⇨ The Tourist Trap: WEEK 1

[ringleaders]

Who: Anyone, anywhere in Portland.
When: October 1st - 7th, 2017
Where: Portland area, in the new reality.
What: Memories begin returning to the displaced as the fall gets chillier. How the hell did we end up here, again? Also, apparently, the fair is in town.
Warnings: Individually marked!

PORTLAND BY NIGHT↴ Memory regains will come into effect at the beginning of October, to whatever degree you've decided upon, and may be regained at whatever pace you desire from then on. For those with their full carnival memories, it will be like waking up in the body of someone else - for those with half and half, it will be like rapidly recalling sets of memories from a totally different life. Those with full amnesia will simply feel as if this is how it's always been. Unfortunately for you, memories aren't the only thing you have to deal with. The supernatural community of Portland is bustling all of a sudden - could your presence and these events somehow be related? ► THE OUTER CIRCLE: As of the start of the month, the Portland Circle of Enlightenment will find itself starting to get swarmed with members from other chapters. Most notably, it would seem that a small cabal of top mages from the North American Enlightenment Council will be making their home in Portland's HQ. For anyone but the highest of ranks, the purpose behind their visit will be unclear, but it seems like something is definitely up on a metaphysical level. The Circle will be buzzing with rumours of unique planar activity and threatening omens. It seems that it all started with an unusual flare of activity in the planetary ley-lines, starting approximately a week ago. However, even if you would usually be the type to keep tabs on such things, you will find that you oddly have no memory of observing this phenomenon yourself. ► THE ANIMAL FAIR: Good news, the fair is in town! Or, at least, it would be good news... if this was a regular fair. Instead, what's being observed is a bunch of nearly identical flyers, spread all around Portland - each of which bears only the words "THE ANIMAL FAIR", a seemingly bloody paw-print of unknown origin, and the directions to a vague forested location outside of the city. It's dated for October 7th, and all instances of its posting having been discovered with a scattering of rose petals, crow feathers, and pre-burnt matches laying on the ground around them. Most are taking this to be some kind of bizarre viral marketing campaign, but others may know better. ► THE EARTH SPIRIT: If you have connections to The Pack or any of its many variations, you'll probably hear whispers of something very odd that occurred last week - according to the elders, it sounds as if the Earth Spirit, the magical and spiritual center of the planet, has suddenly taken a wound. It's not clear why or how, but there is a fair bit of concern among spiritual types, as it is werebeast belief and nebulous magical fact that the magical forces within the earth are the source of all magic here, as well as the source of life. While many werebeasts claim to have felt the Spirit succumb, you strangely have no memory of such an event occurring. Though things do feel strange, if you know how to tap into the Spirit yourself. ► THE WAR CRY: Though Anath's rain of terror across North America lasted for the first fifteen years or so of the Severing, most independent demons have had enough time to start taking the arch-demon's relative inactivity for granted. For that first while, the warrior queen had seemed determine to rebuild an army on earth by forcing her scattered brethren into service - only for her to gradually settle down in a fortress somewhere in Texas and dig in her heels. Of course, this was too good to last - it sounds as if she and her demonic legion have begun tearing their way up the west coast, their goals remaining a mystery. Their destination, however, is almost certainly Portland.

Comments

Zecora | OTA

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

Around three o'clock, the volume of patients started at last to ebb, giving Zecora the first chance she'd had all day to sit down without having to chart. Just enough time to grab a granola bar, the first food she'd had since some microwaved oatmeal this morning.

So many walk-ins and 'emergencies', especially among the people who knew what she knew. Like someone kicked a supernatural hornet nest, and now the sting victims all needed help. And as much as she wanted to believe it was coincidence -- or just a full moon -- her introduction to the hidden worlds of the shadows had proven to her that 'coincidence' was more often than not a convenient lie.

Swallowing the last bite of granola, she got to her feet with a little groan of weariness, then paced over to open the door to her waiting room.

[otoko]

Yes, speaking of the Waiting Room-well, Gongenzaka hasn't ever actually worked this hospital, so there's a man wearing sunglasses and a work uniform that to any untrained eye could belong to trash disposal (And really, technically it is, but he's here for Far More Risk Carrying Trash)...just sort of. Standing there.

Kinda lost looking.

Um. ....He couldn't find the right entrance....................

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

That... was odd.

"Are you here for treatment?" she inquired gently, leaning on the door a little as she pondered what on earth this was about.

[betheman]

It takes a moment to pull himself from his thoughts-for some reason it feels like he expected her to say...more?

But no. He coughs, before scratching his head. "Ah-no, not at all..!" he hurriedly insists, a slight accent touching his words. Asian, perhaps..? "...I'm just..." ...Well. He gives an awkward cough. "...I can't find the right entrance," he whispers, trying his best not to say anything those in the waiting room can hear. "I'm from biohazard disposal..."

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

Oh. Good heavens. Zecora motioned him back, a faintly quizzical expression on her face as she tried to figure out just how this turn of events had come about.

