⇨ The Tourist Trap: WEEK 2

[ringleaders]

Who: Anyone, anywhere in Portland.
When: October 7st - 14th, 2017
Where: Portland area, in the new reality.
What: The week begins as the time of the Animal Fair finally arrives! Meanwhile, the truth of this reality starts to be revealed, and forces both human and celestial alike attempt to take advantage of a rare opportunity.
Warnings: Individually marked!

BY ANY OTHER NAME↴ Tensions thicken as various supernaturally forces react to the events of the previous week. Something critical is afoot, and it's only a matter of time before things start coming to a head. It's time to find out more about what's happened to this world, and what will happen in its future. ► A NIGHT AT THE FAIR: From the night of the 7th to the morning of the 8th, the Animal Fair is officially in town. There is a top level down below with more information, though you can also RP content from this elsewhere if you wish. The host, who is very likely something called a Wyld Fae (if you discovered that ICly), will be present, but they will only be appearing to you of their own accord and attempting to track them down by force will be ineffective. Just kick back and relax! Fairs are supposed to be fun. ► THORNS IN YOUR SIDE: Culminating in a full fledged attack against the Sanctuary, it would seem that The Rose Queen is declaring war on the changeling population of Portland. Though the vicious attack of thorns against the safe house was eventually stopped, it wasn't without damage, and the black roses that caused it are still popping up around the city and threatening the places where homeless and lost changelings would be likely to congregate. It's obvious now that this is a serious threat - will it ever stop without an intervention? ► HELL ON EARTH: As Anath's march draws near, the first waves of her demons will be entering the city. Primarily acting as scouts and foot soldiers, these demons will be attempting to secure loyalty from the local demon populace, as well as taking out any angels they can manage to catch. It's a level of aggressiveness against heaven's forces that hasn't been seen for years, and it's a foreboding hint of things to come. These demons can be NPCed by anyone, and will mostly be thugs or manipulators who don't know much about Anath's plans but do know that you need to join their side. They are also rowdier than most of the demons in Portland, and are a threat to the innocent mortal populace as well, if they decide to try to get their kicks here. ► THE WIZARD POLICE: The Enlightenment Council seems to have demanded control of the local Circle chapter, and now backup has arrived. These mages are being sent out into the city as if they are a police force, and will be attempting to demand control of various common supernatural areas, as well as questioning community members that they run into. Whatever is going on, it seems to have resulted in the Council instituting what is essentially martial law... of course, not everyone sees any need to heed their demands. If you are a demon, warlock, or other rogue element, expect to be harassed or even attacked by them. These character can be NPCed, and if you need additional information you can ask the mods.

Comments

2

[npcarnival]

The body he runs into isn't the fae herself - whoever it was snarls and runs away, apparently in the same 'fight of flighty' kind of mood. It's that action, however, that causes her to start laughing at him from the shadows. The laughter sounds familiar.

It's that fae from the Cat Cafe.

"You came!" she calls out to him, happily.

[whattaprick]

Lambert would recognize that voice anywhere, but his reaction's not nearly as cheerful or overjoyed. If anything, it's outright annoyed, but that should come as no surprise. It isn't just the urge to fight that's there -- that's just the most prominent one at the moment, including the desire to run around and bite something.

"What did you do to me?!" he hollers. No hi, no hello, just straight to yelling.

[npcarnival]

According to her that's the funniest shit ever. Despite his yelling she neither takes offense nor does she seem to care all that much, at all.

"You've gotten sharper!" she observes. "It's better for fighting your enemies."

[whattaprick]

Lambert throws a hand out, waving at the rest of the fair incredulously.

"Enemies? What enemies?! I'm a grad student, the only enemies I have are deadlines!"

That's not quite true, tho, the niggling bit of doubt murmurs in his mind. Those aren't the only things he has to fight.

[npcarnival]

"What about... deadly predators who show up in your cafe at night, wishing to take your cats?" she asks, cheekily. At that, Lambert will hear a meow down at his feet. It's Goodberry, looking pretty pleased with herself.

