deercountry | and my heart went 'boom!'

and my heart went 'boom!'

FEBRUARY 2023 EVENT

Due to the cyclical nature of Trench, prompts from the PREVIOUS FEBRUARY are available for use again. Please note when you are using this years prompts vs last years prompts when plotting or writing top-levels to avoid confusion.

IMAGE DESCRIPTORS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE
Prompt One
[Image One: A broken mirror with a woman looking into it, pressing her fingers against the glass. ]
[Image Two: A rose lit up like embers. ]

Prompt Two
[Image One: Neon hearts glowing on a wall. ]
[Image Two: A pocket watch on top of a book page. ]

Prompt Three
[Image One: A young woman with dark hair standing in the snow with red flowers. ]
[Image Two: Footprints in the snow. ]

[NAVIGATION]

Prompt 1 • Prompt 2 • Prompt 3 • Plotting • Newsletter

[JUMP TO COMMENTS]

BAD LUCK OF THE EARLY WORM

WHEN: February
WHERE: All around the city
CONTENT WARNINGS: Curses, violence, danger, misfortune

Everyone has their own streak of bad times. There are some days or weeks whre it feels like nothing is going right. Most people would try and tell say that it's just the tendency to focus on the negative. That it can be relieved by writing down all the good things that happen in our lives, because we have a tendency to only ever focus on the bad. And maybe most of the time, people are right! Maybe the idea of luck really is just perspective.

But not in Trench. Not this month.

No matter what way it's looked at, bad luck seems to be clinging to some people. It might start out small, with simple things like knocking over a favorite drink or snack, or ruining a project that had hours invested into it. Then it might become bigger. A person might start to trip over things and injuring themselves, they might get lost in a blizzard and nearly freeze before finding their way home or to someone they know. Eventually, it could even become undeniably dangerous. The person impacted by bad luck could start to notice corruption levels rising quickly, they could start to turn into a beast at random, they could start to attract violent beasts to them and put themselves or others at risk with heavy battles. The possibilities seem to be endless and none of them are good. Did someone break a mirror? Or twenty?

It will be easy to see that this isn't just impacting one person. Sleepers and Trenchies alike seem to be being plagued by streaks of bad luck across the board. Luckily, the locals seem to know what to do about it. Bad luck pops up from time to time, and of course there would be a ritual to help cleanse it.

Small vendors will start to pop up through the city selling wooden carvings that they promise will absorb all the bad luck that's been going around and dispell it with a simple ritual. A drop of blood from the person impacted and a drop of blood from someone they are close should be placed upon the carving. The blood types of the persons involved should not match (i.e. Coldblood/Coldblood would not work, but Coldblood/Warmblood would). It must be left to soak into the wood overnight, leaving behind deep red stains. The carving must then be placed with a fully bloomed rose and burned in the entrance doorway to the home of the inflicted. The ashes should then be placed into a container and kept somewhere in the home for the duration of February, to make sure that the bad luck stays away.

It seems like it really works! The tricky part is making sure that the bad luck following doesn't get in the way of the ritual while the blood is soaking over night. It may be best for both parties involved to hunker down together until morning, just in case. Time to break out the small talk. Or the deep, meaningful conversations that can sometimes happen in the middle of the night.

[JUMP TO TOP] • [JUMP TO COMMENTS]

GETTING TO KNOW ALL ABOUT YOU

WHEN: February
WHERE: A magic room in the city.
CONTENT WARNINGS: Reference to mild shocks. Forced honesty. Embarrassment. Lots and lots of embarrassment.

Honestly, after being in Trench for so long, people should be used to not ending up in the destination they initially intended for. This month, it seems like the city is trying to encourage people to social, to form new bonds, whether they're romantic, platonic, familial, or any other option one could think of. The bright idea this month for that sort of thing?

Speed dating.

It's not traditional speed dating, necessarily. No one is here to exclusively seek romantic partners, although there are certainly options for it. And it's not something people are signing up for out of their own free will. Instead, people seem to simply show up at the event, with no real recollection of how they got there. Maybe they just woke up on one of the comfy couches and found a "Hi, my name is..." sticker slapped on them. Or maybe they were wandering in the snow and got lost, ending up finding shelter in this strange place, and are now forced to participate until the blizzard passes. All in all, it's harmless fun, isn't it? Who doesn't need a few new friends.

