⇨ 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]

"Hffff...." Gongenzaka looks absolutely ridiculous, sprawled out in the water- but there's not much one can do when they're a 'taur. As it is, the many vines and leaves floating around with him practically make the water into an odd pond or something- complete with steam rising through the hole on his back, actually.

He beams widely as Yuuya arrives, waving. "Auh, Yuuya!" he starts, a bark coming from Suzu as well. He blinks, and follows the other's gaze. "Auh...this... ...While it is at least tasteful, I, the man Gongenzaka, confess to being somewhat disappointed that Zangetsu allowed half of myself to do this..."

It appears to beeeeee...a tattoo. The phrases are well picked, and between two swimming koi however- 'One Life One Experience' at one side, 'Wake from Death and Return to Life' on the other.

That last one is painfully appropriate actually.

[hippocarnival]

"Is that a tattoo?" Gon doesn't actually verbally confirm what it is at all, but Yuya's having a hard time seeing it as anything else.

He splashes closer, squinting at the ink as he leans in a bit to see. "That's a real tattoo? That's not gonna go away when we go home is it?"

[betheman]

Well just rub it in why don't you IT'S HIS BODY, YUUYA,

"...Auuh. ...It is..." He frowns, looking very much like he'd rather not think about the matter at all. "I, the man Gongenzaka, suspect that the most that will likely happen is it will either encircle empty space, or perhaps a black 'spot', in the place of the hole itself..." he mutters, looking down to it.

[hippocarnival]

"I meant the tattoo." Like, does he know how he's going to explain that to his parents? That reminds him they don't entirely know the nature of the hole itself, except it doesn't look abnormal to Herbert (which doesn't say much) and Yuya's expression twists with worry. "Some of this stuff isn't going to go back to normal after we go home, is it?"

Since he just, well, assumed Gongenzaka was going to let the magic wash off when they return. He certainly hadn't imagined anyone from their world actually keeping any of this.

[betheman]

Yuuya.

"............That is what I, the man Gongenzaka, said." 'It is', Yuuya. Wasn't that enough? "What I am saying as well is that I, the man Gongenzaka, am uncertain as to what will happen to anything surrounding the tattoo once we return home...I, the man Gongenzaka, highly doubt that this 'hole' is going to be as visible as any 'scar' after all." Even assuming it was a faerie change.

If it wasn't, who knew- would it be permanent? They'll never know.

[hippocarnival]

Yuya tilts his head, more confused by that response than worried. "If... if it's just fae magic it's going to reverse itself, right? That's how this is supposed to work?"

But the hole wasn't from the Ringmaster's magic, so was that the whole problem? Shit, what would happen with an enormous hole in his chest of it doesn't reverse?? Yuya had been expecting a lot of the additional weirdness to wash off, and it's suddenly overwhelming how much more they might have to immediately explain when they return.

[betheman]

Uh oh. "Mnh- W-well, certainly, for those who determine it to be the best course of action..." He seems to be half answering that one.

Shame he can't just break into two again.

[hippocarnival]

"Right, that's what I mean. It's supposed--" And then it click and he does a double take at Gongenzaka, looking bewildered.

"Are you... going to stay like that when we go home?" From the slow tone of his voice, it's obvious he hasn't even considered that being a possibility.

[betheman]

Ah.

This is not how he ever intended to be made to think about this. To think about what he wanted to keep, what he didn't want to keep.

Gongenzaka is a bit silent. Eventually, he can only cast his eyes to the palm of his actual hand.

"...So much of who, and what I, the man Gongenzaka am now... ...These things manifested as part of incidents beyond anything we had seen until that point. ...In their own sense, they were scars from those times... ...I..."

His ears droop. "...It feels as if to abandon that would be...'wrong'."

[hippocarnival]

Yuya doesn't say anything at first, sitting on it. To him, the transformation wasn't much more than a side effect. He's used to it, but he never applied meaning to it beyond 'a lot of magic'. So something feels a little off, how Gongenzaka explains it, and he has to reconsider.

His gaze unfocuses, for a moment, before he looks back up at Gongenzaka clearly and furrows his brows.

"If they're scars, then... I think you should let them heal." It must be different for Gongenzaka, who has recieved so many changes from being hurt. Are they painful for him? Yuya's become used to seeing it, but does it hurt Gongenzaka when he looks in the mirror?

He scoots a little closer, putting his hand on Gongenzaka's arm. "It's not abandoning anything to let yourself get better."

[betheman]

"Mnh?" He seems briefly alarmed by how Yuuya describes that. Getting better and healing are all good when one thinks of a painful injury, or a scar that one wishes excised and removed some how but...

Gongenzaka can't bring himself to see it like that. They are scars of a different sort, with memories and experiences he never wishes to see gone. That is the sort of scar that it is, to him.

It doesn't hurt to see in the mirror at all- it is him, and that is how it boils down.

Yuuya's tone worries him however, and he studies the other with somewhat wide eyes. "Auh... Y...Yuuya..." He swallows. "...Do you yourself see them as..."

...A problem? Or something else?

[hippocarnival]

"I don't--I mean, I wasn't planning on... keeping them. But I don't hate them?" He chuckles faintly, shrugging. "But I'm weird enough as it is."

Without adding tails and scars and all the like. He looks over Gon briefly, before settling his gaze firmly on his face. "But I don't think you should keep them just because of what happened. You didn't deserve any of that, you know? Not dying, or..."

