do you believe in magic in a shared bath's heart?

[dadsandals]

The bath at the mansion really is extensive -- probably more extensive than a lot of them have seen, considering there are literally multiple pools of varying temperatures, probably statues and indoor plants or something for atmosphere, steam rooms, complimentary bath things (everything in the manor is kind of complimentary but shshhh) and whatnot.

On this particularly fine and nondescript day, though -- there's a bit of a commotion whenever you wander in butt-naked for your soak or whatever you like to do in here (you can hang from the ceiling like a bat or something we ain't the judge of you); there's two enterprising wizards flitting about poking at things.

The thing with 🪄 Cid Kagenou 🪄 is that he is Very Into Baths, and Very Into Magic, and thus the Bath Magic is one of the few areas where even his li'l old self can shine. Or not shine, given that they've all been here for 2.5 days (extremely rough estimate) and the miracle is nobody has blown up the mansion trying magic yet. But there is definitely magic happening! Since there's already steam and everything.

And then there's 👓 Yamato 👓. Yamato is Here and enabling himself by watching Cid experiment with various things in the area. Initially he probably would've tried to stop him, but seeing what Cid's been doing has made him want to try some magic experimentation of his own. Pairing a teenager who kind of knows what he's doing with a man who has no idea what's going on makes it even more of a miracle that the mansion has not been blown up yet.

But if you look even closer, you'll spot various small differences:

🛁 all of the water has bubbles in it; the hot bath in fact looks like it has small duck-shaped bubbles just sort of trundling along, occasionally a duck pops and releases a puff of scented air (scents may vary at your discretion)

🛁 the cold water bath keeps turning different colors, maybe they should stop experimenting with it before somebody ends up blue for the week

🛁 some of the statues and potted plants have been slightly altered; nothing too outrageous, but at least one or two statues have been turned into roomba replicas and there's a potted plant with leaves that look like people in the manor's faces in miniature

🛁 the steam room is letting out an intermittent screaming noise that sounds very human, but there's no one in it

🛁 some of the bath soaps are extremely bright and keep on changing colors, as if they were colored like a disco ball (rave! in the bathhouse!)

............. Enjoy your bath!

(OOC: This is backdated to before the South mission so South Wizards get in on the fun too!)

Comments

[mirristry]

No, it isn't. In fact, you could say that is essentially what my organization is back in my own world. The members are... a bit eccentric.

[That's putting it mildly...]

[1145pm]

[ For a second, what Khun says doesn't really register. Show him how it's done. He thinks, maybe, that means on the date itself. Not that there could be an implied second? He isn't thinking that far.

Mostly because he's splashed before his mind can catch up, already slowed from the heat of the bath. His hair, drying in that way hair is when not properly towel or air dried, is dampened again from the water. He laughs out loud, holds up his hands to shield himself, only to be attacked from behind as well. ]

Hey! [ Now he's soaked. Par for the course of sitting in water, but, you know. ] That's not fair!

[ He splashes Khun back with a little more force this time, but not enough to be aggressive, or to overwhelm him with water. Just because he's having fun. And the bubble creatures, have they survived the sudden turmoil... ]

[foresightis2020]

I see. That does sound like it'd be quite challenging, given you haven't been there before. I should also hope this board isn't too difficult to deal with.

[ Politics...they suck really bad. Jing Yuan himself is not a fan of them. ]

Though, I will also extend wishes to cover your success for that other mission as well.

[lighthaus]

I don't play fair~. [ ever, including love and bath wars. he's smirking just a bit too much to avoid the wave of water fully so he's getting more wet by the second, but he doesn't seem to have noticed.

he returns the attack of course, this time with both hands from the front. the bubble creatures are facing their version of an apocalypse, but a few of the intrepid ones have started to retreat to the other end of the bath. ]

Don't worry, I'll give you a consolation prize.

[1145pm]

[ Godspeed to the bubble creatures, because their creator(s) is (are) play fighting.

Tatara is going to really have to dry off after this, considering he was planning on just waltzing out after this. This isn't a turn he expected his day at the bath to go, but he isn't complaining. It's been a while since he's laughed this much.

Sorry to literally anyone else still in this bath, because this is quite the scene.

He flicks some water from his bangs, just to keep it out of his eyes, and he peeks at Khun before deciding to splash him back. ]

And what's that gonna be?

[ The answer will determine Khun's fate! ]

[lighthaus]

[ ...honestly he didn't really have a prize in mind, but the sight of tatara's bangs gives him an idea. ]

I'll fix your hair for you after, looks like you'll need it. It's an offer I don't extend to just anyone, so it's a rare prize. [ he bats back a handful of water, more to keep the rhythm going during their negotiations. ]

[discomposer]

It goes in your room uninvited?

