lostcarnival | ⇨ The Tourist Trap: WEEK 3

Entry tags:

⇨ The Tourist Trap: WEEK 3

Who: Anyone, anywhere in Portland.
When: October 15st - 22th, 2017
Where: Still in Portland
What: As all sides of the struggle gradually become informed, and the awareness of outsiders begins to spread, Portland faces a critical question - what should be done with them? And who gets to decide?
Warnings: Individually marked!

THE WOLVES AMONG US↴

► WHEN SEPTEMBER ENDS: It's fairly common knowledge that October is a special month - Halloween has always been an excitable time in the supernatural community, because its during this month that the magical energies of Earth seem to disproportionately swell in power. This peeks on the 31st, and has every year for as long as anyone can remember. The holiday of Halloween is a byproduct of this, because the magical phenomenon has gone on for ages past. It's also a pretty common time for wizards to attempt bullshit shenanigans, and also when the Severing first came into effect.

► TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL: Towards the end of the week, Prudence Jaeger will be asking her angelic contacts for a pretty huge favour - she wants them to help her and some of her associates break into the Circle stronghold that the visiting Council members are staying at. It seems that they have some kind of macguffin item that will be needed to crack the barrier cutting off the Earth from the cosmos - and, to that end, allow the angels and mysterious outsiders to return to wherever they call home.

► THE PATH TO HELL: Perhaps unsurprisingly, Team Heaven isn't the only group to clue into the fact that the Circle has what they need. On the same night that the angels go in, so will Anath's army, as the arch demon finally arrives in the city just in time to join the party. Whether the angels and demons fight each other all the way or cooperate to achieve a mutual goal is up to them.

► WITH GOOD INTENTIONS: The Circle and Torchlight aren't all bad, okay? It's entirely possible that they are just acting in the best interest of humanity - unfortunately, that has resulted in them being pretty massive pricks recently, and now the payback for that is arriving on their doorstep. If you're a member of the Circle, you may or may not realize that anything is coming in time for you to prepare. (That will depend on your threads up to the end of the week.) However, once the fight starts, you'll be charge with defending the Councillors whether you like it or not, and Torchlight is getting pulled in as an unexpected ally to ensure their safety as well. Are you going to heed their call? Or is it time to split from the pack?

► BLOOD OF ICE AND FIRE: It's been made no secret that the Rose Queen isn't the only fae trying to pull back her lost changelings - now the Winter Court appears to be doing it, as well. More than a handful of changelings have gone missing over the last couple weeks, lost to both the thorns and agents of the Count. Whatever they're doing, it's also in competition with each other - Winter and Summer will be biting at each other's heels far more than normal, to the degree that it becomes clear they must have some competing objective in mind. Unfortunately for everyone else, that objective happens to conflict with the desires of just about everyone else. Fae are, by nature, opportunists.

- ✪ -
These are the major conflicts that will be coming to a head towards the end of Week 3. In the meantime, your actions will decide how certain elements are set up, and what the likelihood of success is for each group.

Dice rolling handily won the opinion poll where we asked for the preferred method of conflict resolution, so that will be coming into effect a bit later on to determine who actually wins and loses, with advantages based on the choices made.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

"That was before I knew the Circle cast the Severing in the first place! I refuse to be part of such a close-minded organization that seals off entire realms just because they think they're dangerous."

But they are dangerous. The entire realm of faerie's dangerous, the fae themselves are dangerous, Strange knows that, and yet he meddles with this magic anyway. He's still uncomfortably in Lambert's personal space but it looks like it's not bothering Strange. He jabs a finger into Lambert's chest, still complaining all the while.

"Besides, you should be thankful I've done this," he hisses, glaring at the other man. "Every scrap of information I've given you in the past month has been through my research or was given to me by the fae. Where the hell would you be now if it wasn't for me?!"

That gets Strange a scoff, and a roll of his eyes. Where would he be? He can answer that easily enough--

"Not here yelling at an asskisser who's in it for his ego, that's for sure. They are dangerous! After everything you've seen, everything you know, you still think that isn't true?" Lambert asks, voice rich with disbelief. He's being a total hypocrite here because he certainly isn't exhibiting any sort of self-protection regarding the fae, but he also isn't making any deals with them.

"Assuming they aren't just fucking you over, what would you even use that power for?" He snorts. "Breaking the Severing, then what? Bringing your wife back? I don't think there's enough magic in the world for that one."

Edited 2017-07-25 20:47 (UTC)

"Oh, you already know," Yuya's shoulders drop a bit, as unimpressed with Strange's decision as Lambert is. He doesn't need to try and keep it a secret, then. "They were trying to get the pendant, the relic that's supposed to break the spell? The angels had it but... the Winter Court flew off with it."

Literally. But at least it's not in the hands of the Summer Court? "He said the spell needs a catalyst too, so I don't know if they can actually do anything with it."

After making sure Sora is settled and comfortable, Joker gives his best reassuring smile and squeezes his charge's shoulder. It's the most he can do right now. Hopefully his exhaustion doesn't get in the way too much.

