⇨ The Tourist Trap: WEEK 4

[ringleaders]

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.)

Comments

[hippocarnival]

Yuya sighs. Well, he'd have to ask Pru then, after they've had a moment to recover. He has more faith in the angels than Strange does.

The sight of the blood makes him frown, though. What a mess. "I guess the circle isn't going to let you stay and recover." Now that he's betrayed them. "Is your house nearby or do you need emergency care?"

Worst comes to worse, he can convince the housemaid to look the other way while he brings a bleeding, scruffy man home. He probably shouldn't take Strange to the Sanctuary.

[bananaspeedrider]

You and me both.

[Because clearly it's only the angels that have the wellbeing of the entire world in mind. And then surely they'd defend the humans if demons or Fae tried to pull anything.]

We need to find where they're doing the ritual, I know that. And then there's storming the place...!

[.... Don't expect too much out of him.]

[bananaspeedrider]

[Ridiculous. As expected of his bestial form, Yugo snarls before rising back up even past his injuries and through the wild flames. He needs to win, so what better way to stop her than more brute force?

Adrenaline is the answer to everything, assuming that applies to an angel. With the metaphorical speed of light behind his crystalline wings, Yugo flies forward with another punch charged with blinding holy light.]

[insidescoop]

[Fists are met with pillars of fire-with Carly heaving and wobbling on her legs in the aftermath, but blocking the fist all the same. At this point she can't even care about what's going on. She just wants this over...done...

...

...she wants to go home and feel like it's actually that.]

[betheman]

Aah, it would seem court fae are more than likely going to stick to a monopoly on such a thing...

[That aside. He raises a brow at Yuugo, blinking.] ...Wherever it is, it would belong to the opposing faerie, would it not? The... 'Winter' court, you said? [he asks Yuuya, before moving on.]

More than that, what do we do once we have made it inside..?

[hippocarnival]

[He nods.] It was the Winter Court. They took someone when we were escaping the Rose Queen's lair, I guess he was their catalyst...? Mr. Strange said it was a person.

We definitely have to find them and stop them. I... want to speak to Miss Pru again.

[He wants more information. He's worried about failing again. They can't afford it, and... if there's anyone he can ask to defend this world...]

The severing was supposed to stop the Summer Court from invading and taking over this world. If the Winter Court is the same, it's dangerous... but the spell is also hurting the earth spirit, so it can't stay.

[bananaspeedrider]

Um.. But it's not like...! Um... she's...! Er... well..!

[Maybe Reina should ask how old her apparent boyfriend really is. With how he's sounding more and more like a flustered and confused teenager by the nanosecond.]

Rin and I aren't together! Let alone kissed or went out on walks and dates like we have!

[Not that he hasn't imagined it. How did Reina find the patience to suffer through this again...?]

This was easier before all his... real versus fake memory stuff started...!

[Still doesn't directly answer the question about his feelings for Rin, but maybe love is too strong a word all along for Yugo to be using?]

[insidescoop]

[She's questioning that already-maybe she needs a coffee, coffee sounds like it would do great for this right now actually.] Well it's not going to get easier, so figure it out!

You LOVE her. So where do you plan on going after this...Severing is fixed?!

Because I'm not doing a damn thing until you figure that out!

[bananaspeedrider]

[After this, Yugo's going to find somewhere that isn't in his charge's dorm to conk out and let his injuries heal. Since well... dating said charge at the same time means relationship problems.

He opens his mouth and lets out yet another green and yellow hued plasma breath, but it's gonna be his last shot at getting a hit because he's feeling faint right now.]

[insidescoop]

[It's the last shot, and their combined blows clash...and then rebound. Both go flying, and fall, the force itself keeping them near enough that the most anyone can do is groan, and crawl, and..] Nghhhh...H...how can someone who cares so much...hurt so much anyway...

[Owwwwww]

[bananaspeedrider]

[With everything he's been through...

"I want all of us, including that one asshole I guess, and the girls to be able to live our own lives!"

Huh. That was definitely his voice. Pledging something in exchange for that wish? Then as much as a part of him, feeling more distant as he remembers more of the truth, wants to say he'd rather stay...]

After all this is over, I'm going back to where I came from. I can't just leave that place behind.

