lostcarnival | ⇨ The Tourist Trap: WEEK 1

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⇨ The Tourist Trap: WEEK 1

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.

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It's a good thing that Yuya's human because Strange's expression like he smelled something awful quickly fades into a sort of boring, business as usual neutral. At the question, though, he shakes his head. New here. God forbid he willingly stay here.

"God, no. I'm just waiting for someone. We have a meeting and they're late."

Though he hasn't seen this kid around either. With a small gesture of his hand, Strange casts a basic 'detect magic' cantrip, mostly just to see if Yuya has any magical power to begin with. He's obviously not a mage, but a few warlocks have hung around the Sanctuary before.

That depends of psychic abilities are close ennough to still pique his cantrip. Yuya doesn't even seem to react to it being cast, but his expression also fails to soften. Neutral or not, even if he wasn't an empath Strange is almost radiating disgust.

"Oh, the Sanctuary's a good place for that. What are you meeting for?"

Nosy.

The psychic abilities don't register as magic to Strange's fast and basic cantrip, so congrats Yuya, Strange thinks you're entirely human. Which only makes this all the more confusing. Why would a human loiter around the Sanctuary in the first place?

Yuya's question causes Strange to give the kid a look of confusion mixed with annoyance. Because yeah, that is entirely too nosy and he doesn't have to tell this weird kid why he's here in the first place.

"A business meeting--something that obviously doesn't concern you in the first place." There's a pause, before Strange's nosiness gets the better of him and he asks, "Why are you here, anyway?"

That's... fair, he gets told a lot he's nosy. Not that it stops him.

"I like practicing my abilities here!" He taps the side of his head with a smile. "There's more room and people who get it."

And less expensive vases for him to accidentally break. "If you're doing business here you have something like that too, right? Being supernatural?"

While talk about magic and the supernatural might be a bad idea in the 'real' world, they're in the Sanctuary. Everything about this place is abnormal and magical and everyone in it is either abnormal and magical themselves or knows enough about the supernatural that it wouldn't bother them. So Strange only mulls over his choices for a moment before he straight up starts to brag.

"Of a sort. I'm a mage—a high ranking mage from the Circle of Enlightenment, to be precise." A small, smug smile plays on his face.

Nosiness wins out again as Strange asks, "What abilities do you have? It's certainly nothing magic."

"Really?" Yuya perks up at that, his own judging falling wayside to genuine awe. "That means you're really good at it, right? I've never met anyone high ranking from a circle before!"

Really, His closest contact to the circle is listening in on Bob's meetings with officials over all sorts of legal matters that Yuya, frankly, could barely keep up with. But he never spoke with one, and now he's excited to meet someone new with abilities he's never seen before.

"I don't know any magic, but I have ESP! Like telekinesis. Moving stuff with my mind, you know?"

That tone of awe isn't doing anything for Strange's egomania. His smug smirk grows even more smug and he just looks downright puffed up as Yuya asks how good he is. Truth be told, Strange is a slightly above average magician. Of course, he's not going to let Yuya know otherwise. If the kid wants to think he's really good then he will gladly further that belief.

"Ah, an esper? To be honest, I haven't really met many of your lot. Did you develop your abilities with age or were you born with them?"

'Uh, I was probably born with them?" He taps his chin and rolls his eyes up, looking thoughtful. "I know they got stronger when I was five, so they were probably always there. What about you? When did you start learning magic?"

"When I was a young man...probably around your age, I'd imagine." Strange pauses for a moment to look a bit wistfully in the distance. This is honestly the most relaxed he's looked since the conversation started. That last trace of grumpiness is starting to fall from his face as his smug smile turns to something a bit gentle. "I came into my magic around six months or so before the Severing—and honestly, I'm thankful I got to experience that world even for just a little bit. Magic was different back then."

Truth be told, the more he thinks about it, the more Strange realizes that he has no idea just how different magic was before the Severing compared to after. But it must have been different, right? The realm of faerie right there, mages able to draw from that supply of magic as well as those inherent on Earth. It must have been...easier, or something. He's only forty, he can't be going senile already, but considering that Strange has had the year from hell recently, it only makes sense that his memory was a little stressed.

Strange should count his lucky stars this is an easy conversation to half-bluff his way through. Yuya is none the wiser.

"You remember what it was like before the Severing? What was magic like? Was it more common, were--did your parents let you be a mage? What about everyone else supernatural?"

Jonathan Strange is lying through his fucking teeth. Some of the questions he can answer but others are straight up bullshit, details he can't remember mixed with details of how he thought it was mixed with details of how he wished it was. He's trying his hardest to sell it though, answering every question with utmost certainty and a hint of smugness in his tone.

"In the order the questions were asked: yes I do, it felt different in a more full sort of way, I'm afraid the supernatural was just as hidden as it is now—I'd even say it was more hidden back then." After all, the different realms still existed for the fae, angels, and demons to head back off to when they weren't on Earth. "My parents were proud I was a mage and I have no idea what the other aspects of the supernatural were like before the Severing."

Well, it satiates half his curiosity. His expression starts to change to something more wistful as Strange mentions his parents--but it's pretty quickly gone when he looks back up. "That's pretty cool, except for everyone having to hide even more." Wouldn't it be nice if they could all live with their differences openly? Maybe only Yuya thinks that.

But if Strange thought he was free of twenty questions he has another thing coming. "So what kind of magic do you do?"

"My specialties involve scrying, location magic, and dispelling illusions." Strange is still puffed up and still a bit smug as he talks about his spells. Obviously he thinks he's hot shit so naturally Yuya will think he's hot shit as well.

"I can give you a demonstration, if you want. I'm starting to think my contact won't show up anyway."

Well that's a shame about Strange's contract... but Yuya sure isn't going to miss the chance to witness high level magic.

