Another Unhurried Day [Citlali]

by **Xen** on August 23rd, 2014, 2:12 am

The black wave from the night calls to me; pulls me into the depths.

The sudden feeling of tightening muscles surprises Xen, he was so deeply engrossed in the flow of his technique that the sudden shift in Ssafiracitlali’s muscles surprises him. He pauses in the session for a few ticks to see what he had done wrong, or touched to cause his client discomfort. Xen changes from his palms to his fingers and uses them to scan the surface of his client’s muscles. Xen kept his fingers close together, permitting zero space to be in between them. Carefully, he ventures up his clients back and applies no pressure during this act.

Xen could feel the muscles below his fingers relax and return from their tightened, defensive form to a state of peace and passiveness. When his fingers touch Ssafiracitlali’s shoulder blade, he pauses and almost forgot about his next action. Xen was, though, lucky enough to recall what he wished to do next and proceeds to do just that. Xen switches his massage pattern again. This time using his palms, rather than his fingers, like before. He pushes downwards with the lower, softer parts of his palms and allows his hands to flow down Ssafiracitlali’s back. Then he pauses again and rolls upwards—this time applying a bit more pressure.

Xen closes his eyes at this point and tries to imagine the various bone structures and muscle systems within his client’s body. How would they move ? He thought, as his hands rolled upwards and then all the way down to Ssafiracitlali’s lower back. Xen’s mind began to fill with ideas of research, physical research. These ideas revolved around studying how the body moved and functioned to what made it move—to what made it alive. Xen palms made a slow ascent to Ssafiracitlali’s shoulders, as he thought Yet, how would I learn about the body ?

The question had a sinister tone to it.

I’d have to look into the things I’m studying…dissect them. Find their weaknesses through observation, careful research and planning, he thought.
Xen places his left hand onto his clients left shoulder and places his right hand onto her right shoulder. He then, with the palm of his right hand, gently rolls his hand to the left, for it to journey across the back of Ssafiracitlali’s shoulders and touch with his left hand. Within Xen deep, dark and atrocious things began to manifest—plots of destruction and power began to take root—all fueled by his melancholia, his intrigue, his internal darkness and his tranquil rage.

by **Ssafiracitlali** on August 29th, 2014, 9:23 am

Ssafiracitlali was actually beginning to enjoy this, and so the male currently kneading and working at her muscles would feel her begin to simply... go limp. She was pleased at his patient work, at what she could translate as reverence, and she supposed even the smaller Dhani must have respect for their females. It was only to be expected, of course.

On her scales, his hands felt soft, delicate like skin. In the languid moment, she eased herself into a long stretch, and finally decided it was worth it to break the silence before it turned the moment sensual.

"How long have you been here?" Citlali had suddenly piqued her own curiosity. "Are you close to anyone?" Again, Citlali was seeking knowledge, seeking intelligence, to learn him. It could lead to a closer relationship than customer and merchant, or it could lead to something more devious and cruel. She was certainly capable of great acts of cruelty, when provided with the means, but she was slower to incite a passion for cruelty within, especially physical acts. No, she preferred to be like the creeping darkness, learning secrets and exploiting them. Learning fear and rage and hate in the faces of the lesser people.

This male's saving grace was that he was Dhani.

"Do you ever venture out?"

by **Xen** on August 30th, 2014, 2:49 am

The black wave from the night, calls to me and pulls me into the depths.

“I’ve been here for quite some time; seven years maybe.”

The years Xen spent in Zinrah were good and bad; they filled him with heartache, and they granted him freedom from pain—those faithful years he spent in Zinrah. He could not come to hate his home, and would stay here forever; unmoved by any and all forces that told him to leave otherwise. And with his newfound perspectives, pursuits for knowledge, and the desire to strengthen his own powers—that immobility was further enforced by them.

“I’am close to no one,” his words were not cold, nor did they stem from bitterness or disrespect, but from sadness and emptiness. Xen’s voice almost returns to the lifeless tone it had before, only until more questions presented themselves to him. Xen did not mind Ssafiracitlali questions; he enjoys it when he and others would talk about things. Time also enjoyed the conversations he held, as it would go quickly, and return just as fast.

“I go out to hunt when hungry. And I go out to relax, just to stay golden.”

Xen had to stay in shape; lazy males get eaten in the jungle and prey wasn’t going to come to him all the time. He leans over Ssafiracitlali a little and brings both hands of his hands down to her shoulder blade. Xen then pushes forwards and then backwards, moving his hands in a smooth raking motion. This is what he liked about massage; he could improvise and come up with his own patterns and ways to massage his clients. Xen massages Ssafiracitlali’s shoulder blade likes this for a few ticks and then proceeds to move downwards to massage the center of her back, while maintaining the same motion as he went.

