⇨ 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

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

That... was odd.

"Are you here for treatment?" she inquired gently, leaning on the door a little as she pondered what on earth this was about.

[betheman]

It takes a moment to pull himself from his thoughts-for some reason it feels like he expected her to say...more?

But no. He coughs, before scratching his head. "Ah-no, not at all..!" he hurriedly insists, a slight accent touching his words. Asian, perhaps..? "...I'm just..." ...Well. He gives an awkward cough. "...I can't find the right entrance," he whispers, trying his best not to say anything those in the waiting room can hear. "I'm from biohazard disposal..."

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

Oh. Good heavens. Zecora motioned him back, a faintly quizzical expression on her face as she tried to figure out just how this turn of events had come about.

[otoko]

Thank you, thank you-

He keeps quiet until they're well out of range of pretty much everyone, sighing. "Apologies, madam," he breathes, sounding just a touch antiquated for his looks. "Most of the others take the truck entrance, but I don't drive...so I have to find my own way to wherever they're loading up."

Another sigh, and he holds his head. Somehow, he is still wearing sunglasses. "Thank you for this." The. Guiding he means. Obviously.

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

"You... walk with the material?" That didn't sound like standard biohazard disposal practice to her. There was a great deal here that wasn't making sense.

To that extent, Zecora took a slight detour through her back office -- the better to pass by her desk, where she glanced down at a small little trinket she'd picked up a while back, one that glowed in the presence of the supernatural.

[betheman]

"HMMM!?" Woah woah, let's not get ahead of ourselves-

"N-NO!! Absolutely not!! I, merely help loading the truck, and unloading it..!!" he hurriedly explains, shaking his head so rapidly the glasses threaten to fall. He soon readjusts them, coughing.

"No...it's just that I was closer to the hospital than I was our work building... ...when that happens, I'm expected to just meet them here for the assignment..."

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

"Oh, I see," she said, slowing down slightly to check the crystal. "That seems a little unfair of them, I must say, but who am I to judge?"

[otoko]

"W-Well..." ...He stops himself, frowning. Actually no, it's...pretty unfair if they aren't aware of how fast he could properly run. He's left in a bit of silence as that sinks in.

"..............hmn." Hmn is right.

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

Yes, something was definitely fishy here. "Unless of course," she continued quite casually, "you don't have a problem with it for... whatever reason."

[otoko]

Would that be the reason? They couldn't have noticed that, he quickly determines, shaking his head. "Hmmm... ...It does take time, but I suppose it's good for me to take a walk when I can... ...it definitely helps me to get to know the city more..."

He is doing his VERY BEST to keep a lid on the Actual Reason here.

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

"Well, there are always advantages. Just be certain you're taking care of yourself, hmm? When was the last time you had a physical?" Of course a doctor would wonder that, especially in her own office.

[betheman]

"Ahhh...O-Of course!" he hurriedly replies. ...Last physical though.

Y ikes well, hmm. "...A while..." Best he gets for a physical is a look over from Sherlock, honestly, and that's because they're Both dead.

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

"Perhaps you should make an appointment." She offered him a sly, sidelong smile as she made her way to the back door. "I am fairly experienced in dealing with patients that are a little other than human..."

[otoko]

"Ah, I suppose I c-" ANnnnnnnd that caught him. He sputters a bit, shaking his head.

"P-Pardon me?!"

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

"Patient confidentiality." She lifted a hand as if to swear on it; it was a principle she took quite seriously. "In all things."

[betheman]

"Nh-! Th-That isn't what I was asking..!!"

He's a bit too stubborn to cave at this point, so it might be best to just lay the evidence bare on the floor until he can't deny it, Zecora.

He doesn't exactly LOOK alive, after all (not to mention he ain't hiding the points on those ears).

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

Zecora held a hand to her mouth, the better to mute her smile. "But it's what I promise. You don't think I've figured it out, at this point? Come now, you can speak freely to me."

[otoko]

"Mnnnhhhhh..." He's. Quite torn. Quite visibly torn, and it's rather like watching a child more than anything (IS this a child??).

"...If I may then-I must ask what it is you think I am, if not 'human'..." THERE, COMPROMISE.

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

"Mmm, something that makes my little detector glow," she said, scooping it up to bounce it in her palm gently. "If I guess and I'm wrong, well, you might grow so angry you rip me apart. So I try to avoid that."

[otoko]

....

"...You have a detector..?" Awwww geeze he didn't even know those sorts of things existe-hey wait.

"............What does it detect..?" Also he's not going to rip anything apart that's rude.

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

"The supernatural, of course. Many patients don't volunteer the information, but how can I properly treat them without knowing that?" Or catch them, as she might have just done.

[otoko]

"Auh- N-no, I mean..."

He frowns. "...Supernatural... ...is a rather wide range of things, is it not..? At the very least...it could describe a human being with magic capabilities, or even an angel..." Things He Only Now Knows, thanks Sanctuary-

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

"It very much could, yes. But when I say I know of all these things, patients often find themselves much more willing to relax and divulge what I truly need to know to treat them," Zecora said with a gentle smile.

[otoko]

Now he's just being REALLY, REALLY stubborn and-

"....I should probably get to work..." he mutters, face flushing slightly with whatever blood is still in his system. "...They can't start until I get there..."

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

"Perhaps so," Zecora said, unwilling to force him if he didn't wish to be forced. "Though I hope you won't stay away too long, if you need something someday."