⇨ SHABONDAMASHII

[ringleaders]

Who: Everyone!
When: Day 92 - Day 99
Where: Shabondamashii Bathhouse
What: With the Silver Mirror claimed and the animals of Eden relocated, it's time for the carnival to kick back and enjoy an interdimensional bathhouse and the surrounding festival city. Meanwhile, the scattered shards of the Mirror have an unexpected effect.
Warnings: Dark/Light halves acting weird.

THE BIG CLEANSE↴ As the carnival recovers, the Ringmaster has brought it to the gates of a famous interdimensional bathhouse to rest. She won't be joining you for most of it, though she will be checking in frequently and available by radio. She's fixed a large portion of the Silver Mirror after it shattered, but it seems like pieces are missing. She doesn't want to rest until the missing shards are dealt with, and the Mirror itself is locked away safely. ► YOUR OTHER HALF: The shards missing from the Silver Mirror didn't just disappear - after breaking apart in Eden, fragments of the object embedded themselves in the spirits of those not already touched by its powers, and those that had been the most fae-touched. That means, your characters. The effect of this, explained in more detail on the plotting post, is that some characters will be splitting into two versions of themselves: the Light, and the Dark. This doesn't mean good and evil, of course, it's far more complicated than that. Splits can start happening at any time after arriving in Shabon, and initially characters won't know how to rejoin with their twins. Later on, it will become apparent that they need to reconnect via the shard of the Mirror they share... of course, in order to rejoin, you have to have both halves, and not all twins will be as eager to go back to the way things were before. This plot point is optional. ► SPA DAY: When you're not engaging in metaphysical division, you are free to enjoy the many luxuries that Shabon offers. Things will mostly have an east-Asian bend, like what you would see in the movie Spirited Away, but as long as it doesn't affect the setting much, you can honestly have whatever spa-type services available that you want. Food is served both in restaurants and 'buffet' style. There are also well paid sex workers here, if that is your thing, but make sure to tip well. ► FESTIVAL TOWN: The city surrounding Shabondamashii is largely meant to catch the business of interdimensional tourists. There are frequent parades and other events held, and the architecture is very closely packed. It's easy to get lost if you leave the bathhouse, but it's definitely worth it if you like party. You can pick out a few outfits for yourself and some fun nick nacks, but nothing that would normally require mod approval.

Comments

[atouts]

"You can't," the lounging Childermass answers, while the one in bed adds, "Don't bother listening to him. He's nothing useful over there."

Which seems to be the last straw for the second version of himself, since he's tapping his pipe out in the ashtray and getting to his feet.

"None of us are whole," he cautions as he does, "And you'll realize that soon enough."

Especially once this Lambert realizes the Childermass he's sitting by, making eyes at, hasn't a lick of feeling towards the poor witcher. That won't exactly resolve Childermass's own problem here but perhaps it'll be a start.

[kingsroads]

"I don't know," Strange admits. "But what I do know is that I went from being stuck in a mirror, unable to do anything, to being stuck at a bathhouse, equally unable to do anything."

The fire still lingers in his hand. Strange starts idly transferring it from one hand to the other as his eyes scan the bathhouse, as if looking for something to set on fire. He also moves a little closer towards Tyki. Strange isn't touching him yet but based on the distance, it's obvious he might try soon.

"You pay attention to these sort of things. Is there...I don't know, a field or something I can incinerate?"

[insidescoop]

"Okay, good! I wasn't sure...some fabric, it's really easy to leave a texture behind, it's why they're used for prints and things." Staining was far from her thoughts. Anyway.

"Hmm!~ This should look nice... ...It's not too bright, but it's enough to stand out a little~!"

That's exactly what he doesn't want,

[stompadour]

Jasper squints at her. "What's a centaur?"

[kingsroads]

Strange nods. His grin is a bit less manic but definitely proud and interested. "After all, I want to see your technique with my own eyes."

He takes a few steps back from the mirror and activates his third eye.

[pipers_son]

Right, he should be interested, shouldn't he? That zest for new experiences, new places, the one which helped fuel his time in England and then helped soothe the homesickness for his family that plagued him here... It's something he's pretty sure recalling as one of his few better traits. But right now, he just... can't feel it. Instead, all he can think of is the waiting paranoia in the back of his head that everything is going to get ruined, that he's going to play a part in it whether actively messing up or passively adding...

