lostcarnival | ⇨ The Tourist Trap: WEEK 4

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⇨ The Tourist Trap: WEEK 4

Who: Anyone, anywhere in Portland.
When: October 22nd - 31st, 2017
Where: In Portland, for the last time.
What: The seasons change as the Winter Court seizes a surprise victory, claiming both the Tree of Life's pendant and the blood catalyst needed to take control of the Severing Ritual. Meanwhile, interdimensional problems are about to get more weird. Check out the conflict results for the attack on the Circle as well as the Beast's attack on the Summer Court here.
Warnings: Individually marked!

DAYS OF WINTER↴

As the end of October nears, so does the grasp of winter. On the night of the 22nd, it will freeze overnight, and the temperature will drop for the following days. As the night grow long, world-wide magic slowly reaches it apex, set to reach it on the night of Halloween. With so many factors at play, knowing what to do with that moment of power may be a challenge.

► FULL CIRCLE: The Angels succeed in their planned attack on the Circle, managing to get to the living quarters of the Council members with the help of Ashleigh Mischief. The plan goes without much resistance from the mages or from the demons attempting to claim the ritual object for their own. Of course, when the fae make a surprise attack on the Angels after they flee the scene, it has the surprise result of the Winter Court ended up with the pendant in their talons. Threads for this attack can be done in this log. If you need mod direction at all, let us know, but otherwise feel free to NPC demons, angels, or random Circle members as you require.

► THE QUEEN'S GARDEN: Realizing that the Rose Queen is distracted with attempting to claim the pendant, the Beast will summon her co-conspirators to raid the Queen's gardens. The ultimate plan seems to be to get the Beast far enough into the gardens to kill the Queen, while also rescuing as many changelings as possible along the way. As it turns out, this doesn't go well. While they do manage to penetrate the gardens with Childermass's help, the Rose Queen, Ignatius, and Nightshade happen to all be there. Seriously outnumbered, even by the Beast's terms, it will take everything the group has to just make it out alive, sustaining heavy injuries as they go. In the end they will manage to rescue Greg universe and four additional changelings that were imprisoned there, but any damage done to the Summer Court itself will be negligible. Threads for this can also be played out here!

► REFLECTIONS: As the ritual draws closer, the line between this reality and the one you came from will also be becoming less clear. Regaining memories is not required, but it will naturally become easier to occur, especially if you're already started receiving them. It's a good time to start making connections, while you still have the chance.

► THE SEVERING: One way or another, the Severing is going to make an impact on both this world and the lives of those trapped inside of it. The Angels are going to be making an attempt to interrupt the Winter Court's ritual, as will the Summer Court and Anath's forces. Whoever comes up on top will be the ones to decide what to be done with it. Yet, with news that the Severing continuing could cause irreversible damage to the planet's spirit, it could feel like there are no perfect options. There will be an event header put up for this by the mods closer to the end of July.

(NOTE: canon powers will returning while the ritual is in progress, so keep that in mind for planning - both sets of powers will be active.)

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Yuya's staring, mouth agape as Tamaki crosses the street. Not because the car just passed through him, no, that's expected of a ghost--but they're not even close to the dorms! And he's not possessing anybody! Just how did he get over here?

"Tamaki?!" Yuya doesn't move to meet up with him because Yuya would, in fact, be flattened by cars if he got in their way. So he waits for the ghost to make it to the sidewalk. "How'd you get here?"

Papyrus doesn't know the angel, doesn't know his circumstances or his story or even much of his personality. Hasn't actually even asked for a name, figuring it might be the sort of thing they don't give out. But damned if he's not struggling to see the difference from the person in those weird memories. The eyes and wings and all, that's a little different. But that... expression, tone, posture. He knows that.

"Uh. It's, I sure wasn't looking for it. That was some... past life, or something? We can't just go back to it, you were right about do-overs."

He rubs the back of his neck, uncomfortable. As much as he'd rather just say whatever make this guy happier... he has no idea what the angel wants to hear. So the gift of honesty will have to do.

"But, I want to be more like that. He... was a good person. Better than me," Papyrus glances back at the gash in the floor, and the memory of the lectures. "Even when he was grieving, he tried to be happy. All the worst things that skeleton guy did... he was trying to do something right. Whatever he thought that was."

"There was!" Strange can't help but grin at that, obviously relieved that Rita remembers something of the carnival. Hopefully she'll eventually remember some things he doesn't and fill in some of the blanks that he has.

Strange leans back in his chair slightly, looking over at Rita, watching her intently as if that'll somehow magically tell him what she knows. "I don't know that much about it, but I'm certain it exists."

Hmmmm...that makes even less sense... [he mutters, frowning at Yuuya.

However, the gaze moves to Yuugo.] If all of us were Japanese, there is a chance that you would have referred to me by surname. 'Gongenzaka Noboru' is my full name. ...As it is, [he shrugs,] We were from parallel dimensions, so we wouldn't have se-

[AH. He blinks, realizing he's apparently remembered another point.]