When he reaches the center of Ssafiracitlali’s back, he pauses and changes the position of his hands. Xen repositions himself to correct his posturing, and places his right hand onto the right side of his clients back. Now with his posture corrected, he massages upwards, raking while applying a small amount of pressure to deepen the massage. A long session this has been. The last time he massaged someone like was when Kihlissorayls was tutoring him, showing him the ways of massage and technique.

by **Ssafiracitlali** on September 16th, 2014, 7:04 pm

"Not as long as it could be," Citlali responded. She had been there for longer, obviously, being a constrictor and inhabiting the place still. She did not know much of the outside world, though, having never even wandered to the coast but for a few days when she was younger and more interested in adventure and what the seas could hold in store for her. Even in her adulthood, she still thought of adventure, of course, but she never considered it. There was so much Zinrah had yet to offer, and she marvelled at the notion of taking advantage of everything it had. "You're from the desert, yesss? What brought you to Zinrah? Do you ever consssider returning to your Nessst?" As if she still did not consider him wholly a resident to Zinrah, despite the years he'd toiled for the city.

She equally enjoyed conversation. Her sisters were talkative, her brothers less so. Her family painted an interesting picture to fit into the general scheme of Zinrah and bred into Citlali the desire to communicate often, whether with gilded lies or foul truths. There was no reason to lie, at current, and so she was honest. Her interest was not as honest.

She could hear in his voice that pang of loneliness, and associated it with the loss of other vipers like him. She could neither sympathise nor empathise, and so she absorbed his words with a cool interest that said as much. However, it would not let the conversation die.

"I am certain we are all very pleasssed to have you here with usss. You do exquisite work." And she meant the compliment, knowing males typically basked in such words as if they could give them the favour of queens. She stretched, withholding a pleased groan at the pleasant sensation of the massage, and wondered if he was tiring yet. She had time, and would not mind keeping him for much longer.

by **Xen** on September 21st, 2014, 3:32 am

And peace remains on the quiet shores of time

¨My parent's are from Eyktol; they are serpents of the sand, and adventurers,¨ happiness returned to Xen's words, upon speaking about his parents. He still had his doubts on their true reason for leaving him in Zinrah. However, affection remained, and he would someday search for them. ¨ I'am from the mountains, and Zinrah is the only place I could call my home,¨ true words from an long time inhabitant. Zinrah was the only place to contain his kindred, and was the only true nest he knew of. Alvadas was a strange city, but so few of his kinda remained there. And he couldn't quite grasp the nature of the city—everything was ever changing, and he loved that aspect of Alvadas.

However, destiny called him elsewhere, and he would remain where destiny has him, until fate calls. ¨ Thank you, I do enjoy my work; it brings peace to others,¨ massage brought him closer to the understanding of the body—joints were more known to him, and areas of tension stood pronounced. Xen had yet to utilize his knowledge in combat; partially, due to his reluctance to use his teachings of healing, and relief in efforts to cause his foes physical harm.

Massage was an art to Xen; quiet, and serene, it brought him a peace of mind. To heal others without medicine, and without oils, it was magical, divine. Xen had not done any further research in his art—a novice should not wander into realms of competency, and masters. That is just how he felt, and until he grew more proficient in the basics; discovering knots in muscles, and undoing them, he would not proceed any further.

One could say that Xen's hardest obstacle would be himself.

Xen massages to Ssafiracitlali's right shoulder, pauses and passes his left hand across her upper back. He then places both hands onto her left shoulder, with his right hand resting atop his left. Xen allows his lower palm to glide downwards while he applies pressure with his right palm. With the strength of his two arms in this technique—he would feel, and sense knots down within his clients body to a greater degree. Xen was certain of this, and was assured by the way his left palm rested flat against Ssafiracitlali's back. He moves both palms upwards, down, and then up again—displaying the rhythmic motion of raking.

¨Been massaging for awhile,¨ Xen thought; unwilling to show his slight fatigue. He had been massaging for quite some time—he loved his work, but his mind was more willing to press on than his body.

by **Ssafiracitlali** on September 21st, 2014, 7:34 pm

"Eyktol," Citlali repeated. The name was strange to her, but she recognised it vaguely. There was a nest there somewhere of the smaller Dhani. There was a faint string of dislike that she easily squashed. The racism between the subraces of the Dhani was a deeply ingrained fact of life, and one that she found almost completely useless.

This Dhani currently massaging her was, after all, satisfying the tension in her body and easing it away. In the hazy warmth of the cavern, she could easily doze off.

She listened to him to stave off the urge to sleep. His tone had changed from that looming apathy that had consumed it before. Citlali stored it away to ponder later, when he wasn't there and she wasn't listening. She would like to have earned the male's trust, whether or not he deserved her attention. Listening to him was certainly a good way to start.

"Supposedly it is not wet enough in the desert. Do you ever find it too humid for you here?" She wasn't prying, at least not consciously. So few times had she interacted with a Dhani from another region that she couldn't help but be curious. Did it feel different, if Zinrah had been his home and not Eyktol?

