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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He spends most of his time in-transit recovering from Eden, Yuusei does. He sleeps a great deal more than he otherwise would if he had the energy to move about, but that's what iron poisoning will do to you, one might suppose. It takes a little while for him to work up an appetite to eat thanks to the nausea, but once that fades away he's mostly okay. By the time the carnival makes it to Shabondamashii, he's been given enough of an opportunity to rest that he's mostly over the iron poisoning, the only evidence of it remaining being a lingering exhaustion and the occasional stumble over his own feet.

By the time they make it there, though, he's also had the opportunity to talk to Carly about some things.

In truth, most of it was actually him lying in bed while Carly fretted over him like she was Martha after he had gone and gotten himself sick from playing in the cold rain as a small boy. He hadn't said much to her at the time simply because he didn't have the energy for it; the majority of their conversations were, consequently, her talking to him rather than with him. Yet no matter his level of participation here, he absolutely took her words to heart.

As he walks along the streets of Shabon, he begins to reflect on this, on Eden, on the things he said and was told up to now; and the way it all culminates - the lies he spouted to Reira before the nephilim Lilith, the realisation that his imprisonment was due to Carly's crimes, the terribly persistent sense that those he wished to keep close were being hurt and drifting away and oh gods is that my fault? - is in the form of a terrible, gripping paralysis that clutches him to his very core.

And then he runs free in halves, each eager to flee the other whom they view as inferior, unnecessary, and ultimately a burden and hindrance to their own desires.

[DAY 92~94: RISE ABOVE THE LIGHT]

Yuusei's lighter half, despite being at a spa resort with the explicit goal of relaxing, hardly has any intention of doing so. What point is there to waste the days away in a big bath when one could be advancing one's skills and knowledge? Though pain may have been the price to pay, Eden was unbelievably beneficial to the progression of his mechanical knowledge in ways he's been dying to explore further since their departure from the now-ravaged haven. Now that he's (mostly) over his iron poisoning, he finally has a chance to do that, and do that he certainly shall.

He'll be seen around the town of Shabondamashii perusing a variety of shops instead of taking advantage of its more therapeutic facilities, meandering through bookstores in particular in search of something - anything - to sate his thirst for knowledge on the subject of mechanics and animatronics. It's unlikely that he'll be able to truly do any sort of physical tinkering within the city limits (or, at the very least, make any sort of progress in such surroundings), but even expanding his mind's informational archive is beneficial enough to satisfy him for the moment. If there are any notably interesting machines of any sort, smaller ones especially, he'll be interested in those as well.

Despite his dead-set search, he won't be rude to a prospective conversational companion, although he may approach whomever is nearby a bit awkwardly, coming up to them but taking a moment to say anything (despite very clearly intending on saying something). Eventually, with a smile, he asks,

"Find anything interesting around here? You look like you're spending your time fruitfully!"

[DAY 92-97: CONSUME THE DARK]

The same cannot be said for Yuusei's dark half.

He'll be a strange, off-putting sight even to those who barely know him; he certainly seems like he's relaxing and enjoying himself, and yet somehow he looks as though he couldn't be grumpier. When he's not taking long naps, indulging in a meal, or soaking in one of the bath areas, he can be spotted slinking around town trying to find something to do, particularly investigating some of the bars or eying the more risqué venues. Mostly, though, he'll be doing one of those first three things.

He won't seem to take notice of anyone he runs into, and he won't make any effort to greet or approach any of the carnival members he's more familiar with. He's not outwardly rude (for the most part), but he hardly acknowledges anyone around him. Should he be spoken to, he'll simply turn his head to face whoever is trying to converse and mutter a simple, "What?"

[DAY 94-97: BLACKLIGHT]

What, you thought his ideal self would indulge in any sort of self-care? Ha.

Around mid-Day 94, Lightsei will have begun to run himself ragged. Yes, he still needs sleep despite his odd soul circumstances, but like hell will he actually get any. He'll have eaten very little as well, though that, at least, is easier to combine with work or reading, so he's not completely starving.

