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Deer Country Mod ([personal profile] reddosmod) wrote in [community profile] deercountry2022-01-08 12:48 am

Gain the weight of you then lose it

JANUARY 2022 EVENT
IMAGE DESCRIPTORS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE

Prompt One
[Image One: Woman in an elaborate blue dress with high collar staring at camera while people dance in background.]
[Image Two: Woman in pink dress touching chest and smiling at camera while people dance in background.]

Prompt Two
[Image One: Explicit gif of snake shedding its skin and a new viperlike snake coming out of the old skin.]
[Image Two: Gif of eyes gazing at camera and right eye turning yellow.]

Prompt Three
[Image One: Image of rock snake with fire glowing in its mouth.]
[Image Two: Gif of a snake made entirely out of flames hissing.]

SNAKE DEN
WHEN: Evenings throughout January
WHERE: The Red, Cellar Door
CONTENT WARNINGS: Alcohol/Drugs, possible NSFW scenarios, forced honesty, mood altering substances.


Around Trench, Sleepers will find a gold-edged flyer pinned to most doors, lamps, and posted around stores and throughout the market. Some may even find the flyer pinned to their front door:

MADAM GENEROSITY INVITES YOU TO THE SNAKE DEN
Hello darling and dearest Sleepers! Do not let the cold dampen your spirit or weaken your hope. Do not allow our differences to divide us; do not let the frigid drive you to isolation; do not hurt your soul by forgetting one another. They say snakes cannot thrive in the cold, yet here I am, defying it, thriving despite it. You can too. We must persist. We shall persist. Not with violence and bloodshed, not with pollution and corruption, but with unity! With compassion and fun.

I invite you all to join me at The Red every odd evening of January! Welcome to the Snake Den! A little Talent Show I throw occasionally to remind Sleepers of their profound potential for greatness and awe! Come be flashy on stage or to support your friends. After the Talent Show is our famed Fashion Show. Do you have eccentric outfits you would like to show off? Now is truly your time to shine!

The evening will be filled with plenty of food and drink for all. We shall dance, we shall show off, we shall persist and defy corruption together. Let my lovely Night Walkers shine and keep you company for the evening. Find some new friends, have an illicit affair, or just come so you don't have to be alone for a night. You are all welcome...And don't worry, I've enchanted the Red so that none of your powers can cause any damage while inside the building. Feel free to really make a light show with your fire! It won't hurt anyone.

I so look forward to seeing all of you there.

With Love,
Madam Generosity
The Red has been elaborately decorated for the Snake Den spectacle. Enormous golden statues of snakes have been placed throughout. Golden lights glitter above. Servers carry about golden flutes of champagne, soda, and sparkling water. You can order other drinks at the bar. While the invite has gone out to Sleepers, there are some regular Trenchies who have come to show their support. To perform in the Talent Show portion, one simply needs to go backstage to prepare with the rest.

A female Trenchie named Dorothea seems to be directing the acts. People can perform multiple times. Talents performed can include music, comedy, dance routines, or little skits. After the Talent Show concludes, a Fashion Show will be put on, and everyone is encouraged to join. You can get your hair and make-up done elaborately backstage and find eccentric outfits to try on if you're not so happy with the one you showed up in.

Going to the Snake Den at this time will cause incredible stress relief. Even those who are typically shy or introverted will find themselves soothed at the Snake Den. Giant pillows have been thrown about so people can puddle in together and snuggle up. Private rooms have been created out of silks for some private conversations or interactions.

There must be something in the drinks or the snacks going around because it becomes easy to become a much more outgoing version of yourself at the party. It may increase friendliness or touchiness and relax people's usual reservations. Who knows? It might encourage you to go up on stage and show off a bit or talk to that handsome stranger who has been eying you the whole night. Regular intoxication from alcohol/drugs is possible as well which means some people might not need the additional encouragement.

Regular dancing occurs after the Fashion Shows with various musicians performing on stage to fill the night up with plenty of mood melodies. As the evening prolongs, the lights dim and things become quiet and soothing. Since paleblood magic is exceptionally strong this month with honesty, attendants of the party may find themselves being more open and honest about themselves. Hopefully, you don't confess anything too vulnerable about yourself...

FAQ:
1. Characters with mental abilities may be able to resist the honesty sway if they consciously realize it is happening.

