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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This is almost surreal, having a kid here, another of the Rose Queen's changelings. Ginko's in and out to check on the boy, but it's Axel's home, and he works to make Steven feel welcome. He keeps spare canned goods on hand, but most of Portland's changelings are older, more established in the human world. They only come here when they have to lay low. He's had to stock up on fresh foods to feed Steven; he only hopes that the Rose Queen's agents aren't watching his spending habits, or just think he's started eating healthier.

He has to set down one of the heavy bags to open the door, and enters, checks that the blinds are drawn, and locks it again before releasing his glamour, sliding it off like an old, comfortable coat. Hair becomes fire, bright enough to be nearly opaque, that clips through his shirt without burning it in a line along his spine. Wing-like shapes glow through his cotton tee as he hangs up his jacket, and his eyes shine brightly as he surveys the room. "Kid? I brought food."

Steven is peeking out beneath the blinds over one of the windows when Axel comes in, and looks sort of startled at being joined. He drops the blinds immediately, staring at the other changeling wide eyed as the fire on him becomes clearly apparent again. He's seen fae like this before, so it's not that shocking. They were allies of the Rose Queen's court.

Mostly, though, he's just constantly under the immediately impression that he's done something wrong. He's been walking on eggshells for years now, and that feeling isn't changing quickly. How long before he screws up again?

He folds his rose petal wings nervously, frowning as he tries to figure out what he's supposed to say. This used to be so easy. Eventually, he settles on something simple.

"Thank you," he says quietly.

Just hearing that Steven is still willing to talk is a relief. Axel grins, gentle yet firm, and turns to the sink, where he washes out then tosses over a bag of cherries to land on a table nearby, or to be caught if Steven's fast enough. "Think you can handle these? They're fresh-ish, fresh enough to call fresh here." That is, outside of faerie; say what you will about their treatment of their changelings, at least the food's good.

"I tried to shop organic, might be easier on your stomach, but that shi- stuff's expensive. I think these were on sale, though." He's washing off other veggies and fruits and putting them away as he speaks, movements deft, each one stirring the fire across his body. "Did you practice glamour at all today?"

It's true - even if he had ultimately gotten sick of the fruit over time, at least partially because of what it represented, he'd never had to worry about any of it being too ripe or too sour. The fruit in Faerie was always perfect as it was, and in that sense, it was always the same old thing.

Steven doesn't catch the cherries because he's really not in the mental state to be making any fast movements, but he does creep forward to get a closer look as soon as they're on the table. Oh right, when you buy cherries here, they come in plastic bags like this. Plastic is so weird to him, now. It practically doesn't exist with the fae, only second in rarity as compared to iron.

He puts one in his mouth and starts chewing, only for Axel to ask about glamours. He swallows the whole cherry, and his cheeks turns a bit pink and a bit green.

"Um," he says, because his gut feeling regards any sort of practice or training is that is he hasn't improved enough, he'll be in trouble. He knows that Axel is kind, but its still so hard to shake. His instinctive feeling is worry and fear. "I tried..."

It hasn't been going super well.

It's easy to know embarrassment and shame when you see it, even for an emotionally stunted changeling. It's evident on Steven's face even now, and Axel feels a little guilty. He shouldn't be pressuring this kid... but this is something he needs to know. "It's ok. You get better at them the longer you spend in faerie. Ginko can barely cover his hair most days, for instance." Sorry to throw you under the bus, Ginko, but Steven needs a confidence boost. "A lot of it's natural talent and how your body reacts to freedom, too. Not your fault that you're having trouble."

With that said, Axel pours Steven a glass of milk - calcium will maybe help the tiny kid grow - and sets it on the table before settling down on a beanbag across the room from him, so they're more-or-less at eye level. "Did you remember anything while I was out? Sorry to leave you alone so much, but I've gotta work."

He's been sleeping a lot, so at least the time spent alone isn't so draining. He feels constantly on alert, wondering when something bad will happen. So far, nothing yet.

"I remember... beaches?" he says after a long moment contemplative silence. "I keep thinking about the ocean. I don't know why."

He flushes, and then eats another cherry, hoping that his stomach will tolerate this better than some of the other stuff he's tried. He wants to try the milk because he remembers it fondle, but isn't sure how it will go down right now.

He pauses for another long moment.

"Do... you think my last name could have been 'Universe'?"

"The ocean, huh? That's a solid hour and a half, two hours away, by car. I'm not sure the queen's domain stretches that far." He's been, a few times, when he wants to leave the city. It's a nice place to visit. But it's not close, not by a long shot.

