Deer Country Network

[Rose sits calmly on a boulder in the back yard, trees and flowers surrounding her already showing the signs of autumn. she looks more solemn than usual, but that's because she's been thinking things over carefully]

Even with...all of this [she waves a hand around as if encompassing all of Trench and its peculiarities] how many of us want to stay? Because we like it here better than home, because we don't have a home to go to, any reason really.

I'm curious.

[ Rey looks awkward in front of the camera, this is not her natural element. She doesn't enjoy calling attention to herself, and this feels very self-indulgent, but save walking around and polling anyone she comes across this seems like the most efficient way to ask her questions. ]

Hello. For those of you who don't know me which is- probably a lot of you, my name is Rey.

[ She pauses, chewing on the inside of her bottom lip briefly as she tries to think of how to proceed. ]

I'm wondering how those of you who are used to running for your lives, or fighting every day to survive have settled here. How you found things to be useful to the community.

I was a pilot and a scavenger back home, there doesn't seem to be much call for either of those things here.

So I was just wondering how others adjusted.

Thanks.

[it's sansa, at the sanctuary this time! because her omen is recording this, she holds her blood hound knight on a leash. he wears a handsome leather harness. for her part sansa wears a charcoal dress with ravens around the shoulders, and lady sits next to her in a matching embroidered collar. this is outside of sansa's usual wheelhouse, both literally and figuratively, and she compensates her nerves with extra poise, her hands clasped together in front of her chest.]

Hallo, this is Sansa Stark with the Sanctuary in Crenshaw. We have noticed a number of Sleepers coming into our infirmary with a strange rash very similar to greyscale.

[greyscale, the common childhood illness everyone knows about. sansa had never seen it in winterfell, as it favors warmer, wetter climates, but even in the north they told stories of the strange, violent stone men of the rhoyne, who had contracted it as adults and never recovered. this new illness reminds her very much of that. she has no reason to believe greyscale is specific to her world alone.]

They have mentioned a sudden increase in strength and stamina as well. These are the early signs of a very dangerous sickness, which can turn people into stony, mindless creatures very like greyscale does when it's contracted late enough in life. The treatment is a blood transfusion, a very large one, and we ask anyone who has noticed these symptoms to seek it here or at the Lumenarium.

These transfusions can take a lot of blood, so we are asking everybody able to come here and donate theirs. You will be fed for your trouble, and anyone may seek additional compensation if they want it. Of course Warmblood is best for transfusions, since anyone can receive it, but we welcome donations of all blood types. We have a number of healers and Blood Ministers already here to retrieve the blood safely and comfortably, but we won't turn away any more help, either.

[she smiles as gratefully as she can manage.]

Thank you for your time, prudence, and generosity. This won't interfere with our usual business at the Sanctuary, and everyone is welcome to stay and rest here as long as they like after giving blood. We hope to see a good many of you soon.

[the log for the blood drive can be found here. it's completely open and will run for most of the rest of august as needed. feel free to toplevel with whatever your character is doing!!]

CW: Violence against a teen, past child abuse and neglect

( The fairest of them all was certainly not looking that way today. )

[Oh hey, it's anonymous sender time again. Jun's been doing some thinking in the last few days.]

What does family mean to you? Like... what counts? Is it your blood family? What if you're adopted?

What if you don't know you're adopted? Does family become something like a lie in that case?

Do dead people stop being family?

I don't really know what family means anymore. It's confusing and there's too many emotions tied up in it.

[ After a busy month of prep work, thanks to the help of Sleepers: It’s finally here, the days of the competition. In a converted space within The Red, thanks to Luna asking Madam Generosity for permission, the Bakers are working hard to produce baked goods containing fruits for the Sleepers. These delicious treats will battle away Corruption and Beasthood, and will be shared out amongst Sleepers.

Through the use of K’s excellent work in broadcasting the competition, the camera happens across the Bakers during the competition to ask for a moment of their time to give a brief interview for the folks watching at home. But first, what’s going on?? Well, never fear — there’s two Sleepers to explain that to you all! ]

Tory’s outfit consists of a bright yellow blazer, a gold necklace, fitted black shirt, and a pair of black and white pants. She’s honestly not entirely sure of what the right thing to say is, operating under a ‘fake it ‘til you make it’ philosophy and channeling all of her confidence into a friendly smile. If she can sing and tell stories at kids’ parties, she can do this.]

Good morning to all the people with a sweet tooth out there! For those sleeping in today, you snooze you lose! Sucks to be you. We have a day of sweets and treats ahead of us, made by our very own Paleblood Sleepers. I’m Tory, and this is my co-host Michael, who’s going to fill you in on all the details.

[Michael’s dressed to the nines, all in pastels. He claps his hands together and grins winningly.]