"She won't judge," he promises. "So no worries, alright?"

"Leave Arabella out of this!" Strange snaps. It's an unintentional mistake, one that'll confuse Strange if called out. He's only got the vaguest idea who Arabella is to begin with and yet somehow it's the first name that pops to his head when Lambert mentions his wife.

As for Lambert's question, though, Strange pauses for a moment before he continues. He's running on instinct and arguing and pure 'why not'. Lambert's not going to understand this. There's not a romantic bone in the man's body. But Strange can at least try to make him see why he's doing what he does.

"If you must know, I'd use it to explore. Magic is...too big, too wild for it to stay in the confines the Circle wants it to. I know the form of the spell--the English magician, the one from my memories, he could simply push through the mirrors and find himself in a different realm entirely."

The way Strange talks about magic, it's like he's talking about a primal force. He's in awe of it and loves it at the same time. However, a noticeable tone of jealousy creeps into his voice, when he admits, "I just can't do the magic like he can."

Well, you negated my compliment after all..!! [she counters, quieting at Rin's question.

A carnival... ...she feels like she should, but all the same the woman frowns. It is odder to hear it from someone she swears she spotted while in more demonic presences (or maybe her memories are confusing themselves, and she's just thinking of a time where she met Rin 'Before'), but it at least makes it easier to think over instead of just plain denying it.]

...I...

...I don't even know, at this point...

[Does she know? Not really. Remember? A bit, a lot, scattered in pieces and fragmented by confusion and hurt. She doesn't shout her words exactly, but the pain does come through when she speaks.] Well...don't you..!?

[A stupid question with what he literally just said, but-] ...How do any of us do something if we can't even tell what's wrong...

Something the Circle has that was used to make the barrier.

They take it, and using a catalyst-not a sacrifice, a catalyst, so someone more like them-and reverse the magic.

[Or. Something she's not entirely sure how all of this goes down.]

My visions have been... weird, lately.

[He looks around to bit to check that they're actually alone. Not that it really matters much.]

They've been like... memories, kind of? But they're not my memories. Except that they are?

[Sora that's a terrible explanation.]

Anyway, I saw you in them.

[...Sora. Buddy.] ...That doesn't make any sense at all...

Are you saying you have dreams about me or something..!? We don't even know each other..! [...She. Thinks.]

Sora yelps at the explosion, nearly falling out of his chair in surprise. The air in the room has suddenly become so cold that it feels like the dead of winter, and the sudden change makes him feel like he's just been dumped into a bucket of ice water.

At Lambert's yell, his sudden paralyzing shock is broken, and he quickly scrambles out of his chair and away from the creeping blizzard that seems to be taking over the other side of the room. However, he makes no move to leave.

"But, what about you guys?" Sora asks shakily. He's scared, yes, but he can't just leave these two to the mercy of whatever it is that's attacking them.

Sora nods slowly at Joker's reassurances, but it takes a moment before he can make himself speak. He opens and closes his mouth a few times, almost starting before changing his mind, and then finally decides on a way to begin.

"So, um, I'm a seer, right?" he begins, and he still doesn't quite like the taste of that word in his mouth. "But, um, my visions have been weird lately. I've been seeing, like, memories and stuff. And everything's more... intense. The visions have been worse, and sometimes it feels like... like... they're bleeding into real life. Everything feels so... fuzzy."

No, they're not dreams! They're...

[Actually he doesn't even have a word for what they're supposed to be.]

...Visions! I know what I saw, and I know it's weird, but it's true!

I'm... okay. [Listen Sora is also super good at faking being okay. They're faking each other out.]

Still getting weird visions, but I'm okay.

What've you been up to?

[As though they're both pretending that the city isn't basically going to hell in a handbasket around them.]

With the vines gone, he's free to relax entirely, shoulders slouching some. Childermass rarely shows it, but it is a tiring discussion to have, especially when it ends with him endangering a child yet again. He should just leave, abandon Steven with out telling him where the way into the gardens will be, and hope against hope he doesn't try to break back in on his own.

Only, he can't help but include to himself, resigned even in his own thoughts, that's exactly what he would do, isn't it? If it were Childermass's own mother, well, he would leave her there to rot. Greg isn't anything like her, though, Summer Court dealings aside. Losing someone who actually cares...

"Very well," he says this time, even if he doesn't sound at all enthusiastic about it. "You may want to get some practice in with your vines before, though. You're going to need all the help you can get."

There are about a hundred scathing things Childermass could say about Jonathan Strange and his "potential". Thankfully, what he asks next is out of left field enough that it derails any rudeness for the moment. Instead, he'll settle on giving Strange yet another 'are you crazy' look (the answer is yes, but for good measure) before saying—

"Of course I have," which isn't what he actually meant to say, but now that he is? The rest spills out as if it should all be obvious. "Proper England, none of that southern nonsense like London."