[DOCTOR DOCTOR, GIVE ME THE NEWS- | ZECORA]

[As the boys had slowly gathered more points between themselves, Gongenzaka had found himself remembering far more than he thought he should. He had mentioned this, of course-incidents of time marred by what seemed almost like a golden haze and the sensation of being immobilized entirely. But there was nothing to be done for it, save perhaps locating anyone he'd seen in his dreams.

Zecora was one, he had realized. The name was the most familiar part, but the human aspect was something he swore he'd seen at least once. In a white room, surrounded by relative nothingness...

So as they prepare for the final raid they will ever have, Gongenzaka moves into the Hospital one night and asks for the good doctor specifically.

...And waits.]

[And Now The Time For Farewells | Sanctuary]

[He doesn't think he'll be able to take much with him. Such is the nature of dimensional travel, he is certain, but if there is anything he has pledged to be able to bring it is this puppy. The puppy seems relatively dedicated to the idea as well, and as such now has a hidden place inside the front of his jacket, head occasionally peering out as he gathers a few things into a bag. A game or two, a book, certain supplies for Belle-who he suspects may be under the same condition as himself, occasionally, with how she acts.

The bag is almost packed. But for the moment, he needs a break. Gongenzaka moves out from the room, sunglasses firmly in place. It will still be a bit before they leave to track down the Winter Court after all, and-]

MNH! [And someone was around that corner, whoops-]

[In The Den of Holy | Team Angel, Pre-Winter Court Strike]

[He feels out of place. It happened before, of course. A vampire in the den of the holy more or less, but they were so busy getting ready for a fight he'd... ...Well they were still getting ready for a fight, really, so it was just the same.

Gongenzaka anxiously looked from Angelic guise to Angelic guise, his very nerves wondering how fast he'd melt on the spot if every one of them around him released their true forms now.

It's a stressful though, suffice to say. But for more familiar angels, maybe they'll see a familiar face in him as well.]

[Wildcard: Got some other idea? I'm open to plotting, so hit me with whatever!]

You should be my age. Actually, I think both of you are. [Not decades old vampires and angels.

He gives Yugo a long, contemplative look.] I... I know we're not strangers, but I don't remember talking much. [He does remember the splintered dimensions, because he crossed them for Yuzu.]

Yugo was from... synchro, and we were from standard. That's what they called it. [But who was they again? Think!]

...

[She looks over the card, but after a moment merely storms off toward the washroom.]

Fuck you, 'Hugo'!

[The door slams. And really, this isn't his fault. It's no one's, not really, but-

From behind the door, there is a muffled reply.]

...I'll help with your 'raid', and then it's over.

...It's not like you can actually leave until then... ...and we might as well make the most of it.

[What did that one song say, that you didn't know what you lost until it was gone?

It felt like that now.]

Her response was swift and almost knifelike, the way she half-turned to face Tallisibeth, two fingers pointed down at the ground but ready to be raised at a moment's notice.

"Whose side are you on?" she said, very quietly.

...What's the difference between them, other than...

[She pauses midthought, blinking weakly. Ahhh...] ...Duel Monsters..?

They've been chasing him for a while. Never as hard as they went after him the past two weeks, though.

They must be desperate enough not to care about being subtle.

These kids are probably around the same age as Miko, so it makes Lambert distinctly unhappy in a big-brother sort of way to think about what they could have learned how to do this kind of thing, but right now, it sure is coming in handy...

"Let's try the door first," he says firmly. "We don't want extra attention if we can help it." Which, someone trying to jimmy open an apartment window looks real suspicious. If only they could count on Strange having left a key on top of the doorframe or something...

Your show, Rita.

[Yugo doesn't remember any Japanese lessons in etiquette. And he's already been forgetting the angelic kind.]

Gongenzaka is too long. No nicknames or anything?

[Synchro, hm. That's familiar. Funny how easily stuff is coming back now.]

I was traveling through the dimensions because some asshole kidnapped Rin. He... [Wait a minute.] It's not just us two... there's four of us in all with the same face! Same with the girls!

JUST GONGENZAKA, [He warns, already feeling the dread of some sort of 'Gon-chan' coming up.

And woah. This is...quite a thing.] F-Four?! All of you with the same face then..?

...There has to be some sort of reason for that, though...

[Yuya snorts as Gon defends his name. But it's only a moment before he's pulled back down to the more serious topic.]

Yeah, there was one of us in each dimension. [He pulls his legs up, resting his heels on the edge of the chair as he rests his chin on his knees.] We're the same person. Or were?

[He's remembered that detail for a while, but actual saying it makes him uncomfortable. It's weird, even for all the weirdness around them otherwise.]

Yuzu and Rin had the same face too, didn't they?

[From here, Yugo just shrugs at the thought of coming from the same person.]

Definitely were connected in a really deep sense, at least.

[But ah, maybe talk of the girls will bring up other tidbits of interest.]

Yeah! And then the third is someone named Serena and.... [Uh.] I don't know who the fourth chick is.

