Monthly Post & CR Meme #23: Dream Parade

[beautifuldreamermods]

MONTHLY POST

Happy March, Dreamers! Congrats on Junna's successful rescue! We don't have a ton of OOC updates this time around but I will give everyone a little heads up about our anniversary event in May!

As a reminder, May's anniversary event will represent a change in the world state going forward. Basically, we're going from season 1 of BD to season 2! Mechanically, May will be a large scale Disturbance event run by one of our players, so look forward to it!

As one final heads up, I will be on vacation for the first two weeks of May! I'll still be available in the case of Dire Emergencies but expect some mod tasks to be on hold or slow going during that period of time.

And that's it for this month!

At the beginning of the month, an official communication from the DU goes out to all registered Dreamers.

Once again, we extend our sincerest gratitude for your steadfast participation in addressing the latest Disturbance event. Your unwavering efforts in combating these phenomena are making a substantial difference, helping to prevent further adverse effects on the Waking World.

We are pleased to confirm that the Dreamer at the center of this Disturbance, Junna Hoshimi, has been safely retrieved and returned to the Waking World. This outcome is thanks in no small part to the exceptional contributions of Dreamers La Pucelle, Torch, Chaosbringer, and Koi. The Dreamer Union remains in close contact with Hoshimi’s family and is actively organizing both immediate and ongoing support to assist them during this challenging time.

Recent investigations have also highlighted a significant correlation between poor mental health and the formation of Disturbances. This discovery reinforces the importance of nurturing our well-being and relying on the strength of our community. We encourage every Dreamer to reach out, seek support when needed, and lean on one another as we continue to navigate the complexities of the Dream Sphere together.

With deep appreciation for your commitment and the resilience you display every day, we stand confident that, united, no challenge is insurmountable.

With regards,

Chloe Yoshino
Director of the Dreamer Union

EVENT INFO & TIMELINE

The Dream Sphere always seems to have a quirky twist on traditional celebrations but this March, things have taken a downright bizarre turn! All across the realm, elaborate Hina doll displays have sprung up in unexpected places. And naturally, when Dreamers stop to admire these elaborate displays, the seemingly innocent dolls suddenly come to life as aggressive Torments!

Observant Dreamers might notice something odd, though: one crucial doll is missing from these displays. And sure enough, while fending off the hostile Torments spawned from the displays, some lucky souls catch sight of a larger-than-life-sized Empress doll watching the proceedings from a distance. She seems harmless at first but make the mistake of approaching and it'll become clear... the Hina Empress is a full blown Nightmare, who'll vanish into a dizzying flash of stardust and leave a burst of hostile Torments in her wake!

Tracking her down, however, is no easy feat - she could be lurking anywhere in the Dream Sphere, always a step ahead. And even when a group of determined Dreamers finally corners her, the fight is anything but a cakewalk; she moves with balletic precision, summoning swirling cherry blossom petals that cut deep and tangling her opponents with ribbons stronger than steel!

While the battle is fierce for everyone, girls (and those who happen to consider themselves girl-adjacent, of course) find themselves oddly empowered during the fray. And if you manage to take her down, the Hina Empress accepts her defeat with an almost serene grace before disappearing into the ether. Was this all just some weird test of character or something...?!

Tracking down the Hina Empress and picking a fight will call for a Torment Hunt, which should be submitted in the usual place - just make sure to note that it's an event hunt! Please also note that all event hunts this month are, by default, Medium Risk and above, so be sure you're prepared!



CR Planning Form:
<b>Player Name:</b> <b>Contact:</b> <b>Introduction:</b> <b>Character Name:</b> <b>Canon:</b> <b>About:</b> (Give us a quick outline of your character! Think of this as a brief introduction to get everyone on the same page.) <b>Short Term & Long Term Plans:</b> (If you have any, of course! You can also use this section to pitch the general shape of The Vibes you're shooting for in your arc and see if anyone else can help you brainstorm it.) <b>Desired CR:</B> (This is the big one! If you're looking for particular CR, pitch it here!) <B>Anything Else?:</b> i fully expect this to be meme central but i'm adding it anyway

WORLD UPDATES

March in Yumemigaoka should be the month when winter grudgingly gives way to spring, and for a brief moment, it even feels like warmer days are on the horizon. Temperatures are finally inching up, hinting at the promise of cherry blossoms and lazy afternoons in the park. But don’t get too comfortable - scattered showers are set to make your hanami plans a soggy, slapstick affair. And just when you think things couldn’t get any wetter, the forecast drops a real doozy - a massive typhoon is predicted to make landfall on March 29th. What a soggy start to the season!

