⇨ The Tourist Trap: WEEK 2

[ringleaders]

Who: Anyone, anywhere in Portland.
When: October 7st - 14th, 2017
Where: Portland area, in the new reality.
What: The week begins as the time of the Animal Fair finally arrives! Meanwhile, the truth of this reality starts to be revealed, and forces both human and celestial alike attempt to take advantage of a rare opportunity.
Warnings: Individually marked!

BY ANY OTHER NAME↴ Tensions thicken as various supernaturally forces react to the events of the previous week. Something critical is afoot, and it's only a matter of time before things start coming to a head. It's time to find out more about what's happened to this world, and what will happen in its future. ► A NIGHT AT THE FAIR: From the night of the 7th to the morning of the 8th, the Animal Fair is officially in town. There is a top level down below with more information, though you can also RP content from this elsewhere if you wish. The host, who is very likely something called a Wyld Fae (if you discovered that ICly), will be present, but they will only be appearing to you of their own accord and attempting to track them down by force will be ineffective. Just kick back and relax! Fairs are supposed to be fun. ► THORNS IN YOUR SIDE: Culminating in a full fledged attack against the Sanctuary, it would seem that The Rose Queen is declaring war on the changeling population of Portland. Though the vicious attack of thorns against the safe house was eventually stopped, it wasn't without damage, and the black roses that caused it are still popping up around the city and threatening the places where homeless and lost changelings would be likely to congregate. It's obvious now that this is a serious threat - will it ever stop without an intervention? ► HELL ON EARTH: As Anath's march draws near, the first waves of her demons will be entering the city. Primarily acting as scouts and foot soldiers, these demons will be attempting to secure loyalty from the local demon populace, as well as taking out any angels they can manage to catch. It's a level of aggressiveness against heaven's forces that hasn't been seen for years, and it's a foreboding hint of things to come. These demons can be NPCed by anyone, and will mostly be thugs or manipulators who don't know much about Anath's plans but do know that you need to join their side. They are also rowdier than most of the demons in Portland, and are a threat to the innocent mortal populace as well, if they decide to try to get their kicks here. ► THE WIZARD POLICE: The Enlightenment Council seems to have demanded control of the local Circle chapter, and now backup has arrived. These mages are being sent out into the city as if they are a police force, and will be attempting to demand control of various common supernatural areas, as well as questioning community members that they run into. Whatever is going on, it seems to have resulted in the Council instituting what is essentially martial law... of course, not everyone sees any need to heed their demands. If you are a demon, warlock, or other rogue element, expect to be harassed or even attacked by them. These character can be NPCed, and if you need additional information you can ask the mods.

Comments

[small_reservations]

The shout is enough to stir Axel from his own slumber, the fire that's replaced his hair flaring up as he comes around. Who was... Rita, that's right. She must've broken in last night, though how she managed that he's not sure. The windows are barred, and the door was locked... But he'll worry about that later.

He blinks, still waking up, before answering her question. "Yeah... why?" It seems like such a small thing, where he was the day before... but then again, there was an attack. And if she really was there... If that glimpse he caught really was her... "Were you?"

Looking her over, he's pretty sure she was. She's almost as beat up as he is. What a mess.

Well, they have to get back to daily life. "You hungry? I've got cereal." Among other things, but with his hands like this, he doesn't want to do much more than cereal. Maybe with milk.

[anti_nonsense]

When the question gets turned around on her, Rita nods. "Guess that's two of us she didn't get." She doesn't know who else got out safely, but at least there's that.

"Cereal sounds good," she answers, rising to her feet. She rotates her ankles a bit and feels around at her legs. There are a few tender spots... but nothing too serious. Looks like she'll be fine. She makes her way over to a table and sits down at it. "Today's... the seventh, right?" Yesterday's events seem to have left her extra groggy and disoriented. Maybe those flowers were affecting her more than she realized.

[small_reservations]

"Seventh sounds about right." He's having a little trouble doing much, with his hands tied up like this, but manages to get up and move to the kitchen. Technically his arm should also be in a sling, but he's ignoring that particular direction right now. He's got shit to do, and ain't nobody got time to do it one-handed. "Why, you have plans?"

