Closed [Soothing Waters] A Good Touch? (Kyra)

[Orion Michaels]

Orion, 56 Fall, 512 AV The chimes and hours ticked by agonizingly slow. The Soothing Waters Bathhouse had it's usual turnout for the actual baths and public pools, but as far as need for medical services, well, there were none. That led to a very bored doctor. Set out before him were the contents of his entire doctor bag. Various tools like scalpels, forceps, as well as threads, gauze, bandages were sat neatly before him as the doctor cleaned them slowly. Over and over again. "I wonder if ten cleanings is enough," he wondered aloud. Cleanliness was, of course, extremely important, but clean was clean. Yet he would repeat his actions over and over again. As he rubbed a dry cloth over the blade of the scalpel, he scanned his very plain work room. A wooden table in the center of the room where patients would lay. A chair for him to sit upon. A counter for him to place his tools on. That. Was. It. It was enough to drive a doctor mad. So when a co worker yelled that one of the masseuses hadn't shown up for work, Orion excused himself from his cleaning and made his way over to find out what was going on. As he arrived, there were a couple of workers arguing about who would pick up the missing workers customers. They were both apparently swamped with people needing their soothing touch, but didn't want to send anyone away. With a sly grin, Orion walked up to the masseuses. "Ladies, don't worry, your problems are answered." They all turned to him and simultaneously rolled their eyes. Ouch. "Do you even know how to massage, Doctor Michaels?" He nodded enthusiastically in reply. "Of course I do! Who do you think I am?" It wasn't exactly a lie. He had learned a little bit about proper massage. Well, foot massage. "I don't know," one said, her face full of uncertainty. "Come on, I mean, what do you have to lose?" Unconvinced, the women looked among each other and nodded before turning back to Orion. "You give us half your tips and we've got a deal." Orion wasn't working for the tips. It was out of boredom. "Deal accepted." He made his way to the empty massage chair, ready to work. The sweet aroma of the various herbal rubs and lotions filled the room. Ginger was the strongest scent, stirring memories of his first lesson in this craft. Soothing and warming, it was a very relaxing choice. "Maybe I'm in the wrong business," he quipped, taking a seat to wait for any customers who may enter. "Hopefully no one wants anything intricate..."

[Kyra]

Kyra had been wandering around for quite sometime. Though it wasn't normal for her to be up so early, her sleeping pattern had been all but destroyed with the traveling she had done as of late. The bed that she had slept in was another thing that kept her from slumbering well into the evening. The beds in Syliras were very different than those in Ravok, and almost felt as if she were sleeping on the ground. Once she was awake there wasn't much to do but get up and go out. During her walk, she learned of a place called the Soothing Waters.

It was bath house, as she had understood it, and a fresh bath sounded like the perfect thing since she was awake and roaming about. However it proved a bit more taxing than she had expected. Kyra found herself lost more than once, as she walked through the castle. Perhaps it was because there were so many people all around, or the fact that she somehow missed the double doors. Even so, she finally found her way and entered through the double doors.

Her journey wasn't over as of yet, as she then had to descend the staircase and make her way down to the fourth tier to where the reception desk was located. Once she was there, she glanced around a bit, then back to the dark-haired man that greeted her from behind the desk. It wasn't what she had been expecting exactly, though she couldn't see much from where she stood. So she looked around, standing on the tips of her toes and trying to look behind the man who seemed to demand her focus.

She wanted a bath and to relax, but she didn't see why all of this effort was necessary. Blinking lightly, she turned back to the man at the desk who then, started off a list of services that she could get, for the right amount of coin. Kyra tilted her head as she looked at him curiously. "A massage?" she asked him innocently. The word sounded funny and she wasn't sure of what it could mean, having never given one or received one knowingly. "A foot massage sounds nice." She replied once he had explained to her what the services were. She had come there for a bath, but this sounded interesting and she decided to give it a try.

She stood there waiting now, looking around at the other people who were likely waiting their turn. Kyra started to pout, the dark-haired man had peaked her interest and she didn't want to stand around and wait a chime to get to it. "Excuse me...Must I wait?"

