deercountry | 1st fragment

Who: Rika & OTA
What: Arrival + Unsnakely Prompt
When: Throughout January
Where: Trench, Edge of the Wilderness, Ocean Skating... Many places!

Content Warnings: N/A for now. Will update as needed.

(a) A Wandering Child

[There's a child wandering through the citylike streets of the Trench. She's wearing her summer school uniform, with short sleeves and a skirt that ends above her knees. The snow covers her red maryjane shoes and soaks through her white socks, but she hasn't stopped walking yet. Her curious eyes are wide and soaking in every detail in quiet observation. It has been lifetimes since she last explored some place new. She has never been near a city like this before.

Rika knows that she should be scared. She ought to pitch a fit over being away from Hinamizawa and she ought to be frightened for what that means for her beloved village... But her heart betrays her. She feels a forbidden wish burning in her chest; She's always wanted to see the world outside of Hinamizawa and here she is... Finally..!

... No. That's such an awful thought. She cannot have it. Rika lowers her head in shame.]

[And she sneezes.

Then hugs herself.

Right... It's cold. She isn't really dressed for winter, is she?]

(b) Recycled Skating Prompt

[Rika has not touched snow in... a long time.

She had browsed the ice sculptures with a thoughtful look on her face, hoping that her expression might be mistaken as awe. In reality, her squid brain is working overtime in an attempt to recall what is going on. This is not Hinamizawa. If it was, then it is not June and not 1983. It defies her logic. Did she break the cycle, then? But if she did, then why is she here? Should she not have instead escaped to July, then to August, then September... All in Hinamizawa?

As these thoughts become more dark and muddled, Rika turns her head away from the sculptures. As she does, she sees people skating on the water. The troubled darkness in her young face melts away to childish awe.]

[There's a warmth in her now. Like the missing June, but also a contrast and rebellion against it. She wants to go skating! She hasn't done that in so long! And yet... Is it okay to be playing right now?

She wanders to the skate rentals anyway, bobbing around curiously.]

(c) Edge of the Wilderness | Unsnakely Mention

[As a country girl, Rika longs for some time among the trees and nature. However, every person she has met those far has also warned her against the wilderness. For good reason. Apparently there are monsters out there.

But she's a curious thing. She at least wanted to establish where the boundary was and make sure to avoid it in the future. It was tempting, sure, but Rika values her life and safety. She knows that she is a weak little girl, who cannot battle a monster.

Yet something catches her eye. There is a path marked in the snow; a melted path, as if something warm has slithered through. Rika's curiosity gets the better of her and she takes a few steps forward, examining the way that the greenery is exposed and the snow melted away.]

Mii..?

[She lifts her gaze, confused.]

[Against her better judgment, Rika takes another step down the melted path.]

(d) Wildcard

[Want a custom prompt? Let me know at

taiyakinonaku! I'll also transfer TDM threads over here if you'd like~!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[When Rika turns to the sound of a new voice she feels her knees lock. Shock stiffens her tiny frame. Mikey looks so... young. Young and strange. A child she has never met before.

She nearly loses her voice. It's been so long since she met someone new with this feeling in her chest: Could this be a new friend?

Is it okay for her to hope for new friends?

Does this particular wish not betray her friends back home?]

... M-mii. I have no money.

[ Mikey feels his heart soften at that. How couldn't it? ]

That's okay! ...We don't have to go anywhere if you don't want to. Here-

[ And he takes off his coat and holds it towards the small girl, offering for her to take it. Immediately, he feels the cold chill of the winter weather hitting his skin - but Mikey's used to the cold, so he knows he can take it. This girl, on the other hand... he'd rather she had it. It'll probably be pretty oversized on her if she does wear it, though. ]

Put this on. It'll be warmer that way.

[He's so kind, too. Literally offering her the coat off of his back... Rika is used to the people of Hinamizawa being kind to her, but this? She had not expected that same kindness from the outside world. To say it is startling would be putting it lightly.

She reaches for the coat out of instinct, but stops herself.]

You will become cold in my stead, sir. I cannot allow for that.

[Even if she knows that she really needs the coat. Her knees are shaking and she's visibly shivering.] Mii... I apologize. Can you direct me to somewhere warmer?

1st fragment

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