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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[On the 5th of October, Carly takes a seat in the cafe in part because of that ENORMOUS poster. It's larger, and that's odd, and she takes a bit of time to photograph it (don't you dare kick her out for this Lambert-). It's not long after that she takes a seat, buys a coffee, and gets to work though. The cafe has wifi after all. And she needs to do some digging.

She needs to learn more about who "The Winter's Claw" was...and why their death combined with this Fair is important.

Also you might see that she's looking this up if you come up from behind. She's a bit absorbed by her work right now.]

[ It's just a poster. Lambert tries to reassure himself of that, even as the fae taking up his criticism as a challenge seems to have resulted in more questions, more curiosity, more interest in the Fair itself. He fields the questions as best as he can, doesn't snap at the people taking photos, though he imagines as soon as he gets home he'll see it posted on the threads already talking about the Animal Fair. Fan-fucking-tastic.

Of more immediate concern is the fact that the cats seem to be unnaturally attracted to one of the patrons. That's not an unusual or surprising occurrence in and of itself -- but it does also usually mean that the chances of said customer having some supernatural quality is high. It's also just plain bad for business when other people notice the cats are all crowding around one individual in particular.

So as he usually does when this happens, Lambert steps over to break up the crowd gathering near the table while trying to be less overt about it, waving one of those mouse-on-a-stick toys less like he's trying to play with them and more like he's cracking a whip. The less interested cats give him a cool look and walk away, slowly, making it clear they aren't being spooked, but a couple of the bolder ones linger still, pawing at the shadow on the floor.

The shadow which, now that Lambert is focusing on it properly, has what are unmistakably eyes staring out of it. Ah, yes. Great.

Wasn't this girl one of the customers taking pictures of the poster earlier? There's no good way to come out and ask someone about what they're searching for on the internet without making it obvious you'd been looking over their shoulder, so he'll just... continue to bait the cats for a moment, lingering by the table and letting the fake mouse drag over the shadow while trying to decide what to say. ]

Edited 2017-06-09 06:44 (UTC)

[Aslla Piscu has not enjoyed all of this attention, and his host telling him that he 'deals with this every week' is not helping. How lovely-apparently he's Supposed to be used to it. For now, he therefore remains silent. Carly for her part is therefore quite oblivious to Lambert's actions-instead she pores over the deep, deep threads into the internet, attempting to find what she needs..

Faerie is a word that Lambert sees cropping up if he peeks over her shoulder, same as Animal Fair, and...well in her main window, she's trying to dig through the information on fae in an entirely different location, and specifically looking for 'Winter's Claw' if she can.

But basically there is a Lot of words.

...Also the shadow is hissing.] Not now, Aslla...

[ Between the cats meowing happily, the soft hiss of her shadow, and the word faerie cropping up again and again, Lambert's going to give up on being subtle and clear his throat, calling for her attention even as he lets the felt mouse bounce on the shadow once or twice, cautiously testing if it's just a shadow or possibly some kind of being that might have invaded it and she's not aware of it.

Though that chance is looking slimmer by the moment. ]

Planning on going to the Animal Fair? [ He asks, faux-casually. ] Sure seems like a lot of people are interested in it.

[As much as the eyes are frowning at the mouse and frowning back at Lambert? No answer. At least not beyond a very quiet chuckle as Carly abruptly fumbles, flustered as she hurriedly hits her panic button to bring up a google search page.] HYGG-!!!

H-Hey..! It's rude to look over people's shoulders..!! [Carly please.] ...And who wouldn't be..? It's a giant poster with a bloody thing on it, that's super weird..!

[ Lambert shrugs, not bothering with an apology -- it would 100% be insincere anyway, even if he did get one out. It's too late for Carly to prevent him from seeing anything, but... ]

And here I thought Portland was all about keeping it weird. [ It's a weak joke, but hey, if the shoe fits... ]

Weird isn't the same as rude..! [Honestly!! ...She does realize just at that point that she's talking to one of the employees, however. Erp.] ...Is there something wrong though? I'm not feeding the cats, if that's what you think happened..! [They just really like her shadow, it happens.]

You're the one who called the poster weird. [ It's not Lambert's character up for discussion right now, okay. At any rate, he shakes his head at her question. ]

Just wanted to make sure they weren't bothering you. It's a little unusual for them all to be in one place.

