Deer Country Mod (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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deercountry2021-10-08 06:14 pm
reddosmod) wrote in deercountry2021-10-08 06:14 pm
Entry tags:
- *event,
- abby anderson: c,
- anakin skywalker: michele,
- ange ushiromiya: jelle,
- anna amarande: celene,
- ariadne: wizera,
- catra: pink,
- childe: bean,
- diluc ragnvindr: samuel,
- faolan: teresa,
- fern: pan,
- flynn fairwind: teresa,
- goro akechi: kei,
- izuku "deku" midoriya: tea,
- kaeya alberich: daisy,
- katherine pierce: jade,
- kd6-3.7: moz,
- lance: charley,
- luke skywalker: skyla,
- lumine: trix,
- luna lovegood: cheryl,
- luz noceda: pedro,
- manabu yuuki: elle,
- mebh og mactire: oggy,
- nehan: ray,
- orpheus: qv,
- peter graham: jhey,
- ryan akagi: billie sue,
- savage opress: vette,
- soldier blue: elle,
- stiles stilinski: charley,
- the medicine seller: greenrivers,
- tsume: shade,
- usagi tsukino: jax,
- varian: tf,
- wanda maximoff: jade,
- wei wuxian: tohma,
- willow rosenberg: lucy,
- winter schnee: mesi,
- wu: mads,
- yuri lowell: mads
Because one day, I'll leave you a phantom
OCTOBER 2021 EVENT
IMAGE DESCRIPTORS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE
Prompt One
[Image One: Band playing on moving float with people in masks walking behind.]
[Image Two: Woman in gas mask and elaborate ballgown.]
Prompt Two
[Image One: Man looking away while creepy corpse-like woman puts hand on window.]
[Image Two: Two contorted girls crawling across floor with blood flowing out.]
Prompt Three
[Image One: Headless horseman with jack-o-lantern rearing on horse.]
[Image Two: Annabelle doll rocking on its own in chair.]
WELCOME TO THE BLACK PARADE
LONELINESS KILLS: THE CURSE OF CLOVERFIELD
LEGENDS OF TRENCH
CODINGPrompt One
[Image One: Band playing on moving float with people in masks walking behind.]
[Image Two: Woman in gas mask and elaborate ballgown.]
Prompt Two
[Image One: Man looking away while creepy corpse-like woman puts hand on window.]
[Image Two: Two contorted girls crawling across floor with blood flowing out.]
Prompt Three
[Image One: Headless horseman with jack-o-lantern rearing on horse.]
[Image Two: Annabelle doll rocking on its own in chair.]
WHEN: During the daytime every day of October
WHERE: Throughout the streets of Cellar Door and Willful Machine.
CONTENT WARNINGS: N/A
WHERE: Throughout the streets of Cellar Door and Willful Machine.
CONTENT WARNINGS: N/A
The Black Parade has begun in Trench. You will begin to see residents painting skulls and monsters onto their faces, even the ones who abide by practical lifestyles. By the first week of October, you won't see a single resident of Trench without facepaint or a mask of some kind obscuring their face.
"It's for the Black Parade," they say, "It's to keep us safe. You should start painting your face too. You should disguise yourself so they can't find you."
Who, you might ask? Anyone dangerous. It's vague and unsettling, but you think maybe they are onto something. Call it intuition or basic common sense. Stalls pop up all around Trench selling cheap masks and costumes. They aren't exactly Halloween costumes. There's less of a focus on becoming something and more of a focus on looking different than you currently do.
Then the Black Parade really takes off. Black and white confetti seem to fall from the sky and you can hear the distant sound of trumpets and drums. You can feel the earth give small tremors and Trenchies begin to flock to Cellar Door and the Willful Machine. They line the streets and you can see why: a literal parade is coming through. Stages are set with talented musicians rocking out, singing into wireless, floating moonlit mics. Incredible, giant puppets walk through the streets guided by a dozen talented Architects. Other people move about in stilted costumes, elaborate gowns. Some performers set up small, stationary areas to perform for smaller crowds. The sky is filled with massive and unusual kites. Find one among the many stalls or make your own!
