Deer Country Network

[ the feed turns on to show you a small child in white robes, looking like he got out of bed with tousled hair and sharp blue eyes. he seems to be looking around warily, his jaw tight. ]

So this is a kidnapping right? By one of those slavers?

[ he lets out a quiet breath like he was taught. gehren. he hoped she was safe. ]

Fine, whatever. Where is the closest space port?

Okay

This isn't the most desperate, earth-shattering request out there. I know we have so many better, more important, things to be thinking about right now.

But I need help.




I've never had a marriage anniversary before - I mean technically but that was in Deerington I don't know if that counts?? I don't know how to plan this ...

[And, also, someone is under the monthly warmblood effect of wanting to spoil his significant other beyond measure. Or price, or reason. You'd think he'd have realized this by now, but here we are. He's also rambling. Have you ever seen Shiro flustered? Now you have.]


It has to be a good time. Seriously, I have to knock this out of the park.

What do you DO for this??

[Maul's doing a little better than he has been the past few months. At least he's not all corrupted into insanity like he was for a couple of weeks in July or about to breakdown after his video in June. Sharp-eyed viewers will notice he's got a new piece of jewelry. On the ring finger of his left hand, there's a black, sparkly wedding band made of Darkblood. Yep, Maul got hitched. But who would be crazy enough to marry the Zabrak Sith Lord? A question one can ask if they're feeling especially brave.]

Everyone always thinks they're the hero in their own story. And it's easy to justify that you are no matter what you do because you're the main character in your mind. No one ever wants to admit they're just one of the side characters or even the villain. And how do you even know when you've become the bad guy? It's easy to say what actions you undertake are for the greater good or at least something that will get you what you want. You keep telling yourself that until you look around one day and see the only monster around you is yourself.

[He leans forward.]

I am very fond of stories. So I'll tell you a story about a villain from my world and you can tell me one about a hero or villain from yours in return.

Once upon a time, there was a young man who had darkness in his heart. He coveted power amongst all else and to that end he committed many monstrous acts to gain it. When he saw that his family stood in his way, he killed them all without thought. Over the years, he gained power but it was never enough. Always, he wanted more. Eventually, he realized that no matter how much power he possessed, he would lose it all when he died. And so he sought to gain immortality.

He eventually found a Sith Lord, very old and wise, who told him he had discovered the secret to living forever. "Become my apprentice, do everything that I command, and I will teach you my secret," he told the man. And so he did. Day after day, year after year, he obeyed the Sith Lord, committing many more atrocities in his quest to gain immortality.

He would often ask the Sith Lord, "Am I ready?"

The response was always the same. "Not yet."

After many years the man, no longer as young as he once was, began to grow impatient. He went to his master. "I have done all that you asked. Teach me what you promised."

The Sith Lord merely laughed in his face. "You will never be ready to learn."

The man felt rage rise up within him. "Why not?"

"Because only a Sith who has no fear can conquer death. But you? You will always fear dying no matter what you do and so you will never master the secret of immortality," the Sith Lord told him with contempt.

The Sith apprentice was furious. He felt he had been lied to and so he waited. His master never slept, for he had seen the future and knew he would die in his sleep, but his apprentice was cunning. Eventually, he got his master drunk, and the Sith Lord finally fell asleep. So the apprentice took up his lightsabers, stabbing his master in his hearts, and killing him. Only then did his anger abate and he realized he still did not know the secret to living forever.

He would spend the rest of his life seeking it out and never finding it until the day he died, always shackled by his fear instead of facing it head on and conquering it instead. He used the power he'd acquired to create a vast empire that stretched throughout the entire galaxy but still it was not enough. Always he was afraid of what was to come at the end of his life. And when he finally died, betrayed by his own apprentice as usually happens with Sith Lords, it was done so screaming in fear as he realized he had failed in his lifelong ambition.

[He pauses for a moment, examining his claws without looking up.]

That was a true story by the way. It is called the tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise. Sith Lords often have a dramatic way of doing things, especially when it comes to teaching their apprentices.

Look, I know there was a ton of family drama with messed up timelines to get through.

[This is quite possibly the understatement of the century to anyone who has had to deal with a Skywalker whether they know how many people are connected to that family or not. But the feed pans to a strange mass.]

But did everyone just forget to warn me that sometimes people just fall asleep and end up in a weird eye covered cocoon thing? Maybe before my brother wound up in one?

[She takes a deep breath. She should be in better control than this. She's a Jedi, Jedi are calm, not irritable]

I should meditate...

