Deer Country Network

[this, too, is a semi-anonymous post, though anna has used this username once before, nearly a year ago. she doubts anyone is left to recognize it, but given how things usually go, she'll just give herself away anyway.]

This place by the sea that so few will get the chance to see, and fewer still by the day.
Some of us might have begun calling it home by now.
And for a lot of us, it really did feel that way, didn't it?
Compelled to remain here, to treat this place as though we belong even though all of us are as outside to the whole system as Mariana is to us.
But not anymore. And maybe that's also the blessing of a Pthumerian. Freeing us from chains we couldn't even tell were around our necks.
Or maybe it's a curse. The curse of choice.

I'll spare you too much flowery bullshit.
If you had the chance to return home, would you take it?
Your true home. Where you came from before you washed up here.
Knowing what you know now. Knowing what you knew then.

Show your work.

Hey guys! Uh, I know it's been some time since I've done a thing like this, but so much is going on most of the time, I guess I haven't had the time like I used to.

So uh. Friends of me, friends of Lexi, general people looking for a relaxed time. Lexi and I are having a blood ceremony to bond the two of us together! It's a big step for the both of us, but we're pretty happy to make that commitment. But we're hoping to have some people get together and wish us well, and meet us for the first time if you haven't, have a snack, maybe talk to someone you know.

We have a bounce house!

I'll even provide transportation since it'll be Korra and Asami's old house, if you know where that is! But yeah. Snacks, maybe a bar if people want that.

Uh, I don't know anything about that though. I don't really know anything about drinking. Someone help please.

Anyway! We also have a bookstore, so if you want to know about that too, hop on by and we'll have information about that too. Hope to see you there!

[To begin with Maul and everyone Anakin is related to has been blocked from this post.]

When I was a child I met a man who promised to take me in. Shortly after that he was murdered. By Maul.

He only gets worse from there and he continues not just in my galaxy, but in the dream and then here. And when things start to reach a tipping point he makes some grand announcement about how things will be different now and all is forgiven. Until the next time.

I can't stop anyone from choosing to give him another chance, just like no one can make me forgive him no matter how much he screams that I owe it to him.

But I want to ask what makes someone worthy of a second, third, or however many chances? What makes him or even me any different from someone people are now clambering to kill? One day I'll do even worse and yet we're held to a different standard.

Here's a different perspective. Perhaps he was cruel to Maul in the past, but in the years since then he saw a boy placed in an unfamiliar environment and offered his hand in friendship. Isn't that the change you were looking for in Maul? In the entire time I've known him he's also never had the eyes Maul accused him of. In fact the only people I've seen with those eyes is him and his brother.

Is this really about doing what's right? Or simply revenge for someone you like? Be honest about your motivations because there's a good chance you'll die for them.

[And yes, this is the annoying, whiny, older one.]

[Maul's posts as of late had been a bit more lighthearted as he tried to set up his brother on a date and spoke of a memetastic grumpy batcat. But he'd been waiting for this day to come and so his face was as grim as if he was at a funeral during this post. His followers had been on the alert, watching for the signs, and had come to tell him that what he'd feared most had come to pass: Sidious was back at full strength and starting to possess people again in Trench. He couldn't put it off any longer. He had to warn people of what was coming.]

I come to you with the gravest of news. My former master, Darth Sidious, also known as Emperor Sheev Palpatine to some, has arrived in Trench. Many of you already know what that means, either through viewing my memories or listening to me talk about him. For those who do not, he was the man who raised me and turned me into....this. [The one word encompasses all of Maul, his psychopathic personality, the anger and pain he'd held onto for so long, his life being completely ruined by his master, getting turned from a person into a weapon and now spending the rest of his life trying to heal from that.] If you think I am dangerous, he is ten times as worse. He is pure evil. There is no reasoning with him, no way to appeal to any goodness that might reside within him, for he has none. All he has ever wanted in life is to gain power and he doesn't care how many people he must hurt or kill in order to do that. He's destroyed entire planets and every living thing that resided on them in order to do so. A city full of people is nothing to him if he wants to ascend to ultimate power.

Only his spirit has arrived rather than his physical body, so he is currently traveling from one body to the next as he tries to find a form he can take over for good. I have yet to discover a permanent way to banish him but I am open to suggestions. In the meantime, take whatever precautions you must in order to protect yourself and others. Trust me when I say if death is the only option, we must take it. You cannot afford to give him a chance, for he will brutally kill you if you give him one. Better to kill someone then allow him to remain and tear Trench apart at his whim.