Ah, but no. Ginko loves him, even though Joker knows he deserves better. Best to keep that off his face. So he just shrugs, keeping up the smiling act for a little while longer, even if it's tiring. "I've been wandering around," he says, which at least isn't a lie, although it's also not a true answer, either. "This kind of place should remind you of home, shouldn't it?"

[betheman]

"Ah...Right..." Wait. Yes. Wait. He can do that...

It's a good thing five minutes involved too much indecision to make it more than a few feet away from the stage like bench, or they'd be in trouble. As it is he has already managed to find some sort of pole that he is curiously tilting his head at, as if wondering if he should climb it or not.

He's a bit distracted, so it may be best to poke him about the food again.

[whattaprick]

Lambert may realize it eventually, but it won’t change much. You need some self-respect for that, and while this version of Lambert doesn’t have the need to please, he also doesn’t have the capacity to come to such a conclusion on his own. He can’t resent Childermass — any part of him.

“Where are you going?” He rises to his feet in slight surprise. “You’re still injured. You should be careful moving around.”

[betheman]

"Auh?" Gongenzaka blinks, glancing at Marishi a moment- the cat unhelpfully rolling her eyes as her partner coughs a bit. "Th-That... well..."

His ears twist back, face rather red. "...Truthfully... if there were anything I feared the most, it was that we would do something, and then you would determine the matter otherwise unpleasant, or..."

"He was too focused on being rejected after the fact," Marishi huffs. "...As if that could ever happen..."

Gongenzaka frowns. "...Aah. ...That, apparently..."

[hippocarnival]

Yuya nods, turning to the mirror and furrowing his brow in concentration. The first attempt is a struggle to pull the magic together, but Yuya stops and tries again with more success.

It's not far off from the way Strange explained it, although Yuya's more successful efforts reflect more along the lies of the behavior of his shield, with the magic concentrating around him. When he pushes into the mirror, Strange can see it anchor to the reflection--and then he's gone. With the sock compress.

Back in his bathroom, he's stabilizing himself, watching the reflection to see if Strange is going to follow.

[hippocarnival]

Yuya snorts. "That's what I was scared of, but I asked you first!"

Not to downplay Gongenzaka's anxieties, he just thinks it's funny Gongenzaka was worrying about rejection when Yuya was the one making the move. The first one, though... it takes Yuya a second, glancing over Gongenzaka like he isn't sure why he'd worried about anything being unpleasant when it never was before. But there is a line that they didn't cross before, and his gaze lights up a little with realization.

"Were you worried because of how all the fae magic changed you?" He points, not at any specific part of Gongenzaka because... well, there's a lot.

[whattaprick]

By this point, Lambert has tried all he can to try and convince the workaholic side Childermass to take better care of himself, to limited effect. Shabon’s beautiful sights feel less attractive than they used to be, knowing part of Childermass isn’t out enjoying them. He just needs to find the right way to draw him out, he’s sure of it.

It’s this that he’s mulling over when he runs into Yuya in the hall, probably leaving a greasy smear on the glass as he leans on it. What... is he doing?

Lambert’s own contemplations are instantly forgotten as he takes a few steps closer, brows quirked. A new addition is the golden chain looping from his ear, swinging.

[chronosynthesis]

"I assume this was a resurrection, and not simply necromancy?" Necromancy tends to be kind of obvious. Also, Strange could already do necromancy.

He doesn't know as much about Strange's personal life as a student, but he knows enough to take some guesses. "I assume Norrell did not want people to know when he and Strange were pioneering magic? I suppose that might be a bad look. Are the fae already known to making deals?"

[betheman]

"Mnh-! I- I, the man Gongenzaka, did not say it was a logical fear..!!" he whines, still red. "Truthfully, I do not even completely understand the reasoning..!! It was simply a paralyzing sensation, and one which I, the man Gongenzaka, could not focus on with proper care at that time..!"

The mirror magic definitely didn't help.

[whattaprick]

“All right,” Celandine agrees. She’s a touch confused, but it only makes sense... how Strange would have split differs from how Lambert would. They’re different people.

