⇨ 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

[promnibusanctis]

Helen quickly sets about making little sandwiches like one might see in a tea party many, many years ago, each with its own uniqueness. It doesn't take long until she has a plate with a few of each kind nearly arranged on it. It was probably more than enough for the two of them. Then, after putting the plate in front of Rita and cleaning up, she moved to set the water to boil for tea.

"Is there any particular tea you like?" Helen asks, pulling the neatly arranged drawer with each particular tea tin neatly labelled. "I do have a great deal to choose from, though this one here is my favourite. It is fairly delicate, a little flowery, but very good for calming nerves as well. It helps focus me when I'm working."

[anti_nonsense]

As soon as the sandwiches are placed before her, Rita's already digging in. Her first selection, chosen at random, is a ham and cheese sandwich. Some parts of it are familiar... but also slightly different from what the fae would feed her. It tastes good.

After chewing and swallowing, she considers Helen's offer, but can't seem to think of a good answer. "I don't know. I never had tea before." The fae had it sometimes; she remembers the smell. The sight of all those tins is a surprising one, though. Are there really so many kinds? Maybe she can start by trying whatever Helen's having.

As she finishes her first sandwich, having practically inhaled it, Rita gives Helen another long stare, then abruptly asks, "You know what I am... right?" The guy who brought her here seemed to know, despite her glamour. Both he and Helen said she'd be safe here. But... "Someone might come after me. Isn't it dangerous for you to shelter people like me?"

[promnibusanctis]

Helen smiles and simply makes Rita the same kind because it's a good, calming, gentle tea. Her eyebrows arch slightly at the fae's words but her smile doesn't falter.

"I know what you are, yes," she says quietly. "If they come after you, they will have to deal with me and the wards that surround this place." Helen gestures delicately. "You know what I am, yes?"

[anti_nonsense]

Rita's already digging into her second sandwich when the question gets turned around on her. "An angel..." That's what she was told, anyway. But with this being Rita's first time meeting one, she doesn't know what to expect. "Are angels strong?" Strong enough to defend against fae? Rita's own magic is considerably powerful, but she doubts she could handle that.

[promnibusanctis]

"I am both a warrior and a guardian," Helen said with a smile and a slight nod. "That means I am very strong. I have fought many battles against demons and even more for the Sanctuary. I will do what I must to protect any who seek my help."

[anti_nonsense]

A guardian angel, watching out for her... Even with Rita's limited knowledge of fiction, it sounds like something from a silly fairytale. A nonsense fantasy.

Rita doesn't give any direct indication that she's been convinced... but she reaches for another sandwich, wordlessly. It seems she doesn't have any follow-up questions, meaning that Helen's answer has assuaged her concerns. At the very least, it doesn't sound like she'll hand Rita over to the fae if they come looking for her. That's all that really matters right now. Maybe she can actually relax and enjoy this food...