His eyes look like this. [Maul closed his for a moment and channeled all the old anger he felt towards his master. When he reopened them, they had changed from the grey-brown color they had been holding steady as for the past three months and were back to the Sith yellow color they had remained for so many years.] They remain that color no matter who or what he is possessing, so it is a way to track whose form he is in. Please let me know if you spot a person or monster that has those eyes and I will deal with it.

[That euphemism of course meant that he would kill Sidious if he had to. Maul had gone over a year without killing anyone in Trench but he knew he couldn't afford to use kid gloves on his master. He'd need to be brutal and swift. He went to turn off the Omni and then paused, remembering one last thing he wanted to say.]

Oh, and Anakin? --The annoying whiny older one that is, not the annoying weird younger one-- if you try to interfere with this? I will stop you. That's not up for negotiation or debate. I'll kill you if I have to and keep you as a squid in the ocean to keep your idiotic devotion to this man from causing this situation to get worse. That is all.

[Then he does go and turn off the Omni for good this time.]

[OOC: This is the kickoff post for the Palpatine in Trench player plot! Feel free to interact with Maul, threadjack others to talk with them, or just head straight over to the log post to get started. As a reminder, Maul doesn't necessarily need to be involved in exorcising an NPC or character if you just want to do to something among two of you.]

[Lexi's in the bookstore, her batcats frolicking at the ends of their leashes and Mewdemic on her lap.

Lexi and Mewdemic may be wearing matching crocheted hats.

and she looks eager]

Okay, everybody! I've been talking about doing this for ages, so I figure that this might be a good time to go ahead and do it!

That's right, I'm talking Bad Movie Night! The only problem is that there are so many bad movies that I didn't want to make it only my decision about which bad movie reigns supreme. So that's where everyone else comes in.

What's the worst movie you've ever seen in your entire life? Preferably PG-13, I want this to be a Trench-wide event and I know we've got kids. Also, that disqualifies The Room, a truly shitty movie, but no one needs to have Tommy Wiseau's...anything inflicted upon them.

So, go go go! Let's hear about these shitty movies and why you think it deserves center stage on Bad Movie Night!

((OOC: Bad Movie Night log will go up on the 14th))

sasuke and sakura

they are back in the sea


I’m sorry

[And that’s it. Sorry Trench, if you were expecting more information, he doesn’t have it to give. Partly because what do you even say to something like this? And partly because this is Melius we’re talking about and the guy barely does social interaction - let alone dealing with heavy news.]

[… time to wallow in a pile of succulents and misery!]

[Maul looked immensely pleased and delighted with something just off-camera that he just had to share with the rest of the network.]

I have discovered it. The most magnificent batcat to ever exist.

[He turned the camera to face the batcat in question. It looked like....well....there was no denying it bore a shocking resemblance to a cat which had inspired a popular twenty-first century meme. The only difference was the batwings this one possessed, currently in a relaxed stance as it eyed Maul with feline curiosity. Other than that, the grumpy little cat was exactly the same as its long-ago predecessor.]

I will hear no arguments to the contrary. This creature is perfect.

[Lexi sits on her couch with her batcats, Nosferatmew, Mewnos: The Paws of Fate, and her non-batcat, Mewdemic sitting nearby. Orville, her hedgehog Omen, is sitting on his usual place on Lexi's shoulder]

Uh...hey. This is gonna sound weird after the whole Paleblood issue thing, but. I'm a Darkblood and I can feel my powers acting normal. See? [she lifts a large pile of books on her endtable telekinetically]

But I feel like something's wrong. Something bad. Really, really bad. And I can't shake that feeling, it's been keeping me up at nights and I feel...I guess 'paranoid' is the right word for it? I dunno.

[she sighs] Maybe I'm making a big deal out of nothing, I don't know, but if anyone else is feeling the same way? Please let me know. I can't be the only one this is happening to.

Right?

[Lexi's on her couch, Mewnos and Nosferatmew snoozing on the couch with her]

Okay, this is probably the dumbest question ever, but what stupid things do you miss from home?

Personally, I miss 'Doomsday Preppers' the most. I usually don't like reality TV, but that show is funny as hell. All of those people buying out Costco and building bunkers and assembling arsenals of guns which would make Neo go 'yeah, I think you have enough,' 'cause they thought the government or aliens or Captain Trips or the Illuminati were out to get them.

This one lady was coating eggs in mineral oil 'cause she said that would make the eggs stay fresh for a year. And she had literally dozens of cartons of eggs all covered with mineral oil. This other one accidentally shot his own thumb off while showing his little kids how to handle guns safely. That was hilarious.

