entranceway | video ➳ action {feel free to handwave appointment setups and drop by!

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video ➳ action {feel free to handwave appointment setups and drop by!

[The camera comes on, and Sarah smiles as she greets Wonderland.]

Hi, everyone. If we haven't met, I'm Sarah Weller. I've been here about two months now, and I've noticed in between the insane things that happen, there's a lot of training going on either magical or physical sparring, weight lifting, all the good stuff. Injuries can happen, and while I do realize we have a few great doctors here, I wanted to offer my service, too. I'm a physical therapist. Specifically orthopedic which means I'm a pretty great masseuse. If you have a lot of aches and pains or joint problems that won't go away, muscle groups that regularly hurt, I can help. I can also help you come up with an exercise regimen that might be better for you.

If you're into water therapy, we can arrange something at the pool, but otherwise, you can find my therapy room down on the first floor, nestled between all the training facilities in room twenty-three.

[She pans the camera then to give everyone a view of the room before focusing the camera back on her.]

I won't live in this space, so let's go by appointment, any day of the week, normal business hours, nine to five. There's of course no charge for obvious reasons, and I'm happy to do something I know to help people. Each session goes about an hour and I'm starting now.

Oh, PS: Massages are great too for just relaxation, so even if you don't have a problem area, treat yourself sometime.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Did you say you give massages?

_{[Why, hello, it's your one-time tour guide again, here to give the screen a look of amusement and obvious disbelief. She couldn't have gotten his attention faster than if she'd said she was in the business of naked mud wrestling.]}

Did I really hear that right? That's amazing. I didn't think Wonderland's wish fulfillment could get any better.

That I did. [She smiles at hm, glad to see him and feeling a little guilty that she never followed up from his previous hospitality.]

I honestly just wanted to do something that I know. I'm not that great at doing nothing for very long.

_{[Anders doesn't take it personally. There's plenty to adjust to and he knows exactly how easy it is to get swept up in the affairs of Wonderland--not to mention, Sarah has friends and family here that need tending to.

His grin stretches wider into sly territory.]}

I had to be sure. I've had this dream before and I woke up disappointed.

_{[Isn't it everyone's dream to have someone say "free massages"? He can't be the only one.]}

You're too modest. Being trained to give massages sounds fantastic. I'm not sure what "orthopedic" entails, but I bet it's great, too.

'Orthopedic' is generally all about bones and muscles. I studied them in school and now, here I am. Putting all that knowledge to use for free.

[She's smiling, both because of his slyness and the fact that she has no problem with simply doing this for people because she can.]

So, when are you coming by?

_{[Huh. He learns something new about Earth every day.]}

So you're a bit of a healer yourself. I can't imagine any better way of getting rid of aches than having a professional rub them out. I like the sound of your therapy.

_{[This really is a dream come true...]}

Can I? Do I need a official appointment before the doctor can see me?

Well, I'm definitely not a doctor. But I do kind of like the title.

[She wishes. Pregnancy and single motherhood had curtailed any of those dreams, though.]

For you? No appointment necessary. I'm free.

Doctor of massages? I could see it.

_{[Sarah had be better be careful with those freebies or the next time she goes to her office, she'll find Anders couched there on a permanent basis. He has a lot of stress in his life, okay. He's tense.]}

Wow, did I win the lottery? It's not every day someone makes an offer like that. I hope you're prepared to be run off your feet--I imagine you'll get your fair share of takers if you haven't already. How booked solid are you?

_{[Hey, just because he's a spirit healer and can take care of his own injuries doesn't mean he isn't tempted to jump all over this.]}

Starting tomorrow it goes through the next couple of weeks so far. Honestly? I didn't expect anyone to be this interested. A lot of people are apprehensive about the whole...nudity part.

[Though of course, she'd never make someone strip down if they weren't comfortable with it. It just makes for a better experience, that's all.]

_{[Thank you, Maker, there's nudity.]}

But that's the best part! We're sharing our memories with each other all the time on account of Wonderland, what's showing a little skin?

