Enhance!
"You ask the Den bath house attendant if they have any mixed bathing options available, and the attendant smiles and nods.
"Why certainly, my Lord. While the main baths are divided bathing for the sake of tired bodies just looking for a quick dip to relax, our private baths are available for parties of all sorts and sizes to use together - especially if they are looking to have a more... shall we say, intimate experience of our waters. Please step this way."
The attendant steps out from behind the counter and guides you down a hallway off to the side from the main baths, which curves to the side. You notice a number of doors line the hallway, each numbered and supporting a distinct style from one another. The attendant notices the doors have caught your eye and explains.
"Themed rooms of different sizes, depths, and temperatures. Some are fit for a couple of two, others more. Some even have waterfalls you can sit under, if you so desire."
"For like... a shower?" You ask. "But I thought you're supposed to wash up before you even enter the bath..."
"Oh no; it's not for washing. It's a common thought that sitting under a waterfall is an ideal way for one to train their fortitude and spirit. The provost himself has been known to spend hours in the taller waterfall baths, doing just that. But I feel... for you, Lord, you may want one of our larger options."
The attendant guides you around a curve in the hallway -one sharp enough that you can't see around it- and as you walk through, you're surprised to find that it opens up into a balcony, overlooking a simmering pool large enough to be a good sized pond, if not a small lake. You stare down at it, once again surprised at the wonders contained within the den tree, and the attendant steps forward to point out the various features of the bath.
"The water flowing into the spring is already heated, but for those that would like a bit hotter experience, there are ovens placed around the sides that can heat the incoming water to higher temps - all it takes is a bit of fox fire, available upon request or which the guests can provide.
The bamboo screen is in place to provide a bit more privacy, though it does not extend all the way into the water; you can swim and water can flow underneath it.
The water flows out via the waterfall you see beyond the shallow duct underneath the foot bridge, where it goes to one of the waterfall baths. It's a bit of a drop, so do be careful."
That explains the main features of the bath, you suppose, but what's with the giant rope hanging over it, with the white paper? You've noticed similar ropes at the den shrine and other locales, but none of them were near so big as this one...!
"The rope is a
shimenawa, made out of rice-straw, and the zig-zag paper is
shide. They're for blessings~!"
Blessings, huh...? That makes sense. Though looking at the rock islands that stand in the center of the pool -which also bear the shimenawa and shide and even a torii- you can't help but wonder if there's a certain blessing
in particular the bath might be looking for...
The attendant seems to consider this for a moment, but then just answers "Hmm. Who knows~...?"
Smiling slyly, the attendant bows and makes their departure.
Only one of us has taken the time to tell the other how pointless posting is because they don't want a discussion to exist at all. I'm not being willfully obtuse. You're being absolutely silly because people are having a conversation that is taking place everywhere.
