Deer Country Network

[A new face to these network posts comes on the screen. She appears to be in her mid-teens, and while the Omni isn't that far away from her, it's easy to spot one of the yellow blankets that have been appearing to those under Baus' patronage in her arm. Occasionally, ears that clearly belong to a young bear pop up at the bottom of the screen in the vicinity of said blanket.

The girl's brow is furrowed slightly and her mouth has a small, contemplative frown. When she speaks, her voice is comparatively on the monotonous side and doesn't quite hold the same emotion as her expression does.]

I am Echo. I thought it would be best to ask as many people as possible of this.

What is the true significance of a festival?

[She pauses for a moment or two.]

Is it the reasoning behind it, no matter how dubious the story may be? Is it to promote business and vendors in the area, particularly in places where they can sharply raise their prices to take advantage people's convivial response to the activities? Is it the different offerings in which to partake, which despite the various rationales behind the events remain surprisingly similar in the broadscale? Or...

[A tiny bit of color comes to her cheeks as she hesitates.]

is there some other reason it may be considered important?

[The top of the cub's head has been lingering on the screen longer than it had been during this last part, and Echo turns her attention toward it. Despite the focal shift, her tone of voice is very similar.]

Do not chew on it.

[ooc: Those of the Pandora Hearts world or who have been overly informed about it may choose to note that I arbitrarily made this St. Bridget's Day.]

content warnings: discussion of menstruation and puberty, baus-related beast transformation, complex yet flippant feelings about dead mom stuff

[ Alice's body has been up to some distressing changes. She's under the impression that every single one of them are normal things that happen to a young maiden of a certain age, which is not entirely correct. She has questions, and absolutely does not trust any of the people she lives with to give her a correct answer. Hence, the decision to ask absolutely everyone in Trench at once, because shame is something that happens to other people. ]

( tragic victorian orphan seeks life advice )

( 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.

 [Near the end of the month, after playing Jumanji more times than she cared to, Rika is able to face some realities. Those being that her house is more empty than before and that she's feeling lonely. She's never lost a friend in the way that she has lost Rena. There's no way to flip a switch and have her back, and that has been weighing heavily on Rika's mind.

And yet, the matter for which she makes a network call is rather childish and unimportant in comparison.]

Is the Trench always like this..? I never expected that a game board would be so mean... Games are supposed to be fun, not like that.

[She sounds more disappointed than traumatized. Perhaps a sign of maturity? Or being numb to so much suffering.]

Where I am from, my friends and I had a club where we played games together. Games let us leave our troubles behind for a few hours and spend time together, in a piece of the world where everything was fun. It makes me sad to think that games might have been ruined for the people here, because one of them was naughty. So I...

[Rika's voice trails off. She briefly imagines a cheerful Rena and how she would react to this. As part of her grieving, Rika tries to follow in the imaginary Rena's footsteps. This is more proactive than Rika's used to, so she can't help but sound uncertain.]

I want to make a game board that isn't mean and play it with everyone here. Does anyone know where I can find some paint? And a biiig piece of wood, or something similar, for the board? I've never tried this before, but... I would quite like to try. I do not wish for the fun of games to be taken away too.

[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.