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After briefly consulting your party, you ask the innkeeper whether the baths are public or private.
Innkeeper: "Both options are available; there is a communal bathing area for socializing, and family bath rooms which offer more privacy."
Keeping your reserved friend in mind, you agree to a private bath together.
Innkeeper: "Of course. Take a moment to undo your outfits, and I will show you to your room."
You nod and move over to the undressing area. Once all of your clothes are put away in a basket, you follow the innkeeper through a corridor and to a sliding door where, following Tsu-Ko's silent instructions, you bow your head in thanks before entering.
Innkeeper: "If you need anything else, let me know."
The door gently rolls closed behind you, leaving you in a modest sunlit room with a bathtub built into a natural hot spring, an open showering corner, a towel rack, and a tray of single-use hygiene products. As you make your way to the shower, you remark that it is not so different from home after all...
After washing your coat and hair thoroughly, you join the rest of your friends in the spring, and quickly begin to relax... until you suddenly realize that you forgot to ask the innkeeper about the cost.
Tsu-Ko: "It's free."
Moonflower: "Free? We don't gotta pay?"
Tsu-Ko: "Mhm. Hygiene is one of the Seven Sacred Pillars of Civilization, along with clean air, nourishment, health, shelter, safety and purpose. You never have to pay for these things, but you can show your gratitude by leaving a tribute if you feel like it."
Honourshine: "I suppose I will... but what does money buy, then?"
Tsu-Ko: "The luxury of choice! Unless you're fine with every meal being rice and soup, you'll have to spend some zen on priced foodstuffs. Or if a basic house isn't to your liking, building your own is going to cost you. Wealth isn't something anyone needs, but it's what everyone wants."
Honourshine: "... Hm."
Curious, you ask Tsu-Ko how come sprites deal in items of sentimental value rather than zen.
Tsu-Ko: "Well, it's not quite like that! Think of it less like a payment, and more like an offering, right? But to answer your question, we sprites have no need for zen. Money is a mortal concept; a convenience for those with timely needs, yet limited time.
Our bodies are different, so those kinds of things don't interest us. Instead, we value objects you would consider priceless; things imprinted with life experiences that enrich the soul one way or another."
You grin sheepishly, and tell the sprite that you hope she isn't too bothered by the life experiences you've shared with her.
Tsu-Ko: "(sigh) You're a pervert, alright, but you don't seem too bad otherwise. That's why I'm willing to give you a chance. Don't squander it!"
Moonflower: "Heehee! Maybe he's jus' got a lotta love to give?"
Honourshine: "The two aren't mutually exclusive..."
You exit the inn feeling refreshed despite the crushing humidity, as though a layer of coolness imbues your coat. Your pocket watch indicates high noon, blissfully unaware that far above drifting clouds in the eastern sky, the glaring sun has not moved.
Enter a comment
If there isn't anything like that… I guess we could write a letter updating our guildmaster Twilight Sparkle on what we've learned and the challenges we've faced getting good leads so far. And maybe we can slip in something about how we do seem to have a lot in common, and that we wouldn't mind hanging out more, hehe.
A little bit more about kirin culture: they seem to have some form of community social safety net. Though "purpose" being provided for you does seem mildly ominous. Combined with young kirins learning soul magic as part of their education for several years, it is a sort of different utopia than Equestria's.
I forgot, was it 11 AM last turn, when we found out it'll be 8 hours until we can go to Taihon Nonchan? Gotta keep track.
Checking the Status screen, the CHA bonus for bathing is now +2 rather than +1, unless I'm misremembering. Nice!
And neither did Tsu-Ko commented on this, which surprised me. Either she don't know what Alicorns are, after all we also know next to nothing about the Kirin empire, or she doesn't care.