Also, Dorothea left me a kitten last month. A normal kitten, not a batcat. I'm kind of not sure what to name her, but I know I'd like to stick to the whole insert shitty movie here plus 'mew.' I first though of going with The Mewm, but that kind of rhymes with womb and no. [she sits and thinks a moment, a crease forming between her eyes] Maybe 'Mewdemic?" Do you think that would work?

Um. I think I've learned how to use my Darkblood powers.

The only question now is how do I turn them off?!

[Nosferatmew and Mewnos: The Paws of Fate float on past the screen, each batcat not flapping its wings as a variety of other things in Lexi's bedroom float past Lexi, the batcats completely chill.

the batcats along with everything else in her bedroom, the remnants of a cocoon visible on the bed]

Looking for people who can also help me test the rest of my abilities, too. If not, I'll be back in the Satellite of Love tomorrow!

[Lexi is standing behind the counter of what's clearly a used books and comics store with a wide grin on her face]

Okay, everybody! I'd like to officially welcome you to the Satellite of Love Used Books and Comics! While you're here, please give your best to Nosferatmew and Mewnos: The Paws of Fate, our batcat mascots. Don't worry, both of them have been trained to be very polite and don't assume everyone's a nom-nom!

I look forward to seeing you here!

[Private to Luz]

We did it! We really did it!

[ While he's trying his best to keep up his usual even, monotone façade, anyone who pays attention to detail will notice that Sasuke's looking a little more on edge. Maybe disoriented, even.

He clears his throat slightly before speaking. ]

For those who have been learning taijutsu, ninjutsu, and genjutsu, I may need to put lessons on hold temporarily. I've been having... memory lapses and apologize to those who may have come to the dojo and waited for nothing.

I will pick up lessons and take on any interested new students once I feel more like myself.

[ He frowns, his hand reaching up to rub at his temple, the way one does when they're getting a headache behind their eyes. ]

Unrelated: if I'm understanding the timeline correctly, those of us who have been here the longest would be coming up around a year in this place. Given the influences of the moons and seasons leaving the possibility for repetition, what sort of things were happening this time last year? What should those of us who arrived after be prepared for?

[It took...a while for Ochako to find the courage to really start acting like herself again after all of what happened in July. Thankfully, she has some amazing friends, an absolutely wonderful boyfriend that she would do anything for, and is as resilient as she is stubborn. Moping about and feeling remorseful will get her nothing, she has to act if she wants things to get better, so this is exactly what she's doing today, despite how she's still very nervous and really, really ashamed still. The things she did and said, the people she hurt, the one she killed... That's going to weigh heavy on her for much longer than just a month. But the first step to growing and moving on is to address and confront it. To apologize.

So the video opens up with Ochako sitting in presumably her living room, which...anyone who knows her, or has been to her and Bakugou's home before, will notice is different. Different wall colors, different arrangement of furniture, just...overall different. But she makes no note of that. Instead, she just puts on a sheepish smile to the camera and bows lightly.]

Ehehe...hello, everyone. It's been a while since I posted to the network, ne? S-Some here in Trench might know me, but I bet a lot of others don't. My name is Uraraka--...um! O-Or Ochako, if you're from the Western hemisphere of Earth. [She rubs the back of her head, mussing up her hair a little. Anyone who knows her would know, again, this is a nervous tic Ochako has. She clears her throat and laughs awkwardly.] Last month was, eeh...p-pretty crazy, huh? I know I went, um...pretty crazy. Myself.

[Her smile falls, and so does her hand in her hair, settling into her lap as Ochako sighs. She then sets her omni down on the floor she's kneeling on, looking rather somber all of a sudden as she takes a deep breath in and out, as if preparing herself.]

It's true it wasn't really me, that it was all part of The Reckoning's...stuff, but. That doesn't mean it didn't happen, and I couldn't have tried harder to fight it. Neither does it make anything better, because it was still my body, my voice, that did and said all those things. So, I just...I--

I want to apologize. To everyone I hurt in some way. I am...deeply sorry, for everything.

[She gazes downward, and then bows as low as she can, a full dogeza. Ochako said nasty things, physically and emotionally hurt people she considers very friends. She even went and killed someone in cold blood at some point, among other things. She can still see the blood, hear the breaking of a neck, the splatter of a body on hard ground... Those thing's can't be erased, but she can at least admit they happened, and apologize for them. It's the first thing to do before she starts trying to make amends for it.

She rises, just for a moment, before bowing back down again.]

And to those that helped me overcome...thank you. Even if it was just for a moment, you really saved me. I'm grateful.

