⇨ 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

EARLY WEEK (Day 92-94) | OTA

[betheman]

[CLOSED TO STEVEN]

For all that Gongenzaka has been thrown through a proverbial ringer in the last two weeks, it is nothing compared to numerous others of the Carnival. In the strangest sense, he would say he got it rather easy. Yes, he was shackled with iron- and even jabbed with it initially- but the latter wound was small, and the injuries of the shackles don't quite stand up next to being slashed across with the metal.

Between that and how quickly he was released from his mirrored prison...well, he's trying to be courteous of those who were in need of more extensive care suffice to say.

Even so he could not put off asking Steven a question or two about certain skills that the boy had- and from those questions, an idea formed.

It is why he comes to the room he thinks Steven is in- both through scent, and by a brief attempt to simply feel out the other's soul while in the hall- before knocking on the door.

Sending letters doesn't quite work when they're on vacation- and it's not so urgent that he needs to use the radio. "Steven?" he calls after knocking. "...Are you there? It is I, the man Gongenzaka!"

It feels good to be able to say that without stammering again.

[Dress The Part]

Gongenzaka is not typically one for vacation- his idea of 'relaxing' is typically a good meditation underneath a pounding waterfall. Fortunately, the camping trip just before they went to Eden has loosened him up a bit.

Or at least, enough that he can summon his Daemon and keep himself literally in line on the matter.

"Ooh! Noboru, there's a good pattern..."

And in this case, that matter is clothes. "Hmmm... It is certainly simple enough..." Gongenzaka is muttering, his daemon clicking her tongue.

"Ooooh more than that, it's beautiful, goodness. We have too much going on for most typical patterns, but this one is reserved for the threading..!" She hums, pausing as she inspects the fabric. "I wonder if there is one I could wear..."

"Hm!? You wish for one as well!?"

"Ohhhh, and perhaps Suzu as well, that would be cute wouldn't it!"

Rather notably as they both speak, passersby may notice that there is a large hole directly through the back and front of the cheetah- if Gongenzaka's t-shirt is any sign, there's a similar hole hidden by the fabric.

[WILDCARD - This Top-Level covers Days 1, 2, and the Morning of Day 3 for the week of the event! Gongenzaka will be a little awkwardly wandering the areas closest to the Bathhouse during this time, and by day 2 be seen in a yukata for those who want something after that prompt.]

Wildcaaaard

[hippocarnival]

There's still a lot of day left, and that's when Yuya finds Gongenzaka. It's not difficult, and they've certainly talked in the past couple days, but there's more of a sense of purpose to it this time.

He catches him near a stall with small bonsais, cupping his hands around his mouth and calling loudly from across the street. "Gongenzaka!"

He waves before bolting across, doling out absent apologizes as he nearly crashes into people to hurry across to his friend. "Gongenzaka! What're you looking at?"

[betheman]

Gongenzaka for his part is with Marishi- both wearing some form of Yukata, though by the nature of Marishi's body, hers doesn't quite hide the hole in her chest. The pair turn from the various bonsai, before more properly greeting the boy with a nod. "Auh! Yuuya!"

"We're looking over bonsai," Marishi purrs, inspecting the trees. "There's space enough in the tent for at least one I would think..."

"Nh-! We have enough to worry for with the animals, do we not..!?" Gongenzaka protests- though given Marishi's constant pouring over the trees, he clearly wants to bring at least one home. As it is. "Auh...regardless, Yuuya! Just what are you doing at the moment yourself?"

[hippocarnival]

"Looking for you," he responds with a grin, following Marishi's gaze over the bonsai. "I wanted to see if you wanted to go look around the town together."

Which can wait a moment as he points to one of the simple bonsai and rock fixtures. "Anyway, the only pet that really needs taking care of is Suzu, right? I know you can get bonsai at home, but maybe you ca get one here and see if you like it first?"

[betheman]

"Auh- touring, then?"

"See, that's exactly what I've been telling him-" Marishi starts, only for Gongenzaka to huff.

"Mnh- With regard to food and drink, certainly, but their lack of such necessity means that they have boundless energy to put to use..! They require activity, and supervision..!"

"Oh goodness Noboru, two of them are as small as your nose..." The cat rolls her eyes. "Perhaps you'd like to help us pick one though, Yuuya..~" She purrs openly, moving to wind around the boy.

