deercountry | there's a monster in my closet

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there's a monster in my closet

MAY 2022 EVENT

IMAGE DESCRIPTORS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE
Prompt One
[Image One: Half man, half goat gazing through the sky in front of mountain.]
[Image Two: Deer-like skeletal creature talking in a forest.]

Prompt Two
[Image One: Bees crawling out of and over a calm man's cheek.]
[Image Two: Humanoid figure with honeycomb skin.]

Prompt Three
[Image One: Skull beside dried flowers.]
[Image Two: Red wilting flowers. ]

[NAVIGATION]

Prompt 1 • Prompt 2 • Prompt 3 • Plotting • Newsletter

[JUMP TO COMMENTS]

SELF EVALUATION

WHEN: May
WHERE: Everywhere
CONTENT WARNINGS: Body horror, heavy themes of dysphoria and body dysmorphia, acceptance of self, forced physical transformations.

An excerpt from Book of Bausphomette:

"They say you should walk a mile in someone's shoes before casting judgment. The true rhetoric can be applied to Bausphomette's version of 'self-evaluation.' It shouldn't come as a surprise that a Pthumerian would have a very different idea of self-evaluation than the typical person, but here we are and I'm going to give you a heads up: don't freak out about the fur.

Or scales. Really, it could be anything, but when your body starts to change into something you can't recognize, you're not going crazy and you're not turning into a Beast. Or okay, you're turning into a beast but not a Beast with a capital B. You will be yourself, have your normal personality, your normal thoughts, your normal habits...You just...Won't exactly look like yourself. People have been known to turn into minotaurs or sprout ten wings or become half-goat on top and all fish on the bottom. Either way, you're not going to be physically recognizable.

But you will be yourself. You will just have new vocal cords or have to learn a new means of communication. Telling your loved ones about your sudden transformation might be a bit alarming, but I think that's kind of the point. Bausphomette seems to believe the monstrous transformation will allow people to consider different parts of themselves that are usually hindered by social judgments. Are you really happy with yourself enough to not mind being a beast? How does this impact your relationship with your body? Does your body matter to you as much as you believed? Can you adapt to this new body and come to love it?

Granted, not everyone has hated this process. It has made some parts of life especially exciting...If you know what I mean. Thankfully the process doesn't last! The general idea is that once you have accepted something about yourself you will begin to turn back to your usual body! Of course, for more stubborn folks, this has been known to take a few months...Try not to be too stubborn or resistant to the new change! ...It will only make it worse."

QUICK FACTS 1. Your character can have various monstery attributes during May. They should be monsterous - not cute little ears or a non-distracting tail.

2. The lesson the characters learn can vary greatly and depend on what players choose to explore.

3. Feel free to go as heavy-handed with the body horror. Your character can magically just wake up with the body or go through some painful transformation.

4. Characters should NOT have mental alteration during this period. The point is that they are still themselves regardless of their new appearance.

5. Have the size of the beast be appropriate to the setting's size.

6. Temporary powers can be gained through the beast's body for the month. Do not break the setting.

HUMMING IN THE SKIN

WHEN: May
WHERE: Everywhere
CONTENT WARNINGS: Increased bouts of mindless violence, optional insect-based horror, insects in skin, honeycomb in skin, bodies as hives for insects, extreme body horror.

An old article clipping was gathered from a newspaper that used to run in Trench. It seems like the rest of the article is missing except for the end:

"And, he said, "They will say that I have shed innocent blood. What's blood for, if not for shedding?"

We do not know what this Sleeper's intent was, but we do know the impact lasted. Reports of symptoms include feeling as though your skin is humming, that there's itchiness you can't quite get rid of like something is always crawling over your skin and around inside of you. Some people claim that this remains a mental only terror that keeps them up at night. Some have been known to scratch open holes in their skin and pull themselves apart just to make sure they aren't filled with bugs. We wish we could say that it was only a paranoid curse, but it seems there is some foundation to the concern.

Some who have gotten cuts or other injuries at this time will discover various insects, but especially bees crawling out from exposed wounds. Once you have gotten an injury, the humming seems to get worse. A descent to madness happens swiftly, but all at once, you become calm and content with the situation. Your skin slowly becomes honeycombed, bees moving in and out of you freely. You become a walking, talking hive.

But of course, that's just the worst-case scenario. For the most part, people who are itching mindlessly seem to be driven to bouts of violence, wanting to get rid of the feeling by randomly attacking those nearby. Strangely enough, the bloodshed during these attacks does not seem to contribute to blood pollution.

Instead, blood shed during this time of month seems to be instantaneously soaked up by your immediate surroundings. The bees from these people have been seen flying everywhere, and instead of collecting pollen, they seem to be collecting blood magic. Either to bring it back to their walking hives or using it for other deeds..."

IMPOSTERS

WHEN: May-June
WHERE: Outside where flowers can be found
CONTENT WARNINGS: Demonic, violent, blood thirsty flowers?? Parasite style monsters.

From Plantlife and You: Trench Edition:

"This is a tricky subject as it does not technically have to do with actual plantlife but rather the nefarious imitation of plantlife.

As spring begins be cautious of the plants around you. It might be lovely to see tulips popping open and other spring delights coming to light. We all like to see the splashes of color pop up around Trench, especially after such cold, long months...But be wary.

Among these flowers are insidious imposters. Telling them apart from the original flowers is almost impossible. You can only do your best to be careful around any plantlife you interact with. They look like flowers, but these creatures are demonic beasts who have perfectly cultivated a flawless mimic. Instead of sunlight and water, they soak in the blood of Trench up through their roots. If you pick the wrong flower, blood will squirt out from the roots and vines.

The bees from Sleeper bodies seem intent on pollinating these exact flowers with blood, leaving little bloody streaks in their wake, but the bees jump between normal flowers and the imposters, making it difficult to properly figure out which is which.

I know what you're thinking: okay, so what? They eat blood, big deal, they are just flowers...

Ha! Did you really think it would be that simple? No, no, these imposters will invade your gardens and your homes. Their little vines will wrap around your foot when you're in the garden or taking a walk. It's not evident at first, but it doesn't take much for a flower to grow on your body. Harmless, painless, but they will suck your blood dry. They have been known as silent killers, parasitic, draining you of life and energy and magic slowly but surely.

And the catch is once you have one flower growing on you, more will come, and it can distort your personality and make you feel or act as though you are drunk. Things won't make sense and you won't exactly know how to ask for help. Your only luck is that someone else will notice. Taking the flowers off requires an icy bath or shower and some serious salt scrub. To prevent this in general, you will want to keep your skin covered thoroughly and not allow pollen to brush against you since that's all it takes. Good luck!"

CODING

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[Now it's his turn to shake his head, rapidly. Really it'd be kind of funny if anyone were watching them. It would look like they were mimicking one another to outside eyes. Instead, no. No, it's not natural.]

I - I shed. I don't - I don't do this.

[He doesn't turn into a dragon. At least not that he knows of. There's more hesitation, more stammering out random letter sounds until he forms an actual sentence.]

It - it j-just happened. I - I just - I wanted seaweed. A-and then.

[Poof. Dragon.]

[ Oh. That simple bit of information sure does make the entire situation a whole lot more concerning in an instant. After all, if this was normal, then surely Melius would know what was going on. Why his physical form was changing so rapidly.

But if he doesn't know, then.. ]

We've got to turn you back to normal..! [ It feels like the logical conclusion to Chizuru, and she moves a little closer towards him. She can't imagine he exactly likes being a huge dragon, judging by how much he's stammering.. ] I mean, there's no way you're going to fit into the Potion Hut like this..

[ And even that is just one problem out of many here, really. ]

I-I don't... I don't know... how.

[This has literally never happened before. He's never transformed like this. And usually, when people turn into other things here, it's a bad thing. They're a monster. But Melius doesn't feel like he's a monster? He doesn't feel any different.]

[Except, you know. Physically.]

I don't - fit anywhere. E-except here.

[Maybe he should just dig a sand burrow. Maybe that would help.]

We can find a way..!

[ Look at that confidence. It's quite rare for Chizuru, especially when the girl is very well aware in this moment that she doesn't even know where to start on finding a way to turn Melius back to normal.

But she's determined all the same. After all, he's been nice to her. He even offered her those lessons and all - just out of the kindness of his heart.

So the least she can do for him is to help him at a time where he needs it, right..? ]

I'll help you! You don't have to deal with this by yourself..!

[Well... at least one of them is confident about this. Melius is pretty sure this is going to be terrible for a very long time. He'd basically given up the moment he'd turned into this dragon. After all - why would luck be kinder to him right now?]

[... it's also probably weird to see a dragon fidget like Melius does.]

H-how? How um. Are we going to do that...?

[Because hey, maybe she has a better idea than Melius does. He's lost. He doesn't even know magic like this.]

Do you remember anything at all about the moment you turned into this..?

[ It's probably a funny visual for any unrelated third party seeing this. Chizuru, an already quite small girl who is looking especially tiny when standing in front of an actual dragon like this, yet looking so determined in this moment. And then Melius, the way larger dragon who is actually looking shy and fretful.

Chizuru isn't thinking about that at all though. Her mind is entirely focused on helping him out in this moment. She can't go away before she's at least done something..!! ]

Even if it's a small thing. If we can find out how this happened to you, then we might be able to find a way to reverse that..! [ That's her first - and, face it, probably best - guess, anyway. ]

N-no. I'm... I'm sorry. I don't. I don't remember anything.

[Can he hide in his wings? He's going to try. Or maybe he's trying to cover his face. It's hard to tell when your wings are also your hands. Maybe it does look weird, but he'd much rather just hide.]

[Dig a hole in the sand and live there for the rest of forever.]

[But if he can't remember anything different, then he can't help her. And then she can't help him. And that makes it his fault, right?]

[ Chizuru opens her mouth while still trying to think, seeing if there's some other solution, or even just anything she can think of that might help this situation..

.. but before she can say a word, she suddenly notices what he's doing over here. If she didn't know better, she'd say that it's almost like he's trying to hide despite being in full view, but.. surely it can't be that, right?

Surely. ]

.. Um.

[ Oh no. No, Chizuru! Don't point it out! Don't make it awkward! ]

What are you doing..?

[ Too late. ]

H-Hiding.

[Yes, that's right. He's hiding. From a tiny girl.]

[It makes sense in his head, shh.]

S-so you don't. Have to see. Me.

[ It might make sense in his head, but it apparently sure doesn't in Chizuru's head. If she was any less of a cautious and polite person she may have asked it even more quickly, but even with Chizuru being.. well, Chizuru, she can't help but end up asking: ]

What's.. so wrong with me seeing you..?

[ Please, Melius, explain it to her!

She just wants to help, pal! ]

It... it's embarrassing. A-and... and scary. For you.

[Even if Chizuru really doesn't seem afraid at all. He's sure seeing a giant dragon is horrible! Everyone in Skyrim is terrified of them. So, surely, other people here would feel the same way.]

[He's not himself anymore, he's a winged, fanged creature who's supposed to do horrible murdery things just by yelling.]

It's not scary!

[ At least she can say that much. It's not like she can speak on the other's feelings, and if Melius feels that this is embarrassing.. well, then there's probably little she can do about that.

Chizuru, of all people, knows just how powerful shame can be, after all.

But she can at least say this. She can at least attest to her own feelings, hence why the words come out so strongly before she - more gently - elaborates. ]

I mean.. I think I'd usually find a dragon scary if I suddenly encountered one.. [ It's not like she thought that was something she'd ever do in her life, after all. ] But it's not like I'm facing just any dragon. I know it's you! And I know you wouldn't hurt me..

[ All this time Melius has seemed like he wouldn't even hurt a fly, after all. He may be a little bit bigger now, but Chizuru doesn't think that makes him scarier - especially when his attitude seems the same as before. ]

... Huh?

[Very, very slowly, he lowers one of his wings. So he can peer over the edge of it. His eyes are still very much the same pale color as always. Just, you know, the size of soccer balls.]

You uh. Um. You um. Mean that? You don't... want to run away?

[Of course she means it. But hey, social anxiety is a beast, even when you don't have the words to express what it is.]

[ Since Melius actually seems to be looking - or, well, peeking - at her now, Chizuru nods as an answer. She doesn't even have to think about it. ]

Of course not!

[ Look, if she sees an actual dragon? Sure, she will run like hell, especially if it seems aggressive. But she's having a hard time thinking of the creature in front of her as anything other than Melius, despite his altered appearance. ]

Why would I ever want to run away from you?

[ Take that one, social anxiety. A verbal smack of friendship, straight to the jaw. Especially when it's said with Chizuru's kind of gaze - one that seems so genuine, bordering on outright innocent. ]

... Because...

[His braincells are working so hard right now. Chugging along on their little hamster wheels. There they go.]

[Let him process. Why would she want to run away? He's a dragon, duh. That's... that's all that makes sense to him. He's a dragon. People run away from dragons. But she also just said she's not afraid?]

[The little hamster wheels squeak to a stop.]

I... I don't. Know.

.. see?

[ At least they have seemed to stop at a good spot in Chizuru's eyes. She just smiles at Melius, apparently glad that he's managed to reach.. some sort of conclusion there that involves not being sure why Chizuru would be afraid in the first place - because she has no reason to be.

To prove it, she takes a step closer, and then another, until she's right in front of that big dragon head that's resting on the sand. Chizuru slowly reaches out a hand, placing it against what.. she feels like would a dragon's nose? Or something close to it? S-She's not that tall, but she's trying.. ]

I'm not scared at all. Friends shouldn't be scared of each other, right?

[ Chizuru is so much more nervous about using the f-word there than the smile on her face would indicate..

But other people in this place seem so capable of throwing it around all willy nilly, so she should do her best to try and do the same! E-Even though this entire friendship thing is still pretty new to her..!

Maybe it'll even help Melius in this moment. Or she hopes so, anyway. ]

N... No. No w-we shouldn't. Be.

[Frankly, he's a little convinced she's going to touch him and combust. Or something. It's completely irrational. He knows dragons can't really do that. He knows there's no way just touching them is going to cause anyone a huge problem. But it's... a concern. Maybe he's not the normal kind of dragon.]

[Are there normal kinds of dragons?]

[He holds very, very still. Just in case. He even tries holding his breath. Whether or not that's helpful (spoilers, it's not), he doesn't actually know. But it makes him feel better about the whole thing. Marginally.]

[It is kind of nice to know he can still get pats. Even if he's stuck like this for a long time.]

[ Chizuru stays there for a moment. She leaves her hand resting against him, just to prove that nothing is happening to either of them because of the action. They're just standing there, wind faintly blowing past them.. but nothing else is happening.

She slowly pulls back her hand after those quiet moments, but she tries her best to smile at him. ]

.. you seem a little scared of me though. [ Or, well.. Chizuru is pretty convinced it's not exactly of her, but it feels like the easiest way to word it in this moment. ] Why is that..? Could you tell me..?

[ If he really doesn't want to talk about it, she can respect that.

But she also wouldn't like it if he kept all of his problems to himself, trying to deal with it all by himself.. That's just way too much for one person, she thinks.

Even if said person is a literal dragon right now. ]

N-no. I'm... I'm not. Not of you.

[Not of Chizuru. More like for Chizuru. Which probably doesn't make that much sense now that he's gone and said it aloud, but still.]

I've. Um... only met one dragon. Who didn't want to attack. Anyone. And - and he was um. He said it took a lot of effort.

I um. I don't. I'm not. Him.

[So, logically, he wouldn't have Paarthurnax's control. Logically, he could hurt someone by accident. Okay, so it's not totally logical, but it is in Melius' mind.]

So you're worried about hurting me..?

[ That's what it sounds like, if Chizuru is putting the pieces together the right way. She's not entirely sure she is, given Melius' way of speaking here, all nervous and jumbled, but it feels like the natural conclusion from what she can see.

.. and thankfully.. it's a problem she can solve relatively easily. The only problem is giving up a fact she'd rather not mention to people, but if it'll put Melius at ease even just a little bit.. ]

In that case.. please don't worry.

[ Her smile is a little more tense around the edges because of what she's about to say, but it's still a smile. ]

I don't get hurt as easily as most other people. So it'll be fine either way.

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