Deer Country Network

[ The video opens on a close-up shot of a lizard’s face. Its eyes are unfocused and unblinking. Its jaw is slack. Sometimes, a tongue flops out, and a hand reaches out to shove it back in.

Without warning, the camera DRAMATICALLY zooms out to reveal Kaworu, holding up a large, floppy lizard. This lizard is literally the size of him. Bigger even, if you include the length of its tail]

Okay, Kaworu! [ A very loud, very enthusiastic woman’s voice. ] You’re up! Time to tell everyone about this extremely important mission! Don’t – Kaworu, come on, you have to hold him up, like we practiced.

[ This is interrupted by some unfortunately shaky camera work. ]

Shinji-kun. His name is Shinji-kun and he’s heavy. You should give me the camera instead.

We don’t know what to feed Shinji-kun. He has little interest in eating even though we’ve had him for months now. It’s odd, most creatures, especially basic ones like him, are driven by the need to eat to survive, yet we can’t find anything that he desires. So far we’ve tried… buttered noodles, rice, cereal, marshmallows, grass, leaves…

What else Gideon?

Dried fruit, protein shakes, nice words written on paper notes, my blood, Kaworu’s blood, a rat we found in the backyard one time, bones. You know, regular animal foods.

[ Gideon shrugs, and the camera moves up and down with it. Professionalism!! ]

We know there was this whole baking competition or whatever going down, so, you know, if any of you want to bake a lizard treat we’d buy you lunch or whatever in exchange. Or just tell us how to feed this lizard.

[ Please!! Help! ]

( ooc: Gideon is in red and Kaworu is in blue. Shinji the lizard is undead, but the two of them have no idea. They just love their re-animated lizard a lot and want the best for him.)

Hello, everyone. [ Luna Lovegood coming live from her kitchen. Unfortunately the Omnis don't have smell-o-vision, but it's clear from around her she's been hard at work cooking and baking. She's... in a bit of a frenzy the last few days. But she's fine, genuinely fine. This is actually kind of nice. She's actually looking rather calm, content — although there's certainly a kind of gleeful excitement she seems to be hiding a little. First things first: some observations. ]

I've been noticing some things over the past few days, and I believe it to be something blood-related — specifically to Palebloods. Given the bountiful amount of fruit about the city, I've been feeling a strong pull to collect them. I would usually go foraging, but there's something.... more insistent about it.

[ Which might seem ominous in itself, but Luna doesn't sound too worried about it? She's... mostly quite intrigued. A little excited about that, even — considering the idea she's having. Which she will finally get onto the point in hand. ]

Which then lends itself into a desire to bake. But when I've used the fruits in cooking, there's... something special about the food made. We— [ Both she and Peter. ] have noticed we feel.... better? Lighter? Upon eating it? Like it's... healing...? Has anyone else noticed that...?

[ Certainly after the absolute mess that was her Omni dumping her worst memory ever onto people at the tail-end of May, she's definitely been feeling a lot better now. And while cake does have the power of healing, she suspects it's actually more literal this month. ]

I suspect there's something about Palebloods making things this month, like an ability of sorts for the month. That the things we cook and bake are doing some good. And if that is the case—

[ She clears her throat, smiles broadly. ]

I should like to propose a baking competition for all Palebloods. There's this Muggle show I like to watch called The Great British Bake Off? And well, I believe it would be a great deal of fun if we did something like that here in Trench. [ Given how well people like a nice friendly competition, why not? Luna continues: ]

Palebloods working together to create delicious dishes using the fruits around the city which could then be shared out amongst Sleepers as a whole. And making it a bit of a competition is just a little bit of a bonus, letting everyone work together on it. I plan on speaking with Remina to come up with some prompts for the baking, given it's her month after all. But I think it should be a personal theme.

[ She will be going to speak with Remina soon. She's sure to catch her, considering this month's Patron is making quite a few appearances around Trench already. ]

So, I'm asking if anyone would like to sign up to the competition to do something good for the benefit for all of us — Palebloods to bake, and well — if anyone else of the other blood types wouldn't mind donating some of their time to help set things up. I realise we'll need somewhere to host, along with people who can help build sets and work stations, people to help collect ingredients for the bakers, judges too. We could even have presenters, too!

