lostcarnival | ⇨ The Tourist Trap: WEEK 2

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⇨ The Tourist Trap: WEEK 2

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.

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"He does work a lot," Rin admits. He was a fairly serious man who took his job very seriously! "He said he was gonna be late tonight, though..."

The young half-demon digs out a large fork and a knife from one of the drawers and starts slicing the roast, then serves his mother, then himself.

"I meant... weirder than usual," Rin says, taking a seat with his food. "You know my friend Sora from school, right? The precog human? He's been having strange dreams and weird, unclear visions. Everything just seems..." he trails off, gesturing with his hands, "... Off."

While Rin and Blue both had jobs, and Blue only technically, it was Shiro that did the heavy lifting in the income department. Taking time off from work to go on vacation MIGHT lead to a pinch somewhere later. "I wait up for him most nights, I don't mind waiting today as well."

That discussion was one she wasn't looking forward to. Her husband could be incredibly stubborn, and may choose to dig his heels in rather than take the easy route. In fact.. her son might too.

"There's been a lot of rumors of various supernaturals getting restless lately," she admits slowly. "And some of them seem to be converging at very inconvenient times."

Reading through the lines: this is why Blue wants to get the Hell out and take her family with her.

Rin did get that from his father -- he could be incredibly stubborn and unwilling to compromise.

"I guess it might not be a bad idea to get out of here... but.. I don't know. I don't want to leave behind my friends if something is really going to go down."

As if by magic, but in fact just attracted by the smell of cooked meat, Rin's familiars zip into the room. Kuro takes a seat at the table, like a People, and the strange demonic dragonfly Nosh alights on his shoulder, squeaking at his steak.

"Later," he chides gently.

Pets at the table are reasonable when they're fairly intelligent too. So long as a mess wasn't made, Blue didn't mind. As soon as something got tipped or spilled, however...

She might be a demon but she did require at least a measure of neatness. "It might not hurt to pass on a warning, then. Suggest heavily that they too take vacations, and if someone can't afford a sudden trip to visit a dying aunt in Ohio, perhaps we can loan a little money."

A little, meaning she didn't really have any interest in helping at all, and was only bothering to make the offer because of Rin.

Oh, they both knew better than to piss off Blue. After all, Kuro had been summoned by her himself! ... Nosh had come from one of Rin's attempts. Which was why she was a bit... more off-kilter. But she was a fine familiar all the same.

Rin cuts off a piece of the meat for Kuro and sets it before him, then takes another piece and holds it up to his head. Nosh's seemingly mouth-less head opens up like a flower, or a Predator's mouth, and eats the meat in one bite.

"... How big is this, Mom?" he says, poking at his food and looking worried. "How... how far do they need to go?"

For all that Rin looked like a full-blooded demon, his heart was as human as could be -- soft, empathetic. His dad loved it about him.

She sits down only carefully, mindful of feathers and wings. Even the best made furniture could get in the way if she wasn't at least a little cautious. Food was to be had, arrangements were to be made.

Decisions on how much to explain..

Well. In for a penny. "It's possible there won't be much of a side effect for the normal population at all. After all the news isn't full of stories of everything down the coast burning." As far as she knew.

Blue hasn't checked today. "But for the rest of us.. mm. Well, I was asked for my promise of loyalty today. I gave it of course. If they believe the word of a demon they deserve what they get."

Normal populations... Well, Rin did have plenty of friends who were in no way linked to the supernatural. But most of his closest friends... they were part of their little community, in one way or another. Be they haunted by ghosts or watched over by angels or employed by demons... So it was them that Rin worried most for.

"Loyalty?" Rin says, taking another bite of meat. "Loyalty to what? Who are 'they'?"

He knows she's being dodgy to protect him... but what harm could come from him knowing?

(Plenty, because he would certainly go out and try and stop it!)

She knows the men in her life. Which might be why she regards her son steadily for several long moments, unblinking. They were stubborn to a fault and both of them did tend distressingly towards Do Gooding when given the right opportunity.

"Assorted hellish sorts."

No, she knows her boy way too well and if Shiro gets into it.. "I expect the angels will all get off their useless porcelain bottoms and actually do something for once, it's just not wise to be caught in the middle of all that nonsense. So we're going to Hawaii."

Or Portugal.

Rin meets her gaze, equally unblinking. The three of them were a family that communicated with staring contests.

