⇨ 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

[tacosgay]

"... uhm. It's me. Taako. Your roomie? We went over this?"

Shit. Shit. This isn't good.

"We got stuck together back at the carnival, if that was... a real thing that really happened, I guess." He's never doubted reality before, not really, but recent events have left him entirely unsure if he's actually experiencing all this, or is just having a series of increasingly wild dreams.

[squeedlyspooch]

People are coming and going all the time at Sanctuary, nonhumans in particular, but the thought of a roommate is somehow both disgusting and baffling to him at the same time, with an extra helping of creepy given the lack of familiarity that is going on. One of Zim's eyes twitch and he starts thinking, trying to think, really hard. Painfully hard.

"Carnival?? I don't even know what that is! Wait." Does he? No, that's stupid, why would Irk ever have something that sounds so stupid? But that also seems like a Perfectly Normal Human thing that he should know about - maybe he does - right? "Ehhhh...." He's gripping his head, circling around the whole definition of carnival without coming to some concrete conclusion, and he squeezes his eyes shut. This is looking more painful by the second, like he's straining or something, before his eyes snap open suddenly.

"What?? What happened?!"

[tacosgay]

"... uh. Don't blow something in there--"

And then something seems to hit Zim, and Taako can't help but feel a leap in his stomach--

"... got something?"

Oh, gods, please let him have something he can remember. Taako needs some kind of information here, or he might just go nuts.

[squeedlyspooch]

"No, but you do!" Maybe, he's kind of guessing here, but he doesn't have much else to go off of so he might as well plunge headfirst into the first idea that comes to him. He lunges to the very edge of the dumpster, waving his wrench threateningly. "And you will tell ZIM EVERYTHING! ALL OF IT! THIS IS ALL WRONG, SOMEHOW!"

[tacosgay]

He wants to cast something to chill Zim out, to make him easier to deal with, but his Umbra Staff is missing, and he can't seem to access his magic at all. There is something there, an energy in its place, but it's different, hot and dark, and Taako hasn't tried tapping into it yet, as it seems... too harsh for this. He can feel that it's all abilities that are very different from his usual.

Instead, he frowns deeply, rolling his eyes.

"Stop fucking screaming, or you're gonna get into trouble!" And then he sighs, running fingers over his messy hair to try and focus, regain his composure. "Look, all I remember is that we were at the carnival, I was trying to get some shuteye while you did... god knows what, and then we were just... here. My body is all wrong, I've never seen this place before, and somebody took all my shit."

He takes a breath.

"Do you have any idea where we are?"

[squeedlyspooch]

Zim freezes, his eyes widening as he glances around tensely. 'Trouble' seems to be an effective keyword here, or his yelling has had dire consequences in the past. Either way he's realizing that an entirely public place is really not the best place for a loud conversation about his paranoia between two supernatural creatures. He is, however, still pointing his wrench at Taako.

Also of note is the fact that he isn't the only one having body and location issues, so that's encouraging.

"Some kind of filthy city that hasn't been properly invaded and conquered yet." He lifts his free hand up, wiggling his fingers as he tries to sort out his memories. This is simultaneously a planet he's never heard of before, and a city he's lived in for a while. "Disgusting... repulsive... full of huuuumans?"

From the sound of that he's not even sure human is the right word, though he doesn't dwell on it. "This conversation needs to continue in a more secure location! Who knows what could be spying on me right now! Come on!"

And then he dives back into the dumpster, which is kind of weird, but the reason for that quickly becomes apparent as he hoists a flatbed scanner out of it and falls very unceremoniously onto the ground. Thankfully his squishy body softens the scanner's impact, and he pops up a moment later to start heading down the street.

[tacosgay]

"... shit."

It's all Taako can muster as he realizes this fucking chump is his only lead so far. He shuffles after him, his hands in his pockets, thinking.

If Zim is here, then there's a very real possibility that this is some kind of interdimensional problem related to the carnival. That means that there may be other, less insane and useless people he knows from there-- people who may be able to explain what the hell is going on.

Taako makes sure to keep an eye on everyone they pass, to make sure he doesn't miss anything that could offer some kind of information.

[squeedlyspooch]

The closest place that is at least semi-secure that Zim can work out is one of the city's many libraries. That isn't ideal, Sanctuary would probably be better, but he's impatient and needs to get whatever he can get sorted out as soon as possible. So off they go, to one of the few buildings still open, the apathetic librarian at the front desk just rolling his eyes when he sees Zim coming in with more junk. Apparently he's a regular because he isn't getting tossed out immediately, though with his tendency to yell who knows how long this will last.

Zim takes Taking to another floor, one with very few people milling about, over to one of the tables in the very corner. There he drops the scanner down and doesn't bother to sit. Taking a deep breath he's obviously about to start screaming, but a fleeting memory of the building rules has him twitching and taking great pains to keep his voice down. "Tell me what you know!"

[tacosgay]

Okay. This is going to be an enormous headache, Taako can tell already. He slumps into one of the seats at the table, almost forgetting his new wings for a moment; he adjusts how he's sitting to allow for them, growling to himself in frustration.

"Okay, listen." He huffs. "All I know is that I woke up this morning in the wrong place, with my body like... this, which is also wrong, just by the way, and I don't remember how I got here or when I got here. I was just kind of... here. The last thing I remember was being in my trailer at the carnival, which is where I guess I'm supposed to be right now."

[squeedlyspooch]

"I knew it! I KNEW all of this feels wrong! Zim is right, as always!" Or he's found someone else who is as crazy as he is, but that would be admitting he has a problem and god forbid that ever happens. No, the fact that someone else knows who he is and thinks something is wrong with everything is more than enough for him.

