⇨ 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

[kingsroads]

The seated Strange looks so proud of himself as Lambert essentially says he's right. The standing Strange, however, has enough sense to know that things are going south fast.

"That's enough," sensible Strange says, giving reckless Strange a frown. "Lambert, come with me. We'll find your other half and get this fixed."

"He's not leaving!" reckless Strange whines, as Lambert yanks his arm away. "You want him fixed? I'll break the spell myself!"

And then reckless Strange quickly leans back in and tries to kiss Lambert smack on the lips. On the one hand, he is trying to dispel the magic. On the other hand, he's using tongue.

[atouts]

"Wouldn't be the first time I've stowed away in one of those..." Childermass would say that with a laugh if this were at all funnier. It isn't. "Stay here."

With that, he's climbing back to his feet and making his way into the dive bar proper. It won't take too long for him to wheedle one of the more good-natured bouncers to help him haul a drunken friend away. For a bit of a tip, of course, but let's be real. Childermass has nicked a few purses worth of money on the way here, so he isn't worried. So, he returns with help and they get Lambert up and out before anyone has to worry about unconscious vomiting on their floor.

It does take an awful lot of reassurances to get a room for an obviously dead drunk guest, however, and, again, paying quite a bit more. It does come with someone delivering cold water and some food -- something gentle and not like to turn a stomach -- to that same room.

"We have it for five hours," he tells Celandine once they've gotten Lambert settled and their hired help has gone on their way. It's one of the bigger, nicer rooms, definitely not something a normal, unsplit Childermass would ever splurge on. "So he had best wake up and get sober enough to walk by then."

[kingsroads]

"The only thing that's gotten me hard in the past few months is my right hand," Strange grumbles, almost under his breath. Being faithful kind of sucks.

As Tyki mentions the open area, Strange's eyes light up. "Good," he says, with a manic grin. He's about to move before Strange pauses, frowning a little. Obviously he doesn't want to move and is having a few second thoughts.

"You're coming with me, right?"

[exaomori]

Not being picky didn't make picking drinks any easier! But since he didn't specifically ask for booze and his face looked just a bit too young for it, so and so some kinda of overly sweet and sticky juice it is! It'll go just fine with the greasy yakisoba Shura plans on ordering.

She must be in a good mood to be getting the food herself, but this place is bringing the best out of her, and she's not even split into two. It's a amazing what a good atmosphere and a nigh-unlimited allowance can do for a girl.

"Nyaha, here we go~ I hear you're supposed to build up an appetite by workin' all day, but I think I'd rather play all day and eat something' like this, don't you?"

[kingsroads]

Strange doesn't say anything as he watches. However, based on his expression, he's obviously proud and very impressed by Yuya's work.

And yep, he does follow. Just a moment or two later, Strange appears in Yuya's room via Yuya's mirror. He's giving him a huge grin, super impressed by all this.

"This is what I'm trying to tell people! You managed that magic because you took my framework and made it your own. Yuya, I'm so proud of you."

This is what he's been trying to tell Lambert. But hey, it counts.

[whattaprick]

“You should rest too,” Celandine says tiredly, curling on the bed beside Lambert.

“He’d hate it if you got hurt, looking after him.”

[hippocarnival]

Yuya blushes faintly with an extremely pleased expression plastered on his face at the praise.

"I wouldn't have known I could if I didn't have you teach me," he says, humble, but it's clear from the way he looks he's absolutely excited with himself. "And it didn't take me as long as the shield, this time."

For an initial success, anyway. He's going to find that 'consistency' is a lot more difficult with this spell, especially when he starts trying to push other people through it.

[hippocarnival]

"Really?" Yuya doesn't pick up anything off with the lack of a stutter, but that's more because of how little he knows Alphys personally. And maybe a little bit of hope that this stop is doing everyone some real good. "You like spicy food?"

[kingsroads]

"It might be the fact that I'm from the past compared to most people. It was 1816 when I arrived at the carnival."

