A Stressful Day (Zoya)

[Ayren]

21st of Spring, 511 AV Ayren smiled wearily as the children filed out of the classroom. He walked back to his desk in the front of the room and flopped down into his chair. Make no mistake, he loved his job as teacher, but there were just some days. In any class, no matter what year, there were always kids who spend the entire class goofing off. Ayren just didn't get it. You think they would want to pay attention, these skills were important to their survival, but no. They persisted in their attempts to ruin the class for those few endearing students who lived through their peers antics in an attempt to actually learn. Today had been worse than just the usual disturbances. He wondered at how they managed to get so hyped up, even after they had spent all day in their classes. With a sigh, glad that his day's classes were over at last, he turned to organize the piles of paper on his desk. They were all messed up, which meant he would have to sort through them. Glaring at the stacks, he started scanning the documents to sort them into more organized groups. Not ten minutes later, someone knocked on the door and Ayren started, sending papers flying across the desk to ruin his newly formed piles. Looking up, he saw the teacher from the room next door standing in the doorway, and glared profusely at him. The other teacher simply smiled, and commented that he had just stopped by to say hi. Then continued by saying that Ayren needed to relax, then walked away. Ayren just sat there for a few moments, then rounded up the jumbled papers and stacked them haphazardly in a drawer, promising himself he'd get back to it tomorrow and knowing he was lying to himself. Grabbing his pack from the corner of the room, Ayren quickly exited the classroom, and walked out of the class area and into one of the main thoroughfares of Wind Reach. Now that classes were over, there were many Yasi crowding the streets. It would be late afternoon now, and he knew that many of the adults would still be working. A Yasi across the way waved, and Ayren walked away, not wanting to have to deal with his students anymore this day. He decided to head for the Courtyard of the Sky, maybe that would help him calm down. Increasing his speed Ayren navigated the corridors to his destination. To his dismay, it was raining, making the Couryard an unideal place to be. Already wound up, his mood fell even lower than it already was. Then something one of his friends had told him came back. She had been talking about some massage place she had went to, said it had been life changing. Knowing her, that didn't mean much, but still, massages were supposed to help you to relax. Weren't they? It wasn't something Ayren would normally try, but his typical refuge in the Courtyard was gone and he needed to do something, or the next person who talked to him was going to end up hurt. Ayren searched his memory for where she had said the place was, and set out again down a different tunnel. A few quick turns and he found the place. He hesitantly opened the door, almost turning back, then committed himself to trying this. Who knows, it might really be life changing, he tried to convince himself, but he doubted it. Walking slowly into the room, he looked around to see if anyone was there. Not seeing anyone he called "Hello, anyone here?"

[Zoya]

Zoya sighed lightly as her body began waking up at it's usual time. She looked up at the ceiling and groaned lightly before pulling her blanket over her head. She had never been a morning person, but she was determined to become one and so she had allowed her little massage parlor to open at 8:30. It wasn't really that early when she though about it, but because she was a night owl it killed her. She dragged herself out of the bed and began preparing for the day ahead of her. She combed her hair and looked at her planner whimpering inwardly when she saw that there were 2 am appointments and at least one other pm appointment. She finished her hair and the rest of her cleansing practices began her morning chores. She had just finished all her scheduled appointments for the day. She could tell that it was late because she had just left her shop for fresh air and she had nearly been toppled over by the Yasi that must have just finished their classes. She sighed lightly as she leaned up against the frame of her shops door and took in the fresh air, allowing it to clear the faint headache that had begun to develop. After a few minutes Zoya walked back inside but left the door open hoping that, that would help to filter out the smell of the oils. She was sitting in her back room with her eyes closed when she heard the man enter. Zoya knew that many times when her door was open people would drift in and out so she didn't bother to get up until he called out. Standing up she straightened herself out before she walked into the main room. She looked at the man and it took a lot of self-control for her to not let her jaw to drop. Zoya saw that he was looking around and so she cleared her throat gently before saying, "Hello.. how may I help you?" and smiling lightly at him.