I guess... [S T I LL!!! She folds the laptop over a bit, if at least to keep any wandering eyes from going on.] Mnn, it's fine~ This happens every now and then when I come in...

Must be a natural talent.

[ Super weird and suspicious, Carly! The more she tries to hide it from him, the more it piques his curiosity, more than the cats cheerfully prowling around the shadow with eyes ... but if she's interested in the Animal Fair, it seems only right to give her what little warning he can, and he gives a casual, one-shouldered shrug. ]

Anyway, I'm not planning on going to the Animal Fair myself. I've heard it's likely to mean trouble.

[It's not like there wound up being much anyway..! Just confirmation of a dead fae's court status in the end...]

You have the largest poster there is though...

You're not the first one to point that out.

[ And she probably won't be the last ... he sighs, flicking the toy off the shadow and out of the way. ]

It wasn't my idea.

It wasn't? Your boss then??

... No.

[ If he's casual enough, will this not seem like a big deal? ]

The fair's, uh, organizer put it up themselves.

Th-The organizer?!

[Ooohhh. Oh darn it. She takes a deep breath. No cards on the table yet but-] ...Can you tell me what they looked like..?

[ Scary as fuck, mostly. Lambert glances around, uncertain if anyone's listening on this conversation. No real reason to talk about this with a stranger, but ...

She feels strangely familiar, somehow. ]

... Not human. [ That seems about all that's safe to say on the matter, and he purses his lips and shakes his head, looking away and stepping back to put some distance between her and him. If she wants more information than that, he's apparently unwilling to carry this conversation on here. ]

[She recognizes that cue-how could she not, in her field. Scooping up her laptop, she tentatively asks,] ...Is there somewhere the cats are kept?

[That's about as good a non-suspicious back room as they're getting, here.]

[ Lambert shakes his head. ]

There is, but we don't allow customers back there. [ He pauses. ] Shift ends in half an hour. I should get back to work.

Half an hour... [Well. She nods-that works out fine.] Alright...I'll be staying here a little longer then, in that case.

[Thirty minutes is pretty easy to breeze through, after all.]

[ Lambert nods, wiping his hands off on his apron and pulling away.

Half an hour passes by quickly enough, though of course, it's another fifteen more minutes after that before Lambert actually steps out of the cafe, apron off and jacket on to ward against the chill in the air. Most people would consider this pleasant fall weather, but he's never been a fan of the cold.

Considering it's daytime and the buses are still running, he didn't bring his bike, but he lingers around the front of the store. This still feels like a dumb idea, but ... well, what else is there to do with this information, really?

Ignore it, is what common sense says. John didn't have any great ideas about averting a faerie war, and Lambert's impression is that he didn't even intend to try, but if it's going to be as much trouble as it seems, shouldn't people get a fair warning about that? ]

[Carly steps out of the cafe with her own mixed thoughts, though none are to question levels of brilliance regarding this particular decision. Instead she just nods to him after getting out of the cafe, and asks-] ...Anywhere you'd rather talk?

Not around here.

[ For some reason, he's scanning the sky, frowning. Not one of the parks or gardens, either, not after what he knows. On the other hand, there's an advantage to being in public spaces when you're talking about weird shit with someone you don't know. ]

How about one of the food courts? [ He smirks over his shoulder, already turning to go. ] I was getting hungry anyway.

Edited 2017-06-20 13:36 (UTC)

Mnnh... [Food course? It's fine enough, though she does frown.] As long as you're not stalling for time... [She Hates That Sort Of Thing.] Let's hurry though, ok?

If I didn't want to talk, I would've left already. Got somewhere to be?

[ What's the rush, he wonders? In any case, they're not going to have to go far, because there's a food court just a couple of buildings over. He won't head for the food, but he will slide into a booth seat a little farther away from the main hubbub, and one without anyone else close by.

In any case, he's not going to beat around the bush, his question short and direct: ]

Who are you?

I'm just used to people trying to avoid interviews. [And with a smile, her answer is about to explain why.] Carly Carmine, paranormal reporter!

[Ah. She's probably had a few 'run-aways' happen, then.]

MEOW...

NYA

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