【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

[loveedition]

Mm... no, it's not so much leaving my friends. I guess it's...

[ After everything she's said... ]

It's not... missing them as much as I do sometimes. I should be happy that they can live their lives without me. On top of that... feeling like I had a chance to tell them I was going somewhere. The thing is, if you don't tell someone you're leaving, then they'll assume the worst when they can't find you.

[fallenwishingstar]

Should you?

I always envied humans and their bonds. Being happy without someone doesn't sound happy at all. It sounds like the truest form of loneliness.

[loveedition]

I should. After all, they'll meet new friends, like I did.

I grew to be depressed without Nagato-san or Kyon-kun around to cheer me up. Then, I met Aisaka-san and Kakyoin-kun. They trusted me, taught me how to take care of myself, and never lost faith in me.

I thought I would be alone here... then, Fauna allowed me to be with her. Yuuto helped me understand this world better. Kokoro-san and Ceto-kun have been nothing but kind to me... Inaba-san helped me, in her own way, to remember how human we can be.

...being human isn't easy. Being a magi isn't easy either... but, my wish was to ensure that my best friend would never be lonely without me. I still want to extend that to all of my friends, under my own power.

[fallenwishingstar]

... I don't get it.

[She shakes her head, giving a soft sigh.]

But I suppose I am a greedy person. Far too greedy to want for people to be well without me. I'd rather be wanted and needed... It should come as no surprise, then, that I made my greedy wish knowing full well of the consequences. I wonder if the people you've imagined will be in danger because of it?

[loveedition]

[ That does... cause the smile to fall from her face. ]

I can't say.

But... if anything happens to them, I'll be there to protect them with my life. Imaginary or not.

[fallenwishingstar]

... I hope that is it not a weakness of yours. That these people are no weakness of yours.

Because the one who granted my wish can surely see everything happening in these dreams. I've no doubt that they helped me with using me in mind.

[loveedition]

If that's the case, then I'll tell you. They are my weakness.

That said.

If they try to use them against me in any way, I'll make sure they pay for it. They can do whatever to me, but if they hurt them, I'll make good on my promise.

[fallenwishingstar]

... I see. I'm almost disappointed. I won't be here to see if you can keep your word.

No matter. I had might as well repay your folly with a fact. Maybe it'll smarten you up. But somehow, I doubt someone so full of hope can find anything but despair in the end.

[loveedition]

[ ...she's all too aware of that fact, unfortunately. But she can keep pushing back until then. ]

Sorry. I've had enough of despair.

Not much will get me to change my mind.

[fallenwishingstar]

The Wishmaker. You know of them, I'm sure?

They lied about when they will strike. They intend to wear you down by leaving you in a paranoid state over the next few weeks.

[loveedition]

[ A couple weeks... honestly, she was already starting to feel the anxiety set in, but hearing that brings her slight relief.

More time to make a game plan. ]

When we least expect it, I bet. Mm. Fine.

...thank you.

If you're in there somewhere... we'll do our best to help you too.

[fallenwishingstar]

No. I won't be.

When you wake up, I will be gone. I gambled my power on this wish.

That person grants us the ability to make use of our own power. But it's all used up now. I didn't have much to begin with, because no one cared to have 'faith' in me. Not even myself.

[loveedition]

[ ...Oh. Oh, right.

That's what the Wish Maker targeted, after all... ]

I'm sorry. I really am.

[fallenwishingstar]

I knew what outcome I was signing up for. I deserve no sympathy.

[She replies curtly, only to seem to backtrack; Her tone becomes less harsh as she reflects on her attitude;]

Except... Maybe, the other spirits they plan to use do deserve sympathy. Not all are as lucky as I am. Not all of the spirits they are targeting are aware that their wishes will be used to harm others. Many of them... will likely fall into despair when faced with their selfishness.

[...]

Do you believe those selfish wishes should be punished?

[loveedition]

[ With a slightly... bitter chuckle. ]

No. Most wishes are inherently selfish, after all. It's okay to have a wish.

Unfortunately, that's the one case where I'm fully aware. It doesn't matter what I believe.

[fallenwishingstar]

[...]

I have to go.

But... You should remember that feeling. When they strike the shrines, they will leave many spirits who regret ever having hope. That is the greatest danger to them... losing hope.


You should remind them of it, so they do not meet an end like mine.

[loveedition]

...I will. I'll be sure of it.

[ In her own way. As Ryoko says that, the area starts fading. Looks like she's close to waking up. ]

[fallenwishingstar]

Mm. Good luck.

I pray that we do not meet again, Asakura Ryoko.

Congratulations on your graduation.

[And with that, the shadowy girl is gone.]