[ She's grinning widely at this point. She's very eager at all of this. ]

Holding the competition at the end of the month would be a good idea, so everyone has time to prepare. I'll share the prompts Remina and I come up with together as soon as I have them! Nobody has to sign up, but I just thought it would be quite nice, you know—?

[ Is she also still trying very hard to make up for her actions in April, even with her book writing? Yes, just a little bit. ]

ooc: this is the IC announcement for the great paleblood bake off player plot! information + sign-ups can be found here.
contact heolstor or heolstor#5725 for info/questions

You nerds don't realize how lucky you were that I got sidelined in a cocoon during that tournament. Any of you who were in the Unarmed Combat Division are feeling like you didn't get enough? Let me know cause I'm itching to kick some asses into the dirt... especially the winner's. That was MY fucking title.

[Locked from Ochako]

On the subject of HER, listen up.

I'm looking to throw her a thing. A party, or whatever. She's gotten screwed outta her birthday between the last shithole world we came from and here, and I know how much it's gotten on her nerves every time another one of our birthdays rolls around. Since time is a fat ass lie and no one can stop me, I'm taking the initiative and aging her up. 27th of this month, still figuring out the place. Will update once I know where it'll be.

Besides the birthday crap, anyone who knows her knows that she deserves something fucking nice for everything that she does for other people.

If you're friends of Ochako Uraraka, you'd better be there. Unless you wanna get your ass blown to pieces.

And say so, so I can get a damn headcount for food and shit.

➤ 1. ᴄᴏɴғᴇssɪᴏɴs
cw for: mentions of war crimes & impending child death.
( Read more... )

➤ 2. sᴄʀᴇᴀᴍ
cw for: war imagery, violence, gore, cannibalism, child “death”, forced transformation, burning to death
( Read more... )

➤ 2.1. ʜᴜɴɢᴇʀ
cw for: war imagery, cannibalism, gore, restraining of a child. in the clip there are child soldiers using firearms and a beheading.
( Read more... )

[ Luna Lovegood is perhaps the best she's looked in months. Despite the exhausted look about her, and the expression of queasiness — she's void of any trace of Corruption. She's been spending the past several days sleeping, and not sleeping; trying to calm her stomach from the copious amounts of wild animals she'd devoured as a beast. While sustenance for her in Beastform, her stomach now she's human again is... far more delicate. But the worst of it has passed, at least. And Peter has been a blessing for her, making sure she's alright — even if eating has been a little bit of a struggle.

She sits in her room, sat on her bed with her knees curled up to her chest, still dressed in pyjamas. Her Omni rests on her bedside as she begins the broadcast. She's anxious; her brow drawn down in a sorrowful frown. It's important, though. People deserve apologies, even she deserves no luxury of apology in return. She hurt people, quite a lot — and while the memories of the latter half of April are foggy at best, she knows she's done some terrible things. ]

I realise a great deal of people may be very upset with me right now. I would have done this sooner, but I... needed a little bit of time to sort out my mind. [ She's still trying to do that, but it's now or never. ]

I remember the butterflies, and then... it gets a bit mixed up after that. [ It was like... falling down a very, very deep hole. Slowly slipping away from herself, and into something cold and dark and twisted. ]

I'm sorry. I know I hurt a lot of people, I know I— I think I killed people, too. I know I wasn't myself, I became someone terrible and then something terrible. A monstrous Beast. [ It hurts to refer herself as that. No beast is monstrous. But she did monstrous things. That is... simply how it is, and she's ashamed of herself. ] I know people might think it isn't my fault, that I became a Beast — but I still did those things. I barely even know who I did them to, I don't remember much.

But I'm very sorry.

[ She doesn't expect forgiveness, not at all. She's alright with that. Luna's quiet for a long tome, just leaving the apology there. But after a while, she inhales and continues. ]

I was lucky. My friends found me, my boyfriend found me. They brought me back. They knew who I was even though I was a Beast. I can only guess others haven't and won't be so fortunate. [ How many times have Sleepers been killed as Beasts? How many will be in future? ]

I've been doing some thinking, the past couple of days. How to... maybe help Sleepers, somehow. Back home, someone very important to me, a hero to me really, led the way in the study of magical beasts — he's one of the greatest Magizoologists known to Wizardkind. He offered a great deal of insight into beast behaviours, abilities and how best to care for them — compiled it into a textbook.