[Orion Michaels]

Orion Orion's first customer had been a knight. He had wanted a massage before he made his way to the baths. The stench and sweat released after a day guarding the city. While wearing plate mail? Gross. He shuddered thinking of having to put his pleasure giving, life saving hands on a man's hairy back, but that's just what he'd done. He had gentled kneaded the knights back, likening it to running his hands through grass which hadn't been kept under control. Again. Gross. The thoughts of it nearly made Orion retch right there as he washed his hands, wishing he could wash his memory. Yet it only got worse. The man was apparently used to getting a little 'sumthin sumthin' from the ladies who worked here. A slight suggestion that Orion not leave him hanging left him thanking the knight for his service and ending their session So disgusting. Never again, he thought, scowling as he made his way out of the massage area. I'm going to march up there and inform them they'll need to find someone else to cover. I will never, ever, touch so-. His thoughts froze when he made it out to the reception area, where there was a sight to behold. There she was. Petite, pale, slender, gorgeous. A wonderful example of the fairer gender, at least if you asked the doctor. Orion did a visible double take, and although he wasn't sure, very well may have licked his lips. Yep. Wrong profession for sure. Petch all the other customers who were waiting. Old men? Bleeech. Old women? No way. But for her? I guess I can put up with this. "Ma'am, right this way!" He said, motioning her to follow him back to the parlor. Another customer, of course, voiced their displeasure. "Hey now! I was here before her? What kind of service is this." Orion froze for a moment. Would he have to get through all these customers to bring her in? What if someone else got her? No. Not an option. "Uh...that..she..had..appointment. Wait." A stammering masterpiece. What the petch was that? Pull yourself together, Orion. The doctor reached out and grabbed the silver haired woman by her arm, directing her out of the reception area. "Ahaha..sorry about that. We'll get you taken care of. What service are you requesting? We've got a full array of options, from a foot massage, to full body, aroma therapy, hot stone massage, and more. I'm completely at your service," he said, adding a suggestive wink with his last sentence. "Though if I'm completely honest, if we keep the massage part at the feet, it'll be probably go better for both of us."

[Kyra]

Kyra listened impatiently as the man went into a speech about all the people waiting in front of her, and about those injured, who needed healing and so forth an on for what seemed like a chime. She stared at him hard, wondering if he was having a bad day or if he was always so uptight and boring. Glancing behind her, she noticed the looks on the faces of the others, none too pleased with her questions. It was then, that she also noticed the difference in clothing styles. While some were dressed somewhat poorly, there were others wearing finer clothing, but even those had a certain style. All of the attires present bared the same style really, a style that said Syliras, something her own attire did not.

She looked down upon the blue corset that she wore with purple twine coursing through the front and back. The skirt below it was midnight black, with ruffles flowing freely across the thin fabric. Inches beneath, allowing the fair skin at her knees to show, tall leather boots covered her calves, the outfit all in all very Ravok. Glancing back to the people again, she noticed that a few of them were still watching her, curious. Perhaps it was the outfit, stamping her as an outsider, or maybe it was the color of her hair that caused their prolonged gaze. The flowing locks of hair that extended down her back, locks which appeared more blondish in the bright sun, and silver in the pale light of the moon.

Shrugging her shoulders, Kyra spun back around to face the man at the desk. She narrowed her eyes towards him, wrinkling her nose a bit as she stood there. It seemed too much to her, so much to go through just to take a bath. Once she thought it over more, She started to wonder if she told him that she simply wanted a bath, if that would allow her to enter sooner. She pulled away from her inner thoughts, when the people around her seem to grow silent as if something had caught their attention. Kyra glanced over seeing the man that had just appeared, and she focused in on him at once.

He looked a bit younger than the dark haired man who sat at the desk, and he was certainly better to look upon than the mass of human flesh assembled in the waiting area. While some didn't appear to disheveled and haggard, there were others who looked close to death, or at least she thought so. Her golden eyes focused in on him quickly, hoping to catch his attention so that he might be able to help her. Kyra was pleased when he sought her out and offered him a gentle smile in return. "Why thank you good sir."

