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Deer Country Mod ([personal profile] reddosmod) wrote in [community profile] deercountry2022-02-08 12:06 am

I love you and that's all I really know

FEBRUARY 2022 EVENT
IMAGE DESCRIPTORS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE

Prompt One
[Image One: Bloody fingers hovering over chalice of blood.]
[Image Two: Semi-nude people dancing in circle with joined hands.]

Prompt Two
[Image One: Hauntingly large man coming up behind young girl while other girl screams.]
[Image Two: Old woman walking towards a panicked young woman.]

Prompt Three
[Image One: Obscure, nude bodies twisted together in a circle. Non-graphic.]
[Image Two: Nun holding holy book while red liquid pours from unseen face.]

Prompt Four
[Image One: Chocolates.]
[Image Two: Chocolate.]

BONDING PACTS
WHEN: Anytime
WHERE: Anywhere
CONTENT WARNINGS: Blood ceremony, bodily ceremony, telepathic/empathetic connections, possible forced/coerced relationships.


[From BEGINNERS GUIDE FOR BLOOD PACTS. Found in the Archives:]

"There are a variety of blood pacts one can make, but the most popular are Bonding Pacts. Bonding Pacts should never be made on a whim: they are a serious commitment.

PROCEED WITH CAUTION!
We can thank the Doorway for Bonding Pacts. Everyone knows the story: the Reckoning was made to go fight the impossible battle against blood pollution, corruption, and beasthood. The Doorway vowed to wait for the Reckoning to return and has never moved since. This is ultimately believed to be the first Bonding Pact ever made in Trench and it is considered to have opened up Bonding Pacts as a possibility in general.

The most common misconception about Bonding Pacts is that they must be exclusively for romantic partners. This is not true The majority of Bonding Pacts, as a matter of fact, are actually familial and platonic in nature. Most romantic pairs decide that marriage is a safer option just in case someone gets a case of cold feet. On the other hand, this also means that the Bonding Pact can be the ultimate sign of devotion in a romantic relationship. We aren't interested in telling you what is right for your relationship, but the history is worth considering before taking that step.

So what is a Bonding Pact and how do you do it? Despite being one of the strongest pacts in this world, it is also one of the simplest to perform! Here's what you'll need:

1x Vial of blood per participant wishing to enter the pact
1x Small essence* of each participant
1x Live red rose
2x Live white roses
1x Pouch of ashes
1x Silver cup/container of some sort

*It was once believed that "essence" translated to organ, but we have since learned that this can be a single strand of hair, nail clipping, eyelash, teardrop, spit...You get the gist. It has to be something that came directly from your body that isn't blood.

You need to leave the silver cup out under the moonlight for at least one full night. You must complete this ceremony the evening after and only in the evening. Bonding Pacts cannot be made during the day. When you plan to begin the ceremony, you will need to perform it in a doorway or under any type of arch. This is to allow the Doorway to bless your pact and strengthen it permanently.

You will combine all the ingredients into the cup and thoroughly stir with a fragment of bone/antler. This concoction will thicken into a pastelike consistency and it should be black in color. If it smells like fresh roses, you did it right. If it smells like rancid food, you messed it up and will have to completely redo the ceremony.

Finally, each participant will cover one hand with the paste. To seal the bond, you will need to place your hand upon the one you wish to bond with. Where you place it matters and will determine the nature of your Bonding Pact. Each will have a drastically different consequence/benefit.
ROMANTIC BONDS: Place the hand somewhere on the face. This indicates a public relationship that is to be respected by all involved. This bond will create a telepathic connection between all participants. This telepathy cannot be heard by anyone else nor can it be interfered with from distance or chaos. It is possible to bring your romantic partner back from beasthood through this connection. Extreme cases of this bond have allowed romantic partners to take over one another's minds in severe situations. It can be difficult to shelter your thoughts from your Romantic Bond partner, but it is possible. They will know when you are keeping thoughts from them. Some partners have learned to respect each other's privacy while others have gone insane from the connection.

PLATONIC BONDS: Place the hand somewhere on the chest/shoulder area. This bond will create an This bond will create a physical connection. between all participants. This physical bond will allow participants to pick up on each other's physical pain or pleasure. You will be able to know when your friend is in physical harm. This creates a "phantom pain" of sorts. This can either weaken you substantially or give you an enormous boost during a fight. Best friends have been known to harness this ability well and use each other's pain to literally get stronger during a fight with monsters. On the other hand, a strained relationship can just cause you to feel the same debilitating pain as your friend. This cannot be used to bring someone back from beasthood.

FAMILIAL BONDS: Place the hand somewhere on an appendage whether arm, leg, tail or otherwise. This bond will create an empathetic connection between all participants. This empathetic bond will allow participants to naturally know what the other is feeling and may be able to sway one another's emotions through this connection. Like the romantic bond, it cannot be ruined by distance or chaos and has been used to bring people back from beasthood. Extreme situations have allowed partners to take total emotional control. You will always know when your Familial Bond partner is in emotional distress. You can send your Familial Bond emotional support when you can feel their stress, even at a distance. While this may not always work, many have reported it can greatly alleviate corruption and can even be used to recognize corruption patterns in order to prevent it.

HOSTILE BONDS: Place this bond exclusively on the neck or on anywhere on the back. While it may seem farfetched to make a bond with your enemy, there is some merit to the madness. This will create a unique power connection between all participants. This bond will allow one another to feel the ebb and flow of one another's powers. It is said the most well-forged Hostile Bonds may even allow characters to share abilities between one another. Hostile Bonds are known to drastically increase aggression and competitive behavior between participants. This has caused hostility to stir and may even lead to hatred. However, a successful Hostile Bond that is worked on with steady communication and agreement can be enormously successful and horrifically powerful.
Once you have left your handprint on your partner's skin, the spell will take hold. The handprint will glow and everyone will briefly have a vision of the Doorway standing before them. Don't be alarmed: they are only here to solidify the connection. You will feel great warmth and then the connection will be made. The handprint will stain your skin permanetly so choose wisely. The stain may be extremely light, barely visible. For others, it may be much darker. It is unknown what causes the variation.

This pact can be performed any time of year but is strongest when performed during or near the Egg Moon. While it is not required to have an audience for this ceremony, it is believed that an audience greatly strengthens the bond. It has become customary for people to make vows in combination with the ceremony for an additional layer of power.

As a further point of caution...These bonds can be forced on an individual."

FAQ
1. These bonds cannot be broken except by extreme magical interference such as through some sort of game event, a character being dropped from the game, or something like the Blade of Agency. Death will not disturb the bond.

2. There is no "limit" to the number of participants for the ceremony. Romantic bonds can be made between multiple people. The connection will only exist between those who partook in the ceremony at the same time.

3. People can be added into a Bonding Pact at any time.

4. Gender/species has no impact on the bond.

5. People can create different bonds with the same person.

6. These bonds are open-ended and can be translated to better fit your character.
IMPENDING INTIMACY
WHEN: February
WHERE: Everywhere
CONTENT WARNINGS: Intimacy-based monster, intense themes of stalking, jealousy, possession, guilt, shame, physically violent deaths, possible themes of adultery/cheating, some negative ideaology towards promiscuity.


[From History of Blood Crazed Zealots: Chapter 15 Caution About Curses found in the Lumenarium:]

"Do not be fooled by this seemingly passive curse. There are few things more potent than a Blood Crazed Zealot's magic, and few emotions are stronger than that of jealousy. The story goes that one Blood Crazed Zealot was in love with another and entered a sacred blood pact to unite their blood and souls. However, the other Blood Crazed Zealot's love was not as pure, and soon they strayed in body and in mind. Of course, no secrets can be kept in a blood pact, and one thing led to the other.

The jealous and betrayed Blood Crazed Zealot created a vicious curse that still plagues the world to this day. We know of no cures, no remedies, no way to beat it. We only know how to keep it at bay. But It is always around, It is always near, and It will always follow. We have not yet determined the exact way It is transmitted from one person to the next, but we believe it has to do with exchanging some form of intimacy. Whether that be with sex, words of love, or even just saying a loved one's name, the curse will follow.

It appears as a person walking directly towards you. At first, you might not even pick it out from the crowd, until it gets closer. Then you see oddities. Water spills from its body, or its arm looks broken, or many walk along completely naked. There is something off about the creature, and worse yet, no one sees It but you and anyone previously cursed by It. It moves slowly, and it would be easy to assume that it can't really hurt you. After all, if you shoot it with a gun or tear it down with powers, it breaks apart as easily as a human body...

But then It gets up. It reforms. It is impossible to kill. It doesn't react to pain. It doesn't react to words. It changes appearances when you lose sight of it, making it almost impossible to keep your guard up against it. The last time you saw it, it might have been a little girl, but now it looks like a six foot tall man. You might buy yourself some time, might be able to distance yourself by taking a swim or a fly...But It will find you. It will always find you. It can break through doors and windows. There are no wards against it.

When it finds you, it will kill you. It matters not what your powers are, what your blood is. This creature existed with the single purpose to destroy and it has perfected the art. Once it has a hold of you, you are powerless. You first lose all abilities, and then rapidly, your life follows in one crushing moment of paralyzing fear and agonizing pain. It throws its victims to the ground and breaks their bodies apart. No one wants to find the bodies of those it has consumed. It takes only seconds to kill you. Don't let it touch you. Don't let it get close enough to touch you. It will win.

When it has finished, it begins to stalk to the person that had passed it off. It's a never-ending cycle. Person A has it then gives it to Person B who gives it to Person C. Person C dies, so it goes back to Person B until person B can find someone new to give it to. Be wary of giving affection this month. You tenderly saying your beloved's name or engaging in sex or flirtation might just pass the curse along."

FAQ
1. The curse is meant to be severely undermined. The creature appears as an ordinary, unsettling-looking person with no obvious abilities. It can kill anyone regardless of their abilities or species.

2. The curse can be passed by saying a loved one's name (platonic/romantic/familial), sex, kissing, loving touches. To break the curse, one can sleep with a Trenchie or say the name of a loved one not present in Trench.
MOTHER'S MERCY
WHEN: The hex only appears during February
WHERE: Everywhere
CONTENT WARNINGS: Religious based trauma/forced guilt/shame, extreme themes of self-mutilation and possible sucidial ideations, hexes, altered mental state, forced confessions.


[A sermon by Mother Mercy as recorded by an unnamed Disciple, followed by an attached document titled MOTHER'S FORGIVENESS. A misspelling or unusual wording throughout the sermon is intentional. Disciples debate whether the document was intended as support of Mother Mercy's hex or as a way to help people avoid it. The sermon and Mother's Forgiveness are written in different handwriting. The documents can be found at the Pale Sanctuary:]

THE SERMON

"It was in the midst of Febuawry that the Doorway suummoned me for council,
They had fallen in love with the Reckoning and desird to create an eternal bond,
They wanted to have me present at the seremony to [provide] blessings,
Yet it was with regret I [had to] deny them their wish and instead provide cawsion,
But you see, that is the role of a Mother. We tell our spawn what they do not want to hear but muust.
It is a Mother's Mercy to pass on wisdom, to show compassion and care.

I told the Doorway that we live in a cruuel world, a cruuel world that can rawt a gewd heart,
I told the Doorway that it would be kindr to leave bonds uuntethered,
That it would be a kindness to both to let their love lingr and fade,
Than to let it be subjected to the atrocities of this world's bluud lost.
For what is a strongr emotion than jealousy? I ask of you.
What is a strongr emotion than loneliness? I ask of you.
What is a strongr emotion than longing? I ask of you.
What drives people to insanity quickr than being denied their heart's desires?
No, I told them, they should let go, for a Pthumerian owes this world selflessness,
And a Pthumerian's love can permanently stain this world in a way no one else can.
It would be a kindness to all.

But the Doorway did not want to listen. The Doorway defied [my] advice and created bonds,
The Doorway opened an eternal connection to the Reckoning, The Doorway stained this earth with the consequence of love, of relationships.
Do not be fewled by the luuxury of these words.
There is suuch a thing as selfless love, and this was not it, And so the time came for me to regrettably be proven right.

The corruuption of our cruuel world festered as people created bonds,
For the bonds made the agony of loss so much greater.
With the Doorway's curse*1, people who lost their family, their spouses, their friends also lost themselves.
Loss is painful no matter how you enduure, but the Doorway's curse ensuured it would ruun*2 deep into your soul.
It would corrupt. It would ruun*2.
This was not merciful. This was not love.

And so I counseled the Reckoning to go and keep the corruption at bay,
The Reckoning will not return to the Doorway for corruption will never end,
For beasthewd will never end.
The Reckoning keeps her sword high, and the Doorway will wait for eternity for a lover who will never return.
This is a mother's mercy. Perhaps one day, the Doorway will dissolve their curse.

Now let us bow our heads and pray. And remember, my Disciples, abstain from the curse.
Regulate your desires. This is not to cast shame, but to cast cawsion."

*1: The "curse" refers to the Bonding Pacts that are now popular in Trench. There may be some logic to Mother Mercy's rhetoric given the intensity of corruption experienced post-Bonding Pact. However, one could argue there is an equally high chance of counter-corruption due to deepening relationships through blood magic.

*2: It would appear that the word "ruin" and "run" were spelled the same at this time.

[Footnotes are in the Wayward Watcher's handwriting and clearly added at a much later date than the original sermon was recorded due to the darker quality of the ink. The following document "Mother's Forgiveness" is in the Wayward Watcher's handwriting as well.]

MOTHER'S FORGIVENESS

"Thus shortly after the sermon, a hex began to spread throughout Trench. The source of which seemed to be people who were actively resisting personal desire in some shape. People who tried to resist lust or love or other basic desires began to experience convulsions of pain. The internal agony would rapidly escalate the more they resisted "temptation" and eventually, people found one of the only ways to alleviate this pain was to mutilate themselves. A small cut would bring some relief, but the more harm they brought themselves, the more relief they felt.

I have theorized that this may be the first incident of Sleepers transforming themselves into the Blood Crazed Zealots. This was the first time I began to experience Sleepers who had permanently modified their physical bodies in drastic ways. Many would seem content with the modifications but their personalities were distorted by exacerbated corruption. Those who avoided harming themselves would fall into beasthood in alarming numbers. For a while, the only solution the Hunters and I believed in was to mercifully put these creatures out of their misery.

I quickly learned that many people, especially Sleepers, had burrowed down so many desires that it became an outright plague of corruption throughout the city. We needed to do more than just hunting down those who fell to it. The bodies were piling in numbers and the blood pollution was creating more beasts than we were killing. I sought out Mother Mercy and demanded a solution. I reasoned with her that while she may want to avoid the Doorway's blood magic, it was unfair to allow Sleepers to go punished so severely for a Pthumerian's choices.

Eventually, we came to an agreement. She would purify those who came to the Pale Sanctuary and asked for her forgiveness. They must confess their desires to lift the hex. Mother Mercy will, fittingly, take mercy on those who wish to redeem themselves. Be careful of your desires, Sleeper, for if you keep them locked up, they may just be your ruin. Confessions to Mother Mercy should be a last resort. To avoid the hex, consider honesty.

Good Luck,
The Wayward Watcher."

FAQ
1. The "desires" do not need to be romantic or sexual. They can be someone who desires to resolve an issue, someone who wants to have more friends, the desire to be successful/powerful/famous etc. The "desires" should be prominent. Small desires like wanting a donut for breakfast will not cause harm.

2. Crippling feelings of guilt over desire will consume and corrupt. Characters can avoid the hex by admitting their desires to someone. It does not have to be to Mother Mercy.

3. Those who confess to others or Mother Mercy will feel immediate relief of the hex. People can experience the hex multiple times if they go back to hiding their desires.

4. Confessions can be given to anyone. If you're in love with someone, you can just confess it to a friend rather than the person you are in love with. Of course, it's not like Sleepers would know that...It would be easy to think you have to be forced to confess to your loved one.

5. Characters do not need to self-mutilate for this prompt. Many can just go through their usual corruption stages/beasthood that you would have planned for your characters ahead of time. This is intended to be a bit of history for the Blood Crazed Zealots. You can be flexible on how your character goes to extremes to alleviate their pain. This may include substance abuse, irrational behavior, etc.
THE CHOCOLATIER: BONUS PROMPT
WHEN: February (Chocolates can be saved for the future via freezing.) The drive to find the Chocolatier only lasts during February.
WHERE: All throughout Trench and surrounding areas.
CONTENT WARNINGS: Themes of temptation (non-sexual and/or sexual), addiction, blood sacrifice, severely warped personality/reality including temporary amnesia, inability to use body, paranoia, vomiting organs, homicidal feelings, mild body horror.



"What is the weight of your pleasure?"


You hear the gravely, sexless voice greet you somewhere in the streets of Trench. You knew the creature had not been there just a minute ago, but now you are no longer alone. A creature roughly the size of an elephant sits beside you, a chalice hovering in the air between its outstretched hands.

The scent of chocolate wafts from the creature. But this isn't just the smell of chocolate. It is the experience of pleasure itself. You can feel the warm melt of chocolate over your tongue, your body wrapped up in inexplicable warmth and silky softness, something whispering across your skin. Your scalp tingles as if someone were playing with your hair or you just heard the best song in your life. It's like sinking into your own bed after getting home from a long trip away.

It's nearly impossible to resist the stupor the creature puts you in. The Chocolatier gazes at you calmly. This is an infamous beast, rare to show its face, but known among locals as one of the most dangerous...For no one can bring themselves to slay it. They dare not even write about it in fear of this creature being capable of taking pleasure away from Trench altogether. Corruption has thoroughly consumed this soul, any sense of self lost, but is this truly the kind of beast that Hunters wish to bring down? It pacifies all those that meet it, even the most violent of souls. The desire to fight, to be hostile will be greatly diminished in its presence. Surely...Surely it cannot be bad.

"I only ask for a token of your blood. For that, I will give everything...Your pleasure, your desire...It is yours. In one single bite...Or perhaps...You may think to give one of my chocolates to someone you admire...For surely...Who could resist such a gift...?" It offers its chalice. "Just a drop will do, my friend..." It seems like such a reasonable request for such a grand gift. Common sense would normally be kicking in right about now, but the Chocolatier drives common sense from the mind and replaces it with sheer want. Someone with mental protection abilities, enchantments or blessed items may be able to resist the temptation and step away. Most people however will likely give over a drop (or more) of blood. The more blood you give, the more chocolates you receive...

And oh! Even if you dislike chocolate or typically can't eat it, you know that you can eat this piece. You know that you will like this chocolate. It's perfect in every way. It was made exactly for you...Or perhaps, even, a special someone in your life. A chocolate for your friend, your lover, your sibling, or...maybe even your enemy. Once you have been given the chocolate, the Chocolatier vanishes. You don't have to eat the chocolate right away, but the longer you resist, the greater the temptation will become. God forbid you lose the chocolate. Some have gone completely insane by the loss. Maybe you should just eat it or get it to your buddy!

There are a wide variety of chocolates you may be blessed with and each one has a different effect. The Chocolatier may seek you out multiple times, but it seems impossible to intentionally summon the Chocolatier.

All effects last a few hours to a few days. Consuming paleblood or darkblood will help alleviate symptoms. All chocolates may lead to corruption and beasthood if they get out of control. Resisting the symptoms worsens effects. While these chocolates are intended to set up new connections, the effects will be doubled if the effect is layering on a pre-existing situation (ie; if you eat a dark chocolate around the person you're sleeping with, you'll find them even more irresistible. If you eat a milk chocolate around your significant other, you'll feel even more in love). You can eat multiple chocolates at once to experience multiple effects at once.
Milk Chocolate: This will inspire extreme romantic attraction to the first person you interact with after eating this chocolate regardless of if you know them. Melted and consumed with other food, it will provide additional feelings of being loved.

Dark Chocolate: This will inspire extreme sexual attraction to the first person you interact with of your preferred gender(s) after consuming. This has been used as a powerful aphrodisiac. Melted and put directly on the skin, it can cause extreme pleasure.

White Chocolate: You desperately want to befriend the first person you interact with after consuming. Melted and consumed with other food, it will provide additional feelings of security in your relationships.

Caramel: You will feel deeply indebted to the first person you interact with after consuming. You will want to do anything they ask, be anything they ask, and follow every order or command they give you.

Almond: You will be extremely compelled to communicate exclusively through song to other people. You will also be compelled to randomly sing your inner monologue and overshare via a spontaneous, musical number.

Raspberry: This will cause you to start vomiting a variety of organs. They aren't your organs. Some of the organs may still be functioning when they come up.

Orange: You will begin to completely confuse people for each other. Their faces and names will swap around in your mind. You might mistake your best friend for your partner. You will have difficulty remembering who is who.

Strawberry: Your emotions will be projected from you without your control through an aura. This aura can provide visual cues (such as a golden light around you when you are happy or a blue when you are sad) as well as smells and possibly even sounds.

Cherry: This will make you extremely flirty and cheerful. You will find it difficult to be in a bad mood and wind up hitting on people regardless of your personal attraction to them.

Coconut: This will cause temporary amnesia either long-term or short-term. Some people may have false memories put in their heads by this chocolate, many of which will be better than the lives they originally lived.

Coffee: This will cause extremely erratic, irrational behavior. You will become reckless and arrogant, making moves in situations you normally never would. It can boast confidence and ego. The crash from this chocolate is terrible and feels worse than a hangover.

Hazelnut: Some physical marker will appear on your body to show that you are romantically and/or sexually compatible with someone. This may be their name appearing on your skin, the first words they ever said to you, or your eye color changing to theirs. This does not force sexual/romantic attraction but rather lets you know who you might make a good match with!

Peanutbutter: You now have animal features of some sort. Dog ears, wings, new eyes. This has been known to provide temporary abilities similar to the animal you have been combined with. Some have even been known to be able to transform completely into the animal at this time!

Peacan: You will drastically lose function over certain body parts. This can cause feelings like your arm is no longer there or under your control. It may cause a complete surrender of your bodily functions in general.

Truffle: You will feel a crushing sense of paranoia that something is controlling you, watching you, and dictating the experiences around you. You will become increasingly suspicious of interactions and start theorizing about little things.

Vanilla: You will become obsessed with specific individuals and begin to actively plot their murder and likely attempt to commit it. This isn't just bloodlust: it's plotting violence. It's about wanting to get away with murder as much as committing murder.
CODING
sideeffect: (Unt0itled-1)

riz, beastars | ota

[personal profile] sideeffect 2022-02-08 02:51 pm (UTC)(link)
i. chocolates
[ riz had, apparently, given enough blood to receive multiple candies. 

he'd eaten the white chocolate first. it'd smelled the sweetest, and it's unsurprising that it's delicious. he hadn't thought of sharing the other candy - not immediately, anyway - until he spies another trench resident. he would usually keep any desire to sincerely befriend someone else to himself. not in this case, however, feeling inexplicably drawn to approach, and then to spark conversation.
]

[ he's staring maybe a bit too intently, seemingly unawares that most people actually don't enjoy the close vantage point of being loomed over by a giant bear. ]

Hi. [ his mouth curls into a broad smile, wide enough that he's unable to hide his fangs. he holds out a little wrapped candy -- one of the chocolates he'd been given by the chocolatier. ] Did you want one? If you wanted to share...

( ooc: i don't have a preference on the type of chocolate; but if you do, and should your character ask, riz would likely be able to sniff it out. lmk! )
ii. truffles
[ he hadn't a clue about any adverse side-effects, or else he wouldn't have eaten the truffle.

but nor are the unpleasant results anything he'd be able to trace back to it. it's a cold, anxious realization that washes over him in the midst of a crowded street; dread weighs so heavily on his chest that it begins to feel hard to breathe. and it's a passing, quiet thought at first, that of they know, and they're onto you, until it becomes a louder, more drowning mantra that only he can hear. they know, they know, they know -
]

[ the bear wheels round, his eyes round with terror. it's with a concentrated effort that riz smooths his expression into something approximating geniality. he stalks his way towards one of the alleged perpetrators. he looks like he's about to reach out, his claws extended, when he stops short. his voice is low, accusatory, but somehow still soft enough to be only just above the murmur of the crowd,

Would you stop staring at me?

[ hey, who can blame looking at a talking bear among humans? perhaps even if you hadn't been watching at all? his tone suggests something much more serious has transgressed - riz, for all the world, looks convinced that something's suspect, here.

iii. wildcard ( ooc: hit me with w/e, or feel free to contact me through PM or at [plurk.com profile] kirbies if you'd like to plot! )
Edited 2022-02-08 15:49 (UTC)
entreats: (when i woke up this morning)

ii

[personal profile] entreats 2022-02-08 10:34 pm (UTC)(link)
[ To be entirely fair here - Ange had been looking at Riz.

Though it had mostly been since she was trying to determine whether that was the same bear-guy she talked to a few months ago. Not that Ange thinks there are a particular amount of bear people here in Trench, but on the other hand, she sure doesn't want to mistake them if there is more than one. It'd be rude towards someone who was - relatively speaking - pretty nice to her when they went to look for mushrooms.

.. it makes this moment all the more surprising. Ange's facial expression doesn't shift when he comes closer like that, or when he speaks up.. but that's just because she's very good at pulling a pokerface.

Underneath it? She's a whole lot more surprised. What could get him to act in such a way..? ]


I don't have the wrong person, do I? [ Now she's a little less sure. Maybe it's a different bear after all? But it still sounds like him, even with the entirely different tone.. ] You're Riz, right?
sideeffect: (riz61)

[personal profile] sideeffect 2022-02-09 08:36 pm (UTC)(link)
[ riz feels his heart beating very fast. he recognizes her - his paw shifts downward, consciously maintaining it in relaxed position. yet should she look, she may note that his joints are still tense as he peers down her way. his forced smile becomes fainter. ]

Yeah. And you're Ange.

[ he doesn't move, his thoughts beginning to race. calm down, comes a halting thought. maybe she doesn't know anything --

while the accusatory tone dissipates, it still has something of a uneasy note to it,
]

What do you want?
entreats: (your absence tonight)

[personal profile] entreats 2022-02-10 11:11 am (UTC)(link)
I just.. saw you?

[ There's a bit of a hesitant tone to what she's saying, sure, but it isn't because she's lying here. Ange is a good liar when she tries, after all, so that's not the reason as to why she seems so awkward.

No, the awkwardness comes entirely from the fact that Ange isn't the most socially capable person over here, and so she has no idea how to read this situation, nor how to deal with it.

Why does Riz seem so weirdly tense? She doesn't get it. ]


I was wondering how you were doing, since I hadn't seen you in a while. [ Is..

Is that so weird... ]

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i.

[personal profile] albaedo 2022-02-08 10:58 pm (UTC)(link)
[ his gaze flits from his little sketchpad, the work in progress across the open page showcasing a drawn, personalized map with little memos organized along one of the margins — places to visit, areas to avoid, so on and so forth. ]

... Have you already had your fill?

[ albedo stares at the offered candy. despite his sweet tooth, he has heard talks of some chocolatier, the candies circulating around the city. he has yet to learn of the discoveries regarding what they were capable of, but this time around, albedo is less inclined to become some sort of guinea pig. if nothing else, still, riz is an interesting case: a giant bear capable of human speech? ]

Good afternoon, by the way. Is it habitual of you to provide confectionery goods to passersby?
sideeffect: (riz105)

[personal profile] sideeffect 2022-02-09 08:42 pm (UTC)(link)
[ riz thinks it politer not to peek over and study what albedo's at work on; if the other wants to show him, then so be it - for now, his gaze remains on his person. he gives a little cock of his head at the question, contemplating. ]

No. [ admittedly. ] I like baking, but I still wouldn't try to give out pastries to strangers. They would probably think it pretty weird...

[ --which. yes, this is strange, huh? riz glances down at the chocolate. despite this, his tone is hopeful, ]

But you look friendly, so I wanted to give you something...

[personal profile] albaedo 2022-02-11 03:03 am (UTC)(link)
[ not that compliments are an unwanted thing regardless of how he's unable to fathom why he would be the recipient of one, but albedo is piqued — from baking to the mere mention of pastries. ]

Well, I hardly have anything to offer in return... unless you're experiencing a shortage of mushrooms. I've plenty in that department to ensure you won't go hungry.

[ and with that: albedo finally accepts the provided chocolate as if to honor riz's kindness, though he shows no indication of readied consumption. it, instead, finds its way into his pocket. ]

... But you've mentioned baking. What type of pastries are you fond of preparing?

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grandtheftperson: (pic#14201642)

i

[personal profile] grandtheftperson 2022-02-08 11:00 pm (UTC)(link)
[Lahabrea's been watching very closely whenever those chocolates are about, seeing what they do, the effects they have ... and has come to the conclusion that he absolutely MUST get his hands on some for ...future engagements.

That Riz is currently the one being observed, having scarfed down white, which he hadn't yet watched, is completely coincidental.

That as Riz watches him back, 'Thancred' grows visibly and increasingly uncomfortable, terminating in a single step backwards when the GIANT POLAR BEAR smiles with an alarming array of VERY SHARP TEETH, can probably be forgiven. Lahabrea was a predator in his own right, but he has an image to maintain, and Thancred would be rightfully wary of a polar bear. The scent of calm does not match the appearance of fear and unease. Maybe white chocolates led to sudden murderous rampa--]


...Ah. ..Hello there.

[Okay, he's ..NOT about to be attacked by something currently at least twice his size. Very slightly, he relaxes a tiny bit, holding up one hand.]

No thank you. I've got a few already stashed away. [but DOES he] ...If I may ask though, how ... are you feeling? Did you enjoy that flavor?
sideeffect: (riz87)

[personal profile] sideeffect 2022-02-09 09:07 pm (UTC)(link)
[ riz mumbles an okay when the candy's refused, pocketing it for now (it does have a nondescript wrapper to insulate it, thankfully). another time. ]

Yeah. [ his puffball of a tail may not wag like a canine's would, but he does appear chipper at the inquiry. ] White doesn't have the chocolate solids the darker types do, but it's still nice. I like sweets.

[ riz can recognize the signs of someone being uncomfortable - not uncommon for anyone that encounters a bear, frankly. it doesn't appear to deter him. his smile becomes more easygoing in an attempt to placate any lingering apprehensions. ]

Do you have a favorite? [ type of chocolate or candy, that is. ]
grandtheftperson: (pic#14201649)

[personal profile] grandtheftperson 2022-02-09 10:29 pm (UTC)(link)
..Is chocolate dangerous for bears? I have heard something about not letting cats have it..

[But could miqo'te? Could hrothgar? What about lupin! Things that had quite frankly never occurred to someone even as long-lived as Lahabrea is, but for the first time he's actually wondering.

Besides, it doesn't hurt to be friendly to something that big. It might prevent him from having to fend off a sudden hungry bear.

He does not say that he has already learned not to put ANYTHING in his mouth he doesn't fish up himself, that wouldn't be friendly. If he was so stupid as to actually try it, would any of them appeal? He crosses his arms over his chest, thinking. Maybe he's compiling a list!]


Hmm. Well, I'm fond of coconut, so anything with that's good. Most anything with a nut, really. Oh speaking of, I don't think the peanutbutter ones being offered have any actual chocolate in them..

[This is calm and reasonable, right?]

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verrostet: (283)

i! cw: mentions of guns, gun violence

[personal profile] verrostet 2022-02-09 12:29 am (UTC)(link)
[ Tanya isn't very big, in fact being very small. She knows this and wills her four feet with change to grow upward with some regularity. She's frequently surrounded by people significantly taller and thicker than her, and for the most part she's learned to tolerate a world that often conspires against her dignity as a mature, independent individual.

The shadow that consumes her from behind is seriously massive, though. Her skin crawls, her instinct shouts, and she automatically whips around with pistol drawn, aim swiftly correcting even further upward to a massive set of teeth. It only registers a second afterward that she's looking at a bear in human clothing, and a second later that he's attempting to give her chocolate.

What the hell? Is she just supposed to take this situation in stride? ... She should probably put her gun away now, but she doesn't, her eyes narrowing. ]


Are you with that deer bastard?

[ That creep forcing chocolate on people, she means. That guy was a deer, this one is a bear -- maybe there's some gang of woodland creatures out there getting a little too into the Valentine's spirit. ]
sideeffect: (Untitl21ed-4)

[personal profile] sideeffect 2022-02-09 09:47 pm (UTC)(link)
[ ah. maybe riz, realistically, should have expected that sort of reaction. it's not as if he hasn't seen the bear pelts that some people drape over themselves to ward off the cold, or the skins that they sell in the marketplace. still, this is a little different, and it's shock that momentarily silences the bear as his gaze slowly drifts downward to register the pistol. he freezes, warring the surging instinct to instead lash out, the skin beneath his fur prickling. ]

Um... no.

[ not louis-senpai. right. his voice remains low and soft. ]

[ -- he's never seen a pistol like that. granted, before arriving here, he'd only ever seen guns in shows and movies. what do people do in those shows, usually?: his paws lift very, very slowly, in an "i'm unarmed" motion. which is perhaps unhelpful, given the length of his claws - ]

He just showed up and gave me some chocolates...
verrostet: (188)

1/2

[personal profile] verrostet 2022-02-11 05:36 am (UTC)(link)
[ The bear's response is...

... utterly devoid of mystique or malice. From his round eyes to his soft voice to his paws raised in the universal sign of peaceful entreaty, he's the very image of a victimized bear. If such a thing could exist, anyway; it's hard to feel that he wouldn't be capable of breaking her with a single swat.

But, she recognizes, even that thought is a form of prejudice. He can't help having a hulking form, and she wouldn't feel quite as threatened if he were a human. Though — she'd felt threatened even before she'd turned around and seen what he looked like. Why? Why was that? They're in the middle of town, not an active warzone. It was pure irrationality. If she'd drawn a gun on someone in the capital back home just because they approached her from behind, she would be deemed loose in the head and detained, unquestionably.

Shit. Realizing that she still has her pistol aimed at him, she snaps the safety in place and angrily slams the gun into its holster at her side. Something is wrong, but she's taken care not to eat any more chocolates. Somehow, she's acting more like a beast than the actual bear in front of her. ]
verrostet: (028)

2/2

[personal profile] verrostet 2022-02-11 05:36 am (UTC)(link)
[ With effort, she twists her expression back into something passably neutral and bows slightly, thinking about how she might as well hop into some monster's maw if her reason has deteriorated this badly. ]

I apologize deeply. My behavior was inexcusable.

[ She straightens and looks up (seriously way up) at the bear. Looking at him more closely, it's a wonder she could have thought he was affiliated with that chocolate-dealing deer. Their vibes couldn't be any more different. ]

I hope I didn't startle you too badly...?

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adelphoi: (🍰 ᴄᴏᴄᴏɴᴜᴛ)

ii!

[personal profile] adelphoi 2022-02-09 06:55 am (UTC)(link)
[ admittedly, alisaie had glanced toward him, but surprisingly enough she is not so shocked by a manlike bear wandering the streets, for eorzea was chock full of many beastlike races. she had met many face to face herself! no bears, admittedly, but one like him is not the most bizarre type of person she has seen.

nevertheless, alisaie starts with surprise when the bear suddenly rounds on her, sharp claws extended. she stands a whopping 4'8" beside him yet she does not seem to show any fear - only surprise. alisaie has never had a particularly strong sense of self-preservation. ]


What?

[ instantly her hand hovers at the hilt of her rapier, though she does not draw it. ]

I only glanced your way - is everything all right?
sideeffect: (riz47)

[personal profile] sideeffect 2022-02-11 01:46 am (UTC)(link)
[ calm down, riz tells himself. ]

[ but, likely, alisaie may be able to see the twinge of fear in the bear's eyes. he doesn't recognize this female (human? a variation of human?). and his gaze doesn't follow her motion towards her rapier, but the digits of his paw begin to curl so as to cover his claws. he won't be attacking anyone in broad daylight, in the midst of a crowd, no matter how strong any fear instincts driving him towards an offense. ]

Yeah. I'm fine.

[ riz's smile strains, and actually may look more akin to a grimace, but he stubbornly holds it in place. ]

Who're you?
adelphoi: (🍰 ᴇᴍᴘɪʀᴇ)

[personal profile] adelphoi 2022-02-11 07:34 am (UTC)(link)
[ riz seems to stand down, and so alisaie's hand, hovering near her hip, drops down to her side again, though the moment is still tense. the bear -- bear-man? -- withdraws his dangerous looking claws, but he still carries himself nervously, something like fear darting behind his eyes. that's hardly surprising in a place like this, yet still, there seems to be no immediate danger.. ]

My name is Alisaie. I would say it's a pleasure to meet you, but you do not seem to be feeling particularly well..

[ much though he might say he is fine, his behavior certainly says otherwise.

oh. the proverbial lightbulb goes off above her head. ]


Oh.. you haven't happened to have eaten any questionable sweets, have you?

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peripheries: (take so many bribes if i was a judge)

ii.

[personal profile] peripheries 2022-02-10 02:49 am (UTC)(link)
Hmm?

[Kaworu blinks up at the bear, for once looking genuinely a little confused. He'd been spending most his time at the beach at the Leviathan camp and had gone back into town to run an errand and do something other than well... meditate or sleep.]

I wasn't. Why did you think I was? Riz?
sideeffect: (Un452titled-2)

[personal profile] sideeffect 2022-02-11 02:06 am (UTC)(link)
[ riz stares down at the smaller boy. his heartbeat has yet to calm, and he feels a twinge of further upset at the question. his shoulders tremble. ]

Kaworu...

[ despite how terrified he looks, he subdues his voice into something more monotonous. cold. his paw lowers, but not out of sight - more as if he's debating grasping the other's shoulder. he doesn't yet; it instead remains hovering a few inches over it. ]

If someone you knew did something terrible... Would you tell anyone...?
peripheries: (get wrecked shinji-kun)

[personal profile] peripheries 2022-02-11 04:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Like a secret?

[He tilts his head, trying to think. No one has ever confided in him before so he'd never needed to think about how to conceal personal secrets. His mission had been a secret but that was certainly something different.]

...No. I don't think so. Secrets can be painful but they can also protect from pain.

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dokoyou: (pic#15347901)

i.

[personal profile] dokoyou 2022-02-12 04:22 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Kokomi takes a piece of orange chocolate, not taking her eyes off her book as she nibbles on it gingerly. Wow, this is delicious! She has never tasted something so sweet and so citrusy at the same time! It actually causes her to smile. ]

Thank you very much! I must admit that I needed the pick-me-up. [ She turns to face the person who gave her the chocolate. ] Oh! General Gorou! What are you doing here? And why are you so high up?

[ Kokomi knows that she has much to improve on when it comes to remembering people's names, but look at those fluffy ears! She can't mistake them for anyone else's but Gorou's. ]
sideeffect: (Unt32itled-2)

omg... so cute

[personal profile] sideeffect 2022-02-15 02:59 am (UTC)(link)
You're welcome.

[ riz brightens at the gratitude - not so much for the vocalization of it, but that she's made happier for it. that means they're closer to becoming ... acquaintances, right? but if they're to be friends, he should share his name - ]

[ - ah. the bear lifts a paw to point at his own face. him? gorou? he glances over his shoulder, unsuccessful in trying to determine who she might be referring to. it could be exciting, in a way, to think that she may know another bear to confuse him with, but he's too perplexed by the mistake to immediately reflect on that. ]

I... think you might have the wrong animal. [ he blinks. ] My name's Riz.
dokoyou: (pic#15347902)

[personal profile] dokoyou 2022-02-17 03:50 pm (UTC)(link)
[ No, that's definitely Gorou. What reason could he have to give Kokomi a fake name? Did she ever leave him with any kind of directive that would necessitate such an act. Wait. He must be undercover! He might be in the middle of an info gathering mission.

Don't worry, Gorou. Kokomi's got this. ]


Of course. Riz. [ She flashes him a knowing smile. ]

Can I help you with anything today? [ And by anything, Kokomi means this exciting secret mission. ] It's the least I can do. [ Please, let's go on a secret mission. ]

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prodigalhairess: (pic#13210459)

I

[personal profile] prodigalhairess 2022-02-14 04:43 am (UTC)(link)
[Oh that's... that's a bear. A real, really big bear. Rapunzel is a bit startled by the way he suddenly seems to loom over her - but then he offers the chocolate. He smiles, and even though such a look might be incredibly intimidating to others, it just makes Rapunzel smile right back. She's not one to judge by appearances, after all. All her best friends are pretty dangerous-looking guys, and there's the werewolf too...

So she relaxes and nods, holding out her hand.]


You like white chocolate, huh? That's a way underappreciated flavor.
sideeffect: (riz41)

[personal profile] sideeffect 2022-02-16 12:49 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah!

[ riz agrees heartedly. he tips his paw so that the little piece of chocolate drops gently into her hand. while he'd noticed her initial startling, he's pleased with the fact that she's apparently receptive of his friendliness. remembering himself, he takes a small step backwards to give her a more polite distance. ]

I don't eat much of the darker chocolates. They don't really agree with me... [ stomachaches abound. ] I'm Riz, by the way.

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