⇨ 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

[anti_nonsense]

Rita bites her lip, mulling over the request. It's not easy for her to accept it, and as far as she's concerned, he doesn't have a good reason to trust or care about Ignatius. It hurts to think of a friend cozying up to her former captor, too...

But if she wants this conflict between them to end... or to at least have some quiet moments, then...

"Fine," she concedes, hesitant. "I'll try."

[kingsroads]

Strange can't help but smile: it's obvious that he's happy about Rita's answer and damn relieved about this whole matter.

"Then I'll try to stop making excuses for him." Jury's out on whether he'll succeed but Strange can at least make an attempt. There's a small pause before Strange starts talking again. As he talks, he tentatively reaches out towards Rita again and tries to place a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"You're one of the most talented magicians in the carnival. Aside from that, you're a bright, smart young woman. I wouldn't want our friendship to end based on this one thing." Even though it's a pretty big one thing.

[anti_nonsense]

"I, um..."

Rita's not sure how to respond to all that. She feels a hint of wetness in her eyes, and quickly rubs it away. She can't seem to find any words to respond, and seems to struggle before coming up with a somewhat weak, "...y-yeah. Me neither."

Because in the end, Rita does care about what Strange thinks of her, and about their friendship, more than she'd want to admit out loud.

[dontpokethat]

"But what about you?" Ginko repeats. Then he tilts his head, watching Joker thoughtfully. "...Are you alright?"

[kingsroads]

Strange knows he's going to be the one to vocalize their feelings. That's what you get when you're the only one of your close friends who's the least emotionally stunted. Still, he thinks he knows what Rita's trying to say. He gives her shoulder a small little squeeze.

"You know, I think our toenails should be dry by now if you want to do something else."

[anti_nonsense]

Rita doesn't quite react to the comforting squeeze of his hand, but the fact that she hasn't bothered shoving it away is probably a good sign.

At his words, she looks around the room, as if suddenly remembering where they are. "Yeah... right." She sucks in a breath, still recovering from the rollercoaster of emotions she just went through, and hops out of the chair. She turns to where she left her sandals... and pauses. They're not there. It takes a moment to recall why that is.

"Hey..." Her voice is still a bit less steady than it normally is. "Didn't something, like... really weird happen, a few minutes ago?"

[kingsroads]

"Hmm?" And then, it hits Strange. Oh shit. Something really weird did happen! His expression goes from confused to shocked to downright worried.

"Oh damn. You split in two! This...well obviously this is some sort of magic. Stand back, I want to examine this."

And Strange gets to his feet, not even bothering to put his shoes on. He gets some distance away from Rita then flips on his third eye. The burn scars on his hand, forearm, and forehead light themselves on fire as he stares at her, trying to examine the magic.

[bananaspeedrider]

.... Huh?

[There's an extremely long and confused pause from Yugo. Even looking over himself and trying to comprehend the idea, though it seems he could be failing at that.]

Just because no one back home would know we were running around with the carnival...! This is my third year right now with the Ringmaster you know...!

[exaomori]

[If Yukio really had finished all of his work, then he'd be tracking her down to get a lesson or two out of her. There was always something for Yukio to obsess over.

Shura stops, ignoring the grumbles of the people behind her that nearly run into her.]

This ain't right. What's really goin' on, Four-eyes?

[exaomori]

It ain't about that, Shura nearly says. But it doesn't seem like words are getting through to this one, and so there's only one other option--somehow wrestle this mopey Bubbles into a headlock or other hold to help drag her along with Shura to the bath house.

"C'mon~ It ain't gonna hurt, so let's just go~~"

[exaomori]

So perhaps he was a professional. Well, they could probably use guys with that kind of skills. That is, if he wasn't bluffing in order to try and impress her.

"That's prolly a good thing." Nothing good could come of keeping an elephant, after all. "That'd be a pain to clean up after, anyway~"

[reflash]

Nothing's going on. You worry about me too much, Shura-san.

[exaomori]

I know better. This ain't like you, so 'fess up. What's going on?

[reflash]

[He's not sure yet if she's catching on quickly or not, but that's irrelevant, really.]

I would be honored. [He says, with a little bow. That's half a joke, and he offers her his arm, like he's some kind of old-fashioned gentleman.]