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the Great Paleblood Bake-Off! This week, sixteen of our most talented Palebloods will be competing to impress our judges with their best fruity desserts! The winner will be sharing their delicious treats with other Sleepers to help fight off the scourge of corruption, and the losers will be subjected to a hilarious public comedy roast - oh, no? Are we not doing that? Well, they can also share their bakes, but without a very cool trophy, created by our good friend Paimon!

This morning’s judges are Allen, Gaia, and Megumi! This afternoon we'll have Snow, Maul and Sato. And today, our bakers will be presenting them with…”a dessert that reminds you of home!” Alright, that isn’t depressing at all! Here, we go, bakers! Squid eyes, fish hearts, can’t lose!


( and now from our bakers! )

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.

(CW: Attempted child murder and mildly disturbing images)


[Snow White's memory begins in a very lovely and pleasant way! In fact, there is the sense that Snow White hasn't been able to do something like this in such an agonizingly long time. As she collects wild flowers, she hears the cries of a little bird calling for help. Snow White quickly comes over to the little bluebird to assure it everything will be fine, they'll find the parents soon.

She is completely ignorant to the huntsman behind her. She has no clue he's looking all around to make sure there is no one to watch, no one to observe his next act.

He approaches her, dagger raised high, having every intention to cut out her heart, just as the queen commanded. He steps ever closer and closer until his shadow looms swallows her form.

She turns around and screams at the sight of him ready to kill. She has no defenses. This was the point. She is supposed to die.

But his hands are shaking and the huntsman drops his dagger. He can't, he says. He can't bring himself to kill her. He warns her of the queen, how he wants her dead, she's jealous, mad with it, in fact. She must flee! She must get out of here NOW! No time to do anything but run.

Run! And never return!

Flee!

Her head is spinning, one minute she's being threatened. The next she's being told to flee and never return. She can never return. She can't come back! She has to get away, to get out! No food, no supplies, no nothing, just get away and don't return!

She runs and run, every turn seems like the eyes of her stepmother watching her, every branch that snags her feels like claws trying to drag her back to her stepmother. All she can hear is the blood rushing in her ears.

Snow White has no clue where she's going! She has no idea! She's never been outside of the castle before! Every which way she turns is unfamiliar and looming and dark. As she stumbles back, she feels the ground beneath her give way and she tumbles.

Finally, a voice cuts through:]

Oh dear! Faramund, what are you showing people?

[ posted in the early hours of sunday 8 may aka mother's day.

it's not on brand for wanda maximoff if she doesn't make a post every blue moon about something sad.

today, it's one that she knows she has no business making. but today's a day that she wishes she was spending in westview with billy and tommy, and after seeing them in a portal only a few weeks ago…

the wounds are a little fresh. so is her loneliness. ]

Can you still celebrate Mother's Day even when your children are not with you?

[ her voice is low and her accent is thick and shaky. wanda's trying to keep her composure. this isn't meant to be as upsetting as it sounds. wanda had her script perfected, her inflection decided upon in her rehearsals in front of the mirror. but the star of wandavision's final cut isn't as clean and perfect as she wishes it to be. ]

( Aqua decides to keep this short and sweet. It's obvious by now that she isn't returning home any time soon. However, when the time does come for her to leave as others have, she wants to be prepared for it. )

Good evening.

I was wondering if anyone here may have been looking for a sparring partner -- or, if anyone has one, if they wouldn't mind someone else to practice with. My strength is in my magic, if that's something that others want to consider.

Furthermore, I was wondering if anyone could tell me anything about this world that hasn't been recorded in any of the books here. The more that we know, the better chance that we may be able to solve the mystery of how we can all return home.

... And, finally... I was wondering if there were any places in particular away from the town that others enjoy visiting. Any place that seems peaceful would be wonderful.

Thank you in advance.

- Aqua.

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.))

[It's not entirely obvious when Snow White starts up the video, just how much pain she is in. She's still smiling but it's a bit more subdued. She's even paler (somehow) than she usually is. She also has a bandage on her neck. Her animal friends around her are deeply concerned, watching her carefully and Faramund, her giant stag is staying pressed against her side as if supporting her to stay upright.]

Why hello everyone!

My goodness, wasn't that jungle such an interesting place! I've never seen some of the animals there before! They were so nice, though. [Snow had struggled in the jungle not because of the animals but because of the pain she's currently in just for existing. But her pain tolerance, despite her appearance, is ridiculously high.]

Oh, but! That isn't why I'm speaking with you all.

I'm sure we've all noticed those terribly large blood boils coming up all over the place. And while the bloodhounds are doing a marvelous job getting rid of them, well there is just SO many of them the poor things can't get to all of them. Not that they don't try, of course. [Snow being Snow is yes, slowly befriending them.]

