Deer Country Network

[Hey all, been a few months. You remember this guy. The shirtless guy with the giant mech. Well he's back. Clothed, this time. Though he might get more help if he were shirtless again, huh. Alas.

Raleigh is outside, sitting next to a planting bed, lush with vegetation. Like so much. It's a suspicious amount of plant life for Trench.

He smiles and waves. It's dark, but there are little torches all over so it's got a luau kind of vibe.

The camera pans so you can see the garden properly. It's two huge raised beds full to the brim on either side of the walkway to a huge, newly finished greenhouse . Lit from the inside, she looks something of a crystal palace.]

Do you all see this? This is the future.

I dunno about all of you but I'm sick to death of mushrooms.

[He pans through the veggies, all growing happily under warded netting. Lettuce, tomatoes, squash, beans, corn. Familiar for a lot of people. Very rarely seen in this world.]

Last month all my powers turned into plant stuff so I've been making and growing as much as I can. Things are hard here and the soil is awful, but it can be done.

[Raleigh moves towards the green house. Free range chickens dart around his feet as he goes, looking for food. He's the mama. Some of them are wearing little crochet hats. Inside the greenhouse is table after table after table of seedlings. The other side is all planting beds full of soil ready to go.]

I've been thinking about how important food is to all of us. Not.. well, obviously it's important, but I mean culturally, too. Making food from home.. having ingredients from home.. that's kind of our last connection.

[He sets his Omni down and reappears in frame. He looks tired, but when doesn't he.]

So.. Is there anyone out there who cares about this stuff? Because honestly I have the land but I'm learning as I go along and I could use the help. I'm not a gardener but I think we can scale this in a way that means we all get access to fresh produce. Like a co-op thing? I dunno. The land needs purifying, water, there's no sun.

I was part of a seed bank back in Deerington. Has anyone saved seeds from last month's growth? Would you donate them towards the cause?

Oh- also dairy. That's something I want to work on. This is a stretch but if you have goats or cattle let me know.

Yeah.. okay. Okay, thanks.

Hang in there, everyone... This should just be only a couple weeks more right? The darkness at least. I've been on a planet for so long I forgot how to manage the darkness effects at first...
But take it from me and some other folks who worked or lived in space-
Try your best to keep a routine of "day" and "night" hours so your body has some sense of cadence
It should help you feel less messed up when theres no daylight to rely on
(To say nothing of the bugs which you should already know to be avoiding by now)
I'll try to think up any other good tips but the sleep cycles a big one
If you need help getting around too let me know
I don't mind lending a hand

[Oh, it's a Shiro post. Clearly, this is going to be some informative speech. Important information about town, or what's going on here.]



WHO CHANGED MY NAME TO 'BUTT MAN'?


[... or not.]

[That's it. That's the post.]

[When the video flicks on, Rapunzel... isn't staring at it at all. She's huddled on the windowsill in her room, knees pulled close to her chest and her cheek resting against the cool glass of the window. She's staring outside, into the now-constant night, her eyes locked on the moon hanging above.

She seems... defeated. Anyone who's met Rapunzel before, even in the terrible jungle they escaped last month, would know that she's a constant beam of bright and vibrant energy. Rarely does Rapunzel's smile leave her face, and rarely does that aura of unending optimism leave her. But now, that bright and vibrant look to her is gone; her shoulders sag, and her expression as she gazes at the moon is akin to a painful yearning bordering on heartbreak.]

The people who disappear... [She's seen some folks talk about that, the past few days. One man had said someone he lost "returned to the sea", so Rapunzel can put the pieces together in her head.] They turn into those squid things again, right? And they just... go back to the water?

[She's not sure if she believes that. She has no reason not to, of course, but Rapunzel is still holding onto some shred of hope that she can one day see Corona again. Maybe if they disappear, they really go home, and it only looks like they turn into squids again?]

What happens to them after that? Can they still, y'know... think and feel? Do they still have their memories? Are they still them?

[There's a long pause. Rapunzel's hands grip tight into the fabric of her skirt, and a soft squeak can be heard; Pascal, her ever-present chameleon friend, uncurls himself from his spot on her shoulder so he can snuggle up against her neck, just under her ear. It's the only form of comfort such a little creature can provide for her, but he still tries.]

