reddosmod: (Default)
Deer Country Mod ([personal profile] reddosmod) wrote in [community profile] deercountry2023-02-08 06:25 pm

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. ]

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.

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!

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.

CODING
cuddlery: (laughing along)

[personal profile] cuddlery 2023-03-12 04:20 am (UTC)(link)
[The snuggling is so comforting! It definitely helps Scorpia to feel better after day full of mishaps. Finally, something is going right!

Sharon gets a little laugh out of Scorpia.]


Oh really? I didn't realize I was that jealousy-inducing! [She does feel flattered, though.] I guess that I am known far and wide for my hugging game...! Sorry random Trenchies, but the two of us are really comfortable right now! You'll have to find your own snowbanks to cuddle in...!

[She lets her tail in on the action, moving it to wrap around Sharon's midsection and loop back by Scorpia. An extra point of holding!]
fogsong: (050)

[personal profile] fogsong 2023-03-13 06:53 pm (UTC)(link)
[ The tail wraps around her midsection and Sharon lets out a startled, excited squeak, smiles brightly, and further leans into her, resting her head against her. ]

Remind me to see if I can get a tail sometimes. That comes in handy. [ The way these cuddles just make her heart fucking soar. It's strange and foreign but she loves it. It feels a lot like being safe. ] Kinda wish I could do the same to you. [ But her arms will have to do, her grip pleasantly tight. ]

You're a Nightwalker, right?
cuddlery: (jovial)

[personal profile] cuddlery 2023-03-15 01:39 pm (UTC)(link)
[Scorpia can't help but snort a laugh at her reaction!]

It actually comes more in tail-y! [She looks proud of her joke, while giving squeezing with her own hold for a moment.]

Yep, that's me. Night Walking about! Giving out hugs and cuddles is one of the best parts of a job I could ever hope for! But don't worry, I won't ask for anything from you for this. Holding you like this is its own reward!
fogsong: (050)

[personal profile] fogsong 2023-03-17 12:38 am (UTC)(link)
Keep talking like that and you'll make me swoon. [ Truthfully, she's already swooning a little. ]

I've always admired Night Walkers. It's not a service I reach out for but I've seen how much it can help people with their corruption. It's gotta be rough, though, right? Always being around people who need someone to talk to or a shoulder to cry on.
cuddlery: (understanding with tea)

[personal profile] cuddlery 2023-03-18 04:08 am (UTC)(link)
Ha! That'll be a first. [She says with a little self-deprecating chuckle, because she's not exactly used to sweeping people off their feet. ...Aside from doing so in the literal sense, of course.

But the smile fades as she looks more introspective for a moment, still gently stroking Sharon's back as she talks.]


Well, it can get rough, yeah, when people are really low. But that also makes it feel rewarding when I can make them feel better in any way. And really... I like being that kind of person. I like being there for people and helping them with their problems. That's just the kinda scorpion gal I am! [A smile softly returns to her face.]
fogsong: (019)

[personal profile] fogsong 2023-03-20 12:09 am (UTC)(link)
[ Sharon's look turns pointed at the self-deprecation. ] Maybe you just don't know when a girl's interested. O-Or a guy. Or a guy. [ Or fellow scorpion badass? ]

It takes a really strong person to be able to do that, Scorpia. God knows I couldn't handle it.
cuddlery: (hmmmm)

[personal profile] cuddlery 2023-03-20 04:46 am (UTC)(link)
I guess you have a point. I don't really know how to know for sure? Oh gosh, have I broken people's hearts without realizing it...

[She looks concerned about that for a moment, but at least Sharon's other words manage to keep her smiling.]

Aw thanks, Sharon. But hey, you're really strong too, in your own way!
fogsong: (006)

[personal profile] fogsong 2023-03-21 02:22 am (UTC)(link)
[ Oh, no, Scorpia? Sharon rests her head against the other woman. It's hard to hug her for comfort when they're already as entangled and comfy as they are. ] That's not for you to worry about.

[ People can't just expect someone else to just know that someone else likes them. That would be silly. ] Thanks. [ Her voice here is low and warm like a mug of cider. ] Guess we're both strong badass ladies.
cuddlery: (innocent)

[personal profile] cuddlery 2023-03-21 11:45 pm (UTC)(link)
[Of course, Scorpia wishes that Carta could have just magically known how she felt about her back in the day! It is worrying wondering who she could have brushed aside, but Sharon helps to comfort her. Scorpia gives a good squeeze, holding her nice and close, as warmly as a Coldblood can hold another.]

I guess not...

[Scorpia drinks down her words with a hearty laugh. Sharon can probably feel her body rumble with the laughter!]

Heck yeah! That's the spirit. People shouldn't mess with us! Cause we're all... all bad... [She grins while summoning the will to say it.] ...ASS!
fogsong: (017)

[personal profile] fogsong 2023-03-25 03:11 am (UTC)(link)
[ Sharon lets out a whooping sound as Scorpia finishes the saying, beaming toothily. A few people nearby startle at the sound and hurriedly leave the area and Sharon can't help but laugh brightly. ]

Hell yeah! Hell yeah. [ She repeats, still grinning. ] One day, all of Trench will realize that about us, but until then... [ She hugs Scorpia a little tighter, resting her head against her. Until then, they'll just relax right here in the snow like a couple of badasses. ]
cuddlery: (innocent smile)

[personal profile] cuddlery 2023-03-25 03:44 am (UTC)(link)
[Scorpia roars with laughter at that noise she makes! She's not even sure what's going on anymore, but it feels fun and confidence-boosting.]

Right! We... we got this.

[Snuggled up nicely, she keeps holding Sharon close and feeling the pure comfort. Eventually, she may even fall asleep!]