadow?

[fallenwishingstar]

I don’t know. I’m no expert.

All I know is what I saw in their dream… and that’s all of the information that you’re getting, Ms Sinner.

[The girl’s form begins to melt. And in an instant, without any formal goodbye or proper words of parting, she’s gone: Nothing but a puddle of Rumor goo on the floor of Kanade’s imaginary room.]