Whose will will break first.

But then those eyes go wide. "Hell aligned demons?" Rin says, now REALLY worried. "What do they even want?" Rin sighs and rests his snout on the table, frowning and looking quite pathetic. "I just don't see why they can't just get over the Severing and live in peace, like we do..."

With any luck though, the angels would do their job!

"... I should definitely warn Sora, though. He has a guardian angel named Joker, so they might target him!"

Blue gestures dismissively with one hand. "It doesn't matter. It's not like we can get back to Hell anyway, be it for reinforcements or to worry about anyone of real power. That doesn't mean the equivalent of a riot isn't something you don't get out of the way of."

She knows what's coming and that it isn't just an idle riot. That's WHY she's getting out of the way, otherwise she'd make sure anything that touched her home and family bled for it.

"It's hard for a lot of demons to accept being anything but the top of the food chain. For a lot of us it feels like powerlessness. Some will do just about anything to try to get some of that back. I had you and your father to make sure I never felt that way. For me, some things are more important." But not for others.

Mention of Sora isn't unfamiliar, but that he has an angel is, and one indigo eyebrow rises. "..." Actually that could work if she wanted to come back to a home not burnt to the ground. "That couldn't hurt."

Which is why Rin remains suspicious. Mom wouldn't normally be so worried about a bunch of disorganized demons causing trouble. It has to be something bigger. But she's clearly not gonna tell him... he'll just have to work from what he suspects.

"I guess I understand that. But they just have to get over it. Things are different. For everyone!" Rin huffs, puffing a little smoke through his nostrils, before finishing up his meal. "I'll make sure to tell him tomorrow, then... and see if he'll take notes for me if he DOES decide to stay."

Blue finally sets to work on her dinner, she might have to 'reheat' it a little at this point but she wasn't going to put off forever. "And better here. No overlords to kowtow to, no worries about being stuck there and not being able to return to earth.. Hell is unbearably dull."

For demons. It's not too fun or too dull for mortals.

But she did agree. Things were different now. It was better to make the best of the changes, find a niche, and exploit it for all a demon's worth. This building an army thing was just going to agitate all the wrong people. "You could.. mm, no I suppose a surveillance camera would have to be on the house and I doubt anything interesting's going to happen here. Maybe your boss will let you set one up over there, then you can watch it when we return home."

"I think earth probably has a lot more different stuff to see, too! Like... I doubt you can go to a beach in Hell.... maybe in heaven though. I think they have everything there."

Or, they did anyway. Angels seemed to be much more bummed about being trapped than demons.

"A surveillance camera? Like, to take notes? Dude..." Rin leans back in his chair, thinking. "I dunno. I'm more worried about missing exams. But... I'm sure we can figure something out."

"Exams aren't for a while yet. I don't think we'll be gone that long." Or so she thinks, she's not actually sure what Rin's schedule is. But school won't stop anything!

Honestly the only thing that might hadn't come home yet, and Blue knew she wasn't going to be able to get away with vague replies with her husband. At least he had people to contact who could get in the way of such a pending invasion, the trick was keeping HIM from being involved.. "Heaven's mostly sitting around singing about how great God is supposed to be," she muses after a moment, studying her bit of meat before eating it. "Never trust someone who claims to be all powerful and then needs everyone to tell them about how powerful they are all the time, and how grateful everyone is. It's a scam."

Hell was preferable though if she had to pick she was staying RIGHT HERE on Earth. "Hell has beaches," is added after a long thoughtful pause. "By the lake of fire."

"Well, I already had my big mid term.. so hopefully that'll be enough until finals? The prof likes to spring little shitty pop quizzes, but whatever."

Kuro happily helps himself to his own food while Rin pulls Nosh into his lap, stroking her antennae.

As for the former priest that was the deciding factor in all of this... Rin didn't expect him to agree. It would be expensive. Plus, he would just try and fight whatever came at them head on! Only cowards ran away. Or something like that.

"Lakes of... fire?! That part is real?" He thought that was just made up to scare mortals, honestly.

And cowards also survived. Dead lions are useless to anything but scavengers, better to be a live dog. "I'll handle your schooling."

