⇨ The Tourist Trap: WEEK 1

[ringleaders]

Who: Anyone, anywhere in Portland.
When: October 1st - 7th, 2017
Where: Portland area, in the new reality.
What: Memories begin returning to the displaced as the fall gets chillier. How the hell did we end up here, again? Also, apparently, the fair is in town.
Warnings: Individually marked!

PORTLAND BY NIGHT↴ Memory regains will come into effect at the beginning of October, to whatever degree you've decided upon, and may be regained at whatever pace you desire from then on. For those with their full carnival memories, it will be like waking up in the body of someone else - for those with half and half, it will be like rapidly recalling sets of memories from a totally different life. Those with full amnesia will simply feel as if this is how it's always been. Unfortunately for you, memories aren't the only thing you have to deal with. The supernatural community of Portland is bustling all of a sudden - could your presence and these events somehow be related? ► THE OUTER CIRCLE: As of the start of the month, the Portland Circle of Enlightenment will find itself starting to get swarmed with members from other chapters. Most notably, it would seem that a small cabal of top mages from the North American Enlightenment Council will be making their home in Portland's HQ. For anyone but the highest of ranks, the purpose behind their visit will be unclear, but it seems like something is definitely up on a metaphysical level. The Circle will be buzzing with rumours of unique planar activity and threatening omens. It seems that it all started with an unusual flare of activity in the planetary ley-lines, starting approximately a week ago. However, even if you would usually be the type to keep tabs on such things, you will find that you oddly have no memory of observing this phenomenon yourself. ► THE ANIMAL FAIR: Good news, the fair is in town! Or, at least, it would be good news... if this was a regular fair. Instead, what's being observed is a bunch of nearly identical flyers, spread all around Portland - each of which bears only the words "THE ANIMAL FAIR", a seemingly bloody paw-print of unknown origin, and the directions to a vague forested location outside of the city. It's dated for October 7th, and all instances of its posting having been discovered with a scattering of rose petals, crow feathers, and pre-burnt matches laying on the ground around them. Most are taking this to be some kind of bizarre viral marketing campaign, but others may know better. ► THE EARTH SPIRIT: If you have connections to The Pack or any of its many variations, you'll probably hear whispers of something very odd that occurred last week - according to the elders, it sounds as if the Earth Spirit, the magical and spiritual center of the planet, has suddenly taken a wound. It's not clear why or how, but there is a fair bit of concern among spiritual types, as it is werebeast belief and nebulous magical fact that the magical forces within the earth are the source of all magic here, as well as the source of life. While many werebeasts claim to have felt the Spirit succumb, you strangely have no memory of such an event occurring. Though things do feel strange, if you know how to tap into the Spirit yourself. ► THE WAR CRY: Though Anath's rain of terror across North America lasted for the first fifteen years or so of the Severing, most independent demons have had enough time to start taking the arch-demon's relative inactivity for granted. For that first while, the warrior queen had seemed determine to rebuild an army on earth by forcing her scattered brethren into service - only for her to gradually settle down in a fortress somewhere in Texas and dig in her heels. Of course, this was too good to last - it sounds as if she and her demonic legion have begun tearing their way up the west coast, their goals remaining a mystery. Their destination, however, is almost certainly Portland.

Comments

Tamaki | university grounds | ota

[puddingemote]

When the residents of his dorm room go to class, it's pretty boring staying in the dorm, so Tamaki comes outside to wander around a bit. He can't go too far way from the dorm building (his soul seems to have become tethered to it somehow), but at least he isn't stuck inside like some ghosts are.

If the weather is drizzly or grey, he's leaned up against the wall of the dorm, watching people walk by. If it's sunny, he stands under the tree and does much the same. If someone can see ghosts, they would see him in a t-shirt and sweat pants despite the October air, somewhat emaciated but not doing anything particularly ghosty.

Unless someone walks by him with food. Then he haunts, sneaking up behind the person-

and thwap! Whatever food they had is now on the ground. Tamaki laughs to himself as the person looks around in surprise. Sometimes being a ghost is fun.

[steadydollypegs]

...great.

Doll looks down at the mess on the ground and sighs heavily. Of course, the one time she manages to scrape together enough for something warm, she trips. She never trips, how on earth did this happen?

She crouches down and starts collecting her fries back into the cardboard boat-- still good-- but the ketchup is a lost cause. She carefully cleans up what she can off the sidewalk and tosses it before continuing on her way, eating the fries like they weren't just knocked clean out of her hands.

[puddingemote]

Tamaki is a bit surprised when the girl actually picks up the fries and tries to keep eating them. The only reason he can think of for that is that she's poor, and at some point, he probably would have felt bad in that case. But years of being dead, and years of being hungry, have warped him.

Why should she get to eat when he doesn't?

He floats now, charging straight through her body. Though he can't touch her directly, she'll feel a sudden cold spot - perhaps cold enough to chill her fries.

[steadydollypegs]

Doll feels it all right, and she shudders violently as the rush of cold surrounds her and snuffs out the warmth in her food. The sudden nature of it causes her to stop breathing for a moment, and she looks around warily.

