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

[There's no need for anything fancy. It's just as she's doing her balancing act that a redhead in some secondhand (but comfy enough) clothes steps forward, dropping a nice enough ten in her tin. He even makes sure a pebble gets placed on it so it doesn't go flopping away.]

[With that done, he steps back and smiles slightly up at her. He may be an angel of questionable morals nowadays- don't ask where he got that cash, although he promises it wasn't from anyone who needed it- but he still knows charity well enough. Besides.... he likes humans, and he always has a soft spot for those down on their luck.]

Here again, huh?

[He's seen her a few times while he's gone through the air, although he's never really interacted with this one until now. Sora's kept him busy enough.]

[Is that a ten? That's a ten. Wowee wow, generous guy! That'll buy her dinner and then some! Doll grins, delighted, at the red haired man and gives him a little salute.]

Thank ya kindly sir! I'm here mosta th'time! Haven't seen you b'fore though! You been by?

[His laughter rings out among the tree branches.]

Ya could say that! But would ya believe that most folks don't tend ta notice me?

Naw, really? [Doll does look surprised at that. He's a redhead for crying out loud.]

Well I woulda remembered ya. [She tilts her head and grins.] I think yer smile looks kinda like mine.

Really~.

[And he laughs at his own little joke.]

Probably for a good reason! Ya like high places, then?

Mmhmm! I'd hitch this thing higher if I could, but kinda hard t'get people t'look up that far. Plus I imagine some of 'em would get the wrong idea, call the coppers. [She laughs awkwardly. That's the last thing she needs-- police harassing her. Doll keeps to herself and moves when they ask her to, but she never wants to be branded as some public nuisance.]

And! [Doll hops off of the line and pulls her beanie down a little bit, securing it snugly over the bangs that cover one of her eyes.] Means I c'n hop down easy and do this! [She puts herself into a handstand like it's nothing, and then after a moment, shifts all of her weight and balances herself on one hand.] Can' do this one on the line jus' yet, but someday!

Should go for America's Got Talent, they take all sorts these days, I think.

[Still, he takes a step back when she hops down, and laughs at her little show of acrobatics.]

Someday! I'll have ta drop by when ya get the hang of it, then. Do ya just do this on yer spare time, or... [Well. Is she wearing her kind of clothes for the same reasons he is but in more dire straits?]

Me, on TV? Nahhh. [She feels her hat slipping, so she tips herself backwards and lands on her feet in front of the man, taking a moment to re-situate the beanie.] Would be too nervous. [And, more to the point, she's pretty sure Knotley wouldn't want her wasting time with TV tapings and whatever nonsense.]

Nah, I do this on the regular! [She says with a small shrug.] Keeps me fed, can't complain!

[She'd rather complain about other things, like being yanked around by a demon on her proverbial leash. Having to perform for money is nothing.]

Ah, that's a shame. Cute lass like yerself should get more attention. [And also not be on the streets having to perform for money, although he has to admit it's not the worst or most dangerous thing she could be doing.]

Still, would like ta think it helps with more than just a bit of food.

[Shelter, clothing... Things like that. Thrift stores can help with the latter a bit, but...]

Oh yeah, sure does! Sometimes I get a bagel at this cafe on 9th and Wall, they let me sit in the back all day when it's cold!

[That is not what he meant at all, but it's what she thought he meant. Two birds, one stone?]

I like performin', don' get me wrong. But there's a big diff'rence between gettin' attention, an' bein' watched. I don' like bein' watched. 'Specially by blokes who call me 'cute'. [It's a soft ribbing, really. He's not as creepy as some of the men who have come onto her on the street-- in fact it sounds more fond than anything.]

[...Well. Better than nothing, he supposes. She seems like a durable sort, if nothing else.]

[At her friendly jab, however, he laughs a little.]

Oh, should I call ya 'handsome' instead? Stunnin'? I'm a people please, I'm good ta say whatever works!

⇨ The Tourist Trap: WEEK 1

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