Spa related spells sound AWESOME, though. That's a good idea.

[betheman]

"Oh-!" That!! Is a lot. He's not sure where to start. Actually he straight up has no idea where to start, and he starts to look a little panicked as he tries to figure that out. His hand hovers over one type...and then a different one...and...a different one...

"Auh-" He blinks, clearly distracted, "I am? I suppose, I was injured before so..." He doesn't seem entirely sure about that. "It's... ...Nice?" he tries, blinking to the side. "Sometimes. ...I think..."

Hooboy.

[atouts]

Childermass almost disagrees, wanting to say he's spent enough time resting, but what else is there to do? He can't go wandering off again. Well, he could, but he won't. Besides, he's the side who doesn't mind a bit of laziness.

"Might as well," he ends up agreeing with Celandine and settling down on the bed on her other side, kicking off his shoes before laying out on his side. "Though if anyone needs rest, it's you. You look like you're losing your fur over this."

RELAX| in the end i couldn't resist threads w both...

[soft_focus]

[[OOC - Reira is an Empath as a note! So I'm linking you to her opt out, at the bottom of the ref page here.]]

Reira, for her part, is still coasting on having zero idea what's going on and just sort of chasing after whatever seems neat. She's gotten herself into a yukata at least, but other than that she's mostly just wandering around staring at things. Occasionally accompanied by pets.

She's alone in this case though, and the seven year old blinks up toward Haruhi when she overhears the question.

"...Decide what?"

[lordofthering]

"That's what I've been trying to do," she says, finally coming to sit down at the table with a sigh. "Figuring it out as I go along. For the Red Beast, though, I have no idea where to even begin. I would say the Wyldlands, but I was born there and have seen nothing to match what we've learned..."

[hippocarnival]

Yuya laughs. He won't push her along for too long, once she starts going forward herself he'll let go and instead fall into step beside her. His gaze drifts along all the stalls, equally enamored with the bright lights and fancy displays.

Once catches his eye, and he points to where bright paper kites with fancy shapes and patterns are being sold. "Look--kites! Have you seen these before?"

He remembers her mentioning she grew up in a cave city, so... there probably isn't a lot of wind or room for kite flying.

[osteothropy]

"I guess you weren't here when it was more obvious," Diet Sans says, shrugging his shoulder. "I quit drinking around the same time you showed up... and then everything that happened in the Manor was it's own reason to be messed up."

"Oh, yes, he was an alcoholic, too," Hel confirms. "Which the side with his depression will have to be careful of..."

"You're still a shit head," Dark Sans grumbles. "You just hide it better, now."

"... We've come a long way, alright?" Diet Sans says. "There's just... only so much a guy can do."

[exaomori]

"Move here? Aah, you make it sound so good! Imagine--you can work your sewin' magic on the tourists and I could prolly figure out something to do." Professional bath tester? Sounds good.

"But I get you, I get you. True Cross Town isn't that fun most of the time. The last time I was at a festival, it was a high school festival, an' I had to work security! I couldn't even stop to enjoy some of the food stalls." And then everything went terribly wrong and she was badly injured, but not the point.

[osteothropy]

"We both know what the problem is," Sans-Lite says, patiently. "It's just not gunna make him feel any better having to go over it. I used to hate having to tell people anything about myself, so he probably does, too."

"The key point, I think, is that the Sans dealing with these problems might not have any alternative, so trying to fix him may be the wrong approach..." Hel adds.

"I couldn't fix myself even with all the good stuff I had going for me," Sans-Lite says. "Trying to force it out of him now just seems... cruel, or somethin'."

[exaomori]

"Nyaa, but I'm sure the bartender knows you good by now! He won't stiff you on drinks." Get up and get her drinks!! At least move over and don't hog all of the pillows, bro.

[anti_nonsense]

Yuya remembers right; they sure don't. Not only that, but Aspio has a general lack of kids and fun things in general.

Rita shakes her head. "Only in books," she replies. "Didn't know they made so many different kinds."