[ The world around Tuck and Billie is dark, gloomy, and full of dust. The bar they are in, Colonel Dan's, has seen better days. Tables have been overturned, something's been in here making a mess despite the magic that was imbued into the door. Guess it didn't hold. ]

So, who wants to help Billie n' me clean out our bar? That we, ah, never used.

[ Tuck does his best to make it sound like the most riveting fucking thing a person could volunteer for. ]

We'll pay you in... uh...

[ He looks down at Billie who is currently out of camera view. Hard to put both a two foot child in the same frame with a seven foot man. ]

Friendship? Oh, booze!

Either, or. Whichever turns out to be of equal or lesser value.

[ From the dark, something falls off the bar counter and breaks. Then skittering claws scuttle across the floor. ]

There's someone else in here.

... ..... So, who wants to help Billie n' me chase a mystery creature out of our bar? Ehhh? Could be fun—Oh fuuuck! It touched my leg!

( This question has felt like a long time coming. After everything that's happened, they can't help but want to be able to do more for themselves. The question they ask is something that they want to do purely for defensive purposes, not really for offensive ones. They've hurt others before to a lethal extent. They don't want to do that again.

They want to protect their friends, and themselves. They've been killed here once before as it is. )

There's a lot of people here that can fight really well.

Are there others here who can teach people how to do that?

[The video clicks on to show Shiro, sitting at a dining table - in the Mouse House, for anyone who's been there before. He looks... different. Hollowed-out. More exhausted than usual, which is saying something, for him. But the biggest difference? His greying hair has gone completely white. All of it.]

[His hands are curled around a mug, with the omni propped up on something else.]

Hey, feels like long time, no see.

[The smile he goes for falls flat. He reaches down with his left hand, the real hand, to ruffle the fur of his Omen, the lion with her head in his lap.]

First of all... I'm sorry for what happened, recently. [The Beasthood Incident.] I want to thank the people who helped me out. You know who you are, and - I'd rather not get into it more than that, please.

That aside - I've really noticed there aren't a lot of us left from the Dream. From Deerington. That's no one's fault. It's just a little alarming to realize. Maybe it's better forgotten - I don't know. But, I'm offering what I have to anyone who wants to learn.

Either what Deerington was, what happened there, who was involved. Anything I still have.

I don't think it should be forgotten. Not after what was done to get us here. After what people went through to make it possible to wake up here. And who we lost in the process.

[He takes a deep breath, and lifts up the coffee mug for a drink. You know, to get himself centered and everything.]

[Except... the mug stopped steaming halfway through his speech. Something heavy slides around inside instead, and impacts Shiro's face with an audible THUD. His head snaps back, which allows the object to go plummeting down to the tabletop.]

[It's a solid brick of frozen coffee.]

[It isn't even melting in the summer weather. Just sitting there. Mocking him. Another slow, deep breath, to keep his eye from twitching.]

... also, if any coldbloods out there want to... help with this... blood ability mess? I'm... listening.

Man, fuck those CENTCOM assholes!

[He lets out a huff. There is a noise of a bobcat yowling] Hey, girl. Good to see ya again. [A short silence as he communicates to his omen] The fuck you mean it's been days? How long's it been?

All right. Fuck. So, uh, anybody make wishes durin' that festival? They... kinda work. I donno if anyone tried to contact me, but I was out of commission for a while. I woke up in some weird shit that I'm bringing to the Sanctuary.

Any Hunters wanna fill me in on the latest monsters we gotta take down?

[Usagi is dressed head to toe in her pink winter jacket, cute (also pink) fuzzy earmuffs (that are shaped like rabbits which should not surprise anyone who has known her for more than five minutes), and mittens... which are also also pink.

She looks like a giant fluffy ball of cotton candy, to be honest. Her face is red and there is a bandaid on her nose and forehead. Why? Well, it might have something to do with the fact that she is also completely surrounded by ice.

Literally, it's everywhere, floor to ceiling. Ice palace for one except it's a Victorian manor and the cold, does, in fact, bother her.]

Uuuuummmmmm [Her breath forms in front of her mouth and she sighs.] Soooooo I have a problem, not like a VIOLENCE problem, thankfully, which, I didn't think I would have to, like, clarify but last month was... interesting. But uh...

[She moves her Omni around to show her ice palace.]

So, one minute, I somehow have ice powers [She makes wooshy fingers with her mittens and gestures to the current state of her living room.] And the next I'm back to glowing under the moonlight and also FREEZING COLD.

