【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

[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.

cw: suicidal ideation

[fallenwishingstar]

[The Rumor looks unbothered by the strings. She nods, as if understanding the sentiment... But then, abruptly, shakes her head.]

I would rather burn up and die than have my life used one more time. I'm sick of it.

But if you're so determined to struggle, then I have one more regret. I won't be here to see you fall apart and learn your lesson. [...] The Wishmaker. Do you know them?

[dereban]

Ha. I understand the feeling. I just unfortunately live a life of... coexistence.

[ She says those words in a melancholic way before the strings disappear from the vision. ]

I've seen them in person before. What about them?

[fallenwishingstar]

... They're probably watching. You should be careful.

Ah. But maybe not too careful. Their plan is to wear you down in the coming weeks, after all. I'm here to make you all uncomfortable, I think.

[dereban]

Well, isn't that just fucking great -- whatever. They probably can't comprehend the scope of all of this, anyway.

Besides.

I already had planned on not being out in the front lines.

[fallenwishingstar]

I see. Well. It may not matter much to you anyway.

None of the people who are going to die are in your dream anyway. I haven't seen them. Even then, watching people fall apart because you're useless isn't very pleasant. You'll be doing yourself a favor by staying away.

[dereban]

Wait... die? Who the hell are they planning on killing?

[fallenwishingstar]

I don't see them here, so why would you care?

You're right. "It's just one person anyway," right? There's no reason for anyone to get wound up over a single stranger. Just stay in your hiding place and wait it out.

[dereban]

This and that are totally different things!

I'm sick and goddamn tired of people dying. Of murder. So who the hell is it. Answer me.

[fallenwishingstar]

Are they really so different?

What would you even do if you knew? You don't plan to be involved. Will you involve others on your behalf?

[dereban]

They're totally different.

[ ... ]

Yes. Many of the people I know care about the others in this world just as much as I do. And more importantly... they'd actually be able to do something. Just because I won't stand up front to face them doesn't mean I won't do nothing.

[ She just doesn't have the skillset to fight. She knows that all too well. She's reminded of those final fights back in the Underground, where she had to stay back because her abilities were practically useless.

It felt awful.

Information gathering, data analysis... that's all she can do. So if she can retrieve something --

Then she can pass it down to people who can do something about it. ]

[fallenwishingstar]

[...]

Then you'd best hope that it isn't a person that you care about, hm? Because I won't waste my faith on someone who doesn't care as much as I do. Besides. I might like for this person to keep me company.

I have to go. My power is about spent.

[dereban]

Then I'm going to be spinning on my wheels with no information, huh...

[ She curses herself.

All she has is something vague and she finds herself loathing herself more for it. ]

Well, that's fine. It wouldn't be the first time. Regardless, I won't let those plans go into fruition. I won't allow for more deaths.

[fallenwishingstar]

You will, yes. I don't give information for free. I told you: I'm not particularly kind. A secret for a secret.

If you're done asking something for nothing, then I'll take my leave. I'm tired.

[dereban]

[ ...

So, an exchange, huh. She isn't sure that it's a good idea, but-- ]

Fine, I'll bite. I'm willing to give an equivalent exchange. But I can't just give some random secret off the cuff, can I? What kind of secret do you want in the first place?

[fallenwishingstar]

Oh? You'll play? Interesting. Hmm.

[But she can't think for long. Her time is running out; That part wasn't a lie.]

If you give information that helps the Wishmaker, then I will give information that hurts them.

But if you give a secret that simply amuses me, then I will give you the information that simply hurts you.

Whichever you prefer.

[dereban]

[ She doesn't know which of these two this slots in.

Would telling one of the things that she's hated about herself be something that's worthwhile...? ]

Very well. There is only one other person that knows this in this world... but the reason why the outcome of the dream was like this is because I have the capacity to change the world on its head alone.

My soul has the ability of determination. And it is something that has the potential to grant someone power to reach a higher realm. I do not have control over this ability at all, but it can easily be abused in the wrong hands. That's all.

[fallenwishingstar]

... Interesting. That would be very similar to Distortion, wouldn't it? Distortion, the state of not existing and yet existing in spite of it, does something similar and all.

I suppose that fits both my criteria. So, as a treat, I'll hurt you both. Wishmaker and this person called 'Himeko Inaba.'

[She puts a finger to her lips and smirks, indicating an unpleasant secret.]

If you stand by and do nothing, and allow for this death to pass, then you can go home. That's the kind of target that they've chosen.

I won't tell anyone that part but you. I won't even tell the others that death is the ideal outcome, okay? So if nothing is done and they die, and you just so happen to go home... No one would be able to blame you, right?

[dereban]

...

[ Ah.

She isn't so stupid as to not have the puzzle pieces put together. And it's enough that she freezes in place, shock settled on her expression--but that's only for a flicker of a second before she tries to press her lips together and try to keep a neutral expression. ]

I see. Well, I suppose we're done here.

[fallenwishingstar]

... I see. So you think that you know who I'm talking about?

[The Rumor nods in agreement, her form beginning to melt into the ground.]

It's a shame. I won't get to see what you choose.

But that person would be delightful company in whatever hell I end up in. I'm looking forward to it. Selfish wishes aren't necessarily bad, right?

[dereban]

I have my guesses.

Not all selfish wishes are bad. But... that doesn't mean that there aren't bad ones.

[ There's only a few words left to say for this dream, though: ]

Sayonara, fallen spirit.

[fallenwishingstar]

[The spirit begins to melt into a familiar puddle of Rumor Goo. As a parting gift, she giggles and returns the farewell:]

Good bye, fallen star.