⇨ 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]

"...I believe I can live without," Childermass grumbles, lifting a hand to rub the bridge of his nose. Then wincing some, since a claw did catch him across there as well. Ugh. "If that's all it is, I suppose it really isn't anything to be worked up about."

[soft_focus]

"Um, I only think it," she readily confesses, blinking. "...It feels like I'm right, but I don't know. But... If you could just go back together whenever, you probably would have gone to find the other piece and do that right? So it was probably important to think of things in pieces, for now," she determines, attention drawn to Papyrus' tail in the meantime.

"...I don't think breaking up into pieces normally happens...but... That's probably just magic stuff. At least it's just two, and not lots and lots of evil clones though," she hums quietly. That feels important.

[stompadour]

"Hmph," says Jasper. "Alright. You don't want me to apprehend the other one of me, or anything like that?"

[kingsroads]

"You're acting so jealous!" Strange teases, not wanting to let this go so easily. This is possibly the only time he'll see Childermass express emotions more than 'grumpiness' or 'annoyance at the world', he's going to take his time and enjoy this moment.

"I am married, you know. I won't steal away your boyfriend."

[stompadour]

"Huh..." She rubs her chin, squinting again at the foods this stall has on offer.

"... Which of these," she demands, pointing at the stall, "is the least sticky?"

[amphibiopathic]

It's going to be a long story, so they might as well be sitting down for it. Looking around, Eruka spots a bench meant for the food stall's patrons and flops down on it miserably.

"Well, first of all, we couldn't go in like this," she gestures down at herself. "In Eden, the Ringmaster had to spell us all into animal shape because there weren't any people there, just talking animals."

And then she pauses. Hanamaru's perfectly aware of how much time she spends as a frog, so...

"I mean, I was a frog there too, so it's not like it was new! It was just being stuck that sucked." Dramatically, she flops back to lie on her back on her side of the bench, groaning.

[prazerbutterfly]

"It's far more fun to say and less of a mouthful," he returns.

Pat, pat. Or so Strange gets as he taps a shoulder with his palm. He's not inclined to return the hug as not to incite further prompt that he wants more. He had been honest as he always was. Tyki was capable of lying but when it came to matters of the heart, he usually didn't. He looks down at him as he gets comfortable again, Tyki rather certain he had no where else to be right now. If his other half was as determined as he seemed to imply, then chances are it would come to him eventually.

"How generous of you to be so obliging."

[stompadour]

"Yes! I used to just have two legs, before that, but this is a perfect compromise." She is so, so satisfied with her horse torso. "Maybe if you're lucky you'll get more legs later on."

[dontpokethat]

"Of course it does." No hesitation, no freezing or stumbling over his words. "There are so many people here who care about you, Joker. What happens to you matters a lot."

[kingsroads]

"I'm always obliging," Strange points out, with a little yawn. He's usually obliging, but the personality trait of 'arrogance' and 'thinking too highly of himself' is shared between both halves. He snuggles a bit more into Tyki, like a needy animal not wanting to leave it's owner's side.

And since Tyki was so nice to him...he'll grant him this much.

"Perhaps I'll reform later," he admits. "But right now, my other half can wait."

[prazerbutterfly]

"I can't deny that, Strange. I can always rely on you," he continues to tease, watching him yawn, get comfortable, and snuggle into him. It makes him complacent enough to rest a hand on his shoulder, bracing his body with a hand planted behind him. He might lay down in a bit since Strange was almost ensuring he wasn't going to go anywhere.

"If you say so. Nap, Strange. I'll still be here when you wake up." Though he isn't going to wake such a sleeping prince with a kiss. He already has a ton of blackmail to work with.

[atouts]

"Marriage hasn't stopped you from making eyes at Ignatius, Mr. Strange," Childermass mocks in return. He knows he's being jealous, he can't help it like this! But he's also fully capable of being a dick right back.

"And what about that nice bicorn lady, hmm?" Well, that one's unfair since it was, again, curse-breaking, but shhh. "Though no, you are right. Lambert wouldn't run off like that, anyhow."

[spaghettimonster]

"Yeah. At least it's not evil clones," Papyrus agrees, a little more lightly than he's been talking. That's an undeniable, genuine upside to all this. He feels terrible with guilt and anger and grief, unhappy churning feelings and memories of being all murdery, but he isn't evil. And his ridiculous idealistic counterpart isn't evil either.

Still. There's another reason why Sistina and the Papyruses assumed it was just them shattering like this, and while it's not as horrifying as what he's done, it's still a little alarming.

"But I'm in more than two. There's Sistina, and... look at this." He pops off that last joint without a flinch of pain, then holds it up for viewing. It's whole, and not crumbling to dust in his hand. "Did anybody recombine from something like this? Is this just me?"

[impatientdefense]

"Yyyyeah, you know, I'm not really in the market for extra legs." It would wreck her balance something fierce, until she trained new habits. "I'll let you know if I see a sale."

Rock on, you crazy horse lady.

