⇨ 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

[hippocarnival]

Yuya grins wider, pulling the bag out of his mouth when she takes the earring and holding the mirror up until she's finished. He notices she doesn't fight him for once, and the hopeful part of him wants to believe her prickly exterior is breaking a little.

"We're supposed to be enjoying ourselves, right?" Hs holds out the bag towards her. "Do you like sweet foods?"

[kingsroads]

Strange looks down at his pamphlet, looks up in the general vicinity of the area, and is a bit confused for a moment until he spots a sign that points to where all the rooms are. Oh thank God. They can talk shop while they walk, so Strange gestures for Syrlya to follow him.

"That's good to hear. It's a pity that the mirror portal is back at the carnival: there's plenty of mirrors here which I could try to link one of them to." Syrlya's focused on this because of business, Strange is focused on this because he wants to try and force his magic back into it's proper shape. "Still, I've been keeping myself busy in other ways."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MR6FXpaECY8

[kingsroads]

Strange can see that much. He keeps his hands at his side (so as to not catch anything on fire) as he watches Yuya's magic reach out in a nebulous form.

"Concentrate," he calmly says, watching Yuya from afar. "Shape your magic as you reach out. You aren't just slapping paint down on a canvas or playing any note on a piano. You're crafting your magic, firming and molding it to your needs. If you shape it to reach out further, then it will."

[hippocarnival]

Yuya nods, squeezing his eyes shut as he focuses. He peeks out of one eye shortly after and even if he can't see magic like Strange can, he feels something, and his magic locks until some sort of form from him to the mirror.

He looks at the mirror with determination and rushes forward--

And slams his face until it, all the magic falling apart as he rebounds and teeters backwards. "Ow!"

So first attempt is a no go.

[betheman]

There is a mild wince at the word 'unconscious'- mostly because of how sure he is that it was an unwilling state of being. Gongenzaka's brows rise as Steven explains further however, pondering the added complication.

"Auh...is that so... ...Hmmm. I, the man Gongenzaka, had been wondering if the state could be 'cheated' to a point, but..." Well, perhaps they can test that theory simply practicing this- if it works on one end maybe it'll work on the other. "W-Well! Regardless...Steven, do you recall when we attempted meditation? So as to activate the healing scroll a few weeks ago?"

Or rather, 'remember when you kinda fell asleep trying? good effort, that might come in handy now,'.

[betheman]

"Auh-! I-If you say so...!"

"We might as well, there's not much else demanding our attention..." Marishi purrs, agreeing. For all that he seems to awkwardly follow along, Gongenzaka at least comes in an apparently positive mood- his hooves clack against the ground in an almost familiar and 'geta-like' manner, a curious echo to the festivals of their home.

"Do we know what the parade will be displaying, at all..?"

[hippocarnival]

Yuya gently pulls on Gon's sleeve, briefly, to point him in the right direction before walking down the path. Really, Yuya's choice is completely random, but maybe they'll find something that properly directs them to the parade route.

"There were floats and dancers when I saw it earlier. And the band!" So pretty typical parade stuff.

[soft_focus]

Whatever it is, it's clearly nothing they did wrong.

So there. "Yeah! So we just have to practice things until it works properly again!" Strange is probably going to take longer than Reira, but then Reira has like. Two actual spells, if one doesn't count summoning her daemon in the first place.

At Strange's question, Reira blinks- the Daemon is the one who answers. "It is not better, large??"

What's wrong with giant bonsai, sir. It's cool- It's great-

[chronosynthesis]

Syrlya falls into step beside Strange, clasping his hands behind his back.

"There are still some things we can experiment with using the exit. With the lesser strain, I am able to place it at far greater distances than normal--you learned to store things in reflections, didn't you?" Syrlya doesn't immediately remember if Strange actually told him, but he and Rita found the storage mirror on his desk when he was kidnapped so he's aware of it. "Has you retraced your magic enough to walk within the reflections yourself?"

