#elsa:daphne

[fire-intherain]

"It will be with Anna but she is wonderful so you are in safe hands." Elsa handed over a card with the date and time written on it, "I'll see you on Wednesday and enjoy the rest of your day." As Daphne left she turned to carry on with some inventory work.

"Wednesday would be great, please! I can't wait! Is that with you or have you got more experts to amaze me with?" She grins, excitement written in the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes. "Thank you so much for all your help!"

[fire-intherain]

"Great, let me have a look," Elsa smiled as she tapped at the keyboard. "I have a six thirty on Wednesday or seven fifteen on Thursday. Would either of them work for you?"

It'd been an educated guess that the treatment she chose would be a good introduction and she's glad to have hit the mark, feeling relief wash over her at not having embarrassed herself further with her lack of knowledge before walking through the doors. Perhaps she should've done a little research, but now she's glad she came in to see someone who's clearly an expert — and such an understanding and polite one at that. "Evening would be best for me, actually!" She doesn't admit that she hadn't thought they'd be open that late. "My work's kind of flexible so I like to sleep in if I can. I'm busiest in the afternoon, so it'll be nice to relax after a long day. I'll be sure to wear something loose and comfy, too!"

[fire-intherain]

"A thirty minute hot stone massage would certainly be a good introduction for you. It will give you a chance to see how much pressure you respond to and whether you find the heat helpful." Elsa tapped at the computer to call up the schedule, "We have some spaces, is morning or afternoon best for you? We also have evening appointments until 8 on a Wednesday and Thursday." She nodded at the final question, "Not really although I would suggest wearing loose clothing as your skin may feel a bit sensitive after your massage."

Deciding what treatment to have when the other woman describes them both so appealingly is almost impossible. She's so clueless that every word from an expert is like music to her ears. "At this rate, I think I'm going to have to come back a hundred times to try everything; it all sounds so good. A week minimum between each, though, I swear!" She laughs, returning her eyes to the flyer. She's grateful for it, but it's still fact that nothing really beats being able to talk to someone who knows exactly how to sell it. "I think a thirty minute session with the hot stones is sounding most appealing to me right now, though. Do you have any availability next week? Is there anything else I should know before I book?"

[fire-intherain]

"Intense it is," Elsa smiled. "So there are a two options, the first is a deep tissue massage where the therapist applies pressure with their whole hand and fingers. The second is a hot stone massage where they apply hot stones to your skin which relaxes the muscles and then they can really deep with the actual massage. Both those massages will get deep into your muscles and they can be tailored to focus on specific areas, like your shoulders." Elsa tapped at the relevant part of the brochure, "Both can be done in 30 minute or 60 minute sessions. I wouldn't suggest any longer than 60 minutes and it is best to leave at least four days before any further sessions although a week would be better as it lets your body recover before any further treatment."

Though the world had shifted online almost parallel to Daphne's own formative years, she's always comforted by a lack of technology in her day to day life. She's reliant on it for music, for her work, for keeping in touch with the friends she had to say goodbye to back in New York; it feels like she spends all day straining her eyes at a screen. Holding a pamphlet and reading printed words is a simple pleasure and a much needed break for her vision. "Definitely. I'm definitely one of those people." She smiles, not taking her eyes off the list. Price isn't a big concern to her; it'll be money well-spent if it takes away some of the tension in her shoulders. "Hmm, honestly I feel like I should just go for it and have the more intense one. I don't think shutting off for a while will be enough to balance out my last few months. Which one is that on this list? How long is it?"

[fire-intherain]

Elsa smiled confidently at the praise, waving away the comments with a soft chuckle. "It happens more than people would expect but often I do think it's just people trolling businesses since I like to believe there aren't that many niave people in the world but who really knows." Her smile brightened at the question and she reached below the counter and pulled out a folded leaflet. "Everything you need is in there and if you require any further information on any of the treatments just give us a call or drop in." Handing the leaflet over she asked, "Was there a particular type of massage you had in mind?"

"Wow," Daphne breathes through a tight smile, "you handled that a lot more professionally than I would have. I probably won't like the answer but you get calls like that a lot?" Though it had been curiosity that brought her in here, that's not the question she had in mind, so with a glance over the counter, she asks, "Do you have a full list of the massage services you do offer printed out? Hotel WiFi leaves much to be desired, I actually think it might be the reason I need a message in the first place."

[fire-intherain]

Elsa appreciated the praise, "I certainly don't have as many printed as I used to but there are plenty of people that still prefer a physical copy to look at rather than have to scroll up and down an online list and if it brings in more business then the printing cost is a worthwhile one." She lifted another pamphlet and laid it flat on the counter as she listened to Daphne's request. "There are two ways we could go for the stress. One is using aromatherapy which relaxes your senses and you can have a more gentle massage but it will help you shut everything off for a while. The other is a more intense massage which will get deeper into your muscles and, I won't lie, it is more painful at the time it does get right into any knots or tension and release them. So would you like to try a more relaxing or deep massage?"

"I don't know if naïve is the word I'd use," but that's probably why the other handles this so much better than Daphne ever could have. It can be hard to stay professional even in the best of circumstances, let alone when the world is hell-bent on testing your resolve. "Oh, thank you! That's so helpful. A lot of places these day just have business cards and tell you to look online for all the details. I'm so glad you have a proper pamphlet." She laughs at her own surprise. It's always the small things. "To be honest, I've never had a massage before, so I don't really know what would be best. These last few months have been so stressful, I think it's about time I at least try to do something to treat myself. What do you recommend? I think my shoulders especially could do with the help."