⇨ 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

[kingsroads]

"Even if it's not a complete understanding, I'll settle for changing things up a little bit—for all of us to think critically of the fae and of the Courts and for him to think critically of changelings and the Wyld Fae."

Strange isn't as optimistic as Yuya is about changing things entirely with the fae. He's fought in a war, he knows how easy it is just to slip into 'us vs. them' and not think about the enemy as actually being people. Perhaps if everybody did that, that could affect at least a little bit of change.

"But yes, it was bad. I don't know how much longer he would have lasted if those shackles stayed on."

[hippocarnival]

Idly, Yuya makes a mental note to look for Ignatius while they're here and see how he's doing. Eden had an effect on all of them, but it feels kind of like they've gotten used to getting kicked around in a way he probably hasn't. Not by something so much bigger and stronger, that you almost have no hope of fighting against.

He gets lost in his thoughts for a moment before jumping back to attention. "But he wasn't left that long, and things are already looking a little better for everyone, right?"

He smiles to Strange at that, because he's mostly meaning being free of his contract.

[kingsroads]

By now, they've reached Strange's room. With a smile, Strange opens the door and holds it open for Yuya.

"They are. At least for now, we've got a win and a period of rest that I plan on taking full advantage of."

Strange's room isn't a complete garbage bachelor pad, but it's definitely the room of someone scatterbrained who forgets about things like 'cleaning up'. Half of the bedsheets have been kicked to the floor and his red fire-resistant cape is spread out over the pillows. There's a few books, one of which has dog-eared pages, and a couple of empty Ramune bottles on the floor.

"If you want something to eat, I've some sweets that I picked up from the surrounding town. The mirror's in the washroom."

[hippocarnival]

Yuya laughs as he walks into the room, giving it a quick perusal but unbothered by the mess. "Yeah, I want to have as much fun as I can while we're here."

And not worry about how getting the final miracle is going to go. He does go ahead and grab some of the offered candy from the table before navigating to the washroom.

"Thanks--" he pokes his head into the bathroom before going in and facing the mirror.

hey gang who's ready for another round of ~magical bullshit~

[kingsroads]

Strange follows Yuya towards the bathroom as well. He's standing off to the side so he's not reflected in the mirror. And then, Strange starts to explain the magic.

"The first thing you need to do is convince the mirror to act as a doorway. Back home, I used a spell of revelation. Here, since we're in an area that's overflowing with magic, it's much more simple than that. Reach out with your magic past the mirror, as if you're reaching out to your destination itself."

And as he explains, Strange opens his third eye and sets himself on fire a little bit. Since he's telling Yuya all these things to do with his magic, might as well see if it's actually working.

Training Montage

[hippocarnival]

Yuya nods. Reach out past the mirror, like seeing ahead? He thinks he can manage that.

Yuya takes a deep breath, one hand resting out over his pendulum while he stretches his other hand (with the candy) out to the mirror. He realizes on actually starting that's a much more nebulous concept than it seems, so he tries to focus on the depth of the reflection, as if it's a deeper space within the mirror.

At the least, he's gotten good at getting magic to react to him. It's there, if not quite focused.

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.

[kingsroads]

Strange winces as Yuya runs into the mirror and smacks his face into it. He walks over to Yuya and bends down to try and get a better look at his face.

"Stop moving, I want to see if you're bleeding." It's said in a surprisingly parental tone as Strange looks over at Yuya's nose and face. Does rushing smack dab into a mirror mean you might break your nose? Strange doesn't know. But he wants to check.

While he mother-hens over Yuya, Strange takes the opportunity to continue the magic lessons. "Why do you think the spell failed?"

[hippocarnival]

Yuya blinks rapidly, but doesn't fight Strange looking over his face. He didn't collide hard enough to cause any bruises or bleeding to his face, at least.

"I'm fine!" He juts his lip out a little, more sore about his wounded pride than his face. He was sort of hoping Strange would tell him what went wrong, but his face scrunches critically as he tries to figure it out. "I didn't... cast it right?"

[kingsroads]

This is teaching, Yuya. Sometimes you need to figure out what you did wrong yourself so that you don't do it again (or so Strange thinks).

"Sort of," Strange explains. "Your magic reached the mirror, but I don't think it reached through it. Try it again, but when you feel the point of your magic reaching the mirror, don't do anything. Instead, try to hold the form of the spell while concentrating on your destination: the mirror in your room."

For someone whose teaching strategy is mostly making things up on the fly, Strange is doing a pretty good job hiding the fact that this is all terribly spur of the moment.

[hippocarnival]

Yuya nods. It got to the mirror, but not past it.

Absently, Yuya unwraps some chewy candy and pops it into his mouth. With that focus (it's really sweet), he turns back to the mirror and holds his hands out.

The magic concentrates faster this time, and Yuya's brow furrows in concentration as he stares hard at the mirror. But it's stalling at the surface, still.

