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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Although Blue doesn't live in the vicinity she does frequently pass through on her way to other locations, and if it just happened to let her run into Greg now and again, well.. it never hurt to catch up a little bit with someone else going through the unique challenges of raising a halfblood.

But at two in the morning? That's hours best left to her kind or other creatures of the night, not tired-looking humans with noisy little dogs.

"You look terrible." Surely it wasn't the boy, he seemed awfully disinclined to be causing trouble. Which really was too bad. "Is everything alright?"

It might have been a little while since she's had to speak to Greg, but as far as the demon is concerned, it might as well have been yesterday.

Her voice, though soft, makes Greg nearly jump out of his skin. He hadn't expected to run into anyone at this absurd hour--that was partly the point, after all. Certainly not an old acquaintance he hadn't seen in ages.

"Bl... Blue? What's--Lil, shh, it's okay." A proper greeting will have to wait until Greg's untangled his legs from his leash. The little schnauzer peers at Blue from behind Greg's legs, tail raised and nose twitching.

"I--it's been a rough week, is all." A rough few years, really, but he's not sure if he wants to get into it. He shoots her a tired smile. "But, uh, you're looking good as ever. Been a while."

Poor Greg. He never really would have been an ideal target for corruption into the ways of Hell and evil, but Blue still found it interesting to talk to him now and again. Seeing him like this though was a bit unusual, as far as she'd ever been able to tell he was usually on his game and pretty content with things.

Now.. now there's ... something off. Maybe something interesting. "It has. I keep meaning to stop in, but it's been a bit busy." For years. College had a way of making a mother's hair turn grey, if it wasn't already white to begin with. "But ... In truth I hate to say it but you really do look terrible. Would you like to stop for a cup of coffee and a snack perhaps?" That might wake the poor guy up a little!

What could possibly be keeping him up at this hour? Not the dog. What about his boy? Was Steven old enough to be causing late nights of anxiety for his dad already?

"I dunno. I should..." He glances off down the street. He's already been at this a few days, tracking the shifting forces within the forest. Letting up now feels like a careless idea...

"...Yeah. Coffee sounds nice." Greg lets a little more of that exhaustion shine through, but the smile is less strained for it. One thing he can say for sure, whatever's going on isn't about to stop being a thing. He can spare a little time to talk with an old friend, demon or no.

"I know just the place. It won't hurt to take a break for a little while." Well, perhaps it might, but in this situation if he has time to walk his pup he has time to get a cup of coffee.

Little dog or not, she steps up to Greg's side, fully intending to loop one of her arms in his and lead him in the right direction; to some it might be an invasion of personal space or some sign of feeling that simply isn't there, for Blue .. well, if you're going to be social, you're going to be social, and there's no point in doing it halfway. "And then perhaps you can tell me what has you out at such an early hour. Maybe I can help, Rin's in college now, and I don't need to be home for a little while."

She adored her family but her family was growing up. Free time was wonderful; Greg wouldn't be there for years yet.

Demons are never to be underestimated, but over the last few years they've lost the same sort of terrifying edge they once held. Greg takes Blue's offered arm with a small smile. Contrary to her assumptions, he's a bit starved of touch lately and the friendly intimacy is welcome.

"Must be nice to have the free time. What're you doing with yourself without that little spitfire keeping you busy?" It's a dodge away from his own business, sure, but four years is a long time. He'd much rather hear about Blue's sordid affairs.

At least where they're going won't mind the dog either ... not at this hour at any rate. Complaints were best left at earlier times than 2 in the morning, when other customers were around.

"Enjoying the free time while it lasts! Rin will be around sooner or later, and probably bring some of his troublemaking friends with him." Of course to a demon, troublemaking means an entirely different thing and it sounds suspiciously like she approves. "Otherwise not terribly much that's going to be remarkable. I have a new interesting mark over five or six blocks who has some unique ideas for taking over the country, but she rather lacks in ... mm, ambition."