[hippocarnival]

"You can get them toys, you know. And they have each other, so they don't need your attention all the time," he states matter of factly, as the one between them who's grown up surrounded by animals. It's endearing he's so invested in his... 'gifts', but he can dedicate the same amount of time to himself. It's not a baby.

When Marishi moves around him, his hand reaches absently so his fingers just barely brush against her while she purrs while missing the hole through her back. He shoots her a smile before walking into the tent. "Do you want to start with an easy one, or do you want something big?"

[betheman]

"Auhh....the idea of a bonsai is that it is small, to begin with..." He doesn't seem to like being put on the spot by his daemon- it doesn't help that she's very clearly nuzzling the other, and he finds himself blushing as a result.

"Hmmm. We're trying to find one that looks nice, at this point. It'll be something of a project regardless- we've never raised a bonsai after all, but we're not sure how the others will react to one either!"

What if Jiichou tries to eat it.

That would be a tragedy.

[hippocarnival]

Marishi is being really affectionate, and Yuya notices. He doesn't dive down to cuddle back in the middle of the tent, even though that's briefly tempting--but he does leave one hand easily accessible for her to brush against.

"I think they all look nice." Which is absolutely not helpful, but Yuya's not terribly critical or picky about the arts. And size is relative in he multiverse.

"Maybe a cheaper one?"

[betheman]

Hands are good- hands can get behind her ears. Thank-youuuuuu...

While Marishi is otherwise distracted, Gongenzaka furrows his brows. "Hmmmnn...I, the man Gongenzaka, would rather not allow the cost to be the only factor... ...however..." He grimaces. "...I cannot recognize these species of tree either..."

Multiverse and all that.

[hippocarnival]

All right, all right, he's scratching behind the ears.

Yuya looks back to Gon raising an eyebrow as he points out the shopkeeper. "You know, that's something you can ask them about, right?"

If Gon has an excuse not to do something he wants to do, Yuya's going to counter it. Especially now of all times. "Come on, come look at the ones over here!"

the steven one

[starseedling]

Steven, at the time of Gon knocking, is basically drooling on the daybed in the main area of the room he's been staying in, probably with a few others. He'd come back just to have a quick rest, but it went on for longer than expected.

Having a visitor startles him, but more in the way of suddenly realizing you've been sleeping when you didn't mean to, rather than being woken up at a bad time. It's only then that he realizes that some tiny, blossoming rose vines are also growing around him. He did not mean to do that.

"Um, coming!" Steven says, pushing himself up. He tries to spring off of the bed, but then the ache in his gut reminds him he still has some wounds there. So, instead, he grows out the viney portion of his arm to open the door without having to stand up.

"Actually, can you come in here?"

[betheman]

It'd be peak relaxation if it wasn't accompanied by gut aches, clearly. Gongenzaka nods- not that Steven could see- and pushes the door gently aside to come in, before closing it. "Auh, thank you, Steven..!" He looks toward the other, blinking. "Mnh...I, the man Gongenzaka, assume you are still on 'bedrest' then, yes..?" A shame, given they're on vacation...

But it could be far worse he supposes. "Well...Fortunately, I, the man Gongenzaka, have only help for that to offer!"

Who would have thought that everyone being unable to not sleep while meditating could come in handy one day! Hah!

[starseedling]

Steven noodles his vine arm around, trying to figure out how to make it go back to normal. In the meantime, he shrugs his shoulders and smiles with a note of sheepishness.

"I've never gotten hurt by iron like this before," he says. "It makes everything kind of difficult..."

But enough of that, Gon is saying a thing.

"Oh! What did you want to do?"

[betheman]

"Aauh, I, the man Gongenzaka, imagine so... My own wounds were primarily contact after all," he notes, lifting his non-metal wrist. "...To be more properly struck with it... ...I, the man Gongenzaka, cannot say it is a surprise to see it has this effect." As it is.

He coughs. "Hmm! ...During our time in Eden...you visited with others through dreams, yes? Auh... N-Naturally, I, the man Gongenzaka, cannot ask too much with regard to advice for my own pursuits... ...however." Gongenzaka blinks, inclining his head somewhat. "...I did have...a question. ...When it came to your journeys...how difficult is it to enter a sleep state, typically?"

