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

Being a smaller room without an external changing room, it's hard to know if it's taken without testing the door. So Yuya does just that, sliding it a crack to peek inside and see if anyone's inside. It turns out there is, and he's about to close the door and turn back around when it registers who it is soaking there.

And then he slides the door right open, pointing. "You!"

Oh goddammit. He must have forgotten to lock the damn door. It slams, and Yuya yells, and Zangetsu groans, laying his ears (each having about ten new piercings each) flat against his head.

"Oi. Not so loud," he hisses, giving Yuya a look that could wilt most plant life. He sinks up to his eyes, blowing bubbles in the water like an angry crab.

For what it's worth, this particular suite is made to look like a natural, rocky hot spring in the Japanese style. There's planted bamboo and other foliage about, perfectly placed, and huge bay windows that would usually provide ample sunlight. These have the shades mostly drawn, though, making the place darker. Most of the light that isn't peeking through the slatted shades comes from lights under the water. It's a really fancy suite!

Yuya is completely unshaken by Zangetsu's death glare, returning it with an irate look of his own. He does, at least, lower his voice as he marches in and slams the door shut behind him so he can yell in relative privacy. "You were with Gongenzaka, and now he's got piercings and a tattoo. Is that your fault?"

He's really less upset about the piercings than the permanent body ink that he's going to have to explain to his parents.

The glare only intensifies. He ignores the questioning in lieu of a threat.

"Listen here, brat, if you don't lower your damn voice a few decibels, yer gonna make me get out of this bath. You do not want me to get out of this bath."

Yuya puts his hands on his hips. "I did. And you didn't answer my question."

He wants to know how much blame needs to be applied here. Given Gonenzaka was drunk, he's expecting a lot.

At least that seems to be enough for Zangetsu, who sighs with the kind of inflection reserved only for those who are the most inconvenienced right now.

"Yeah, I might be partially responsible. All I did was show him a good time, and I didn't force him to do anything he didn't want to."

That's not enough of a reassurance for Yuya, whose shoulders only hunch tensely. "You couldn't tell he wasn't in his right mind? He was drunk, and he'd never drink on purpose!"

Maybe it's just obvious for Yuya since he's known him for years, that even the more stable side hadn't been the behavior he'd expect from his friend. And sometimes he surprises him, but not like that.

"I knew he was split in half, idiot. I probably knew before you did," he says, somewhat insulted. "I wasn't quite sure what it meant, but I could at least tell that the version of Gon I ran into was more willing to have some fun. But it was still him."

A pause, and then Zangetsu rubs his temples. "I was also very drunk."

"Drunk before or after you took advantage of him?" Yuya squints, folding his arms. Of course it was him, but it didn't mean it was a him that could be trusted to make reasonable permanent decisions. Like tattoos at fourteen. And then Zan left him there!

"What else did you do?"

Zangetsu has to think about it. He has to think about it really hard. Because honestly, his own memories of the night?

Hazy, at best.

"Weeeeee.... got drunk together, so... at the same time? And god, don't say it like that. You make it sound like I did stuff to him!" he says, his cheeks flushing a bit. "Anyway... we hung out at the bar, then we... I think we did something else for a while, I don't remember. Then we went to the tattoo and piercing parlor. And then I guess I left him there?"

He groans.

"... Sorry about that bit. I shoulda at least seen him back to his room."

It wasn't what he meant (using Gon's lack of inhibitions to go on a reckless drunken tirade is still advantageous), but Yuya picks up on the innuendo.

"I know you didn't do that--" Yuya cuts off, then bites his lip when he almost hisses. "You better not have done that."

Something snaps.

That gets a snarl. Zangetsu stands in the bath and unleashes a concentrated burst of reiatsu, like a searing hot wind, strong enough to knock Yuya off his feet, and cause general mayhem in the private bath room.

"I WOULD NEVER!" he roars, eyes flashing. "Gongenzaka is my friend, and the only reason you aren't dead for saying something like that to me is because he loves you!"

He bares his shark teeth in a fierce growl, wet hair whipping around him like tentacles from the force of his anger -- then he carefully sits back down. When he speaks, his voice is quieter, but no less full of malice.

"Get out."

Yuya's eyes widen as he knocked backwards, flinging his hands back in an attempt to catch himself as he hits the ground. He tenses up, still while Zangetsu yells, and let it never be said he isn't terrifying. Yuya saw first hand the kind of carnage he was capable of, and there's a primal fear of him that starts bubbling to the surface.

He scrambles back, instinct keeping him from making any too-sudden moves until Zangetsu tells him to leave. He stumbles to his feet and rushes for the door.

His temper had evened out a lot since joining the Carnival. One could even say that Zangetsu had gained a modicum of self control.

But the way he misconstrued Yuya's meaning, coupled with a pounding headache... it didn't make for a good combo.

After Yuya is clear of the door, there are footsteps and then the loud latching of the lock behind him.

⇨ SHABONDAMASHII

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