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

[impacter]

Hahah... well, if you've forgotten, I guess there's no helping it. [He meets that determined little stance with an inquisitive and humored glint in his eyes.] It's Solomon.

[That gaze flickers to the side, towards the marked shoulder, then back to Tatara. Solomon's hand lifts to rest in thought against his chin, his wizard seal prominent against his knuckles.]

Is that symbol something this world gave to you, too? It looks quite different.

[1145pm]

[ Speaking of marks—so that's where Solomon's is. Interesting. Tatara's gaze flickers to it, then back up to his wizard's face.

He grins when he gets his name, and he's about to say something else, but Solomon's question distracts him. Later. ]

Oh, this? [ He awkwardly wraps his arm around himself to point at his back. ] No. My King gave that to me.

[ His expression twists a little curiously, and he tries to peer over his shoulder. Not easy without a mirror. ]

I'm still surprised it's still there.

[impacter]

So he gave a tag to his hound, is that it?

[That's slightly grim, depending on the circumstance... but that's not a conversation they need to have in such a public space.]

You'll have to tell me more about that King of yours sometime.

[1145pm]

He gave it to everyone.

[ He says this quietly, like in a reminiscing way. Who is everyone?

He won't elaborate. He only smiles, and nods.

After a moment of silence, he beams up at Solomon again. ]

Enjoying the party?

[ Yes! It is a party. ]

[impacter]

Everyone?

[So not a mark for a special few, but... hm.

Tatara skirts around the topic, though, prompting Solomon to do the same. He can dig into that later, perhaps. Not here.]

Its been a while since I've had a celebration in a group bath. I feel like I might have missed the dress code.

[Not that he seems too pressed to change that right now.]

So? What do you think of what your wizards are accomplishing?

[1145pm]

It's not too late to change!

[ Take it off, gramps!

But the question has him turn around and look out at everyone else. He folds his arms across his chest like some sort of surveyor, but without nearly as much imposing grandeur as one. ]

I'm pretty happy. Everyone's practicing hard and no one's killed anyone yet, so I'd say I'm pretty proud.

[ As you can see, the bar is in the dirt. ]

[impacter]

Now? Hm... no, I'll pass.

[Look at how shy he is, such a delicate little flower uwu.



Anyway.]

Killed anyone?? Were you expecting that level of failure, or are you used to completely different wizards?

[1145pm]

[ STRIP GRANDPA


Tatara whirls on his heel to lean against the cool wall of the bath room beside Solomon. ]

Different wizards, I guess. The last batch was pretty violent.

[ Death threats were like, a daily occurrence. ]

So that no one's died yet is a huge success! I have high hopes for all of you.

[impacter]

[you can't catch him alive, strip police]

Violent? That just sounds incredibly messy.

If they have to deal with this sort of pressure on a regular basis, then I could see how it would lead to some weird behaviors. But that must not be very easy for the Sage.

[1145pm]

[ he'll get away this time...

He laughs. No comment. He's pretty sure it isn't the pressure. ]

You'd think so, but the last sage seemed to handle them really well. I should've paid more attention. [ He smiles wryly up at Solomon. ] Memory isn't a great teacher.

[impacter]

Not without experience to back it up, at least. It tends to be a little unreliable that way.

[It's the pesky thing about being human. Oh how dare they be flawed.]

Do you find that some of us are still a handful even with the peace?

[1145pm]

[ Speaking of experience, Tatara shakes his head. ]

I thought I was going to be running around everywhere with my hands full, trying to take care of everyone... But it turned out to be nothing like I thought it would be.

[ Hehe. He's done this before. ]

So I guess not.

[impacter]

Hahah! Now that sounds a bit more like experience. You should have far more confidence in yourself.

Thinking of you having to chase us all down, though... you remind me quite a bit of one of my pupils.

[RIP Ibuki for having to catherd demons without a magic macguffin, they are so strong and Solomon is very proud of them.]

[1145pm]

Pupils? Were you a teacher?

[ Ooh. Tatara tilts his head, studying him more closely. ]

That kinda makes sense, now that I think about it...

[impacter]

Does it? Well, I'm glad.

[Is he a little smug about that? Perhaps. His apprentice is his favorite, after all.]

Yes. I don't take very many, but I've been proud of what they've managed to succeed.

[1145pm]

Wow. A super exclusive teacher...

[ Interest piqued. ]

What kind of things did you teach?

[ Like, quantum physics??? ]

[impacter]

The history and practice of magic. I take apprentices purely in the art of sorcery.

[Thus why he has a magic wand already. Very convenient.]

[1145pm]

Whoa, that's so cool!

[ Tatara instantly lights up, a smile cracks across his face. ]

You were already a wizard at home?!

[impacter]

[He chuckles lightly as he puts a finger to his lips. Inside voice, we are in the bath.]

I prefer sorcerer. But yes.

[1145pm]

[ Let him beam!! He doesn't take the hint, and his volume stays the same (loud). ​]

So has it been easy picking up magic here, then? Have you taken on any students here yet?!

[impacter]

[Good lord.]

Inside voice, dear Sage.

Yes to the first, no to the second. I only take one pupil at a time.

[1145pm]

[ Oh, oops. He keeps talking, but the energy and enthusiasm remain the same. His volume drops, though. ]

You wouldn't want to coach the rest of the Norths? It's not unusual for someone to play the teacher role in each country!

[impacter]

Hm?

Ah... If it's needed, sure. But most of the other Northern assignments have struck me as pretty independent.

Besides, this is not a magic I'm used to, either, Tatara. I'm learning just as much as they are.

[1145pm]

Oh yeah, that's right.

[ For some reason, that seems to have just...slipped his mind.

He chuckles, sheepish. ]

You really do seem like an experienced teacher...

[impacter]

[sir..... please..... that's basic info.....]

And why is that?