[starseedling]

He has to think about that. He hadn't had to do it under time pressure, thankfully, because they'd planned around that.

"Well, usually I was doing it when I was going to be asleep anyway or because I was unconscious..." he muses. "But sometimes it was hard to get to sleep because I was so nervous about everything. And then the other person has to be asleep, too! It makes it kind of complicated."

[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,'.

dress the part

[pipers_son]

Joker may not have warmed up to his daemon quite so readily, when he had her. She'd been just... a little too eager to be open, and he hadn't been ready to take that step just yet. Still, he can see how it helps plenty of other people in the carnival and, honestly, he's glad for it. He's here to pick through yukata himself, since that seems to be the theme here. (And Ginko might like it, besides.) It's hard not to pay those matching holes any mind... but, best he can, he does so.

This whole little quest of theirs sure is taking its toll on them...

But, right. No thinking on that. Instead, he grins a little as he comes close enough to lightly thwap his wing against one of Gongenzaka's back leg. Light hearted nonsense- it's what they all need. "C'mon, listen ta her, Zaka~. She'd know best, right?"

[betheman]

"MNH-!"

Marishi grins, and grins widely. "It's trueeee~"

Her partner scowls, crossing his arms. "This comes from the one who chooses to wear those shirts..."

"Well it's not my fault you don't let your humor show enough!" Ah, well. As it is.

Gongenzaka scratches his head, idly moving his leg away from where it was thwapped. "Mnh. I, the man Gongenzaka, simply want to be careful of what patterns are chosen...it takes a considerable amount of fabric, and time...and money for my build after all," he coughs. It's not a phenomenal cost mind, but it's enough that he does want to be careful about how many yukata he goes away with.

[pipers_son]

Joker makes an utterly unnecessary show of walking around Gongenzaka a few times, which takes forever and a half just to make sure he doesn't trip over anything, like that tail. Oh, that tail.

"I suppose that's understandable. Still, if ya think too hard on it, you'll spend all day stuck in this shop, right?"

[betheman]

"Mnh! Th-That is..."

"It's quite true Noboru, don't even deny it."

Gongenzaka sighs. "Hmn... ...We should have...two sets, I should think. There is no need for more than that."

"Ohhh, but two for you, or two each~? And what about Suzu~?" Don't push it Marishi-

[pipers_son]

"Answer the lady's question!" Joker laughs, now going for what Gongenzaka has already pulled out.

"But two either way is good. That way ya have somethin' else ta wear if one gets dirty, right?" Or torn, or burned, or wet, or whatever other nonsense might happen while they're in this world alone. A lot can happen, even when you're on vacation.

[betheman]

"MNH! We do not need so many clothes! Particularly not yukata," he emphasizes, drawing a sigh from the other.

"Well, I suppose for vacation wear you have a point..." the cat laments. As it is. He is at least considering This one.

Gongenzaka looks to Joker, a brow raised. "Just how many do you intend to be purchasing then..."

[pipers_son]

"Didn't know there was somethin' against these robes," Joker chuckles. 'Yukata' doesn't sound like too hard a word to pronounce, but he's playing it safe for now. When he's in private and it's just Ginko laughing at him, he'll give it a go.

At the look, however, he just raises his eyebrows innocently. "Well, I was thinkin' at least two myself. There are so many interestin' patterns and all, it feels like it would be a shame for just the one."

[betheman]

"MN! It is not something 'against' them..! It is simply..."

Marishi blinks. "They're just festival clothes. Not something you wear EVERY day..."

Exactly. Gongenzaka explains. "Yukata are...for an 'occasion'. It is a casual occasion, certainly, but still an 'occasion'. More than two would be...a little much."

"I suppose when we consider how often 'changes' hit, there is a point to that..."

"With you, I, the man Gongenzaka, will be surprised you only take two..."

[pipers_son]

"Oh! Well, I guess that makes sense, then." This whole atmosphere is nothing but celebration and relaxing. Thus, in that context, yukata are the perfect fit.... In more ways than one.

"Well, I'll probably get extra, even if there's no special occasions-" Joker dresses almost all the time like it's a special occasion, especially since he's gotten two arms to properly dress himself again. "-but I'll wait after a bit. I sorta have plans ta rent out a kitchen, ya see."