Apparently, the words are enough to earn a sputter iof indignation from Lambert, who finally finds his temper.

“I care about him,” he flushes, and looks down. He cares, but he knows Childermass deserves better, knows the selfish, childish desire to keep him to himself is something Childermass ought to be running away screaming from if he had any sense. “Don’t talk about him like that. You don’t know him.”

[hippocarnival]

Yuya smiles wryly. If it was serious enough to split, isn't he a little more worried about it? Or more critical about why he was feeling that way...

Yuya reaches to put his hand over Gongenzaka's without breaking eye contact. "You're not still afraid, are you?"

[atouts]

"Out," Childermass answers, frustratingly vague. "I can tell when I'm not wanted here."

Mostly by his other self, though Lambert lingering near that one and only that one is telling enough, too. He does move stiffly, carefully, of course, but he can move. It'll be fine. Probably.

"Where did you leave yourself, anyway? May as well go make sure he's not off to do something you'll regret later."

[betheman]

For a few moments, Gongenzaka returns that stare- and then glances upward with thought, thinking it over. "...To say that there is no fear at all...that would be dishonest," he determines. "After all, I, the man Gongenzaka, think that sort of fear is something all of us carry, according to what we desire most. ...However..."

He smiles. "...It is in spite of that fear, that I, the man Gongenzaka, also have faith that this is the right choice."

[whattaprick]

“But I want you here,” Lambert frowns. It’s hard, switching tracks, but if one Childermass is moving and the other isn’t... he reaches out, aiming to clasp his hand.

“How am I supposed to protect you if you leave?” He doesn’t answer the question about his other half. It’s more important to tell Childermass that.

[chronosynthesis]

That would be sound advice if it wasn't literally deep into the plant matter due to effectively being absorbed like water, like dying flowers. Syrlya hasn't quite figured out that's exactly what's happened though, not being familiar with dying plants in general. He doesn't have much to lose trying it, though, and he's sat in enough water.

He shrugs a shoulder, absently patting Butcher. "Right now the less people I have to explain this to, the better. I just cannot spend literal days in the bath and my room."

It was tempting, though.

[hippocarnival]

"Then what are you afraid of?" Yuya's not letting the topic drop that easily. If Gongenzaka has worries, he wants to assuage them. He's always been trying to support him, hasn't he? If anything, that's even more important if they're going to--to date.

Yuya flusters faintly as he remembers that they really have agreed to date, but he's still looking at Gon with an imploring expression.

[prazerbutterfly]

"Oh come now. For a while being trapped in that Mirror got you rock hard and you know it," he teases, looking at the fire ball passing back and forth from his hands, one and then the other.

Tyki does nothing to stop him should he want to set something on fire. It's suspicious, given how much Strange was reckless but never intentionally dangerous to others. He licks over the edge of his lip, contemplating the area around them.

"You must be starved to play, Mister Strange. There is an open area to the right of the bathhouse if you go in the opposite end of the festival outside."

[atouts]

"A full resurrection," he says, giving Syrlya a nod. "Fae have always been known for making deals, even in England. If Strange ever discovered the truth or decided to try the faerie magic option on his own, you would have to ask him, but he ended up running off and looking for a way to contact one. It involved going mad. He was still an absolute mess from it when he first stumbled into the carnival."

[kingsroads]

"I know him better than you do," Strange snaps. "I knew him when he was Norrell's spook, spying on magicians and innocent women alike. He'll abandon you as soon as you get in the way of what he wants. I won't."

It's Lambert's childishness and selfishness butting up against every needy thought Strange had and worry that he'll be abandoned by those he cares about. The seated Strange reaches over to grab Lambert's arm in a slightly possessive manner.

The standing Strange winces at this. Giving Celandine a little frown, he turns back towards the two seated and starts to mutter, attempting to dispel the magic.

[betheman]

"What is anyone afraid of these days- 'that something could happen'," Marishi cuts in, her partner casting his eyes downward.

"It does not have to be a matter of what we ourselves decide or feel. ...It is a matter of what we lose."

"But what we lose doesn't change anyway- whether it's said or unsaid, the care has always been there. It would hurt just as much no matter what."