nebet-ren said:

♖ for whichever -- if you feel like it! (And I am working on the prompt you sent me forever ago. :) )

A heady aroma of vanilla tea permeated the air of Radela’s office. Empty of patients for the moment, instead two friends sat beneath the drying herbs, snatching a few moments of calm together.

Radela eyed Abhayaa keenly for a moment after the first cups of tea had been poured and drank, and the plate of ginger snaps was considerably less full than it had been. ‘You still look a little worn, Abha. I hope you have a visit from that gnome sooner rather than later. I wish I could help more…’ she trailed off for a moment, tapping her chin. ‘Many of my patients find massage to be quite rejuvenating. What about a scalp and shoulder massage? It might take away some of the strain of all those hours leaning over books and the shop counter. No, really, I insist.’ She smiled, chin jutted out firmly.

Abhayaa rewarded the offer with a broad grin. ‘That sounds good.’

Radela’s smile broadened as she gestured for Abha to follow her through to the consulting room. ‘The chair in here reclines a little way, it’ll be useful.’

As Abhayaa settled into the chair, Radela busied herself setting up a small tub of warm water, towels, a lightly scented oil and a fragrant bar of gentle soap. ‘Ready?’ she asked.

When her friend nodded, she began drawing firm circles on Abha’s forehead, moving from the eye sockets out towards the temples, then up through the draenei’s soft hair and around her cranial extensions. With a brisk, firm touch she alternated small circles and large, making sure to cover every inch of her friend’s scalp before moving down to her neck and shoulders.

After she was satisfied with Abha’s softening shoulder muscles, Radela coaxed her friend to tip her head back and gently washed the oil from her hair, fingers carefully running through her tresses to detangle any knots she might have caused. She completed the task by wrapping a fluffy towel around Abha’s head. ‘How’s that?’ she asked with a hopeful smile.

A heady aroma of vanilla tea permeated the air of Radela’s office. Empty of patients for the moment, instead two friends sat beneath the drying herbs, snatching a few moments of calm together.

Radela eyed Abhayaa keenly for a moment after the first cups of tea had been poured and drank, and the plate of ginger snaps was considerably less full than it had been. ‘You still look a little worn, Abha. I hope you have a visit from that gnome sooner rather than later. I wish I could help more…’ she trailed off for a moment, tapping her chin. ‘Many of my patients find massage to be quite rejuvenating. What about a scalp and shoulder massage? It might take away some of the strain of all those hours leaning over books and the shop counter. No, really, I insist.’ She smiled, chin jutted out firmly.

Abhayaa rewarded the offer with a broad grin. ‘That sounds good.’

Radela’s smile broadened as she gestured for Abha to follow her through to the consulting room. ‘The chair in here reclines a little way, it’ll be useful.’

As Abhayaa settled into the chair, Radela busied herself setting up a small tub of warm water, towels, a lightly scented oil and a fragrant bar of gentle soap. ‘Ready?’ she asked.

When her friend nodded, she began drawing firm circles on Abha’s forehead, moving from the eye sockets out towards the temples, then up through the draenei’s soft hair and around her cranial extensions. With a brisk, firm touch she alternated small circles and large, making sure to cover every inch of her friend’s scalp before moving down to her neck and shoulders.

After she was satisfied with Abha’s softening shoulder muscles, Radela coaxed her friend to tip her head back and gently washed the oil from her hair, fingers carefully running through her tresses to detangle any knots she might have caused. She completed the task by wrapping a fluffy towel around Abha’s head. ‘How’s that?’ she asked with a hopeful smile.