Stalls hand out candied applies, foil-wrapped candies, and roasted pumpkin seeds by the bundles. Hot ciders are kept in barrels ready to be served up in tin mugs, with or without alcohol. It's a festive atmosphere that seems to go nonstop 24/7 throughout October but exclusively in these areas. It's a good place to go to avoid some of the haunts of October and to have a good time. Why not get involved? Make your own puppet, float, or costumes, and join in the fun. Chunks of the road are reserved for parades, but others have been sectioned off for people to dance and mingle about. You quickly learn that face-paint and masked/concealed faces seem to be a good way of avoiding the attention of beasts, angry Pthumerians, and other unusual creatures in Trench.
It's not a foolproof method, but October largely celebrates the safety of ambiguity and is one of the few times the practical and pleasure factions get along. Get your face painted up or pick out a costume - it's both aesthetic and life-saving! The Black Parade is held annually every October all October long and is considered a significant Trench holiday. Many people refer to the costumes specifically as "Black Parade" costumes and sentiments commonly exchanged at this time include: Have a blessed and safe Blood Moon; May your Seasons pass unseen; Bless the many faces of cleverness; May you go unseen by the blood; Blessed Black Parade.
QUICK FACTS
1. Halloween costumes you can buy at the store won't be available unless a character intentionally makes one. Most of the costumes in Trench are more or less eccentric make-up looks and unusual masks. They look a lot more like Cirque du Soleil costumes than Halloween costumes.
2. Characters can have multiple costume/face-paint/mask changes throughout the month. No one will be forced into these - but it is strongly, culturally encouraged for everyone's safety to dress up!
"It's for the Black Parade," they say, "It's to keep us safe. You should start painting your face too. You should disguise yourself so they can't find you."
Who, you might ask? Anyone dangerous. It's vague and unsettling, but you think maybe they are onto something. Call it intuition or basic common sense. Stalls pop up all around Trench selling cheap masks and costumes. They aren't exactly Halloween costumes. There's less of a focus on becoming something and more of a focus on looking different than you currently do.
Then the Black Parade really takes off. Black and white confetti seem to fall from the sky and you can hear the distant sound of trumpets and drums. You can feel the earth give small tremors and Trenchies begin to flock to Cellar Door and the Willful Machine. They line the streets and you can see why: a literal parade is coming through. Stages are set with talented musicians rocking out, singing into wireless, floating moonlit mics. Incredible, giant puppets walk through the streets guided by a dozen talented Architects. Other people move about in stilted costumes, elaborate gowns. Some performers set up small, stationary areas to perform for smaller crowds. The sky is filled with massive and unusual kites. Find one among the many stalls or make your own!
Stalls hand out candied applies, foil-wrapped candies, and roasted pumpkin seeds by the bundles. Hot ciders are kept in barrels ready to be served up in tin mugs, with or without alcohol. It's a festive atmosphere that seems to go nonstop 24/7 throughout October but exclusively in these areas. It's a good place to go to avoid some of the haunts of October and to have a good time. Why not get involved? Make your own puppet, float, or costumes, and join in the fun. Chunks of the road are reserved for parades, but others have been sectioned off for people to dance and mingle about. You quickly learn that face-paint and masked/concealed faces seem to be a good way of avoiding the attention of beasts, angry Pthumerians, and other unusual creatures in Trench.
It's not a foolproof method, but October largely celebrates the safety of ambiguity and is one of the few times the practical and pleasure factions get along. Get your face painted up or pick out a costume - it's both aesthetic and life-saving! The Black Parade is held annually every October all October long and is considered a significant Trench holiday. Many people refer to the costumes specifically as "Black Parade" costumes and sentiments commonly exchanged at this time include: Have a blessed and safe Blood Moon; May your Seasons pass unseen; Bless the many faces of cleverness; May you go unseen by the blood; Blessed Black Parade.
QUICK FACTS
1. Halloween costumes you can buy at the store won't be available unless a character intentionally makes one. Most of the costumes in Trench are more or less eccentric make-up looks and unusual masks. They look a lot more like Cirque du Soleil costumes than Halloween costumes.
2. Characters can have multiple costume/face-paint/mask changes throughout the month. No one will be forced into these - but it is strongly, culturally encouraged for everyone's safety to dress up!
WHEN: October
WHERE: Everywhere
CONTENT WARNINGS: Psychological-based curse, feelings of intense loneliness, mental health.
WHERE: Everywhere
CONTENT WARNINGS: Psychological-based curse, feelings of intense loneliness, mental health.