Can they be... happy like that, even if they weren't happy before?

[The face that appears on video is not at all her usual self. If anything, she seems shell-shocked. In truth, an entire piece of her has been unceremoniously ripped out of herself, and frankly she's moving through the day, just carrying out necessary motions.]

[Like a ghost haunting her own life.]

...Asami's gone.

[There is a long silence after that. She wants to say things about her, say what she meant to Korra, say all the things she never said in this stupid, stupid hell she loathed with all her heart that trapped them all - but what would be the point? Those who knew Asami already knew, and those who didn't wouldn't care.]

If you had any projects with her, I'll keep her shop open long enough for you to collect them.

...That's all.

[And not once, in those words, did her eyes so much as move towards the camera, staring off into the far distance instead. Right now, she's holding herself together by a thread.]

[Ariadne's gotten good enough with her Omni that the feed only wobbles a little bit when she turns it on.  That's progress!  No one's getting sea sick.  Hopefully.

She's standing on the threshold, between her building and her garden, moonlight lighting up her silhouette.  She's wearing her gold gown, clearly eager to make a good impression.  Her long hair is unbound, falling nearly to her calves in rolling waves.  It gives her the look of some kind of forest spirit (but she's not one, Maul, shut up).

Arrayed behind her is Serenity Garden.  Which would look a bit more impressive in sunlight, but Ariadne's done her best to arrange lanterns to illuminate everything.  She does, however, continually cast a concerned glance over her shoulder.  You can't trust fire, you can't turn your back on it.]

Well, it's April.  So I was planning to announce the opening of Serenity Garden to the public.  It's just meant to be a nice place where you can sit, meditate, talk with a friend, court your lover.  Just be in nature.  All are welcome, but no violence against the other guests or the trees.

...hopefully the sun will be back soon so you can enjoy seeing it in the daylight.

[But it's Trench, so that may not be a sure thing.  She can only hope.

Although, on the subject of hope:]

Also, the anniversary of my birth is at the end of the month.  Does that mean I should expect some kind of mysterious gift?  Any thoughts on what that might be?  Just so I can...prepare myself.

( cw: alcohol/substance abuse and visible corruption symptoms. )

[At first, the post opens with video. Lance is using his omen for this because he's probably too intoxicated to operate the omni. Corruption has started to increase again and rapidly given what he's trying to announce. The scar over his left eye looks a bit bigger and his iris of that eye is a glowing, crackling electric blue. He's not looking at the 'camera', his expression trained hard on the table in front of him as he grapples with the pain of loss.]

So… Hunk's gone… [In real time, the scar over his eye grows length-wise and cracks open horizontally and the darkness of space seems to be underneath: black void with stars and a nebula. The glowing light of his eye flashes brighter and seems to overtake the rest of his eye.] …baaaack to th' sea.

[His speech is a bit slurred and his hand comes up to his forehead as he leans to brace his elbow on the table. He looks at his omen and his brow furrows.] Valor, this's audio, right?

[What sounds like an 'oops' comes from his omen and then the video cuts out. There's the sound of a heavy, rattled breath being let out from Lance before he continues.] Whatever, not like it matters, [snort] as if I'm even gonna remember, right?

…Oh yeah… anyone in town got some memory findin' powers? I'm missin' some, so I need you to like… reach into my head hole or whatever.

[A breath is heaved, but it sounds shallow and wet, like there's something wrong with his lungs. Then the sound of a glass clinking on something.] Anyway, here's to th' ocean! I'm gon' go yell at her to give me my bro back. Later.

[There's the sound of a scraping chair as he gets up, and then the loud thump and crash of someone immediately fumbling their footing because they're too messed up and falling to the floor.] Oww…

To anyone who is in regular contact with Takashi Shirogane, or Shiro, you may notice a slight difference in his username.

Please don't tell him. I'm waiting to see how long it takes him to notice.

[Anyone who cares to look will notice that Shiro's username has been changed from the ever pragmantic 'shiro' to 'buttman.' For science.]

CW: Body horror, assault

[The video started with a young man leaning over to assess the creature in question, but Luke's expression was already shifting from empathetic concern to alert and aware of something being off about the situation he found himself in.

