deercountry | the grand opening of the raccoon room

Who: YOU AND YOUR BEST BUDS
What: The Grand Opening of the Raccoon Room
When: October 31st
Where: The Raccoon Room in Cellar Door

Content Warnings: N/A for now

Welcome to the Raccoon Room! Code

You find a green door on a townhouse nestled in the middle of a long, cute cobblestoned street. There's a raccoon logo emblazoned on the door. When you enter, you're greeted by sumptuous green velvet drapery, a marble statue of a familiar looking guy with devil horns on his head, and surly ticket taker (Mako, rather unhappily wearing a Victorian style vampire outfit, including vampire fangs) who will make sure that you're paying your fair share for your ticket. That's either a nice rock, a nice shell, or a beautiful feather. If you don't have anything that's worth the right amount, he'll ask for more, or give you drink tickets if you over paid. Does Mako know what makes a feather beautiful? Who knows. It's all subjective here.

You enter the venue through heavy velvet curtains. The light is dim, there are tables scattered everywhere with plush chairs and flickering candles. It's a large room, but it feels intimate. You find a seat, get a drink, or take a look around.

At 8:00pm sharp, the show begins, with Wu, dressed in his grown, flowering top hat, made by Fern, and an impeccable green tuxedo with tails, a gold cape and fake vampire teeth, takes the mic.

"Welcome, welcome to the Raccoon Room! I'm so, so, so glad that you're all here. Things are dreary and dangerous outside, but in here, sit back, relax, and enjoy yourselves."

And with that, he waves the first performer on.

Throughout the night, you'll see Scorpia and Zari Tarazi sing, Fritter (Wu's raccoon omen) and Pabu the fire ferret perform tricks, and the headliner, Ryan Akagi of Chicken Choice Judy, rock out. Wu comes up between the sets and vamps, makes jokes, and applauds the performers, adding plugs to come talk to him if you want to perform.

Over at the bar, Mako's moved on from taking tickets to making drinks. You can order any old beer, wine, or cocktail, or the Jade Dragon, a speciality absinthe cocktail Mako created for the Raccoon Room.

Feel free to top level, make your own night of it! Your esteemed host will be a bit preoccupied, but this space is for Sleepers to come, enjoy themselves, and mingle.

If your character wants to perform, let Wu know.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Luz is behind the bar ready to order, but don't worry Mako: it's not what you think].

One Shirley Temple please!

[She had it once and it was lovely so she definitely wants it again. She does spy Mako's little smile toward Mako and gives him knowing smile].

We haven't talked in awhile, Mako! Looks like some stuff happened during that time, huh?

[ Mako's very, very glad he isn't going to have to argue with Luz about whether or not she's old enough to be drinking. She definitely isn't, and just because Mako had his first drink at the table of the Triple Threats at 13 does not mean she is going to do the same thing.

Thankfully, he a) knows what that is, and b) can absolutely serve... at least a version of it to her. ]

Haven't been able to get my hands on lemon soda; you're getting grapefruit.

[ Honestly Mako's not even sure he knows what a grapefruit is but it tastes citrusy, and also he's already pouring grenadine into a glass for her so it's not like she has a choice in the matter. It's grapefruit soda or bust here at the Raccoon Room! ]

Depends what kind of stuff you're talking about. The squid thing happened.

Grapefruit it is!

[Luz already saw underage teens getting drunk back at Deerington: not really her style, and Luz was pretty sure she couldn't get behind the taste anyway].

Ooh, nice! Pfft, squid stuff! We're all squids! I'm talking about you and Wu! Heh, that rhymes!

What about me and Wu?

[ Ignore the slight blue tinge to his cheeks, that's... definitely just the lighting in here. For sure.

Mako twists a bit of grapefruit juice into the glass and then basically destroys it with soda, enough it almost fizzes redly over the top. A bit dribbles down the side—he's not the best at this, even now—but he plops a cherry into it and shoves it across to Luz. ]

For free, since there's no alcohol.

[Luz looks at the drink sadly. Aww, no grenadine].

You're dating, aren't you? I mean, you're clearly into him, in your own Mako way, and you guys seem like a good match!

Oh, thanks! How's business so far?

