Quoted By:
“Enough chatter! That new manager in the mix is going to fix this!” You proclaim before letting Clutz continue her meltdown.
“<span class="mu-i">Huh...?</span>” An astonished Vortexia says. The confusion in her voice matches the one on her face! It sounds obvious, but she really sounded like she has no idea what’s going on in this corner of the world.
“How?” Emily is curious about your solution.
“With a massage! Of course!” You exclaim with a conviction only a delusional man can muster! Err, without being delusional!
“Naturally, a response that makes sense. Ihoho~…” Vortexia shows her evil smile. “Not! A massage?! What?!”
“Are you experienced doing them?” Emily wonders if you have a certificate.
“I’ve done them for my mom, my sister, and my martial arts master. With great results!” You adjust your glasses.
“Sounds nasty…” Vortexia gets jittery imagining you rubbing an old man’s back. She feels like she can relate.
“Were you forced to do them?” Emily feels like all of those people were taking advantage of you.
“The correct term is *coerced*, thank you.” You adjust your glasses without knowing if this clarification does anything.
“At least my mother <span class="mu-i">asked</span> me to rub her neck every now and then…” Emily has bad memories of said events. That still sounds like coercion.
“But yeah, I know this will help relax our Clutz here.” You say with confidence.
“Now I’m on the receiving end, huh…” Vortexia talks to herself. “The perks of being the true star as I was always meant to be.”
What are you? The massage trio? What a weird thing you three find to connect about.
“Are you up for it?” You start stretching your fingers.
“Do you have a professional certificate?” Vortexia doesn’t want to be touched by a fraud. “You can’t lie to me! I did a course!”
“My expertise only extends to doing my best.” You’re frank.
“Hmm… letting an obsessive fan lay a finger on me is not wise…” Clutz has her qualms.
“A neck massage should be enough. I’ll get you some tea.” Emily decides she’ll do something as well. “We’re going to make you feel so relaxed, you’ll feel like you’re at a spa that doesn’t kidnap people.”
“<span class="mu-i">...What was that last bit?</span>” Vortexia is afraid.