"Yeah!" He just about bounces in excitement. "Can you do a scrying spell? What can you find with it?"

"Any named person of your choice. The most accurate scrying spell I know requires a mirror, but there is a variation that can use any flat surface."

The variation developed because really, mirrors give Strange the creeps slightly. It's entirely a psychosomatic thing, but like hell he's going to cast a spell using something that weirds him out. Any mage worth his salt knows that negative energies pervert the final result of the spell.

"Who do you want to see?"

That's a good question. He could just ask to see Bob. It's not exciting, he's probably just at home or his office, but it would prove Strange's magic worked.

But it's not a thought he entertains for very long before he realizes what he can really ask for.

"Would you be able to..." He glances aside, his enthusiasm dampening. Not because he isn't excited, but it's hard to ask.

"Um. If I told you my parent's name's could you see them?"

"Certainly," Strange responds, entirely unaware of whatever internal debate Yuya's going through with regards to his parents. Though it's obvious just from his lack of enthusiasm that they're separated somewhat.

There's a pause while Strange goes to a nearby table, clearing off loose magazines, papers, things like that. "What are their names?"

Yuya circles around to the other side of the table and peers down at the wood. When Strange speaks again he looks up and nods. "Yeah, it's--"

Wait... what are his parents names? His focus goes vacant as he tries to recall. He can't believe he would ever forget something like that, but when he tries to remember them it just--it's fuzzy faces and blank words. But he was five when he left, he couldn't have forgotten.

"It's, uh, they're--" He presses the palm of his hand to his face and screws his eyes shut in concentration. "It's... Yusho, and--Yoko? Sakaki, that's my--our last name." He glances back up, but his expression isn't entirely confident. Those names are right but... then they're not right? They feel mismatched, like they belong to something else so. So familiar.

But there's nothing to find on Yoko and Yusho Sakaki in Portland.

Strange draws a circle on the table with his finger, saying an incantation in Latin followed by one in ancient Greek, followed by the name Yusho Sakaki. The outline of the circle glows blue for a moment...and then nothing happens. Hmm. That's odd. Strange frowns and then repeats the incantation but with the name Yoko Sakaki. The circle glows blue and then nothing happens.

"That's weird," he can't help but mutter, looking at the table. Might as well see if Sanctuary has any wards to prevent scrying or anything like that. Strange draws a circle, repeats the Latin incantation, repeats the Greek incantation, and then states the name Amanda Forrest. The outline of the circle glows blue and then inside the circle appears the image of a middle aged woman, sitting down at a coffee shop, drinking some sort of whipped cream frappe sort of drink as she reads a book.

Strange can't help it: he downright stares at the woman in the circle for a moment, as if she's the most beautiful woman in the world. But no, not now, he can't dwell on Amanda, not while this kid's here. With a wave of his hand, the spell dissipates and Strange turns to look at Yuya. He's looking at the kid a bit oddly now. How can someone forget the name of their parents?

"Stupid question, but are you sure those are their names?"

Yuya furrows his brow as the spell fails, and fails... and that last woman, he's certain isn't his mom--she must be someone Strange knows. Maybe it only works if they know where they are? Strange would be the expert on that.

"I... yeah. Yeah, it has to be, I just--" He rubs his eyes, trying to focus. Those were his parents, but the image that comes up isn't the same as he remembers leaving behind when he was six. Why can't he remember those people properly? This is giving him a headache.

"Does it matter if I don't know where they are...? It was a long time ago. Maybe they moved, or..." He shrugs.

"The incantation does the heavy work with the finding bit--I don't need to know where they are to begin with. I just need to know the names." This is a little bit worrying. Normally, Strange would view this as someone else's problem, and just shove Yuya and his lack of a memory off on some poor other soul to deal with. But as is? His magic was the one that couldn't spot Yuya's parents, his magic was the one that didn't work.

And, even though Yuya's just a kid, hoo boy is Strange not going to let his lasting impression be that he's a inept magician who can't even do a goddamn scrying spell correctly.

"Give me someone else to find."

Yuya frowns at the table, his expression mixed up in sourness and confusion.

"Yeah, okay." He rubs his eyes again. It felt weird, but maybe he shouldn't dwell on it. Maybe they just don't want to be found. "You can look for Bob--Bartholomew De'clan. He's my guardian." And Bob shouldn't be hard to find at all. He's probably just working in the office or something mundane.

"One of my good friends was also named Bob," Strange can't help but add, with a small little smile as he traces the circle. "It really is a common name." Much like John, to be honest. Strange know knows of two Bobs and he knows at least two other Johns (though when he thinks about it later, he'll only be able to put a last name to one of them.)

He repeats the incantation and states the name Bartholomew De'clan. The outline of the circle glows and then, inside of the circle, appears Bob, working on some paperwork and doing really boring office work.

Though the question still remains: how come the spell couldn't find this kid's parents?

"I guess it's a common name." He leans over the table, propping his elbows against the surface as he peers at the reflection. A faint smile tugs at his lips, but his attention isn't entirely on the spell anymore.

"That's pretty cool. What made you pick scrying?"

If it were Yuya, he definitely would have gone for something flashier. Like fire.

"It's complex and it's useful," Strange remarks, as he gestures at the spell. The effects almost instantly vanish, as he turns to look at Yuya.

"Because I'm a mage with the Circle, that limits the sort of magic I learn. Nature magic, things involving shadows or light...that's all a lesser sort of magic. Parlor tricks, made to impress people. Great magic is complex and great magic takes effort."

After all, anybody can talk to trees. Hell, most changelings had some sort of slight connection with nature due to their fae blood (or so Strange thought.) It was taking the energies of the world and shaping them into something complex and useful that Strange admired about his magic.

⇨ The Tourist Trap: WEEK 1

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