I'd... like to start doing something like that, but for Sleepers in their Beastforms. I want to do it as my area of study at the School of Mutter. An encyclopaedia of Sleepers' forms of Beasthood, noting their appearance, abilities, strengths and weaknesses. But also how best to help them, calm them down. Bring them back.

[ She doesn't want it to mean it's how to kill them. No, no. Not at all. It's how best to help Sleepers, so they don't have to be killed. But also knowing how best to deal with them, so other Sleepers don't end up getting killed when dealing with Beasts. Merlin knows how many Witches and Wizards were likely killed by magical creatures they had no clue on how to handle them. Wild animals are just that, they can kill. ]

I could have very easily met death at the hands of a Hunter, but I was lucky I didn't. Knowledge is a very powerful tool, and I believe it could do a great deal of good. [ That being said: ] If people have information they'd like to share about their Beastforms, or how they've dealt with bringing Sleepers back — I would like to hear it for my research.

If you'd rather speak in person, you may find me at Ritual Gig in Willful Machine. [ There's a little pause, her voice wobbling slightly. ] You... may have known it as John Constantine's shop, but moving forward I shall be taking up the reins in his absence.

So. Little Trenchlets. I've been here for awhile- [She has been here four days]- and it's hard to keep track of all these people I keep hearing about. So many rumors flying about and it's all so fucking juicy.

So, I'm alone, horny for context, and ready to show mine if you show me yours.

I heard there was a huge party thrown at a house in gaze. A bunch of teens drinking, doing drugs, and kissing with tongues that they just don't know how to use, and providing uninteresting details about alien worms. Completely trashed the place.

Even worse, I heard they robbed the man who let them into his house. Thankfully, he'd warded the objects so if you see a shifty-looking kid or two with their hand blown off, now you know why! There's a moral lesson in there... probably.

Now it's your turn. You don't even have to sign your name. I'm that thirsty for the D(eets).

((Feel free to have your character post "anonymously" about rumors they may have heard about events or themselves in the trench or rumors they want to make up! I highly encourage threadjacking and silliness. Of course, keep it IC, civil, and consider asking permission from others if you think you should.))

[content warnings: thalassophobia, prophecies of doom, not safe for work discussion, blood collection]

( collective discussion )

[The feed opens up to a crooked shot of a building that screams abandoned warehouse vibes. Out of frame is a man in a black karate gi standing next to a grandfather clock with the words "Professor Dongspin" written on it in green paint.]

Now I just got here but I've been seen a lot of talk about free fighting lessons. But we all know that in life you get what you pay for.

You want to really kick the competition? Then you need to get your ass down to Cobra Kai.

Screw that weird ass fairy tale bullshit. Learn from someone who drinks raw eggs, not pansy ass hot chocolate.

You'll learn bone crunching, face smashing, all American Karate. For the reasonable price of your blood, sweat and tears.

We're not going to be doing any self-defense, It's time to learn self-offense.

Don't be a pussy. Join Cobra Kai and let me teach you the way of the fist.

[And then leaps into the air and delivers a spinning kick into the grandfather clock which collapses and smashes against the ground.

The feed cuts out shortly after.]

[content warnings: thalassophobia, prophecies of doom]

Citizen-Sleepers of Trench

My name is Paul Atreides. Some of you know me. I am a paleblood disciple of the Pthumerian mysteries, a fellow Sleeper, and I have been granted a warning.

( a briefing )

[Snow White, per the norm, is surrounded by animals who seem to be organizing things for Snow. Snow has a bright red something draped across her lap, it is very clearly fabric but what it looks like otherwise is unclear.

Why hello there! Oh my goodness! I really must thank Madam Generosity for such a lovely gown! I've never felt more like a princess! And it's my favorite color! I wonder how she even knew!

Did anyone else receive a gift from her? No wonder her name is Madam Generosity! She's so wonderfully kind! It puts everyone in a better state of mind.

Actually! If I may have just a moment of your time, might you be able to answer a question of mine?

Does anyone else have people constantly dropping off things on their doorstep or lingering just outside your home?

I don't mean for Christmas time, rather outside of that? I don't really mind, and, truly, no one has been unkind!

I even got something on my birthday and no one has ever given me a birthday present before! Or at least, I think it was a birthday present. [Snow turns to her birds who seem to SHRUG. They don't know either.]

People keep leaving me all sorts of things on my doorstep.

It's becoming a bit difficult to keep up with sending thank you gifts in return!

Is anyone else experiencing this? Should I be concerned?