lostcarnival | ⇨ 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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[High speed flight means one can travel far distances across the city in no time and not worry about sticking close to where they call home. A well-muscled biker dude appearing around 19-20 out and about this late at night is can also attract less attention than someone Yuya's age. This disguised angel may not be the brightest of the bulbs, but over time he's learned a few things at least.]

Whoa!

[And the can grazes banana blond bangs (starkly contrasting raven-colored hair) at most, but nonetheless it flies past his head]

Oi! [No wait, maybe less rough despite his current look right now.] You there... Practicing your aim or something?

[Not that he's feeling offended much when there's no harm that could've been done anyway. There's some sort of unseen aura coming off Yugo the secretly angel, which may or may not calm the unease of meeting a stranger like this.]

Erk--[Yuya flinches as he sees Yugo clearly (as he can at night) after his can goes right by. As far as he can tell he looks completely human, and that alerts Yuya to what he might have just seen.]

Uh, yeah. [He laughs, rubbing the back of his head.] Just throwing cans around, that's all!

Ah, don't worry! I'm not judging!

[A shrug and a laugh, no suspicions being held here at all. After all teenagers no matter their intentions are free to do whatever they please and this guardian prefers to protect souls rather than smite them. But after a moment Yugo looks thoughtful and steps up closer, then crouching down after he does so.]

... Weird though, have I seen you around somewhere before?

[Yuya leans back a bit as Yugo comes closer. It's easier to see him now, and he definitely just looks all human to Yuya's senses... but also, staring at his face gives him a weird knot in his stomach. It makes him uneasy.]

Uh, I dunno. I think I'd remember you! [Right? Maybe Yugo just has one of those faces, and that's why he thinks he's seen a similar one around before.]

[The feeling about faces is mutual and he totally didn't do something as silly as borrowing someone's looks for this disguise. Oh well. He stands again and gives the kid a hair ruffle if nothing stops him from trying.]

Doesn't really matter I guess...! Not too far from home at this time of night either, are you?

[Because anything can happen when one least expects it.]

[Yugo gets away with the hair ruffling for about a second before Yuya is ducking to escape it, grumbling.] No... no, I'm totally fine!

[It's true that he's not too far off... just far enough Bob can't see him over here.

He is still subtly staring at Yugo's face though, narrowing his eyes. He just can't quite put his finger on it, but he can't stop thinking about it either.]

[Oh wait, this angel's forgetting his manners. Has he been taught manners before? Surely he was at some point? Nevertheless...]

Oh right. I oughta introduce myself too at times like these yeah? In case we run into each other again sometime.

[Since it seems about time for him to be back on his way.]

The name's Huugo.

[.... That sounds like "Yuugo" tho? ~~Ring familiar?~~]

[Yuya blinks slowly, then smiles. The name doesn't register anything as much as his face. Really, it's something in the eyes.] Huugo? My name's Yuya, nice to meet you.

[More importantly, he doesn't seem like he's about to turn Yuya in to Bob or anything. He tips his head towards one of the buildings.] Do you live around here? Maybe that's why you recognize me.

Actually I live on campus at uni.

[Huugo is pretty sure he's keeping up well enough on the typical college kid slang and... points in the direction he's ~~flew~~ came to this area from.]

But nice to meet you too.

Oh, you're in college? [Well, he does look a lot older.] Then what are you doing over here?

[Sorta kinda..... no.]

Well you know, just a party. I was just starting to head back to where my ride is.

[Totally nailed it.]

Huh, I didn't hear a party nearby... [Must have been a quiet party?]

Hey it's not like all college kids get super loud when they're hanging out somewhere...!

[Not that Hugo isn't spouting blatant lies out of a toothy grin right now. And trying his very best to hide how bad he really is at pretending to be a regular university dude. Man... blending into society is so hard.]

But like I said, I should get going- so see you around kid!

[Just going to casually begin doing just that, slip around the corner and attempt to keep out from Yuya's eyesight... so that the kid doesn't witness as said "student" disappears in a whoosh that one could maybe mistake as the sound of a normal motorcycle.

Maybe.]

Uh--bye! [Yuya just watches him go, raising a brow... and then he turns back to his cans.

Weird. That face is going to bother him for the rest of the night.]

⇨ The Tourist Trap: WEEK 1

Like... the 3rd

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