Scrolls clutched to her chest and pack slung over her shoulder, Mei ran with her head down against the rain and body bent to try to protect those precious items! Luckily, the rain had only just begun, so she wasn't yet drenched, but it was a sudden and heavy enough downpour that she would be soon!
She needed to find an inn and fast! She didn't care about her own clothes, but her precious supplies--all that knowledge--needed protection!
And so when she spotted a brightly lit establishment, merry music and laughter and squealing pouring out every time the doors opened to admit rain-wet men, she made a beeline for it. The Randy Peach? Odd name for a tavern, but she'd seen weirder! And so, without a moment's hesitation, she raced up the steps, threw open the door, and slipped inside.
It was the smell the hit her first, thick and heady but not unpleasant.
It was everything else that hit her next.
Half naked women were everywhere, many plopped in men's laps or hanging off their arms. Huh. Mei blinked several times, and took her sandals off at the door out of politeness, because that's what one did in Thanatos. Picking them up in her free hand, she walked further inside, looking around curiously.
This was rather unusual! It wasn't the state of undress that made her double-take--Thanati were known for showing a lot of skin, and she was no exception! It was that it was here. Adelans had seemed, to her, a lot more stuffy about that sort of thing, and the weather was so much cooler. No Adelan inn she'd ever stayed in thus far had looked like this!
How very curious...
Well, it was kind of stuffy in here, so after a moment's thought, Mei shrugged out of her wet outer robe, so she was just in her colorful cropped shirt and cut-off breeches. She draped it over her arm, and was looking around for the innkeep when a rather gruff-sounding man grabbed her shoulder.
"You the new girl?" he barked.
What an odd question! Mei cocked her head. "Er...yes? I'm looking for a room. How much is it?"
"How much?" The man lifted an eyebrow. "The current rate's thirty percent. You charge what you think you're worth, and you keep thirty percent. If you do well enough, you get to stay. Now go on. Your room's the fifth to the left, second floor."
Mei's eyebrows climbed. "Wait. Back up. What do you...you're paying me to stay here?"
"Not if you stand around flapping your jaw. Now get busy." He motioned to the men and women mingling in the common room. "Make some 'friends'."
Mei stared at him, feeling like she'd entered some parallel universe, where you were apparently paid to stay in inns and paid to...to eat, drink, and make friends? She scratched her head, wondering what bizarre Adelan custom she'd stumbled upon, and trudged into the common room. A few heads turned when she walked in, still looking and feeling utterly perplexed, and a man whistled at her.
"Ooh, look, it's a little tropical flower!" He motioned her over. "C'mere, you."
Wow. People were really friendly here! Grabbing the end of her white ponytail and wringing some of the water out, Mei shrugged and headed over, then yelped in surprise when he tugged her into his lap.
Really, REALLY friendly!
Caressing her chin, he grinned at her while she stared back awkwardly. "And what's a pretty little thing like you doing in a place like this?"
Oh. That was easy!
With a wide grin, Mei reached down and pulled her huge book of notes from her pack.
"Research!" she said proudly. "Actually, you could be a big help for me here! You see, I'm documenting my travels and discoveries, and this right here is a cultural phenomena I haven't yet encountered!" She pulled a piece of charcoal from another section of her pack. "Would you comment on this, please? The idea of paying customers is new to me, but I suppose I can see the draw--perhaps they'll spend more on booze if they feel they've saved money on the costs of staying? After all, alcohol can be expensive, especially for a heavy drinker who will only buy more when inebriated! And furthermore--!"
"Kinda blabbery, but I can dig a smart girl," the man cut in, giving her an odd look. "Ya got anything sexy in that book of yours?"
"Of course! Knowledge is...ah...sexy, I suppose!" Mei said, and flipped the book open. "For example, just the other day I came across this species of rare bird, and--!"
"...Damn. You're really in-character," the man said, gawking at the book, which was the complete opposite of sexy. "Uh...how about we take this upstairs."
"Good idea!" Mei said, slapping the book shut. "I can interview you there! It'll be quieter!"