⇨ 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

[dontpokethat]

As it happens, Ginko is still observant enough to notice something odd about Joker's body language, even if he can't pinpoint what just yet. In the meantime, though, he tilts his head thoughtfully before replying.

"I was planning to just keep taking it a year at a time. But I don't have any plans to leave, so... maybe. What about you?"

[pipers_son]

"That was the plan, wasn't it?" He wants to sort of hide behind something- a pole, a doorway, his wings- but he resists the urge for now. He might not for long, especially with an open airway available. His wings are enough for even these cramped quarters. "Pay off the debts to get my family out, find somewhere to start over. For them, at least."

For him, well... Maybe it'd be better off if they didn't have to deal with him. It's clear that he just ends up hurting people, after all... and will he even survive that long?

[dontpokethat]

"But what about you?" Ginko repeats. Then he tilts his head, watching Joker thoughtfully. "...Are you alright?"

[pipers_son]

"I'm fine," Joker says, in one of his least convincing tones. He's pretty sure he's not, honestly, but he never is, and he probably never will be. He can't say much for his other half. Maybe he'll do better. It's not a hard bar to clear. "But it doesn't particularly matter what happens ta me, does it?"

[dontpokethat]

"Of course it does." No hesitation, no freezing or stumbling over his words. "There are so many people here who care about you, Joker. What happens to you matters a lot."

[pipers_son]

"For what I can give." It almost seems at the ready to leave his mouth, and his wings twitch uncertainly as if just as ready for take off. "Which is fine. That's the way things go, isn't it? As a supervisor, or anything else." He smiles a bit, the expression strained. "I'm fine with that."

[dontpokethat]

Well, Ginko didn't actually anticipate that exact response - but his reply is barely slower, and no less firm than the last.

"For who you are." Despite it all, a wry smile pulls at his mouth. "If you had to step down from being a supervisor, to pull back and not get involved as much as you do, do you really think we would all abandon you? You know some of us would rather you did put less pressure on yourself."

[pipers_son]

"And then where would we be?" he snaps before pulling back, a sharp wince disrupting his fake smile. This is getting to be too much. His wings spread out properly, not caring who he bumps into, and Ginko has a hot second to stop him from taking off.

[dontpokethat]

"Joker."

It only takes an instant for the amusement to vanish from Ginko's voice, replaced with flat insistence, uninterrupted by surprise or wariness. He steps toward Joker, and sets a hand on his arm, speaking pointedly. "You are not the only one holding this place together."

[pipers_son]

Fortunately, it seems that only that much of a touch is enough to keep him grounded in one sense. His wings twitch, alarmed, and he recoils a little bit before trying to smile again. He's apparently really bad at it, in contrast to how he normally is.

"Well... That's obvious, innit?"

[dontpokethat]

Ginko raises his eyebrows. "Apparently not to you - at least in part. As ready as you are to ignore your own impact, you keep putting more pressure on yourself. You expect more of yourself than has ever been your job, then insist it's not enough. There's really no need for that."

[pipers_son]

Subtly, Joker tries to slip his arm out of Ginko's grip. If he can just get out of here... Meanwhile, he laughs. It's probably more worrying that reassuring. "Well, when I'm just somethin' as mundane as management, s'a bit silly ta say I do a lot, huh? Yer lookin' too much inta it."

[dontpokethat]

For better or worse, Ginko will let him pull away. He doesn't intend to trap him here long-term, not if Joker really wants to leave.

"No. I'm not looking at your job title; I'm looking at what you do."

Which is to say, way too fucking much.

[pipers_son]

That was really too easy, and Joker doesn't seem to know how to deal with it, for a moment. He just stares down at his arm where Ginko's hand was, mildly frazzled and unable to hide it. After a second, he shakes his head as if that will clear up the fog.

"No- s'hardly anythin'."

[dontpokethat]

"Is it? You fuss over everyone you supervise like they were your own family - hell, sometimes you treat the whole carnival like a bunch of lost kids to look after." He means it fondly, he promises, but also seriously Joker.

"You keep taking initiative to set up parties or rewards, too - like when Steven won that medal, or the gingerbread castle for the Ringmaster. You're always thinking of ways to make people feel appreciated, and doing the work to make it happen. ...And that's without going into how quick you always are to throw yourself into danger if someone needs help. Which you know I would rather you hold off on, but that doesn't seem to stop you." He smiles wryly, tilting his head a bit.

[pipers_son]

Bye.

[pipers_son]

No, seriously, he's fucking going. Wings out, feet off the ground, face as red as his hair. Sure, he can lie, he likes to think he can lie consistently and well... but if he's honest, he's not the half that got all the people skills, or how to react to something so obnoxiously caring.

And against something he doesn't know.... he bolts.

Sorry, Ginko.

[dontpokethat]

Oh, well that's... not ideal.

Then again, Ginko can't quite say it's unexpected, either, and we watches Joker fly off with a sort of detached tilt of his head.

He only stays where he is for another few seconds before going on his way.