Day 42, Morning: Mystic Healing Spa and Acupuncture

[scarefaux]

The Scarecrow was amazed and overwhelmed as he stepped off the bus- something about this place reminded him deeply of the Emerald City, but somehow less... inviting. Streets, storefronts, people out and about- he felt closer to home than he'd felt in a while, even more so than in the Recreational Field and the Courtyard at the Institute. Still,

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[damned_town]

Seated on a soft benches towards the side of the waiting area, a few employees were engaged in soft, pleasant-sounding conversation, but it was a young woman draped across a comfortable plush armchair who placed her book on the cushion beside her and rose to meet the new arrival. "Welcome to Mystic Healing Spa," she said with a smile as she moved behind the counter. "My name's Cassia. Is there anything I can help you with?"

She seemed to be in her mid-twenties, with long brown hair pulled into a loose braid and an amber pendant that complemented her batik sarong. Cassia's smile was genuine, or at least it seemed that way, as she opened a thin leather book and slid it across the counter toward him. "Here's a list of our services. Take all the time you need, and let me know if you have any questions."

[scarefaux]

Well, this 'Cassia' certainly seemed friendly enough. The other people in the room continued their conversation, paying little interest to the Scarecrow. His body was still shaking oddly- maybe he should have taken that coat the nurse on the bus offered him, after all. He crossed his arms around his torso, not sure how to make the movement stop.

He gave the girl a polite smile as his eyes wandered to the book she'd pushed toward him. He wasn't really sure what the majority of these 'services' were- that feeling of complete ignorance was really getting to him. He considered asking what 'acupuncture' involved, or maybe if the crystals in the window were for some sort of magic, but he instead went with the first thing that came to mind:

"What is that smell?"

[damned_town]

A look of mild confusion crossed Cassia's face, as if she were so accustomed to the spa's scent that she smelled nothing at all. A second later, however, she smiled knowingly. "Oh, that's sandalwood," she said, sweeping her hand to indicate a few sticks of incense poised in a thin stone vase on the counter beside the fountain. The glowing red tips gave off spirals of white smoke that dissipated several inches into the air. "It's been used for centuries to bring about a peaceful state of mind."

[scarefaux]

"Sandalwood?" he repeated, not familiar with the plant. The promise of a 'peaceful state of mind' sounded good, though he wasn't sure he'd be getting it from the smell- it was quite strong, and seemed to be making his head throb. Maybe it was all that thinking he had tried to do on the bus that was causing it, but he was pretty durned sure it was the odor that seemed to permeate every area of the establishment.

"That's good to know," he continued, rubbing his eyes. "Next question- what exactly does a 'spa' do, anyway? I've never actually been to one, and most of these, er... services are foreign to me."

[damned_town]

"Well, Mystic Spa's main goal is caring for our guests' health, both physical and spiritual," Cassia said. Although the tempo of her voice suggested that she'd given this explanation several times before, she spoke slowly and clearly and seemed to mean every word. "We do that by drawing out any negative energy that's accumulated within you and unblocking the flow of energy between your chakra points," she continued. With a thin finger wearing a quartz ring, she traced a line beside the list of services. "I can explain any of these in further detail," she said, "but it might be more helpful if you tell me what's troubling you. Have you been feeling unusually tired or depressed?"

[scarefaux]

Tired? He wasn't really too sure what that felt like, but he was pretty sure that didn't sum up what he'd been feeling. Depressed? That probably wasn't it, either. What is it he was feeling?

[ Continued.]