Before everything happened, before Mister Knotley and the ritual and all of that, Doll didn't think ghosts existed. But after everything, after becoming sensitive to the presence of souls, she knows better. Her abilities are barely a dram of what Knotley's are, but she can feel a soul when it's right on top of her. She hugs her fries to her and stops walking.

"Please stop," she says to herself-- or whoever might be listening. "I'm just passing by, I don't even go to school here, I just wanted something to eat."

[puddingemote]

Tamaki turns to stare at her, a little surprised. He doesn't think she can see him, but she seems to know he's there now. That's interesting enough to him; maybe he should try to get her to stick around for a little while.

He reaches out, ghosting his hands along her shoulders. He's trying to push her back, towards the tree he sometimes stands under. If she keeps trying to move away, he'll keep chasing her.

[steadydollypegs]

God! That's cold as all get out! Doll shudders at the icy sensation, feeling like a frozen scarf was just draped across her shoulders. The overwhelming sensation of a soul is even more pronounced the colder she feels, and leads her to believe that someone or something is messing with her. Or trying to get her attention in a very persistent manner.

Well, where does she have to be, really? Might as well wander around like an idiot and mutter to herself-- who was she trying to be fancy for?

"Alright, alright--" Doll says, turning around. "I'm listening. ...hope you are too, but I'm alright looking a fool. Already a joke, after all," she sighs heavily and starts walking back the way she came, slowly. "Tap my shoulder if I need t'turn, yeah?"

It's a little slow going, but eventually she's steered to the tree. Doll looks around, frowning a little. "What's here?"

[puddingemote]

Tamaki is triumphant that he managed to guide her to the tree, but he realizes once he arrives that he didn't really think further than this. It's a little embarrassing to realize that. He has to come up with something, soon.

Really, he just wants her to stick around for awhile, but it's hard to have a conversation with someone who can't hear, see, or really feel you. He wants to ask her what she means about already being a joke, and tell her that yes, he is listening, but there are no easy ways to do that.

He does have... one option at his disposal, but he uses it so rarely he's not sure it will work. It's worth a try, though.

Concentrating on the tree, he moves his fingers, tracing out a message that appears in frost on the bark.

Just me.

It stays for only a few seconds before it fades away again, and Tamaki gasps, recoiling away. Ghosts can't get fatigued, but this is a level of haunting that is beyond his power to really keep up for long, and it makes him feel strange.

[steadydollypegs]

Doll's eyes nearly bug out of her head when she sees the message on the tree. Frost, like the cold feeling she's felt on her shoulders and fries. An actual ghost, probably. And it's brought her here, to this tree. To... what? Talk?

Well. It had knocked her food down and then shuffled her over to this tree. Clearly the ghost wanted her attention, but if not to find something here...

"I'll just, have a seat then," she says awkwardly, sitting down against the tree with her legs out in front of her. "Um. Never conversed with a spirit b'fore. Never even done a Ouija-board thing," she says with a nervous laugh. But it gives her an idea.

"Y'can move things, though. Y'knocked these clean outta my hands after all, so maybe..." Doll strips out of one of her jackets-- she's got another on underneath, maybe two-- and lays it out on the ground. Then she puts two of the fries down on it.

"Alright, it's not a board, but we c'n make do. Yes--" she points to one of the fries. "--and no. That work?"

[puddingemote]

Oh! It's like a game! This excites Tamaki, and he twirls around, though she can't see. For someone who didn't seem excited at all to have him around before, she certainly is cooperative now.

He sits down cross-legged in front of her, wiggling the "yes" fry back and forth on the coat with a finger. He doesn't really have to touch it (or pretend to) to manipulate it, but doing that makes the whole exchange feel more normal.

(There's something strangely familiar about trying to make this girl understand him through unconventional means, but he doesn't understand where that feeling comes from, so doesn't give it a lot of thought.)

Even if she can only ask yes or no questions, it's more than they had a moment ago.

[stillwinningthehardway]

Tallisibeth has been on a bench alternating scribbling furiously in a notebook and staring at what she's written. She's trying to piece together plot-related things, but doesn't know enough yet. After the third student walking past with something edible stumbles and drops it, she looks up, frowning.

There's a pair of spelled glasses in one of her pockets. She doesn't wear them all the time because they start giving her a headache after a while. Putting them on she soon spots the skinny teen and just watches for a while.

[puddingemote]

Oblivious to the woman watching, Tamaki continues people-watching. When another student comes by holding a granola bar, Tamaki is quick to knock it out of his hands. He snickers as the student cries out at the sudden loss of his snack. It's like it's all just a joke to him.

Finally, he turns, and notices Tallisibeth watching him. For a moment, he tilts his head, not sure if she can actually see him at all, but when he realizes she's not looking through him, he shrugs.

"Got a problem?"

going with this being their first meeting, let me know if this works

[whattaprick]

Normally, Lambert minds his own business. He's seen the guy out on the grounds a few times before in passing, maybe even spoken to him in a 'hey, can you get out of my way' sense, usually while he's nose-deep in a book. He assumes he's one of the students, but he doesn't really know who he is or what the hell he's about. Today, though, he also happens to be walking and trying to cram a sandwich into his mouth while reading something on his phone.