_{[That's clearly not a hurdle that Anders needs convincing to jump over.]}

Sign me up! I have nothing to hide.

Come by now then. You can tell me if my ambiance needs work or something.

[She's always worked for people, never on her own, so she could use the input. And she's excited to actually get started. Anders can be one of the few getting an early preview.]

Who am I to refuse a sneak preview?

_{[A man who's lived an extremely deprived life and thinks this is an excellent idea short of opening a brothel or the Devil's soon-to-be burlesque club, that's who. He smiles broadly again.]}

Consider me a willing volunteer. I'll be right over.

_{[Like she'd said, she's taking suggestions... He's helping. This is totally a mature and mutually beneficial favor between two people, not at all him unable to resist his curiosity. As promised, once he disconnects and has a chance to head downstairs, he follows her instructions to her designated office, rapping lightly on the door to announce himself.]}

Wow, look at this place! It looks even more professional in person.

[ Sarah grins as she lets him in and tucks a piece of hair behind her ear. ]

Yeah? I've been working on it for a while, so that's actually really great to hear. I didn't want it to seem tacky with a lot of cheap decoration, but I didn't want it to look intimidatingly stuffy.

[ There's a balance, she thinks. She was just going for professional and classy. ]

_{[Modern designs from an Earth standpoint are still a treat for the eyes, and he looks around, taking in the sight. Much less metallic and sterile in comparison to the clinic. He gives a firm nod as if coming to a decision.]}

I don't know what an orthopedic treatment room is supposed to look like, but... this looks like a good one! I like the ambiance. Very soothing.

_{[To tell the truth, Anders doesn't know much about massages, either, but that's the aim, right? Soothing and relaxing? The light and airy space are good choices to that end. There are no half-naked women with bottles of oil on hand, but you can't have it all.]}

So how does this normally work? Should I fake an injury for the realism?

_{[He smiles, clearly joking.]}

Well, if you have a good flair for the dramatic - which I think you do - you can go to town pretending you're in incredible pain. Or, I can leave for a few minutes, you can undress, get under the sheet, lay down on your stomach, and we can get to work. Totally up to you.

[ She pauses a beat before exiting the room to give him some privacy. ]

You also don't have to take off all of your clothes. Minimum, everything from the waist up, but whatever you're comfortable with. I'll be back in a few minutes.

_{[Dramatic? Him? Anders' expression takes on a faintly sheepish look that more or less says eheheh, guilty as charged.]}

Thank you. I'll, uh... do that, then.

_{[But the kind of person that goes around disrobing with abandon? Not quite. Contrary to some of his more exhibitionist personality traits and remarks full of bluster, Anders doesn't actually throw his clothes off at every opportunity. It's not shyness about his body, per se--there's nothing strange or deformed going on under these robes he wouldn't want somebody to see--but modesty was something you learned to adopt quickly in the Circle and it's stuck.

Once he's left alone, Anders looks around for a beat before doing as suggested and removing his top layers. His outer robes and his shirt underneath get folded up and set aside, leaving him bare-chested. By the time Sarah gets back, he'll be in position, humming something to himself with chin propped up in his palms.]}

For the record, I probably shouldn't mentioned I volunteered for this to your brother. I think he might have some words.

He'll only have words if you try to date me.

[ As she walks back in, she's making sure her hands are warm under a hot towel, closing the door behind her. ]

But he also knows I can kick his ass, so really, he has no bite after that bark unless someone hurts me.

[ Something she was really glad for during her divorce. That's a story for another time. ]

Okay, so do you have any areas on your back that give you trouble? If not, we'll just go general massage.

_{[This is a surprisingly odd position for him, lying shirtless at another's mercy while his female company moves around the room. Usually when he's healing, he's the one standing over the other person; it's different being the one expected to stretch out and do nothing. It makes him want to fidget if just to have something to do, but he restrains that urge by laughing lightly at her assessment of Kurt.

She might be underestimating the protectiveness of her sibling, seeing as how Kurt had already had some subtle-words-that-weren't-really-words for him.]}

I would not want to be the one facing down the two of you. It sounds as though you make a formidable team.