It is said that the Blood Moon reminds Cloverfield of those he has lost over the decades. They say that the howling wind is actually the sound of Cloverfield's cries and there seems to be some truth to that. He can be seen wandering the Farther Shores and watching the moon. If you seek out Cloverfield and offer him comfort and companionship, he will bless you with a worn picture of a loved one or someone you miss desperately or even just a place you miss...Even if it's impossible for such a picture to exist.
Of course, not everyone will visit Cloverfield. Cloverfield's loneliness begins to curse the city of Trench. Sleepers will be impacted the most heavily as their blood will directly react to this curse. Sleepers who have a good sense of relationship may be able to avoid the curse, but those who often feel lonely or homesick will start to feel worse and worse as the days go by.
Eventually, their loneliness begins to manifest as a corpse-like version of themselves or the person they care about most. This corpse follows them around everywhere like a shadow. You won't notice your own Loneliness, but other people might, especially palebloods, Night Walkers, and Disciples. These corpses don't seem to care about anything or anyone and at first don't seem violent...But eventually, this Loneliness becomes consuming.
Once it does, you too will contort, and you and your Loneliness will soon be crawling about on all fours, blood floating out of you in thin streams. You'll be lost to your feelings of loneliness, stalking the streets with your Loneliness, looking for companionship. Of course, you're completely corrupt at this point, so your version of finding companionship most likely involves accidentally suffocating someone or other violent actions. Some people may never become violent once they are in the Final Stage, but the blood constantly flowing from them will create heavy blood pollution and may draw in far more dangerous creatures. You really don't want Lonely People walking around!
Better start some conversations - even if these Lonely People are creepy as hell. But, then again, they are just lonely. Hopefully, you will find peace of mind and find your people. Hopefully, you will banish loneliness...For the time being.
QUICK FACTS
1. This curse will impact people who are more isolated than others. Interaction with other people or animals will alleviate the curse and may completely stop it for some.
2. You can stop the curse at the corpse stage by confronting a Sleeper and opening up an emotional conversation about their loneliness. This may not always work, but the more the conversation works for the Sleeper, the more effective. The corpse will fleck away once the curse has been reversed.
3. Curses can continue to come back throughout October, but once you've experienced it once, it's less likely to occur again.
4. The Final Stage of the curse is the hardest to stop and most of the time, it's easiest to just kill the Cursed. It's easier to kill them than talk them out of their loneliness, but it is not impossible to talk them out of it. It requires dedication, patience, and some serious cleverness on how to survive a monster trying to kill you at the same time.
5. Loneliness can be widely interpreted once in the Final Stage. People should generally still look like themselves. How people act in this stage can vary from character to character and should be centric to how characters deal with their loneliness in general. If they're prone to shutting people out, then maybe their Loneliness is aloof and distant. If they're prone to clinging to toxic people, then maybe their Loneliness is accidentally violent. It's open to interpretation.
Of course, not everyone will visit Cloverfield. Cloverfield's loneliness begins to curse the city of Trench. Sleepers will be impacted the most heavily as their blood will directly react to this curse. Sleepers who have a good sense of relationship may be able to avoid the curse, but those who often feel lonely or homesick will start to feel worse and worse as the days go by.
Eventually, their loneliness begins to manifest as a corpse-like version of themselves or the person they care about most. This corpse follows them around everywhere like a shadow. You won't notice your own Loneliness, but other people might, especially palebloods, Night Walkers, and Disciples. These corpses don't seem to care about anything or anyone and at first don't seem violent...But eventually, this Loneliness becomes consuming.
Once it does, you too will contort, and you and your Loneliness will soon be crawling about on all fours, blood floating out of you in thin streams. You'll be lost to your feelings of loneliness, stalking the streets with your Loneliness, looking for companionship. Of course, you're completely corrupt at this point, so your version of finding companionship most likely involves accidentally suffocating someone or other violent actions. Some people may never become violent once they are in the Final Stage, but the blood constantly flowing from them will create heavy blood pollution and may draw in far more dangerous creatures. You really don't want Lonely People walking around!
Better start some conversations - even if these Lonely People are creepy as hell. But, then again, they are just lonely. Hopefully, you will find peace of mind and find your people. Hopefully, you will banish loneliness...For the time being.
QUICK FACTS
1. This curse will impact people who are more isolated than others. Interaction with other people or animals will alleviate the curse and may completely stop it for some.
2. You can stop the curse at the corpse stage by confronting a Sleeper and opening up an emotional conversation about their loneliness. This may not always work, but the more the conversation works for the Sleeper, the more effective. The corpse will fleck away once the curse has been reversed.