[impatientdefense]

Signing up to get real favors, with the kind of power the Ringmaster was throwing around above Eden? Now some of the people here make a little more sense. They weren't just rescued or tricked, they were bargaining for something. Then the rest of what Strange is saying sinks in.

"Whoa whoa whoa, wait. A year for one spell? What kind of magic is worth a whole year?" She's no mage, but that seems absurd, and under the disbelieve she really is dying to know.

[kingsroads]

"I don't make eyes at him," Strange responds. "As you said, I've got a wife."

Says the person who kind of is making eyes at Ignatius or, at least, has a bromance so intense that it could easily be mistaken for a big ol'crush. "And besides, that nice bicorn lady kissed me." Wait a minute. "The second time we kissed she kissed me. The first time was curse-breaking, so it doesn't count."

Jonathan Strange: unintentional slut.

[kingsroads]

After sending up a mental prayer to God or whoever to please let Beau not take this the wrong way or freak out on him, Strange answers.

"I wanted to learn how to bring back the dead. I can do some form of the spell but it's...rudimentary, at best. The person who I wanted to bring back is important to me: I didn't mind waiting a year at all."

[atouts]

"You do," Childermass disagrees but at least getting his turn at poking fun here is getting a smirk out of him. That's a lot better than boring old grumpiness. "Every time you talk about him, you sound exactly the same way as when you speak of your wife."

Where's the lie? Well, that might be a slight exaggeration, but close enough. It's not as if Strange knows how he sounds to other people.

"And you're just lucky that she and LeFlamme were clearly a thing. Who knows, she may have followed you otherwise."

[kingsroads]

"If that's the case, I might as well ask Ignatius to be my husband. A wife in England, a husband in Faerie, I'm certain there's some arcane fae law that allows it. Besides, we both know there have been worse rumors spread about me!"

He's joking: Strange knows full well that neither Ignatius nor Arabella would consent to such an arrangement (and what Arabella says, Strange will do). He's matching Childermass's smirk with one of his own as he gives the man a little shrug.

No comment on that LeFlamme thing, mostly because Strange, in all his selective obliviousness, didn't exactly realize that.

[whattaprick]

“We don’t really talk about things like that,” Lambert answers, honestly. His other half holds all the rancor he feels about that; this Lambert just states it as a matter of fact. It’s Childermass. He’s never going to tell Lambert all the depth and breadth of how he feels, and that’s something he’s accepted. It doesn’t change how he feels.

“But yeah, I’m pretty serious about him. I wouldn’t be planning to go to England with him if I wasn’t.”

[whattaprick]

“No need to worry! We’re trained professionals,” the snail reassures. “Just lies down and relax.” Now both snails are just crawling up both of them, starting from their feet and working their way up, slowly trapping their legs under their weight as they slide onto Strange and Lambert.

“As long as you don’t suffocate me, I’m fine,” Lambert offers, grunting against his arms. That’s cold.

[fortuneglass]

"It wasn't harsh, just..."

She deflates, trailing off. She shouldn't encourage this. She absolutely shouldn't, and she knows there's a strong chance that this Yuusei acting like this means...well. Something, when it comes to what each one inherited. "...I said he passed out," she mutters, looking to the side. But....very well.

Carly gives in. "...If we're spending the evening together, where do you want to go."

handwaves the fact that she super never mentioned lightsei was asleep

[alphudo]

It means something indeed, but good luck figuring out what that something is!

"All the more reason to let him rest for awhile," he reasons, but after that he trails off as well. Well... where should they go?

His whole self never really spent time with anyone, and while he's seen quite a few things here to do, none of it really feels like it would be a meaningful use of their time. That didn't bother him before, and the fact that such a consideration is causing him to hesitate is really... something. It's something.

And Carly herself sounds less than enthused about the whole thing, which he should have expected, and that bothers him a whole hell of a lot more than he thought it would. A whole lot.

"...I don't know. I didn't think you'd actually say yes... And I don't want to waste your time even more than I already have."

Oh man please shut him up before more embarrassing things come out of his mouth. "I'm sorry for that, I guess," he says with some uncertainty.

[soft_focus]

"...But Sistina doesn't look like you. That's different," she notes, blinking as Papyrus pulls off part of his body.

She isn't very scared at least. "...Oh! ...Some duel monsters are like that..." At least, their animations were anyway. "..I don't think anyone else could. Um. Maybe Sans? I didn't see anything like that, but... You're all bones, so there's a way to put things back together really easy." Reira points at the areas of the joins on the hand, as 'proof'. "...We don't have lines like that. Um...not on the outside at least... ...So even if we could, there would be a lot of stuff in the way. I think everyone got different changes, though..." It's a big 'think'.

Over all she takes this rather well. "...Do you think, you could use it to do things you couldn't before? Like reaching higher things, or looking over things?"

She's getting rather distracted by this.

I DID THE SAME THING SO

[fortuneglass]

Ooof. Carly stares at him a little incredulously, as the other enters rambling. "...Waste my- ...Yuusei we're on vacation, I don't think we can waste each other's time..." she mutters, blinking.

Anyway. "...You really don't know where you want to go?"