[soft_focus]

"Mnh..." Reira chews her lip a little- but she eventually nods. It's a bit different from being brushed off- very different from someone plastering a smile on their face and claiming they're fine. Heck, that was half the reason she'd taken to ignoring when someone was pretending not to be sad in the first place.

Enough people insisted on lying about it that it just wasn't worth trying to get involved anymore.

This is very different though, and now it feels a bit like they're in a rut. Reira looks to Sans-Lite, and then to Dark, and then for a moment to Hel as well. "Then... ...what do we do..?" How do they help, if helping is part of the problem?

It's a bit of a headache.

[exaomori]

What's with this carnival attracting old men from ancient history centuries ago?

"Ah, that so? Musta been fun learning everything at all the different stops. Well, it ain't like I wasn't on top of everything when we stopped at those Olympics or anythin'."

But imagine, keeping those tootsies in beautiful shape with just a few spells! He could make even more money to waste on stupid things.

[fortuneglass]

For a brief moment, Carly is a bit confused. They're talking about working here now? Wh-

Then she realizes what happened. "Ah-? OH!" Carly breaks into a chuckle, opening up her drink. "Not like that...! I meant move around through the crowd! If this were Neo Domino, the streets would be packed, and there'd be nowhere to go!"

She sighs, taking a sip. "Hauhhh, even with my job, it'd be like your situation though...I was a reporter, so if I was at any festival, it'd definitely be nothing but chasing photos and interviews..." No time for enjoyment!

[whattaprick]

Initially (for some reason) Lambert thinks Strange is going for a head butt, and jerks back in alarm. However, he’s drunk and his reflexes are shot to shit (when you’re a useless waste of space, what use do you have for combat ability) meaning the magician lands his kiss with no problem. The initial shock of it is powerful enough to make Lambert’s brain shut down, jaw going slack and unresponsive.

Meaning Strange has a good three seconds to mush his mouth against something that’s essentially a dead fish for as much action as he gets. Celandine is similarly stunned speechless, and then her shrill voice cuts across the silence.

“Lambert!”

It galvanizes the witcher into action, and he jerks like he’s being yanked by puppet strings. He wrenches his face away from Strange and slams his fist squarely into his nose, hard enough to knock him back. Glasses clatter off the counter, but that’s not the only thing that shatters, as it’s accompanied by shooting pain in his hand.

WTMA

[hippocarnival]

Yuya's later than usual returning to the bathhouse, having become tied up in running around with other members of the carnival, sightseeing, and practicing his magic with what time they have left. He'd lost track, until he realized they only had a few more days of the week.

This evening, he called Gongenzaka some hour ago to find out what he was going to be doing and if they could meet up, so Yuya knows which room to find him soaking in. It isn't one he's been to yet, so he doesn't get to flex his mirror travel and has to book it the long way up the stairs--but he makes it, leaving his clothes in the changing room, grabbing towels, and sliding into the water a couple feet from Gongenzaka.

"Hey," he starts with a smile, turning to look at him. "Sorry I took so long, I--"

Whatever excuse he had falls flat as he looks at the hole in Gon's chest--or, more accurately, the ink spiraling around it. He points. "What's that?"

[betheman]

"Hffff...." Gongenzaka looks absolutely ridiculous, sprawled out in the water- but there's not much one can do when they're a 'taur. As it is, the many vines and leaves floating around with him practically make the water into an odd pond or something- complete with steam rising through the hole on his back, actually.

He beams widely as Yuuya arrives, waving. "Auh, Yuuya!" he starts, a bark coming from Suzu as well. He blinks, and follows the other's gaze. "Auh...this... ...While it is at least tasteful, I, the man Gongenzaka, confess to being somewhat disappointed that Zangetsu allowed half of myself to do this..."

It appears to beeeeee...a tattoo. The phrases are well picked, and between two swimming koi however- 'One Life One Experience' at one side, 'Wake from Death and Return to Life' on the other.

That last one is painfully appropriate actually.