_{[Add in Jane Doe, a woman who'd survived having her entire body tattooed and her memories erased, and he thinks that's a trio of people one messes with at their own peril.

Shifting in place to get himself more comfortable, he turns his head to follow her.]}

Um, you could say I carry a little bit of tension in my shoulders. _{[Living the Warden life before Wonderland, and the apostate life before that hadn't exactly been easy on the nerves. Funny how stressful running for your life is.]} But other than that, I'm fit as a fiddle.

Alright, well, close your eyes, listen to the music, and relax.

[She gets to work, starting at his shoulders and massaging up and out to find different areas of tension. She won't talk and interrupt his relaxing unless he speaks first. Her thumbs work on some tension in his neck, massaging it out before actually massaging down his arms, working on his hands and popping each joint before moving to the next arm and doing the same. Then, she gets to his back again, working on the muscles along his spine. ]

I'm in your capable hands.

_{[And he solemnly swears to do his best not to squirm or impede her work. He's not blind to the fact she has reasons to take this a whole lot more seriously than he does.

Lowering his head, he lets her go about his business back there, and just as advertised, the massage part of this adventure feels quite warm and nice until her fingertips begin finding points of tension and putting pressure on them. Even then, everything starts to dissolve into a pleasant tingle not unlike having an overly strong cat knead its paws into his muscles.]}

Woo, this feels a bit strange. But in a good way...

If anything hurts, tell me. Although a lot of the time, once we work out a knot, you'll feel instant relief. Still, I can use some heat therapy instead, sometimes it helps.

[ Her thumbs make sweeping circles, working out a knot, kneading it until it does finally loosen and she moves on. ]

Uhhh... um. Hm.

_{[An attempt to reply goes awry when she drags her thumbs along a muscle, the vowel extending in tune with a long sweep of her thumbs at one point.

He'd been mostly kidding about needing a massage if it wasn't going to be administered by half a dozen scantily-clad women with scented oils on a bed of rose petals (it could happen) but this actually seems to be working.]}

The only thing that hurts me is the realization I should've taken more chances to do this back home. Though I did hear a horror story about someone offering these services in Denerim who stepped on a soldier's back and left him unable to put his armor on for a week. I... shouldn't be worried about that, should I?

[ Well, the scantily clad rub downs are only for people she's dating. Sorry, Anders. ]

God, wow, no. A massage shouldn't leave you sore, or more sore than when you walked in. I went to school for a while to learn how to not hurt people when I do this. Someone could do real damage if the hit a nerve wrong. I promise you'll feel amazing by the time I'm done.

[ He does get his oil now, though it's more sandalwood scented than anything else, and this is the last part of the massage, her hands working it into his skin. ]

_{[Alas, he can dream...]}

I don't think she was a professional in the same sense as yourself.

_{[From his position, it's muffled, but he's clearly chuckling. Ferelden's natural resources include an abundance of swindlers and con men. You have to admire his countrymen for their entrepreneurial spirits.]}

Why did you decide to go into this of all things, if you don't mind my asking? Not that I'm complaining.

_{[But braving the unwashed masses and agreeing to rub them down for a living? That strikes Anders as selfless and masochistic all at once.]}

Well. I was going to school to be a nurse. Then I met this guy, and...then I got pregnant, so. My plans changed to something I could get done a lot faster with a little less school. Usually, my job isn't this, exactly. I'm helping athletes who get hurt people who were in accidents and need physical therapy. That sort of thing.

[ So, not quite the same as the Wonderland gig. ]

Here, doing this is something that keeps people relaxed and keeps me busy, so I don't mind it.

Ah, so that's what happened. Bundles of joy do have a way of throwing a wrench in your plans. But it sounds as though things worked out in the end.

_{[She has a vocation she seems to enjoy, and a son that he presumes she also enjoys.]}

The next time I pull something while running for my life, I'm definitely stopping in. _{[Cheerfully:]} I'm sure this place'll provide plenty of opportunity.

video ➳ action {feel free to handwave appointment setups and drop by!

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