Over in the Dream Sphere, the situation is just as unpredictable. Places like Facet Lagoon, the Abandoned Dojo and Reflection Glades are showing hints of spring’s colors, but the whole Sphere is being by intermittent drizzles. Even the quieter dreams seem a little restless, as if unsettled by the impending typhoon and sure enough on the day it makes landfall, just about everywhere in the Dream Sphere is dumping rain too...



!

WORLD EVENTS

⧖ All Month: Cherry blossom season is predicted to start during the last week of March and all around the city, business are decorating and stocking sakura-themed snacks and goods to take advantage of the sudden influx of tourists that will likely be flocking to see the blossoms. If you're planning a hanami party, make sure you nab a good spot in advance!

⧖ March 1st: It's the first day of spring and Hina Flower Gardens are re-opening! They'll be having discounts on entry fees for the first week to celebrate and selling mountains of spring-themed goods.

⧖ March 3rd: Today is Hinamatsuri! Or Girls' Day, if you're so inclined. It's a day that celebrates and honors the girls of each household with tasty seasonal food and gorgeous displays of delicate crafted dolls. Make sure you spend it with a lovely girl you admire!

⧖ March 4th: The Yumemigaoka Language School's academic year starts today! Whether you're a scholarship student or you're paying your own way, do your best!

⧖ March 5th: Asagi's southern quarter is all opened up and back in business! Aren't things so much quieter without all that construction going on...

⧖ March 8th: Feeling peckish? Oozora Curry is celebrating the end of winter with an all-you-can-eat curry deal for a frankly absurd price of 3000 yen! Come eat until your stomach pops and enjoy some curry!

⧖ March 11th: Early typhoon warning...! Apparently, meteorologists are predicting a typhoon to hit Tohoku's east coast later this month but since it's still the earliest stages of the storm, the forecast may be subject to change.

⧖ March 15th - End of March: It's graduation season, so schools around the city will be bidding farewell to some of their students! Each school will be having their own graduation ceremony on certain days through the month and Promised Morning's will fall on March 17th.

⧖ March 14th - End of March: Zekkyo! Karaoke will be celebrating graduation season in its own way by giving out special discounts to freshly graduated high schoolers! They'll be giving drink and snack tokens to anyone who shows off their diploma, too. Go celebrate your first steps into adult life in style!

!★! March 17th: There will be an unusual uptick in attempts to contact Dreamer Ai-Doll at the Dreamer Union from tabloid reporters and news channels, asking her to comment on a certain story... though the details seem vague for now. Wonder what that's about?

⧖ March 20th: Yumemigaoka Public Library is holding a book drive! They're having a little event at the end of the month to get people to clean out their homes and get rid of their old books in good condition by dropping them off at the library's drop box! Bring them in and you can get a little thank you card and stickers... but really, isn't the fuzzy good feels of doing good its own reward?

⧖ March 22nd: Hina Flower Gardens will be holding a hanami event where people will be able to come and view cherry blossoms on the garden's property while enjoying a bento and sipping hot sake. They have a handful of limited time sales for their various hanami snacks to be taken home!

!★! March 24th: Bombshell drop. Out of seemingly nowhere, news channels and tabloids all up and down Japan are exposing an explosive scandal: that the DU's idol and everyone's favourite role model Dreamer Ai-Doll has been keeping a massive secret from the world for over ten years now; the existence of two children that Ai gave birth to in her teens. The DU is once again requested with floods of requests for comment and social media is, predictably, going absolutely apeshit over this revelation.

⧖ March 29th: Typhoon time...! The forecast has confirmed that the early warning from the other week was correct - a typhoon is going to make landfall on Tohoku's coast today! Thankfully, the storm only lasts a day or so at the most, but residents in Kihada, Asagi and Akabeni should expect rain and possible wind damage. Keep indoors and keep safe!

