Deer Country Network

I need something else to concentrate on.

What do you do when you think you like someone?

How can you be sure?

And if you are sure, how do you proceed?

[There was some adjusting before the young and very pale girl sat back, looking past as if something was holding whatever was recording-]

Just keep it steady, Dinah!

[-letting out a breath then, sitting on a spread blanket and a basket just in view beside her covered with a cloth.

That was definitely a few gravestones in the background. All the same, Alice kept her tone surprisingly bright, even calm.]

Hello, I'm Alice. I know some of you are still popping in and out of the catacombs- or perhaps you're waiting for someone else to come up? Well, I live nearby and figured some of you might like some food after what bits of horror can be going on down there.

Food can be very comforting after all, right?

[A tap of a finger against the basket's side.]

I've a few hand pies of various flavors, along with more savory empanadas that someone kindly taught me about, and how to make. Hopefully I am very easy to spot if you are already out here! If not, I can try to come to you.

[She might look familiar to those who have met her darker haired twin also named Alice.]

Ah- I've also some tea on hand, if any desire a cup.

[much of Rose can be seen from the nose down where she's wrapped in a deep burgundy robe, a canary perched on her shoulder and singing sweetly to the audience]

This may sound terribly stupid, but let me preface that with the fact that I'm new. Still terribly new, despite all I have seen in the past several days.

What is the difference between an Arcane Scholar and simply a scholar? If I'm interested in the one, does it dictate that I be interested in the other? [a frustrated sigh] I realize this may all be rudimentary to those who have been here a while, but I'm still at less than a month, so please show me some measure of mercy?

Thank you.

[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?

[Vira-Lorr was seated in her shop, reclining in her chair and looking at the table, her omni set up on the other side. She had a frown on her face, her eyes narrowed. The third eye glittered a little, seeming to almost glow softly in the low light of the room. The candles that were set out flickered and gave the fortune teller's chamber a soft, almost eerie glow.

On the table in front of her were a set of three tarot cards. She steepled her fingers, looking them over before sighing and turning her gaze to the feed, shrugging.]

Well, I never said my visions were always pleasant. Just a thought for my fellow sleepers, as you get ready for the next month. The locals call February a bitter month, and the story of Doorway is not exactly a happy one, trapped and forever waiting for someone who may never return.

Next month, you may be plagued by the possibilities, the imaginings and wishes that you might have in your hearts. Unsure, you might just find yourself at a crossroads, an important decision to be made. And if you choose one way, you may find yourself... what is the saying? "Crying over spilled milk" while you do not see the cups there, full on the shelf and waiting. But a choice always has at least two possible outcomes, yes?

[She reached over and drew another card. She smirked softly.]

Perhaps you might find what it is you want. The season of the Egg Moon is supposed to be a time of Rites, after all. Follow your hearts and choose wisely.

[And with that vague smirk, she flicked the camera feed off.]

Hey, Trench. Mako here.

Couple things as we head into the new month. First, Ruby and I have the safehouses pretty much cleaned out of snow and ice, but I'm looking for people to help chop wood so they're stocked up and other people to routinely check up on them, make sure they're monster-free and still safe. Remember to keep an eye out for weather changes. Things get weird around this time, that's pretty clear.

Second, I have a question. You don't have to answer.

[ Is he stalling? Absolutely. ]

I'm interested in mourning traditions. What kinds of things do you do to honor someone who's dead? What are your cemeteries like, if they exist? Do you have a way to feel connected to people who aren't here anymore? What is it? Does it help?

Thanks. Stay warm.

[For the last few months, she'd been focused on building the home for herself and Asami - creating a useful fortress as a check against the future. Once that was done, she found herself at a bit of a loss. Asami had her work, Mako and Wu were doing their thing, so was Bolin...]

[And she'd avoided fighting here. She'd been tasked to kill beasts - and it would be so simple to do so. Which was why she hadn't. She was certain that all of them had been people, and killing them was all part of some Pthumerian plot she couldn't quite get a handle on. It seemed like their sort of style - the sort of long-term, sneaky corruption of a person's soul they had enjoyed in Deerington. Why should Trench be any different?]

[And that was what Deerington had done, and she'd hated it - she'd been just a weapon there, and the Avatar was much more than that. She was much more than that. And she still had no idea how to be her full self here. And wasn't sure it was possible. But she'd had at least one idea.]

So I'm going to open a shop stall. Move it around Trench, keep myself busy. Custom glassware. Gifts for your special someone, or something for your home, I guess.

I really need a name, though, and it turns out I am TERRIBLE at those. Suggestions, anyone?

 I was going to wait until things stopped being so crazy around here, but I'm beginning to realize that that'll never happen... So forgive me if this seems out of place.

It's been a while since I got here and I guess I won't be going-- [He almost says "back home," but catches himself--] back to Yokohama any time soon. I figured that if I'm going to make a life here, maybe I should try to do some of the things that I wanted to do back there. Uh, so... 

Sorry to ask out of the blue, but how does someone get a high school education without actually going to high school? I'm too old for that now, but I didn't get a proper education in the orphanage. I'd like to be able to get a job and support my household here better, but I can't really do that without any skills. I don't think I'd be accepted into any education programs here as I am. I barely made things work in that nightmare town's community college.

Uh. Again: Sorry if this is a bad time to ask... Seems like everyone has their hands full with snake stuff..? Am I really choosing to live here?