In the trees, the shadows seem to deepen and thicken and all the birds stop their singing. The forest seems to go still as the shadows of the trees seem to move, dropping down to the forest floor and black smoke in tendrils crawl along the ground. For a single moment, it might even seem like a few had feet before the tendrils took on a more slithering appearance.

Luke had stood straight and turned towards the shadows and the hilt of the lightsaber came to hand.]

Who's there?

[Suddenly the smoky tendrils withdrew like they had been burned and a black creature that had little shape shot forward. Many eyes, a few mouths with shiny white teeth appeared in seemingly random places all over the black-body. Just as suddenly a gloved hand shot out of the whirling thick smoke creature of twisting tentacles, eyes, mouths. The gloved hand might look familiar as he closed around Luke's wrist holding the lightsaber.

A disjointed laugh echoed through the mass of black smoke, teeth sharpening and eyes widening all around. A voice sounded from many mouths, layering over top of each other.]

Ah ah ah... there's no need for toys.

[Black tentacles crawled around the ground to wrap around Luke's ankles then up legs as the Jedi struggled and fought to be free. Suddenly the consolidated mass of black smoke billowed forward to envelop the brunette like a noxious living cloud. The way the smoke was forced to puff out here and there indicated the continued fight going on unseen.

Smoke whirled like a miniature tornado, stirring up leaves, snapping twigs, and throwing small pebbled around. The hilt of a lightsaber rolled out from the smoke, and then there's a soft mournful call of a bird before the video ended abruptly.]

[OOC: Luke is in green & Reaper is in red. Replies will likely come from both of them.]

[As opposed to her more...domestic and at-home pursuits, Bella is actually outside during this particular network video. More than that, she's grimy, covered in grease and oil, with her hair in a messy ponytail and smudges on her face and clothes.

The reason for this becomes clear as she flips the feed to reveal her beloved '63 Chevy pick-up truck. It's...definitely seen better days, even more so because it's covered in the bloody residue from one of the blood blisters around town bursting.

Flipping the image back to her grim face, Bella looks deadly serious.] I don't know if anyone else had like...cars or bikes come with them, but if you have any experience or...any ideas on how to get blood out of an engine, that'd be great.

[Quietly, to the car:] You're not quitting on me, not after all this time...

Stanley's gone back to the sea. I don't think he'll be returning any time soon.

The Murder Hut will be closed until further notice. If you pre-purchased tickets you can take a raincheck, but there's no refunds.

[ It's kind of a joke, see, because if Stan comes back and finds out his family gave money away he'll be so offended he'll probably walk right back into the ocean. ]

If you had any other unfinished business with him, let me know. I'll do what I can to settle it.

[Vyng's a mess: Wet, gray hair plastered to his face. Black sand clinging to his clothing and neck. Gills flaring in and out with exertion, while his expression pinches with pain. Observant Sleepers might notice pieces of wool sticking out of his pointy elven ears.]

Orpheus needs help. Eurydice, she...

[He takes a breath, giving himself a moment to collect his thoughts.]

She's moved on. Like many of us will someday.

But as soon as they separated, he turned into a large beast and flew off. Somewhere toward the Rocks, south of the Farthest Shore.

[With some shaky maneuvering, Vyng points the camera so it's overlooking the magnificent Pthumerian Ocean. In the distance, a large bird-like creature circles over the water. From offscreen, Vyng continues.]

Four wings. Antlers. Difficult to miss. His songs are like a mermaid's — I think...I think they lure people into the ocean. Be careful, everyone.

[The image lowers toward the wet sand. Vyng's last words before the feed cuts off, almost too quiet to be heard over the sea wind, filter through:]

I'm sorry.


((OOC: This is a lead-in for the Sirens Mini-Plot. Beast!Orpheus is grieving his wife and luring people to their deaths. Check here for more details and plotting.))

Hey, all - I see there's some new faces. I'm Shiro, longtime resident here.

[He's seated on a sofa - well, seated is probably the wrong word. He's propped up by a lot of soft things, thanks to being a Warmblood this month.]

If you have any questions, I'm happy to answer - usually I'm on the Waker team, but ah, didn't get a chance this time around.

[Because of feeling like speaking, like moving, is too much effort.]

Anyway, I had a question. I'm pretty good in a fight, usually prefer hand-to-hand. [He is. Hilarious.] Weapons are a little more rusty, and this thing...

[He turns the omni to face a sword propped against the couch.] ... showed up at our house yesterday. And I could use a few pointers in swinging it.

[Maul looks as serious as he's ever been and at first he doesn't seem like he wants to speak. It takes Venge giving him a very hard headbutt to give him the impetus to start talking. There's a pensive quality to his voice like he's been practicing what he wants to say in his head but still isn't sure if he's gotten it quite right yet.]

I was in Deerington for over a year and a half. Including the time here in Trench, that is now over two years spent away from my home galaxy. That can change a person no matter how resistant one is to it. Some of you have been right. I have been acting like an unrepentant monster. [Which might be one of the hardest things for Maul to ever admit publicly. Everyone here knows getting him to admit when he's wrong is like pulling teeth.] But I've had a great deal of time to think and have come to the conclusion that I don't want to be that anymore. It is not a decision I make lightly or one that I was forced into by anyone. I think that has been the crux of why I have been faltering in my attempts. No one can make me become a better person. That has to come from within. So I'm going to prove the ones that have stuck by me right and show their eternal faith in me has been warranted. I never would have even gotten this far or come to this decision without them. To that end, I am making you all an offer which will be good from now until this city collapses into dust like Deerington did.

I swear by everyone here I told dear-- [And that's how one can tell he's dead serious about this. Maul would never make a vow he doesn't fully intend to keep.] --I will protect almost any and all of you against any monster that ever threatens your life. No questions asked, I will simply be there to defend you from danger. Just contact me and ask. It is that simple. All I seem to be good for is death and destruction, so I am going to channel that in a positive manner. There are a few exceptions to this, of course, but I'm sure you already know who you are. I'm making a change for the better but I'm not a saint and I do hold grudges. This doesn't apply to any conflicts that involve other Sleepers. I'm not getting involved in your petty squabbles. But anything inhuman which threatens your life will be dealt with in a swift manner, of that you can be assured.

[He goes to turn off his Omni when he adds on almost as an afterthought.]

Oh, and my offer to use my powers to get you to sleep or pull corruption out of your mind also still stand.

[Maul pauses and thinks of adding on something more but he's afraid he might dig himself into a hole he can't get out of if he does so. Instead, the Sith Lord just ends the feed a bit abruptly right there.]

Firstly, I wish to express my immense gratitude to those who came to my aid and advised me last month. I realize naturally in retrospect that it was much a matter outside of my control. I do not speak to relieve myself of the burden of what happened; I still very much hold myself accountable, but objectively speaking there was little I could do and undo.

So it is better to move forward.

Secondly. There is not much in the way of constructive skill that I can offer to my fellow Sleepers. However, there is at least one thing I've much experience in, and it is with my... affliction, shall we say. It is one that I have had for decades, plus years left unaccounted for.

And so it is that I wish to offer my experience to those in a similar matter as myself. I have methods to keep myself calm and clear of mind despite my worse instincts, whatever wretched impulses rack my body and mind. The fiend within will never be tamed, but our willpower is much more significant than you might expect. Should you need my aid in this regard, it is yours. Contact me whenever you have need.

...Ah. Yes. A third thing.

( locked from ahiru )

[Ezra has a Sword of Agency laid across his lap when he flips on the camera to his Omni. The very observant might note he's in one of the safehouses Ruby clued him into. He looks thoughtful.]

I've had enough time travel and other weirdness going on in my life for the last year that I wasn't sure how far off my count of subjective days might be. But I woke up to this sword, which gives off some pretty interesting vibes. So either my Blessed Day is a really random day, or it's my birthday.

I'm going with it being my birthday. Nineteen.

I've always pretty much hated my birthday, as long as I remember. Some of it's personal, but even the personal stuff is tied to the fact that the day I was born, the galaxy where I'm from changed, and not, in my estimation - and a whole lot of other people's - for the better.

There's no, like, cosmic or destined implications to the fact I was born that day, by the way. Not as far as I know. Just cause and effect, maybe. Stress can lead to early births, right? I'm just a kid from a backwater planet in a big galaxy. My parents weren't anyone important.

But sometimes my birthday felt like a curse.