Which is to say she's not going to. After all of this blows over, how much of the current infrastructure will remain intact and unchanged? It was going to be a fight, she was certain of it, but her family had to come first. Once things settled down, everything would be fine, and they could return to their lives. "Many of the stories are real to a point," she says, amused. "Not a lot of standing around with pitchforks, but the general layout.."

Blue shakes her head. "Maybe one day you'll see it for yourself." Going to hell isnt' a good option for most people, but for a half-demon? "I can show you where I used to stay if someone else hasn't taken it."

An elegant palace of smooth stone and shining lights, peaceful and serene, with obedient and prompt gems waiting on her every whim. None of this having to make things herself nonsens--

"Well, if you say so, mom."

Now craving something sweet, Rin goes into the pantry and takes out a box of cookies. He sits back at the table and helps himself, offering one to Nosh as well. Rin just has no idea how much this might actually upset the balance of life here in Portland... after the demons come and wreak havoc, there might not be anything left of the Portland they know. Blue knows. But she probably doesn't want to scare the bejesus out of her son.

"Ha! A vacation to hell? Now that would be something else. Great place to visit, wouldn't wanna live there type thing," Rin says with a laugh, putting another cookie in his mouth. "You know, I heard once that Hell is also called 'Gehenna', and it's like a mirror to our world. Is that true?"

Blue doesn't want to give Rin any excuse to dig his heels in and 'try to save his friends'. If the threat is downplayed a bit then it's a vacation and nobody's the wiser until it's far, far too late. She watches him quietly as he helps himself to cookies and feeds his pet as well, working on sealing that into her memory. This house might not remain once they're gone.

But she wanted to remember it. This place had given her so much more than hell ever had. A husband she wouldn't trade for anything, and a son that was his father's spitting image in personality and not quite the demon she'd hoped he'd become. That ... was alright. Maybe it really was alright. Would she want to protect him so much if he'd been a proper monster, as willful and violent and deceptive as demons often got?

Instead she had a human boy in scales and claws and feathers.

God may have created the universe, but she made this.

"Hell has many names." She refocuses easily, nothing more than briefly ruffled feathers to show for it. "Sheol, the Abyss, Hades, Pandemonium.. Gehenna's one of them. Every culture seems to have a different name for it. I wouldn't call it a mirror though, there's no Hell New Jersey." She waves her fork dismissively. "There's much more variety on earth though. And while you'd probably be alright passing through it, your father's stuck here for the time being, let's not leave him behind."

Not in this lifetime.

Rin had never known anything else. He didn't know how much he meant to his mom, to his dad. How important he was. How important this all was. Unique, fulfilling, and real. But how could he? His whole life had been peaceful like this. He had no reason to believe that he might one day have to say goodbye to it all.

"Haha! Cause New Jersey is already hell on earth," he says with a grin. He's never been there. He doesn't want to go there. It seems like a place that would smell. "Oh right, yeah. Well... maybe it could just be me and you. He could go skiing in the Alps or something. He loves that."

"I'll definitely make it up to him when we return, one way or another." It's an excuse for gross parent public displays of affection and if she can make someone squirm in the process then that was just icing!

Children tended to not know how much they were valued.. Not until they had their own, and suddenly so much that was annoying as a child or teen clicked into place. Blue didn't quite grasp that herself yet, she didn't have a whole lot of human friends to discuss this stuff with.

It was easier to think about than the pending arrival of a demon army. "...Though. Rin. I do want you to try to get a bit more rest for a little before we go, alright? You look so exhausted lately. If work's keeping you up too much when you have classes in the morning, maybe your schedule can be rearanged."

Maybe it was something else causing it.

Human friends! His mom, with human friends. And a human husband, for that matter. Such things would have been inconceivable without the Severing stranding demons and the like. Maybe it was a good thing, in a way. Maybe the worlds needed that catalyst to integrate better later on.

Rin frowns as she comments on his tired-looking appearance. "It's... not really my schedule. I'm just not sleeping well, lately," he taps a claw on the table, unsure if he should tell her about all the weird stuff he'd been seeing in his dreams... and how those dreams had started to become intrusive thoughts, even during the daylight hours.

"Hm." That sounded like more than what she'd expect from usual habits. Teenagers kept weird hours, but just being unable to sleep well.. "Notice anything unusual about any of it? Maybe something's bothering you."

Maybe she can help. She's not sure, but it could just be something as simple as needing a new mattress..

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⇨ The Tourist Trap: WEEK 2

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