3. Curses can continue to come back throughout October, but once you've experienced it once, it's less likely to occur again.
4. The Final Stage of the curse is the hardest to stop and most of the time, it's easiest to just kill the Cursed. It's easier to kill them than talk them out of their loneliness, but it is not impossible to talk them out of it. It requires dedication, patience, and some serious cleverness on how to survive a monster trying to kill you at the same time.
5. Loneliness can be widely interpreted once in the Final Stage. People should generally still look like themselves. How people act in this stage can vary from character to character and should be centric to how characters deal with their loneliness in general. If they're prone to shutting people out, then maybe their Loneliness is aloof and distant. If they're prone to clinging to toxic people, then maybe their Loneliness is accidentally violent. It's open to interpretation.
WHEN: All October
WHERE: Everywhere
CONTENT WARNINGS: Ghosts, Themes of death.
WHERE: Everywhere
CONTENT WARNINGS: Ghosts, Themes of death.
Unfortunately, not everyone can gain control of their loneliness. As blood is spilled throughout Trench over loneliness, this blood pollution festers and begins to claim poor souls. Corruption leads way to beasthood and people lost to this find themselves transforming into familiar, legendary ghost stories of old-world lore. These Legendary Ghosts come out primarily at night. As the Black Parade established, anyone who keeps their faces disguised with make-up or masks will be completely safe from the Legendary Ghosts. Though if you go after a Legendary Ghost in a costume, you'll only be safe until you attack them. It's not a bad move for a sneak attack though!
...But those who forgot to dress up or felt like such superstitions wouldn't work...
Congratulations, you might come across the path of a Dullahan: a headless horseman carrying a whip made from a spinal cord, ready to throw basins of blood on you and draw in other beasts. Or maybe you encounter a far more subtle Legendary Ghost. Maybe you see a hitchhiker on the side of the road and decide to give them a ride, but when you look in your rearview mirror, they are no longer in your backseat. While most of these Legendary Ghosts are intending to harm you and spread more blood pollution, some just seem to be genuinely lost souls, lost to corruption, lost to their own failures and loneliness. In some cases, freeing them is protecting yourself and others, but in other cases, freeing them is just simple kindness.
You may meet a ghost bride who is waiting eternally for her wedding by one of the shrines in Cassandra. Maybe you meet a ghostly scholar at the Archives in Gaze. The spirits range widely and seem to haunt every corner of Trench - including your own homes. The only real way to deter a Legendary Ghost from your home is by heavily decorating your home with things like jack-o-lanterns, fake blood splatters, fake gravestones, and various other death-centric decor. This seems to repel Legendary Ghosts as they see it as a reminder of their own fate. Some are angered by the decorations while others are terrified by them and seem incapable of telling the difference between real blood and fake blood.
QUICK FACTS
1. These corrupt souls can be saved through blood rituals/magic/ghost banishings relying on blood artifacts. This will usually put the soul to rest - it will not bring people "back to life."
2. While it is mostly Trenchies turning into these beings, Sleepers can also be transformed into Legendary Ghosts. We provide a general outline, but the idea is that people are turning into legendary ghost stories so you can play with your own ideas/canons.
While Trenchies cannot be saved, we leave it up to you if a Sleeper could be brought back to themselves or if they will have to "die" to be cured of their Legendary Ghost status.
3. You can use famous Legendary Ghosts from around the world. We gave a few examples, but have fun with this! The Legendary Ghost-like creature you go with should generally be "ghost-like" / have to do with death specifically. They do not need to be exclusively evil/violent spirits, but many are.
...But those who forgot to dress up or felt like such superstitions wouldn't work...
Congratulations, you might come across the path of a Dullahan: a headless horseman carrying a whip made from a spinal cord, ready to throw basins of blood on you and draw in other beasts. Or maybe you encounter a far more subtle Legendary Ghost. Maybe you see a hitchhiker on the side of the road and decide to give them a ride, but when you look in your rearview mirror, they are no longer in your backseat. While most of these Legendary Ghosts are intending to harm you and spread more blood pollution, some just seem to be genuinely lost souls, lost to corruption, lost to their own failures and loneliness. In some cases, freeing them is protecting yourself and others, but in other cases, freeing them is just simple kindness.