By this point the books will have disappeared - whether that being entirely because he's simply moved on or because he cannot afford to read them in his current state is not up for admitting - and will have been replaced with several large sheets of paper and a good pencil and eraser. He sits mostly in silence by himself sketching something that's difficult to discern from afar, and when anyone approaches, he's quick to hide his work from prying eyes, occasionally even going as far as to roll up his papers for easy transportation. Whatever it is he's working on, it seems fairly intricate in the brief glances one can manage to obtain before he shields it.

"...how may I help you?" he asks, smile warm and cheery in spite of his dark and weary eyes.

[DAY 98-99: YOU SAY I DID WHAT NOW]

By late Day 97, Yuusei's split halves will have rejoined into his whole, normal self, and so the following two days can thus be used to actually relax some, which he'll be surprisingly eager to do. Yes, he'll occasionally be adding onto the sketches made by his light half while being equally-secretive about them, but he won't be nearly so laser-focused on working during this time.

Want to spend some time with Yuusei now that he's his normal self? Or are you perhaps here to collect on something one of his split selves did to you in their rampant quests for self-fulfilment? Now's your chance to do so!

WILDCARD: In general, Yuusei's going to be split for five days and whole again for two; you're free to tag him with whatever for any of those days so long as it doesn't include his self-reunion. The in-transit days are also open for threading if anyone wants to have a conversation with Yuusei while he's recovering from his wounds in Eden.

...and uh, for the sake of everyone here including myself, I'm going to assume Yuusei has by this point taken to carrying out normal hygiene routines like bathing even in his manic ideal-self state, ffs.

What?

What indeed.

It is late in the week when Carly storms over, arms crossed over her front as she glowers at Yuusei. Her eyes may well be fire itself with the intensity of the glare, and perhaps the only reason it's not literal is because she only has fire magic and not fire parts.

As it is. "I think you know exactly what, Yuusei!"

FIX.

THIS.

Yuusei shoots Carly a listless glance as he leans back across the edge of the heated bath she seems to have caught him in. It's more like a hot tub in general function, meant for multiple people of varying sexes, though this particular chamber's current traffic has left it rather empty.

Which is good for a couple of reasons, one of which being that Carly won't attract as much attention as she scolds the taur sitting below her.

The other reason is that the dark fragment of Yuusei's soul feels even less remorse for taking up the majority of the damn thing, his human arms folded along the floor as his upper back leans against the edge of the tub and his upper scaled claws resting on the submerged seat. His tail is curled around the circumference of the bottom of the bath, and his hind legs are spread wide open. He doesn't seem to care about just how indecent he's being right now. Hardly anyone else is here to judge him for it.

Except Carly, of course, but he doesn't seem to care much about that either.

Yuusei looks her up and down. His tongue runs lazily across his upper, then lower lip, highlighting a set of sharper canines.

"...I don't. Enlighten me."

"Oh, really?"

She seems a touch mad, somehow.

"You have no idea? You don't remember maybe...GETTING YOURSELF CUT IN TWO!?"

Okay, very mad. "Yuusei! You need to find the rest of you, and pull yourself back together, now! It's not healthy to be like this! ...For either of you!"

She's glowing quite vibrantly as she says this, colours flaring brilliantly with the emotion. Her eyes are also, very firmly on his face- so good luck making her pay any attention to the part where you're spread-eagle buddy.

He doesn't seem terribly fazed and simply winks an eye shut to reduce Carly's brightness a little bit. "...mm, that."

And don't worry, he's not trying to get Carly to look at his dick or anything (not that it's out BUT Y'KNOW,). He's just an asshole and he sits like one too. He sits like Jack, actually. Dark Yuusei sits like Jack if Jack had two extra legs to keep as far apart as possible from each other.

"Hardly my problem if that idiot's running himself ragged over elsewhere. I'm fine with where I am." Yuusei that idiot is also you--

Carly's tone is quite low, and had he ever seen her as a Dark Signer, he'd probably be looking for a hummingbird mark.