God, there's more than he can even say. Yuya shakes his head. "You should do what makes you happy, not what you think you have to. You're going to remember this no matter what."

[betheman]

"Mnh..." He doesn't answer immediately. Mostly he just looks to the side. Ears pinned back, it seems he struggles to properly find the words for what he wants at all. "It... ...It isn't simply because of...that," he slowly says, swallowing. "It..."

Hahhh...

"...What would you do, Yuuya? ...if I, the man Gongenzaka, were to return home and choose to stay this way?"

[hippocarnival]

Oh. Yuya blinks slowly. "What, you mean..."

He purses his lips, looking down at himself briefly before turning his attention sideways, nervous.

"I--it wouldn't change being with you, if that's what you mean! Whatever you choose, we can work it out." He nods decisively. At least that much he's certain about.

"But I haven't considered keeping... you know, if I'm not fae anymore, I might not even see it."

[betheman]

Yes. He might not see it. There would be a good chance, an enormous chance of that much. But seeing isn't all that matters after all. After all there is also...

"You would know, however," he says calmly. Quietly, as he stares at the water. "...What was, and was not there."

[hippocarnival]

Yuya bites his lip, but Gon's worry draws him to look back up much more sternly.

"And I asked to kiss you now and not once we got home, didn't I?! You're still Gongenzaka, that hasn't changed at all."

He makes an awkward grab for Gongenzaka's hand, reassuring. "And if it's like this, we'll figure all that out."

[betheman]

Suffice to say Gongenzaka still looks slightly unsure. His brows are furrowed, and for all the faith he has, well...

There's things where that just gets harder, honestly. "...I, the man Gongenzaka, can't change anything about myself right now," he starts, swallowing. His hand is taken, and he continues. "...Therefore...I had worried..."

But he trails off- because it feels as though there would be no point, and that it will be nothing but whining if it goes on. He simply sighs, a slightly relieved sound, and sinks a bit into the water. Well...if he says it's fine it's...fine, isn't it?

...It's fine.

[hippocarnival]

"I know that," he responds, leaning his back against the edge of the bath. "There's still..."

His eyes roll up as he mentally counts down. "Like, ten more months? We'll probably both keep changing until we leave."

He holds his other arm up a little, looking at the scales that cover his elbow and the back of his hand. He hasn't changed as dramatically as Gongenzaka, but he's still weirder than before.

[betheman]

"Mnnh. It is quite a lot of time," Gongenzaka acknowledges, nodding. He does huff. "...One would think that I, the man Gongenzaka, would stop picking up new things, and yet..."

Well. Whatever. He actually sort of likes the hole already too- it's a good place for flowers to come through. For new things.

And it made a good frame for this tattoo he's finding himself pleased with.

Ah well. "...At the least, there is likely time to ask how a 'permanent glamor' shall function..."

He's. Sort of wondering.

[hippocarnival]

Yuya pauses, then shrugs helplessly. "I guess it'll be a lot like how it was in Wismuth?"

That's the most recent approximation of Gon looking like his old self that Yuya can think of, anyway. "When things calm down, we can always ask the Ringmaster..."

After all, it'd be her magic, wouldn't it? He lowers his arm, looking back up at Gon. "We don't really have to think about it yet. Right now, things are like this."

[betheman]

Hmm. Wismuth is a good way to think about it, he realizes. That or Alola, but Yuuya wasn't there... "Hmn..." He ponders it, before giving a laugh. "Hah! Indeed- if we should need the specifics of how it functions, I, the man Gongenzaka, am certain she would gladly answer!"

Ah....though. "...As you have said however...I, the man Gongenzaka, doubt we shall see use of the glamor before we are finished with this 'hunt'..."

[hippocarnival]

Yuya shrugs a shoulder with an absent, confirming sound. Yeah, they probably won't have a reason to go to a place they're going to have to hide as humans... but then, he wouldn't have expected they'd have to go to a place to hide as animals, either.

Right now, though, he's not inclined to dwell on that. When their little break is over, it's going to be all back to business. And he's doing what he can to be ready when that time comes--but selfishly, he also just wants to spend time making some happier memories to hold onto when things get tough again.

So he lets the silence settle comfortable between them while they finish soaking. Occasionally, he steals a sideways glance to Gongenzaka without grabbing any attention. But it's not until they're out of the pool and changing back into their clothes that he makes a decision. He doesn't wait long after Gon is done before grabbing his hand and tugging. "Hey, come with me for a bit."

[betheman]

The soak is exactly what he needs. It soothes any awkward tension that came from the colliding of different activities in two bodies, and helps alleviate all the iron sting from a few days ago- not to mention, the hang over. Once they're out of the water, he's changing into a yukata it seems- handily sewn up in two parts for the poor taur's sake.

Gongenzaka turns as his hand is taken, blinking- but nodding. "Mn? Where do you wish to go, Yuuya?"

[hippocarnival]

"Just my room." Nowhere fancy this time, but Yuya's just not bold enough to even give a cheek kiss in the public bath... and he feels like he has something he needs to prove, if they're going to do this (they're really doing this).

He glances over his shoulder, hoping Gon is going to walk with him because there's no way when he starts that he'll be successful dragging him. "You didn't have anywhere else to be, right?"

[betheman]

"Mn, I see!" No he doesn't. But he's absolutely walking with the other, no need for dragging. "I, the man Gongenzaka, had merely intended to return to my own room- so I do not indeed have anywhere else to be!"

So it's fine to go to yours, in other words.