Each person will have a small information blurb given about them that can't be seen by the naked eye, but will appear as soon as someone looks at the other party through their omni. What the blurb says is unique to each person, but it might become clear pretty quickly that they didn't write it themselves... Deerington survivors may find themselves having flashbacks to the days of DeerlyBeloved.

Pairings are completely random. People will be given a series of random questions they can ask one another or they can always feel free to make up their own. Anyone who tries to lie or avoid answering a question might feel a small shock from the chair they're sitting in, one that gets stronger with every lie they tell. The after effects of the shock seem to encourage the need to answer the question with full transparency. It's important to tell the truth when getting to know someone, after all.

After five minutes, both parties can either press a button beside their chair to continue talking to the person they're paired with, or they can move on to the next pairing. Both parties have to press the button in order to stay where they are.

Have fun and remember to always be honest!

[JUMP TO TOP] • [JUMP TO COMMENTS]

LONELY HEARTS CLUB

WHEN: February
WHERE: Trenchwood and throughout the city.
CONTENT WARNINGS: Violence, abuse of power, jealousy, possession, supernatural events, possible death from elemental exposure

There's a tale that comes up around this time of year, one that seems to be an old favorite in Trench. Long ago, in the heart of a blizzard, a young woman was found wandering in Trenchwood. She wore only thin fabrics to keep herself warm and had no shoes. Her skin felt cold as ice. The Hunters who found her quickly brought her into town, giving her shelter in a local in to try and get her warm. She stayed for many nights and it didn't take long for the inn keeper to fall in love with her. But she did not seem to return to his feelings and so he was heartbroken and jealous of all the other men who gave her attention. He demanded she offer him something in trade for her stay and when she could offer nothing, he threw her back out into the snow. The woman went back to the woods and some could hear her howling in anguish, carried through on the strong winds of the blizzard. The Hunters tried to find her, following her cries, but they were unable to, and had to return home before they too might freeze to death. The innkeeper was shunned from the town and forced to leave the city for his cruelty, but nothing stopped the howls of the snow woman.

Throughout the month of February, people will start to hear that the sound of the wind blowing strongly through the streets is starting to sound a little more human-like. The woman's cries will be heard in empty alleys, will be loudest near the edge of the woods, and can even penetrate into dreams. The cries might sometimes sound like cries for help, begging for someone to help save her from the cold. There will be a compulsion that sets deep into the bones of some and many will find it hard to resist her call. Eventually, they may even go looking for her in the woods, trying to brave the winter storms to help the lost snow woman.

Those who give in to that temptation will eventually find the snow woman, but she will not be friendly when found. Her skin has turned a pale white, her lips blue, her eyes glowing a bright red, her long hair blowing every which way in the wind. She will rush at whoever she sees, but instead of giving a physical blow to guard against, she will go through any solid objects and latch on to the soul of her target, possessing their bodies. Male or female, it doesn't seem to matter, she simply wants a chance at life again.

Those who are possessed by the snow woman will not realize they are possessed. They will forget why it was they came out into the woods looking for and will return to the city in a daze. As time passes, they will find that they become irritated by any signs of affection, will become physically aggressive towards couples they see around them, and will attack those who care about them most. The spirit does not necessarily hate love: instead, they see affection as a possible risk for all those who love others. Jealousy kills and she wants to save everyone around her from it, as well as keeping herself safe from losing this new chance at life.

Signs of possession outside of the aggression can be noticed by others. The possessed person will have: ice cold skin, blue-tinged lips, they might shiver even when inside where it's warm, and an aversion to fire or warm/hot water.