Or maybe he'd just roll over and sleep. "It is very much your problem," she warns firmly. "It might have been relating to that mirror Yuusei, but do remember that piece of information we found in the Athenaeum," she rumbles, fire gathering at her fists.

Yeah, yeah, good and evil are inextricable, they are one in the same; he vaguely remembers Carly's initial panic over the implications of the passage she discovered given that her form is sort of very much literal light-based. With an irritated sigh, though, he leans his head back and closes his eyes. He could care less about the contents of some book, ominous or not. He'd rather d-

...ah.

Well, that there is the problem, though, isn't it? He certainly straightens up with this realisation, frowning deeply and almost... nervously as he stares at the rippling surface of the water.

Damned if I do, damned if I don't, he supposes after mulling his options over. Either he yields to his double and his time as an individual ends, or - if the passage bears weight beyond the Silver Mirror itself - he resists and remains true to himself until they both perish. Though the amount of time it would take for the latter to happen is beyond him, the end is apparently nigh either way.

'The End' frightens him. He doesn't want that.

Seeing Carly here, though, filled to the brim with pure rage because of him, well... Some far-off part of his heart aches deeply from that.

...he wonders how long she's been like this because of him.

Abruptly, he shifts so that he can properly stand, though he takes his time getting out of the hot tub (he's bound to drag a great deal of water onto the floor with him otherwise). He shakes himself off a little bit before padding across the room to properly dry his body with a towel. "Fine," he mutters, shaking his head to free whatever droplets of water there may be from his chrome-blue hair. "If that's what it'll take to make you happy..."

He didn't bring much to wear beyond his usual, including his (clean) work jacket; and being as casual as it is by default, it takes him little time to dress himself. He doesn't look at her all the while; he can't look at her.

On the one hand the fire cools and fades, but on the other, she follows after with crossed arms again. She really needs to learn to curb this temper... "...Yuusei," she calls after him, voice at least somewhat softer. "...This isn't about making me happy, you know..."

She sighs, frowning. "...I didn't realize it back then, but with how that mirror acted, and what was being done in those gardens... ...Souls aren't supposed to be in pieces, Yuusei. ...It's for your sake..."

Yuusei doesn't say anything in response, though it certainly looks like he's trying to come up with something. He glances briefly at Carly, his eyes narrowed as if he's angry with her, but he can't quite... bring himself to be truly upset. Not with her.

"Fuck my sake," he growls as he adjusts the gloves along his arms. He knows he shouldn't have said it, but he doesn't know what else to say. "...you don't even really see me as 'Yuusei', do you?"

It's a baseless accusation, admittedly, but he wouldn't be surprised if it's true. He doesn't really even see himself as 'Yuusei'.

"You are as much Yuusei, as he is," she replies, inclining her head. "...I just hope your relaxing this week balances out what the other one did to himself..."

There's a sigh. "Hauuuh.... at least part of you had fun here I guess..."

He just huffs but otherwise walks beside her in silence. It sounds like his light half really made a mess of himself; pitiful for what should have been the 'ideal self'. It's pathetic, really.

And then he glances to Carly. "Did you have fun?" he asks, though with the flatness of his tone, it almost doesn't sound like a question.

"Of course!" She answers perhaps a bit too quickly- but her shine is brilliant, the colours fun and cheerful, and her smile honestly wide. "...And I can tell that you had some fun for yourself too~" she adds. "So... ..Enjoy at least that, ok? It's not bad to be going back to one person, you know...and maybe that other you can learn from this, or something!"

"...mnn, sure." But 'fun' is about the only word he can think of to attach to his time, even if it doesn't feel quite accurate - time spent alone, without stress, just thinking. It wasn't entirely relaxing, although it sure as hell was more relaxing than anything he's really ever been through in his entire life, but it was definitely... nice. It was nice.

His brain hardly registers the mumble that bubbles from his lips. "Did you spend any time with him?"

For a moment, Carly more determinedly moves forward. They need to get this done, and over with, and out of the way after all.