[ All that sugar don't come cheap: Mako hasn't managed to get his hands on grenadine just yet. At least there's a little maraschino cherry juice in there making it lightly pink.

As pink as Mako's cheeks should be, talking about this, except his blood makes him flush a pale blue instead. He looks up at Wu again almost on instinct before making himself look back at Luz with a tiny, embarrassed scowl. ]

...yeah. We are. Have been for a while. I... guess almost a year, including when we went home.

[ It's not that embarrassing, but Mako is feeling kind of Seen. Is it that obvious? They don't even hide it, he just... has trouble being percieved sometimes. ]

Honestly, more people turned up tonight than I thought.

[Oh come on Mako, you have a boyfriend, and a great one at that! Luz hadn't gotten to speak to Wu in some time, but when she met him she could see he cared about people here and had a pretty flamboyant and jubilant personality. Mako could certainly do worse than having a well meaning guy like that be his boyfriend].

That's good though! I'm glad for the both of you. He seems like a great guy, and he obviously knows how to run his own business here! Obviously you all contribute, but you can see where Wu's influence works itself!

I'm not surprised. You've got some great performers lined up, with Scorpia and Ryan! I heard him busking once, he has a great voice! I can't wait to see him really in his element! Can't wait to see who else performs tonight!

No, trust me, this is all Wu. I'm just here to make the drinks and make sure people pay for stuff.

[ And hang sconces, and talk Wu down from stress, and aim lights at things—Mako's essentially becoming a theater tech on accident. ]

Back in the dream he really thought people needed some kind of escape valve. Some art thing that could distract people from all the doom and gloom. Wasn't the right time for it then, but if we're here for good, then... I can see why it's useful. Obviously people want it, you know?

That's a way more important job than you seem to indicate it is, and I'll bet it includes more anyway.

[Luz had spent some time and talked with Lysithea about her owning a business: she had an idea of what that all entailed, so she knew Mako was bound to have his hands busy].

Oh, I know. I would have been one of those people desperate for that distraction. If someone is taking care of you, they might be able to block at least some of the dangerous stuff you have to see. But if you just get lost and then you don't go and hide, that's when things really start to take a turn for the worst.

Finding a place that reminds you things can be great, that people can make art that touches others? That can change everything!

I helped hang the curtains.

[ Mako says as dryly as humanly possible, already getting started on another drink order shouted at him from further down the bar. ]

You should tell Wu that. He was pretty discouraged nobody wanted that back in the dream and he's been worried this place would get the same reaction.

Huh. Well, bartending, right?

[That was still a hard job]!

I think the priorities were different. Here the danger can get gradual. In Deerington, the idea of having a place like that when the world could fall on your head at any minute was just a bad idea. I'm glad he was thinking of us back then, though!

Good point. I couldn't figure out a nice way to tell him nobody was worried about how nice the town square looked when the town square itself probably hated us and wanted to kill us all, you know? The whole place was out to get us, specifically. At least Trench just seems hard for everyone. Like a normal city.

[ You know how normal cities are harsh and full of danger? Yeah! Like that! Totally how a normal city is and definitely not just Mako's specific experience he assumes is universal. ]

It's really messed up that what you're saying makes total sense to me, but haunted towns are just weird like that. Haunted, murderous, twisted towns.

[Luz would take normal danger over supernatural thrillers every few times a week].

But he didn't give up, and look at this place! It's great!

Hey, you were in the dream. We're used to a lot of messed-up stuff that we probably shouldn't be.

[ Mako pauses a moment. ]

It is just the dream, right? Or are you from a haunted town?

You can say that again.

[It's a good thing Trench is only kind of like that]!

No, no, I'm from Earth in a city called Gravesfield! Nothing haunted about that place!

[As far as YOU know, Luz].

[ Gravesfield, huh. Mako stares at Luz for a moment. ]

...really? Sounds pretty haunted to me.

It's not!

I mean, granted, it IS where I stumbled into that portal that took me to another world, which makes me wonder how long it's existed...

Actually, I think I have a ton of questions about that place now that I know Eda can travel there!

[Sorry, Luz, that's for season 2 and you're not there now].

the grand opening of the raccoon room

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