[Kazuma is obviously in the Archives. The looming shelves, claustrophobic framing, and dim lighting is more than enough to give that away. There are open tomes around him, but he isn't reading any of them; instead, he's considering the camera with a quizzical look, chin in his hand as he leans on the table he's at.]

Before the patrons of this place decide to plague us with more of the same, I have a mundane question for all of you.

We have many places we can choose to make our homes here. I am currently in Crenshaw, previously in Willful Machine...I moved with someone I know well. The point being, there are reasons we choose these places, correct?

What drew you to yours? What merits does it have to have others consider it? Is it because of people you know, or something else?

[He sighs and drums his fingers on the tabletop.] I just never really gave my own lodging much thought...I am wondering if most of us settle where it is convenient, or if we find other reasons to gravitate to where we end up.

[ She's a blushing little ball of happiness. ]

Happy Birthday, Sasuke-kun!

[ It kind of sounds like a private message, but it's not. How else is she supposed to let all his friends know that it's his birthday? ]

Oh...uhm...I meant to make that private. [ Such LIES... ] But since, it's not, and the cat is out of the bag, I might as well let all his friends know it's Sasuke-kun's twentieth birthday today! You should all wish him a very happy birthday...and then hide me until this blows over.

[ Anakin woke up this morning and, compelled by his Warmblood nature, decided to give a short lecture. The video opens on Anakin, who is sitting a rug in his living room. His Omen snoozes peacefully behind him. He's even wearing the closest approximation to traditional Jedi robes as he can find.

He looks calm, but there's a trace of warmth in his expression. ]

I noticed that a lot of people here don't know much about the Force or the Jedi. I have some spare time this morning, so I thought I could explain a little bit.

The Force is an energy field that is generated by living things and binds them together. On one level, it's not much different from how anything with mass produces gravity. It's not something you do consciously, and it's not something you have control over. There are people who have a stronger connection to it than others do. We call them Force-sensitives. Someone who's Force-sensitive can tap into the Force and call on its power in various ways-- telepathy, empathy, precognition and prophecy, and telekinesis. For example-- [ He holds out one of his hands and a cup of water floats from off-screen. It hovers for a moment before he uses telekinesis to set it down next to him. ] You can't learn Force sensitivity-- you're born with it or you aren't. But even if you can't feel it, you're still connected to the Force and, through it, every other living thing.

[ He flashes a brief, small smile. ]

The Jedi-- and many others-- believe that the Force is much more than that. It can offer strength and wisdom to those who tap into it. But it has both a light and a dark side to it, just like every living thing.

[ He summons the water glass to him again and passes it from hand to hand using telekinesis. It never touches his palms, instead hovering a few centimeters above them. ]

As Jedi, we consciously choose to draw our power from the light-- compassion, hope, selflessness. We preserve life as much as we can. [ His expression flickers to something sad for a moment. ] Even though sometimes we're forced to fight one person to protect another.

[ He feels the weight of the lives he's taken. Choices he's made. But he shakes that thought away, though the gravity of it lingers in his expression for a moment. ]

It sounds cut-and-dry, but it's not. When you're angry or scared or grieving, it's easy to draw on the dark side-- rage, greed, selfishness. It's easier and faster, but...

[ He brings the glass to hover in front of himself. For a moment, his expression changes slightly and the glass shatters violently. Pieces fly across the room and his Omen snaps awake for a moment to assess the danger. It then gives him a Look and goes back to sleep. The pieces start to float up again, slowly fitting themselves back together as he continues. ]

... there are always consequences.

[ The glass is reassembled, but is still very much broken. He holds it together for a moment before letting it fall apart again. The tinkling of glass falling to the floor breaks the silence. ]

That's why the Jedi focus so much on self-control. Once something is done, it can't really ever be undone.

[ Anakin shrugs. ]

That’s just what we believe. I’m not trying to give a lecture about morality. Our way isn’t the only way-- the Jedi know this and aren’t conceited enough to assume it’s even the only good way.

Anyway, I hope that helped. I’ll try to answer questions, if you have them.

Otherwise. [ He smiles. ] May the Force be with you.

[Ladies, Gentlemen, and Others, it's that time again!

Bolin starts the feed, sitting in The Raccoon Room as per his last grand announcement. It's luxurious emerald decor makes a fine backdrop, and for this special occasion he is wearing his sequinned tail coat from the last production.]

Hey all, Bolin here. I know there's a lot going on right now.. adventuring... general tomfoolery... baking competitions! just wanted to take this moment to announce The Raccoon Room's new musical!

After all the success we had doing Rocky Horror I've sat down and read through a mountain of scripts. Literally a mountain. You would be amazed how many scripts there are in this place.

