Why bother learning Thermo/Fluid Dynamics when you have magic? · 11:53pm Oct 27th, 2012
So, I was writing today, and there's (tentatively) a scene in tMiaHM Ch7 that takes place in Luna's bathroom, and while writing this, I had a moment of indescribable pain.
How high up, exactly, is this tower above their reservoir? How much water do you need to fill up an alicorn-sized bathtub? How long can we expect it to take? Consider the sheer amount of work required to move that much water that high up, with friction and head losses and everything else. It's ridiculous. This is a centuries-old plumbing system, which has (presumably) undergone no real maintenance since its installation, and it's moving jillions of [units] of water with incredible water pressure. Unless Canterlot keeps a reservoir of water very high relative to ground level, they would have to have pumps dedicated solely to the princesses' rooms.
Or, as I remembered two seconds after this started, they have magic - water talismans and whatnot.
But another thing about all this is: is it weird for one pony to be in the same room as another pony that's bathing? In 'Feeling Pinkie Keen' we see Pinkie and Twi in the same room while Twi is taking a bath, but this can easily be dismissed on account of them both being mares. What about ponies of the opposite gender? I mean, as AJ points out in 'The Best Night Ever': ponies don't normally wear clothes but... meh. It's not something I want to think too heavily about.
If any of you happen to read this post, I'd like your opinions. What do you all think about all this?
You make some good points there.
I don't think there's any right or wrong way to deal with it, since there's valid points for and against, so you could write it either way.
I would probably be leaning towards it not being weird for two ponies of the opposite gender to be in the same room while bathing, if there are no other contributing factors.
In public swimming pools, you take showers in between getting in and out of the water. Those showering areas are completely unisex. The only difference between those showers and regular showers is the presence of bathing suits. I mean, if we forget about the whole 'naked' part, then there's nothing inherently sexual or inappropriate about bathing in front of others, really.
...Though Luna may have something against it, for all we know.
As far as royalty goes I think that having another pony (of either sex) in there with Luna would be acceptable because she would expect servants to wash her and tend to her needs as commanded.
Depends on how you want to play it. I feel the show doesn't bother with the physics of things, except when it does. Do you want 1) Alicorn privileged. Perhaps hastily retrofitted for a second sister. 2) Marvels of modern engineering. Or magic. Either way, something new for Luna to deal with. (Consider "refuge in audacity"; point out the problem and invent a crazy solution. Perhaps something with the clouds and waterfalls near the castle.) 3) An unexamined assumption. Does Luna expect large numbers of ponies to boil water and carry it to her tub?
Me? Unless it illuminates your characters, I would downplay the infrastructure. To paraphrase Roddenberry, people do not stand around talking about how internal combustion engines work.
Mixed bathing can also go a bunch of ways. If ponies have typical Western / American mores, it gets awkward. But Luna's last experience was in an earlier age. And your interpretation sees her servants differently from random ponies. Also, there is a huge difference between being expected to listen to her orders or pass her things from more personal tasks like shampooing her mane. Once again, draw attention if you think it can tell us about how your ponies work.
I hope this is useful.
You do bring up two very good points. I would think that water talismans would have been relatively new, solely used by unicorns of great power to master the spell, and not of the best quality. Prone to break or go out of control during the prenightmare moon time. However, as time have changed (better education, improved techniques, ext.) the spell in combination with indoor plumbing would have been perfected and be easily available to the masses. Such Luna could think the royal bathing room would be in the “basement” or be wary or such a thing.
As for the bathing predicament; as royalty, such as the princesses, they probably have/had a team of ponies that are trained to “bath them”. During prenightmare moon time, it most likely was a sacred honor. However, they probably would have all been mares. While it would not be taboo for a stallion to be in the room, it would be awkward.
You can go any way, really.
They could have recenty installed modern pumps and such to take care of the issue. Or they simply have a collection basin on the roof and a team of pegasus servants simply hop on a cloud outside until the water level is good enough. Or the tried and true "It's magic, I don't have to explain anything."
From the show, I assume modesty is probably completely different from most humans. Considering everyone is always naked, why would they really care about mixed bathrooms? I'd imagine some scrubbing or such would be reserved for yourself, or very close friends. Servants might fit the bill, or they might not. Luna might expect to take care of most things herself after having things prepared. I'd imagine it's personal preference at that level of things.
The fact is that Nightlight is Luna's hoof servant. As her hoof servant he is required to be at her side at all times, and must attend to her every whim. It is very hard to attend to another's needs when not in the same room. Of course, I just think it would open up a whole new avenue of jokes about eunichs and what not. So long as it doesn't turn sexual and doesn't become overly akward, then it should work fine from a story telling perspective.
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i believe this is the common outlook
Heating the water magically makes perfect sense. How the water gets there, however, is an interesting problem. If magic is used, then is the water lifted up, teleported up, or created? I don't think any of the solutions would seem out of place, but it might just be best not to explain it at all (or lampshade it by having Night Light wonder how it got there).
As far as bathing goes, it seems like most people expect a servant to be with Luna when she bathes. Personally, I would choose to keep that taboo for story purposes, but I don't think it's necessarily the more logical decision. I think there are good arguments to be made for both sides, and I'm sure you can pull off a great scene either way.