⇨ 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

[atouts]

"Not at all," Childermass says cheerfully enough. "I can move around, though, so I've decided that's good enough."

AKA he should really still be resting and yet here he is. It's just most of the damage is luckily hidden beneath his clothes, so who's to tell anything is wrong apart from him having to walk slowly and stop to rest often?

[kingsroads]

And Strange can't help but laugh at that, mostly because he's done the exact same thing. What do you mean he should be resting after a traumatic experience, that sounds dumb.

"Be careful. The moment certain carnival members find out you're not fully recovered, they'll drag you back to the medical bay. I won't, of course, but the possibility remains."

[atouts]

"Hard to do that when I can vanish into any shadow," Childermass says with a quiet laugh. "The other side of me may have the greater share of magic but I'm not entirely inept."

[kingsroads]

"It is a useful trick, isn't it. Lord knows there've been plenty of times I've escaped from unwanted situations with my reflections."

Like jail. And the medical wing. And like so many awful conversations, it's just great when you can peace out of things.

[atouts]

"Though reflections are a bit limited compared to shadows, don't you think," Childermass says, not really as a question. He mostly wants to point out shadows are better since that's something this side of him is more than happy to boast about.

[kingsroads]

"I'd prefer something more powerful over something more limitless. After all, it's not the Silver Set of Shadows, is it."

What lucking out and having a powerful fae object fit your aesthetic means, Strange isn't entirely sure. But it's got to mean something, ergo reflections are better than shadows (somehow.)

[atouts]

"You mean the Silver Mirror That You Should Never Again Touch? Oh yes, very useful to you, that."

Honestly, the Mirror just seems like an incredibly bad idea altogether. Consider the current predicament, one which Childermass is pretty certain involves that exact same artifact.

[kingsroads]

He probably should tell Childermass about how the Mirror changed him...hell, might as well do it now, with this Childermass who's less likely to give him shit or get into a fight with than the full Childermass.

"The Silver Mirror That It Doesn't Really Matter If I Touch Or Not Because It's Already Changed Me." There's a small little pause before Strange continues. "It's changed my magic as well as my physical being. I've got mirrors on the inside now."

He has no idea how to describe it except that.

[atouts]

A whole Childermass would no doubt admonish him over it or, at the very least, sigh. A lot. Since he expects this kind of bullshit from Strange regardless of what he does at this point. This one? He just laughs.

"Do you now?" And he'll actually go as far as to speed up a step or two so he's alongside the other magician rather than trailing behind, just so he can smack him on the arm and listen for a crack. It isn't very hard so it's probably fine, though. "So when I finally snap and decide to shake you until you're sensible again, do I have to worry about bad luck?"

Forget the magic part, he'd rather poke fun at all of his shitty inside mirrors.

[kingsroads]

As Childermass smacks him on the arm, Strange rolls his eyes in a joking sort of manner. "I'd expect things more along the line of internal bleeding instead of bad luck," Strange teases in response. "Thankfully, any broken shards fall out when I turn to smoke."

He's got plenty of theories as to why that happens: something about the magic of his smoke form and foreign bodies—if he was shot with an arrow, would turning into smoke loose it as well?

[atouts]

"So how many fell out when Lambert put a fist through your face?" Childermass asks cheerfully. Oh yes, he knows. Certain polecats like to tattle.

[kingsroads]

"Just a few small shards," he admits. Because really, there's no way to try and hide the fact that his nose got crunched.

"Really, I'm more worried about what will happen when I inevitably break an arm."

[atouts]

"Should we find out now so you can stop worrying?"

Yeah, he sounds too chipper for suggesting such a thing. It's like he's just suggesting they go for a walk down by a lake or something.

[kingsroads]

Strange wrinkles his nose a little at that. Because no. No, this should be obvious, don't break his arm. Why would Childermass even joke about something like that?

"I think I'll pass. I'm certain I'll find out sooner or later. You know me: why would I do something useful like 'stay out of trouble'?"

[atouts]

"It'd be no bother..." To Childermass. Aw well. His gaze wanders ahead of them and he ends up nodding at what's coming up as they wander. "Is that what you were looking for?"

One of Shabon's many colorful, brightly lit drinking spots.

[kingsroads]

Bright, flashy, slightly ridiculous: this is the perfect bar to take fun Childermass to, if only so Strange can properly tease him about it later.

"It is," Strange remarks, with a little nod. "Again, first round's on me."

And so he starts to walk to the bar. Once they reach the door, he pushes it open, holding it open for Childermass to enter.

[atouts]

Which means 'fun' Childermass is strolling right on in and straight up to the bar to put in an order for rice wine for the both of them. Strange might be buying first round but he's the one who knows what they were supposed to get, and when they get it it's served with what are essentially shot glasses alongside a taller, more ornate stone carafe. Not huge by any means, just enough to hold several shots of alcohol.

"There. That's what I was talking about."

[kingsroads]

Very carefully, Strange pours himself some of the rice wine. He's not entirely sure how to drink it, so he just knocks the whole thing back like it's a shot. The taste is unexpected and Strange can't help but blink back a look of surprise on his face.

"That's actually quite good," he says with a grin. "Where'd you hear about this?"

[atouts]

"Just saw what others were drinking and asked for the same," Childermass claims with a big ol' shrug. More specifically, he saw what the local Shabon workers were drinking and settled on that. Simple enough. He pours out his own glass and drinks it a bit slower than Strange has, idly turning so he can lean back against the bar and watch the rest of the place.

"I wouldn't suggest putting it away too fast, though."

Only he knows Strange will anyhow, so it's a pointless warning.

[kingsroads]

It's good that they both know and accept the fact that Childermass will have to deal with Strange's stupid, drunken ass before Strange deals with Childermass's stupid, drunken ass. Still, he will take it a bit slower this time, and only sips at his next glass.

"You do realize we're here to relax," Strange teases. "So I'll put it away only moderately fast."

[atouts]

"Being puked on by a man made of glass doesn't sound like my preferred method of relaxing, Strange," Childermass points out. "Which I imagine will be what happens about... hm... four drinks in? Five?"

[kingsroads]

"I am made of mirrors, thank you very much. There's a difference." An arbitrary one, but still counts.

"And I suspect it will be six or seven drinks in before I puke on you."

and back to nontraumatic drinks

[atouts]

"Alright then, does it make you made of silver instead of glass?" Childermass asks ever so innocently. Polished silver, Silver Mirror, it would make more sense, actually. "Bit of a waste if you are. Steven was bleeding out gems earlier and it's not as though he can sell it all off, either."

yay for the happy thread

[kingsroads]

"It makes me made of mirrors," Strange pedantically corrects, knowing full well that all mirrors are glass (but not all glass is mirrors so ha, that counts.)

Though the bit about Steven bleeding gems is interesting, to day the least. "Do you know what gems he was bleeding?"

[atouts]

"Diamonds," Childermass says with a shrugs, like that isn't amazing or anything. Of course, Childermass himself bleeds shadow, so he would be right in claiming it's hardly the strangest thing he's seen. "Or at least a gemstone similar enough. It certainly looked like one to me."