AC RESULTS

The following characters have received a strike for not submitting AC:

aquactor
darknesshotpot
hanategami
hgs
predecir
rubykomachi
smalltall


Activity for March and April is due at the end of next month so don't forget to submit it once you've got it!

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Comments

[traceofeffort]

Player Name: Salsa
Contact: eternities and in the Discord server; I tend to do plotting (and commentary) on Plurk unless directly engaged on Discord, so add me there if you want a little more information on my bad ideas
Introduction: Retail Hell associate. Magical girl and band girl appreciator; also a fan of games involving Cute Girls Doing Cute Things if we still use that genre descriptor, and also heavy JRPGs and visual novels - ask me about my new obsession, Heaven Burns Red.

Character Name: Lisa Imai
Canon: BanG Dream! Girls Band Party

About: University freshman; Team Mom who went through some bullying in middle school and had a hard few years failing to deal with it properly. She's fairly good at outwardly playing her ideal, bubbly, caring, outgoing self, but it's masking some moderate insecurities that can cause her to react unexpectedly and show visible cracks in her facade. She's working on the worst of her emotional excesses, and it's showing, but she's having a hard time and so is a little unstable again. That's manifesting as her being clingy and a little submissive, letting others lead her instead of putting herself forward, along with seeming a little distant and unusually quiet. Big into fashion and bright colors, so long as her mood's not bringing her down; makes her own clothing and accessories. Bakes cute and tasty sweets and gives them away freely; still stress bakes sometimes. Practicing her bass guitar again, and carries it when there's space on her shoulder beside her school bag. Doting on her girlfriend, Junna, recently rescued from a Disturbance, while also drawing strength from her. In the Dream Sphere, protects others with her Sandglass bass guitar as Dreamer Rhodonite. Signed on to a unit with Ai and Hibiki, but...

Short Term & Long Term Plans: So. That sure happened. Yes, they got Junna out, and Lisa is immensely grateful to everyone at the Dreamer Union (or otherwise) that helped in the operation; while Junna was being examined and such, Lisa went home and baked a big huge batch of cookies, and dropped off the lot at the DU front desk to share with literally everyone. She'll also be keeping an eye out for the four that took on the Night Terror, to make sure they're all right. But she did a couple things she isn't proud of in the Disturbance, and had a couple of major breaks that have left her emotional state... a little off? She's largely fine, but she's quiet, a little withdrawn, and occasionally stares into space; her wardrobe is suddenly looking fairly grey and black, her usual red scarf just about the only spot of color she's got. When she dropped off the mountain of cookies, Lisa also took a leave of absence from Dreamer business for at least the month and maybe longer, citing Director Yoshino's mental health directives; she'll actively refuse to go to the Dream Sphere this month for anything less than a Disturbance which thankfully is next month.

She's going to spend a fair bit of time trying to make sure Junna's in good shape again, but doesn't want to entirely monopolize her time given there are plenty of other well-wishers, so she will be found around the city from time to time. She seems like she really needs a hug or something, though, and is actively avoiding the Dreamer Union building for some reason? If asked, she'll be honest that she's waffling on what being a Dreamer means to her, and needs to get her head sorted out before she's ready to go back. Frankly, she needs to get her head sorted out in more ways than that, and she's going to be spending some time actually seeking help to stabilize herself. But beyond that... Lisa also needs to spend some time deciding what she wants to do with her life. Not her parents, not her friends, not Junna, her. She doesn't have a firm grasp on that, and it's ruining her life.

Uh. In slightly less(?) depressing news, Lisa will be swinging by Promised Morning's graduation ceremonies, she's got a friend or two moving up to high school and at least two graduating from high school, and she's excited for them! Unfortunately, that's also the day the story about Ai begins to develop, and since Lisa's known to be part of Ai-Doll's Unit, she's going to be really confused, then really concerned, and will rally around Ai aggressively, which will eventually be what gets her to return to the Dreamer Union. Right up until the typhoon hits and she ends up helping Karen make sure the windows don't get smashed in.

In longer-term plotting, despite prior claims to the contrary, conditions are developing for Lisa to disappear into a Disturbance; I don't have a date planned yet but the next calendar opening seems to be early summer? I have a lot of planning to do before I'm ready to even submit a proposal, but. It's coming. Be there. Or don't, I'm not the boss of you.

Desired CR: Musicians and those with related vocations! Hell, she's even starting to sing, even if she still insists she's not very good (it's a lie, she's fine). College students! Young adults! New residents! Dreamers, though her opinions are going to be all over the place! And honestly, probably anyone else I haven't mentioned yet. She's still happy to meet new people, she's just a little off in general. But hey, if you didn't already know her, you don't know anything's wrong, yeah?

Anything Else?: I had this in my original draft but couldn't figure out where to fit it back in - I hit a really weird, honestly somewhat concerning headspace in the back half of the Disturbance log and it made me take a pretty hard step back for a moment. I think I have a handle on things, but as always, if you see something strange, or if I'm letting Lisa drive too much instead of keeping her on the track, shout at me. I'm going to be a little cautious with tags for a bit while I make sure I know what I'm doing, though, and it's part of what's motivating Disturbance planning.

[thestarknows]

Obviously Junna and Lisa need to talk after all of that!! She's wanting to talk to her and a little nervous that she just fell apart on Lisa at the worst possible time ever and jeopardized things between them. This probably gets helped once they actually talk, but... it's Junna. She doesn't do well with thinking she inconvenienced someone.

She's gonna wanna spend some time with her, especially not doing Dreamer things for the month just because she's in a similar boat (and is forcing herself to slow down given that she saw what it just caused).

And no worries about the rough headspace!! If there's anything I can do to help or you need someone to talk to about things, hit me up (and I'm always OK with Discord DM's if that's easier!).

Edited to add: Lisa Disturbance is exciting. :> If I can help out, let me know! Also if there's things that would help set it up or make sure Lisa has a spot to land on her feet when it's all done (or both!). I am, mysteriously (it's not mysterious at all), very fond of Lisa and Junna sooooooooo.

[traceofeffort]

And Lisa is nervous about... well, a bunch of things, really, but chief among them that she feels kinda responsible? So. They definitely need to talk and chill and debrief. It's fine, they've got a free month. Someone else can deal with Hinamatsuri.

As for Disturbance things... aye, we'll have to work something out. Lisa will not be expecting to have somewhere to land after the fact. As I said, still early days, but I'm getting there.

[thestarknows]

Awww... yeah. Naw, Junna...doesn't think Lisa caused it. Where she's getting to -- and this sucks to realize in its own way -- is that her parents let her down, and that she tended to compartmentalize and not address things until it was crushing. It was bad timing; Junna hit a bad patch with her folks, had setbacks being a Dreamer, AND she was working too hard at a play. But... she needs to not stack everything so it comes tumbling down when she runs into trouble. She's getting there! And doesn't think that's Lisa's fault in the slightest.

But yeah, we could maybe start with a once Junna's back on her feet and coming to see Lisa log? It could be outside of the DU, since Lisa's taking a break and Junna's starting one too.

Aw, Lisaaaaa. Naw, Junna... I don't think Junna is likely to walk away from her over a Disturbance. She knows Lisa's got troubles and loves her anyways. She's realizing that means she does that on both Lisa's good days and her bad days, after what she went through recently.

[traceofeffort]

Boy, those tendencies sound a lot like someone else Junna knows, but I couldn't for the life of me figure out who it might be-

But yeah. Even if she knows better, Lisa will still blame herself at least in part until assured otherwise. So she'll be happy to see Junna willing to come to her. They can work on healthy coping habits, if nothing else... That sounds like a good plan, I think.

...ahaha, I'm glad Junna's mindset is more or less the same as Lisa's, even if Lisa's more prone to spiraling and assuming things will go worse. It'll be fine, I'm sure, and they'll work through this one and her theoretical one when the time comes.

[thestarknows]

Ahahahaha. It's like they...have... something in common. Which is good! They get each other and what the other struggles with!

And aw, yeah. Junna's gonna do her best to do that. She can show up knocking at her door one evening? Also... well...

