Second Quest: Establish the Seven Winds Health and Beauty Spa

[lightnovelexperiences]

1 - Elysium - Seven Winds Spa

A storefront on Brimstone Avenue of Elysium recently opened to little fanfare, but soon attracts some attention for the novelty: a bathhouse and health spa called the Seven Winds Health and Beauty Spa. After a brisk shower one can enjoy a hot spring, a cold bath, mineral water, tea and a healthy snack - and the attention of a masseur or masseuse, rubbing away your aches and fatigue, trimming nails and exfoliating skin, and keeping up pleasant and soothing chatter.

Listening to the middle management of the Empire gripe about their jobs without judgement.

Because every last worker for the Spa is a Crimson Corsair, and the place is in the business of gathering intel from those middle managers. It has a secondary purpose as exactly what it appears to be, of course, and if a corsair wants to make use of the bath or reserve a massage or a mani/pedi, the proprietor - one Deedee Yeowoo - may be the one to provide that for them.

2 - The Vault - Training Room

It's time, with news of war on the horizon, for Deedee to start keeping up her practice. Her style of martial arts has something in common with kenpo and something in common with the acrobatics of wing chun, enhanced with wind magic that adds considerable knockback to her blows and speed to her movements.

She's willing to practice with spear or staff, or unarmed, with anyone willing to fight with her - though she's particularly interested in duels where magic is on the table.

3 - Wildcard
There are other things she could be doing, though she mostly stays in Elysium for it. What else might you ask of her?

Comments

1 - Seven Winds Spa

[relentless_sentinel]

Before Deedee had spoken about it on the network, Nephenee had never heard of something like this "spa" concept, being that she'd never spent much time in bigger cities until after the second war. But the idea intrigues her, especially when the beastkin explained she could work on tense muscles, and Yune knows Nephenee has plenty of those...

Wondering to herself if Calill would like something like this as she arrives with a large covered basket in hand, she pokes her head in, slightly starting at the tiny bell chiming when she does. Right...breathe, Nephie...This place's safe... Repeating that to herself, she looks around as she waits for Deedee or whoever to make an appearance...

[What's she looking at, boss?]

Re: 1 - Seven Winds Spa

[lightnovelexperiences]

There’s a small antechamber with some flowing water, a counter for check in via a guest register and oils for sale, with corridors beyond leading to the sound of flowing water.

As soon as the friendly clerk realizes that Neph is delivering supplies to Deedee - and is on a first name basis with her - she’s whisked, without her name being written down in the register, to a room with a bed, a sweet scented candle, and Deedee doing finger exercises and stretching.

She brightens at her approach. “Looks like you found me, Nephenee!” she says, brightly. “If you need a bath first don’t hesitate, we’ve got common and gender segregated ones, but we can skip to the backrub if you like…”

[relentless_sentinel]

Man, what is with folks whiskin' an' tuggin' her everywhere? Off she goes, barely keeping her balance as the height difference between the clerk and herself plays merry hell with it. A surprised noise's all the clerk gets in way of complaint, though. Although she would've liked to listen to the water more...

She turns towards the door and barely gets out a 'thank ya' as it closes, but Deedee being slightly less gung-ho in her greeting helps bring her back to the present. "Oh, h-hiya. Reckon Ah did, Miss Deedee. An'...uh, reckon Ah should, lil' dirty from today...Like to use the gals' side, please." The thought of there being a common bathing area makes some very unhappy gooseprickles pop up on her neck. No thanks, she's got a hard enough time around girls, definitely not getting naked as a jaybird in front of guys. N-No fellas seein' her 'til she's hitched, and then just that one!

Shifting the basket in her hands absently, she's reminded of its presence. Oh, right. "A-Ah brought some oils an' stuff, Miss Deedee...Got more stuff workin', too, shouldn't take too long..."

She shifts her weight from one foot to another, rather self-conscious between the thought of others seeing her and having her handiwork inspected. She knows she does a good job, but is it good enough for city folks? Rubbing the back of her neck with a free hand, she asks, "Um...would ya...like to see it?" Hurriedly, she clarifies, her cheeks burning and bright even under her hat. "T-The stuff Ah made, Ah mean!" Smooth.

[lightnovelexperiences]

Poor girl is obviously flustered beyond belief: Neph badly needs the break this place affords.

Her last comment, though, makes Deedee hide a giggle behind her hand.

“Oh, I know you meant your handiwork,” she says; “If I wanted to see the other thing I’d be a lot less subtle and a whole lot more awkward.”

She gently, slowly, takes the basket and sets it on a shelf next to the bed; then takes a large fluffy towel from that shelf and points out a side corridor.

“Here. Down that way is a private changing room and the women’s baths. You’ll want a shower first, that’s the waterfall device, before a good soak. I’ll look at and sort your gifts while you take it in. Sounds good?”

[relentless_sentinel]

You have no idea, Deedee. Although, uh, the foxgirl's candid comment doesn't quite help with the fluster. On the contrary, as Neph tries to understand that, she gets steadily redder; somehow, she manages to catch the rest of what was said, and nods. Good, something to take hold of and not have her brain break horribly trying to figure out what the other girl means with that.

Even if Deedee might not have meant much, Nephenee is Nephenee; she is easily confused and embarrassed when some subjects get brought up.

