⇨ The Tourist Trap: WEEK 3

[ringleaders]

Who: Anyone, anywhere in Portland.
When: October 15st - 22th, 2017
Where: Still in Portland
What: As all sides of the struggle gradually become informed, and the awareness of outsiders begins to spread, Portland faces a critical question - what should be done with them? And who gets to decide?
Warnings: Individually marked!

THE WOLVES AMONG US↴ ► WHEN SEPTEMBER ENDS: It's fairly common knowledge that October is a special month - Halloween has always been an excitable time in the supernatural community, because its during this month that the magical energies of Earth seem to disproportionately swell in power. This peeks on the 31st, and has every year for as long as anyone can remember. The holiday of Halloween is a byproduct of this, because the magical phenomenon has gone on for ages past. It's also a pretty common time for wizards to attempt bullshit shenanigans, and also when the Severing first came into effect. ► TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL: Towards the end of the week, Prudence Jaeger will be asking her angelic contacts for a pretty huge favour - she wants them to help her and some of her associates break into the Circle stronghold that the visiting Council members are staying at. It seems that they have some kind of macguffin item that will be needed to crack the barrier cutting off the Earth from the cosmos - and, to that end, allow the angels and mysterious outsiders to return to wherever they call home. ► THE PATH TO HELL: Perhaps unsurprisingly, Team Heaven isn't the only group to clue into the fact that the Circle has what they need. On the same night that the angels go in, so will Anath's army, as the arch demon finally arrives in the city just in time to join the party. Whether the angels and demons fight each other all the way or cooperate to achieve a mutual goal is up to them. ► WITH GOOD INTENTIONS: The Circle and Torchlight aren't all bad, okay? It's entirely possible that they are just acting in the best interest of humanity - unfortunately, that has resulted in them being pretty massive pricks recently, and now the payback for that is arriving on their doorstep. If you're a member of the Circle, you may or may not realize that anything is coming in time for you to prepare. (That will depend on your threads up to the end of the week.) However, once the fight starts, you'll be charge with defending the Councillors whether you like it or not, and Torchlight is getting pulled in as an unexpected ally to ensure their safety as well. Are you going to heed their call? Or is it time to split from the pack? ► BLOOD OF ICE AND FIRE: It's been made no secret that the Rose Queen isn't the only fae trying to pull back her lost changelings - now the Winter Court appears to be doing it, as well. More than a handful of changelings have gone missing over the last couple weeks, lost to both the thorns and agents of the Count. Whatever they're doing, it's also in competition with each other - Winter and Summer will be biting at each other's heels far more than normal, to the degree that it becomes clear they must have some competing objective in mind. Unfortunately for everyone else, that objective happens to conflict with the desires of just about everyone else. Fae are, by nature, opportunists. - ✪ - These are the major conflicts that will be coming to a head towards the end of Week 3. In the meantime, your actions will decide how certain elements are set up, and what the likelihood of success is for each group. Dice rolling handily won the opinion poll where we asked for the preferred method of conflict resolution, so that will be coming into effect a bit later on to determine who actually wins and loses, with advantages based on the choices made.

Comments

Near the Sanctuary

[mylastchance]

[After two weeks of searching for info he still has nothing. Others in the Pack he spoke with looked at him like he was crazy. Sanctuary was still recovering from the fae attack and of no help. Mages tried to interrogate him. He wasn't getting help or information from anyone, and while he knew a lot of things we're going on none of it was anything that had to do with the carnival.

The earth spirit was weak. Fae were increasing their activity all over the city. The Circle was under investigation or investigating something. Demons and angels were on the move. But all he was looking for was one specific fae, or just anyone he knew from his memories. Someone who could tell him if the carnival was ever actually real or if it was simply some shared delusion between him and his brother.

When he see's Carly he actually doesn't recognize her at first. Her features are different. There's no red mark on her face, and none of her other carnival related changes are present. Still, she looks familiar and so he spends a moment studying her features. Only then does he realize who he's looking at, and once he does he's suddenly running across the street to catch her.]

Carly!! Carly!

[He doesn't know if she'll even recognize him, but it's his first lead in days and he isn't going to let her slip away.]

[fortuneglass]

[...Who is this? She feels she recognizes them, like so many, and yet her feelings jumble into a complicated, painful ball the more she tries to focus. When she turns, the red-mark IS there it seems...Just fainter, somehow, more of a 'birthmark' than anything. And...

And...] ...How did you get my name...? [She sounds suspicious.

Lauren best be very careful about his answer.]

[mylastchance]

[He stops short at the question, realizing he doesn't have any clue how to explain all this. Talking isn't really his strong point in the first place, but without Susan around he really didn't have any choice. He decides to just not think about it and simply say whatever comes to mind first. You know, the way normal people do.]

I know you, from another plane. Kind of. Look, I know it sounds crazy, but I'm not trying to hurt you or anything so just let me explain, okay?

[fortuneglass]

[Her first instinct is to frown, and frown heavily. Her fingers clutch the straps of her bag, and she can feel some sort of shout bubbling up in her throat.