None of that baggage came from here. I'd like to try to put some of it down, you know? [He peers towards a window.]

It's looking bad out there, but if you want to brave it, I've got a big pot of mushroom stew on, and I think I'm gonna see if I can get this thing to project a movie. Not exactly a dazzling party, but it's more than I usually celebrate. Some company would be great. Or just talk to me on here.

Any suggestions for a must watch?

[Maul looks very serious but also with a touch of the cat that finally caught the canary as he starts the video.]

I thought I would just give a formal announcement that I have broken the curse which has been on me since Deerington. For those who didn't know about it, it caused me to feel pain whenever I harmed another sentient being. But no more.

[He sounds extremely pleased by that. Though any traces of glee are soon replaced by a murderous expression on his face, his eyes hardening until there is only fury in them.]

If any of you feel like being clever and immediately trying to put another leash upon me, I would advise against it. I didn't retaliate this time but next time I will kill anyone who tries to meddle in my life, whether or not it is my own hand that ends your life.[Maul's got enough people in town who he knows would eagerly kill for him if he asked them to, his brother and mate both chief among them. While he usually prefers to do his own dirty work, he's not willing to put himself through another eight months of being muzzled.] Or I shall simply make your life so miserable that you wish you were dead. After all, most sentient species contain around two hundred to four hundred bones. Consider the fact I know how to break each and every one of them. Or how most species will continue to survive as long as the brain has oxygen and the hearts continue to pump blood regardless of what else is done to their body. Just a thought.

[He pauses and adds on a little at the end.]

As for the three that did it? You already know I don't forgive and I don't forget. Run and hide if you like. I'll come and find you soon enough.

[The feed turns on to show...a wolf. At first the wolf's yellow eyes take up the screen, and then its nose as it loudly sniffs at the camera until a young girl's voice with a strong Irish brogue addresses it offscreen.]

What are you doin' over there? I need help with this part!

[The wolf turns around to join whatever's going on, revealing that this is in Mebh's room at the Waystation. And it's an absolute mess; Mebh is currently in the process of painting various things on the walls with paint that she probably stole got from somewhere in town. She's painted it with numerous kinds of shapes and symbols; spirals, circles, arrows, simple depictions of wolves and people. What seem to be most common, though, are wolf pawprints overlapping with human handprints. The wolf Mebh called over dips one of its paws in a jar of paint, and Mebh guides the wolf's paw to the middle of a painting of a large circle of wolves, where the pawprints overlap with her own handprints that she added earlier.]

There! Sin é, that's it. It's startin' to look more like the den now.

[Seemingly satisfied, Mebh goes to another part of the wall where she's in the process of painting something else; it's meant to look like this, though Mebh's artistic ability doesn't quite match her vision so it looks a good deal cruder.

Will Mebh get in trouble with the Dog Keeper for painting on the walls of her room without asking? Probably. But at least she's preoccupying herself instead of dwelling on what she's lost. If she's going to stay in a room instead of the woods, she can at least make it look more like home.]

cw: minor mentions of war, discussions of possible character death

So, it seems that my Blessed Day is in fact the same day as my birthday.

[ Luna speaks off camera, busy trying to put her Omni in the right place. It takes a couple of moments, but the initial view of Luna's room: all soft lighting, bright but peaceful tones across the space, is finally obscured as Luna steps into the frame to sit at her desk, something in her hand. She waves to the camera with a cheerful smile in greeting before she continues with what she's addressing. With a soft sound, she lugs the item in her hand onto her desk and then carefully holds it up to the camera of her Omni to show it.

It's a sword: the Blade of Agency, to be precise. Luna gazes down at it with faint bemusement; of course Doorway would gift a sword, considering they appear with one at all times. But Luna's... not quite sure what to do with it. She's a Witch, not a sword-swinger. Not that she's ungrateful, and she certainly doesn't mean to come across as that as she stares at the sword. ]

I found this propped up against the wall of my room this morning. A gift from Doorway, my Patron. [ Her head twists one way in thought, brow pinching. It's a fine looking blade, she thinks. Although she's not very knowledgeable in that department. ] It... feels special. I don't think it's just a regular sword.

