<div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">ooc</div><div class="spoiler_body"><div class="floatright">(http://i.imgur.com/njlYOD4.jpg)<br/>http://i.imgur.com/njlYOD4.jpg</div><br/><br/>I noticed for some reason some of the images on the OOC thread aren't working.  Specifically the layout of the house.  Are they working for you?  I may just need to try clearing my cache or something.  In any regard this is the link to the layout of the second floor:<br/><br/>Also, I'm going to take a little liberties with the descriptions of the place.  I figure that in victorian era, flush toilets were just coming into common usage.  While nobility may or may not have had them, lts just go ahead and say that Tehr did since he was redesigning the house as well as this being fantasy magical world anyways.  :)<br/><br/>Now, contrary to that, we never set an exact year, though the 'victorian' era is usually anywhere from 1830 to around 1900.  So I've always been assuming it's around 1880 or so.  Edison invented the lightbulb in 1878, and by 1882 New York City had a power grid of electric street lights, and many rich people were already tapping into this to light their homes.  Again, this isn't the real world, but I'd like to just 'stretch' the truth a little bit and use it where it makes sense and then ignore the exact dates when we don't need too.<br/><br/>I'll assume that's ok with you, but if it's not, I'll be glad to change things.<br/><br/>Finally, in deciding how to 'heat' the bath water, I invented a magical device that seems like it wouldn't be too uncommon of a convenience for the wealthy.  The OOC on it is this - a magical rod that has been enchanted with the spell "Heat Metal"  Lets assume it's got a wooden or otherwise insulated handle.  The maid in charge of heating the bathwater could simply use the item, stir it in cold water as it heats up, and then put the device aside.  The hot water could be cooled by addition of more water from the pump if needed.<br/><br/>I envision something like this:<br/>http://www.ahhuateng.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Know-About-Immersion-Water-Heaters.jpg<br/><br/>But you know, obviously magical in nature.</div></div><br/><div class="floatright">(http://i.imgur.com/ULbc8cE.jpg)</div>Tehr smiled at the praise from his sister.  "I see you're off to bath too?"  He said noting her robe.  "I noticed during my tour that there are several privacy screens set up and along the walls.  If you'd like too, I'm sure we could both take our private baths together and discuss what needs to be discussed.  I'll be honest, my muscles are tensed and knotted from the carriage ride and a nice long hot soak would be excellent while we chat."  Tehr did need to speak with Christina of course about many things, though the reminder of the last time they'd been in the bath together wasn't far from his mind.<br/><br/>((OOC - If Christina does not join him in the bath, let me know and I'll edit this post))<br/><br/>Assuming she had no objections, he'd lead her to the bathing room.  The room was large and grandiose, fifteen feet by twenty five, and sectioned off with several portable easily movable screens.  Even the commodes, a miracle of the new style 'flushing' water closets, were hidden behind screens.  There was a fireplace in the back wall, with a small fire in it, which made the room just shy of being too warm.  The urge to disrobe and soak in a tub was only enhanced by the warm heat of the fire crackling there.  The fire also lent a warm light to the room.  Tehr had avoided having Hewthorne Hall equipped with wires that carried the lightning in that was being developed and used in some homes.  Caged energy, lightning bolts inside wires inside the walls, it all seemed a bit too dangerous for him.  Previous to this invention they'd used natural gasses that would be piped into the home, and occasionally fires had broken out, even massive explosions he'd heard happened rarely.  So he was hesitant to trust this new 'electric' lighting system.  Instead he'd had the relatively inexpensive mage light globes installed in wall sconces in many of the rooms of the house.<br/><br/><div class="floatleft">(http://i.imgur.com/w06KOYE.jpg)</div>Mage lights were more expensive than oil lamps, and dimmer, but glowed with a steady weak light at all times.  Further a simple touch of the wall sconce could cause them to dim to nothing, or burn as bright as a five wick candelabra.  There were several around the room and between their steady glow and the warm dancing light from the fireplace, the bathroom was well lit.  Tehr smiled and let Christina enter before him.  "I'm going to lock the door for privacy.  I don't really want the servants to hear our talking about house business."  Tehr turned the lock on the bathroom door, knowing of course that Angelique would have a key at the very least, and there was a good chance that Heidi as Christina's maid, and Tera as the head of the guard, would both as well.  But there was a quiet implication behind a locked door, one that said privacy was expected unless a dire situation arose that needed the master's attention.  He also wondered at the dwarven ability to soundproof the rooms as he'd asked.  He knew that there was no way short of magic to make a room silent, an ear at a keyhole simply could only be thwarted so much.  But his hope was that someone in the next room wouldn't be able to hear conversations of a sensitive nature.  Of course he also hoped that his bedroom walls would muffle the sounds of cries of passion.<br/><br/>Tehr then turned his back on Christina, "You may choose which bath you'd prefer, and I'll take the other."  Both tubs were plumbed to let the water drain to the sewers, and there was plumbing that carried fresh water up to fill tubs with cool water.  He smiled as he saw that magical heating rod hanging on the side of the fireplace.  Such a device would allow the maids to heat up the tubs in a matter of a minute or two as opposed to boiling water and bringing it up the dumbwaiter.  He'd seen such devices before, but hadn't ever owned one.  He wondered if it had come with the house or if Christina had purchased one with the funds used for renovations.  Tehr noticed that both tubs in the bathroom were full of steaming water.  There were two tubs, one a smaller one designed for one person to bathe and clean themselves.  Large enough to sit in comfortably and relax if desired, but primarily for a hot bath without using too much water.  The second however was more akin to the tub in the old house he'd been renting.  It was large enough for two to sit in comfortably, or one to completely submerge themselves if they wished.  A small part of him wondered if Christina would be so bold as to suggest they both use the large tub.<br/><br/>As he waited for her to undress and enter one of the two tubs, he went around and touched every other wall sconce, dimming the room to a comfortable relaxing light.  He'd have to tell her all about his trip to house Ravos lands, as well as hear about her progress with Ann d'Wellington.  He waited for the sound of Christina entering the tub before turning and seeing which tub she'd chosen, and which he should take.  If she desired seperate tubs, he'd offer to set a privacy screen between the two tubs for her own sense of decorum.  Though he somehow doubted she'd wish that.