[Ayren]

Waiting to see if there would be an answer to his call, Ayren furthur scanned the front room. There was minimal furniture, but what was there was arranged in a way that drew ones eye around the room and maximized the given space. The area was dimly lit, but that seemed more on purpose than an accident. It seemed to Ayren that it was an well made attempt to make the room more comforting. Candles adorned all the tables, as well as a desk in the corner, and the light flickered on all the walls. Multiple side passages lead off from the main area, and Ayren wondered where they lead, if anywhere. Then he heard someone enter the room and he turned to see who it was. The first thing he noticed was that she was beautiful. Long auburn hair flowed down her back, swaying as she walked out of one of the side passages. As she walked closer he saw that her eyes were a blue gray similar in color to his own, but with a hint of gold flecked throughout that sparkled. Most of all he noticed that there was a radiance to her, an inner glow that surrounded her. Though Ayren marked that off as the candlelight rather than something truly there. The woman seemed to be a little surprised or nervous, Ayren couldn't tell which. For a brief instant something flashed across her face, but then it was hidden in the friendly face well practiced by tradesmen. Then she cleared her throat, which suggested she was unprepared, though that wouldn't made much sense. As she asked if he needed anything, she gave a small smile, and it lit up her face. Ayren couldn't help but give his own smile in return. Starting in on a reply Ayren said, "Well, one of my friends said that they give amazing massages here." Ayren looked around again, and noted that there was a distinct smell of oils that he hadn't noticed before. It filled the room, but wasn't completely overpowering. The smell told him he was definitely in the right place. "I needed something to do and decided to stop by, and see if it was true." he continued, deciding that he didn't really need to go on about why he was really there. Let her think it was just because he was bored, she didn't need to know. Then it occurred to him that she might have other things to be doing. He had no way to know if she had other engagements. "That is if you aren't busy as the moment. I could come back later if you wish" Ayren added hastily.

[Zoya]

Zoya looked at the handsome man a bit more now, this time studying his body instead of merely looking at it. His fiery red hair put her own auburn locks to shame. His eyes appeared to be grey from where she was but at the same time they seemed to have splashes of blue do to the lights in the room reflecting of his iris's. He had a small frame yet it was large enough to still be masculine. She found him attractive. That much was official. She listened to his explanation of being there and nodded lightly. She was accustomed to men coming in do to stress and not wanting to admit it. Zoya had a checklist she went though when it came to the men that entered her shop. What time of day, Do they have rings under their eyes, and do they say '..but if you're busy...'. So far this man had gone through all the steps of showing stress but she shrugged it off. No need to add to the stress. "No I have no other engagements. All my other scheduled appointments have come and gone.. Tell me, did you have a type of massage in mind or did you want a list to look at?" Zoya's head tilted ever so slightly causing her hair to toss a bit.

[Ayren]

Ayren waited for her answer as she studied him closer. He couldn't help but feel at least a little flattered by the attention. When she finished her inspection, she seemed to remember his question and nodded slightly. Her eyes gained a knowing gleam, and he wondered what had sparked it. He saw a question hidden there, but it soon disappeared as she must have decided it wasn't worth asking. Maybe she was remembering something, perhaps they had run into each other before. Though that didn't seem likely, he was sure that he would have remembered her if they had met. Turning his thoughts back to the present situation, he listened as she told him that he she had no engagements, that all of her appointments were over. He worried that this meant that she was supposed to be closing now, which would make him feel bad for disturbing her. It could also just mean it had been a slow day, or she wasn't usually busy at this hour. Whatever it was, he wondered if this had really been a good idea after all. Maybe he should have just returned to his camp and moved on with his life. Curse his friend for giving him this idea. The next time he saw her her was going to get revenge somehow, even if he couldn't think of anything at this moment. The woman paused for a moment, then asked him if he had something in mind or wanted a list. She turned her head questioningly, and her hair fell over her shoulder, shimmering beautifully in the low light. A list? Ayren blinked. Apparently this was more complicated than he had thought. Who knew that there was a list involved? This proved how little Ayren really knew about massages in general. He thought back, and it was true that he could never remember having one, or even ever walking into a place that had given one before. His friends got them, but only the one actually talked about it. And then it was the kind of conversation where you could space out and nod at periodic intervals and she wouldn't even notice. Maybe this would turn out to be an educational experience. He smiled as he pictured the look on her face when he actually contributed to her next rambling conversation. She would probably go nuts and he would never get her to calm down again. Yet, thinking of his friends wasn't going to help him in the current situation, and he shook the thoughts away a shake of his head. Turning his attention back to the other woman, Ayren said uncertainly, "A list would be lovely, thank you."