What sort of world do you come from, Kunikida-san?

[periphrasing]

Peridot raises an eyebrow at that last comment, watching Lambert sink deeper into the water.

"Yyyyyeah. Well... I'll have to ask Strange for more details at some point, then," she adds awkwardly. She doesn't quite pick up on the unspoken conclusion that Lambert is putting down. Hypothetically, if it were explained to her, she would probably gripe about the inconsistent logic. If being weak to Silver is what makes something a monster, then how does being weak to iron ALSO make them all monsters? Sheesh.

[reflash]

I've already told you, I'm trying to be a better person.

[But that clearly isn't enough for her, so he tries a little honesty, coming at the idea from a diplomatic angle.]

I don't want you and my brother to worry about me anymore.

[chronosynthesis]

Childermass is just getting weirder and weirder to experience like this, but Syrlya can't honestly say it bothers him. He's going to remember this, though.

"With no leads on the final miracle, I suspect we will have some time once we leave to regroup and reconsider our approach." He taps his fingers against the side of the pool, absently before taking a sip of wine. "And if the Huntsman is already in pursuit of it, maintaining a low profile that minimizes out trail would be best."

[chronosynthesis]

"Left over right, understood." Will he remember that when he's actually trying to pull it together? Questionable.

He wraps the set over his arm as it's paid for, turning back to Carly with a slightly bemused expression. "It looks like simple robes. I am sure I can manage."

So he thinks.

light alphys!

[dontpokethat]

Ginko certainly notices something odd about Alphys's behavior - but, as he currently is, he's not too inclined to worry about it unnecessarily. Not unless it starts to look like an actual problem.

Similarly, he doesn't seem too worried about being pulled off somewhere, just giving a quiet laugh. "Really? Well, lead the way; it does seem like they've got just about everything here."

[anti_nonsense]

Stand back so he can examine... what, exactly? Her?

Apparently, that's exactly what he's doing. Rita takes a step back, staring back at that fire on Strange's forehead with a wary look. It's not like she hasn't done the exact same thing to him, but it's still kind of awkward. She also can't help but worry about what all this means. Did she get enchanted without noticing? How could that be, and who could have done it?

"...Well?" she prompts him after a few seconds.

strolls in here late

[exaomori]

It's been a while since Shura got to play a game like this. As it turns out, when your main company happens to be a couple of sixteen year old kids with Issues, things like rating butts takes a backseat. Kids were the worst at appreciating quality ass.

"Mm, it is a little weird, but take in the whole picture. Guy just needs to stop skippin' leg day. Look at those shoulders--he's definitely goin' for the tough guy look."

A couple mean looking tattoos, but the kind that were easily hidden. Probably too scared to go all the way with that look. But in the baths, Shura wasn't going to complain.

[dressedtothe]

9S takes a long moment to think about this. "...But what about you?"

If he somehow split as well, taking only the bits that he liked about himself, what would that mean? Would his two halves still be 9S? It would be the same as modifying his personality data, wouldn't it? He wouldn't be the same person... Just two diferent people who happen to share the same face and name.

Humans... they've always been flawed. He knew, even before he came to the Carnival, that humans aren't perfect. They killed uncountable numbers of their own kind, and yet loved in equal measure. Would the other Rita really be human if she were her perfect self?

Is it really fair for this part of Rita to bear everything she doesn't like about herself?

"Would you be happy if you stayed this way?"

[betheman]

"Auh....In a sense, I suppose, though..."

"It would be more accurate to say that I'm part of his actual soul, manifested..the animal thing seems more like an 'extra' bit, really..."

Regardless, he coughs. "...It is considered a potential change due to...over exposure to faerie magic..."

Casually Not Saying He Died,

[exaomori]

Shura cares!! Well, maybe not for the best reasons, and maybe she didn't have the best taste, but certain things are too ingrained in her to just let go.

"On three? Nyeheh, that sounds good to me!" No, neither of them need the incentive, but coordination does help. "You know how to put these on, right~?"

[exaomori]

There's tryin' to be a better person, [Because Yukio does have the potential to be, Shura wouldn't fuss at him if she thought otherwise] and then there's a complete change in personality. You an' I both know that ain't gonna happen just like that.