⇨ 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

[myownpearl]

But Pearl has her own tricks up her sleeve -- possibly quite literally but she holds off on making this magical for the moment. Instead, she concentrates on pushing ahead and going faster. She can feel the other bike creeping in and so, since this is a street race with no set course, she pulls off a hard left turn. The turn throws up water as she drives at top speeds through a puddle and starts taking off down an adjacent road. Was her fellow racer able to keep pace with the turn? She doesn't look back to find out but just keeps her ears peeled for the sound of a roaring engine.

[insidescoop]

She would certainly fail if she were to go on the magical-her magic is fire, and fire is the last thing she needs right now. But if there's anything it can do, it can heat things up-

Steam, NOW is Aslla's order, and the water causes nothing but a mist as Carly veers into the spray, shooting forward through the white haze.

[myownpearl]

Movement in her mirror causes her to glimpse out of the corner of her eye. In her mirror, Pearl sees the steam rise and clicks her tongue. Well, well, that was most unusual. Perhaps this racer is more interesting than she first guessed at. This race suddenly got much more interesting for her.

Pearl pushes ahead full speed -- the light traffic is definitely working in her favor -- but perhaps it would be fun to see if this rider can handle something a little more challenging. Pearl keeps her eyes peeled for another turn, but she doesn't want to lose her opponent either. Keep up, she thinks, keep up and let's see where this goes...

[fortuneglass]

She is absolutely keeping up-pushing down on the pedals, the engine churning as she closes in. The closer she comes, the more she starts to try and even pass, quite likely at her demon's insistence...

Better pull that challenge out quick, Pearl!

[myownpearl]

So her fellow racer does have some skill. Pearl's going to have to act fast and concentrate. She takes a deep breath, letting it out as she pulls ahead and starts weaving an illusion. It's a big one--so she can't necessarily make it tangible, but it should be enough to get the job done and cause some confusion.

Behind them and to their left a third racer appears from around a side street. This third racer rushes up from behind to catch up--Pearl's new distraction--matching pace with her original opponent. Pearl uses the distraction to pull off another turn and by now if the person is a Portland native they'll realize that Pearl is making a course that will take them to the river.

[insidescoop]

Just a little-and she's certainly familiar enough to catch where the course is going. Carly's bike swerves somewhat to make way for the illusion, but Aslla chastizes her-focus on the one ahead! Focus on trying to out pace them!! Focus on-

...Why are they heading for the water..? This can't be good-it certainly can't be normal right? And in her confusion and hesitation, she skims the side of the illusion-

And gasps. For as she hurriedly pulls her bike back on course to avoid collision she realizes she's a hair too late-but nothing has happened.

The bikes are...pristine..?

Carly looks ahead to the first racer with wide eyes, hidden by the dark of the helm.

[myownpearl]

The water is a good route, at least, it's a definitive course end goal. Pearl doesn't make the rules, but the race has to end SOMEWHERE.

As for the illusion--as soon as its disrupted it starts to flicker and then poofs. Pearl feels it break and frowns--that didn't last nearly as long as she had hoped it would.

She revs the engine and guns it towards her goal. She's so clos she can taste it.

....i guess we should coinflip or somethin huh

[insidescoop]

'There!' her partner is shouting. The end is in sight, and Carly ramps up the pace. Closer...closer...CLOSER...!

Except isn't this kind of close to the water, this is a little-

'JUST GET THERE FIRST, CARLY..!'

[myownpearl]

At the edge of the water there are ropes and other blockades to keep people back from the water's edge. It makes for a good stopping place if they end the race there--before going over. At the last minute Pearl notices movement out of the corner of her eyes and is shocked to find her opponent pulling ahead.

She is at the water's edge first and Pearl pulls her bike to a stop.

Well...that had been interesting.

[fortuneglass]

"Phewwweeeeeeeehhhhh..." Carly, for her part, is taking her helmet off and half collapsing in her seat. "What a ride..."

Carly, don't act as if you were unsure of what you were doing-it'll be shameful.. Ah-right.

She hurriedly straightens out, shaking off the haze of alarm. "Ah...but, if I got here then..."

Carly. RIGHT, RIGHT, NO MORE WORDS-

[myownpearl]

There's a moment, as she watches the biker, where Pearl debates speaking to her. Perhaps she should congratulate her on her winning. But, she hadn't done this to socialize, merely blow off some steam.

So Pearl watches her for a moment, musing on her odd conversation with herself. Presumably with herself. She tosses her a salute and then goes to leave, revving her bike as a parting note.

[ooc: Wasn't sure if you wanted a conversation or not--so Carly can signal Pearl to wait or Pearl can be mysterious and drive off into the night]

Driving off works better for the other thread, so haha

[fortuneglass]

Ohoh-a salute, huh? Well, She rather numbly tries to mirror the motion back. She'd say something but, somehow the entire incident is hitting her now. And it takes until Pearl leaves before she can pause and think.

"....That was cool.................."

Ugh, you're so childish...