⇨ 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

[atouts]

Overall, he hasn't even thought of the cuts and scrapes from Steven's rose vines that litter his forearms beyond making sure they weren't going to get infected. The rest of the little injuries are easily disguised under his clothing, save for the ones showing where he's rolled his sleeves back. As such, the question gets an uncomprehending stare.

In fact, screw that question in general, because—

"What are you doing here?"

Childermass doesn't answer that stupid question. Why would he when the last person he actually wants here just strolled up? He steps forward, making a grab for Lambert's shirt front, fully intending to drag him right back out of the alley and chew him out.

"Who even told you about this? Who— no, it's obvious, it must have been that stupid red-headed little—" Well, either that or... "Or the Beast, but why would she bring a human along? That's insanity!"

[whattaprick]

Childermass will succeed in getting his hands fisted into Lambert's shirt, though he'll see only limited success in dragging him away -- mostly thanks to him deciding to dig his heels in and stand his ground, scowling.

From his expression it's pretty obvious he thinks Childermass's questions are pretty stupid too.

"Well it obviously wasn't you," his tone may be unnecessarily snippy as he reaches up to try and pry the changelings hands out of his shirt (under which Childermass can probably feel the edges of the body armor underneath -- at least he took some measures this time). "Exactly when did you decide you were signing on for the Beast's offer, after all?"

Take your time, guys, it's not like there's a potentially suicidal mission to mentally prepare for or anything.

[atouts]

Short angry man wins against grouchy hipster scarecrow for now.

Once he realizes Lambert isn't so easily dragged away from the scene of the soon-to-be magical break-in, he'll stop stretching his shirt, but he isn't inclined to let go of it just yet, not even with Lambert trying to pry his hands off. It's not going to take long for his feathers to get all riled up on their own with how irritating he finds this, either, as ridiculous as that tends to look.

"Does it matter?" Childermass snaps back in response. "I saw an opportunity. I've decided to take it. You, though. You shouldn't be here."

[whattaprick]

"It matters because you didn't tell me!" Lambert answers, hotly, hands holding Childermass's wrists as he glares up at him. He may not have feathers to betray his irritation, but the bright flush creeping into his cheeks and up his neck despite the cool temperature says enough, and only the barest presence of mind keeps his voice confined to a hiss instead of bawling it for all the alley to hear.

Childermass is right about one thing, at least: he shouldn't be here, and he knows there are a hundred reasons to just walk away, but knowing he's involved now? Yeah, right. Leaving isn't an option.

[atouts]

"I didn't tell you because I didn't want you trying to tag along," he brings his own voice back down to a mutter, finally uncurling his fingers from where they're wrapped up in Lambert's shirt. If he'll let go of his wrists in return, he'll drop his arms back to his sides and shoot a glance back towards the rest gathering there with them.

Even then, he keeps talking, voice pitched low for only Lambert to hear.

"You know I could just stick you in a shadow and leave you there, don't you?"

[whattaprick]

When Childermass lets him go, Lambert wavers for a beat or two, then does the same, though his hands come down to fists at his side.

"Try it and I'll stick this poker in your foot," Lambert mutters back, some of the snarl gone from his voice, though he still looks mutinous. Said poker is stuck into a belt loop, hanging at his side. It looks more like a proper weapon than the necklace he'd worn, somehow.

[atouts]

"Doubtful," Childermass replies, voice still low and also thoroughly unimpressed by the threat. "You know, just because you managed to kill Mackenzie doesn't mean you're suddenly some great monster slayer. The gardens are going to be completely different."

[whattaprick]

"I'm not slaying anyone. I'm just trying to help." Lambert just grips that iron poker a little tighter. Can't shove him into any shadows with that on him, sucker!

"Explain to me why I can't go and he can." That's right, Childermass, he's pointing at the literal children who are along on this ride.

[atouts]

He doesn't even have to look Steven's way to know exactly who Lambert is pointing at, because, honestly, Steven also shouldn't be here, but hey, looks like Lambert and the kid have something in common! They're both being stubborn pains in the ass, that's what.

"Because he would have found his own way back in if he wasn't coming with us," Childermass steps back in close, definitely not wanting the little changeling in question to hear what's being said about him. "Originally this was only to try and get the Beast to kill the Rose Queen, but she has his father now... while you... you have no personal stake here, Lambert."

[whattaprick]

"Who says I don't?" Lambert's flushing with righteous indignation, stepping forward just as Childermass does, barely enough space left between them for his finger to jab the changeling right in the chest.

"I'm looking right at it."

[atouts]

Yeah, that's sweet and flattering and all that shit, but that doesn't change the fact that it still makes it stupid. Childermass does at least look startled for all of three seconds like he honestly wasn't expecting that answer. Then? Then it's back to being irritated at Lambert, only even more so.

"I told you before," he says adamantly, brushing the offending finger away. "I can take care of myself."

[whattaprick]

"Believing you can take care of yourself and also wanting to help you aren't mutually exclusive things!" Lambert hisses. Seriously, Childermass! Even as his hand is brushed away, it's his turn to grab the front of the changelings shirt, this time with an eye to dragging him down to his eye level so he stops needing to crane his neck up.

"The earth's dying, I might not be who I think I am, and I have no fucking clue what to do about any of that," he says, gripping fabric tight. "But I can do something about this. Even if it's just helping a few less people end up like you."

[atouts]

"You can try," he corrects Lambert like a total asshole, so. Yeah, even Childermass isn't sure how well this will go. He can just fly away. Everyone else, not so much. He won't bother wasting an effort on trying to pry the hand off of his shirt, instead simply affecting a very unimpressed expression towards this entire mess.

"Just try not to touch anything that looks poisonous. Don't step on any vines. Giant flowers may try to eat you. You know, the usual for a garden intent on killing you."

[whattaprick]

Childermass is such an asshole, Lambert doesn't even know why he wants to see him freed from the Rose Queen's service. In contrast to the changeling's impassive demeanor, Lambert's visibly upset and fuming, though uncertainty in the face of being stonewalled like this has made his grip on Childermass's shirt falter.

"Fine. Just for you I'll try not to die." Exhaling sharply, he releases him, turning to go and rejoin the rest.

[atouts]

He should probably say something more, stop him before he's back with the rest. Maybe Lambert is in the right this time, maybe he actually deserves an apology, but... no. Childermass will just step back once his shirt's been let go and watch the man leave in a huff.

If there hadn't been an audience around, it might be different, but right here, right now? Childermass has a reputation to keep. He's helping these people with hopes of someone dying (just someone else) and, with luck, to get away with some of said person's belongings. Now really isn't the time to seem less intimidating.

[whattaprick]

Whatever appearances Childermass is intent on preserving, Lambert is wholly insensitive to it. All he can see is the changeling pulling back again. It pisses him off enough that he retreats to as far away as he can get, pulls out his cigarettes, and spends the rest of the time waiting for the signal to move in smoking resentfully and glaring.

Later, when Lambert has to be practically carried out of the Rose Queen's realm, he'll be in too much agony to think of saying anything like 'you were right' and 'I'm sorry.'

After that, there won't be a chance to say much of anything at all.