Hello again to the residents of Miraland! After a brief pause to talk about new realizations over Resonance, I'm back on my rankings.
So to pull back the curtain for a sec, let's talk for a moment about my blog post process. I tend to format my posts as I'm going through the information, sometimes I have phrases planned in advance but largely? I post my thoughts as I get them, parsing through pages and taking screenshots as I go; rambling about my thoughts from then on. So I will say right off: I haven't read Timeless Melody's lore yet as it currently sits in my tabs.
But it is the outfit that caused me to change my rules into being the way that they are, as you may recall from my questions and ranking meanings page.
Before Timeless Melody, any outfit shown on screen with Nikki, any outfit that was relevant to the story, or any outfit referencing her, was regarded as canon to me. This was how Dance Till Dawn was deemed canon to me and Stardust Flare was equally canon; when this is not entirely the case by my standards now. I wasn't thinking hard enough about the method in which Nikki receives these outfits, and the context behind them.
Enter Lingering Finale's Timeless Melody, the outfit that is the birthday present a ghost wishes to give to her long passed sister. When Nikki is shown on screen with this outfit, under my previous standards it would've counted as canon; but I didn't feel right about it. She is wearing an outfit that is not meant for her, and even if you regarded every outfit that had lore not referencing Nikki as canon anyway: this fact is undeniable. Queen Philomia intended this for her sister and this is shown on screen, it's not hidden away in text that is easy to click past.Now, don't get me wrong. Anyone can do whatever they want with their file! This blog is me over-analyzing story and rambling about it. I actually really wanted Timeless Melody when it came out because I really like the fact it's so music box ballerina-like. But... it just felt wrong to me personally for Nikki to own it, even if it's not like the intended receiver can use it. I suppose in a way you could see it as Nikki living up to the dream of giving the outfit a home, but I personally didn't feel that way.
But all that aside, let's see what the actual lore has to offer. I don't think it's going to majorly change my mind, but maybe I'll be surprised!
I will give my reading this: I had no idea where this outfit was going in terms of its story narration. Philomia and her sister Olivia do have a pair of dolls who move about in a similar manner to this dress, I suppose? So maybe it's supposed to be taken from their perspective.Timeless Melody: Lullaby lends something to this idea perhaps. But all the recolors talk often about dancing, I can't recall at the moment if that's something the dolls said they did before. So I'm not fully certain what the narration is trying to say for Timeless Melody, admittedly that makes it a bit fittingly haunting for the Eerie Season. Having an unclear speaker for the story behind the outfit makes things a little interesting. Though maybe I'm also simply forgetting something, I'd love to be corrected for what is going on here honestly.
But the lore sadly didn't change my mind, this just gets further and further away from Nikki in my books. I know she is shown on screen with this outfit, and once upon a time that would've been enough. But the story just doesn't add up within context to me personally.
Ranking: 1 / 5
- In-game cutscene suggests this outfit was meant to be a birthday gift for another character
With this we move on to Lingering Finale's associated 4 star, Spectral Mist. It has a fun little function to it, I love that you can see little ghosts when taking pictures with this outfit. But I'll be honest, I'm already skeptical of its canoncity; isn't this just a dress probably belonging to Queen Philomia herself?
Survey says: Yes!
Spectral Mist: Dawn and Spectral Mist: Scarlet Moon seem to be very clearly from her perspective, and we see this dress in an in-game cutscene in which Nikki plays the piano with Ms. Glove. She clearly references the fact she used to play piano with the queen once upon a time in fact, so it just seems like Nikki is stepping quite literally into her shoes for that scene.
Honestly I have less of a gripe about Nikki having this dress compared to Timeless Melody, maybe it's just the fact that it wasn't a gift as far as we know? It's not like the queen herself is currently using it. But it is still a little bit of an odd feeling, to picture her using a deceased queen's clothing so casually. It's an awesome dress though.
Ranking: 1 / 5- The lore and cutscenes suggest this outfit canonically belongs to another character
Random sidenote, she totally looks like she's getting possessed by the queen having these side by side.
Now these next two I'll just say, unless something about the lore that I overlooked just blows me away, I'm not expecting anything overly canon. But there is still a little to talk about, so I think I will probably cover their lore and then discuss it at the end where it relates to both. The extra outfit pieces will be covered after the fact too don't worry!
So let's start with Time of Serenity's Dream Banquet, a 4 star outfit that allows a phantom tea set to be conjured into existence. I'm still the slightest bit bitter that we couldn't actually use the tea set, and instead it kinda acts a bit like we got Alice in Wonderland illusions floating around for a bit. But I guess we did get the Breezy Nook eventually, so I can't complain too much.
Admittedly the lore to Dream Banquet is sort of fascinating, as it sounds like a fairy tale relating to Olivia with a bit of a twist. Unsurprisingly sure given that its the Eerie Season update where she's talked about, but still I didn't entirely expect it.
Dream Banquet and Dream Banquet: Rebirth tell a tale of a young lonely princess befriending the Bullquet, the source of inspiration for this dress. Where Olivia never adopted the queen title it seems pretty clear this has to be about her, the thing that's interesting is that Olivia is not shown as a ghost. Just her doll appears, but she haunts the narrative of this season. Was she actually around? Was she not?
Dream Banquet: Soft Meadow almost hints at her hanging around as a ghost in some way, which it is perhaps hinted that the doll was set out to look for the other one by her. But...why was the queen unable to see her around? It's so curious and haunting, perfectly fitting for this season.
But hold up there partner, not ready to get into rankings yet! Let's talk about Journey on Wind's Adventure Ride, an outfit that lets you ride a motorcycle! Though I'm not really feelin' like sharin' the full description listings 'cause it ain't that relevant to be honest!
Evidently the story to Adventure Ride is about a cowgirl who gains a connection with the Bullquet that inspires this outfit, same way Dream Banquet did; just without a potential major story tie-in.
It sure did get another one of those cute little comics though!
But alright after all of that, what's the big deal about these outfits? Resonance may be more canon now than I viewed it originally but these outfits on a surface level don't hold much water do they?
Except they kinda do? Because after the Bullquet Care Day event you could talk to an NPC at the Stylist's Guild who mentions directly the existence of Fresh and Cool outfits based on the Bullquet. Yes Nikki is not shown on screen with these outfits, but compared to let's say, Dreamy Glimmer and Froggy Fashion? The in-game content looks at you the player and says 'yes these exist in-universe'. Every outfit does exist of course but things just feel more real when they're directly acknowledged like this. Especially where it's not like it's side commentary at the bottom of a compendium entry, this is actual in-game dialogue so Nikki learns about these outfits directly too!
Which with that, in light of my new understanding of Resonance, it can be justified that she could read up on the stories of the two outfits. The stories behind the both of them striking her whim to make her able to bring them into existence; if you want to spin it that way. We don't see it happen on screen but I am willing to give them a pass for the fact we can see exactly where the inspiration could come from very easily on screen.
Ranking: 3 / 5 for both
+ Directly referenced in in-game dialogue to give a story implication for how Nikki could receive them
Now we move on to Time of Serenity's Deep Echoes, starting with Whispers of Time. Which doesn't have much to say for Nikki personally if I'm being honest, but it does feel like an extension of Dream Banquet in a way. If Dream Banquet gets points I suppose I should at least give something for this one?
Ranking: 2 / 5
~ If you view Dream Banquet as canon this is a nice extension
Next we move on to Crimson Core which does seem like a follow up to Whispers of Time.If we do hypothetically view Whispers of Time as an extension of Dream Banquet... could we read into this like Olivia was a stylist? I am willing to believe that if she did in fact make the outfit that is Dream Banquet anyway. Though maybe this has nothing to do with anything, but it is a fun idea.
Ranking: 2 / 5
~ If you view Dream Banquet as canon this is a nice extension
Aaand now for something completely different! Here's Crimson Veil, completely abandoning the previous aesthetic that seemed adjacent to the banner itself. I remember being baffled when I got these for the major change in tone, the description gives just as much whiplash.
Girl what does this mean. Is this a reference to the later update with the Sea of Stars? I have no idea what is going on here but the bottom line remains the same.
Ranking: 1 / 5
- Holds no story connection to Nikki
You would almost think this Deep Echo should've belonged to Journey on Wind's banner--
-- which I guess to be fair, Journey on Wind's Deep Echoes kind of seem like they might've been meant for Dream Banquet too. Or is this a case of Deep Echoes being like if you collect them all it's like you collect all the pokemon from two alternate pokemon games to have a full set? Probably bad comparison, but anyway, this is Delicate Openwork.
Which yeah, seems right at home with Whispers of Time and Crimson Core. Being on a different banner it feels strange to judge them as an extension but... I also feel like maybe it makes sense to? In my position, what would you do? I just gotta go with what I feel for now I suppose.
Ranking: 2 / 5
~ If you view Dream Banquet as canon this could be an extension
Twin Ruby takes...a different direction? I'm not sure, because Dream Banquet also gets framed like a fairytale. But it seems also like it could've really happened because of the way the princess seems framed to be Olivia. So...how do we read this? I'm not fully sure, it's right up there with Crimson Veil in making me go 'huh?'
Ranking: 1.5 / 5
- Holds no story connection to Nikki
~ Could maybe be relevant to Dream Banquet???
And now we finally close out on...another water bottle, this time called Replenished Vitality. Which doesn't include anything for lore besides at least seeming like an an anchor back into less confusing reality to Miraland. It is just a water bottle, Dada and Bebe talk about water bottles in the commentary. It's not relevant but honestly I'll take a bit less confusion right now.
Ranking: 1 / 5
- Holds no story connection to Nikki
Whew, so that's that for a trip into Miraland's past! ... For now anyway! We'll certainly dig into more soon, but for now I will see you all Monday to probably head into a party! Unless something crazy happens in the event lore, don't tell me, I'm excited to find out :3c.