⇨ 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

[reflash]

"You're already paying it. There's no advantage for me." There's no fighting spirit left here, or at least none of that sharp, reactive competitiveness.

[exaomori]

"So make up your own end, that's fine by me." No advantage? Sure, he was always trying to find an advantage, but he was never this cold about it. If this wasn't Yukio, then who was this and what was their goal?

[reflash]

"I already said I'm not betting. You won't change my mind." He's colder, that's for sure. Especially since the amused laughter from a moment ago is gone.

[exaomori]

There was always pointing out that she never said she would pay for her drinks, but it seems like the wrong time to bring that up.

"No fun!" And with that, she'll flip over her empty cup.

[reflash]

Two more cups. He has a fifty/fifty chance, and there's no sign of hesitation as he flips the cup to reveal...


the flower.

Normally, Yukio would react somehow. He would complain, or he would have hesitated over the choice, or he would call the game after this round. Instead, he just accepts his fate and fills his cups.

[exaomori]

It’s all back to that bad feeling she had. This isn’t right, this isn’t Yukio. But now she’s drunk and emotionally involved, and drawing a knife on him in the middle of this bar will only cause trouble.

Before he can finish filling his first cup, Shura reaches across the table for his wrist. “That’s enough, you’re gonna get sick if you keep that up.”

Any other day she’d just laugh at the thought of his future hangover, but her humor is gone and she’s done playing pretend with him.

[reflash]

"If you didn't want me to play, you shouldn't have started this game." Cutting him off is probably a good idea, with the flush creeping up under the blue flame of his fae mark, and how much he's tripping up over the pronunciation of even basic words at this point. Snake tongues weren't meant for this level of intoxication.

[exaomori]

How was she supposed to know he was such a lightweight?? She might be slurring, but he’s on his way to being trashed.

“You’re drunk. C’mon, fill those up with water and we’ll go back.”

[reflash]

"Fine," he concedes, still without a hint of combativeness, and does as instructed. "You're still paying for it."

[exaomori]

Just what was with this miserliness? On top of everything else, that was just pissing her off.

“Whatever.” It isn’t even his money, it’s the Ringmaster’s!!

But she’s frustrated enough with whatever’s going on, so she’ll go ahead and take care of the bill. She didn’t even get to drink the shochu! Maybe she could grab a beer on the way back? She needed something after all this.

[reflash]

She pays, and he's... pleased? He doesn't feel much anymore, not since the split and shedding his flaws like a snake peeling off its old skin. But Shura did what he wanted, which is good.

"Did you want to go back now?" He asks, as they leave the bar. At first glance his balance isn't too bad, but that's just because he keeps moving his tail to compensate. There's... not exactly hesitance when he asks the question, but enough disinterest in the idea that it's clear he doesn't want to go back quite yet.

[lmpatientdefense]

It takes a few seconds of mulling the question over before Beau has to admit something, with a snorted cough of a laugh.

"...You know, I don't even know the last time I got one. Shit, I wonder if it shows."

It wasn't like she did so all that regularly, as keeping things like her haircut and makeup game on point weren't her highest priorities on the road... but that might be a factor in why her flirting wasn't working out. Something to think about, occasionally.

[lmpatientdefense]

Beau's eyebrows just hover, high, through his whole account, and by the end of it she follows suit in raising her hand at the bartender.

"Uh. That's pretty fucking intense," she concludes, a little blandly. "I just meant, could you feel part of it was out in the egg instead of in you, but that's... good to know, that was gonna be my next question."

She says it flatly, but she means it, because she had wondered about the whole egg process. How much did he remember, what did it feel like, was it worth it. "And now, instead of being stuck in the mirror, the mirror's stuck in you. In your soul? Your life is crazy."

[lmpatientdefense]

"Uh, sure? I guess that works." That sounds right, anyway. "...It's kind of funny, and sad, how there's so many lives where like... Whether they died from wars, or old age, or whatever... once they're gone, nobody really cares. We've all got our own things to worry about..."

Beau wonders, now and then, whether the Mighty Nein would be missing her, or if they'd find a new equilibrium without her, if it weren't for that thing someone mentioned about the whole world being stopped while she's gone. Just as well she can't get the answer, either way might hurt to think about.

