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

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!)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Of course not. You can work pretty much anything to your advantage if you're resourceful enough.

[ he would know. ]

Not that I mind the party outside, but this is a more ideal location for a 1-1 talk, and we haven't really had the chance to get to know each other yet.

Isn't that the truth?

[ Nothing wrong with that either. ]

Ah, but you're right. In fact...I believe introductions are in order; proper ones.

My name is Jing Yuan. Well met, my new companion in relaxation.

Khun Aguero Agnis, but just call me Khun.

[ he gives a friendly wave in lieu of a handshake considering their current environment. ]

Companion and countryman. Do you have any thoughts on the West so far?

Khun, then.

[ Very fair, so he gives an acknowledging nod with a lazy smile of his own (which hasn't gone away, but.) Though Jing Yuan is bold enough for sweaty hand shakes (nah he'd just find it amusing.) ]

Hmm...the location in general, you mean? Or the type of magic from it? Or...?

Those would be interesting too, but I was more thinking on those of us in it.

[ they're grouped together for a reason after all. ]

Hmm, your inquiry does make sense. Very well, then. I do have an answer.

...I believe we're all amazing. Do you disagree?

[ Jing Yuan is messing around given his answer that he has spoken into being is provided with very little thought. But also, is he wrong. ]

And refuse a compliment? Never.

[ he knows he is amazing but hearing it ain't bad either. ]

Does that mean the other countries are less amazing? Or maybe timid would be a more fitting description, depending.

[ Help.

Jing Yuan is surely helping this guy's ego, but he simply just continues to chill in his spot. He thought as much. As for the other words, he decides to raise an eyebrow. ]

Oh? Is that you assume of the others based upon what I've said?

That's an interesting line of thought.

It's a logical one, though it's hard to know someone well within the first minutes of really speaking to them. Care to clarify?

[ his smile is east, he too is chilling in a sense. ]

[ Me like for a second...east country?!

Anyway, he doesn't mind elaborating. It's something like idle conversation as they continue to chill. ]

To clarify what I meant...it was that I more or less that I found it amusing that you considered what I said to imply that at the very least either one of those two conclusions.

Well, I wouldn't be too surprised about the former one, whether or not it's true, but I wouldn't necessarily have thought they were more timid.

[ my phone betraying me with autocorrect OTL. ]

I never said those were the only ones, just the most likely. [ life would be a lot easier if he could just figure out whether a given answer was heads or tails. ]

And some of them are. The West it seems, has confidence in spades. [ cid's kind of an outlier here (and he has not met shadow yet), but not entirely. there's always an odd duck in the group anyway. ]

[ Well, that just nets a chuckle from him. ]

Ah, that's certainly true.

I have yet to become well-acquainted with many of the timid ones, it seems. Though, there is time for that to change, no?

[ It's true. He thinks he might have met one, but Jing Yuan really is the type of person to wait a bit more until he has a better idea of the person's personality to truly judge. ]

...But, I also believe you're correct so far that the West is not lacking in confidence.

It might make future discussions more difficult, but there's far worse grouping in my experience.

[ i cant wait to eat these words when west goes on their mission. ]

Well, I've yet to disagree.

Until the fated day comes before us all.

[ ...

For mistakes to be made, but also amends. To become potential steadfast allies, to see arguments against one another for having strong wills, but also stubbornly persist together.

Jing Yuan is interested...in seeing the ultimate product of all that. ]

But, I'd like to think we'd be able to come together nicely in a pinch. Working together will be a must, after all.

[ he nods at that, working together is a must and he's no stranger to it. what isn't is following orders, but surely that won't be an issue when a time comes? #believe. ]

Fated day, huh? [ he doesn't disagree but he also doesn't tend to describe things like that. ]

Would you call this a relaxation day then? Or evening.

Well, the day is still young.

[ Beat. ]

When I walked in, anyway. So, I'd believe relaxation day would be suitable enough.

Speaking of which, how do you usually prefer to spend the time?

[ It's related! Plus, Jing Yuan wants to learn more about the people around him. ]

I don't usually have free time, but when I do I enjoy shopping, or reading, if that counts. You?

[ #retailtherapy? something like that. ]

[ Retail therapy is always valid. ]

Those do certainly count. As for myself...gardening, walking, playing boardgames in my true spare time.

Ah, and things like this when I can. Life can be hectic, but it's always important to take care of oneself whenever that's possible.

What kind of games?

[ his one track mind. ]

Chess.

[ Jing Yuan knows at least various versions. ]

Why? Are you into some yourself?

Some of them. We should play a game of chess sometime.

[ his focus is literally a chess piece but he will not say this. ]

[ I'm hecking crying...incredible. ]

We should. I have a board over in my room, but I can easily bring it to yours.

So, how about I swing over sometime in the next couple of days?

[ Maybe they'll be getting along well. But, Jing Yuan actually hasn't doubted that much. ]

Sure, we can do that. But I'll warn you that I'm quite good.

[ he is much better than "quite good". ]

Haha, I'm afraid I won't have much to boast about my skill.

...However, I will be looking forward to the challenge you shall provide.

[ Is all Jing Yuan says. But perhaps he should boast.

His skill in chess is very much up there, particularly for an individual such as he.

So, until then, Khun!

(We can wrap the thread here, methinks.) ]

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

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