So... uh, since I rather NOT use a flamethrower to thaw all of this or deal with a flood in my house... um, help? Please? Please please please! [She will make being a frozen rabbit everyone's problem if this doesn't go away.]

You're welcome to any of the stuff I make or I can take you out for lunch or we can work something out. But I don't know how to ice skate and even my floor is frozen AND IT'S REALLY COLD every time I fall! And like, you'd think, oh it's ice, it'd help with the swelling, but no, no you'd be wrong, it still hurts!

Also, is this happening to anyone else? Can we change blood types? Has anyone done that?

Also also, any and all suggestions to PUNCH the ice [She has a few specific people in mind who might make this recommendation.] will not be listened to.

[When the video starts, Usagi is pulling on her fingers and biting her lip. She has some bag under her eyes because of the coming and going nightmares but she looks fine otherwise.

She takes a deep breath, opens her mouth and then presses her lips together, clearly trying to psyche herself up rather than, well, out. She clenches her fist and a soft "you can do this, you can totally do this," can easily be heard under her breath.

One more nod and then:]

SO I AM- [She winces, nope, no, yelling bad. Deep breath.

Take two.]

Um, so hello! [She bows to the Omni.] Uh, for those of you who don't know me, my name is Usagi Tsukino. [She bows again.] Um... and uh, well I am starting a business! Uh... that is I can make things- er jewelry! And other things like incense holders and Omni charms or bag charms... or like... clay figurines, I guess.

I have a lot of things already made but otherwise everything will be custom made. [She's too nervous to remember to actually show her products though they are currently sitting behind her if asked.]

So... um- oh, yeah, everything is mostly clay, I can't sew like... at all, so... um... just putting that out there. [Hot glue guns are a gift from the heavens, as far as she's concerned.] I can do other materials like shells and metal but most everything is gonna be clay.

Uuuuh yes! Right, that's it!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME! [She bows again. Turns out nightmare induced insomnia causes her to get crafty so as to not think of said nightmares.]

[Well it had been a lot of hard work but she finally managed to get this thing working even in her arms were basically pinned to the wall, so people were not getting much of a view. Minako didn't even know if she had it on voice or video or what really? But hey she was going to speak and see what happens.]

Hey so... There has been a bit of a situation and I may need a tiny bit of help.

[Considering the only view people are going to see was a brief glace at Minako and the fact she was pinned with something and unable to move too much and when t turns whatever was in front of her.]

So Vira kinda... killed those... giant creatures and this happened.

[Okay maybe that was not the best way to explain her situation. But as she moves to try and get out Vira in her beast form may be seen.]

So I need help getting out and also to knock sense back into Vira and hopefully get her back to normal. She won't hurt me, so please don't worry about that. I think she'd most likely try and hurt people trying to get me, but still... Help is very much needed.

[ there's a house covered in toilet paper with a very tired jedi standing in front of it, just massaging his temple. ]

Is there a reason why my house is covered in paper? I assume there is a purpose to this other than a gross misuse of resources and time. If you have any issues with me, I much prefer a discussion than a clean up job.

[ he swats some of the butterflies away before sighing. ]

I'll be here. Tidying up.

[ There's a faint sound of wind in the background of his broadcast, as if he's sitting somewhere up high. ]

Hello. Again. [ Oof, okay, not the strongest start. ] I'm Anakin Solo, a knight of the Jedi Order, at your service. I sort of remember being here before, and I wanted to thank everyone who helped me out.

They offered me a bed at the orphanage, but I don't want to take it from someone who might need it.
How does housing work here, exactly? I don't mind sleeping outside, but that doesn't seem wise in the long run.

[ A pause. ]

By the way, I don't remember the sky being like this before-- is this normal? As normal as anything is here, I mean.

[ Another pause. He's clearly not in his element. ]

Thanks again.

[ The feed ends. ]


( ooc: let me know if you want to keep his tdm thread! i'm cool either way. )

I can't say it is quite what I was expecting...

[As she starts to record, Padmé offers a gentle smile. There is a quiet calm to her, although any that would know her well knows that it is a countenance that she wears and that within, brews a storm. She is dressed in a manner that is known in her own galaxy but which might well seem a bit strange to others. Yet they are clothing of a style that she dons on a regular basis to Senate meetings- a thick rich layered gown of velvet with an ornate hair piece haloing her head.]

While I'm not certain how long I will remain here, I do admit that I haven't been planet-bound since I was younger, and even then, it was not for long.