[otoko]

Thank you, thank you-

He keeps quiet until they're well out of range of pretty much everyone, sighing. "Apologies, madam," he breathes, sounding just a touch antiquated for his looks. "Most of the others take the truck entrance, but I don't drive...so I have to find my own way to wherever they're loading up."

Another sigh, and he holds his head. Somehow, he is still wearing sunglasses. "Thank you for this." The. Guiding he means. Obviously.

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

"You... walk with the material?" That didn't sound like standard biohazard disposal practice to her. There was a great deal here that wasn't making sense.

To that extent, Zecora took a slight detour through her back office -- the better to pass by her desk, where she glanced down at a small little trinket she'd picked up a while back, one that glowed in the presence of the supernatural.

[betheman]

"HMMM!?" Woah woah, let's not get ahead of ourselves-

"N-NO!! Absolutely not!! I, merely help loading the truck, and unloading it..!!" he hurriedly explains, shaking his head so rapidly the glasses threaten to fall. He soon readjusts them, coughing.

"No...it's just that I was closer to the hospital than I was our work building... ...when that happens, I'm expected to just meet them here for the assignment..."

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

"Oh, I see," she said, slowing down slightly to check the crystal. "That seems a little unfair of them, I must say, but who am I to judge?"

[otoko]

"W-Well..." ...He stops himself, frowning. Actually no, it's...pretty unfair if they aren't aware of how fast he could properly run. He's left in a bit of silence as that sinks in.

"..............hmn." Hmn is right.

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

Yes, something was definitely fishy here. "Unless of course," she continued quite casually, "you don't have a problem with it for... whatever reason."

[otoko]

Would that be the reason? They couldn't have noticed that, he quickly determines, shaking his head. "Hmmm... ...It does take time, but I suppose it's good for me to take a walk when I can... ...it definitely helps me to get to know the city more..."

He is doing his VERY BEST to keep a lid on the Actual Reason here.

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

"Well, there are always advantages. Just be certain you're taking care of yourself, hmm? When was the last time you had a physical?" Of course a doctor would wonder that, especially in her own office.

[pipers_son]

And before she can reach the door-

"Excuse me, Miss? Yer Zecora, ain't ya?"

-some redheaded douchebag speaks up from behind her, apparently out of nowhere. This is probably not nonsense Zecora is unfamiliar with, supernatural assholes being what they are. Still, he tries to look a little apologetic as he tucks his hands into his pockets.

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

Zecora half-jumped, half-stumbled into a trash can, her shoulder bouncing off the wall as she threw out a hand to catch herself on the door. She might be used to it, but it still usually startled the hell out of her.

But she was used to it enough that when she turned to face him, it was with a look of mild reproach, not alarm or anger. "Yes. I am."

[pipers_son]

WHUPS. Sheepishly, he rubs the back of his head. "Sorry 'bout that. Just wanted ta cheat the lines a little." Obviously. "Don't suppose ya could spare a minute ta answer a few quick questions? Worried about someone, and I just wanted ta know if ya had heard about his particular condition."

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

"I can answer general questions." She shouldn't even do that much ordinarily, but the supernatural were different folks who tended to paranoia and suspicion. Fairly so. Still, she folded her arms to make her displeasure with this little stunt clear. "But that is no substitute for a proper examination and testing. 'Conditions' belong to 'individuals', after all."

[pipers_son]

"I know!" Helplessly, he holds his hands up. "But I.... don't wanna worry him, especially when there's a lot goin' on lately." Yeah, he's seen those fliers around and it doesn't particularly make him feel good about the state of Portland.

"Anyway, do ya deal with psychics a lot?"

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

"'A lot' is maybe an exaggeration, but I have to some extent. I suppose I'm the closest to an expert there is." Unless some other doctor also treats them that she doesn't know of. Which is very possible.

[pipers_son]

Good. Then she'll be able to be better suited to what's psychic powers and what might be mental instability, although Joker really hopes that last one isn't a factor here. "Then... Have ya ever had a psychic person start ta get visions different from their normal ones? Almost like they were seein' inta someone else's life, but they were sure it was theirs?"

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

"I have heard of that. Sometimes that power can pick up things... unintentionally?" she said, making a vague circle with her hand. "Reading deeper than thoughts in someone else."

[pipers_son]

Curious, he straighten up a bit. "Deeper in what kinda way?" Some depth aren't meant for humans, after all, no matter what kind of power they have.

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

"If you imagine a mind as a pond, a psychic usually skims the surface and whatever floats atop. Sometimes they dive deeper on purpose... and sometimes they break the water and sink," Zecora said, with a little drop of her hand to illustrate.

[pipers_son]

Now that is certainly nothing he's wanted to hear. Sora would have for certain told him if he was diving a little bit deeper, right? So that leaves...

"And... is there a particular course of action yer supposed ta do ta make that sinkin' not happen?" he asks tentatively, not sure if he's going to like the answer or not.

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

"That I can't say without seeing the patient." That sort of slip could have any number of causes, just the way a bad mood or tiredness could. Guessing could very well cause more harm than good.