Because suddenly London seems like a terrible place and even the name itself is said with such disdain, though he can't even recall visiting it. He pauses after saying all that, brow furrowing in confusion and his gaze darting away from the mage, off to a corner as he thinks. When did he... ever...?

Sora may make no move to leave, but with the ice advancing to quickly, he'll soon find Childermass moving to help him along regardless. It may involve seizing him by the shirt and dragging him along as he makes a run for the door, assuming he manages to at all.

"We'll figure it out as we go. Everyone out! Before it freezes the door solid!"

While Childermass goes for Sora, Lambert bolts for the door, tugging and holding it open for both of them to dart through -- though yeah, hopefully they move fast. Because not only is the ice heading for the door, but it's also underfoot, seeking to make the two stumble with jagged protrusions that blossom from the carpet.

The ice on the wall begins to ripple, bulging like something's about to burst through.

Strange just laughs, a short little unhinged laugh of triumph over anything mean or spiteful. He knew it! This would make things so much easier if Childermass had the same memory problems and it turns out that (slightly) he does!

"That is the reason why I've been doing all this. Because I'm simultaneously from Portland and from Shropshire and I'm simultaneously part of a large magical organization or one of a handful of magical practitioners period. I want to find out why."

Which still explains nothing. But, based on how smug and triumphant Strange seems, it's an explanation that makes sense in his mind. All of his actions have been to help explain the memory problem, to learn more about the other Jonathan Strange and, most importantly, learn precisely what he could do.

The whole experience is more than a little bewildering, because there's so much to take in. Since when is he 'Lam-san'? Why is Tamaki suddenly throwing things around? More to the point, can ghosts cry, because Tamaki sure looks like he's crying.

"Settle down!" he says sharply as the scratching post bangs against the floor, stepping forward until he's as close to toe to toe with Tamaki as he risks getting. The possession was a one-time thing, and he's pretty sure he can't do it again unless Lambert was willing, but...

"You're not making any sense. What's dying?" He looks around at the cats with arched backs and puffed-out tails staying well away from the ghost, like he half expects to see one of the fuzzballs wobbling on its last legs ready to pass away.

[It does come through, loud and clear, and it only worsens his own panic. Susan didn't remember this world and couldn't accept. There was no way he would be happy growing up in this kind of environment. Worse, even though Lauren was Susan's only family, according to the rules of this world he wasn't actually Susan's legal guardian. Susan running away and Lauren taking him in, it wasn't wrong, but it was illegal. If they ended up staying here, if they couldn't figure out how to fix this... He didn't even want to consider the consequences.]

[He puts a hand to his forehead, trying to stay calm though he's really anything but.]

I don't know.

[But he had to do something, or else... Or else.]

Help me, please. I don't know who else to ask.

Edited 2017-07-26 02:01 (UTC)

It's strange, riding like a passenger in his own body. Lambert isn't completely dissociated, but though he has awareness of sensation, he has no part in the conscious will to dictate his body's movements. When Tamaki speaks up, it's a surprise, but after a few moments and trying to figure out how to do this without just ejecting Tamaki out of him, he wrests control of his mouth back long enough to respond.

"Demons usually are." Okay, not as easy as it looks, even if it's his own body -- he and Tamaki just can't seem to occupy the same space that well. However, as they pass more blocks, the demons eventually fall out of sight. They have bigger fish to fry than one tasty soul snack, after all...

Once they're at the cafe, one of Lambert's coworkers greets him with a wave, although with a touch of surprise. He wasn't really supposed to come in today. Mentally, Lambert nudges Tamaki to a seat by the window -- at least he'll have a good view of any trouble coming their way.

"The Winter Court?" That isn't relaxing news to Lambert at all. If anything, it immediately makes him stiffen, and for some reason glance up at the sky, as though he's expecting something to descend from above any minute. They've certainly proven stealthy enough in the past.

At any rate, leaving the angel business aside, apparently Yuya really does know more about this than Lambert does.

"Humans put the Severing in place to keep this world from being invaded by the fae from Arcadia," Lambert says in a rush, reaching up to pinch the bridge of his nose. "If they're the ones holding on to that, we're -- probably fucked."

Not the greatest attitude to take into an almost-certainly dangerous infiltration attempt of the Rose Queen's domain, but oh well.

"Invaded by... Arcadia?" The Fae realm, he assumes. He says it slowly, his eyes widening in an expression of horror more aware than he should be about the idea of an invasion. He barely registers that these are fairies they're talking about, as his head is weighed down with the thought of something else that crossed reams to conquer.

He grips his head with a groan before quickly trying to shake off the thought. Now was not the time to get distracted with those memories. "No there--there has to be something we can still do! I can't believe that Miss Pru will give up that easily."

He looks back up at Lambert, hesitant. "But if that's what the severing is for... it's gonna be bad if it's broken, isn't it?"

[ Okay, he may not be a mage, but... ]

Sounds risky. It's a big spell -- wouldn't that require a ritual, or something?

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 33 of 40

⇨ The Tourist Trap: WEEK 3

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject