lostcarnival | ⇨ 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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"I guess you weren't here when it was more obvious," Diet Sans says, shrugging his shoulder. "I quit drinking around the same time you showed up... and then everything that happened in the Manor was it's own reason to be messed up."

"Oh, yes, he was an alcoholic, too," Hel confirms. "Which the side with his depression will have to be careful of..."

"You're still a shit head," Dark Sans grumbles. "You just hide it better, now."

"... We've come a long way, alright?" Diet Sans says. "There's just... only so much a guy can do."

"No, I came in halfway through your Summerlands visit, after the Ringmaster came back from some sort of ordeal?" He never really asked the details because they hadn't been that important, not at the time. And right now, none of that mattered.

He nudges his elbow into Dark Sans back but doesn't let any other part of them touch. He had made a point to never touch Sans with his hands, not unless he had to. He respected boundaries of people he was attached to. "Hmm, if I had known that..." He wouldn't have offered a glass of wine or a bottle of hard cider in the past. Then again, Tyki never really drank in excess except with faerie ale. It was a pleasure, one he could control.

"It's interesting to see, given how much I've wanted to know about you. The both of you. You don't have to hide from me, Sans. Your soul is right. It's what makes you who you are. Shit head or not."

Dark Sans grumbles and rolls over, irritated but unwilling to do anything about it. He casts Tyki a glance.

"You probably just think I'm some kind of freak show that's fun to watch," Dark Sans says. "I got no other explanation for why you're bothering me all the time."

...Okay, that part is actually sort of embarrassing for Diet Sans, and it shows.

"Okay, his garbage attitude aside, it is kind of confusing," Diet Sans admits. "Even I have no idea what's going on here half the time." Meaning, between Tyki and Sans. "It's kind of hard to imagine why you'd be interested in knowing this stuff for any reason that isn't suspect."

He seems to smile a little more sincerely when Dark Sans looks his way, his fingers curling on the side of his head as he listens to his words. He looks worn, aggravated, miserable, and Tyki just wants to soothe that.

His ear cranes back to listen to Diet Sans, taking in his words as well with a confused look rolling over his face. It's baffling even to think that he even questions this kind of thing. The more he listens, the more questions start piling up one after another. It's understandable, knowing who he is as the Warden, but it's hard to see Sans as that role without seeing him actually in that role. Unless...

"Do you think I'm trying to find our your weaknesses?" he begins, his face screwing up, and he laughs, bright and cheery, "Sans, dear Sans. You're safe with me. Aren't we friends?"

Diet Sans blinks, his seven eyes slightly out of sync. Then, he shakes his head, burying his hands in his pockets.

"Nah," he says. "Nothing that dramatic." He considers it for a moment. "The whole... effortless chill, inappropriate laughter schtick is just a little unnerving sometimes. It doesn't come off as sincere."

He shrugs his shoulders.

"Maybe it's just because it looks like the same kind of shit that I would pull if I was trying to avoid showing my hand. If you really are just like that... then I'm jealous, I guess."

"If I'm honest, I've tried toning myself down around you, as not to spook you away. You always seem to hide, and I don't know why," he says instantly, trying to convey himself in the best way he can, by talking. "I can't help if I get a good laugh out of something a little light hearted."

"I'm comfortable with who I am, for everything I am, and I enjoy life and the people I come to adore," he continues shortly, not wanting to make this about him. This was Sans' time of need after all.

His hands spread wide open beside him, holding his hands out, "We all have our secrets, Sans. Anything I am hiding is for a good reason but it is nothing that is going to endanger the carnival. I can assure you of that and that my feelings towards you as a friend are genuine."

"Good to hear," Sans says, and he isn't going to argue it. Tyki has never done anything to make him think there was an ulterior motive, besides be interested in him with a intensity he doesn't really understand.

"This is kinda weird. I feel like I'm going to be annoyed by how freely I'm saying this stuff after this is over... but right now it just doesn't seem like the wrong decision."

Somehow, as Diet Sans speaks, Dark Sans doesn't interrupt - practically refusing to even react.

"I've spent a long time hiding things. It ended up becoming a habit, to the point you can't imagine why anybody'd care what's actually going on."

"This is going to sound stupid," he begins, his eyes looking away towards Dark Sans who has grown quiet, "But down in that... Underbelly. I had been down there a whole day by myself, hungry, lasting on what Miss Jennifer had to offer. I hadn't seen the kids yet. Then you came along, weak and worn out. But instead of scolding me, instead of berating me for what you should have, you said something funny."

It warmed his heart, down to the very bone, deep into his soul, like everything was going to be alright, "I don't get scared often but that was a raw experience for me. My power not working correctly, unable to get out on my own. In my world, I can do just about anything. For once I just felt... helpless."

He hasn't talked about this, not with anyone else, not even Joker, "There, something to trade for everything you are sharing. But if you tell anyone, we're not friends anymore."

⇨ SHABONDAMASHII

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