⇨ 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

[betheman]

"Mn-!" Gongenzaka does just that- though somehow despite seeing the phone in Yuuya's hand, he doesn't quite connect the dots on what's about to happen. He simply ducks downward a bit, blinking with wide eyes. "...Alright..."

Ok now what-

[hippocarnival]

It's a selfie, Gon. Yuya leans back into Gongenzaka, and strains to hold the phone out so he can capture both of them clearly in the image. It's shaky, but he's got a wide grin regardless. "Come on, smile!"

[betheman]

"Mn, smil-" OH. He jumps as he realizes the camera for the phone is flipped around now, their faces showing on the screen. "AUH-!! Yes-!" he starts, flustering a bit before moving a bit closer to the other.

"Ah... 'C...Cheese'..!" Well the smile is far less awkward than his stammering, at least.

[hippocarnival]

Yuya continues to hold his exaggerated, toothy grin while Gon shifts into view. "Okay! One, two, three... cheese!"

And then he snaps the photo. About five or six times, because it's honestly hard to keep it steady enough to get a good shot.

[betheman]

"Auh..." Aha....the smile is feeling a bit strained....

Gongenzaka stretches out a vine, moving to add some support. "...Try now!" he declares, beaming. That should be better, yes?

[hippocarnival]

"Thanks!" That does make it a lot more stable, and Yuya takes one more shot before pulling his phone close again. This time, he actually navigates to the gallery and flips through all the pictures he just took, of both of them and of Gongenzaka (attempting to) pose. His head is turned down to see, but there's a faint expression of fondness as he looks at them.

[betheman]

Gongenzaka if anything ends up closer still, as Yuuya looks through the photos. His face is practically on top of the other's shoulder, his vine pulled back as they both stare at the pictures. The beast seems to rumble slightly as they look- his face shining a bit as he smiles.

"....You are good at taking photos, Yuuya," he compliments. "...They came out well..."

[hippocarnival]

Yuya looks up, briefly caught off guard as he tilts his head to look at Gongenzaka--how close they are, though, he can't quite meet his gaze and instead his nose brushes against Gon's face.

"It's just a good camera," he laughs a little, bashful. "I just pressed the button."

[betheman]

His head pulls back with surprise, the fur ruffled and fluffing up as he blinks. "Mn-! ...It is also still a phone however," Gongenzaka insists. "Therefore, there is at least some skill involved! Do not downplay your achievements, Yuuya..!"

[hippocarnival]

Yuya blinks rapidly as Gongenzaka jerks away, freezing for a moment before his expression goes a little crooked. "Okay, okay!" He still thinks he's being given too much credit, but...

He turns away, the excitement fading as he tucks the phone back into his pouch. "I think the parade already left."

[betheman]

"Aauh," Gongenzaka confirms, standing up straight again. "...We watched what we could through to the end however...so I, the man Gongenzaka, should say it was worth it, yes?" As he laughs, his daemon simply purrs from the side, slowly closing her eyes. "But then..."

Less awkwardly than before, he turns to Yuuya. "What should we do next then, Yuuya.."

[hippocarnival]

Yuya shrugs. "Walk around and see what's interesting?"

He shoots Gongenzaka a brief smile, before immediately taking the lead with the expectation that Gongenzaka's going to follow. He doesn't get very far before he stops in front of an alley, where something on the opposing street seems to catch his attention.

And then he just takes a shortcut between the two houses, curiosity gripped. It might be a tight fit for Gongenzaka, though.

[betheman]

"Hahahaha-!" Naturally, Yuuya has no idea either, he sees. Well. With a nod, he follows after- trotting along at a good pace, while Marishi takes up the rear. He doesn't even think about the narrow space between the houses.

...

Well, until he starts. Trying. "Auh-" Shit.

"Mnh... It is...rather tight..." He's going to just...Squish....through...

[hippocarnival]

Yuya doesn't notice until he's almost at the other end of the alley--and then he hears Gon's grumbling get more distant and he stops, looking over his shoulder.

It's not that he isn't aware Gon isn't huge, it's just he doesn't think about how huge means he has fewer spaces he can comfortably fit in, unlike Yuya. His brow knits as he turns around to face him. "You're, uh, not getting stuck are you?"

[betheman]

"AUH-! O- Of course not!!" he flusters, squirming through. "I, the man Gongenzaka...just need...to..."

There is a fair amount of twisting to take advantage of his flexibility- he squirms and scrambles, and then finally with what almost sounds like a pop...

Falls out on his front. "Hff-!"

