⇨ 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

[stompadour]

Jasper huffs uneasily and follows Peridot.

"... Two of me would be more useful than just one," she says, which sounds like something she's been telling herself already, "so it probably isn't something that needs to be fixed."

[anti_nonsense]

"We don't have a choice. He's too dangerous." And for once, Rita isn't able to mask that fear with hatred. She doesn't look back at Strange, but her body remains tense, her gaze focused downward, as if she doesn't dare look anywhere else. "Even... even he understands that."

It feels weird to acknowledge it, but Ignatius doesn't have any illusions about the situation he's in, or why he's in it.

[hippocarnival]

Probably... hppefully. Yuya gives Rita a reassuring look to mask his own apprehension.

"I don't know exactly what's happening, but... you definitely won't stay split like this. We'll find a way to get you back together."

Otherwise, things are about to get a lot more confusing and difficult in the carnival.

[kingsroads]

They don't have a choice only because Rita, Lambert, and Syrlya brought this choice upon them, Strange bites back the urge to point out. Because they don't have a choice? Bullshit.

"We do have a choice. We can always return his heart and let him go." Strange sighs a little, sitting back in the chair with a frown. "Though I know I'm the only person in the carnival who considers that a valid option to begin with."

[pipers_son]

What? That isn't at all what he was expecting, and a hint of it shows in the way he blinks at Ginko with faint surprise. "This is really what you want to do, for the rest of your life? Just going into one dangerous situation after another, getting dragged into a whole old feud that has nothing to do with us?"

They're things he finds tiring, after all, to the point that he wonders how long he honestly wants to stay, and how long he truly could stay. There's a part of him that used to marvel at the different places they went... but now, whenever he tries to think back on his journey, all he can think of is cold iron burning through his wrist, or memories crashing against each other in his head, twisting himself in half just to get through days...

[anti_nonsense]

That gives Rita pause.

It sounds like he's trying to reassure her, but she doesn't look all that comforted. On the contrary, she knits her brow and looks away. "Is that really a good idea, though? I mean... What if it's better this way?"

[hippocarnival]

Yuya blinks slowly, leaning back when she looks away.

"It's not." He sounds so certain when he says it. "We don't even know what's happening, or if it's hurting you. But even if it's not, you're fine the way you are. And you're better whole."

And not... whatever this is. Probably fractional, if his own experience is something to go by.

[kingsroads]

God, if Strange wasn't married, he'd ask Shura out on a date then and there. He gives her a nod: he understands her mindset completely.

"That's precisely how I feel." And then, Strange indulges in a little bitching. He feels comfortable enough to do so, so he's happily going to vent a bit. "People here don't understand that. Everyone's criticizing me for my actions in Eden, as if I could plan for the iron or plan how various animals we've never met would act."

[anti_nonsense]

Rita shakes her head. "You don't know that. The other Rita... she couldn't be happier to be rid of me." She doesn't blame her counterpart, either. She's just been holding her back, hasn't she?

"And I... if it wasn't for this, I probably wouldn't have been able to spend this time with you, so... maybe I'm better off, too."

[anti_nonsense]

Rita looks horrified at that suggestion. She thought that was what he was getting at... but the idea seems so preposterous, a part of her didn't quite believe he would just come out and say it as plainly as he just did.

She stares at him, mouth hanging open for several seconds, then manages to speak. "Wh... what do you think he'd do, if we did that?"

Because Rita happens to think he'd do something terrible.

[hippocarnival]

"Eh? I don't know about that." He scratches his cheek. "I probably would have bothered you to hang out with me anyway."

Much like other times. Yuya doesn't mind being the one to initiate things, though, but he hopes Rita hasn't forgotten his persistence.

He shrugs a shoulder. "Besides, what's it supposed to fix? You're fine the way you are."

[kingsroads]

"I think he'll go back to the Summer Court," Strange simply responds. He's still trying to choose his words deliberately and carefully. As he talks, though, he doesn't look at Rita: instead, he just kind of vaguely stares downwards at his feet. He moves his hand away from her shoulder and idly twists a strand of hair around it.

"As much as I wish otherwise, I don't think he'll change. I've met men like him when I served in the peninsula: men who put their duty and loyalty above everything else. I doubt anything we say or do can change that. But if he leaves here with the realization that we can do better, that we aren't the royalty murdering, feral beasts that the Courts think the Ringmaster and our lot are, then that's good enough for me."

[soft_focus]

"...I came here because we all came here after we left Eden," she answers plainly. "...I'm just looking at stuff, I think." Anyway. She's already walking toward the line, so you better keep up! Or...

...Or she'll have to walk back. Which would suck, but whatever. "I guess we found a game though, so now we can play it and talk." Or was it talk and play...

