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

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!]

That seems like the case.

Does it bother you?

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

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]

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. ]

Wasn't this supposed to be a bath, not a party?

[Do baths need to be lively?

Kiryu apparently disagrees with the way this is set, but hey, he's not going to go ruin or try to change anything. Those two went through the effort to set this up, he'll at least hang out in here]

Those two must have thought that it needed to be both.

To be that young again...

[ Jury is out on how much everyone will appreciate it, though. Jing Yuan is content enough not to move from his spot; the temperature still very much hits the spot. ]

I also believe this is the first time we've met, and spoke, for that matter. How are you handling the situation so far?

Mostly been trying to figure out how I even ended up here.

[This was one hell of a left turn. He never thought what might be his last adventure would be being a wizard with genuine magic. Kiryu's life is full of events, that's for sure]

Ah, that's reasonable.

I wish I could know the answer myself all the same.

[ It sure is so spontaneous that even Jing Yuan can't pinpoint few likely possibilities just yet. ]

Perhaps if we're fortunate we'll find more hints sooner than later, yes?

Think there's something shady about all this?

[Fortunately for us all, Kiryu, odds are that no, there isn't. This isn't a murdergame, nothing shady going on...

...probably]

We were brought here even when we shouldn't have been and the ones who should be dealing with the problem suddenly 'vanished'; that is the sticking point.

But, we shouldn't get too many wrinkles over it. Just as we're trying to solve the issue of this world, we'll eventually stumble upon any hints we'll need to help us.

As long as we keep our eyes and ears open.

[ Simple (?) enough. Jing Yuan suspects there is some mild kind of foul play in regards to the vanishing of those people, but he also seems to think that in general, they'll be able to figure out what they need to solve it all. ]

Better not be soon. We have progressed but I doubt we'll solve the world by modifying bath objects.

[We still have ways to go, really -- and if more experienced wizards suffered an uncertain fate, everyone who got dragged here has very low odds. Kiryu isn't the kind who balks from that, but still, it's undeniable it's potentially dangerous]

[ Dangerous indeed. Though... ]

...You never know.

We could very well save the world by learning how to modify items you'd find in a bath. What an intriguing way to victory that would be, wouldn't it?

[ He's not entirely serious here. Jing Yuan certainly feels that the other has a point, though some light-hearted banter isn't too bad. ]

It's said one must give it a try before ruling it out, but please don't attack the moon with soap.

[Not entirely serious either! But he also wouldn't be surprised if he has to say that to anyone seriously because you never know what crazyness someone will attempt during a fight against threats]

[ Now at that, Jing Yuan is going to give a chuckle... ]

Why not?

[ Honestly, anything goes in a place like this. Even though he, personally, is not going to try to conjure magical canons and shoot super-magic-powered soap at the moon. ]

...if you must, leave it as plan B.

[Geez, Kiryu, don't concede so fast, especially to someone who wasn't going to actually do it!]

[ Okay, he's laughing. ]

Plan B it is. It's always good to have a surplus of options available on hand.

[ He is still amused that this guy conceded to a jest. Though, considering this is the first they've met... ]

...Oh, by the way, you can call me Jing Yuan. It's a pleasure.

[Kiryu doesn't rule out circumstances may make it more than jest someday. You never know!]

Kiryu.

[It’s kind of unexpected, to be able to introduce himself to so many with his real name]

[ Honestly, you never truly know... he is valid. ]

There are definitely worse places to meet, but...Kiryu, I'll remember that.

Let's look forward to our wonderful mutual relaxation and future success, shall we?

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

bath soaps

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