[kingsroads]

And Strange takes a step back to better look at the magic. He can't help but frown a little. This was so easy for him when he first came up with the spell. Why is Yuya having trouble?

"This isn't a mirror," he starts to remind Yuya. "It's a doorway. Think of it like that and it might help."

[hippocarnival]

It's not a mirror, it's a doorway. Yuya's face scrunches at his own reflection. Maybe if he pretends the mirror isn't there? Or imagine his room, where he should be walking out of...

This would be easier if he had more than a vague awareness of how magic feels. If only he could see it.

It takes a couple minutes of focusing, before the magic pulls inward to the mirror, drawing Yuya forward. He thinks he's pushing it into the mirror? But it might be pulling him.

[kingsroads]

Either pushing or pulling works for Strange at the moment. He's watching intently, focused on Yuya's magic as well as Yuya himself.

"Keep it up," Strange remarks, with a little nod. "You're doing good."

[hippocarnival]

Yuya's expression lifts a little as Strange encourages him, boosting his confidence. Yuya quickens his pace with a rush, eager as he presses his hands to the mirror. The magic continues to pull in, and as soon as he connects his hands start sinking into the mirror.

He lights up with excitement, his concentration breaking as he turns to make sure Strange is seeing this as his hands sink into the mirror.

[kingsroads]

As Yuya looks over to him and Strange watches him stick his hand in the mirror, Strange gives his protege a big ol'thumbs up. However, he's got a sneaky feeling that Yuya's concentration is kind of boned and he's sticking his hand in a mirror. Source: Strange straight up did that himself.

"Keep your focus!" he advises. "You don't want to lose your concentration."

[hippocarnival]

"Huh?" Yuya's expression slips and, of course, he proceeds to completely lose his concentration when outright told not to, like he didn't even realize that was a thing happening.

With his hands halfway in a mirror. There's a long pause of bewilderment, and the magic is quite clearly no longer pulling him forward. Or pushing him out, or doing anything. He pulls once and, when they continue to be sunk in the reflection, snaps his attention to them in panic and pulls even harder. "Eh?!"

[kingsroads]

That looks stuck. Strange winces a little as he walks over towards Yuya. "Well, you started off doing wonderfully," he points out. "But get distracted by the magic after you reach your destination. I won't always be there to pull you out."

But he's there today so that's what he'll do. Strange places a hand on the mirror and starts to murmur an incantation. The surface of the mirror ripples, like the surface of a pond. Now it's flexible enough that Yuya can easily pull his hand out.

"You were almost there, though. You're close to getting it."

[hippocarnival]

Yuya looks sheepish as he pulls his hands out, shaking them a little as if there's something he wants to get off them.

"It took a while before I got the the shield to do anything," he mumbles a little, unsure if he's encouraged or discouraged by that. But Strange says he's close, so he looks up at him hopefully. "Does it work the same way when you send someone else through it?"

[kingsroads]

Maybe? It does for him, but Yuya's magic might be different. Still, Strange isn't going to vocalize that right now.

"It does. You've got to hold it open for other people, but the principle remains the same." There's a pause before Strange asks, "Shall we try again?"

[hippocarnival]

"Yeah." Yuya nods, rolling his shoulders before holding his hands out again. "Okay, here I go!"

And he puts in a lot of effort over the next hour or so, full of determination. As a first attempt, though, his results are inconsistent and he never quite gets to his room through the reflection. He does get stuck a couple times, though, so it's a good thing Strange is here to make sure he doesn't completely trap himself by accident.

Eventually he leans against the sink, letting out a weary breath. Even if it's just standing around, the amount of concentration it takes is mentally numbing. "Ugh, not that time either..."

He'd probably keep going, but neither of them did go to eat and he shouldn't practice himself sick.

[kingsroads]

Through the practice, Strange offers advice, suggestions, and help to try and get Yuya as close as possible to cast the spell. A part of him is a little annoyed that Yuya isn't picking up the spell but Strange realizes that not everyone is as quick at learning new magic as he is.

Case in point: Yuya looks queasy. Strange walks over to him and places a hand on his shoulder. "I think that's enough for the day. You might not realize it, but you've made wonderful progress. If you want to keep going, we can practice more tomorrow."

Because Strange has a feeling Yuya won't want to give up. They're too similar that way.

[hippocarnival]

Yuya blinks up at him, then smiles at Strange's assurance. If he says Yuya is progressing then Yuya believes it.

"Yeah! I want to learn as fast as I can," he say earnestly, pushing himself up straighter. It's like for a moment he forgets they're supposed to be taking a vacation here.

"... Uh, are you still hungry? I kind of dragged you away from eating."

[kingsroads]

"I am a little hungry," Strange admits. He's a lot hungry, but might as well underplay it a bit. "Shall we get food?"

Please let him get food. Strange obviously wants to get some food, but isn't outright saying it. He looks super interested in food, though.