But this is one too many people approaching her, and so-] ...Make it quick.

[mylastchance]

[He actually wasn't expecting that sort of response. It trips him up. For a moment he sort of just looks at her in surprise before he realizes he's supposed to be making this 'quick.' The only problem is, this isn't really a quick type of explanation. In fact, it was the kind of situation that was hard to explain even without any sort of impetus.]

Quick, right. Quick. Okay.

There's a carnival that travels to a bunch of different worlds, and we were part of that together. As in, we were both in it, not like we were dating or anything because we weren't. But yeah, that's where I know you from.

[Oh my god this was already a fucking disaster.]

I can't prove it, but it's real.

[insidescoop]

[An important question is coming to mind-and it's not about the carnival (What) or the different worlds (Wow), not that part at all. It's more...

Her face screws with confusion, and she rapidly blinks some sense into herself before asking the only question dwelling-]

...Why would dating matter..?! Why would anyone think that from 'together' here..!?

[mylastchance]

Well! It just might distress someone! If they thought that they didn't remember someone and they were dating! So it's not that kind of together, that's all I meant.

[insidescoop]

Well now I am wondering, because you brought it up!!

[This sort of turn in the road somehow feels familiar-] And anyway, you aren't really coming off as romantic, so it feels more like I'm the one with a problem..!! What would be wrong with dating me!?

[mylastchance]

[For the love of-!]

Dating you wouldn't be terrible! You're really hot and nice! You can turn into a cute small bird thing, but that's really not the point.

[FUCK HE WAS TALKING TO MUCH HE NEEDED TO STOP.]

We've been stuck here for like two weeks and I still have no idea what's going on.

[insidescoop]

A b-

Since when could I do that, all I can do is light things on fire..!! And it's really hard to put that out, too!!

[Points are being Missed.] AND I'M PROBABLY TAKEN ANYWAY!!! [She adds even louder, despite not really having any proof.] Mngghhh...

If you don't know what's going on though, then what are you doing...

[mylastchance]

[He doesn't know when she learned to shapeshift OR if she has a boyfriend, and to be frank he doesn't particularly care either.]

I'm trying to figure out how to fix it, but I can't find anything out.

Don't you know or remember anything?

[insidescoop]

[Does she know? Not really. Remember? A bit, a lot, scattered in pieces and fragmented by confusion and hurt. She doesn't shout her words exactly, but the pain does come through when she speaks.] Well...don't you..!?

[A stupid question with what he literally just said, but-] ...How do any of us do something if we can't even tell what's wrong...

[mylastchance]

[It does come through, loud and clear, and it only worsens his own panic. Susan didn't remember this world and couldn't accept. There was no way he would be happy growing up in this kind of environment. Worse, even though Lauren was Susan's only family, according to the rules of this world he wasn't actually Susan's legal guardian. Susan running away and Lauren taking him in, it wasn't wrong, but it was illegal. If they ended up staying here, if they couldn't figure out how to fix this... He didn't even want to consider the consequences.]

[He puts a hand to his forehead, trying to stay calm though he's really anything but.]

I don't know.

[But he had to do something, or else... Or else.]

Help me, please. I don't know who else to ask.

[insidescoop]

[She is quiet-trying to find the words as something nags at her mind and even heart, her eyes searching the other to try and find something familiar. But she can't... ..She can't think...]

...How..? [she finally manages, shaking her head.]

[mylastchance]

I don't know.

But if it's two of us, we can think of something.

['Right?' is what he wants to ask, but he doesn't. He can't waver on this, he needs to be resolute in finding the solution. There wasn't any other option.]

[insidescoop]

....

...you can't get this sort of thing figured out with just two, [she says quietly. But...

...She grimaces-and slowly,] ...do you have a phone?

[mylastchance]

[He nods, before reaching into his pocket and pulling out his phone.]

Why?

[insidescoop]

I'm going to give you my number of course..!

...Because that way, we can keep the other updated-and find some way through this, alright?

[mylastchance]

[He looks surprised, but the expression is quickly overtaken with gratitude instead. He's just... He feels so relieved. He'd found someone, even if they didn't know what was going on. He might be able to do something now, she might be able to help. He looks away, trying to control his feelings because they are over the top and embarrassing, but it's difficult.]

...Thanks.

[insidescoop]

[....And to that...she finds herself smiling, somehow.] ...It's more than nothing, isn't it..?

[mylastchance]

Yeah.

[A lot more, even if it was something small.]

Um. I'll text you, if I find anything. I mean, it won't just be one way or anything.

[fortuneglass]

Of course..! [Well...]

...I'll see you later, I suppose.

[mylastchance]

[He's momentarily tempted to actually hug her or something, that's just how relieved he feels at finally having found another carnival member who was willing to help him. BUT that would be awkward and embarrassing so instead he just nods haltingly, before slipping his phone back in his pocket.]

Right.... Stay safe.

[And then he just, walks away. He doesn't really know where he's going, but at least he feels a little bit less like a failure.]