[ Leo can relate. To going into rooms uninvited, that is. ]

[revengier]

[ The continent brings curses back with it, too, apparently, but Kurapika decides not to divulge that right now. There's no reason to go in depth into the geography and history of his world in the middle of a bath.

The well wishes make him briefly glance away. ]

...Thanks. I appreciate it.

[ With that, he closes his eyes. It's time for the two of them to relax in silence. ]

[revengier]

It knocks up against my door and along my walls.

[positivize]

Ahaha! I guess that's one way to take it, but that wasn't my intent. It means you've got a unique perspective on things, that's all. I think it's pretty endearing!

[It's a compliment, see!!!]

[discomposer]

Maybe you should ask Nikai if he'll wrap a towel around the outside edges to buffer him a little?

[divineth]

It seemeth to me that our overseers may not have been prepared for such a duty, nor are they themselves practiced with instructing others.

[Like, Tatara and Wanderer totally had this responsibility thrust on them when the other wizards fucked off, right. Those are the vibes he's been getting.]

[divineth]

Aye.

[He'll give a brief description of each, at the very least!]

Hyur are the closest to regular humans in this world. Miqo'te possesseth feline features. Lalafell possesseth pointed ears like Elezen, but they are naturally small and childlike in appearance. Roegadyn are naturally large and muscular in stature. Au Ra possesseth dragon-like scales, horns and tails. Viera are long-lived and possesseth rabbit features. Finally, Hrothgar are large and more catlike than even the Miqo'te, with full patches of fur and muzzles.

[divineth]

[He quite literally takes a good look around, and his expression cracks into a sheepish smile.]

Hah. Thou hast a point. Though I suppose I ought to be glad that they are at least practicing in some capacity.

[divineth]

Oh? [He turns back, expression curious.] Thou hast a plan?

[Regretfully, his own magical trajectory hasn't produced a solution for something like that.]

[divineth]

[This is really funny in retrospect.]

'Twould almost be too easy, I suppose... But thou art correct. 'Tis almost a test in and of itself- a test to see how well we shall work together.

[dyingtohealyou]

[Look it's not his fault Khun has not acted hinged since day one.]

...I don't know if that's even going to be possible in the time we have.

[foresightis2020]

[ Jing Yuan always has a plan. ]

Correct. As the sounds are likely an auditory illusion, they can be dispelled. I will go ahead and do it myself.

[ He says it like it's so simple; but it isn't impossible. Wizards among them have caused the sound, and so wizards among them (him) can dispel it. ]

It'd also be quite another way to practice magic. Convenient, no?

[themanwhoerasedhisname]

[Kiryu looks at the soaps with wacky effects, at the plants with random faces, at the screaming steam room, at the roomba statues, and at the many things happening in this place, judging by what happens in other threads.

Only one thing to say here:]

Then this place will feel like home for you.

[People are eccentric here too]

[themanwhoerasedhisname]

...that's...hm.

[There's a lot Kiryu can take in stride, but 'endearing' isn't one of those. It's not like he gets called that often! So he seems a little bit awkward, unsure how to reply to that -- but hey, at least he doesn't seem offended! Just at a loss for words]

[themanwhoerasedhisname]

Somehow I don't think this is the kind of practice our wise mentor had in mind.

[Kiryu can't help but wonder what the Wanderer might think of all this!]

[1145pm]

Hmm...

[ Tatara brings a hand to his chin to think, fully relenting in the fight.

He was probably going to accept anything Khun offered him anyway, but. ]

I accept.

[ And Khun splashes him.

He keeps his thinking pose, and he replies with a comedic gravity: ]

I forgive you.

[lighthaus]

[ pffff, now it's khun's turn to laugh, bright and somewhat tickled. he doesn't tend to laugh often like this, though catch him laughing comedically evilly if he needs to ham it up. ]

Okay, that performance deserves an apology from me. I'm sorry I won~ [ playfully ] And I'm not sorry that I'm looking forward to our date.

[ also playfully, but there's a genuine note in there too. ]

[1145pm]

[ Tatara drops the act when he hears Khun laugh, and he can't help but laugh himself.

That was fun. This was fun. ]

Yeah, me too!

[ He says this with joy in his tone, and a bright, delighted smile.

Huh. Well. Not how he imagined his day at the bath going, but he's not going to argue. ]

[positivize]

[Kurapika also seems to know what he's doing(????) so she's sure it'll be fine regardless!!]

Sounds like a plan! I'll be counting on you then, Kurapika-kun.

[but then people bleed out and then missions happen so she forgets about this until a later week ig!!!]