[hippocarnival]

Gon is probably lucky for that flexibility. Yuya waits for him to get closer, closer, until he's at a point where Yuya has to start backing out of the alley to give him room. Mostly, he's keeping his eyes on Gongenzaka in case he really does get stuck, or need assistance.

As such, Yuya's moving much more slowly and isn't remotely prepared when Gon jerks forward. He realizes too late, holding his hands out to press against him with not near enough force to stop all of Gon's weight from shoving him over as well as he goes toppling forward. "Wai-aah!"

[betheman]

There is a fair amount of yelping and shouting, and even more scrambling as Gongenzaka tries not to crush his friend. "AUH-!! Y-YUUYA-!" he yells, hurriedly sitting up and back. "Yuuya-! Are you-"

PLEASE DON'T BE INJURED

[hippocarnival]

Yuya does hit the ground back first with a thud, wheezing out a breath when Gon presses on top of him. But it's not really less constricting than those bear hugs, and he's quick enough off that Yuya's able to breathe deep and recover oxygen.

"Ow." He rubs his head, looking a little cross-eyed at Gongenzaka. "I'm--I think I'm fine!"

He moves to sit up, slowly. He's sore, but nothing's broken.

[betheman]

Probably just as sudden as one of those bearhugs too. "Hauhh....are you certain..." he begins, frowning a bit as Yuuya rights himself. Well.

He seems...alright. Gongenzaka looks back at the 'short cut', shaking his head. "Auh....w-well, perhaps we should better pick our travel routes, from this point onward..." And just where are they now anyway? He can see some flowers floating around, and some lanterns as well....

[hippocarnival]

Yuya looks a little sheepish. After a moment he moves back to his feet, stretching a little to ease himself back to mobility before he looks around at all. It's definitely not a section of the city that's for actual shopping--it's a circular path between houses with a couple benches around a large, fenced in tree. The lanterns hang from the houses, but there's something ethereal about the tree itself, the way it seems to shed small orbs that shift into flowers that gently float in the air until they reach the ground.

Yuya thought it as another series of shops, but honestly this is still good. "Oh, wow..."

He of course wanders to the tree immediately to check it out, his knee bumping against the bench and causing him to teeter sideways to sit on it as he looks up. "This is so cool!"

[betheman]

"Auh...it almost reminds me of the Summerlands," Gongenzaka murmurs, Marishi only now coming through the alley to watch in silence. Briefly, he reaches out a hand- "Mn, careful-" But Yuuya sits himself on the bench fine, and so the other relaxes.

Taking a seat near the bench himself, he looks around with wide eyes. "I, the man Gongenzaka, almost expect them to start landing on us..." At least they're not wisps- though the show is certainly a blend of that and a dance of fireflies, he feels.

[hippocarnival]

A couple just might, the way that they fly around without any aim. Obstructions to their path are sure to stop them.

"Yeah..." He knows exactly what Gongenzaka means when he refers to the Summerlands, and he smiles warmly as he remember the small miracle they had found. It does have a similar sort of peace, and it's one of the increasingly outmatched memories from the carnival that are good. He found out Gon was ticklish, then.

He tears his gaze away from the tree, finally, turning to Gongenzaka with a soft, content expression.

[betheman]

It's a tempting thing to invite- they're not flame after all. Gongenzaka tentatively holds out one of his furred fingers, letting a firefly-thing land upon it with that thought, a gentle smile on his face as he stares at it. For a moment he doesn't even realize Yuuya is watching.

But when he does, he ends up moving that same hand toward the other, so that the small 'flower' of a light unfolds before their eyes.

"...I, the man Gongenzaka...am glad you brought us here, Yuuya." Maybe it wasn't deliberate but...

"...I would not have found this area, otherwise..."

[hippocarnival]

"You like it?" Yuya's gaze drifts down slightly to the flower, and he gently plucks it from Gongenzaka's hand. It's shape is almost like a cherry blossom, and it's probably just as fragile. He holds it carefully, cupped on his palm.

He laughs faintly to himself. "It's a surprise for me, too. But this place is really pretty." He continues to stare at the flower, thoughtful, his gaze glazing over a little as his thoughts become distant. He doesn't bring himself to look back at Gongenzaka, though, not yet.

[betheman]

"Aauh. As I, the man Gongenzaka said..." ...Well, he said it reminded him of the Summerlands at least, but nothing more. He watches Yuuya take the flower, still staring at it softly. "...I, the man Gongenzaka, enjoyed our time in the Summerlands. It was peaceful, despite the moment with the wisps. ...It is good to be reminded of such times with you."