[exaomori]

It'd be easier if this was back home. She knew what the signs of possession were back home, and she knew plenty of seals to take care of the problem. Right now, she's stuck waffling between whether or not Yukio's under some kind of spell or if someone's impersonating him for nefarious purposes. Considering that this is a shit impersonation, she's leaning towards the former.

"You thinkin' about gettin' somethin' else?" Yes, she did want to go back, why else would she suggest it? But even if he was under some kind spell, a walk would probably do him good with the way he can't get a clear word out of his mouth.

[reflash]

He tests the air with his tongue, a rapid set of up-and-down movements like a snake trying to get a better idea of its surroundings.

"No, I just don't want to go back yet."

Not with his other half still there, the reminder of just how pathetic he really was before.

[kingsroads]

He can't help but laugh a little at that. Strange knows his life is really crazy and, in all likelihood, is only going to get crazier from now on. But, that's why there's alcohol and that's why he drinks: to help deal with the craziness.

"The sad thing is, that's not the weirdest part of my life." He pauses for barely a moment before continuing. "What about you? What were you doing before you were kidnapped by a group of talking animals?"

[exaomori]

It sounds an awful lot like he's running away form something. It isn't like this was the kind of thing he actively enjoyed.

"We can walk around for a bit, I guess." Take the long way back, at the very least. Maybe scout out some places to look at tomorrow after her hangover wore off.

[reflash]

He isn't relieved. He just accepts Shura's agreement and moves on, threading his way deliberately through the crowd. There's something missing in him, and he knows it, but he doesn't know how that's possible. Isn't he the perfect part of Okumura Yukio? He shouldn't feel like there's something wrong with him. It must just be because he's not used to this yet, he's not used to feeling like the person he wants to become. Or it might be the alcohol. He doesn't know.

[whattaprick]

Lambert pauses.

"'Not existing' is usually the same as dying for most people, I think." He'd just expected something a little gorier might have been involved, but then again, if it's souls, there can be a lot of violence with relatively little blood to show for it. That being said, she completely loses him when she starts talking about cards in her, which just gets a blank look.

The purest power of the earth, though, that's at least a little bit relatable (but why is the 'moon' a part of the 'earth'). He's had experience with that before, in another world, though he supposes he underestimated how important cards really were where Reira and Yuya are from.

"Yuya told me once your world doesn't have magic," Lambert says, absently. "That sounds a lot like magic to me."

[soft_focus]

...

"....Oh." Penuel catches it first, with Reira furrowing her brows. Well.

"...It's still not Yuuya that died then," she remarks with a bit of a confused frown. "That was Zarc that broke into new people, not Yuuya. Yuuya just got possessed for a while." The entire divide and non-divide is really the biggest matter of miscommunication for the two.

But as it is. Reira shrugs. "...Mnh...I don't think it...normally has magic?" she tries.

"Very unique..."

"...It was the only magic thing I ever saw..."

palate cleansing cuteness time

[whattaprick]

Lambert cocks his head, considering. He wouldn't really say he has a favorite color (and absolutely 100% no one has ever asked him that before) but if he had to pick one ...

"Red," he says, finally, lips curling slightly. Steven's obviously thinking about it, and that's amusing.

[whattaprick]

Lambert shrugs, indifferent.

"It doesn't seem like Yuya sees it that way. He said 'we died when it happened' and they got reincarnated." So it seems like either they have different memories of the event, or radically different interpretations of the same events. It's no skin off his nose, either way, but it's obvious this is maybe something Reira doesn't really grasp.

"Thanks for telling me about it, though," he says, after moment. "Even if he told you not to."

Oops.

[soft_focus]

"Already knew!!" the fox snarls, puffing up.

Reira as well scowls, no longer calm in the slightest. "You were the one I talked to before I made the promise..! You already knew everything I promised not to talk about..!" And.... "...And he isn't Zarc...! I keep telling him that, because he keeps getting sad about the things Zarc did, but that's not Yuuya..! Yuuya didn't do any of those things, just like Yuugo didn't! Zarc became different people..!"

"If Zarc becomes someone new, it is New and not Old!"

[whattaprick]

Lambert touches a hand to his chin, unruffled by the fox daemon and Reira puffing up. He's seen worse displays of temper.

"Does Yugo ever talk like that?" Because he has a very hard time imagining it, somehow. "Maybe Yuya just got the part with all the guilt. Does he even remember doing all the things Zarc did?"