Information on how to banish the snow woman from another's body can be found in a book of local legends. This book is sold in stores or can be found in the Archives. To save someone from the snow woman, people must tell the possessed person the things they love most about them. It will cause the possessed person to react violently, so it is suggested that they be restrained during the process. The longer they are forced to hear the positive messages about love, the feelings that they can stir up in another (whether platonic or romantic), and the safety that can be found in that love, the more weakened the hold from the snow woman will be. When the possessed person eventually stops struggling, a cut must be made on the back of their neck, before a cloth soaked in warm rose water must be placed on top of the wound. Their skin will begin to steam before a large gust of snow will pour from their mouth, swirling around the room, and smash through the window. It's suggested to leave it open if you'd like to save the glass.

[JUMP TO TOP]

CODING

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[And that was exactly what Luz thought might be the case, so normally, she wouldn't want to step in Sharon's personal space. Right now happened to be a time she thought Sharon might need it though].

Trust me, it gets old when you've been in another place the same amount of time. Let's just be grateful for the small inconveniences though. Sometimes things cane get REALLY bad.

I know. [ It still doesn't stop her from feeling an overwhelming sense of frustration but she swallows it. Finally, she begins to pull herself to her feet, helping Luz up as well. ]

So, you said roses and blood, right? [ Roses. It was roses in the other Trench too. ] Good thing they're growing everywhere right now.

[She sure had that right. Luz couldn't count how many times she felt frustrated with herself or her surroundings. Luckily, things were starting to get a little better].

Blood, roses and that charm. Yeah, that fortunate. Good thing we're starting to move out of winter!

Do you know where we can get the charm?

Oh, sure. They'll have it in town. I've heard them talk about them selling it anyway.

I'll go get you one! But um, in case any monsters come...

[Luz touched her staff to Sharon's head, and a plastic bubble seemed to encompass the young woman].

...I have gotten better at shields!

[ Sharon startles at the sudden bubble that encompasses her. ] Impressive. [ She wishes she could conjure a protective bubble. ] I guess I'll wait here. Try not to take too long.

Thanks! That wasn't even from the Boiling Isles! I can mostly thank Lysithea for learning that!

[Luz hopped on the staff, and was gone for fifteen minutes before hurrying back, carving in one hand and a rose in the other].

Ok, I think we're set! Surprise, surprise, we have to do a blood ritual, but its pretty light. A drop of blood from each of us that sits on the carving overnight, and then we burn it with the rose the next day at the door to your place. We gather the ashes in the jar and you keep it in your home for the month."

Edited 2023-03-08 18:50 (UTC)

[ Sharon spends those fifteen minutes scrolling through her Omni, occasionally lifting her head to scour her surroundings to ensure her safety despite the protective bubble she was encased in. The moment Luz returned, she gave a sigh of relief. ]

Oh, well, that doesn't sound too complicated. [ She hoped that didn't mean she had to deal with the bad luck for the month, though. ] Let's get back to my place, then, and get this shit over with. I'll probably let you do most of it, though. I'd hate for this shitty luck to fuck it up.

[Luz was glad that the bubble hadn't popped due to some bad luck]!

As far as blood rituals go, not at all! For an unlucky curse, we sure got lucky with how easy it'll be!

You got it! Yeah, that'll be for the best. At least that way, you can actually go out without having to fear monsters getting the drop on you.

I definitely lucked out despite all the shit I've gone through today. Really lucked out running into you. [ It didn't take long before they wound up at the little cottage Sharon called home and, after first slipping down the steps, they made it inside. She led the way to the kitchen so they can start the ritual. ]

Just a drop of blood, right?

I'm happy to help. It stinks you had to go through that, so I was glad I could make sure you weren't attacked.

[Luz walked in, taking the time to eye everything with a slow developing mode of shock].

Yeah. Our blood should help each other!

[ Sharon pulled the knife out, ready to prick her finger, when it slipped from her grasp, embedding itself in the kitchen table. She groaned. ]

When this is over, I will breathe easier, I think.

[Luz let out a squeak of concern, but was happy when it just got stuck in the table].

Dude, that could have been SO much worse. Let me make the cuts.

[Luz did hers without so much of a wince, then gently did the same to Sharon, dripping their blood onto the carving before getting a medical strip for the both of them].

You and me both. I do NOT want some creepy monster coming after you the next time you go out, or you fall in a hole or something.

[Actually, that sounded like something that would happen to HER].