So, I'm going to tell you how I get blood out of clothing! And walls, and floors, and furniture, and windows, and really anything else! Especially since the blood splatters don't smell very nice. [That's one way of putting it.]

Thankfully, getting blood off the walls and floor are the easiest to clean with a good strong brush and bucket of scented soap! But I do know the rest can be very tricky.

So if you would like any help, please let me know. Blood in on fabriced furniture can be especially tricky.

I didn't really know what else to do other than introduce myself properly so here we are

I'm Enma Yuu
I'm from Japan and I ended up in another world by accident before this one and I've been there for several months until I ended up here
so if you want i can help give you some suggestions on how to adjust to our weird new lives
i used to practice kendo and i like sewing and I paint sometimes
i guess that's it?

Oh and if you see this guy around please let me know
you'll know him if you see him he never shuts up and he's a big glutton
his name is grim

im very bad at drawing on phones and i dont have anything to draw or paint on sorry about that

Anyway
Thanks for your time

[ The video turns on showing Shouto looking a little worse for wear. Ice creeps up his neck on his right side, and there's dark circles around his eyes. When he speaks, his breath chills the air around him turning a misty white. ]

Has anyone seen Midoriya Izuku? He has green hair, green eyes. He's [ he lifts his hand around his chin ] this tall. 

He's been missing since the monster - Kaiju - attack. I haven't seen him or been able to get in contact with him since they took down the Kaiju.

Does anyone know where he is? Even the last time you saw him could be useful information. 

Please let me know. 

Why hello there!

[Snow White is in her kitchen, which is really pretty standard. This time, however, she's not surrounded by food that is being jarred, pickled, or dried. Her army of animal friends is around her, per the norm. The more observant will notice that Snow has on an apron and has several stray bits of dough and mixing bowls around her.]


Several friends of mine have asked, and I thought, well, why not offer it to everyone!

I would like to offer baking and cooking lessons to everyone who might want them, oh not these friends mind you [Snow gestures to her animals.] they already know how to cook! [Because of course they do]! I can teach you the very basics, or if you'd like, much more advanced lessons as far as I'm able to!

I think everyone should be able to cook. I can teach you how to cook outdoors as well! It's very easy to start a fire once you know the steps.

The only ingredients we won't use are apples, but if there's anything else you've always wanted to learn, I'd be happy to try and help you!

[A songbird tweets something and she turns to look at them.] Hmm? Price? I haven't thought of one, I'm sure we can figure something out. [In that, it will be very likely Snow will ask for nothing in return because she does that.]

I look forward to helping you on your cooking journey!

[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.]

[There are two things that will probably become immediately apparent once this post goes live on DeerNet: whoever's posting it is almost definitely using a voice-to-text function, and they are almost definitely having a Paleblood Truthiness Moment™ that's become so relatively commonplace this month.]

Do you know what this little trinket reminds me of? A magic mirror. My stepmother had one of those. She thought it could tell her the future if she asked questions of it, all visions and prophecies. She used to use it to spy on me. Watched my every move and jotted it all down so she could hand it over to my father's wizard. And of course everyone knew that mirror showed the future true, so anything she reported back, well, that must also have been true, hadn't it? She could just say she saw it in her mirror. Who would question it?

[The sarcasm is palpable.]

I wonder, though, how many people around these parts believe in that sort of thing. Prophecy, that is. Ever had one told about you? Someone you know, maybe? Did it come true, or was it all just fluff and superstition wrapped up in some pretty rhyming couplets?

I found my omen recently. It doesn't like its own shape much, and I can't say I do, either. Do you suppose it's trapped that way forever, regardless? Or do you think it can change?

[Here, too, there's a sense of hesitation, like the person posting isn't precisely sure how to end it — like a proper letter, or to just cut off, or what.]

Right, then.

[CW: Now with discussion of death in the comments!]

[The video starts off with Maul smiling which everyone who has been in Trench for more than a few months will realize is never a good sign. Fortunately, he's not here to terrorize everyone, just be a troll and gadfly to his mate.]

Hello everyone. Since I'm sure he'd never tell you himself, I'm here to inform you that Reaper has just turned sixty. That's right, he's officially OLD. There's nothing for him but going downhill now, becoming more decrepit and decaying and plodding along until he just drops dead one day or I mercifully smother him with a pillow. [He's still got that wicked grin on his face but he's managed not to laugh so far.] I suggest you all send him birthday wishes, preferably from a safe distance away or over the Omni since otherwise there is a very good chance he'll try to blow a hole through you with one of his shotguns.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go stay one step ahead of him so he can't find me and do the same. [He can't contain himself any longer and there's a cackle of delight as he turns the video off.]

[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?