deercountry | open | lights are on but nobody's home

Who: Luna Lovegood @creidim + you!
What: April catch-all + Luna falling into end-stage Corruption and eventually Beasthood.
When: The month of April.
Where: Gaze, The Farther Shores, Willful Machine + Trenchwood.

Content Warnings: Warnings in individual prompts; some threads will contain gore + character death.
Notes: Information on Luna's Corruption / Beasthood can be found here.
Beast!Luna art for reference. cw: animal skull

☽ god stood me up and I don't know why | general catch-all — april 1st - april 15th
cw: corruption-related body horror; themes of loss/grief

[ The month of darkness is met with a tense kind of worry. It's much like the month of October in Deerington, and for someone like Luna who has a couple of them under her belt — she's wary of what the month might bring. More for her to worry about, heaped onto her plate that is already much too full. The last six weeks have been difficult, dealing with Maul and Willow's death; worrying over Falco, over Peter and Paimon, and the difficulties of Moss King's games.

She still remains under the effects of Corruption from last month. She looks pale and gaunt. Her eyes glow in the darkness of the endless night: two eerieely pearlescent orbs, without pupils. Her hair hangs limp and oddly, doesn't look much like hair. Sometimes a clump of it that looks more like some strange appendage than anything else might twitch or sway on its own accord. Two deer antlers sprout from her forehead — not growing much more than a very young buck, but quite prominent all the same.

She's... not really had much of a chance to try and get on top of things, and there's plenty more to keep her occupied. John's gone. Much like Diarmuid, he's another person she loves dearly who's returned to the waters. He's left her his shop Ritual Gig over in Willful Machine. And of course, the place is no stranger to her. She knows how to help around, she's done that plenty before here and there. But walking into the place with him gone, she looks like she's at a loss for what to do. There's other visits in the first half of the month, where she'll be minding the shop. If anyone comes looking for John, they'll be met with an eerie but clearly upset-looking witch instead. ]

Oh, sorry— [ She distracted, startled by any new presence in the shop. ] Can I help you—?

[ She'll also be found down at The Farther Shores, staring off into the ocean for what seems like hours. There's been plenty of times she's sat here when Diarmuid left, wondering how he fares out beneath the waves. But here now, there's a deep grief to her as she sits with her knees pulled to her chest. Plenty of people have left her, she's used to people leaving both here and in Deerington — but it doesn't stop it hurting any less. Sometimes there's pains that one just can't seem to get used to. ]

☽ pretty face with pretty bad dreams | corruption — april 16th - april 21st
cw: hopelessness, corruption, body horror, magical violence.
note: luna can be encountered alone, or with the possibilty of Peter / Paimon @possessum with her. contact jhey @skeletals.plurk and i for plotting!

[ It feels like some kind of joke that the witch who loves magical creatures so much should find themselves so cursed by them. She's captivated by the creatures, curious of them — but that curious awe of hers comes with a steep cost. The steady foothold she already has with her own Corruption holds fast, and Luna finds herself drained of hope and swiftly falling into the deeper clutches of it.

As a result, she's far worse in terms of her state of Corruption. Her antlers have grown substantially; points grown tall and sharp as they reach up and outwards. The entirety of hair no longer looks like hair, but strange appendages that looks eeriely similar to that of Moon Presence. Her nails are sharp and claw-like, her eye teeth more pronounced and eyes glow far brighter in the dark.

But most disturbingly is her entire demeanour: those who know Luna will find her cold and indifferent. Her usual dreamy gazes now steely stares. For the times she's out of the house, she meets any interaction with an icy kind of aggression. She will react poorly to those who love and know her well, and actively hostile to anyone who doesn't. Peter and Paimon perhaps remain the sole people she won't actively mistreat, but even then as she travels about the city there's a cold, haughtiness towards them both.

She's quick to use magic on others as she goes about her business; jinxing others out of their way, even poor Trenchies themselves just trying to survive, trying to safely move about in their day to day life. Or even anyone who's caught staring at her worsened state of Corruption will be met with quickly escalating level of violence — some poor person might end up with a stinging hex to the face so they can no longer see. Or she'll jinx people's tongues to the roof of their mouths, hex people's knees to reverse themselves — just about anything to cause a satisfactory amount of misery.

And she dares anyone to come up against her; recklessly fierce as she just about goads people who might want to do anything against she does in retaliation to these perceived slights. Best to leave her alone. Not only will going up against her will end up with the very real threat of dark magic being used upon them, but if Peter's accompanying her, they may have a very angry demon against them, too. ]

☽ no end in sight // the rest you know | beasthood — april 21st - late april
cw: beasthood, minor body horror, possibilities of fatal injuries, magical distraction, possibile injuring via goring or mauling, mention of wild animal death
note: luna can be encountered alone, or with the possibilty of Peter / Paimon @possessum with her. contact jhey @skeletals.plurk and i for plotting!

— closed to clarisse

[ There's certainly no tipping moment that sends her over the edge. It creeps up on her quietly; spent too long in the ends of Corruption. Some slow-paced crawl to something that simply tips when the weight becomes too much. On a rare time she doesn't have Peter or Paimon sticking close to her side, that she's alone while she's out and about in Gaze — she feels suddenly sick and dizzy. Sweat starts to pour from her and she sways on the spot. Something ripples uncomfortably within her, like something's trying to claw its way out from her skin.

She staggers in the street through the dark. The cold, cruel demeanour suddenly breaks, a slither of herself peeking through once more and she gasps loudly. A tiny piece of fear. Whatever it is beneath her skin wants out, her heart beating too hard and too fast in her chest — like it might explode. ]

No, no, no— [ Stop it. Stop it. But she can't stop it, she doesn't know how. She doesn't think she can. She keeps moving forward, staggering on — bumping into people, trying to shove them out of her way. There's a ferociousness to her voice, but even Luna herself isn't sure if it's anger or desperation. ] Move, move—! Now—!

— ota

[ She goes on a full on rampage. There's little reason to her directions at first, simply tearing through the districts of Gaze and then Willful Machine. She's lost in a frenzy of herself, overcome with new sights and sounds and the wildness of herself. Something very raw and feral that careens into buildings and people with little thought.

Her focuses on others are random, for the most part — just whoever seems to get into her path. Those who know her well and have a good relationship might have a chance of stopping her in her tracks for a moment, but not for long. Soon enough the beast part of her takes over once more and she'll be escaping. Anyone she doesn't know well or isn't on friendlier terms will find themselves getting targeted. She'll be meeting them with sharp claws, sharp antlers, and wild blasts of accidental magic. The blasts can damage buildings, or set fire to them; she might shock or burn others who get too close. Best to stay out of her way.

After unleashing carnage around the populated areas of Trench and clashing against others in her path, Luna does eventually leave the city to move towards the quiet districts. She'll head towards the woods of Trenchwood, where it's less busy and there are less people about. She wants to get away from any Hunters and their sharp swords and deadly weapons. Despite all the anger, she is very much like a wild animal — she feels trapped by the buildings, aggravated by seeing people. She wants to be alone. Taking to the woods is a far better option for her, and just about everyone else, really.

She'll exist quietly out here, exploring and resting from her earlier fights, and will be very much placid if left alone. That's not to say she won't attack anyone who dares come near. She'll be tolerant of other beasts, if they're well behaved — and will share her space or latest kill of some poor hapless animal who came across her with them if they're in need of food. But if you're a person, odds are she'll be growling and snorting, her head lowering to brandish her antlers: back off. ]

☽ wildcard

[ something else in mind? i'm open to plotting! closed prompts available. contact @heolstor.plurk or heolstor#5725. plotting comment is here. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[It took Usagi one week to be convinced to leave the house for more than just chores, it took Usagi another week to actually do it.

But eventually, old habits and the trouble of breaking them, lead Usagi back to the beach. Under the moonlight and with her powers, she is glowing bright, white, pale light along a dark shore, the waves crashing loudly around her and lapping at her ankles and calves. Something tells her to move and she begins walking, pausing when she comes across Luna, sitting in the sand, knees drawn up in a position Usagi was familiar with.

Without invitation, she watched her for a moment and then moved to sit beside her. She stayed silent, letting Luna have her silence if that's what she wanted. Usagi tucked some flying strands behind her ear, her hair whipping back in the wind.]

[ The silence is nice, nothing but the steady roar of the ocean — the sound of the waves lapping at the sands. The fresh chill of the sea breeze is soothing, despite the slight sting of it on her cheeks.

She sees Usagi in the corner of her vision, but her eyes remain towards the horizon where the water meets the air. She doesn't tell her to go, though. Her sitting down is fine with Luna. And for a long time she's content for the two of them to sit like that.

Finally though, Luna does bring herself to speak — her voice is soft. ]

John is gone. [ There's a pause as she considers, then offers clarification: ] He went back to the ocean.

[She looks over to Luna and then back to the ocean and the horizon. She holds out her hand for Luna to take but doesn't insist. Luna can decide on everything, to be touched, to talk, to have Usagi near. She swallows, feeling a sense of sadness. John told her what he would be going back to, that this place was the only sort of heaven he knew.

Maybe he would be lucky enough to not return home. Maybe he was just getting to exist as a squid rather than the literal hell.

She took a deep breath.]

I'm sorry. [She said softly, soft enough it could be lost over the sounds of the waves.] I know he loved you very much. [She said, not sure if that was better or worse to hear.]

[ Outside of Peter, she's rarely someone who'll reach out touch people. Luna's just not one for much physical contact, other when it calls for it. If it's needed. Her eyes flick down to Usagi's offer hand: no pressure, simply offered. She and Peter hold hands a great deal. There's something very safe in the gesture, despite how simple it is.

Very slowly, she takes Usagi's hand. Holds it gently, almost tentatively. But it's safe. ]

And yet he left. [ There's a bitterness in her voice, mixed amongst the grief. She lets that sentence hang in the air for a moment before continuing. ] It never does sound fair, does it? People leaving us even when they love us? Even if they might come back some day, somehow. It's still not fair.

[ It's not something she's unfamiliar with, people she loves leaving in one shape or another. ]

He was perhaps the closest thing I had to a father after I left my own one back in my own world. I just... hoped he might have stayed a little longer.

[When Luna takes her hand, she closes her fingers around it, gentle and comforting and just there.]

No, it isn't. [It's interesting the notion of fairness. To some degree, it's wholly human, wanting things to be balanced and equal and just. She understands it, she strives for it, justice, fairness. She gives Luna's hand a gentle squeeze. She knows she can say things that Luna's likely already heard, platitudes to make this somehow be better when there is no way for it to be better.

There will never be a way for this to be fair when hell, the ocean, or Trench seemed to be the only options for John... maybe the ocean seemed the least complicated. It wasn't wrong to want things to be simple. But simple also meant hurting those who you loved, because loving someone and being loved were such complicated things sometimes. She looked out over the horizon. She looked back over to Luna.] It's alright to be whatever it is you're feeling right now, Luna, even if you don't know what it is you want to feel.

[ It's comfortable, holding her hand. She lets the quiet settle then, just wants to sit in it. There's often nothing to be said, she knows that. But that's alright, she'd rather the silence than just trying to fill it with words that might not do all that much good.

Luna considers it. How.. is she actually feeling about it all. No matter which was it might be, she does understand Usagi's words: that it's alright for it to be however it might be. ]

... I don't think I'm angry at him. I've been angry with him plenty of times before with the things he's done. He's not always had the best ideas about dealing with certain things. [ Like the time he straight up went missing rather than telling people he needed sometime by himself. ] But... not this time.

I just... wished maybe he'd come to me before he went. He left me a letter...? But I didn't get it until after he was already gone. [ Some kind of contingency. John was all about those. ] Even if he knew he was going. He got to say goodbye, but I didn't.

I can understand that wish. I've wished for it a lot too.

[She gestured out to the ocean.]

You can still say goodbye. Say everything you want to say if he were right here in front of you, just about to leave. You can still say what you want to say. Our loved ones will hear it, even if they are not here physically, they still end up feeling it in their hearts.

I know it's possible to visit people when you feel the pull of the ocean. [ Diarmuid did that. He came to visit her and Peter, asked her to look after his rabbit Queliot for him. ] But I suppose saying goodbye is never easy.

[ And well, for a man like John? Harder still, she thinks.

But she listens to Usagi, eyebrows raising slightly in curiosity. Much like how the dead never truly leave them, the ones who return to the ocean never do either. She considers it for a long moment before asking: ]

Is that what you do? You say goodbye like that to the ones you didn't get a chance to? [ And then, thoughtfully: ] Do you feel like it helps?

If goodbyes were easy, that person didn't mean much to you. [It was a slightly callous comment but it was true. Plenty of people Usagi had talked to or met in her life had said goodbye and she had felt nothing really. Oh, she loved everyone, sure, but it was not at all equal.]

I do. I come to the ocean a lot. Sometimes I say nothing, sometimes I cry, sometimes I call out to every person I miss from here and back home.

It helps if I let it help. [She turns to Luna.] And most times, for me, it does, because I like to think "ah, they can hear me, somehow, they can feel me," and sometimes... sometimes I find myself screaming because it feels hopeless.

[She closes her eyes and tilts her head.]

But I can't let those thoughts win, because I've waited thousands of years to get to live this life, and I want to live every moment of it, good and bad, beautiful and heartbreaking.

open | lights are on but nobody's home

April 15th - The Farther Shores

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