⇨ 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

[whattaprick]

“Because I said something that hurt you to get you to do something I wanted,” Lambert answers, calm in the face of her sudden temper. “And I’m sorry for that. But hurting people is something I’m good at.”

[lordofthering]

"It's something I'm good at, too," she says, deflating slightly as she finally receives the apology she's been waiting for. Sort of, anyway. "Which is why I don't need the people I'm trying to trust using it as a weapon against me. It had just come out what happened between Winter and I, and... I thought you might understand that."

[whattaprick]

“I understood later,” Lambert shrugs, looking sheepish. “But saying ‘I didn’t mean it’ felt stupid. Because I did mean it back then. I was already pissed off, and you seemed...”

He pauses, trying to think of the word.

“... like you weren’t sure of yourself.” He looks at her, searchingly. “And that’s something I wanted to ask about too.”

[lordofthering]

She looks guarded, but allows it.

"What is that supposed to mean?" she asks.

[whattaprick]

“We’ve got two miracles under our belt,” he begins. “And assuming the plan’s still the same, we’ll probably be looking for the last as soon as we get out of here, and the Courts will have even more of a reason to come after use. We’re almost definitely going to get screwed a few times—” He raises his hand to forestall protest. “—not saying we won’t do our best not to, just being realistic. Assuming we actually succeed and get all these Miracles under our belt, well...”

His tail swishes in the air, his gaze steady and inquisitive on the Ringmaster as he scratches his fingers over his chin.

“Well, what’s next? What are we going to do? What do you want to do?”

[lordofthering]

Her crossed arms shift into a body-hugging position as she withdraws her gaze, obviously hesitant in her answer. That's a pretty big question.

"...Ideally, it would render the Courts too afraid to ever bother me again," she says. "I wouldn't have to do anything but continue living my life."

[whattaprick]

Lambert pauses to digest that for a bit, mulling it over.

“And you’d be happy with that?” he asks. It’s not meant to be a mean question, and his lips quirk slightly to soften the pointedness of it as he looks away to spare her the directness of his gaze.

“Maybe it’s because I’m mortal, but it’s kind of hard to wrap my head around that. Working this hard for things to stay exactly the same ... it’s like running in place.” He pauses. “You’ll grant wishes for people so they can change their lives, but that’s all you want for yourself?”

[lordofthering]

He exhales slowly, and this time it's with genuine weariness - the kind that only comes from a long, long life. She shakes her head to herself.

"My ideas for a better life never seem to work out," she says. "Exerting my power over the Courts... just seems like it would wind up causing the same kind of mess all over again, doesn't it? Everyone else's wishes are so achievable in comparison..."

[whattaprick]

“That’s why I don’t get involved in politics,” Lambert shrugs. “They always end up a mess.”

There’s a pause, where he considers what to say. Being the better half of Lambert doesn’t mean he magically knows how to comfort someone.

“Well, if that’s what you want, then we’ll get it. Figure out everything else along the way.”

[lordofthering]

"That's what I've been trying to do," she says, finally coming to sit down at the table with a sigh. "Figuring it out as I go along. For the Red Beast, though, I have no idea where to even begin. I would say the Wyldlands, but I was born there and have seen nothing to match what we've learned..."

[whattaprick]

Lambert, automatically, pours her a drink and pushes it over.

"Well, we know it's got a mind of its own. Could it change its shape to something else?" The other Miracles transform themselves; it only stands to reason.