[ Unlike the first time Luz cut her a year ago to determine her bloodtype, Sharon does not flinch or wince. She's gotten used to little pricks like this. ]

I actually fell in a hole last month. [ She said, eyes on the carving and their blood. She would burn it tomorrow as was required and for now, she would allow it to sit on the kitchen table until then. ] Zombies and all. In the dress Madame Generosity gave to me for the party. [ She sighed. ] It was ruined by the time I climbed out.

[Luz was used to either cutting herself for ritual purposes or getting cut by accident that she didn't even blink at the prospect anymore].

Wait, what?! That sucks, excuse my language! It was probably a really nice dress too! Also, what was that about zombies being involved?

Excuse my language? Luz, honey, you said sucks. [ she laughed, though, a bright cheerful twinkle of a sound. ] Wait, did you miss the zombies in January? All those sinkholes that were opening up were filled with zombies. They were frozen but kinda woke up if you were trapped down there with them too long. They burned easily enough, though.

I know, it's really not like me!

[Luz doesn't hold other people to her strange non-cursing ideology, don't worry Sharon. She just imagines that somewhere, somehow, her mom is glaring at her disapprovingly.

With Eda giving a thumbs up in the background].

I think I did! Huh. Must be all my flying, I guess? I'm sorry I wasn't there to help you!

Don't worry, it's cool. A cute guy rescued me the first time and the second time around I rescued myself and someone else. So... [ She shrugged. ] Plus, you were here to help me this time around and that's what matters.

A cute guy? Do tell!

[Seriously do, she might know that guy]!

Wait, so it happened more than once, or was it something different?

[ She flushed. Well. Shit. Big mouth, Sharon. ] Uh, his name's Chrollo. He's got a cross tattoo on his forehead. Dark hair. Big ass coat. [ She hadn't thought much of him when they first met when he'd saved her, but it was Alessa's encounter with his younger self that changed how she saw him. ] I'm not interested in him, by the way. [ She made sure to add quickly. ]

More than once. [ She confirmed ] The earthquakes in January seemed to sometimes cause the earth to split open. I only encountered it twice, though.

Chrollo. Ooh. Interesting name! Never met him before, but who knows? I figured you were into that V guy, like Vi kinda is.

Heh, ok! I just thought it would have been interesting, to see the kind of guy you're into!

[Luz went for various different guys, depending on how cool they were, and had a similar list for the girls too, though that was longer since she seemed to see more of them].

Ugh. That stinks. Maybe I SHOULD be on the ground more often.

His name is D and he's my mentor. I don't have any issue admitting when I think someone is attractive and D's a special case. A lot of people get caught up in his appearance, it's like a supernatural thing. [ There's a reason Vi gets so googly-eyed over the man. He is frustratingly, painfully beautiful even to those who normally wouldn't look twice in his direction. ]

Nah, I think you're good off the ground, Luz. You're not missing anything.

Ah. See, I THOUGHT it was D, but then I thought, 'wait, that sounds a little pervy. Am I unintentionally being gross by mistake?' So I figured maybe I heard that wrong. So it IS D. And he's apparently super beautiful, got it.

[Luz was sure this was true, but also thought that he would not be able to compare to a certain girl in a bookstore that Luz adored].

I'll take your word for it then. Maybe I ought to go back to turning into a bird though. It's been some time since I did that.

Nah, what's pervy is where your mind went when you heard his name. [ She said with a pinched grin, holding back a bubble of laughter in her throat. ] But Johnny did make a joke about his, uh... [ She cleared her throat ] Big D.

[ Listen, listen! They're allowed to be immature teenagers sometimes, okay! ]

Wait, you can turn into a fucking bird? Goddamn, Luz, what can't you do?

I-i swear I didn't! Heck, I haven't even dated a guy! It just kinda seemed right?

[And now Luz looked disappointed in life]. Yeah, that sounds about right for him.

[In a very crude sense it was funny but come on. Low hanging fruit].

I can't claim anything cool there, that was all Eda! Somehow she got this small little cowboy hat that turns the wearer into a bird.

[And it had played a part, all right].

She just gave it to me. I used to use it more, but when she left, Owlbert stayed. So now he helps me there.

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