A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes

[these_balls]

Who: The participants of the Dream Plot!
Where: A mysterious dream castle far away!
When: All day and night on April 19th!
Summary: The journey is over, and at last you've arrived. Looks as though there's a reception waiting for you, too; maybe it was worth the trouble, after all...
Rating: PG, and please warn for threads that may go higher!
Log:

[After a period of dreamlike travel, the journey has finally drawn to a close; at last, you've arrived at your destination for the next twenty-four hours...

...a Majestic Dream Castle™ filled with light and music, standing out like a gleaming jewel amid a light white mist.

And it looks as though you're just in time! There's a party underway, and when you look down you may just discover that you're dressed for the occasion as well. So go on in, have a ball, and dance the night away; there's no telling what lies beyond tomorrow morning, after all!]

~
THE VENUE


KEY:

• AREA A — the Fountain Garden.
The obvious object of note here is the pretty fountain bubbling merrily away, nestled in the center of this odd little patch of indoor flora; it's made of white marble and is your standard three-tier affair, surrounded by a modest "courtyard" of grass and wildflowers. Something of an oddity to come across in the middle of a castle, but if you're looking for a quiet place to unwind, to sit with someone you're fond of, or even just to cast P10 into the waters to make a wish, this is probably the place for you.

• AREA B — the Grand Ballroom.
While there's music audible all throughout the areas that fall within the boundaries of this dream, this is the part of the place that's going to look the most like a traditional ballroom. The floor is polished wood and the decor is classic; there are chandeliers overhead and plenty of room for mingling and making merry with your fellow dreamers. Good luck not chipping those glass slippers!

• AREA C — the Pristine Palace.
The least-defined and most freeform part of the dream, this wide expanse of the dream castle is consequently the most likely to become subject to the whims of the people wandering through it. Though the general size and shape won't change much, the way it looks may well vary from person to person. Is that grass beneath your feet, or is it concrete? Hardwood? Rose petals? The details are in the eye of the beholder; here's hoping that won't lead to too much confusion!

• AREA D — the Terrace.
Accessible solely by the not-so-secret passage marked on the map in brown, the Terrace is pretty much exactly that: a big open patio ringed with mist and fairy lights along the railings that run along its perimeter. Occasionally, a gentle breeze seems to waft by; though it's impossible to see further than a foot or two into the mist, this part of the castle feels more like it's legitimately outdoors than any of the others.

If you decide to hop the fence off the terrace, you will find yourself returned to the Fountain Garden in the blink of an eye. Don't you know it's impolite to go wandering off when there's party taking place?

• AREA E — the Banquet Hall.
Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow you...aren't likely to be here, anyway! This area of the castle is entirely dedicated to meeting its guests' demands for food and drink; it's filled with buffet tables piled high with just about anything you could dream up, and those platters never seem to empty no matter how much the guests take from them.

Oh, and there's no need to BYOB; age-appropriate characters in Route will be able to find alcoholic beverages, though underage characters cannot. If an over-age character attempts to give an alcoholic beverage to a minor, they'll quickly find that it's turned to water instead.

• AREA F — the Overgrown Bower.
Watch your head as you enter this room; the ceiling is surprisingly low, and the dangling vines might give you a fright if you walk into one without paying attention! There isn't much of note in this room, outside of the plants seeping through the cracks in the cool gray stone and the delicate scent of flowers lingering in the air; that said, if you're tired of all the merriment and are looking for a quiet place to wind down, this is a pretty little alcove that's just perfect for some solitude — or some quality time alone with a special someone.

Comments

[envy_the_sinners]

[Area C]

As per usual with events like these, Scar was seeking out the quietest place possible and sticking to it. He hadn't even meant to come to this party, he'd just ended up here! He'd shooed away several bystanders trying to get him to "enjoy himself;" he enjoyed the quiet.

That plan backfired when this seemingly nonsensical universe decided to play games with him.

There he was, standing in what he saw as a drab, mostly concrete room when a little cloud appeared right above his head... and started to rain. Amit, his Zangoose who had bore witness to the whole thing, looked awfully smug about it. He shot her a glare from time to time.

[Area F]

Finally, he had found it. The Ultimate Quiet Spot. Scar had to glare at a few couples exchanging... displays of affection along the way, but he finally found a little alcove all for himself and Amit when-

"Ah-" -when he smacked his head on a beam.

F

[a_sin_for_him]

Lust wasn't surprised to find him here.

She'd spent most of the festivities occupying herself with frivolity. But she could only take so much. She knew Scar liked to get out of the way and keep to himself for events such as this, so seeking out one of those places simply made sense.

"Good god, it's like one of those ridiculous Tunnels of Love out there."

Why was Scar all wet?

"Are you alright?"

[envy_the_sinners]

Scar called Amit back into her ball when he saw Lust round the corner. She never behaved when she was around.

"It was raining in one of the rooms." No response to her Tunnel of Love comment. He was starting to become more aware of the intimate atmosphere the longer he was here.

Damn.

[a_sin_for_him]

"I avoided that."

But of course Scar didn't.

Lust sat down on a stone bench and bent to begin taking off her shoes. They were starting to pinch and she was done dancing. It wasn't as though Scar was going to ask her to. They'd look ridiculous, anyway, attempting to figure out where to put hands and how close to stand, and it would be given up as a bad job immediately.

"I needed to sit down somewhere quiet for a bit." A small pause. "I haven't seen you all evening."

[envy_the_sinners]

Of course she had, the damn cloud had only been hovering over Scar's head.

He just wasn't going to admit it.

Scar watched quietly when she sat down, internally cringing as she pulled off her shoes. They looked like devices of torture...

