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

[foresightis2020]

[ Well, taking a bath is a very nice way to relax, isn't it?

Jing Yuan is going to be found here, lying around in the bath, arms or elbows up against the floor that is raised before the actual water itself, leaning back just a bit. You know where the water is warm because he ain't about the cold water life.

He'll take the time to find a magic spell to temporarily quiet or muffle the screaming noise in the steam room because he wants to go in there. Like, now. Anyway, if people want to see a tall man with muscles for days only wearing a towel, they can check him out or join him in the steam room. Your call.

Lastly, he can be seen playing with one of the bath soaps that is changing colors, he might let it slip and skid across the water, causing a big splash...oops? ]

bath soaps

[themanwhoerasedhisname]

So let me get it straight, everything in these baths will have some sort of wacky effect.

[...he is curious...it gets his interest! But at the same time he has to wonder how much of this all was intentional. He wouldn't be surprised if a lot of things here were an accident!]

[foresightis2020]

That seems like the case.

Does it bother you?

[ Holding up one of the bath soaps that is changing colors even as they speak. ]

[themanwhoerasedhisname]

No, but it does make me wonder the purpose of that.

[How can we take a bath when the soaps are having wacky effects and the plants have leaves that look like your face and the steam room over there is screaming and oh good grief this is not a relaxing bath environment, haha]

[foresightis2020]

It could be someone decided to make it more...lively?

[ By enacting soap disco pardi times. But it truly does ruin the zen moments with a quickness...to say nothing of the eerie plants (which feel kind of like a prank.)

Don't get him started on the steam room, though. ]

bath soaps

[revengier]

[ Though Kurapika starts out his time in this bath party in a shirt and shorts, he eventually settles into the baths at some point in an attempt to relax and get something fruitful out of this little gathering.

...But when a bubble pops in his face, he frowns, relaxation interrupted. ]

Really?

[foresightis2020]

[ Jing Yuan laughs at this, because it's kind of funny noticing a singular bubble ruined one's zen moment. Sorry, Kurapika. ]

Apparently so.

But, are you going to let a bubble stop your enjoyment of the baths?

[ fufu ]

[revengier]

[ How dare...

He crosses his arms. ]

I'm barely enjoying them as it is. It's too crowded in here.

[foresightis2020]

[ A hyuck hyuck huck. ]

...It might be everyone decided to discover the baths at the same time?

[ A mild joke, considering everything. ]

if you get all of West into the steam room are they steamed hams

[shadowkin]

[The lengthy quiet from the steam room draws Cid's attention -- it's not only surprising that somebody would get to the root of the issue (whatever it was; he really still isn't sure) so quickly, but that they'd be able to do it sneakily too!

... is what he thinks until the Token Giant™ of the West (provisional meta name, considering I don't think he knows what colors correspond to what countries or how they're sorted yet, because being a clueless bitch is IN) comes into view when he peeks in.

How did he miss that. Well, he misses a lot of things, so it's fine. ☆]

Whoa! You almost blended into the steam for a minute there. I totally could've believed you were the source of all the noise... but you fixed it, didn't you? You're a quicker study than me!

[foresightis2020]

[ Jing Yuan is a man who strives to take it easy when he can. He will find ways to ensure that this remains the case, whether stealthily or not!!

But, yeah. He certainly can be hard to miss, though he is good at being light-footed; a necessity for someone who doesn't want to be heavy-footed needlessly. ]

Well, you know what they say—motivation is a quick teacher, no?

[ He looks plenty relaxed now, even. ]

[shadowkin]

[Hey, it's nice seeing somebody who's able to relax through thick and thin and gaseous states without being Leo Tsukinaga (not that there's anything wrong with Leo, but it's hard to call his state of being Relaxed); there really are several different types of Wests (still provisional meta name, because being a clueless bitch continues).

Since the steam room is clear and Jing Yuan seems to have claimed it now, Cid happily helps himself to a seat. He really was starting to think that maybe they needed to change up the soundtrack for the place, but a conversation is a fine background noise, too.]

Hmmmm, you must really like steaming.

[As for Cid, he likes baths better than steaming, but it's all good.]

[foresightis2020]

[ Some people just relax by being energetic and wild. Or, actually, that truly isn't relaxed at all. It's fine, though.

Jing Yuan doesn't mind the company, at any rate. ]

It helps relax the body and soul.

How can I not see the benefit?

[ Especially without an irritating sound to distract from the relaxation. Now that makes it easier. ]

steam room

[lighthaus]

[ here's khun to partake in the steam room now that it no longer sounds like someone's being murdered in it. he looks around to make sure there's not a dead body on the floor then sits opposite jing yuan with a wry smile. ]

Do I have you to thank for the peace and quiet?

[foresightis2020]

[ Help. The steam room was clearly an indication that a murdergame occurred ages ago or something, it's fine.

Anyway, Jing Yuan returns the smile with ease, eyes crinkling around the edges to show genuine mirth. ]

You'd be correct.

I believe the original reason for it could have been something like a prank, personally speaking. But, it's far too early to tell, and right now it's more important to relax.

[lighthaus]

[ wow lum don't spoil that we're in ukimiya 2??? ]

In that case, thanks. [ his smile turns softer, because it really is appreciated. ]

We're bound to get a bit of peace and quiet here, if only because most people would stay away from a room that was screaming until a bit ago.

[divineth]

[Urianger is here to join Jing Yuan for some warm bath time! He may as well use this little gathering to get to know his fellow Westies.]

Thou seem to be enjoying thyself in spite of the...peculiarities put upon the bathing room today.

[Seriously what did Cid and Yamato do in here. At least the ducks have...charm?]

[foresightis2020]

[ Westies' bath time engage!! ]

Oh yes, certainly.

Most of them aren't too bothersome and are simply...ah, what's the word for it? Eccentric?

[ Very charming. It's like some unusual version of a party (if we don't count what's going on with the steam room but hey.) ]

[divineth]

Most assuredly eccentric. Someone hath seemingly made this place a testing ground for their magicks.

[He pokes at one of the ducks, causing it to pop and release a fruity scent.]

I suppose I should be glad that the others are making any sort of effort.

soap..........

[leewards]

[Who is causing an even bigger splash? Ithaqua is. He spotted something eye-catching out of the corner of his eye and chased it into the water, a bit like a cat. Though he's certainly not one, he only looks a little like one and a little like a bat with his clothing on... but in this bath, the only article of clothing that followed him is the mask. That's not coming off any time soon where other people can see.

Or perhaps he'd be more like a dog, with the splash he made-- and besides, cats famously dislike water (or so the stereotype goes). One could imagine his tail wagging when he resurfaces with the colourful soap clutched in one hand, examining it closely in too-long fingers. Then he pinches it between two of said fingers, and waves it at the man who dropped it.]

You should keep a better handle on your belongings! Heheh~

[foresightis2020]

[ Ithaqua...

Honestly? That's pretty hilarious for him to watch this go down?? Jing Yuan even looks somewhere towards mildly surprised to see this large splashing going down, not exactly minding if he gets hit with stray sprays of water. He can deal. ]

I'm afraid I'm simply borrowing it for the moment. But, how about I give you thanks for retrieving it for me?

[leewards]

Mmm? [He tilts his head, not unlike an animal. It's as much as he can do to show confusion with the mask on.]

Where's the sense in that? Were you simply playing and not interested in bathing?

Steam room

[mirristry]

[Phil sure is seeing those muscles for days. He is absolutely not staring on purpose but... he definitely is staring. Visibly. Perhaps with his mouth hanging just a tiny bit open.

Please save him.]

[foresightis2020]

[ Phil can't even save himself. ]

Did you know if you keep your face in a certain way, it could become stuck like that?

[ Jing Yuan isn't blaming him for staring anyhow and he can't help but tease him. ]

[mirristry]

[He can't and that's honestly most of the problem.]

'A c-certain way'? I was just... trying to decide whether the water was warm enough to get in, that's all--

[Says the man who is currently clad in a bathrobe and making absolutely no movements to try to take it off. He is turning a very interesting shade of scarlet, though.]