The sudden burst of hot air from the people behind them, protesting the new-comer's jump in line, caused her to spin around and glaze at them all. The mischievous kelvic started to say something, but her attempt at annoying them even more was cut out by the man when he spoke up. Kyra arched a bow as she stared up at him. An appointment? She hadn't realized that she had made one, unless that was what the whole thing with the dark-haired man was about. Again she shrugged lightly, and followed him after he took her arm. She nodded to him as he spoke, recalling that the man at the desk had mentioned the same services.

"Yes..a foot massage, and a bath." she said simply just before her eyes started to wander around, looking at the area that had just left and the one they were heading too. It was curious to see how the man reacted, he seemed nervous for some reason. "Are you good with massages?"

[Orion Michaels]

Orion Well, he hadn't been eaten alive by the customers that were before her, but that's what they got for not being attractive. None of them were there to see him for his doctoring. And he wasn't a marked healer, so any of them waiting for that would have to continue waiting anyways. So letting this slender, good looking woman go ahead of them didn't really hurt anyone. At least that rationale sounded good to the blue eyed doctor. "Sorry about that. I'm not a usual in this area of the Soothing Waters. I'm a fill in, but that doesn't mean I'm untrained." he said, smiling at the light haired woman. A bath? Oh the gods could be kind from time to time. Orion turned away slightly to hide the slightly lecherous grin that spread across his lips. What have I become? "I've actually got some experience with the foot massage, so you're in good hands." Gathering himself, he led the woman into the massage area, motioning to a chair located in the room. The chair was solidly built, but well cushioned to provide for comfort of the customer. "We'll start with the massage and we can worry about the bath afterwards. If you'll make yourself comfortable, we can get started." Orion walked over to a trunk in the room and knelt down in front of it. The trunk contained various oils and other massage supplies for use. After opening the lid, Orion reached in and dug around for a small container. Ginger oil. It was a simple, and more importantly, cheap massage oil. But really, it was the only one Orion knew worked, so he would stick with that. "Oh, I'm Orion, by the way." He stood, walking back over to the fair skinned customer. "Can't help but notice your dressed a little different than the usual folks. Making a statement, or are you not from around here?" He placed the oil down on a table beside the chair and began to limber up his wrist and fingers for the upcoming work. Running out of stamina was never good, and that didn't just apply to massage. Cramping was just as bad, so Orion took the steps he could to prevent that. "Just let me know when you're comfortable and we'll get underway." The doctor hoped he would be passable. A woman thinking his was anything but delicate with his hands was unthinkable.

[Kyra]

Kyra followed the blue eyed man as he led her into the massage area. She continued to glance up at him, finding his blue eyes interesting to look upon. She finally gave up her almost relentless stare as he turned away from her. She wondered if her staring had caused him to turn away. It wouldn't be the first time that she had been told that her gaze caused uneasiness in people. Still, he didn't seem uneasy at all, but there was something... Kyra didn't bother to ask or stare for any longer and ventured onward. "So..this is your job then?"

Once they had arrived, Kyra followed along as he asked and moved toward the chair that he mentioned. She took a seat, pressing her back against the chair while crossing one leg over the other and placing her hands into her lap. Again she glanced around the room, taking in what was there, and not seeing a bath anywhere. "You said we? Are you taking a bath also?" she asked looking to him curiously. Kyra was used to taking baths alone, not since the time when she lived with her mother had someone else given her a bath. She thought it odd that people allowed strangers to give them baths, but then there was also the massage thing, so she guested it was normal.

She waited, falling silent for a chime and lowering her gaze to the leather boots on her feet. There were still bits of dried mud caked just around the heel and in the tread on the bottom. Glancing back up, she looked to the man as he returned from taking a container from inside a trunk. A fresh scent of oil escaped the truck and waffled into her nose of the mixtures inside along with that of the container that he held. She blinked lightly, wrinkling her nose as she took in the scent. "I am Kyra."