[Zoya]

Zoya smirked in a gentle manor as she saw the puzzled expression that had now taken over his face. She looked at him as she waited for his answer before she moved to the door. She now closed it, she put the closed sign on the door merely because she had a feeling that when she was done with this customer she would be ready to go home. She went to her desk upon hearing his response and went through the fists drawer on the left as she searched for her small list. Once she found it Zoya closed the drawer and locked it. Looking at it briefly to make sure the prices were right she nodded lightly before she handed it to him. "This should be a help. This has a list of the massages i offer here and their prices. I even included a small summary of what each one does and/or entails. I'm going to go in the back and prepare a room but when you're ready merely call for me or come back. Oh! I'm Zoya by the way." She smiled lightly her top row of white teeth sparkling as she extended her hand for him to shake.

Massage ListMassage therapy 3sm
Uses long smooth strokes, kneading, and circular movements on superficial layers of muscle using massage lotion or oil. Can be very gentle and relaxing. If you've never had massage before, this is a good one to try first.

Aromatherapy massage 5sm
Is massage therapy with the addition of one or more scented plant oils that are used to address specific needs.
These oils can be relaxing, energizing, stress-reducing, balancing, etc.
This massage is particularly suited to stress-related conditions or conditions with an emotional component.

Hot Stone Massage 3sm
Heated, smooth stones are placed on certain points on the body to warm and loosen tight muscles and balance energy centers in the body.
The warmth is comforting. This massage is good for people who have muscle tension but prefer lighter massage.

Deep Tissue Massage 3sm
This massage targets the deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue. It uses slower strokes across the grain of the muscle.
Deep tissue massage is used for chronically tight or painful muscles, postural problems, or recovery from injury. People often feel sore for one to two days after deep tissue massage.

Foot Massage 3sm
It is more than simple foot massage. This massage involves applying pressure to certain points on the foot that correspond to organs and systems in the body. It is very relaxing, especially for people who stand on their feet all day or just have tired, achy feet.

[Ayren]

She seemed to find something amusing, smirking at him. Before had a chance to figure out what it was, she walked to the door and flipped a sign, although he found it hard to believe it was a closed sign. If she was closed she couldn't be helping him, would she? The door slid shut with a small thud, and the room instantly felt more confining. No wonder she liked to keep it open, these caverns could feel so closed off. This was why he preferred it outside, where there was no possible way to be closed in. She then walked over to the desk in the corner, and became rifling through a drawer. It must not have been well organized because it seemed to take her a moment to find it. Taking a key, she then locked the drawer, a safety precaution. Ayren respected her more for that, he knew that it was always better to be on the careful side. Scanning the list quickly, she handed it over to Ayren, who took it graciously. He in turn began to scan it, as he half listened to her tell him she would be in the next room when he had chosen something. Almost as an afterthought, she introduced herself as Zoya. It was a pretty name, and he thought that it fit her well. Smiling as he grasped her extended hand, he responded in turn with, "I'm Ayren." Dropping her hand, Ayren turned back to the list she had given him. Once again he was struck by how complicated this all was. There were so many different things on this list, and he couldn't tell the difference between any of them. Sure there were brief descriptions, for which he was grateful, that didn't help much. They all looked the same in his mind. Glancing down the list again, he caught the words "good one to try first". Considering this really was his first time, Ayren concluded that he might as well do this one. Ayren called Zoya's name, and waited until he had her attention again. "I think I'm going to do this one..."he looked down at the list and scanned up the description to the name of that particular massage, "Ummm...the first one, massage therapy." Uncertain what he was supposed to do now, Ayren walked over to the desk and set the list down, being careful to keep it away from the flickering candles. Then he looked back at Zoya, waiting for her response.

