⇨ 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

[otoko]

[It's fortunate that Gongenzaka thought to tell Yuuya ahead of time that he wouldn't be working this evening-Gongenzaka himself hasn't had too many concerns regarding Yuuya beyond the obvious. Something seems familiar, somehow-like they've met BEFORE but...well, the most he can think is that perhaps they ran into each other a year or so ago, and simply didn't introduce themselves. It makes sense, after all...

...He seemed younger in those 'thoughts'.

The buzzer rings, and Yuuya is allowed into the apartment complex-and soon enough he hears the knock on the door, prompting Belle to start yipping, and Gongenzaka to go answer it. With the sun down, the curtains are open-for now. They'll be firmly closed around 4AM regardless of if he plans on turning in for the day or not, just to be safe.

The apartment itself has the lights on, thank goodness. It's rather clean, if not a bit simple.] Ah...Hello!

[He's not quite used to this whole...Visitors thing.]

[hippocarnival]

Hey! [Yuya pulls a smile back up on his face once he faces Gongenzaka. He can dwell on those feelings later--right now, he has a promise to a friend to fulfill.

He waves the books up in the air.] You're in luck! The Sanctuary had a few books that might help. One of them was even written by a vampire!

[He just had to wrestle thorny vines for them, but that's fine.]

[otoko]

Hmmm??

[Gongenzaka stares at the books for a moment, but before saying anything about them (written BY a vampire!?! Woah!), he steps aside to allow the other in. It's a rather simple apartment-one bedroom, and yes he sleeps!!! But it's a simple apartment with a relatively tiny kitchen and dining area, and the brunt of the place formed by the living area he's filled with things from 'over the years'.] Aaah...I appreciate this, truly... ...do you want to come in though, before I take those..?

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya nods and walks in, looking around. It's definitely nothing as nice as Bob's house... but he kind of likes how cozy it is.

Yuya hands Gon the books before going to make himself comfortable on one of the chairs.] So this is your place? You have a lot of stuff!

[otoko]

Ahhh...yeah, I've lived a while, so... [The door is shut, and he moves to sit down himself, various knick knacks staring back at them.] ...Come to think, most of these are probably antiques now...

[hippocarnival]

That's cool. [He leans over to get a better look.] Can you tell me about some of them?

[otoko]

Ahhh... [He pauses. Come to think... ...so many of these things are merely blurring in his mind, as if he's not even sure where they came from. He stares over the objects on the shelf, until finally what he picks out is what looks a bit like a little doll, porcelain pieces threaded together.] ...This. ...This is a 'karakuri'; it's a small robot, you could say...

It's from before I left Japan, many years ago. [That much feels natural. It is, after all, as he describes it. A relatively old automaton, from that region...]

[hippocarnival]

You're from Japan? [Well, that makes enough sense. Yuya could tell his name was Japanese, like his. But he'd always lived in the United States all his life. Mostly Portland.

... Right?

Yuya reaches for the doll to distract himself from that thought.] Do you like robots?

[otoko]

Hmm, I am. It is where I was [Turned? Somehow he isn't entirely certain that's the answer, but-] Born, [Is the word he eventually uses, though to the attention of both, there would apparently be no pause.]

Hmmm..I wouldn't say I like robots necessarily, though... [And why does he feel like he keeps saying that wrong??] ...This was more valuable when I first got it, however. And considered very 'advanced'..! It delivers a tea cup across a table!

[hippocarnival]

That's still pretty cool. [He wouldn't say no to having funny looking robots deliver things around the house for him, if his telekinesis wasn't more convenient and, frankly, even cooler.

Once he figures out how to get it to work around walls.

He turns the bot over in his hands before setting it on the table.] That was a really long time ago, right? When did you move to Portland?

[They're fairly innocent questions, but... he might also be needling for an answer why he feels like he knows Gongenzaka. Maybe they met when he was very young?]

[otoko]

I'm glad you think so..! ...it was unheard of at the time... [he finds himself muttering, as though unsure of why that was. It becomes worse when he tries to think of...when DID he move here? He finds himself blinking through confusion at the thought, trying to determine it in his mind.

The more he thinks however, the more he comes up with nothing.] ...It was quite a long time ago, [He finally says-that must be why he can't remember, after all.] Only a few years after I was turned, I would say.

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya lets out a low whistle.] That's forever ago.

[He lends back in the chair and looks up at Gon, considering how to phrase himself.] I kind of feel like we've met before... I could have seen you when I was just a little kid, right?

[otoko]

Ahh...is that so? [He sort of feels the same...but he's assumed he just met some distant relative or similar, actually. Still.] Mmmm...I suppose, but...

...That would mean you were out quite late at night...

[hippocarnival]

Maybe I was? [He looks down, furrowing his brow. The problem with that is he mostly remembers Gon in broad daylight, looking a lot more alive and somethings less... human. But he could reason the later as just a dream.

But it doesn't explain the other memories.] I'm probably wrong, I just thought I knew you from somewhere.

[otoko]

Hmmnn... ...I...

[It feels like, somehow, his statements are hollow whenever he starts with that. He isn't sure why, but something feels Missing.] ...I seem to be leaving that impression, as of late. ...I almost wonder if my family left descendants around that I resemble..! [he laughs.]

[hippocarnival]

If your descendants moved to Portland too? [It's not a small city by any means, but its sad to think he may have family here he never sees because of his condition.

Yuya leans back against the chair. Gon doesn't seem to recognize Yuya the way he does, so... He must be wrong about those memories.]

Did your family know what happened to you?

[otoko]

[He immediately shakes his head. Somehow, he is absolutely certain that his family had (has??) no idea.] Aah.

...My family... ...by the time I was aware of myself here, there was no returning to them.

[hippocarnival]

So you just disappeared? [He pulls off the chair suddenly.] Didn't you have anyone? They probably missed you!

[What an awful thought, being isolated from his family, from everyone... it's surprising he didn't crack.]

[otoko]

Hmnnnn... ...The fact is, between when I was turned and when I had my thoughts to myself, I couldn't tell how much time had passed, so...

[He frowns.] Travel back then was quite different too. I was in a place I couldn't even recognize by that point.

[hippocarnival]

Yeah, but... [Yuya can't even imagine just losing his family like that. Being a vampire sucks.]

Is it better now?

[otoko]

Mhn?

You mean...Travel? Or...

[hippocarnival]

No, you! [He gestures.] You were turned into a vampire and left all alone! You couldn't even see your family again! It doesn't bother you?

[otoko]

AH...

[........................ ...For some reason, it doesn't. It honestly doesn't, and yet he can't properly identify why. One would think it should-even after years, it should, yet...]

...Truthfully... ...Having only been 14 at the time, I can't really remember them either... [Well, that's not the reason, but it's his best GUESS at the reason.

also what 14-]

[hippocarnival]

[14, oddly, doesn't surprise him as much as not really remembering them well. Fires turning into a vampire mess up your memories, too?]

No way! I haven't seen my parents since I was five and I... I remember them.

[Well, that's not totally true. He remembers pieces of them, and pieces of someone else. But he knows what it's like to miss a parent.]

[betheman]

...You are also, I presume, neither 180, nor afflicted by some form of mental manipulation.

[SAY THAT TEN TIMES FAST-]