Deer Country Network

[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!

deernet

[ At first it's just a view of the underside of someone's chin and some chokers, some tufts of white, maybe some pale blue.

There's the sound of fabric shifting. A horse's soft whinny and the clinking of a bridle. ]

Good evening. Ah--

[ The omni was re-adjusted as Helios noted it was at such an awkward angle. He held it further away from himself. On screen was a gentle face determined to smile warmly, but one burdened by thinly-veiled exhaustion. His face was pale and his features a little sunken. If one looked closely, they might notice he was leaning somewhat on the presumably-offscreen horse. ]

My apologies. I've just been briefly acquainted with the situation at hand by a waker, I believe they were called. [ He shakes his head subtly, worried that he mis-named that woman's profession, but he's much too tired to be certain. ]

I think my arrival took more of a toll on me than expected. Are there any particular places anyone can think of to get something light to eat?

[ Food definitely wasn't what he needed, and the process of waking and shifting was exhausting, but that also wasn't what was draining him at all. But where there was food, there were places to rest and review the situation at hand. And as far as Helios knew, the situation was bad. Very bad. But he wasn't one to panic easily. ]

content warning: suicidal ideation

( cut for aforementioned content warning )

Hello Trench,

This is Flynn Scifo. Some of you may be aware that a week ago, I was killed at the Gate. After five days, I appear to be back and whole, with minimal scars. I thought it important to let everyone know that death is as impermanent here as I am told it was in the dream many of you awoke from.

I owe this largely to Yuri Lowell. He took care of my body while it did what seems to have been necessary to bring me back. While we must hope that this does not happen to anyone else, if it does, please do your best to keep any remains nearby and in a safe place. It's not clear what would have happened had Yuri not done that.

No matter how strong the call of the Gate, it is not worth your life. Stay away, and if you find yourself in a situation you don't think you will survive, please, call for help.

Hopefully, this information is useful as we head into what I am also told was a difficult and dangerous time in the past.

Please stay safe.

-Flynn

Those who knew the dream...

[words are spoken with a soft and careful cadence, like someone staving off sleep or working to speak through pain.]

Please. Help me understand...what death meant in that space. And what...it would mean in this one. What you truly believe or have seen or...felt yourself.

I wasn't there. I don't know. Yet...

I, myself, should no longer exist. But am here, too. So...

I want to understand.

cw: grief, talk of death, suicidal thoughts, language

[ The feed clicks on to ragged breathing, too close to the Omni ]

Who the hell killed Flynn? Some guy with a light sword. Give me names.

[ Yuri's voice is low and rough, somehow both heated and emotionless. His emotional state has been degrading since Flynn's omen led him to Flynn's corpse. He growls and there's rustling over the Omni ]

If you killed him, be at the Gate at midnight.