But that is only a moment. Carly pauses, and looks to him.

...

"...No more than I spent with you," she says quietly. But she does...sigh. "...It has to happen eventually, you know," she continues, her voice but a whisper.

He stares for a moment at her face, watching the way it falters and falls, and to this he frowns not with irritation but with... confusion? It's hard to make out, but he doesn't stare for too long. His eyes cast to the ground.

"...I didn't... I. Mnn." He shakes his head. "I didn't mean to come off harshly. I just wanted to know."

The more he thinks about it, the more he doesn't want to go yet, but it's like he left something unfulfilled as opposed to simple unwant. And he's sure Carly won't enjoy it, the thing he's thinking about, but what if she does...

May as well ask anyway. "You said he's resting. Spend the evening with me, and I'll go speak with him in the morning, so he's not a zombie or anything."

His tone and wording admittedly make him sound more demanding than he intends, but rest assured, Carly definitely has a choice.

"It wasn't harsh, just..."

She deflates, trailing off. She shouldn't encourage this. She absolutely shouldn't, and she knows there's a strong chance that this Yuusei acting like this means...well. Something, when it comes to what each one inherited. "...I said he passed out," she mutters, looking to the side. But....very well.

Carly gives in. "...If we're spending the evening together, where do you want to go."

It means something indeed, but good luck figuring out what that something is!

"All the more reason to let him rest for awhile," he reasons, but after that he trails off as well. Well... where should they go?

His whole self never really spent time with anyone, and while he's seen quite a few things here to do, none of it really feels like it would be a meaningful use of their time. That didn't bother him before, and the fact that such a consideration is causing him to hesitate is really... something. It's something.

And Carly herself sounds less than enthused about the whole thing, which he should have expected, and that bothers him a whole hell of a lot more than he thought it would. A whole lot.

"...I don't know. I didn't think you'd actually say yes... And I don't want to waste your time even more than I already have."

Oh man please shut him up before more embarrassing things come out of his mouth. "I'm sorry for that, I guess," he says with some uncertainty.

Ooof. Carly stares at him a little incredulously, as the other enters rambling. "...Waste my- ...Yuusei we're on vacation, I don't think we can waste each other's time..." she mutters, blinking.

Anyway. "...You really don't know where you want to go?"

He supposes that makes sense, but part of him can't quite believe it. He just doesn't know why he's so suddenly concerned about it when he wasn't before at all.

"I suppose there's no point in attempting to argue that." Which is good. He doesn't want to fight with her.

"Not really." Well, think on it for a minute then, idiot. "...I guess there is one thing I'd like to make sure I do before we leave this place, but I don't want to drag you around shopping with me. I doubt that would be much fun by any means."

Not a point in arguing at all, nope. But, Carly is still at least humoring him- especially when he says that.

"Heh!? Drag me around!? Yuusei, wouldn't that normally be the opposite..." she laughs weakly, raising a brow. "...I...If anything, I'd be more worried about me dragging you in the end..."

"This isn't 'normally', though." He sighs. He should at least try not to be such a goddamn downer. Pull yourself together, man!

"...well, if you end up dragging me somewhere, I don't think I'll mind. Maybe we can just walk around for a bit... We'll come up with something to do, and if not... Well, a stroll with you would be nice on its own."

"Ooooogh...! I'm not the one who's broken into two, you know! I'm the same Carly as ever, so let's go, okay!"

Y a y?

"I know. That's why it's not 'normally'." Come on, now, children.

He supposes as long as she kind of wants to go of her own volition, then it's fine? Either way, he sets off down the hall to exit the bathhouse.

Well!!

Well. Fine. At least they're going. Maybe they'll even enjoy themselves.

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⇨ SHABONDAMASHII

YUUSEI | OTA | ALL WEEK

CO N S U ME

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SHADOW CANT EXIST WITHOUT LIGHT YAH GOOF

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handwaves the fact that she super never mentioned lightsei was asleep

I DID THE SAME THING SO

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thread endo...