"I've stayed out of the way," was all he said.

[a_sin_for_him]

"It's been a pleasant fete." They were mostly in private, so Lust had no qualms about carefully crossing her legs to rub one of her sore feet. Why didn't attractive shoes come in flats?

"Certainly an interesting one. But I think I've had enough festivities for the time being. Here, come sit with me."

[envy_the_sinners]

Scar moved to sit down, being sure to crouch this time as to not hit his head. He frowned when she started rubbing her feet.

"Why do you torture yourself with those?"

[a_sin_for_him]

"I usually don't. But this is what I always picture when I think of formal dress shoes, so here they are. Pity the fountain's not heated, I could give my poor feet a soak instead." This was uncomfortable, but she couldn't very well pull her leg up to do it properly.

But aside from the shoes, she was quite happy with the ensemble she'd found herself in on arrival. A bit more cleavage than she normally showed these days, but Scar could handle it. And it looked good on her.

"You men are lucky."

[envy_the_sinners]

"There are flat formal shoes, I've seen them." He didn't mean to be contrary, it just seemed ludicrous for her to put herself in pain just for the sake of being a few inches taller. What was the point?

"Especially if you're going to be dancing. You'll break an ankle."

C

[exeggutorhead]

And here's Scar's very favorite person in the whole world, standing (out of punching range, just in case) with a hand on his hip and an amused look on his face.

He's only barely keeping from laughing outright, because wow Scar that sure is a literal gloomy raincloud over you. Lilith the Zoroark, standing by his side, is just straight up snickering because she's just as much of a shit as he is.

"You look like you could use an umbrella."

[envy_the_sinners]

"And you could use a gag," he shot back without true anger but certainly without any friendliness. He didn't care if the damn Pokémon saw him, but Envy had no need to irritate him.

Except when he did. All the time.

[exeggutorhead]

"And it looks like neither of us has what we could use, so I guess we're both out of luck."

Envy shrugs over-casually, still making that same face. He wonders if the cloud will start shooting off little lightning bolts.

"Gotta say, that's the most interesting accessory I've seen so far."

[envy_the_sinners]

"Take it up with whatever place it is we're being holed up in this time." Scar is still rooted to the spot, unwilling to give Envy and kind of satisfaction if he can.

[exeggutorhead]

"From what I've seen so far, this place is giving people whatever it wants to."

Envy looks up at the little raincloud again.

"Maybe it's trying to give you a hint."

MAYBE PARTY CASTLE WANTS YOU TO PARTY, SCAR.

[envy_the_sinners]

"A brilliant reminder of misfortune, then," was all Scar said. He wasn't going to acknowledge that he was at a party, doing exactly what one was not supposed to do at parties.

As long as Envy soon got bored and left, he didn't give a damn.

[exeggutorhead]

"Maybe. But there's probably a way to get it to leave you alone."

Envy leaving him alone, though? Not so much. At least not right now.

"I mean, there's got to be at least one thing in this entire castle that you'd like."

[envy_the_sinners]

"I am not about to make a fool of myself on the dancefloor on the offhand chance that it might make this go away."

He doesn't want to be here, and yet he's here against his will. Scar isn't about to pretend to enjoy it.

F

[soundmind]

[Good thing nobody saw that.

Except someone did, a familiar someone just sitting there already. Yes, it's Maka, she's just a little more gussied up than usual in the interest of this dream world event. She doesn't laugh at Scar, though, just looks up as though his coming surprised her.]

...Are you okay?

[Drawing attention to what just happened isn't as bad, right?]

[envy_the_sinners]

[Damn. Scar blinks once, twice to fight off the mild daze. He isn't as distinctly alert as he usually is, though it has little to do with bumping his head.]

Fine.

[As he draws closer, though, it quickly becomes evident that he's all wet.]

Dazed...

[He says as a slight afterthought, glancing over his shoulder with a hint of a frown.

It's been a strange night.]

[soundmind]

Ah.

[A pause, Maka squints a little to see if she's actually seeing that he's wet.

Yes. He is.

Huh, it's just like how they first met except hopefully Scar's head injury isn't as bad.]

Come sit down, that should help.

[envy_the_sinners]

[This time it's less head injury, more girls, or... one girl, but... he isn't going to mention that.

Scar gladly takes refuge sitting next to Maka, setting his damp jacket beside him.]

Did you get here well enough?

[Scar had more than his share of unpleasant experiences with the dreams.]

[soundmind]

Well enough.

[The dreams were...well, the usual sort of thing for her.]

I have dreams like that almost every night, it's the magical palace in the middle of nowhere that stuck me in a dress that's new.

[And she shrugs, not minding that there was no context to "like that."]

[envy_the_sinners]

[Scar finally catches a proper glimpse of Maka when she mentions her dress, and his frown tightens at the sight of her scars. She's even more decorated in them than he is, in that respect.]

Like how?

[His tone implies the "if you don't mind."]

[soundmind]

Missions I've been on, monsters I've fought, things like that. They happen so much it's kinda mundane.

[What she won't say is that despite her technically being "used" to the events, it still puts her in the "life or death" state of mind she was in at the time.]

I'd rather not have dreams at all if that's what they're going to be.

[She'll admit that much at least.]

You're all wet. Why's that?

[envy_the_sinners]

[Scar's eyes narrow as he watches her. What kind of missions would a young woman be going on? And what do they have to do with the marks all over her body?]

It was raining in one of the rooms and would not stop.

[Not entirely true; Scar had had a personal rain cloud of his own. He's just not going to admit it. Scar is silent for another moment before settling more comfortably on the bed.]

Sleep is often best kept dreamless.