⇨ The Tourist Trap: PROLOGUE

[ringleaders]

Who: Anyone, anywhere in Portland.
When: Any time before the start of the event.
Where: Portland area, in the new reality.
What: Once you've submitted your AU summary, you can use this post to do some CLOSED THREADING to play out some character interactions that happened before the event start. This means that memory regains will not be in play yet. Open top levels are not allowed - these threads are intended to sort out closed interactions between planned backstory connections, during the week leading up to the actual event start.
Warnings: Could be anything.

PORTLAND, AS YOU KNEW IT↴ The shift went unseen and unfelt. One moment you were one person, and the next, another. This before all that, though, in the new life that you remember living here in Portland. No memories of your true self have arisen yet, and at the time this was the only life you knew. Did these events truly happen at all? Or do they only exist in memory?

Comments

[atouts]

And yet her continues to be thoroughly unimpressed with Strange and all his boxes. Even the threat earns nothing more than the changeling's scorn and he lets out a snort, as a sharp, amused sound. 'Stewart's Evocation of Unmaking' indeed.

"And then what? Try again?"

Go through changelings until he runs out? Inevitably bring the ire of the Rose Queen down on him for destroying her property? Well, he might enjoy that last part, right up until the entire dying thing. Strange won't get very far, anyway, since one second, there's no one already at those same boxes and, the next, there is. It's a quick hop, simple enough to do, summoning up the shadows around him back where he stood and flickering across the floor to pop up again over there, now leaning lazily against the stack of boxes with the mage's books.

"Well? Go on," he prompts. "Evoke at me."

[kingsroads]

He visibly starts as Childermass suddenly moves from one end of the room to the other, trying his hardest not to swear under his breath. Trying to regain his cool and seem like he's totally got this under control, Strange reaches down into one of the open boxes and rummages around for a little bit. Pulling out a book, he quickly flips through it, trying to search for the spell in question.

Woefully (or probably thankfully for Childermass), Strange doesn't know that much magic to hurt people. He's always been content doing that in other manners, a careful word here and there to change opinion, a meeting to try and sway someone's thoughts in a different direction. As he finds the evocation, he casts the spell, a complicated phrase in Latin that somehow seems to swap to Aramaic in the middle of it. Strange points a finger at Childermass...and nothing happens. Really, the most Childermass would feel is a worrying sensation in his stomach, the sort of pulling one gets when they're sick and their organs have decided to commit mutiny due to the strains of being sick. It's pain, but pain that only lasts for less than a minute or so and nothing downright debilitating.

With a frown, Strange gestures at a nearby throw rug, obviously something that's seen better days. The rug almost instantly unravels, turning into a pile of undone cotton. Well the spell obviously works...just not on people.

"Damn," he simply responds. The least he was asking for was disfigurement, come on magic, why you gotta be like this.

[atouts]

All of that earns Strange a grimace and nothing more. There's a flicker of worry in the back of Childermass's mind when the pain kicks in, wondering if the mage actually would be foolish enough to kill his newly bound servant, but then it fades and the worry along with it. Apparently, he can't even manage more than to make him mildly uncomfortable for a minute. Somehow that makes being stuck serving him even worse, that he isn't even that good at magic in the first place...

So, in the end, after he's gone on the destroy the rug instead of the changeling, Childermass is left to just raise his eyebrows up again and continue on looking unimpressed. It's the best defense and, currently, honestly how he feels right now.

"Don't really have a knack for torture, do you?" He's also going to keep on picking on him, considering how obnoxious this entire ordeal is. "Better go check out a few books on that from the magical library."

[kingsroads]

Strange just seethes as Childermass continues to point out his flaws. Of course he doesn't have a knack for torture, he's a goddamn accountant! This isn't the middle ages, why would he have a knack for torture to begin with? And why does it drive him so mad when Childermass points out the obvious fact that really shouldn't annoy him as much as it does.

"I have a knack for summoning and binding," Strange reminds Childermass, through gritted teeth, with a glare. "And really, if you keep on being a nuisance like this, I don't have a problem sending you out to do something stupid or dangerous."

Considering how amazingly awful this is going, he'll have to settle for making Childermass's life hell the best way he knows how: really, really stupid requests. Have fun buying the groceries, asshole.

[atouts]

"Considering you've already asked me to do something dangerous and something stupid, that threat doesn't really hold as much water as you may think it does," Childermass replies, not even trying to disguise the scorn in his voice. Yeah, do your worst, buddy. It's not like there's a huge change in shittiness of his life between serving one asshole or another here.

Though be prepared to either make some incredibly specific grocery lists or enjoy all the one-ply toilet paper and sugar-free gummy bears that your heart does not at all desire, pal.

[kingsroads]

Obviously something dangerous involves the Rose Queen and something stupid involves his ex. Still, Strange can't help but raise an eyebrow at that. Because dangerous? Really? He'll mull over this more later while eating the granola bars that taste like chalk that Childermass bought instead of the actually good granola bars.