"Y-yeah, uh...think Ah...can figure out how to use it...?" She's been taking baths...showers are a different thing she's not quite used to as such. Granted, she's not sure why she's showering before she bathes, but if Deedee says to do that, she'll do it. Clearly there's some reason Nephenee's just not aware of...add it to the growing list of such things. "Uh, Ah've...ne'er used one 'fore now."

[lightnovelexperiences]

"The shower is to scrub grime off in; the baths are more for relaxation and that helps keep them cleaner," she clarified. "Twist the knob left to start water flowing, right to stop it. If you haven't got brushes or scrapers the towel's fine for it."

[relentless_sentinel]

At least Deedee seems to understand the farm girl's plight. She nods, calming a bit. "A'ight. Glad ya said that, ain't got any o'those with me." She didn't think she'd need to bring one!

"Anythin' else Ah need to know?"

[lightnovelexperiences]

“If you need anything, flag down someone with a headband and red flower in their hair, they work here,” she says. “And… let me show you the way!”

Her guidance is much more sedate, not a whisking away. And, well. The shower water is properly hot, the cold bath bracing - the slightly sulfurous hot bath ache-dissolving. How long does Neph need there?

[relentless_sentinel]

Well, she wasn't exactly filthy before coming, but she's working around animals, crops, and other things, so she wants to make sure she's clean before getting in the hot spring. For that, though...well, Nephenee enjoys how it feels a lot, but she finds herself having to get out before she really wants to, on account that she's already a furnace, and so she gets overheated around ten minutes in. So perhaps twenty-five minutes, tops? Thankfully, she's able to flag down one of those attendants for a cool cloth before she feels like she'll pass out. She does have to sit for a minute wrapped in a towel as she cools off, though, before she's shown to where Deedee does her magic. Whew!

In the meantime, if Deedee checks that basket, she finds the following:
- A few different salves and ointments, marked "marigold", "calendula", "chamomile", and "lavender". They have some of their uses marked on the containers, too.
- Soaps of "lavender", "rose", "chamomile", and "ginger", with some comfrey in each as well. There might be the slightest hint of tallow, but it's mostly covered by the herbs.
- "Ginger, marigold, & orange", "lavender", "chamomile", and "peppermint & rosemary" oils. Some recommended uses are listed.

No telling if these are the right translations, but she tried, and at least knows these are the same plants she's familiar with back home. Thank Yune at least some things are the same, here...

Yes, she went overboard, perhaps. But at least they smell nice!

[lightnovelexperiences]

These are all godsends. Not all of them are medicinal, but those that are can be put to use immediately, and those that are merely aromatic can be used to upcharge Impie visitors looking for "aromatherapy."

Deedee enters the massage room ready to work on Nephenee, the modesty towels already draped over her; announcing her presence by knocking on the door and waiting to be granted entrance.

"Thank you for that absolute treasure trove of oils and soaps," she says. "Now then. I'm going to start with your shoulders and work down and out, and I'm going to use warm almond oil. Keep me posted about how much pressure you need and where you need it, and let me know when to begin. Alright?"
"

[relentless_sentinel]

What are Imperials for, if not to upcharge and squeeze secrets out of?

Nephenee may already have the modesty towels over her, but she's still fairly red all over, thanks to being still pretty warm, and also blushing a lot, in fairly stark contrast to her hair, which hangs down and covers her face and the head of the table. Actually, as Deedee gets closer to work, she should be able to feel the heat coming off of the Sentinel. Girl's a furnace!

"A-Alright...Ah ain't...done nothin' like this before, 'cept my brothers workin' on my back, so...Ah'll try to let ya know..." Slow breaths, Nephie! Don't mind her being a stammery mess, Deedee; it's Neph, she'll calm down. "An' y-you're welcome...Ah'm glad they're stuff ya can use. Um, Ah'll have...better stuff for ya in a lil' bit...takes time for the best oil. But Ah got a few goin'..." At least most of these she'd had enough time to get a week or two into infusions.

[lightnovelexperiences]

Classic massage has five techniques: gliding, kneading, drumming, pressing and shaking. Deedee begins by pressing, then gently shaking, Neph's shoulders from above straight down, before moving to glides down her back and back up, to distribute oil Deedee warmed with a candleflame and in her hands.

Most areas only need a little shake, a little kneading, and they're good to go. But Neph isn't here for most areas. Deedee tries to find points of particular tightness - what some describe in error as a muscle knot - to relieve those with light shaking into drumming, pressing and kneading as needed, occasionally lifting one hand to apply more oil, never taking away both hands, never breaking touch.

It's not immediate relief, but a slow melting of frozen muscles.

[relentless_sentinel]

If Nephenee needed just a little work, rolling the affected area with something pressed against her and the wall would do it. No, no, there's a lot of built-up tension here in all this muscle that sees frequent use. While it seems there's at least some tension everywhere, the worst areas are the upper back, especially in the shoulders and neck, as well as her lower back, near her hips.

Frankly, there's some really rough spots there, and as asked, Nephenee lets Deedee know when she needs to apply more pressure, bearing it all with no complaint past than a few quiet grunts, and a muttered "Yeesh...feels worse than usual..." But she can feel things loosening...maybe for the first time in ages.