You may meet a ghost bride who is waiting eternally for her wedding by one of the shrines in Cassandra. Maybe you meet a ghostly scholar at the Archives in Gaze. The spirits range widely and seem to haunt every corner of Trench - including your own homes. The only real way to deter a Legendary Ghost from your home is by heavily decorating your home with things like jack-o-lanterns, fake blood splatters, fake gravestones, and various other death-centric decor. This seems to repel Legendary Ghosts as they see it as a reminder of their own fate. Some are angered by the decorations while others are terrified by them and seem incapable of telling the difference between real blood and fake blood.
QUICK FACTS
1. These corrupt souls can be saved through blood rituals/magic/ghost banishings relying on blood artifacts. This will usually put the soul to rest - it will not bring people "back to life."
2. While it is mostly Trenchies turning into these beings, Sleepers can also be transformed into Legendary Ghosts. We provide a general outline, but the idea is that people are turning into legendary ghost stories so you can play with your own ideas/canons.
While Trenchies cannot be saved, we leave it up to you if a Sleeper could be brought back to themselves or if they will have to "die" to be cured of their Legendary Ghost status.
3. You can use famous Legendary Ghosts from around the world. We gave a few examples, but have fun with this! The Legendary Ghost-like creature you go with should generally be "ghost-like" / have to do with death specifically. They do not need to be exclusively evil/violent spirits, but many are.
no subject
[Can people ride lions? Is that possible? He knows he could get both of them on Black, but that particular Lion is busy. Keeping guard over the house. There's the one he can summon, though, the one made of smoke. It was real enough to attack monsters...]
[Shiro's hand is steady on Ryan's shoulder. Gently guiding him away from the crowd.]
This way, all right? Tell me if you need to stop.
[Can he summon up the smoke lion? Would that work?]
no subject
[He goes slow and careful, but he does manage to walk with a great amount of effort. It isn't always straight or steady, but he's doing it and that's what matters. Sometimes he stumbles, but Shiro's grip on his shoulder is enough to keep him from losing his balance completely. He hums a little bit to himself once they're away from the crowd, like he's trying to keep the music from the Black Parade going.
Something occurs to him though and he stops moving his feet before the words come out of his mouth. Coordination is not his strong suit right now]
Wait, wait. Wait...
[He looks at Shiro, with a very serious question of utmost importance.]
Is holding on cheating...?
[Not the way Shiro's holding on; he kind of needs that. But before Shiro can actually answer, Ryan's trying to shift himself so he can lean on him more easily. Shiro's a little too tall for Ryan to sling an arm over his shoulders comfortably, so he'll try for linking his arm around Shiro's middle instead]
no subject
[And then nearly stumbles when they stop.]
What - what's wrong - ?
[Oh.]
[He makes a face - a thoughtful one. Before shaking his head. He'll let Ryan do what he needs to, and then... tries focusing.] I might have a better idea...
[That better idea turns out to be Shiro's Omen, arriving in a slow coil of dark mist, congealing into the lioness he'd seen in the Arena, last month. Golden eyes regard them both with a quiet aura of 'What?' For Shiro's part? He grins down at Ryan.]
Got you a ride.
no subject
That's a lion.
That grip around Shiro turns into an actual hug very quickly, less for balance and more because somehow he got him a lion ride.]
Oh my god. Oh my god??? That's...that is a lion!
[Yes, yes it is. Ryan gasps softly with realization and reverence.]
You're a real lion tamer... [Which, of course, is reason for him to softly sing--] Liiion...tamer...
[Not that omens are tamed exactly, but it's too uncanny for him to not point it out.]
no subject
[It's more of a surprised noise than anything uncomfortable. Look, he's basically a walking meat dorito, a hug isn't going to do more than surprise him. That noise turns into a quiet, brief laugh before he pats Ryan's shoulder. Carefully.]
No, she's just here to help. Not... really tamed. I don't think.
[He glances up, and, predictably, the look on the lioness' face is one of disdain. No way is she tamed, ugh.]
Yeah. Just here to help. She'll let you ride until we get to the orphanage.
no subject
I...get to ride her?
[Ryan's in awe. This has suddenly become maybe the best night of his life. He holds a hand out as if maybe she needs to sniff it first, and then despite his excitement he doesn't try and climb on right away. He just clumsily pets her, trying really hard to be gentle.]
Oh my god. [He giggles.] You're...you're soooooooo pretty.
[The entire moment has the feel of the drunkest person at the party befriending the host's housecat. Except in this case the housecat is a lion that could destroy him if she felt like it. None of that seems to register at the moment though because he gets to pet a pretty pretty lion.]
no subject
[The omen just huffs, sighing in that way only a feline can. Graciously allowing the human to pet her.]