[whattaprick]

"That doesn't make you my enemy," Lambert snaps before he can think it through, taking a step back when Goodberry comes out of nowhere to harass him too. Two against one just isn't fair. "That just makes you a -- a criminal offender!"

[npcarnival]

"I'm not your enemy?" she says, puffing up his wings enthusiastically. "Why, that practically makes us friends! I am delighted."

Neither Goodberry nor the fae can be deterred so easily.

"Is that why you came to my party?"

[whattaprick]

"No," Lambert snaps, with feeling. She needn't look that pleased with herself. "I came here to look for--" He can't say his sisters, he thinks, if she doesn't already know he has them he doesn't want to give her any incentive to look for them.

"Someone," he finishes instead, lamely. John's around here somewhere too, doing whatever it is changelings do at enemy fae's parties. He's honestly not sure if he'd be happy to see him, considering the terse conversation they'd had over the phone before Lambert got too busy entirely to think about responding.

[npcarnival]

She allows a few moments of silence to endure.

"Was it me?" she asks.

It's hard to tell if she's serious or not.

[whattaprick]

Lambert doesn't quite make a face, but it's close.

"No." He hadn't even thought she'd notice him being here. By his leg, Goodberry is tenderly kneading her claws into his ankle, and Lambert shifts, ineffectually attempting to move his foot out of the way. Horrifyingly, he feels the urge to lean down and bat at her with his own clawed hand, but he manages to quell it for now.

[npcarnival]

Don't you dare hurt her cat, Lambert.

"Oh. That's disappointing," she says airily, rolling over onto his back like a cat. She looks bored now.

[whattaprick]

Lambert knows better than that, at least. But where the fae is bored, he has something of a more urgent matter that comes to mind--

"Are these permanent?" He looks at his new claws, grimaces around the teeth he can feel in his mouth.

[npcarnival]

"Probably not," she yawns. Like, you never know, but she did't set it up with that intention. It's just sort of what happens when you're in contact with her aura too long.

[whattaprick]

'Probably' isn't much of an answer, but it's clearly all he's getting, and Lambert's shoulders sag noticeably lower in relief. Thank fuck for that. He'd been worried permanently turning people into animals might be part of her bid to gaining other peoples' attention, but at least it seems like that won't be the case. For now.

"Why can't we leave?"

[npcarnival]

"Because mortals are cowards and if I allowed you to leave you all would have spooked like horses and fled by now," she says, as if these facts as plain as day. "That wouldn't be a very good party."

[whattaprick]

Well, she's not wrong, but also:

"This might surprise you, but suddenly finding yourself growing parts you didn't have before and being out of control of yourself is spooky," he scowls. "Is this what you really look like, then?"

If there's such a thing as true appearance with the fae, anyway. She seems more solid and definite to his eye than she had outside the fair, and he wonders what the point of hiding who she was was supposed to accomplish.

[npcarnival]

"No," she says, lazily. "My true form is impractically large. And, I suppose it is a token effort towards allowing the mortals to feel comfortable in my presence."

[whattaprick]

Yeah, well, it really isn't working, Lambert thinks, but doesn't say.

"When you say large," he says instead, warily. "How big are we talking about here?"

[npcarnival]

"I would most likely fell several trees simply by transforming," she says, gesturing vaguely. "It is not the best for going unseen, outside of the veils of shadow."

[whattaprick]

"Well, that'd be one way get their attention," Lambert mutters, before he can stop himself. No, don't give the fae any more ideas about how to make herself any more noticeable than she already is.

[npcarnival]

She grins at him.

"I would also probably crush you underfoot. An unfortunate accident!"

[whattaprick]

Lambert can't help himself, baring his teeth and wrinkling his nose at her. If he had cat ears like Goldberry's, they'd almost certainly be pinned back.

"I'd rather you didn't." All the same, he'll take a step back, huffing slightly.

[npcarnival]

She'll just laugh, and sound like she's going to leave it at that. Until, a few moments later.

"What will you do now, I wonder?" she muses, looking up at the sky.

[whattaprick]

"... Are you asking me, or is that a rhetorical question?" Lambert asks, warily.

[npcarnival]

Her eyes flick in his direction.

"Tell me. What is the future for this young human man?"