[Zoya]

She smiled lightly as she heard his name. Ayren. It fit him well. It was gentle but strong. She nodded lightly and went the first of the 5 back rooms she had, it was already clean all she had to do was fix it up a bit. Zoya grabbed a sheet from the bottom drawer of the dresser in that room and draped it on the massage table. She knew that it would get messed up later but she still made it as smooth as she could. She then took out some candles of the top left drawer and lit them with the matches from the top right drawer. After placing the candles around the room and lighting them she put away the other supplies. Zoya then went to the right middle drawers; on the right side were the lotions, and on the left side were the oils. She didn't know which he'd like better so she'd merely pulled out a lemon scented oil. Upon hearing her name she rushed out to him taking long strides that were graceful and so, did not look quickened. She smiled lightly as he told her what he wanted. "Nice choice, you look like you could use the relaxation," She grinned lightly and lead him to the room before gently adding. "Go ahead and undress yourself in here, whether your underwear remains on or off is up to you. When you're ready just lay down with your face in the little hole at the top of the table and call for me. Any questions Ayren?"

[Ayren]

Zoya grinned after Ayren spoke, and he liked the way it highlighted her face. It was clear from the wrinkles around her eyes that a smile was a common expression for her. She commented that he could use the relaxation, and in his mind Ayren agreed with her. It had been quite a day, between the students and those infernal papers on his desk. He had to say that the nervousness of being here wasn't really helping with relaxation, but he supposed that once he got used to the idea, it would help. Hopefully. She lead him into one of the side room that lead off from the main room. It was a little smaller, but still lit with the same candles that adorned the front cavern. On one side of the room was a dresser, drawers filled with the things she would need for the massages. In the center lay the massage table, covered in a meticulously flat sheet, presumably set there while he had been looking at the list. It all looked so perfect, that for a moment he wondered if Zoya was obsessed with organization. That brought a smile to his face, knowing that the only thing he ever managed to keep truly organized was his pack. After studying the room for a moment, Ayren turned back to Zoya and she told him that he could undress there. He couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed. It wasn't as if he hadn't known it was coming, even as uneducated about massages as he was, but it still managed to catch him a little of guard. Blushing slightly he manged to tell her, "Nope. No I don't have any questions." A moment later, she left the room, most likely to give him some privacy. Looking around again, he set his pack on the floor next to the dresser, hoping that it was in an obvious enough spot that he wouldn't forget to grab it when he left later. Then he unwound his plain green scarf from his neck, and laced it on top of his pack. Slipping off his boots and, before he thought better of it, his plain black Bryda and set them there as well. His Katinu was already put away in his pack, waiting until Ayren decided to leave the warmer caverns before it was taken out. Ayren decided that it was one of the only really good things about the city, that in the winter you could just be in a Bryda without the heavier coat over it. Deciding he already felt awkward enough, he left his underwear on. Walking over to the table in the center of the room, he sat down on the edge, not quite willing to lay down yet. He reasoned that he didn't need to until Zoya actually entered and started the massage. Feeling silly for being so nervous about it, Ayren called Zoya into the room.

[Zoya]

Zoya waited in the main room and fixed her nails. There were a few snags and she didn't want those to scratch him when she began. She braided her hair to the side and then tied it off. She looked it the mirror and checked to make sure she looked okay. This ridiculous, she thought as she sighed and leaned against her desk, shaking her head lightly as she gently rubbed her temples. When she heard him call her name Zoya got up and walked into the room. She smirked lightly upon seeing that he was still sitting. She closed the door behind her and walked over to him, "Dearest Ayren, are you so nervous that you can't lay down? Or were you merely waiting until i arrived to lay down?" She asked the second question with her back to him as she took the oil and heated it a bit. She then placed the oil on a small stool next to the Massage table before she gently said, "Any last questions before we begin?"