"You're in a faerie court. Duplicity and cheating people is the name of the game with your lot—she probably has a whole host of people that she knows are spying on her and even more that she doesn't know. What's one more changeling to take note of what she's doing, especially someone so..." Shabby. "...nondescript as you are."

No comment on the something stupid. Because, at least in Strange's mind, a little bit of stalking to find out what his ex-wife is up to isn't stupid in the slightest (he will probably have to admit to 'kind of desperate', though.)

[atouts]

"You really have no idea, do you," Childermass just keeps on rolling with the blatant disrespect over here. It's pretty obvious, actually, that Strange doesn't have a clue. If anything, he's probably making assumptions based on things he's read, which are very likely all wrong. Fan-fucking-tastic. Well, he isn't about to give away much, anyway, since the man probably doesn't even know what to ask.

But since he's going to be stuck here for who knows how much longer, he may as well make himself at home. Still leaning lazily against the boxes filled with books, the changeling fishes out a beaten up box of cigarettes and his lighter. He won't ask, nope, he's just going to go right on ahead and light up in what is undoubtedly a 'no smoking allowed' apartment.

[kingsroads]

He straight up doesn't have a clue. But that's why he would summon a faerie servant in the first place, isn't it. To get something remotely close to a clue about how the court of the Rose Queen and actual legitimate faerie politics work. To learn about this magic that he's been obsessing over for years.

As Childermass lights his cigarette, Strange wrinkles his nose, giving the other man a dismissive hand gesture.

"Put that out," Strange orders, frowning at Childermass as he does so. Oh, he could have told the changeling 'at least open a window' or 'go smoke on the balcony' but no, if Childermass is going to be an asshole, Strange will gladly respond in kind.

[atouts]

And he's unlikely to do one damn thing when all that not having a clue manages to get Strange killed. So, just a matter of waiting him out, or so he hopes. The order to put the cigarette out earns the mage a nasty look, but fine, he'll put it out. Strange may want to be a little more specific in the future, though, because—

"Of course, sir," he agrees and drops the cigarette, already lit, onto the floor of the apartment. He'll put it out there, grinding the bit of ash and the rest into the wood.

[kingsroads]

Strange is quickly learning that he needs to A: be obnoxiously specific with the requests he makes and B: buy a goddamn ashtray because he's got a feeling Childermass'll try to smoke in here again just to be obnoxious for the sake of being obnoxious. Still, he's on a little bit of a power high because the order actually worked. Sure, there was now a little scorch mark on the floor that'll probably come out of his deposit, but Strange is just now realizing that Childermass actually listened to that order. So naturally, he's going to do give another one.

"The trashcan is underneath the sink in the kitchen. If there's any of that cigarette left, pick it up and throw it away there." But if Childermass had already managed to grind the cigarette into the wood...well, that just means that Strange would have to pick up cleaning supplies from the store later.

"I honestly don't see why you're being so difficult, changeling. This would be easier for you if you just behaved."

[atouts]

Unfortunately for Childermass, there's still enough cigarette left that he does have to carry out the next command. He sets his jaw in a way that he's clenching his teeth together, but not being too obvious about it. He doesn't particularly want to give away how angered he really is by this, which is, safe to say, a lot.

Regardless, he lifts his shoe up off the crushed cigarette and leans down to retrieve it. With that in hand, he's off to the kitchen, tossing it into the trashcan before returning. The brief trip across the apartment and back gives him a moment to revert fully to his indifferent calm.

"It isn't in my nature, sir," he states, maintaining a bored tone as he does so. "Clearly my kind is troublesome by nature. I'm sure you already knew that."

Not actually true, but like Strange will know any better.

[kingsroads]

He's liking this far too much already. Idly, Strange wonders just what the limits are on the binding. Of course he's not going to make Childermass do anything stupid. What's the use of a faerie servant if you maim him right away? But even just someone to get the groceries or pick up the books he wants from the bookstore would make his life so much easier. Information was the priority, of course, but hey, if you've bound yourself a servant, might as well use him for other, more menial things.

Strange will have to provide the money, of course. If the changeling doesn't sleep somewhere in the Rose Queen's realm, he probably sleeps under a bridge or something like that. Gross.

"I know faeries are a troublesome and duplicitous lot. I'd imagine that any of those traits must be muddled with the blood of your human parent, no matter how strong your fae parent would be—who is your faerie parent, by the way?" It's a question, not an order, so Childermass is under no obligation to answer. But the man's appearance is quite striking, not the sort of thing he'd expect to see from a servant of the Rose Queen. It's obvious to Strange that no matter what Maury-like situation Childermass's parents got themselves in, the Rose Queen is not the mother.

[atouts]

It's true. Feathers and the distinct lack of bright colors are very much not what one would imagine when it came to someone called the Rose Queen and her children. Plants, flowers, thorns, sure, but birds simply don't fit in there. Childermass isn't even in a position to deny he's any different than the other Summer Court changelings, not with how the summoning had stripped away his glamour on arrival.

