The Welcome Wagon

Kitai Sento - Members-Only Bathing Room

	During normal business hours, this large bathing area is used primarily by Japanese businessmen willing to pay a bit more to limit their social experience to others of similar station, and not have to share space with children, the 'masses', or worst of all, the occasional non-Japanese visitor to the bathhouse. As might be expected of a more exclusive area, it's a bit nicer than the two main baths.

	White, patternless tile covers the floor, and the walls are a light shade of black, with a mural depicting a mountain hot spring covering most of the wall the bath is against. The large, wide bath is mostly the same as in the other two bathing rooms, the pleasantly-hot water filling the room with a thin haze of steam. It consists of a large, lacquered wooden basin capable of fitting around a dozen people comfortably. It is quite spacious and decently deep, enough so that a person could sink down to their nose if they wanted to.

	The showers lining the opposite wall as the bath still offer little privacy, although there is at least a small, black wall dividing individual showers. Beyond that, they consist of a low nozzle, a pair of knobs with an empty soap tray between them, and a short, black footstool to sit on. A few signs are posted in Japanese, Chinese, and English to tell patrons to use the showers before entering the bath, but they are significantly less numerous than in the normal baths. Small planters with bamboo growing in them fill each corner of the room. Against the wall opposite the entrance, in between the showers and bath, stands a wooden table with a coffee machine and a tea-making kit with hotplate. A supply of plastic cups are also provided. A mini-fridge for use of the patrons sits on one side of the table, and a trash can on the opposite.

	Of course, after business hours, this area is void of any kind of 'normal' patron. However, it has been rented out at night and made available to a select group, or rather number of groups. Likely unknown to the actual owner of the sento, this room is exclusively open to the Shen of the area, providing a private area for interaction, or even simple relaxation in a place free of mortals. A board is set up over the table in the room with various information for the after-hours visitors to this place, obviously removed before the sento reopens to mortals in the morning. In addition to whatever else may be posted on it, the largest message clearly warns in multiple languages to refrain from any kind of violence in this place, and to take any fighting elsewhere. Additionally, it states that, during the hours it's open to Shen, it's open to Shen only. Mortals and Westerners are strictly not to be brought in here, nor should this (semi)neutral ground be mentioned to them.

Contents:
Misty
Hisato

	*** Nightzone ***

Obvious Exits:
  Out <O>

Misty and Hisato are soaking in the baths talking about work options.

Hisato nods some, "I think it'd be a good place to start looking for work. Worst comes to worst I can always search for another one in Chinatown looking for work if the Weeping Fern doesn't work out."

	Mo makes his way on in, looking around and offering a friendly smile and kung fu salute to folks. "Hey hey - I'm Mo."

Misty nods her head towards Hisato before her attention shifts towards the arrival of Mo and she tilts her head ever so slightly, "Hello Mo." She says with a quick smile flashed, "I'm Misty, a pleasure to meet you."

Hisato offers Mo a nod of his head, "Hello Mo. A pleasure to meet you I'm Hisato." After the greeting is done Hisato slides down into the water some letting more of his body soak in the hot waters.

	Mo looks over to the two unfamiliar faces. "I don't think we've met prior. Not that I'm an old timer here. I usually hang my hat out north, or out eas"t." A pause as he regards the two - "I'm one of the local Shade Walkers, unaffiliated.

"What's out to the north or the east?" Misty asks curiously as she watches Mo, "And no, I don't imagine we have met before either, though you never can tell for certain can you."

Hisato shakes his head a bit, "I haven't met you yet either. Although it's not a surprise as I'm fresh off the boat. Well plane but same concept. I haven't really explored out East too much from here. Might head that direction soon."

	"To the north, is Idyllwyld. Up in the mountains. Prettier than here, to me, but I've never been one for the beach." Mo smiles. "And to the east is Laughlin, across the mojave desert. Again, a different sort of beauty than here, and also more preferable to me." A grin, "But the city tends to be where the action is, so. Here I am."

"Well, what sort of action are you in the city looking for that you're not finding up in the mountains, or out in the desert?" Misty asks as she lounges there in the waters.

	A grin from Mo. "The exciting times kind of action, that pays, hopefully. What about yourselves?"

Hisato raises an eyebrow, "Lots of variations to the lands here. Go from beaches to deserts to mountains to forests in a single walk. I think I might go explore the mountains instead you said those are north?" At the question of action and all he hmmms, "Well we were discussing the potential local Apothecaries for me to gain employment. But what kind of action are you thinking of that pays?"

"Well, I'm here mainly for the bathing, right now." Misty says with a little laugh, "Though I like the cities more than the deserts or mountains really. But I'm curious to hear about this exciting times action you're after."

	"Gambling, jiang hu work, night work, that sorta thing." A pause as Mo's brow furrows, "I dunno any apothecaries personally, but I'm sure I have pals that do. Happy to put the word out and share back what I find."

Hisato hmms and nods a bit, "That would be helpful thank you. And like Misty said mostly here for the baths right now. Been over a week without a proper soak in a bath just a western shower in my apartment right now."

"Oh, that sort of work. Interesting!" Misty says, "So where exactly can we find gambling at around the city?" she asks, "That may be something that piques my curiosity."

	"The Crimson Lotus, down south in Tijuana's Barrio Chino. Around here, there are a couple places. But I forget the names offhand. Just wander around chinatown and the locals will direct you." Said Mo.

Hisato grins as Misty perks up over some gambling and nods a bit, "I wouldn't mind at least playing around with some gambling. At least to say I've tried it. Tijuana that's in Mexico isn't it?"

	Mo nods. "Mexico, yes. A much more interesting place, writ large. Very wild west down there."

"The Crimson Lotus... hmmn, I'll have to go visit sometime, tell me about the place? Anything a newcomer to the area should know about?" Misty asks as she props her arms up on the edge of the bath, lifting herself out of the water a bit more.

	Mo considers, "Just be a respectful guest in the domain of our cousins, and it should be all good, as they say. There is tremendous goodwill and solidarity among the local middle kingdom. And we should seek to keep it going."

Hisato smiles a bit, "Isn't that the proper way of being a guest? Respectful? At least it's what I always strive to do. Are there Shen down there as well?"

"What about the business itself? Is it just gambling? Or is it a general bar, or something similar?" Misty asks curiously, "And being a respectful guest is always good advice if you ask me."

	Mo gives a nod. "Indeed there are." He looks to Misty, "Games of chance, all kinds. Cage fighting in the back. And yes, libations and such things."

Hisato sits up again in the baths and hmmms, "Bar. I haven't been to a bar since I got into the city. Are there any good places nearby?"

	"Chinatown does not suffer for lack of places to get a drink. The sake bar down the way is particularly good," says Mo with a grin.

"There are tons of bars around." Misty says with a laugh as she moves to stand up from the water, stepping out of the bath and over towards the tea making station, rather unconcerned with her state of undress. "We could go find someplace to find drinks at if you'd like, I don't know what's a good place and what's not though."