There's a twinge in his stomach, something that instinctively makes him take a sidestep and turn -- just in time to avoid getting his food knocked to the ground, and for him to realize that was a close call. Once the immediate surprise is over, it takes no time at all for him to scowl.

"Hey! What the hell is your problem?!" He certainly seems to be feeling the chill of the October air. In fact, he might be a wee bit overdressed for the weather, already wearing a jacket that might be more suitable to winter than fall.

it works great!

[puddingemote]

How had he missed that one? The guy hadn't even been paying attention!

Scowling over his failure, it takes Tamaki a moment to realize that this guy can actually see him, and more than that, he's actually confronting him. Tamaki attempts to draw himself up to his full height, which is about six feet tall, and folds his arms.

"It's just a prank. Don't get so upset."

[whattaprick]

Lambert doesn't seem too intimidated by their difference in height. If he wasn't holding food, he'd be folding his arms as well, just to make himself look bigger.

"I'm not upset, I'm annoyed," like that makes any difference. "A prank's supposed to be funny, at least. This is just harassment." He gesticulates with the hand holding the sandwich. "What do you even get out of it, huh?"

[puddingemote]

A few seconds satisfaction and then the return of emptiness, honestly, but Tamaki lacks the self-awareness to admit that.

"I thought it was funny." He shrugs, like that's all that matters. "You can keep your dumb sandwich."

[whattaprick]

"It's the principle of the thing, you asshole," Lambert bites back, gesticulating with his sandwich. "How would you like it if someone--"

The thing about attempting to shove someone in the shoulder is that it usually goes over a lot better when they are, say, actually solid. As it is, when Lambert pushes out and puts his weight behind it, he nearly overbalances, because there isn't anything there.

It does also mean that his hand is now halfway through Tamaki's shoulder. Which he'll stare at, blankly, before delivering an eloquent:

"Oh for fuck's sake."

[puddingemote]

Tamaki watches this misguided attempt to shove him with some amusement, bursting into laughter at Lambert's exclamation. It's pretty hilarious when people don't realize he's dead.

Still laughing, he twirls around Lambert, feet no longer touching the ground. Once he's back to being face-to-face with the man, he grins.

"That was a good one."

[whattaprick]

If Lambert was going to start developing supernatural abilities, of all things, why couldn't it be useful ones? Instead, what he gets for his pain is his fingers suddenly feeling cold as hell -- which is why he'll snatch them back quickly to himself, glaring at Tamaki as he floats around.

"You're a ghost," he says, flatly. Obviously. A few passing students warily eye the guy talking to thin air while scowling and clutching a sandwich, but Lambert ignores them, focusing on pushing up his glasses so he can briefly close his eyes and press his fingers against them like that might helpfully turn his utterly useless spirit vision off.

Did it work? Haha, no of course it fucking didn't, because he looks up and the ghost is still here. Terrific. Moving to Portland has been the stupidest decision of his whole life.

[pipers_son]

He leaves for a little while, and this is what he comes back to. Really now.

"Yer hauntin' a college dorm," he says, landing invisible not that far off after Tamaki's latest prank, "and ya could be doin' just about anythin', but instead yer here harassin' already harassed students. Bloody hell."

[puddingemote]

Tamaki was just laughing to himself over the muffin he had just knocked out of some kid's hand when Joker speaks, and he spins to look at the angel in irritation. Why does this guy have to come bug him now? It's not like he's Joker's charge.

"Why does it matter to you?" he grumbles, stuffing his hands in his pockets and floating away from Joker.

[pipers_son]

Well, he can float away if he likes. As he's been saying for ages now, Joker isn't here to take care of him or anything. All the angel does is flop onto the grass under the tree Tamaki was hanging around out, hands folding behind his head.

"It doesn't," he says simply. "I just don't see the point in it. Ya got all the time in the world and it's doin' things like that."

[puddingemote]

Tamaki would like to float away in a huff, but if Joker is going to keep talking to him, he ends up staying near. He's going to keep looking irritable about it, though.

"What else am I supposed to do with it?" He shrugs. "Can't eat, can't sleep. Most living people don't even know I'm here."

[pipers_son]

"Learn magic?" he suggests, in a tone where it's debatable how serious he is. "Hell- just learn in general. Feels like a loss ta me if yer gonna be hauntin' a school and not do any learnin'. If ya got eternity, might as well use it that way."

[puddingemote]

Tamaki looks confused at the suggestion that he learn magic (how could he even do so? he was just a normal human before he died, after all), but at the suggestion that he learn in general, he narrows his eyes. Ghostly energy knocks some dead leaves off the tree behind him, causing them to rain down.

"Are you makin' fun of me!?" he snaps, folding his arms.

[pipers_son]

For the love of- teenagers. Sighing, Joker bats away the leaves so that they don't get into his face or, more importantly, his mouth. How that's mocking, he'll never know.

"If I wanted ta make fun of ya, trust me, I could choose a lot worse things," he grumbles. "It'd be less borin', wouldn't it?"