[Her voice is soft but also strong and those brown eyes are drawn away from the feed, regarding the sky for a moment. It is an atmosphere that holds no meaning to her, at least as its stands, but there are some things in this place that she can understand, that are universal no matter where one is. She does begin to speak again, her focus still out there on that great unknown, wondering just what lays beyond... Yet her gaze is drawn back and she gives a little nod of her head, before making eye contact again.]

My name is Padmé Amidala, a Senator for the planet of Naboo, and I offer a greeting. It seems, if I am to understand this correctly, that we are all here by the same means, caught in the same situation. As it seems I may well be here for some time, I would be interested to hear more about the places you call home, for any willing to share.

[There is a genuine warmth in her voice and her smile grows ever so. The situation may be foreign, but she can find some common ground to begin with while remaining true to herself. The rest... She will with piece by piece.]

I would, of course, speak of my own as well, for those who wished to hear of it. I am curious to see just how far a reach this place has, and whether Naboo or Coruscant or even any of the other planets that make up the Galactic Republic are known to anyone here.

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.]

[ The feed comes on to show a pink haired girl, smiling warmly. She tucks her hair behind her ear before addressing everyone. ]

Hi. I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself. My name is Haruno Sakura and I've recently become a temporary resident of this place. It's come to my attention that I have some skills which might be put to good use here. First of all, I'm a medical ninja back home and I have an extensive knowledge of medicine, poison control, and emergency medical treatment. I think medicine works a little differently here than it does back home, but I'm happy to assist wherever I can.

The other thing I've noticed about this place and I know I'm calling attention to the obvious, is that it seems to enjoy dragging up and forcing it's residents to face their traumas. Either that or it's creating new traumatic experiences for people. I'm entirely too familiar with what happens when repeated traumatic events are dragged up over and over again for an individual. It breaks a person down mentally and physically and that manifests in some unique ways here.

People so often misunderstand trauma and they place blame on the sufferer, despite that it is born out of a need to protect oneself against very real threats to one's wellbeing. Back home I've been developing a model and treatment program that hopes to intervene before the behaviors of trauma become so self destructive that they harm the individual suffering from them, or those the individual may otherwise care about.

While I am sure that everyone here has developed coping skills of some sort, and that there are avenues that one might use to calm down or decompress, it never hurts to have more outlets and resources when dealing with mental health and trauma. So I'm hoping to utilize my knowledge and skills from back home to create a program that would offer further assistance in maintaining a healthy mental balance and perhaps even treat more severe trauma.

If there is an interest, not only would I like to create a safe space for people who suffering with mental health, but I'd also like to create a team of people who would be interested in learning how to professionally help others. While a base understanding of mental health is helpful, I've developed my program from the ground up and trained countless individuals in how to use it to benefit patients. So I can happily host workshops and seminars.

I just think that if we stand mentally at our strongest, then we'll be so much better prepared for the challenges that we consistently face. Treating trauma patients is a passion of mine and if I can help ease the burdens of anyone here while I am stuck in this limbo, I welcome the opportunity.

( cw: forced bonding, allusions to sexual assault trauma )

( cw: forced bonding )

Obi-Wan Kenobi (38) Looking for something with no strings attached? Tired of the awkward fumbling of a person who doesn't know what they're doing? Seeking out an attentive lover who gives you all the time and energy you deserve for a lovely evening? Then look no further than Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jedi Master. General of the Republic. Known galaxy-wide as the Negotiator, he will see to your satisfaction

✓       ✕

[ The feed clicks on to show a sheepish looking Laurel on her couch. After a moment, she sits up straighter and clears her throat. ]

Sooo, last month, I got into a bar fight. [ She winces. ] But I wasn't exactly myself at the time. I was...a different version of myself, I think? One that has meta powers, likes violence and drinking. [ There's another wince. ] If you saw me dressed head to toe in black leather a few weeks ago and sporting some dark lipstick, that wasn't me. But I do apologise for that person.

[ This isn't the whole point of her addressing the wider network, but Laurel wanted to clear the air. ]

Which leads me on to my other reason for this post. Back home, I'm a lawyer and have been for about four years now. As there's no law in this place, I tried to think about how I could apply those skills. A while back, some people suggested that I become a mediator. Someone who could act as a neutral party to help people resolve their issues or problems without resorting to violence.

It's a work in progress because I need a space to facilitate it properly. I don't think anyone wants to talk about their issues in my tiny one bedroom apartment. [ Heh.] If there's a space available somewhere, can you let me know please?

Since money isn't a thing here either, I would accept food or items I can trade with at the Willful Machine markets.

Thanks.

[ With a smile Laurel ends the feed.]