⇨ 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

[chronosynthesis]

"I was not expecting to be allowed to return it." There's the option of trashing it, but why would he be so wasteful?

"How are you faring, Joker? I hope better than others since Eden." Things sort of went sideways for a bit there.

[pipers_son]

"Ha ha, Carly would probably be offended if ya tried!" Joker laughs a little bit. "Besides, they're nice souvenirs~." And, frankly, with the kinds of things they've ended up getting into with just the past year alone, they could all use a nice thing or two. They won't stay steady otherwise.

...Speaking of which.

He'd been honestly hoping that their last 'stop' wouldn't get brought up, and Joker glances away with a chuckle. Reaching up, he rubs the back of his neck. "I'm doin' better than a lot of other folks, at least... Although that hardy makes me feel better."

[chronosynthesis]

Sorry Joker, but Syrlya is bad at vacation and defaults to talking about work.

"I understand, but the worst are recovering. I do not believe we have ended quite as hopelessly as our escape from the Manor was."

Although, in all honesty, it's hard to get worse than the Manor. Even with iron.

[pipers_son]

Syrlya, please have your next contract be about how to learn how to have fun.

Bringing up the Manor is a guaranteed way to make Joker snort, his smile twisting a little as he glances away. "That one was definitely a special case," he points out. "Hell was nearly as bad, and I wouldn't say this one was particularly great, either. We just had a better idea of what we were gettin' inta, a little bit." They all had a goal they were aiming for, and they certainly reached it... Somehow. In quite a way.

[chronosynthesis]

Syrlya shrugs, folding his arms. "Considering much of the carnival is still civilians who are still not equipped for this, we could have lost more had we not taken into account out previous experiences. I would not regard any of these visits a special case, or else we won't learn anything from them."

It's too easy to blow something off by regarding it as a unique circumstance. But the reality is a lot of their costs have been signs of the groups weaknesses, and not simply getting in over their heads. "I expect we will have even less of an edge regarding the beast."

[pipers_son]

"Oh, without a doubt." Always think in terms of worst case scenarios, after all. With this many mess ups, it's almost a given. Besides, at worst they'll be over-prepared, but they'll be pleasantly surprised.

Joker isn't particularly sure they'll get that second half, honestly.

"Have ya been talkin' about all of this with the others, too?"

[chronosynthesis]

"The others... meaning the rest of the Militia, or the carnival as a whole?" While he's not against anyone learning to defend themselves, he hasn't considered teaching it. He's just used to taking care of people's problems for them. Especially the fatal ones.

"I think we could only benefit from unifying our efforts. The hard part is getting everyone to actually cooperate with it. There's hardly been any structure to the carnival."

And that makes everyone less adapt to becoming more structured. Especially with the Ringmaster's lack of guidance.

[pipers_son]

"Eh, either or, I think." Both suit his purposes well enough, and Joker leans back with his ears flicking up a little in time with the other man's voice. "I'm just wondering, since it's a vacation, how well folks have taken ta that."

Well, perhaps he should explain that. There's no point in being vague. "Little vacations like this, most people take the time ta catch their breath and not think about whatever life-or-death situation we've just scrambled out of. At the same time, well... S'not like we get any other time ta plan things out, sometimes."

Also sometimes their vacations just go to shit.

[chronosynthesis]

Syrlya raises a brow. "I have not been seeking anyone in the carnival to interrupt their vacation time in regards to reevaluating our structure or mission. I'm not a supervisor."

Back up, sure, but there's a difference in taking the lead mid-battle to assure their survival and success, and trying to initiate an evaluation and meeting outside the decision of what he regards as the carnival's proper leadership.

[pipers_son]

Okay, that makes him laugh a little. "So yer just buggin' the supervisors on their own! I see how it is~." He's teasing, he swears. Really.

"But, then, are ya sure I'm the one ya want ta talk ta on that sort of thing?" He taps one finger to his chest. "Since I'm in charge of diplomacy-" Which he's fairly certain is never going to get used, but, hey. "-it's not like I have too much experience on how ta do things like the espionage of last time. The best that would be good for would be, hmm... Somethin' like the Prince's manor."

Wow, he can almost say that without tasting vile on his tongue. Amazing.

"And we'd ideally not wanna get inta a situation like that again, where we're at such a heavy disadvantage."

[chronosynthesis]

"I-I really only meant to ask how you were doing!" He waves his hand. He's just also really bad at not focusing on things like 'work' and 'everyone else's imminent mortality'.

"Anyway, as Supervisors I presumed that you were all putting your different focuses together, to create a stronger whole." They're one carnival after all. Absently he reaches to rub the back of his neck before folding his arms. "Diplomacy is what makes us allies, and that can be a deciding factor in--well, any of this."

At least half of what they did in the Pact was diplomacy, something Syrlya had to oversee quite a bit of for its security and success. He doesn't know much of the carnival's team, but... "Truthfully, when we left for the barrens having a more dedicated delegation would have been very helpful. We quite nearly soured that part of the mission."

[pipers_son]

"Ha ha, a good show, then!" He understands how hard it can be for workaholics to engage in small talk. Joker is, after all, currently dating one. At least he did try. Joker gestures for him to walk along with him. They may as well sightsee while they talk.

"We're still gettin' used ta workin' like this, it seems... When we were a carnival, it was fine ta go about this way, but now we're gettin' inta more and more dangerous stuff. The change of priorities for our different groups has become different as well." Carefully reaching underneath his ears, he folds his fingers behind his head. "Not ta mention, it's not like we have any professionals under the new group I'm in charge of. We're charismatic, but..."

[chronosynthesis]

Syrlya falls into step beside Joker, loosely folding his arms.

"Most of the people here aren't professionals." At least, not for their new designated military tasks. Because that's basically what this is. "And yet we've claimed two of the miracles. We are all doing our best given the circumstances."

He... hopes. "So try not to discourage yourself before you have even been put to test. What you and your team will do is extremely important when we are caught in a battle of power well above our heads."

[pipers_son]

"Ha, thanks for tryin' ta cheer me up, Syrlya." He reaches over to pat him on the shoulder, once again ignoring personal boundaries. He doesn't regret it. Now, his creeping and eternal pessimism? well, he regrets that a little bit. Yet his brain can't help picking at it again and again, and how far they all might have to twist their morals. With Psi having left as he did, well. It weighs on a guy.

"I suppose we have the element of surprise," Joker muses. "We're the underdogs, aren't we?" And some of them are absolutely bonkers, especially when backed into a corner. Power doesn't mean anything if you don't exert it all, and smartly. "Well, hopefully we'll get that chance. It'll be nice ta have more victories under our belts, and with minimal death or injury."

To ask for none? Listen, this is as far as his actual optimism goes.

"And if not that, a chance ta relax, right?" He flashes a grin at him. "Have ya been doin' that much yerself?"