2. Any talent can be performed on the stage.

3. The flyer is magically enchanted so that people who touch it will feel unusually excited to go to the Snake Den.
THE SHEDDING CEREMONY
WHEN: Begins in January - Effects may be permanent. Players choose when the effects wear off.
WHERE: Everywhere
CONTENT WARNINGS: Forced modification of body, possible themes of body dysmorphia, shedding/peeling skin, burning/eating dead skin, alternate versions of characters, possible genderswapping, possible alteration of personality/memories.


[A passage from Rituals and Reality; Chapter 2: The Shedding Ceremony. Found exclusively in Gaze:]

"Worshippers of Madam Generosity believed that the shedding of snakeskin was symbolic to the shedding of an old life and the acceptance of a new life. The skin left behind was a reminder of past trials and tribulations, and the skin you walk away with is evidence of all that you have learned and experienced. In ancient times, Sleepers would ritualistically select one of their own to sacrifice to Madam Generosity. Eventually, Sleepers would come to learn that Madam Generosity did not appreciate blood sacrifices. Due to her gentle nature, she encouraged Sleepers to pay tribute to her in other ways.

Thus came the Shedding Ceremony. Sleepers would rub away chapped skin and set it afire in a bowl. They would reflect on lives left behind and the new life they had been given in Trench. Over time, this created a powerful magical experience that persisted beyond the original ceremony. The Shedding Ceremony is both a ritual and an enchantment.

As January begins, Sleepers may find that their skin has become dry and brittle. The generous application of lotions and oils may soothe the skin, but neglected skin can begin to peel off. Although it is a painless experience, it can be rather gross to look at and a bit itchy. Then one day, you simply fall asleep and when you awaken, you are an entirely different version of yourself. You will find a nearly perfect replica of your old self in a shed skin nearby. Your new body may be stronger, faster, more powerful. Old scars may be healed, lost limps replaced...Or you might be an entirely new gender. Some have even experienced becoming a different species. Some awaken as an older or younger variation of themselves while others find that they have become an alternate version of themselves.

These effects have been known to last for a few days up to months at a time. In some scenarios, the effects have become permanent. Some believe it to be a curse while others believe it is a gift. It may happen multiple times and take a few sheds to return to your original body. It is believed that ingesting your old skin or burning it alleviates the changes and brings you back to your original body faster. Generous application of lotion and oils can prevent the Shedding Ceremony altogether for some - or at the very least, slow it down."

FAQ

1. Characters can avoid this prompt altogether via the application of lotion.

2. If you decide to permanently change your character in a big way (ie; changing their species/gender/age) then we do ask that you update your character on the taken page to reflect that they are now an Alternate Version of a character. This would open up the original character to be applicable to new players.

3. This can change blood types for those interested in trying on a new blood type. You can either temporarily change a blood type or permanently. If you permanently change a blood type, let us know on the Blood Type page and update your information on the taken page.

4. You can play out the transformation as explicitly or non-explicitly as you want. Maybe characters see the changes happening under their peeling skin or just wake up in their new body. The peeling does not need to be any more graphic than what you would typically see on dry skin.

5. You can alter a character's gender, species, age, blood type, or switch to a general alternate version of a character (ie; Coffee Shop AU, an AU of your character but with different powers, an AU of your character if they came from a different canon or timeline.) Please have fun with this and explore the possibilities for as long as you like!

Unsnakely
WHEN: All of Bone Season
WHERE: Anywhere outside
CONTENT WARNINGS: Possible injuries or death from burns/fire.


[A journal entry from the Wayward Watcher that can be found in the Archaic Archives reads:]

"Do not trust the naked snake trails of January. They exist to trick you into a sense of Madam Generosity's comfort. The Good Pthumerian leaves snow tracks in her wake, but the Unsnakely leaves melted trails of snow. This creature has spent centuries cloaking itself to rope in those who devotedly follow Madam Generosity. The kind people of Trench look to snakes as a trustworthy, compassionate symbol filled with good intention.

There are many ways to anticipate the Unsnakely's presence. Besides its melted trails (that eventually turn to ice in the cold), you may notice pockets of comfortable heat. While many believe greenery is a good sign, do not be fooled by the melted patches of grass you find. These are not symbols of an early spring. They are symbols of incoming destruction.

The Unsnakely is not of blood or soul; it is a blood curse of the earth, a product of Blood Pollution. It's a creature made out of rock, with no pulse, no soul, no mind. Molten lava pours through its body. It moves in and out of the earth without disturbing the surface, transforming from rock into small beasts or a snake the size of your home. It looks to spill blood to freshen its own magic and its choice of weapon is its size and the fire it breathes. A furious Unsnakely will light up in flames and can bring great destruction to its surroundings. People have lost their homes to the Unsnakely and of course, people have lost their lives.

The Unsnakely, no matter the size it takes, is as fast and lethal as a typical snake. It cannot truly die, as it is a curse of the earth, but it can be physically destroyed by immense blunt strength or coldblood abilities whether fire or ice. Typical ice abilities will not work against the snake - they must come from a coldblood source. Enchanted coldblood items will be effective against the Unsnakely.

The Unsnakely can spit fire like venom and boil the air around it. It can be difficult to get physically close enough to land a blow due to the suffocatingly hot temperature rolling off its body. It traditionally hunts in the streets and in the woods, by the beach and among the cliffs. Once someone has slain the beast, it returns to the earth where it rebuilds itself over a period of 2-3 days. It primarily hunts during Bone Season, preferring to use the cloak of Madam Generosity to its advantage.

Since this is not a traditional snake, it has no desire to "eat" anyone. It will simply roast you alive - which is arguably worse for some. Its fire burns hotter and brighter than regular fire, and it is a slow, agonizing death that has caused absolute madness in some. People have claimed to see strange visions in the smoke that pours off of the Unsnakely, causing distortion in battle. Do not inhale too much of the Unsnakely's smoke as it will cause intense vertigo. Remember: this is a creature of deception.

Lastly, it would be beneficial to know that the Unsnakely cannot hear or see. It responds to the vibration around it. Some who stay still may get the upper hand, but the creature can feel the vibrations of your heartbeat if your pulse is unusually elevated. Good luck, fellow Hunters. Treat burns by the Unsnakely with vileblood. I know it sounds mad, but the vileblood seems to attack whatever cursed heat comes with burns from the Unsnakely.

Take care of yourself,
- The Wayward Watcher"

FAQ
1. Characters who can manipulate earth can contort/stop/fight against the Unsnakely's natural body. It will take great control to fully control or dismantle the body.

2. Coldbloods with fire abilities can similarly control the fire of the Unsnakely with great control.
CODING
ghostharasser: Art by me! (194)

[personal profile] ghostharasser 2022-01-11 12:19 pm (UTC)(link)
[It's fine, Dipper will just hide in here until everyone leaves, the store closes, and then he can break out by climbing in the vents- wait. Do they have vents? Trench doesn't have central air, right?]

[Crap!! What does he do n--]


U-Uh.

[There's a very Deer-in-Headlights look to the person in the center of the clothing rack, who's face is also beet red from embarrassment.]

Yeah, hahaha! Just, you know. Checking out some skirts. Normal- normal girl things!
chickenchoicejudy: If It Makes You Happy - Michael Cera Palin (Scrape the mold off the bread)

[personal profile] chickenchoicejudy 2022-01-12 05:44 am (UTC)(link)
[The nervousness is familiar and relatable, but also reminds him of someone very dear to him who would have probably been exactly this flustered if he'd suddenly swapped sexes.

Ryan crouches down to get on this person's level where they are inside the clothes rack and offers a friendly smile.
]

Yeah? Did you find any rad ones? I was checking them out too. ...You can check them out with me, if you want?

[He's trying to be gentle in his offer, as if trying to befriend a stray animal that might bolt at any moment.]
ghostharasser: Art by me! (230)

[personal profile] ghostharasser 2022-01-12 06:19 am (UTC)(link)
[Oh, nothing bad is happening here. Dipper isn't sure what he expected to happen, but somehow he'd catastrophized it to be something along the lines of getting thrown out of the store? Or publicly shamed? Something crazy like that? He isn't sure why, it's not like Trench has ever lent itself to that kind of nightmare.]

[This person's probably a sleeper. Actually, Dipper thinks maybe he recognizes them from the network? Dipper hesitates a moment before he sheepishly nods.]


Sure. I'm not ...really sure what I'm looking for, I guess. S'not what I usually shop for.

[Dipper swallows before he slowly tries to ease himself out of the coat rack. That's a vague enough explanation without going too far into detail. Dipper is probably safe from being made fun of, but anxiety won out regardless.]
Edited 2022-01-12 06:20 (UTC)
chickenchoicejudy: Art is Dead - Bo Burnham (Won't stop screaming)

[personal profile] chickenchoicejudy 2022-01-12 05:02 pm (UTC)(link)
[Ryan will offer a hand if Dipper needs it to escape his hiding place. He's definitely been on the network before, advertising for a club in Cellar Door before all of this shedding business happened. He sounded a lot different then though - which he's still pretty sure is unfair. Shedding his outer skin shouldn't change his vocal chords.]

Well...what do you usually like to wear? That's probably a good place to start.

[Gotta know what their comfort zone is before he helps them step out of it, right?]
ghostharasser: Art by me! (232)

[personal profile] ghostharasser 2022-01-13 05:24 am (UTC)(link)
[Dipper will take that, thanks. He's clumsy even on the best of days. He dusts himself off, shoves some hair behind his ear and glances around.]

Uh...I usually just wear shorts. Or anything with a ton of pockets.

[Dipper tries to give it a little more thought.]

Something that says ...hey, that guy's dashing and super prepared. Look at the way his practical but voluptuous long-coat swooshes when he turns the corner. You know.

[Pause. He coughs.]

If I were a guy that is, which I'm not! [You know, like Ryan didn't have him figured out two comments ago.]
chickenchoicejudy: If It Makes You Happy - Michael Cera Palin (Around the hard way)

[personal profile] chickenchoicejudy 2022-01-13 06:02 am (UTC)(link)
Dude, relax. And I mean that in the most unisex way, I promise.

[Because obviously dude is a general neutral pronoun. Obviously.]

Pretty scandalous though! As soon as I got here the locals got on my case just for having rips in my jeans, and you wanna go around exposing your knees? Rad, girl.

[The praise is a little exaggerated, but Ryan isn't teasing them either. It sits somewhere in the middle, trying to build them up.]

I dunno if they'll have them here, but...skooooorts? You could totally do skorts. Skirt on the outside and the secret shorts underneath! I bet that Michael guy could do it if no one else sells them.
ghostharasser: Art by me! (183)

[personal profile] ghostharasser 2022-01-13 06:17 am (UTC)(link)
[Obviously. Well, it definitely is in California, anyway so. Great!! So, either this dude has him figured out, or literally couldn't care less. Dipper will take it.]

Haha, no, I um. Also got nagged at so I started wearing leggings under them. It still works!

[Please do not call attention to what a choice it is to wear leggings with shorts. Anyway, Dipper's eyes go wide at the suggestion of Skorts.]

Wait, do those like, exist? For real!?
chickenchoicejudy: Bang Your Drum - Dead Man Fall (They are going to hear you)

[personal profile] chickenchoicejudy 2022-01-13 06:26 am (UTC)(link)
[Ryan laughs good-naturedly.]

Sure they do! They're like miniskirts when you look at them head-on, but they have a flap in front and underneath? Totally shorts. No one will ever know.

[...Except anyone who's literally ever heard of skorts before, but to be fair this is Trench. How many people can that be, really?]
ghostharasser: <user name =seishirou> (123)

[personal profile] ghostharasser 2022-01-13 06:49 am (UTC)(link)
Those are like, the perfect combination of two kinds of clothing. Genius.

[Like someone took boy and girl and smashed it together. What a concept.]

I'm not sure how I feel about miniskirts. Actually, no, I know exactly how I feel about them, they're way too risky. But, if they come in something more reasonable...

[Dipper will actually look through the rack nearby to see if he can spot such a thing. He does pause and glance at Ryan.]

What kind of thing are you looking for?
chickenchoicejudy: If It Makes You Happy - Michael Cera Palin (I'm not the kinda girl you'd bring home)

[personal profile] chickenchoicejudy 2022-01-14 05:19 am (UTC)(link)
They're...not really risky if they've got shorts under them?

[Ryan sounds more amused than anything else though. He won't say it to Dipper's face, but honestly that's kind of adorable.]

Oh, I dunno. I haven't worn a lot of skirts or dresses either, so I'm just checking out what's around.

[It takes him a second to find the skirt he was looking at before Dipper literally bumped into him, but once he does he shows it to Dipper]

All the belts are pretty sweet, but...might be too long for me? Long skirts seem like a great way to trip and fall on my face on stage.

[And sure, he'd play it off and act cool about it, but he'd still rather avoid that if he can!]
ghostharasser: Art by me! (183)

[personal profile] ghostharasser 2022-01-14 05:29 am (UTC)(link)
[Please do not call him adorable, he'd die. Anyway, Dipper is starting to get the idea that this person's in the same boat he is. But like, it would be kind of rude to ask, so Dipper hasn't. Anyway, he looks over the skirt with raised eyebrows.]

Oh, you know. That looks like something my sister would wear. Hey, I bet you could rig that so you could draw up the ruffles to make it easier to walk in. I've seen her do that with a few of her really long skirts.

[Mabel has been fussing with her clothing a lot lately, since she's got plans of making a shop. He's helped her with some of the engineering here and there.]

[...]

[Wait did she say "Stage". Wait! He knows where he's seen her before!]


You did the Squid Song on the network a few months ago!
chickenchoicejudy: Art is Dead - Bo Burnham (I am an artist please don't respect me)

[personal profile] chickenchoicejudy 2022-01-14 06:07 am (UTC)(link)
[Ryan raises an eyebrow, because didn't this kid say they were the sister? But he looks over the skirt thoughtfully.]

Huh. That might work, if I can hike it up. Maybe that's what the chains are actually for?

[He lifts it up to look, to see if they do make it adjustable (they don't), and almost misses Dipper's revelation. When he looks up though, the look on Dipper's face is something he hasn't seen before from another Sleeper. Trenchies occasionally glance at him this way, but that's a little bit different, somehow.

Someone who didn't really know him recognized him on the street, because of his music. And he got recognized even though he sounds totally different right now! Ryan beams as soon as he puts two and two together.
]

Yeah! Yeah, that's me! Ryan Akagi - I play the Raccoon Room every Saturday.

[Someone actually recognized him this is the coolest thing that has ever happened to him in public ever.]
ghostharasser: <user name =seishirou> (156)

[personal profile] ghostharasser 2022-01-14 06:26 am (UTC)(link)
[You can be a sister and have a sister! Obviously]

[Anyway, he's still caught on the fact that he's skirt shopping with an actual musician who plays gigs for real and stuff. And like, you know, has a really cool sound. Dipper thought he'd drop by the Racoon Room to see him if he ever got the time, but when has Dipper Pines ever had time for anything, yeesh.]


Oh man, I thought you looked familiar! This is crazy! That song was awesome.

[Oh man is he talking to a famous person now? Ryan's basically a rockstar. So cool.]
chickenchoicejudy: Art is Dead - Bo Burnham (But I'm just a kid)

[personal profile] chickenchoicejudy 2022-01-17 12:55 am (UTC)(link)
[Ryan is so genuinely excited to run into someone who actually recognizes him - and the odds of that happening now when his voice is significantly different feel pretty low - even if he otherwise looks very similar.]

Aw, thanks man! Glad you liked it!

[It feels especially good, because Ryan agonized over that song, when he and half the other people he knew were struggling with literal demonic representations of their Loneliness. It had been a tough one to write, but it's been pretty universally a crowd favorite since he started playing it.]

You oughta come by and hear it live sometime! I could probably comp you a ticket.
ghostharasser: Art by me! (230)

[personal profile] ghostharasser 2022-01-18 07:34 am (UTC)(link)
[Ryan can practically see the sparkle in his eyes when he says that. This is absolutely the coolest thing to happen to a 14-year-old.]

Really!? That- I- Wait...

[Something occurred to him just now.]

Am I old enough to go to a place like the Racoon Room? Isn't it like, some kind of night club??
chickenchoicejudy: Bang Your Drum - Dead Man Fall (Everyone will hear you)

[personal profile] chickenchoicejudy 2022-01-18 06:23 pm (UTC)(link)
[Ryan can't help laughing - what a wholesome question!]

Totally! There's no age cap on it or whatever. Plus Mako's manning the bar and he's super responsible so it's not like you can get into too much trouble there.

[Spoken by someone who, from the sound of it, is not responsible at all and also an expert at getting into trouble at nightclubs.]