[ She can't really tell how, though. She should really find some way to find that out before she goes about using it. Ravenclaws err on the side of caution in the face of magic swords. ]

... Although if I'm meant to use it, I've never actually swung a sword before. [ ... ] I believe I shall need some help with that.

[ Should anyone be interested in that. There's a long pause; Luna smiles faintly. She would turn the feed off at that but something else is on her mind. She's quiet for a little while, putting the sword down carefully down on her desk once more. It's... something difficult, the way her expression shifts. Not something necessarily bad, but— ]

... I turned twenty today. [ She lets that settle for a moment before she continues. Her voice is hushed, a little sombre in some way. She fiddles with her hands as she goes on: ] It's quite funny, you know. Not being a teenager anymore. Well, not just that part, really.

I suppose— I guess I never expected to live past seventeen. [ A short pause, there's a sudden realisation. She smiles weakly. ] Although I realise that doesn't quite funny at all when you say it out loud, does it?

[ More like horrifying, than anything else. Sometimes Luna has that uncanny knack for making people uncomfortable with the things she says; but it's a truth of her home. She was headed to battle before Trench, before Deerington. It was quite possible she'd never make out to the other side of that battle. Even people as young as she was die in war, she understands that. But now, here, she's made it out of her teens and into the first steps of adulthood. It's given her a great deal of cause for ruminating. ]

I've learned a lot about different things; different magic, and ways people live. Especially Muggles. ... I've met a lot of people, made friends. I've gotten to experience a lot of new things in those friendships I didn't have the chance to get to at home. I even met someone who I love very much. [ Her weak smile turns to something fonder, there's warmth there. Perhaps it's quite fitting that Doorway is her Patron, after all. Her relationships are important to her. But don't worry, she's not going to get too mushy over her boyfriend over the network. ]

I know for as difficult life here can be, for as hard Deerington was... this place is a kind of opportunity. It's let me have a great deal of things I didn't think I could have. Things I would have likely never had the chance to experience if I had never come here and stayed in my own world. It's a chance at living. One I didn't think I would get.

[ ... ]

I think that's quite important to remember. When things are difficult. Or when I do miss home sometimes. [ She goes quiet again, lost in her thoughts for a little bit. Even now, trying to pull the positives here in a world that has much stacked against them. Her expression turning to a serene dreaminess as she props her elbows on her desk, chin in her hands. So: ] ... What are you glad for the opportunity for, Sleepers?

Hello, hello Trench! If you don't know me, I'm Wu, and I run the Raccoon Room, Trench's exclusive Sleeper performance venue.

[ Wu grins at the camera, talking a bit fast, clearly excited about something. The excitement palpable even through the Omni with his paleblood power projecting his emotions. Fritter the raccoon is perched on his shoulder, holding on to some of his hair as he talks ]

I come to you today with an announcement. A very important announcement! I know a lot of us have baggage we're carrying around from back home, and after a while, you might be like, hey, this isn't super important anymore! And then something happens, and it's suddenly really, really important again.

[ Wu puffs himself up a bit, sitting up straighter, putting his free hand solemnly to his chest. Fritter mimics him, doing the same action with her little paw to her heart ]

So, today, on this, February second, of the Egg Moon in Trench, Deer Country, I, Wu, King of the Earth Kingdom back on my world that doesn't have it's own specific name, I hereby formally abdicate my claim to the Earth Kingdom throne and title.

[ As soon as he's done, the formality breaks and he lets out a bright laugh. Fritter chitters excitedly, crawling up into Wu's hair. ]

Whew! That felt good, really good. [ But then his eyes go wide and he adds, conspiratorially: ] Oh, but if you're from home and you somehow go back home and there's another Wu there, he didn't do that, not yet at least! He still has some work to do.

[ We're back to casualness, and a bright, wide grin. ]

I'm glad that's done with. Oh, boy. You know, that super important thing? Mako and I are getting married! And he doesn't want any pesky titles following him around like mine was. So, we're just going to be two regular guys. Just two guys, getting married. [ He sighs happily, clearly deeply, disgustingly in love. Fritter rolls out of his hair and he casually catches her in his arms.

Then he gasps again, sitting up: ] Oh, and you're all invited! February 20th, at the Raccoon Room. I'll see you there!

((ooc: originally posted on Deerington's network, oops. If you already tagged, I've move them all over here))