lostcarnival | ⇨ SHABONDAMASHII

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⇨ SHABONDAMASHII

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.

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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."

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.

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."

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.

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."

"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?!"

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."

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?"

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?"

"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.

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.

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."

"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.

"Y-yeah! Sorry I distracted you." Yuya lets out a short, sheepish laugh. He tosses the candy wrappers into the nearby trash. He'll let Strange lead them back through the halls, unless he's got some plans for mirror travel.

Strange's plans involve walking. Thankfully, he knows the way from his room to one of the dining halls so he's walking like a man with a purpose. There's time for chitchat before they get there, though, and Strange will happily take an opportunity to talk.

"By the way, how are you liking this place?"

Yuya falls into step beside Strange, initially taking the walk silently. Once Strange asks him a questions, though, he's quick to fall into excited chatting.

"There's so much to do! I've never been to a resort as fancy as this before. Have you seen the city yet? I only went a couple blocks, but there's a lot of cool shops around, amd someone said a parade goes through. I want to go see it with..."

He pauses awkwardly as that strikes a memory. He doesn't look back to Strange while he goes back and forth over it, considering if he wants to bring it up.

But it's just a question. "Hey, uh... you said you knew Miss Arabella when you were kids, right?" There's a furrow of his brow as he hopes he's remembering right.

Edited 2018-09-02 14:47 (UTC)

Well this is an interesting change of conversation! Still, Strange is always happy to talk about Arabella. At Yuya's question, he nods.

"We weren't close as children but we did know each other. I was off with my relatives for half of the year," said with a vague wave of his hand. "We got to know each other best when we grew up and became adults."

So they weren't quite childhood friends, like what Yuya has with Yuzu and Gongenzaka. But maybe there's still a similar enough development of feelings it'll still give Yuya the insight he's looking for.

Not that he turns back to Strange when he answers, embarrassed to even be broaching it. "Oh, so... how did you know you liked her like that, and not just as a friend?"

That's the most vague and unspecific point of advice to ask for but look, he's never dealt with this before.

It's vague and unspecific but somehow totally specific. Nobody asks this sort of thing unless they're interested in the answer. And nobody's interested in the answer unless they're nosy or want to find out things for themselves.

Strange knew there were a couple of people from Yuya's world here...just who was he asking for or about?

"I had returned home after graduating from college. I knew Arabella before but that was when I first took notice of how attractive she was. I saw other women, of course, but I enjoyed her company most of all and my thoughts kept going back to her. The point came when another man was wooing her. I thought the whole thing tremendously silly because obviously she should marry me instead. Once I had that revelation, I devoted the rest of my time to making it so."

Strange has the same slightly distant, utterly smitten tone of voice that he gets whenever he talks about Arabella. It's obvious he misses her tremendously. But it's also obvious he loves her a ton.

Yuya finally looks over to Strange as he reminisces, because Strange gushing about Arabella is less embarrassing for Yuya than him fishing for an explanation. There's open curiosity on his face as he listens attentively.

Yuya definitely hasn't been thinking about marriage when he's fourteen, but that the deciding factor for Strange wasn't just love is kind of assuring for Yuya, who has very deep love for multiple people and isn't experienced enough in those feelings to know whether it's platonic or romantic.

His face colors just a little as his gaze briefly averts sideways "Oh. And then she said yes, right?"

"Oh, absolutely not," Strange responds, with a little laugh. "I was due to inherit an estate when my father died. Arabella wanted me to get a job before we married."

That's a story and a half. Still, Strange is very genial and nostalgic about the whole thing. No ill will is held here!

Yuya laughs as well. "If that was all she needed, that means she already loved you, right?"

So it's kind of like a yes. "She didn't go with the other guy who was flirting with her."

Or any guys besides him. She was pretty and nice, he couldn't be surprised if she had other people interested. But she waited for Strange, right?

Well Yuya isn't wrong. Strange gives him a wide grin as he nods.

"It took me a while to find a job in the first place. She could have gone with anyone but waited for me."

His tone is still light, but there's a hint of sadness creeping in. God how he misses her. "She's always been the sensible one and knew me better than I knew myself. Lord knows I would have been miserable if I only ran the estate."

"That's right. Because she pushed you, you found magic, right?"

Something that also makes Strange happy. Yuya can hear that sadness--he definitely understands it. "You're getting closer to seeing her again. Just the end of your contract and getting rid of your curse and you'll be with her."

By contrast, Yuya looks at him with hope. He definitely believes they'll find a way to be together again. And he could probably focus on Strange and Arabella the whole time and forget why he was asking advice, because Strange's love it'sa so clear it's hard for him to not get invested in asking questions. Even if it's bittersweet, he obviously likes talking about her.

"I know," Strange remarks, with a wistful sigh. "I just have a few more months left."

But only a few months feels like an eternity. They're at the door to one of the dining halls: Strange pushes it open for Yuya to enter.

"I'm certain you've guessed already but I won't stay. Even if we haven't found the third miracle and the Courts are on our tail, I'm leaving when my contract is up."

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