They can be a distraction from the bad stuff for each other! Junna's just trying to do better about acknowledging when she's looking for a distraction and not, uh, distract herself and then not address the problems in her life at all.

[greaterspeed]

This probably goes without saying, but if Sonic's pushing any buttons that make you uncomfortable, please let me know! D8 Or if there's something you want him to specifically poke her about. We're flexible like that. In the post Disturbance aftermath, we can handwave him trying to check up on her and her scurrying away if you'd like. He's gonna be some level of polite and let her have some space to work things out since uh... Yeah, girl, that was kinda rough.

Otherwise, there's always Keiwa for easy, no strings attached CR. o7 He would give you a therapy tanuki but alas, they are not Dreaming.

[traceofeffort]

Sonic is fine! She's... exploding in ways I am carefully controlling, but I didn't hit the same catastrophic point I did with the other thing. But I'll definitely let you know if he runs face-first into one of her triggers I'm discovering at the same time she is. For now that's fine as it goes, though, and she will be... not happy to see Nikki after, but will understand and be willing to talk to him without holding it against him.

She will also take a therapy tanuki in human guise! But. I should probably meter myself for the moment, sob. I have a lot going on for a break month.......

[greaterspeed]

I mean, she can hold it against him. He's not going to judge her for it (one could argue he's asking for it tbh...)

But no pressure! o7 they're both around for whenever/whatever is happening. lmao it's a break month and yet between the physical weather typhoon and the media typhoon everyone's just gonna be so worn out... rest in pasta...

Also Lisa Disturbance tho. :eyes:

[traceofeffort]

She... could, but also it'd be kinda cruel when he was trying to help her. She's not happy about how he did it, but she understands she wouldn't have accepted it any other way, so. It's a wash. She'll probably yell at him once, maybe sock him in the arm, and call it good.

I. I have ideas for The Thing but I still need to do a lot of setup... still. As Sonic found out the hard way, there's a lot built up in there that probably needs a release valve.

[darcangel]

YOU, WHO CALL YOURSELF DREAMER RHODONITE, YIELD UNTO THE MAID YOUR TORSO

FOR HUGGING

SHE IS COMMANDER OF THE ARMIES AND SHE WILL COME UNTO YOU WITH SUCH A HUG AS WILL BE SPOKEN OF THROUGHOUT ALL CHRISTENDOM

[traceofeffort]

I'm so glad you found those letters you were digging for, I love reading this even if Lisa is trying desperately not to laugh.

Which would be fine, because she really needs to laugh right now. She's not even going to entertain talking about joining the army now, mind, she's not in the right headspace to consider Dreamer plans when she's afraid to touch her Sandglass-

[reluctants]

i was wondering if maybe you'd like illya and lisa to talk? considering they already had that talk before about what being a dreamer means for you and all-- it might be a good continuation from that, if you'd be up for it!

[traceofeffort]

I DON'T KNOW WHERE MY NOTIFICATION FOR THIS WENT, I THOUGHT I REPLIED TO THIS, I AM SO SORRY JELLE-

If you're still up for something between these two, I'm game! We can either backdate something to before Ai's situation blows up and they can have a reasonable conversation, or Lisa can stumble through explaining why she's pushing herself so hard when she's visibly not ready to come back to full duty.

[reluctants]

oh, man, i'd be okay with either option! c: which one do you think might work better for you, especially with lisa's arc in mind and all?

[traceofeffort]

Hmm... on the one hand, Lisa feels bad she keeps showing Illya all of her awkward, depressed, hard-to-like sides and would love to have a normal conversation like a normal, well-adjusted person. On the other, that's just about all the sides she's going to have for a couple months, so... I'm inclined to say the latter? Which might be harder to work with and I'll apologize in advance, but.

[reluctants]

sure, then we can do the latter!! illya can handle it.. she's a big girl!!!!

if you set something up for it somewhere, just let me know and i'll be there 👀

[traceofeffort]

Seven years later, may I offer you a starter for Illya? Um, let me know if this needs changing, I couldn't think of anywhere else for Lisa to find her this month.

[reluctants]

no, that works perfectly! thank you so much for putting it up! c: