⇨ The Tourist Trap: PROLOGUE

[ringleaders]

Who: Anyone, anywhere in Portland.
When: Any time before the start of the event.
Where: Portland area, in the new reality.
What: Once you've submitted your AU summary, you can use this post to do some CLOSED THREADING to play out some character interactions that happened before the event start. This means that memory regains will not be in play yet. Open top levels are not allowed - these threads are intended to sort out closed interactions between planned backstory connections, during the week leading up to the actual event start.
Warnings: Could be anything.

PORTLAND, AS YOU KNEW IT↴ The shift went unseen and unfelt. One moment you were one person, and the next, another. This before all that, though, in the new life that you remember living here in Portland. No memories of your true self have arisen yet, and at the time this was the only life you knew. Did these events truly happen at all? Or do they only exist in memory?

Comments

Axel and Rita - sometime before the event

[small_reservations]

The Toe Beans Cat Cafe is usually a little bit on the crowded side, and today is no exception. After all, the drinks are good, the cats are cute - it has earned its reputation. Axel's been a regular for a while now, and while he doesn't have a usual order, seeing as he likes to mix it up, the baristas remember him and he's always welcome.

However, this visit's a little weird. There's something familiar about the girl in front of him in line. He can't quite put his finger on it, but something's tugging at his memory. The color of her hair, and her eyes when she looks around, the shape of her chin...

Oops. He's staring. Maybe when she gives her name to be put on her cup he'll remember. For now, though, he's better off not being creepy, especially not to a girl who looks a decade younger than him. That's really not ok.

[anti_nonsense]

Unfortunately for Axel, Rita already noticed him staring at her. She can't imagine why, of course, so she'll naturally assume the worst of him. It doesn't help that she's already a little embarrassed about being seen in a place like this, making her defensive. Turning around sharply, she faces him with a scowl. "You got a problem?"

[small_reservations]

"Eh?" He's been caught! This isn't good. He blinks a few times, confused, before opening his mouth again, hopefully not to stick his foot further in. "Um, no. I'm just... you reminded me of someone." Here's hoping that that flies, he'd rather not cause any more of a scene than he already has.

[anti_nonsense]

So she's right; he was staring. Rita reminds him of someone? He could be telling the truth, but she's not so sure she buys it.

The angry edge in her expression dulls a bit, but she doesn't look satisfied with the explanation. "You're not trying to hit on me, are you?" Because he's definitely too old for her.

[small_reservations]

"No offense, but no way in hell. You're what, 15? Feel free to call me in ten years, though." He smirks a little on that last, but his tone says he's joking around. They'd still have about 12 years apart; it's just too much, and will be for a long while, at least to him.

[anti_nonsense]

"Yeah, don't count on it," she retorts, then turns back around to seethe by herself for a bit. She can't even be mad at him for guessing her age wrong... He got it exactly right. Somehow, that's even more annoying.

She doesn't stay angry for long, though, as she's moved up to the front of the line. A staff member asks her name, and she replies, "Rita." There's no last name, of course. She's never had one, save for a made-up one she got printed on a fake ID, just to avoid certain hassles. The host assures her that it won't be much longer, and leaves her once again.

[small_reservations]

Rita. The name rings a bell in the same area of his mind that her appearance is. Who is she to him? Why are his memories of it so hazy?

Wait... hazy memories? Maybe... maybe it's something to do with his time in faerie? Before he can pursue the idea to its natural conclusion, though, a large, fluffy cat leaps from the counter to his shoulder, tickling his nose with its whiskers as it passes. He can't help it - he sneezes. A few sparks come out, not noticeable to most - only the cashier, who assumes they're glitter, and possibly Rita, as they zip over her head before extinguishing.

[anti_nonsense]

Rita gives a start at the sudden movement of the cat behind her, but those sparks don't escape her notice. Eyes wide, she whips her head back around to look at the stranger. "What the hell was that?" she demands to know.

That wasn't natural. Was it magic...? Humans don't just use magic by accident...

[small_reservations]

He's not sure how to explain. He runs a hand through his hair. "Eheh.. Glitter?" He's trying to give her an out, but he's not sure if she'll take it. Don't want to freak the mundanes, after all. Most people don't believe in or know about the fae, about faerie, and he'd rather keep it that way.

[anti_nonsense]

"Do I really look that stupid to you? I know what I saw." Rita didn't spend her whole life in a fire fae's realm without getting acquainted with the sight of fire magic. She lowers her voice, intending for only him to hear her. "You're not normal, are you?"

[small_reservations]

Axel glances over Rita at the man behind her, the barista, and over his shoulder at the people behind them in line, before wrapping his words in a simple glamour that will conceal them from anyone... mundane. They'll hear him claiming it was indeed glitter, but Rita will hear something different. "Neither are you, I'm guessing."

[anti_nonsense]

A spell to conceal the true contents of their conversation... Maybe this guy isn't as dumb as she thought. She nods to confirm his guess. The real questions, of course, are what is he, and who does he align himself with? He could be an enemy.

A waitress returns to the line. "Table for one for Rita?"

"Make it for two," Rita replies, without bothering to ask first. She glances back at the man. "I'm not offering to pay for you or anything, so don't get the wrong idea." She just wants to know if he's a friend or foe, and avoiding him probably won't give her those answers. Better to have a talk and see what he has to say about himself.

[small_reservations]

His first response is a nod. "That's fair." He follows her to the table, lowering his lanky frame a little awkwardly into his seat. "So," he says, glamour tinting his words just enough to make them hard to eavesdrop upon, "What do you want to know?"

[anti_nonsense]

Rita sits as well. Their little table is next to an elaborate cat post, giving them the benefit of the extra privacy, and of having adorable cats climbing around in close proximity to them.

The waitress steps away, and Rita gets right to the point. "What are you?"

[small_reservations]

"Wow, not even going to ask for introductions? Besides, probably more important to ask what I was." He strokes a cat, a little idly, and answers his own suggested question. "I was human, once. Then I was a prisoner. Now I am a changeling, but what I was tells the story even better."

[anti_nonsense]

Just as she thought. "A prisoner... of the fae, I suppose?" Like her. Rita just hopes his use of the word prisoner is a good indication that he doesn't have much lingering love for them.

A cat sitting on the post next to her starts mewling pointedly until she starts stroking its face, placating it. She only gives it a brief look before resuming eye contact with Axel, however. The petting continues, however.

"Fine. Tell me about what you were." She looks mildly annoyed at having her question changed for her, but maybe letting him elaborate on his story will be illuminating. She hopes.

[small_reservations]

"I was a human baby. Apparently one of my parents was a warlock, made some sort of deal with their patron. I was the price." He takes a moment to breathe. It's not Ignatius rubbing it in his face anymore. It's just facts.

"I was raised to be traded to the local queen, as payment for a favor or something. It's all a little hazy, but I escaped from her, burned my way out." His hands are still a little scarred, 13 years later; his eyes flick to them as he speaks.

[anti_nonsense]

His story is starting to sound an awful lot like Rita's story. She narrows her eyes as she considers his words, trying to decide if she should believe him. When he glances at his hands, her eyes follow. Those scars look old... His escape must not have been that recent.

"How long ago was that? I mean... how long have you been here, in Portland?" Rita's starting to look uncertain. If he's telling the truth, then he's being awfully forthcoming... Maybe he isn't an enemy, and this meeting really is a coincidence.

[small_reservations]

"'Bout 12 and a half, 13 years. It's been a while, but I still spent more than half my life on that side." He smiles sadly. It's weird to think about, given how time flowed so oddly there.

"What about you? I'm not the only one with a story, am I?" The aforementioned smile brightens as he speaks, becoming a half-grin.

[anti_nonsense]

Is there any risk in answering honestly...? Rita thinks for a few moments, then decides to go ahead with it. If he's anyone she should be worrying about, he'd know this story already. And if he's being genuine, there should be no harm in sharing.

"... It's not so different from yours," she begins with a shrug, looking away from him as she speaks. "Born as a human, abducted as a baby... never knew my parents. Grew up as a prisoner and a tool of some pompous piece of crap. Ran away when I was thirteen... about two years ago." They even escaped around the same age. It's odd...

In telling her story, she forgot about the cat she was petting. It butts its head against her hand, prompting her to resume stroking it.

[small_reservations]

"And your name's... Rita?" Yep. It's almost definitely the same one. Age difference checks out, and the story...

"To be honest, I doubt many of us get to know our parents. One guy I knew who did got rejected, so maybe it's better that way." He scratches at the base of the cat's tail, trailing his hand up said tail as it wiggles. "It's good that you made it out, though, Rita. I'm Axel." The glamour fades from his voice as he hands her a card. It reads Portland Classic Records, and has a phone number and an address. "If you're ever in trouble or just want music, give me a ring or stop in."

[anti_nonsense]

For a moment, Rita actually seems to crack the tiniest smirk at Axel's anecdote. It's terrible; not really the kind of thing anyone should be smiling at. But it's weirdly comforting to know that other people have been through the same thing. And... he's right. If her parents did reject her, like she'd always been told, she's better off this way.

She takes the card, holding it up to see. "I don't really listen to music, but... I'll keep it in mind." There's a shrug, and the card gets slipped into her pocket. It can't hurt to have a back-up in case she runs out of safe places to hide out at.

[small_reservations]

"All right." He stands up from the table, legs unfolding in a manner reminiscent of a spider. These chairs are way too low. "I'll leave you to it, then. Hate to ruin your meal." He goes to the counter, pays for a full hour of cat time despite using less than five minutes (worth every penny to know Rita is free), and just... leaves.

He does wave over his shoulder as he goes, though, a little flick of his wrist to say goodbye.