"... If you want to go, we can probably set something up, though." Having friends with cars is great. "Once you get settled in, we'll make a day trip or something." Axel's making promises he can't easily keep and he knows it, but he's gotta try to keep Steven's spirits up.

As for the name... "Universe, huh? Yeah, could be. I've heard weirder names than Steven Universe. I'll check later, see if your disappearance was recorded anywhere. Maybe we'll get a hit."

So the ocean isn't even that close to here. Yet, whenever he thinks about it, it feels as familiar as something he woke up to every morning, like he grew up there... he doesn't voice these thoughts, because they just make him more confused. Maybe he'll try to explain them later.

He glances away uncomfortably, thinking about the nature of his 'disappearance.' He starts pulling at some of his thorns again, breaking them off of his skin like a nervous twitch.

"She told me no one would notice," he says, quietly. "Because... I wasn't supposed to be here." Over the years, he started believing it. That no one would even want to look for him. After all, he'd only gone back where he'd come from.

"That's a load of crap." He's blunt, this time, doesn't bother catching the cuss. "You had people who knew you, people who'd notice you leaving, people who'd miss you. Even the queen can't glamour memories in this realm so easily, they'll still remember you."

... Unless they're dead, of course, but Axel doesn't say that. That is the case for many a changeling, but there's nothing to be done for it. "You weren't a baby when you were taken. You had connections, friends. They'll remember you." Somehow it doesn't seem true to Axel, but he's always been a good actor, so it's easy to make it seem more passionate than it is. His firey halo of hair flares a little as he speaks.

Steven smiles very faintly at that, appreciating Axel's pep talk even if it's hard to swallow after so many months of this misery. He stops picking at his thorns and plays with his hair instead. He folds his other arm around his knees.

"I just wish I could remember them better..."

He has so many vague notions of people, but so much of it has been eroded with time, replaced with memories of the horrors that had happened in between. He just has to hope that they'll know him, and that he'll remember them when he's given the chance.

"We all have that problem. It's just... some of us have more to remember, I guess." Axel has nothing. Some of the changelings he knew in faerie, though, had more. "It gets better, or I've heard. You get to know them again."

He gives Steven a smile. "You meet new people, too. And the memories of faerie get fuzzier. You've got a new life ahead of you, Steven. A free life."

Steven's smile brightens, trying to take those words to heart. A new life. New people. Maybe even some of the old ones, too. He could hope. Things had to get better than this. They just had to.

Ginko and Axel have already been so kind to him. He can't take that for granted.

"Thank you... for taking care of me," he says after a brief hesitation, flushing in the cheeks as he looks away shyly. "I was really scared that... no one would."

Without them, he wouldn't have made it through the night. No question.

It's not an easy adjustment to make, but it's one Axel's had 13 years to master. That he'd like to help others in the same situation is hardly a surprise.

"You're welcome. It's really no trouble." It isn't, not at all. Steven's a good kid; he doesn't really make messes, he doesn't whine, it's easy to take care of him. "I'm glad we could be there for you."

Steven nods in acknowledgement, and start trying to drink the milk. After a moment he pauses, looking a bit startled by the texture. It feels so weird and unfamiliar. He swallows it awkwardly, and wipes his mouth.

He stays silent for a while after that.

"...Is my mom going to come after me, now?" he asks, staring at the ground.

"Not likely here. This building is pretty good at keeping out fae. 'swhy I live here." He pauses, the only sound the faint crackling of the flames which cover parts of his body. He's dodging the question, and he knows it, but he's got to tell the truth.

"Once you leave to find your dad... maybe. I don't know."

Steven looks around, wondering what's so special about this place. His house sure hadn't been safe... but maybe that was just because someone had actually come to take him, instead of relying on spells. Maybe it will be the same way again?

At least he won't be that inclined to trust people the way he had back then. Trusting Childermass, as it turned out, was the worst mistake of his life.

"The last time... it was a man, who could turn into a bird," he says, though memories of the event make him shiver. "He came and took me."

A man who could turn into a bird... Well, Axel's heard rumors, and it'd make sense for an agent of the true to have taken Steven. It still makes him bristle that any changeling would willingly serve someone like the Rose Queen, but he's not about to face one down to try to convince them.

"I'm sorry." It's all he can really say to that. "I won't let him get you again, not if I can help it."

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⇨ The Tourist Trap: WEEK 1

October 2nd

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