Chapter Four

"Evelyn?" Ken calls out the name of his last client for the night.

His eyes glance over to a rather familiar face earlier on the MRT, same amber eyes and an unnatural bronze complexion. Eye contact is quick and decisive as Evelyn greets him with a warm smile as she gracefully sprouts to her feet with and approaches with an aura that is literally illuminating.

The sudden reunion earns a few quick blinks from a stunned Ken, but instinct kicks in as his smile appears when she approaches.

An amused giggle, melodic in nature flows into the air. "I see I have the chance to officially meet you. Ken, is it not?" She quickly adds. "I recall your name when... navigating the that labyrinth of a procedure."

After dealing with the dull repetitive script of greeting client's before waving them along to their session, rinse and repeat, this cannot be more of a refreshing change of pace. Though this usual deviation of introductions throws Ken off balance as in this has never been in the script.

Luckily, he's no stranger to improvising. "Yes, ma'am. It's nice to officially meet you." They'll be able to talk more when they are in session. "Whenever you're ready, we'll be in Room 17 off on your left."

"Splendid."

Evelyn wastes no time taking the lead, which Ken is grateful for. With her being his last client before going off the clock, he hopes she can speed things along with a fruitful conversation.

*FE*

Out of all the clients Kira received here at this resort, she never received a who 'just wanted to experience this session' alone. After warmly informing Aelfric of how the procedure will commence, and assuring him of his options, he seemed more relaxed.

There was a bit of difficulty getting underneath the sheets, for reasons beyond Kira's comprehension, but Kira, being patient and professional as ever, was able to help him.

His eyes keep a vigilant visual on Evelyn to detect any signs of discontent or discomfort, but her relaxing state is a welcoming change from the tense client prior. And the dreamy sigh following his

"I hope my reemergence did not distress you." Her playful voice weaves itself with genuine care. "Truthfully, I did not anticipate to meet my practitioner prior to my destination."

Her way of speaking is oddly consistent and it leaves Ken wondering if all students at MIS talk and act this way. "Honestly, I did not expect someone from MIS to book an appointment here." Serves as his substitute.

"Oh stars, yes!"

Stars, huh? Maybe she's a weeb deep down.

"I'm sorry..." Ken ceases his movements. "Any pain or discomfort?"

"Oh, nay..." She murmurs. "On the contrary... you relieved burden's I never imagined hosting."

If this is her way of stoking Ken's inflated ego, it's working.

"Who would have thought a... human touch would have much of a remedy."

Ken raises a brow somewhat taken aback by the consistent choice of words.

"Are there any... holistic healing techniques that are used where you're from?"

"Well... springs and baths are commonplace from where I hail, but

"Oh... I see..." Ken sounds mildly interested. "So... where you're from, you rely mostly on herbal and natural forms of... medicinal remedies?" He wonders if his choice of words fit properly in that sentence.

Evelyn laughs. "You make it sound like that it is a rarity. But you are correct." Her smile blooms. "My kin long rely on our land's bounty to sustain us." Her grimace worries Ken that he might have pushed too much on his pressure. "So... you can imagine coming here has been truly bizarre."

Her words impact Ken with a discomforting sense of nostalgia. His silence is a result of him unsure how to respond to her words.

"I'm sorry." Evelyn softly offers.

Ken smiles, masquerading his anxiety. "For what?"

"For causing you discomfort. Twas not my intention to burden you with my initial ordeal."

Ken shakes his head. "No harm done." He snickers. "Honestly, this massage is a welcoming change of pace compared to-" He almost blurts out 'The last client before you.' but one awkward pause and a shift in words quickly supplies him with, "Other clients."

Evelyn frowns. "Recently?"

Well, as long as he gives no names. "Possibly."

Evelyn chuckles. "Coy. You worry I will act malicious?"

Ken hopes she will not. "Just protecting our client's confidentiality."

"Do these client's treat you decent?" Her tone takes a more regal and commanding approach. "Go on, be candid. Our time is also confidential, I hope."

Ken nods. "Don't worry it is." Though it would be a better idea to not drop names or specific individuals. "Let's just say some who book with us are not the most gracious of guests."