"I should be conquering this horrible dirt planet, not just living on it!" He adds, starting to pace in circles. "Either this is some kind of disgusting alternate dimension, or time and space was manipulated and this world is acting as a prison. Whatever is causing all of this is affecting my memory drive, probably so I can't enact some amazingly brilliant vengeance...."

Yes, he's rambling.

[tacosgay]

Taako is quiet, for once, trying to block Zim's sharp voice out as he tries to think; the Carnival is, itself, a pocket dimension. Meaning that it's entirely possible the Ringmaster has just... manipulated it somehow. It's not out of the question that she may have just gotten bored and decided on a change of scenery for both herself and the people working for her... but something like that would take a huge amount of power.

Finally, the uneven peaks of Zim's voice poke enough of a hole through his thoughts that his chin snaps up.

"Hey, sorry, but I'm totally not listening to you, like, at all right now, could you be quiet for a second so I can think?"

[squeedlyspooch]

"Why don't YOU be silent??" He jabs back, stopping his pacing momentarily. Not being listened to is less of an issue that being told to shut up, which is not something he does easily. If at all. "My thoughts are the important ones here! Whatever your inferior brainmeats can manage to come up with are nowhere near as good as... my...."

He slowly trails off as something occurs to him, and he stares up at Taako as if realizing something. Which he does. Something super important.

"Hey," he says. "Haven't I seen you on tv before?"

[tacosgay]

"Well, yeah, I mean--" And then Taako stops short, eyes wide. "... wait, hold on, do you mean for real? Like, a real TV?"

[squeedlyspooch]

"Of course I mean real TV! There is only one kind of TV!" Zim has exclaims, flailing his arms. "You were some kind of horrible food service drone! It was awful! You were doing disgusting things with MEAT!"

[tacosgay]

As it slowly sinks in-- that Taako has lived his actual dream here-- one question still rises in his mind. He voices it cautiously, after a moment's consideration: "Hey, is my show still... like, on the air? Am I still making it and everything?"

[squeedlyspooch]

"YOU DOUBT ZIM??" He snaps automatically in response, then pauses. "Wait, why wouldn't it be off the air?"

If he's remembering correctly, that horrible show is popular. Really, really popular. There's usually someone watching it once a day, and Taako's face is fairly common on the home magazines the library carries. Now that he's really thinking about this (why he hasn't before is beyond him), it kind of seems like Taako is approaching the same celebrity-esque status of the Tallest.

[tacosgay]

"No, I mean, like..." He sighs, trying to think of how to word it. "Did something, like... happen, or is it good?"

[squeedlyspooch]

Zim scoffs, growing more suspicious. "It's so good these hairy monkeys practically WORSHIP you!" Why would anyone, let alone the celebrity himself, think otherwise? "Are they not supposed to? Is this some kind of masterful plan to rule the Earth??"

[tacosgay]

The realization washes over Taako all at once-- and, suddenly, an incredible degree of selfishness strikes. This is a world in which he is an actual TV star, on TV, and the poisoning hasn't happened. It's like facing the chalice all over again, but a thousand times more intoxicating because he's already here and can see it all around.

"Hoo boy," he murmurs, sinking into his chair, threading fingers through his curls. "Uh... oh, geez. Listen... Zap? Is that your name?"

[squeedlyspooch]

This time, instead of the flailing, Zim hops onto the table to he can yell directly into Taako's face. "ZIM! My name is ZIM! Get it right!!"

[tacosgay]

Taako reaches up and plants his hand flat across Zim's face.

"Okay, Zip, fine, but I'm gonna have to ask you to back way, way up out of my face right now, okay?"

[squeedlyspooch]

Gross. Very gross. Zim makes some inhuman hissing noises, reaching up to claw a bit at the air, before smacking Taako's hand away and backing off.

"ZIM! Not ZIP! Get my SUPERIOR name right already!"

[tacosgay]

"Okay, how's 'stay the hell away from me or I'll set you on fire' suit you, then? Because I'm pretty sure that's a thing I can do now, and I won't fuckin' hesitate, my friend." Still, as rough as his words are, he's got more important things to worry about than how rude this little bug thing is being right now. "Listen, I've gotta go pick up some magazines on myself, why don't you go dig in some more trash cans or scream at people or whatever it is you do when you're not screaming at me for a little while and I'll get back to you?"

He doesn't wait for a response; he's on his feet before he finishes speaking, heading to the front of the library to see if he can find any information on the life he supposedly had before he woke up as... himself... this morning.

[squeedlyspooch]

This is quite possibly the rudest person he's come across so far, excluding himself. Being set on fire in a public place would be more than a little attention-grabbing, but he can't exactly let this guy just walk away when he clearly has important information Zim hasn't managed to siphon away yet.

"HEY! We weren't finished!" He yells after Taako, hopping off the table to follow after him, abandoning the broken scanner. This is more important than having more equipment he can take apart and put back together and besides, scanners are easy enough to come by. Weird nonhuman things with knowledge of why his brain is more messed up than usual? Infinitely more valuable.

"How is any of that important?? Don't you have those memories?!"

[tacosgay]

"Nope," Taako answers bluntly, picking a magazine up off the shelf. It's definitely his handsome face written across the page-- though it's paired with a name he's never heard before. Who the hell is Justin McElroy? Is that a name he's been using in this world? He flips through the article; sure enough, that name does seem to be referring to him.

The good news, he learns, is that he's still every bit as charming and hilarious in this universe as he's always been, so there's that. The interviewer asks him the usual shallow celebrity questions: what inspires you? Who were you wearing at this event? But then he asks a question that stops Taako for a moment-- she asks him about the rumors of his affair with a man named Axel.

Axel... if Zim is here, could that Axel also be here? His answer in the magazine is, of course, irritatingly vague and cagey, as is his nature; he huffs a laugh at himself, annoying though it is for his attempts to gather information.