⇨ 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

[exaomori]

There was always pointing out that she never said she would pay for her drinks, but it seems like the wrong time to bring that up.

"No fun!" And with that, she'll flip over her empty cup.

[reflash]

Two more cups. He has a fifty/fifty chance, and there's no sign of hesitation as he flips the cup to reveal...


the flower.

Normally, Yukio would react somehow. He would complain, or he would have hesitated over the choice, or he would call the game after this round. Instead, he just accepts his fate and fills his cups.

[exaomori]

It’s all back to that bad feeling she had. This isn’t right, this isn’t Yukio. But now she’s drunk and emotionally involved, and drawing a knife on him in the middle of this bar will only cause trouble.

Before he can finish filling his first cup, Shura reaches across the table for his wrist. “That’s enough, you’re gonna get sick if you keep that up.”

Any other day she’d just laugh at the thought of his future hangover, but her humor is gone and she’s done playing pretend with him.

[reflash]

"If you didn't want me to play, you shouldn't have started this game." Cutting him off is probably a good idea, with the flush creeping up under the blue flame of his fae mark, and how much he's tripping up over the pronunciation of even basic words at this point. Snake tongues weren't meant for this level of intoxication.

[exaomori]

How was she supposed to know he was such a lightweight?? She might be slurring, but he’s on his way to being trashed.

“You’re drunk. C’mon, fill those up with water and we’ll go back.”

[reflash]

"Fine," he concedes, still without a hint of combativeness, and does as instructed. "You're still paying for it."

[exaomori]

Just what was with this miserliness? On top of everything else, that was just pissing her off.

“Whatever.” It isn’t even his money, it’s the Ringmaster’s!!

But she’s frustrated enough with whatever’s going on, so she’ll go ahead and take care of the bill. She didn’t even get to drink the shochu! Maybe she could grab a beer on the way back? She needed something after all this.

[reflash]

She pays, and he's... pleased? He doesn't feel much anymore, not since the split and shedding his flaws like a snake peeling off its old skin. But Shura did what he wanted, which is good.

"Did you want to go back now?" He asks, as they leave the bar. At first glance his balance isn't too bad, but that's just because he keeps moving his tail to compensate. There's... not exactly hesitance when he asks the question, but enough disinterest in the idea that it's clear he doesn't want to go back quite yet.

[exaomori]

It'd be easier if this was back home. She knew what the signs of possession were back home, and she knew plenty of seals to take care of the problem. Right now, she's stuck waffling between whether or not Yukio's under some kind of spell or if someone's impersonating him for nefarious purposes. Considering that this is a shit impersonation, she's leaning towards the former.

"You thinkin' about gettin' somethin' else?" Yes, she did want to go back, why else would she suggest it? But even if he was under some kind spell, a walk would probably do him good with the way he can't get a clear word out of his mouth.

[reflash]

He tests the air with his tongue, a rapid set of up-and-down movements like a snake trying to get a better idea of its surroundings.

"No, I just don't want to go back yet."

Not with his other half still there, the reminder of just how pathetic he really was before.

[exaomori]

It sounds an awful lot like he's running away form something. It isn't like this was the kind of thing he actively enjoyed.

"We can walk around for a bit, I guess." Take the long way back, at the very least. Maybe scout out some places to look at tomorrow after her hangover wore off.

[reflash]

He isn't relieved. He just accepts Shura's agreement and moves on, threading his way deliberately through the crowd. There's something missing in him, and he knows it, but he doesn't know how that's possible. Isn't he the perfect part of Okumura Yukio? He shouldn't feel like there's something wrong with him. It must just be because he's not used to this yet, he's not used to feeling like the person he wants to become. Or it might be the alcohol. He doesn't know.

[exaomori]

Shura isn't in the mood to try and play nice, just keeping a watchful (if inebriated) eye on Yukio. They can walk around, and she might stop to look at something here or there, but she'll try to let him set the pace as much as possible. He was the one who didn't want to go back, after all. She doubts he'll talk about what's going on, even if he's drunk. Besides, he'd just resent her for it if he thought she got him drunk just to interrogate him.

[reflash]

"Shura-san?" He says, after a few moments. She won't need to pry, because he's more than willing to talk. After all, he might be helping her. "What parts of yourself would you get rid of, if you could?"

[exaomori]

"Part of me I'd get rid of?" She repeats, turning to look at Yukio. Well, she had some stretch marks, sure, but she can't really think of anything that she'd change.

"Mm, dunno. Wasn't much point in thinkin' 'bout that kinda thing before, y'know?"

[reflash]

"I'm not surprised," he says, not quite condescending but pretty close. Of course Shura isn't the sort of person who thinks deeply enough about her own personality to identify things she dislikes.

[exaomori]

“Nn, whaddaya tryin’ to say, huh?” Excuse you, mister. She was occupied with other thoughts until recently, thank you very much!

[reflash]

"You're simple." In a lot of ways. She's always been simple. Straightforward. "There really isn't..." ugh, he can't get his tongue around the words properly. "Isn't anything you'd change?"

[exaomori]

Tell her how you really feel, Yukio?? Shura clicks her tongue, feeling just a little vexed.

"I am tryna' make changes, y'know. I just can't do half of 'em here. Carnival ain't really the place to go lookin' for a life partner, y'know?" Unless Yukio wants her to marry a carnie.

[reflash]

"Unless you were going to stay." He isnt, of course, but he can't deny the thought had crossed his mind more than a few times.

[exaomori]

“What, tryin’ to get rid of me or somethin’?” Even if things were bad, she still planned on going back. It was all the more reason to go back, considering who and what was on the line.

“What brings that up, anyway?”

[reflash]

"No." He wasn't thinking of her staying here, really. What did bring it up?

"I was just... talking." Shura, are you really surprised that he's just talking? "You shouldn't stay here, you should go home."

[exaomori]

She is a little surprised that he’s talking, but not that he blew off her question.

“Not much reason to stick around if you an’ Rin ain’t stayin’.”

[reflash]

"I don't know if I want to go back." He admits, because he's absolutely drunk right now, tail dragging on the ground and attention scattering as he fiddles with something someone's selling at a roadside booth. "I could do just as well here-- better here than back home."

[exaomori]

She pays attention to whatever little bit he's playing with, half out of sincere curiosity (A gift for later?), but partly because she thinks if she looks at him directly he might get spooked.

"Better? How d'ya mean?"

Well, both worlds had him under some greater power's thumb. She could see why he was at the very least tempted to pick his poison.