He finally manages to get down the cornflakes box from the top of the fridge (via it falling and him picking it up), and faces his next challenge: the bowls. Opening the cupboard's easy enough, but they're all stacked on the top shelf - he can't even ask Rita for help unless she's willing to pull up a chair.

Why did he organize his kitchen like this. Why. It makes no fucking sense, but he honestly can't remember what was going through his head at the time.

[anti_nonsense]

Rita glances away as she thinks about her answer. All things considered... there's probably no harm in telling him what she's up to. He doesn't strike her as the sort of guy who'd try to obstruct her. "The Animal Fair's tonight. You saw those suspicious posters around town, right? That thing. I'm supposed to be investigating it."

Her gaze wanders back to Axel, who seems to be having trouble. Looks like his injuries are worse than she thought. "Uh... you doing okay there?" she asks, one eyebrow raised.

[small_reservations]

"Oh right. I was spying there yesterday before..." Before he went to Foster's, then to the sanctuary with Ginko. Before the whole mess. "Whole thing's very suspicious. You're going?"

He's not sure that's a good idea, but Rita seems a stubborn girl. He's not about to argue with her, tell her that she shouldn't. Instead... "Can I tag along?" He's ignoring her question. Gotta be a good host. He finally manages to finagle out two bowls, holding them by his burned fingertips, and sets them on the table. "You want to get out milk?"

[anti_nonsense]

"You want to come?" Rita looks surprised, and perhaps a bit unsure, at first. "You sure? It's probably a trap, and you look like you've seen better days." The same goes for Rita, but Axel seems to have gotten it a little worse than her.

When asked to help, Rita doesn't say anything in acknowledgment, but she stands up, goes to the refrigerator, and gets the milk. As she does, she adds with a shrug, "Not that I'd mind having someone around to watch my back." With the way things have been lately, and how everything seems like it's only about to get worse, Rita could use an ally like him.

[small_reservations]

"Yeah, I'm sure. If someone new is muscling into Portland, the network deserves to know." He speaks as he pours cornflakes into each bowl, and tops them with milk. "There's fruit in the fridge if you want it."

He's stiff, he's sore, he's hurt, but he'll be damned before he leaves Rita behind again. The first time was bad enough for her. It'll never happen again.

"When did you want to go?" He needs to make plans, needs to actually work today, but he's probably going to have to close early again. At least he doesn't have to pay rent; he owns the shop and his home outright.

[anti_nonsense]

"I'd like to get there by sundown," Rita replies before shoving a spoonful of cereal into her mouth. That should be soon enough... If anything happens before then, the other Renegades will probably catch it.

Someone new in town, huh... Rita wonders how much Axel's found out. "Any idea who's running the show? All I've gathered is it's a fae, definitely a powerful one, and probably not connected with the Rose Queen."

[small_reservations]

He nods to her statement about sundown - that's reasonable - as he sits down to eat his cereal. With only three usable fingers on each hand, this is going to be an adventure.

"I'm not sure. I didn't get close, but the place reeked of fae. And she wasn't alone. Might have been other investigators, might've been lesser fae, but there was a lot of movement." He takes a bite of cornflakes.

"So, question is, given how obviously this is a trap or power play, why are we going in?"

[anti_nonsense]

"You're asking that now?" she asks, eyebrows raised. He already offered to come, so she didn't expect he'd take issue with the risk. Was he just worried about her safety? What a weird guy.

That reaction aside, she goes ahead and gives a proper answer. "I don't know if you knew, but... I'm with the Renegades." He might've seen her jacket. It's lying around here somewhere. "Our boss wanted us to investigate the fair, so... that's one reason." She shakes her head. "But it's not the only reason. With the Rose Queen attacking suddenly and some other fae making a move... There's something going on. Whatever it is, I want to know as much as possible. I can't just ignore it all and hope it won't affect me." It's too late for that, anyway.

"As for the risk..." She brings another spoonful of cereal to her mouth, almost casually. "I'd rather get hurt trying to do something, than stay safe doing nothing." Rita's spent far too much of her life laying low, running and hiding... She's had enough of that.