[pipers_son]

"Ha. It is indeed." At least they're both on the same wavelength, then. It almost makes him feel a little bit better about the potential idea of not having to lie too much or put on a fake face. As long as he's an ass, then it doesn't really matter.

Not completely, but enough to make him snicker through the smoke. "Who am I going to diplomat at? At any point, and not just here."

[soft_focus]

"That's still five..." Reira laments, her daemon nodding.

"We require OTHER TREASURES..!" Souvenirs, they mean souvenirs. Either way.

"I don't know how much I can buy..."

[soft_focus]

[Not hiding feelings Really isn't helping the case here Yuugo. But she'll push on for now, and even huff a bit when her hair is ruffled slightly.] Mngh--! It's still tied up, no-!

[Please don't ruin it-!!]

Umn. That's good though...I still don't know why everyone made it happen, but it was nice.

[bananaspeedrider]

[Maybe she shouldn't be so good at reading them 24/7.]

Hah, whoops... too late!

[Which gets him laughing at the whiny distress. Never gets old.] Maybe they just thought you should have an extra good time. Beats me.

clickbait

[sunflowerfields]

Hinawa isn't very hard to catch, because she's been incredibly tired and sluggish since getting stuck in a magic, life-draining prism. She blinks a few times as she tries to focus on the list Strange is showing her. Oh, he's talking to her?

"Oh, I'm..." Squints. Is she reading these correctly? "I'm sorry, I... don't really know what some of these are."

What in the world is a fish pedicure.

[pipers_son]

"Oh, does that mean ya want more~?" Okay, okay, he's done teasing, and Joker laughs a little. "But in seriousness... How about this?" He pops up one finger.

"Pick out your most favorite yukata, just for yerself. That one, ya have ta buy no matter what." It only feels right, after all. They seem to be one of the most eyecatching things about this place, and it'd be a shame if everyone else had one but she didn't. "Then, we'll go around some of this place, and see what different treasures there are. We won't buy any, we'll just see what there is. With me so far?"

[anti_nonsense]

A tinge of redness creeps into Rita's complexion. "I don't..." She doesn't seem to know how to finish that thought, and she swallows, trying to think of what to say. If it was anyone else, she might find the sentiment hollow, but with Yuya... he probably means what he's saying. But...

"Even if you think so, I apparently thought otherwise," she points out with some reluctance. "I'm not saying we shouldn't investigate what happened..." Because if Yuya's right about one thing, it's that they don't know for sure if there aren't any other effects to worry about. "But if staying like this means one of me gets to go on and live her ideal life, then why ruin that?"

[anti_nonsense]

"How is that good enough?" she blurts out, her voice trembling. "If he won't change, then what's the point? We'd just go back to having one more enemy to deal with... one who'll bring all kinds of information about us back to the Summer Court. The Rose Queen will use that and come back for Steven, and the Rose, and..." She trails off as the possibilities only get her more worked up and anxious.

"And that's only if he goes straight back without turning around and incinerating the whole carnival first!"

[hippocarnival]

"How's this ideal?" Yuya's expression sinks a little. "I think I can say better than most people that being in separate pieces isn't a perfect solution."

And he considers his situation to actually be a problem that needed a solution. Why would Rita benefit from having some sort of weird separation in herself. "It comes with a lot of problems too, like getting blamed for stuff the other person with your face does."

And having the evil violent piece pushing all of you to merge into a single powerful monster to destroy the world... but that's probably just a him problem. "Maybe... maybe you got separated based on the parts you'd want to keep? But you're still missing stuff that makes you Rita. Both of you."

[dontpokethat]

At first, Ginko just looks away, a slight smile pulling at his mouth, as if Joker said something kind of funny.

"My life would still be dangerous if I went home. I would still be handling other people's problems, still running into things outside my understanding and control. It would be nice to know more about what I was dealing with, but I wouldn't be much safer. Here, I at least don't need to worry so much about feeding myself, or finding shelter - and I can know I'll always be around people I care about. Like you."

It might seem at odds with his expression. But if Ginko realizes that, he doesn't give any indication.

...In fact, there's not a lot indicated in his tone at all. Each word is careful, thoughtful, too genuine to sound totally calculated, but more precise than his rare rushes of emotional exposition tend to be. There's not even a moment of hesitation, or flustering, or excitement in his last few words.

[apaintingdarkly]

"But I've already won the best prize," he protests with a grin. "An afternoon alone with you."

[dontpokethat]

"...Weren't you already?" He's just... he's just confused. What the hell is Doll talking about, what is happening.

He sort of winces, making a quiet choking sound. He sort of feels sick, and he doesn't know how much of that is Doll's bouncing and how much is just... everything else going on right now. "That's-- that is not going to help much, I'll just-- I'm not wasting time on that."