His next words brought a completely innocent look of confusion to her face, and she stared at him for a tick before answering. "Making a statement? Well I am new to the city." She paused, her gaze falling upon the clothing that covered most of her pale flesh expect that around her neck and shoulders, which was dainty draped with flowing blonde locks. "Is there something wrong with my attire Orion?"

Kyra looked on, watching as he placed the container filled with oil down on the table. She followed his hands, noticing as he limbered up. "What are you doing now?" she asked as she sat up further into the chair.

[Orion Michaels]

Orion Her eyes didn't make him uneasy by any means. In fact, he really wanted to stare into them, but women often found it strange when he'd do that. Still, it was fun, and sometimes it would work. He was at work though, and as immoral as he could be, using a job taking care of people to advance his own personal desires, well, it didn't sit right with him. "I'm just a fill in for today. The person scheduled to work this shift didn't show up, and I've had some training for just a case. I'm nothing magical, so don't let this decide your opinion of the place. if nothing else, I'm wonderful conversation," he said, chuckling. "I'm actually a doctor. People haven't been getting hurt today, so haven't had anything to do. Maybe that's for the better, though." She looked understandably confused at his line about the baths. What he would give to be the one at the bath, but alas, that bit wasn't his job. "Ahaha, no, no. I misspoke. I'm not going to be bathing your nor will I be bathing with you. We have attendants who take care of that. This is a spa for your relaxation, my dear." There was a brief lull the conversation as had gone to grab his massage oil before she introduced herself. "Kyra. How many times have you been complimented on that name," he asked, raising his eyebrows and smirking in a teasing manner. "There's absolutely nothing wrong with the way you're dressed, Kyra. It does bring attention to you, though, so if you enjoy that, mission successful." Orion wished more of the women of Syliras would take a tip from the beautiful woman's wardrobe. Too many dresses, not enough skirts. He popped his wrist, his fingers, and his knuckles in preparation for the massage. "I'm getting limber. I want to make sure I'm ready to give you the best massage you've ever had. Although.." he trailed off, smiling at the young woman. Her boots were still on. "By the fact you haven't removed your footwear, I'd say you've never had a massage, have you?" The woman was a little awkward about things, wasn't she? Everything was examined with curiosity. "Kyra, I'll need you to remove your boots. If you want me to give you the foot massage that is. I'll be grasping your ankle, rotating it around, rubbing the various grooves, trying to relax it. But I've gotta have clear access to get it done, okay?"

[Kyra]

"You're a doctor...Who does foot massages?" She asked, still a bit unclear about what was supposed to happen. The only doctors that the young kelvic knew about were those that healed sick humans and animals. The thought occurred to her, and she started to wonder if the people outside were sick, and waiting to be helped. At least to her, they looked the part.

Kyra watched him as he moved about, every so often glancing around the room again then back to him as they continued to speak. A doctor he had said, Kyra didn't have a fear of doctors, though she wasn't a fan of them either. Doctors were handsy and never as gentle as they claimed to be. It seemed the longer she stayed, the more strange the place became. First to go through so much trouble in a bath house, and now having a doctor working there.

She blinked at him curiously as he explained more about the bath, and finding it odd that the people in the city all bathe each other. "Does everyone bathe here?" she asked as he wandered off again, taking the moment to fix her skirt as we waited. "I've been complimented...but not about my name." she answered to his question once he returned.

Compliments came easy to her, though usually about her beauty. There had been a time along ago, when people would pay such compliments. However it wasn't for the name Kyra, but the name Alessa, given to her by her mother. She was often praised for the name, and told of the meaning behind it. For Kyra, and being so young at the time, didn't care much for the meaning and simply enjoyed the attention.

Looking down upon her clothing again, Kyra adjusted her corset, hoping to ease away some of the tightness, before trailing her fingers down to straighten out her skirt again. Attention he said, and she realized that the stares that she had gotten before were in fact because of her clothing. She pouted as she looked away for a tick. When she arrived in the city, she had hoped not to attract any attention to herself, but it would seem that she did nothing but that. "I see.."