[tacosgay]

"Yeah, got it in one," Taako responds, smiling to himself. At least this guy sounds friendly, which puts him a step ahead of anyone else he's had to deal with in this... whatever this is so far. "See, uh... I saw one that said something about a carnival. I don't know what's up with the, uh, skeleton and what have you, but I definitely remember a carnival, and I'm not the only one around here who does. What do you know about it?"

[control_freak]

The reply isn't so prompt this time. Foster's thoughts are a mess. Scrambled. Violent.

Yes, he wanted to know.... is what he wants to say, but no, he didn't. Would he have wanted to know then? He didn't even want to know now. He didn't want it to be something to know, to be real, because he's all too aware that his knowing or not knowing makes no difference. But not knowing--the fact that Taako knew--he knew--he knew and he said nothing--

WHAT ELSE HAVEN'T YOU TOLD ME

[tacosgay]

thats all believe it or not

Taako lets his head fall flat against the bed, burying his face in the sheet with a sigh. He doesn't want to have this conversation. He doesn't know how to even begin having it in the first place, but here he is, thrust into it and trying hard not to let Foster get too much more upset than he already is.

It's not like he can blame him for being upset. Hell, he knows exactly what he would do in Foster's shoes, and it's not pretty. All things considered, the fact that Foster is in one piece to text him still is pretty impressive.

[insidescoop]

...So you're leaving, [She asks, muttering under her breath.] ...What the hell does love even matter then?

[bananaspeedrider]

Their catalyst, huh? How's that spell supposed to work again?

[This is why you don't lean on Yugo for information. But then again, the group needs a reminder on important details once in while to make sure they have the facts straight for proper planning.]

Because our side would need to take control of the ritual and all.

[bananaspeedrider]

Ghhhgh... Because sometimes that's just how it happens?

[It rudely reminds him of a less pleasant set of memories concerning Rin. But you know what, maybe right here is just fine for just a little while. Good night.]

[insidescoop]

That doesn't even make sense... [she laments, her burns stinging and her eyes watering.] NONE OF THIS makes sense..!!

[betheman]

Catalyst...? ...Depending on what it is, we might be able to do something...

[He looks to Yuuya, waiting for a stronger explanation however.]

[bananaspeedrider]

.... I'd miss you.

[How sappy of him to add. Surely no one could genuinely be this dramatic.]

Would it be better if I stayed instead?

[No because it would be impossible and break the plot. Probably not because letting this guy... this kid throw away everything for one person sounds like the dumbest idea he's ever suggested.]

[insidescoop]

Psh..! What, and then you make the same thing happen over there..?

[...She needs to ask the real question. The worst one, the one she doesn't want answered. She...]

...If you came from somewhere else...

...How much of our time was real?

[hippocarnival]

I don't know, that'd what I wanted to ask. [Strange didn't know much either, and Yuya had a feeling then that it's not something just anybody can look up.]

It's... probably the solution to our memories, too. Wherever we really belong.

[bananaspeedrider]

[One second thought, Yugo's not so desperate that concrete seems comfortable enough to pass out on.]

... I'm still trying to figure it all out too.

[With as much energy he can dare spend through immense fatigue, Yugo props his own head up the tiniest bit above the ground.]

But I have a feeling we're supposed to be on the same side of things, don't you?

[Wake up, bird mom.]

[osteothropy]

Jesus, can't a guy just acknowledge when you're suggesting that you're going to leave him to die? The self assured and simplistic answer pinches a nerve somewhere in Sans's non-existent nervous system - like something familiar, something that could have been comforting in another situation, but something he just can't tolerate anymore.

"Fae?" Sans snaps, turning back to him, his seven eyes narrowing in some kind of disbelief, the light within them flashing. "Are you kidding me? You think they're better?"

"You made your mistakes," he says, his halo brightening, its patterns spinning. His voice just gets louder and more disturbed as he goes, breaking into territory that feels both old and fresh in its pain. "You can't keep countin' on a second chance anymore. You can't keep acting like it doesn't affect you."

His wings flair wide, and his volume reaches its peak.

"Stop tryin' to pretend like it never happened!"

The moment he finishes speaking, he recoils with a sudden realization. All it once, it strikes him - a feeling like he's just become the biggest hypocrite in the world.

[insidescoop]

The same side of what..? [She whispers.] ...Here? ...That other place, where we came from apparently..?