She's okay with it. But just for tonight. After that, I'm pretty sure it's look but don't touch.
[A flick of the omen's ears indicates her human is absolutely correct. No rides after tonight.]
We just need to get you some rest... in one piece.
no subject
Okay. Just tonight.
[He gives one last little scritch behind her ear and then...considers his options. He's been having a hard to keeping his balance just trying to walk normally, so climbing on a majestic, beautiful lioness will be a challenge.
Probably better to go right to the source though, right? At least, that seems like the best course of action to Ryan right now. When in doubt, ask the smart, pretty lady in the room.]
...Pssssst. Pretty Kitty. [He leans in toward Shiro's omen, as though she's going to answer him.] How do I get up?
[Shiro might want to come assist.]
no subject
Here... [He steps over, while his omen lies down, the posture of a sphinx. Tail lashing in impatience. Apparently all the sass Shiro tends to bite down on gets channeled to his omen. But that's a thought for another day.]
[He moves to take Ryan's arm, to brace him.] She's nice and low to the ground now. Just hop on and we'll keep going.
[Nice and easy.]
no subject
Thanks. [That one's for Shiro. The second one comes with a pet for his omen, and is stage whispered in her ear.] Thanks.
[Everything about this is a lot better, even ignoring how cool it is to ride a lion. He doesn't have to walk, he can lean comfortably, and he only has to make sure he doesn't tilt too much to the left or right. Suddenly it's a lot more manageable. He snuggles a little, getting real cozy.]
M'good now.
no subject
[Both of you, he adds, silently. If his Omen hears, she doesn't respond. Just calmly and slowly rises to her feet. Stretching out her back legs as she does so. Somehow managing to make the gesture look regal.]
[Even so, he sets a hand on the sprawled teen's back. Keeping him just a fraction more steady.]
Just stay put until we get there. All right?
[And they're off!]
no subject
Mm-hm.
[It's a quiet response, but he does follow through on it. With Shiro's hand on his back, there isn't much he has to do but ride and not try to move.
They go quietly for a few more minutes. Now that Ryan isn't putting his energy into staying upright he's more tired, but his thoughts also drift around more. There was no time or ability to mull over them for long before, but now they're floating up to the surface.]
...Sorry. 'bout all this...
[It comes out more like "sore-y", but he means it. This guy was probably having fun at the parade and dropped everything to bring his dumb drunk ass home? Or wherever they're going? It's hitting Ryan that he probably ruined this guy's night. Great.
But saying sorry is Important, which is why he does.
...Wait. Did he say it? Better say it again just in case.]
Sorry...
no subject
[It's almost too quiet to hear. Granted, the parade is several blocks behind them now, but there are still pockets here and there of people celebrating. Enough to almost not hear a quiet apology when it's offered. He glances down, before shaking his head.]
Hey, it's okay. Parties really aren't my thing, anyway.
[In all seriousness, they aren't. Ever since the incident at the Castle - when things literally exploded. The years in Deerington didn't help matters one bit. Combine all that with October in general and... well... it's a bad combination to say the least. Being able to get away is as much a relief to him as it is a help to his new friend.]
We're almost there, and you can get some real rest.
[Turning a couple corners while they talk - the orphanage should just be on the end of the block.]
no subject
What kinda party lasts aaaaaaaaall...all month? It'ssstupid...
[He sticks his tongue out and blows a very sad little raspberry, because that's obviously the best way to show how dumb it is. Stupid party outside his door all month. How was he not supposed to go and make bad choices?!
That being said, it's kind of a relief to know they're almost there. He feels off in every possible sense he could be off, and all he wants to do is curl up in a bed and pass out. He yawns a little.]
Good plan, Lion Tamer...
[He hums that melody again, soft and slow. Liiion...tame...r...]
no subject
[The last one he could really remember was Cynthia's. Her little musical haven in the depths of the summer horror. Almost out of reflex, he glances up. She's still missing. And it still puts his hair on end.]
[But, back to earth. Back to his temporary charge.]
It's okay. You just overdid it a bit. [Because buddy, that is the saddest raspberry ever right there.]
[Entering the gates of the orphanage is as calming as ever. He feels a sort of ease flow into him - the one place, seems like, nothing can go totally wrong. The one place the occupants will be safe. Not something he's used to, after three years in Deerington.]
You really like that song, huh?
[Into the building proper. There's an empty room nearby, he knows - recently vacant for the best possible reason. It should be fine for the night.]
no subject
I went to anastronaut party...
[It might seem like babbling, but he did actually go to an astronaut party - he just doesn't have the ability to elaborate at all on what that's supposed to even mean.
Shiro mentions the song and Ryan laughs a lot harder than he probably needs to.]
It's the best! He like...chewssup sandpaper!
[The mumble is lower and more grumbly this time, like he's actually trying to imitate the song - "Liooon Tamerrrrrr!" - before cracking up again.
That's when he finally looks around him though and-- oh. They're indoors. He tries to lift his head up to peek a little more.]
Are we theeere...?
no subject
[What. Like a costume party? Or does he know real astronauts? If it's the latter, color Shiro curious. It's not every day he runs into someone who's got connections with space travel. Actually it feels like decades since he's had a good space conversation.]
[He raises his eyebrows at that... uh. Lovely rendition of music. His omen pins her ears back. She clearly has her own opinions about the song.]
You'll have to show me sometime. When you're feeling better.
[He nudges the door open, letting both the omen and her passenger inside. A single bed. A little desk. The rest of the room is bare, its occupant having moved on already, taking their belongings with them.]
Yeah, we're here. You can get some sleep. Bed's yours for the night, okay?
no subject
Ryan tilts his head up and nothing has ever looked more comfortable to him than that bed does right now. Honestly it might be more inviting-looking than his actual house.]
M'kay.
[The tricky part though, is getting from lion to bed. He's already half-laying on the omen as it is, and sitting up is...a challenge. He debates the merits of just rolling off of the omen and trying to get up from the floor instead but Lion Tamer would probably make faces at that. He frowns a little, trying to figure this very difficult puzzle out so he can go faceplant into the bed.
Ultimately, he just reaches out for Shiro. He'll probably help him up off the lion.]
How do I get up...?
[Please help. He looks kind of pitiful asking.]
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[This is just kind of sad. Really sad. He grimaces, not really sure if he's supposed to help, or if this is one of those things that people need to do on their own, or - what. If it were Lance, or Hunk or anyone he's known longer than an evening, it would be different.]
[You never know if someone is going to react badly to being touched - let alone picked up. Deerington made that abundantly clear.]
[Thankfully, though, the answer comes in the form of the reaching, in the question posed from a very pitiful expression. Shiro just sighs.]
I'll lift you... [And then move very deliberately to do so. Plenty of time for Ryan to tell him not to, or wiggle off Shiro's omen on his own. He just sort of wiggles his arms under Ryan and - Lift! A short twist in position from omen to bed.] And... there you go.
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He doesn't react badly at all. He's a very tactile person even when sober and loves to touch and be touched. The first thing he does when Shiro picks him up is wrap his arms around him for stability as the room spins around him. It all feels very quick though, and he lets go once he hits the mattress.
And oh, that feels so much better. Laying down is great.]
Thanks... [And without any further ado or hesitation, he curls up in the bed, hugging the pillow like it's a stuffed animal.] G'night...lio...'mer...
[He's out like a light within minutes. Despite Ryan being unconscious, a wisp of smoke comes out of his chest and forms into a little otter, who couldn't have done much about this whole situation if they'd tried. They would have just gotten trampled at the parade.
Tomo climbs right up by Ryan's head and lays down there, but they look up at Shiro with gratitude. They don't speak, but the intention is clear. Ryan isn't going to be alone - they'll take care of him from here.]
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[Not that the sudden Koala-ing actually hurt or anything. Just more of a noise of surprise than anything else. His grip is steady, like lifting a couple of grapes, actually. And he's very careful once he sets Ryan down. Pulls a blanket - a quilt mended over and over - over him.]
[Honestly, Shiro probably intended to stay there, to keep an eye on him. You shouldn't just leave a drunk person to sleep, just in case they threw up or something in the night. He moves to make himself comfortable in the desk chair, but - ]
Ah. Hey there, little guy. [Of course, Ryan's own omen. He kneels, offering up a hand for the otter to sniff. It just feels like the right thing to do.] Keep an eye on him. I'll come by in the morning - my volunteer shift starts.
[But he'll quietly duck out, his lion in tow. Absolutely going to keep his word. Absolutely going to come in here during his morning shift.]
[Congrats on your adoption, Mister Ryan.]