It isn't an order, though. He gets the feeling it may become one after his answer turns out to be disgustingly sarcastic, but he can't help himself, going on to say, "The Queen of England. Isn't it obvious?"

[kingsroads]

Childermass really should have seen this coming. Strange just gives him a frown, a sort of 'really? you're still being difficult?' lineface of a frown. And, shock and surprise, his next statement is an order.

"Tell me who your fae parent is." It's said as Strange crosses his arms over his chest and still just glares at poor Childermass. Again, he really should have seen this coming.

[atouts]

He had seen it coming, but that won't change anything. Childermass intends to be difficult every step of the way, as long as he has the energy for it. Having to say who it is, however, earns Strange a look of utter distaste. The Rose Queen may have agreed to protect him from his father, but he still doesn't like to say his name.

"The Count of Crows," he answers nonetheless, this time forced to be truthful. "Of the Winter Court."

[kingsroads]

Strange...vaguely knows that name. Obviously the Count of Crows doesn't have much of an impact in Portland, what with the whole Winter Court thing, but he'd be an awful mage if he didn't know a cliff notes about the major fae power players (and some of the lesser fae power players).

"You're out of your jurisdiction, changeling. I hope whatever brought you here was worth it."

Because Strange has a feeling that the Count of Crows miiiight not be too pleased that his son skipped town. Urgh, if he gets involved in any ridiculous inter-court business, he'll throttle Childermass himself.

[atouts]

Strange would have brought it on his own damn self, summoning and binding faerie (or changeling, in this case) servants. If his nonsense puts him back into the Count's path, he's absolutely taking him down along with him, but until then (which will hopefully be never)...

"You're an idiot," Childermass tells Strange outright. "Changelings don't go out of their jurisdiction. They escape."

[kingsroads]

Strange just bristles at being called an idiot. He briefly goes a bit flushed and his hands are clenched tight in a fist. It's obvious he's counting to five before he continues, speaking through gritted teeth.

"You knew what I meant. I've met plenty of changelings who've escaped, living on the street or under a bridge or what have you. Portland has more of your kind than most people realize."

[atouts]

"Then maybe you should have picked one of those changelings for this instead," Childermass says coolly. "I'm sure you could have found one meek enough for your tastes, Sabrina."

Yeah, he's moved on from 'Merlin'.

[kingsroads]

Sabrina does get a rise out of Strange because for one brief moment, he looks like he's going to throttle Childermass then and there. There's another pause and another attempt to catch his breath before Strange starts talking again.

"I needed someone competent, not meek. The parameters for the summons were someone who was allied with the Rose Queen's court and someone who could get the job done. Honestly, you should be honored I summoned you in the first place—I wasn't going to waste my time on those changelings."

It literally does not occur to him that most people wouldn't view being summoned and stuck in a binding arrangement as something to be happy about in the first place.

[atouts]

"Should have thought to include 'can be browbeaten into submission by a pissy little fuckwit' while you were at it," is Childermass's less than kind advice. It's completely unhelpful. In any case, so long as he's stuck here, he's going to go back to leaning idly against the boxes, arms folding loosely over his chest.

"Or better yet, just take a stroll through the rose gardens yourself. I'm sure if you beg enough, Her Majesty will take pity on you."

[kingsroads]

Turns out that being called a pissy little fuckwit is the straw that breaks the camel's back. Strange looks like he's about to haul off and hit Childermass before he just skulks off to the kitchen and rummages around for pencil and paper. After writing down a list of five or so books, he practically shoves the list in Childermass's face.

"Find these books and bring them to me, with receipts. I'll pay you back if you spend a reasonable amount of money on them, but if you're stupid enough to get scammed on the price, then you'll have to eat the cost yourself."

Clearly the problem to being insulted is to give Childermass more shit to do.

[atouts]

Childermass looks down his nose at the list in his face, disdain apparent, but he takes it. He has no choice. The list gets a curious look over after he has it and then it's shoved unceremoniously into a pocket. That done, he steps back and sketches out an extremely sarcastic bow to Strange, overexaggerated in how deep it goes.

"Of course, master, anything you say," he says it like an insult and, then, before the mage has a chance to reply or add any other tasks, he falls back into shadows again, just as he'd moved the last time, and is gone.

Though what he'll be getting back in the near future is the books and receipts for random bullshit rather than the actual books, because he absolutely stole the damn things. Hey, he never specified receipts for what.

[kingsroads]

It's only after Childermass is gone that Strange realizes he probably should have added cleaning supplies as well to the list. Shit, now he's going to have to go out and get them himself. He really needs to be better at the whole 'having a servant' thing.

And thus begins the year of Strange sending Childermass off for gossip and mundane errands and Childermass contemplating the best way to make Strange's life a living hell.