[betheman]

"Auh... ...I- I see..." Marishi is silent, but cheery, bounding along at their sides. They're going to be fortunate however- there's a bridge going right over the parade route, and they'll be able to tell thanks to distant shouts and cheering. "Hm! It would seem the layout of the city is quite friendly to the events at least..!!"

[hippocarnival]

"I think it's like a tourist city. Like--oh!" He hears it! Once Yuya can make out the sounds of the cheering, he runs forward to the bridge. Most people are on the level below, and Yuya grabs the railing and leans over to look down below. The parade is just coming up under the bridge, a long line of colorful and bright paper floats, dancers, and the very enthusiastic band. The costumes and ribbons are glittery and overall it's a huge spectacle.

"Look! Gongenzaka, hurry!"

[betheman]

"MNH!!" It's not as though it's easy for him to be tugged away- on the contrary it would be difficult to move Gongenzaka indeed if he so desired.

He's even got his belt on under this Yukata.

But even so he seems to somehow be pulled along by Yuuya's arm, and when the other releases him to run to the bridge Gongenzaka still stumbles slightly as they reach the edge of the bridge. Lights fill a darkened sky, becoming stars themselves almost as figures of 'spirits' laugh and run alongside the paper streamers and floats. It's an inter-dimensional parade after all-they have to make it worth while!

Gongenzaka stares openly, eyes wide at it all. "Auh....it's..."

"Ah...this never does get old, does it?" Marishi hums- rather clearly referring to the 'everything' beyond their little home of Earth.

[hippocarnival]

Yuya folds his body over the railing, his grip tightening to keep him steady even as his feet start to lift off from the ground for a better look. He's wide-eyed and enamored with the sight, because Yuya's always been one to appreciate a good show.

"It's amazing... look at that!" Yuya squirms, getting one hand free to point at the colorful sparklers being juggled on a float, like fireworks that continue to pop in place.

[betheman]

"It...it is..." He's quite at a loss for words. His eyes are wide as he takes it all in, looking about at everything. "...It has been long enough since I, the man Gongenzaka, have been to a festival more familiar to us but... ...to see it displayed with such 'magic' as well is..."

"...It feels a bit like watching a Solid Vision display..."

[hippocarnival]

Yuya looks up at Gongenzaka as he talks, falling quiet. It's been over a year since Gongenzaka's been home, something Yuya's always aware of to some degree, given how much he's changed, but is brought all the more to the forefront of his mind now.

He leans off the railing, fumbling with his pouch to pull out his smartphone. He angles it down, as far as his arms can stretch down below, and starts taking pictures. "I think it's more amazing than that. It's real."

[betheman]

There is a numb nod. "Auh... ....it is..." He turns slowly to look at his friend, watching as the other gets his phone to take pictures. "Mn- there is still room on the device, then?" He's surprised- but then maybe Yuuya's just been transferring to the laptop in Reira's trailer every so often.

[hippocarnival]

"I don't take that many pictures." And Yuya in Portland was in a kind of wealthy situation, so this is a high quality smartphone with a lot of storage. Good camera, which is all that he uses it for now.

He looks sideways for just a second, then snaps one more picture of the parade before pulling back and turning on his heels to point the lens at Gongenzaka. Since there's no glamour here, all of Gongenzaka's changes are visible as he angles it up to his face.

Yuya's tail swishes side to side under his yukata. "Say cheeese!"

CARLY | OTA, ALL WEEK

[fortuneglass]

[Pick Your Patterns]

"Ohhhh, these patterns are wonderful!"

Most typically, when Carly is looking through patterns of fabric, it's with the entire Carnival in mind. Once a Wardrobe Manager always a Wardrobe Manager, and at the very least she's hopeful that once this whole business of faerie war is over they can go back to those roles. Even now, being in charge of Administration means handling clothing... ...But it's simply not the same when it's a matter of the basics, and of armor assistance at best.

So for now, Carly is shopping for herself. She tries on outfit after outfit, swishing about with her wings on full display to illuminate Yukata both mundane and magical seeming. She's even joined by her marowak eventually- after all, what's the point of a vacation if the pets don't match? And...