Last I recall, Kurosaki had a sister who resembled Yuzu...considering he originated from XYZ...

Uh--[Yuya leans over, squinting at Yugo.] I'm being serious! We're parts of the same person!

[He slumps, apparently the only one concerned about that.] That's right, he came to our dimension with... Yuto to look for her. Yuzu met them first and it was really confusing. And then she disappeared when Academia attacked, and that's why we were crossing dimensions with the other Lancers!

[... Whoever they are.]

As Yuya speaks, Rita watches him with a look of growing confusion. Apparently, she's been out of loop in some areas.

But as soon as he mentions Axel, her expression changes to something not quite happy, and not quite sad. "Yeah... I found him." Absently, she folds her arms and presses them over her ribs, where a constant pain continues to nag at her. She hates what they did to him... and what happened as a result.

She considers saying more, but the words don't come to her right away, so she shakes her head to dismiss the topic. Besides, she has questions. "What was that about a pendant? And... the angels? I think I'm missing something."

Lambert will be supporting Team Angel, sharing all the information he's gathered with Pru and the rest (including the little bit of 'vision' Sora had, to give at least a rough insight into what the ritual looks like).

His sole interest in the proceedings is to grab hold of Childermass and drag him away from icy death and bloodletting, so he will not be going after the pendant at all and will straight up tell the angels so. Presumably, he's assuming that other members of Team Angel will attempt to take the pendant, so all he's really doing is unplugging one battery while they take care of the other.

He's unsure exactly what 'help' from the Earth Spirit is going to look like, since that's a really nebulous concept, so his plan revolves around what he, a totally normal human dude, can realistically do: meaning he's carrying yet another iron poker, focusing on getting inside to the ritual spot while alerting/engaging as few guards as possible, and ... figure out the rest as he goes along. Also, he's bringing like, antifreeze and ice melts because ??? ice is involved, and when you don't think you've got magic that's all you got.

Obviously, he gets his powers halfway back through this shit and god knows what else so best laid plans go down in flames etc.

Edited (edits this for the nth million time sorry for your inbox quix) 2017-07-27 20:07 (UTC)

"I walked."

That is, technically, true; he did indeed walk here, except for the occasional times when he floated. Tamaki seems to think that is a sufficient answer.

"I wasn't expecting to see you here, Yuu-chan."

As previously noted by others, Yugo is vital to Team Angel as their caster for the ritual.

He's also bringing in some extra help for the raid in the form of his chosen charge, Reina... who has the same magic as his angel powerset because she's a warlock through a separate contract with him.

Lambert's shout seems to answer any questions Rita had about the amount of control he's got over the situation. Rita stands for a moment, staring down the open maw of the bizarre creature, but as it lunges at her, her instincts kick in and she dives and rolls out of the way.

She seems to have a number of vague memories of fighting, both people and beasts, some as large as this one. They aren't clear enough to bring any specific details to mind, but trusting in those memories seems to be a good way to stay alive.

Once she's back on her feet, Rita holds out her arms, gathering flames in each hand. She then releases them, sending the pair of fireballs spiralling towards the vinebeast and bursting on impact. Her aim is low; she'll make some effort not to hit Lambert.

Still holding her palms out, Rita closes her eyes as she explores and analyzes the magic wards meant to keep them out. She's trying to focus, but she can hear what the others are saying.

"The wards cover the whole interior. They'll trigger no matter how we go in. Of course, that won't be a problem once I... hm?" There's a mixture of surprise and intrigue in her tone. "Never seen this type before... so he combined those techniques, and... huh. Pretty clever, for an idiot." She's talking to herself as she works at dispelling the wards, and eventually, undoing the lock. It probably sounds like she's enjoying herself, like she's solving a puzzle, piece by piece.

That continues for a few minutes, but then she falls silent for a bit... and stops.

Stepping back, Rita looks to the others with a smirk. "Go ahead. Try the door."

[Iuliael's not keeping to his human guise as well as he should. His clothes and hair are clearly fabriclike wings wrapped or held against a body also made of reshaped wings, shifting subtly and with any number of blue, blue eyes appearing and disappearing. At least the ones on his wings look like printed fabric, but he looks a bit of a resident of the uncanny valley. He's sort of illuminated, too, but that's pretty common in this gathering. At least there's not a big, visible halo.

Across the room he's looking at Gongezaka with confusion, humming something under his breath. Before too long he starts towards him, kind of flowing around people in his way. Many of the angels here aren't looking like normal humans right now anyway, so he doesn't stand out like this.

While the words are almost accusatory, his tone is more bewildered.]

Um. Hello. Aren't you a vampire?

[Zecora's arrival is not perfectly timely. The doctor finds herself harried of late, to her lack of surprise; something was in the air, and that always meant injury and grief to those she considered her particular wards.]

[Faintly frazzled and slightly mussed, the doctor finally pushes her way into the exam room, regarding the young vampire with a faint smile.]

Your recovery proceeds apace, I see.

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⇨ The Tourist Trap: WEEK 4

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