She, too, was growing weary, but in a sense to suggest that this was all very pleasant for her. If he was finished, she would not complain. She might return to an empty cavern and sleep afterwards to take advantage of the released tension within her muscles.

by **Xen** on September 24th, 2014, 12:19 am

And peace remains on the quiet shores of time

How long has it been? Xen had lost track of time, and its flow many chimes ago. He continues the session, though; intent on its completion. Xen continues down his clients back, until he reaches her lower back. He leaves his left hand where it remained, and places his other hand onto the right side of her lower back. Xen leans forward, placing some of the weight of his body onto his arms. He then pushes upwards with both arms in unison. Xen used the whole of his palms this time while making sure his four fingers were curled, and thumb remained raised.

He works his way up Ssafiracitlali's back at a slower pace this time, as his strength within his arms was low. Kihlissorayls, and her teachings in the beginning brought him this far—from the first session, until now, Xen has enjoyed the art. Massage was becoming more, and more apart of him. And with each new session, his movements became more graceful. Xen's admiration for, and dedication to massage was one of few things that held color, and light within his eyes—everything else was just a dull, colorless tone. He would preserve the lights of his world; even when knowing of their shadows.

The opposite of massage; caring, and nurturing flesh, would be poison; tainting, and rendering it.

¨The smallest things in existence are mightier than the largest,¨ Xen thought; remembering his mothers teachings. ¨ Poison, and plagues; though small, can destroy life much quicker than fire, and lightning," He continues; thinking upon the words his mother said to him twenty years ago. Xen knew she was right—then in her presence, and now in her absence, she held truth. Xen remembers only bits, and pieces of what his mother taught him, but felt he could concoct something deadly with what he had.

Xen returns from his thoughts to focus on his occupation.

He allows the four fingers of his hands to cascade off the sides of Ssafiracitlali's back, and lets his thumbs rest on her. Xen then uses thumbs he massages up to the shoulder blades—with his right thumb on the right side of the spine, and his left thumb on the other. He was sure to place space between his thumbs, and his clients spine; touching such a sensitive area was unwise. Xen rolls his thumbs to the back of Ssafiracitlali's neck, and then down to her lower back while maintaining his slow pace.

¨ I've never sseen the dessert, my parentss have. The mountain range; Kalea, iss all I'm familiar with. But, I prefer the heat here, it'ss perfect. And I enjoy the consstant rain here,¨ Xen said while placing his arms behind him; he was finished with his work today. The tips of his fingers, and his palms tingle with static; threatening to shake.

by **Ssafiracitlali** on November 6th, 2014, 6:18 am

When the viper had finished his work, Citlali basked in the sensation of relaxation for a moment longer before slithering from the bench and straightening, standing taller than him once more and looking down at him.

"The Jungle iss all we need, anyway," she said. "I imagine the desssert to be boring and lifelessss, barren even. Sssimilar to the ocean and how unchanging it isss on the sssurface." She moved idly, languidly, lost to the warm atmosphere of Zinrah's belly. She decided to spend the night within the city, within the nest of a relative if permitted, simply to take in more of this delicious heat.

"The massssage wass appreciated, male," she said to him. The Constrictor looked him over, considering a return before deciding that, yes, she would likely return for more of his service in the future. He was interesting.

by **Xen** on November 12th, 2014, 6:25 pm

And like all stories; this one comes to an end.

This constrictor was weirdly interesting; fates hand was probably at play here, which is why Xen felt he would meet this female constrictor again. The location and time of their second meeting, he did not know. But, the jungle, despite it being massive and nigh-infinite aspect of nature, was capable of allowing individuals to meet again and again at certain times. Thus, its ability to appear small and both large to all, with little to no effort, was a clever illusion. The phrase ¨it's a small world¨ would probably be a bit better at explaining this.

¨The sea and sands are unchanging, but they are ever moving and expanding, ¨ Xen watches as Ssafiracitlali slithers from the massage bench and makes her way towards elsewhere. She would probably go home to rest, he guesses, and further limber-up with the aid of sleep. Xen wished he could do that, also. One day he could ask Kihlissorayls for a massage...maybe. Xen grins at the thought; she would strangle him and then kindly massage his unconscious, scaly hide.

The quietude of The Red Room returns as Xen sits and relaxes on a massage bench. He sighs in the silence, completing his job was always a task. And like always, it was just another unhurried day for Xen.

by **Traverse** on January 2nd, 2015, 8:46 pm

Citlali

Experience:

Intimidation 1 XP
Investigation 3 XP
Observation 2 XP
Socialization 5 XP

Lore:

Seeking a Massage at the Red Room
Discerning the identity of a Viper Masseuse
The Struggle of Relaxing During a Massage
Ekytol: The Region where the Vipers' Parents Originated
Finding an Interesting Being in the Viper of the Red Room

Ledger:

1 Basic Massage - 10 GM

Xen

Experience:

Endurance 2 XP
Massage 5 XP
Observation 3 XP
Philosophy 2 XP
Socialization 5 XP

Lore:

Tidying up the Red Room
Practicing a Full Body Massage
Practicing a Massage on a Dhani in Dhani Form
Realizing the Endurance Required to Massage a Dhani Constrictor

Additional Notes :

If you have any questions, concerns, accolades, complaints, etc about your grade, drop me a PM and we can most certainly talk it out.

As always, Safe Travels!