"Ah~?" Once she spots someone she recognizes, she's immediately in their space and waving them over. "Hey, hey~! You need to look the part if you're vacationing in a place like this~~"

[It's The Full Treatment]

[[OOC - Video link is LONG...but it's basically a complete massage deal laughs]]

Another part of taking advantage of a good vacation is taking advantage of the good treatments. Baths, of course, are the main luxury. Various healing salts make good work of the residual pain from being struck by iron on her back, and the soaks in general are good to unwind in.

Aside from baths, there's massages- some of them in fairly open company in fact. Carly for her part is willing to try everything- though what's going on right now is fairly mundane as she leans back in a chair with scented and damp cloth over her eyes. One woman seems to be painting her finger nails- the other is employing a leg massage.

Neither will be hassled too much by their current client lifting the cloth at the presence of new sounds in the room. Footsteps? Something else? "Eh?"

Whatever it is, the woman beams. "Ah~! Here for something too?"

[Everyone Needs Three Teapots]

SHOPPING.

By the tail end of the week, Carly has fallen into a steady pattern. Time at the buffet, time at the baths, time trying just about every pampering treatment available...

And of course, time spent shopping. "Look~!" It doesn't matter what it is. Hand-made teasets. Waving two tailed cats. Weird little wind-chimes that look to be made of shining fish scales.

There are trinkets all over made for people to waste their money on, and Carly is always a sucker. "Look at these! Aren't they great?"

It could be anything that she's pointing at. Anything! (Well, almost anything but it's easy enough to mix up that weird tacky hat with the thing she's Actually pointing at)

Either way she wants a second opinion...or at least, she wants to pretend that.

[WILDCARD - While she'll be briefly hindered at times by Everyone Getting Split Up, Carly won't be doing that herself- for most of the week it'll be all of the above, and more- so go wild!]

incredible,

[fortuneglass]

And so, as a bird is drawn to a flower-

Well hold on that's not it

Carly seems to practically SENSE when someone is showing even a passing interest in clothing, which is both fortunate and not for Syrlya- the woman is quickly watching him closely, before moving close enough to peer over his shoulder at the fabric in question.

She beams. Broadly. "....You're going to get Yukata too..~?" She. Certainly doesn't expect him to go full formal after all, so.

[stompadour]

A plant. Hmm. sounds fair enough to Jasper, she supposes; she isn't familiar enough with how plants work to have questions about how Syrlya's eating habits intersect with more typical plant nutrient acquisition methods.

"Huh." She glances back at the stand, frowning. "I mean, yeah, I have a mouth. I don't have all the... everything else," she waves a big hand dismissively, "but I could make it if I wanted to keep the food."

[stompadour]

Jasper squints down at her.

"What... are you talking about?"

[soft_focus]

The question everyone is asking, Jasper.

"I mean I didn't know how most things work," Reira answers, assuming that Jasper is asking about the last bit she was talking about. "...Like, um...how you're supposed to have 'fun', or 'what different foods there are', or 'why people have clothes that look different'... ...I'm starting to learn them," she adds, "...But I didn't know anything like that- so if someone asked if I liked something, then I didn't know."

[chronosynthesis]

"I... see." He's going to take her word for that and not ask how that works, because that's probably a much too complex biology question.

"In that case, I suppose you would eat for flavor? Some consider the taste of food to be an art, for the amount of spices and ingredients."

[chronosynthesis]

"Ah--!" Syrlya just about jumps when she comes up behind him, quickly wheeling around and leaning back to stare at her. "Oh, hello Carly. Is... that what it's called?"

He had no idea, honestly. All of this stuff is foreign to him. "I was just looking, really."

The shopkeeper from the cash register perks up at the common--some long, spindly figure that leans far sideways to get a peek at them with apparent interest.

[anti_nonsense]

They are... aren't they? Yuya's encouragement chips away at some of Rita's doubt, and she reaches out to take one of the unfamiliar balls from it. "Yeah. What is this?"

Part of her wonders if he'd still be this friendly if he knew she wasn't entirely who he thinks she is...

But she'll try not to dwell on that worry. Before he can answer, she takes a bite out of the chewy confectionery.