"I haven't.." she replied to his question about getting a massage. In truth, she didn't remember ever hearing the word until she arrived on that day. Turing back to look at him, after her gaze had wandered off for the seventh time, she then glanced down to her boots as she took in his words. "Alright." she said simply and leaned forward while lifting her legs upward to undo the laces in her boots then taking them off.

[Orion Michaels]

Orion Orion paused at her question. It was legit, he supposed. It was certainly an interesting thing. A doctor acting like a masseuse? Sure, there was a bit of training when it came to being one, but medicine, that had been a lifetime of study. Couple that with the fact that he was a doctor working in a spa, well, he couldn't blame anyone for being confused, much less an outsider. "I suppose that does sound, odd doesn't it? I would deny it, but it's true. I'm only filling in, though. I'm normally just a doctor." He flashed a grin at the fair skinned woman. "To answer your other question, this is a public bath house. A lot of people come here for their cleanliness needs." The doctor knelt down beside her feet, waiting for her to remove her boots. "So no, not everyone does, and not everyone pays to have someone else bath them, though some do prefer it. People like to get a little rambunctious, if you get what I'm saying." Orion accentuated his last point with a suggestive wink, chuckling quietly. "It's a beautiful name. First time I've ever heard it." Orion wondered if the culture of Syliras was that strange. She'd been tense and uncomfortable since she walked in. Hopefully the massage would help relieve some of the stress she seemed to have. "And the attention can't be a bad thing, right? There's a lot of people in the city that would do anything for a chance to be with a looker like yourself. Some would consider me a lucky man." His fingers and wrist now plenty limber, he waited on Kyra to finish taking her boots off. "Just let me know when you're ready. It's nothing to be worked up about. In fact, the massage is supposed to relax you, so...relax." He smiled, holding the small container of ginger oil in his left hand. It was a relief she wanted a foot massage, so he could could relax as well. Nothing terribly sensual or tempting there, right? This exotic looking woman could spell trouble for a doctor without self control.

[Kyra]

"Doctor's bring in a lot of coin, yes? Does a masseuse make as much, more perhaps?" As far as the young kelvic knew, doctors made a lot of coin.So much so that people were clammering to reach them and bring them to their homes. There were also different levels of doctors, those that worked for the common people, as it had been explained, and those who worked for the people like her mother, the people in the noble's district. "Does being a doctor not suit you Orion?" she had to ask, as it seemed that he was more excited with being a masseuse, or so she thought.

She stared at him, wrinkling her nose at the thought. So it was true, she learned. People in Syliras did allow others to bath them. It was odd to her, and she could remember the last time she was given a bath by someone, and it wasn't a fund memory either. Those years ago, her mother did bath her, and she fought her the whole time. It wasn't that the young kelvic hated baths as much, although she did become quiet tickled during the process. It was more of the fact that her mother always started her baths when she was busy doing something. This annoyed her to no end, but as she grew up and started to bath herself that was no longer a problem.

Of course the bathing process was very different in Sylira, she had no way of knowing, or any other experience to compare it to, thus she ended up thinking it more of a chore than for fun. "That is..strange. Do you take baths from others as well?"

"I suppose it's beautiful, though I know not what it means..." she paused for a tick, her eyes rolling away and back to him again. "Orion is a..beautiful name. Do you know what it means?" Attention, the young doctor had said. Attention was something Kyra received often, even when she didn't want it. "Not all attention is good...didn't you know this Orion?" She smiled towards him, leaning a bit closer from the chair as she peered at him, after hearing his comment about her looks. The tone sounded familiar, the jest was certainly present. "Are you..flirting with me Orion?"

Once she had removed her boots, Kyra slipped back into the chair and waited. With her boots off, she could now feel the cool air in the room as it tickled her skin. She moved her legs about in the chair, wiggling her toes as she attempted to get more comfortable. "I am ready Orion."