Still, she'll encourage any evil she can find. "There's a bit of an unpleasant rumor rolling about that a particularly troublesome arch-demon might be headed this way over the next few months though, you might want to consider taking your family on a long vacation before then. Perhaps Hawaii, I think your boy might enjoy it." By her unconcerned tone, this isn't something that's going to happen any time soon. She's wrong.

In another life, Greg might've been worried by such cavalier discussion of conquest. After a few decades working intimately on this side of the supernatural, it loses a little bit of its impact. Her mention of his son hits him harder.

"He probably would've liked that..." There's an unmistakable melancholy in what would otherwise be pleasant musing. Greg shakes his head. "He's... actually, he's not, uh... he's spending time with other family, right now, so... I'll pass it along to them, see if they can't arrange something." He severely doubts they'd bother to act on the advice in a way that benefits Steven, but it's worth a try... right...?

Greg shoots her a weary little grin. "Me, I can't just pack up and head out of town every time the apocalypse looms. My boss won't allow for it. But I appreciate the heads up."

The tone shift is not a happy one, and puts up a few flags for Blue. Such sorrow didn't really fit talking about one's child, and 'spending time with other family' possibly attached..

Her husband felt similarly. They should stay and fight blah blah heroism blah blah can't just give in and go to Hawaii when armies arrive and other such nonsense. Was it common to human males?

At least the coffee shop is nearing, its lights the only thing still on besides streetlamps at this hour. "I'm not used to seeing you so down, Greg." Her tone is a touch solemn, she's taking this very seriously. "What's troubling you, truly? Maybe I can do more than just... offer a bit of coffee and a listening ear. Is your little one in trouble?" She was a mother, she knew how hair-raising a child in danger could be for a parent.

He doesn't respond immediately. It's not something he enjoys talking about, or explaining to others; his failure as a parent is truly pathetic, something he expects people to shame him for. As much time as he spends thinking about how to fix it, his continued failure only makes it more pitiful.

If anyone can understand, though, it would have to be Blue. On the other hand, that may make it worse. Surely, she wouldn't sit around and wait for her chances if her family were endangered.

"He's with... with his mother's side of his family." Blue will know that she's fae, and one high in the ranks. And everyone knows how well changelings are treated. "They... I haven't seen him in... in a few years."

"Is this a willing sort of thing or should I find an iron sword and fetch my husband? I can forgo the usual bargain of one soul, considering." She must assume Greg's at least somewhat willing, what father would go for idle walks with a dog while his son was stolen? But Greg was just one man and not the strongest, at that, and this mother was ... not something a human could trifle with safely.

It was the way of fae. They were as slaves to their natures as she was, though she had the benefit of at least genuinely caring for her own spawn, she wasn't sure fae were actually capable of it. But that's what priests and iron were for, to gently convince them to go away even for the short term. Blue preferred not being involved at all in truth but ...

Well. Greg had been there during a few difficult periods of her life this last while too, and she was equally uncomfortable with debt. "You need not stand alone, after all, and have little fire of your own with which to lay waste to your foes." The downsides of being a peaceful man who wasn't turning to evil!

Greg smiles, though the expression lacks anything resembling joy or mirth. Still, there's something reassuring about having someone ready to go to battle for you. Especially when that someone's a demon. In spite of the fact that they're a demon.

"Well... it's not all cut and dry as all that. You know better than anyone what happens when us humans don't read the fine print of a deal." He pauses, letting Lil sniff at a bush. It gives him an excuse to look away from Blue.

He swallows, throat tight. "I'd go to war for him if I needed to. But that's not how they play." And it is a game to them, he knows. A big chess game, where they don't consider him a player. But he's doing his best to change that someday. "One of these days, though... well, it'd mean a lot to have you on my side."

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⇨ The Tourist Trap: WEEK 1

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I never got a notif for this! ;o;

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