"I see." Ken can hear the reluctant surrender in Evelyn's tone hinting that she would no press him further. "I'm sorry that you must put up with them."

"Oh, don't worry about it." Ken assures her. "Like I said, it only happens sometimes. And every now and then, there are the clients who make our nights. Or mornings, 'pending on the shift."

"Weellll, hopefully I count among one of those honored few."

With a lighthearted response like that, Ken is unsure how to respond. How can a practitioner with a dominant power differential respond to a client fully draped and laying down on a table without crossing any boundaries.

"So far so good." Is all Ken can conjure up, though he feels it's too pathetic.

Thankfully, Evelyn did not seem to mind. Though it's more likely she'd being more of a good sport based on the friendly grin Ken notices.

Time passes with Ken moving in a perfect symmetric rhythm along Evelyn's arms and legs and even applying a Northern Thai touch to her feet after her consent, all while they continue with their conversation.

Truly a refreshing change of pace, though definitely a whiplash considering how much of a toxic nuisance that piece of work that prior client was.

"Tell me, Ken, is it, do you enjoy the life you are given?" 

Her words come as she begins to flip over, lingering in Ken's thoughts for a few seconds before feeling they begin squeezing his chest. Why she just spins out that unprovoked query does more than catch him off guard. 

Especially with her mannerisms, her apparel, and the way she talks, no Evelyn might not who she says she might-

Ken calms himself, knowing full well his nerves tend to get the better of him in situations like this. 

"I do yes." Short, sweet, to the point, but to hammer it down, "I love my job, plenty to do, plenty to see, and it's all in a place I love dearly." 

"So... you feel as though you found your purpose here?" She seems insistent. 

"I have yes." So is he, becoming more convinced that she's trying to sell him something.

"That is... good to hear." Her tone says otherwise. "Most your age have long dreamed of departing from this world in favor of another."

"You mean... like being summoned to a fantasy world?" Ken hopes that's what she means and not something sinister or cultic.

"Precisely." Her words wash him with relief. "It's rather amusing. Their answers vary from adventure, glory, or even, acquiring a harem of maidens."

Ken smirks, wondering if Evelyn is fond of isekai. "Sounds about right. Honestly, if you would have asked me that a decade ago, I would have wished to be one of those few who got to another world."

"May I asked what changed?" Her question instead of an amused chuckle bruises his ego somewhat but the question lingers. 

Lots of reasons, but if Ken has to concoct and boil all of them into the same pot, it would come out something akin to as, "I just got lucky I'm here now. And I don't want to lose it."

Only a thoughtful hum, sounding a little melancholic in nature serves as Evelyn's response, and leaves the room feeling a little heavier as she keeps silent while Ken moves to her back.

*

"Alright, I'm sorry to say that's all the time we have for, but thank you very much, Evelyn." Is the unfortunate thing every client must hear when their session comes to close.

And Evelyn is no exception. Though her drowsy pout and sleepy grumbling soothes Ken assuring that he's done his good deed for the night.

Alas, professionals have standards, and departed from the room to leave Evelyn the chance to restore her decency before opening the door with a glass of lavender scented water waiting for her outside.

This is the part that always leaves Ken nervous. Although this is more of the exception than the rule, every now and then, him, along with his colleagues will come across those clients who are too quick to leave, completely ruining the flow of checking in and gently shooing them off.

Which is the reason why Ken adopts a similar mentality with the water, after ruthlessly scrubbing his arms and hands with soap and zips back to room 17 to find, thankfully, that it is still closed.

At least for about thirty seconds before it opens to find a beaming Evelyn stepping out.

Now is the time to check in with her, offer a few self-care tips, hand her the water and guide her up to a job weary front desk before retreating back into the break room and recording his notes before clocking out and be free to claim the night for his own.

That is until Evelyn closes the distance, intimately so, with gleaming eyes and a small but intrigued smile.

"I look forward to reunion, Practitioner."

She winks before escorting herself to the front leaving Ken nearly petrified on the spot, his mind nearly drawing a blank.

Thankfully, a long drawn-out breath frees him from the confinement of Evelyn's spell and entering the room trying to gather himself, trying but failing to calm his rapid heartbeat.

"What the hell just happened?"