Aaanywho, introducing our latest and greatest, the one and ooooonly CHICAGO!

[Jazz hands! He throws glitter! Where did he get the glitter from! He dusts his hands and goes right back into story telling mode. There are lots of gestures. You're enthralled, surely.]

It takes place in the far off faaaaanasy land of Chicago. It's the golden age of Jazz, and a young woman, our lady heroine, Roxie Hart is desperate to become a successful performer in a place not unlike our Cellar Door. Only our heroine has a dark, terrible secret. SHE KILLS A MAN! And goes to PRISON! Where she meets the infamous Velma Kelly and the other merry murderesses of... murder rooooowwww.

It's got everything, catchy tunes, swell courtroom dramas, slang I actually understand! And now, I know what you're thinking, oh Bolin~ There are so many women in this production and most of us Sleepers are men! Well it DOESN'T MATTER because we don't care about the limits of gender roles and it'll be fine. Just trust me!

So c'mon now! Auditions are now OPEN and will be held this weekend right here at The Raccoon Room. Scenes are attached! Any questions you come right on in here and give me the ol' honk.

[And now, for one grand, final gesture.]

THEEEESPIANS ASSEMBLEEEE!

[Lexi's grinning because she has an Evil Idea and she can't wait to spring it on everyone else]

Okay! Most of us come from places where movies are things or you've found movies since arriving. So I have to ask, what's the shittiest movie you've ever seen?

There are three levels to this, Easy, Experienced, and Nightmare.

Easy level is, it can't have been featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000. So say good-bye to "Manos: The Hands of Fate," "Red Zone Cuba," and "Eegah!"

Experienced level is, it can't have been featured on either Mystery Science Theater 3000 or on RiffTrax Live! So no "Space Mutiny" or "Starship Troopers" or "The Room" for you!

Nightmare? It's never been featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000, RiffTrax Live, or on The Cinema Snob. Midnight Screenings movies are fine, but no Italian horror or Amazon cannibal movies at all! And for those of you who have never heard of the Cinema Snob and will spend the rest of the afternoon clicking through the episodes, you're welcome.

As for me? My choice is easy. "Green Lantern," starring Ryan Reynolds. I knew enough about the comics to see what they were getting wrong, but not enough to understand what the hell they were talking about the other half of the time.

Now....go!

((OOC: The Cinema Snob site is NSFW. they type while at work))

Hey everyone. Mako here.

[ The voice clips in just before the actual video appears for reasons that become clear in a moment: Mako steps back from where he's clearly set the Omni on a table to record what looks like a garage sale right outside the Raccoon Room.

A long table absolutely covered in little bits and baubles glints in the sun. In the center of everything sits Fritter the raccoon, Wu's omen, looking contrite and also sort of like she would like to leave. Her little ears are back and her tiny arms are crossed.

Scowling, Mako steps back to stand in front of the table, crossing his arms to match Fritter. ]

Some of you might have noticed some stuff going missing in the last couple months.

[ A pause. Mako glances back at Fritter, who huffs at him and holds up a winking blue heart-shaped gem on a sparkling chain. That... sure looks important. ]

Can't promise that what you lost is here, but there's a good chance it is. We'll be out here all day.

I'm sorry! [ Wu's voice pipes up from behind the camera ] It's my fault, really.

[ He turns the Omni around at a very selfie angle, pouting at the camera ]

I'm sorry that Fritter stole your stuff, it wasn't her fault! It was mine. Corruption just got me! I'm sorry, I'm sorry that I was mean to so many of you. Shiro, I'm sorry for making fun of your hair; Jessica, I'm sorry for throwing you out of the Raccoon Room. Manabu, I'm really sorry that I made you get a tattoo. [ Big grimace there ] I mean, I still think it looks great on you—

[ Mako clears his throat and Wu wrinkles his nose ] but that's not the point! I'm sorry for all of it. I'm better now! No more corruption here, no sir.

[ A beat. Mako narrows his eyes even more.]

Uh, please come get your stuff!

(( ooc: absolutely feel free to assume your character's random trinkets and stuff is here even if it wasn't called out in the post! Fritter is a monster. Also feel free to respond in action if anyone wants to wander by and/or come get their stolen stuff! ))

[ happier memory ]
( Don't you wanna see it??? )

[ worst memory]
[ CWs: mass murder, parent death, mental torture, ptsd, violence ]
( I can't believe the elite Uchiha clan would just be... )

. . .

[ Sasuke should say something, right? Acknowledge that this just got blasted everywhere?

But instead he sighs in irritation and goes to toss his Omni into the ocean. It'll come back. But it at least made him feel better for now. ]