Welcome to Gaia! ::

The strip mall has seen better days, faded paint and patched parking lot, but there were still quite a few ‘thriving’ businesses. The obligatory Chinese restaurant, a dollar store, a nail salon, and a budget clothing store anchoring it all. One of the ‘bigger’ stores was at the other side of the L shaped strip. A two unit end space taking up the entire ‘leg’ of the L, and more importantly, detached from the rest of the stores by a delivery entranceway and a small grass patch. Relatively new, their sign proclaimed to all that they were ‘At Ease, sleep therapists’. It was rather incongruent with the other spaces, all shiny and spiffy looking. The windows were mostly clear, only a decorative ‘privacy’ film added to the top and bottom in bands, with a few advertisements strategically placed. A peek through said window, or double glass doors, show a waiting space. Doctor room-esq was the esthetic, dark blue carpet and padded chairs. Potted plants added some much needed green to the space while a counter and a few shelves of product made it clear where the receptionist would be manning the phones and greeting guests. The rest of the space, the majority of the space, was hidden from view by a wall, all painted blue of course. A light blue this time to help counterbalance the dark blue of the carpet and chairs.

If one entered the office and partook of their services they would be led back behind the counter and the wall into a hall that was filled with small partitioned rooms with curtains for doors. Each space had a little number above it, except the two at the very end of the ‘hall’. One space was clearly marked as a restroom, the other with a ‘Staff Only’ sign. The guest would be led to one of the rooms and was told to relax while one of the therapists finished up with their other guest. The space was painted in muted blues, the carpet from the waiting room seemed to be used throughout the entire office. Only a padded stool and what looked like a massage table were in the room. A low hum of the AC helps to mute any soft noise outside of the cubical, even if the AC isn’t visible.

Soon enough a figure in a white lab coat walks in with a clipboard. They greet the guest with the name given to the receptionist, along with noting what exactly brought them in… again much like a doctor’s office the guests were given a small form to fill out prior to being led into the back. Things like reason behind visit, typical length of nightly sleep, any sleep medications, etc. General stuff all geared towards sleep. There is some talking, discussing the form results and what they do here. Like mentioning that stress and anxiety can be large factors of insomnia or that electronics can affect circadian rhythms. All very scientific like.

Eventually the therapist guides the guest to lie face down on the massage table, their face resting in the head rest. They calmly and quietly walk the guest through deep breathing exercises as they help the guest relax their shoulders and tight back. It's not a massage per say but close to one. Between the droning of the therapist and the light massage the guest dozes off, relaxing completely into the table. It isn’t long before the therapist steps out of the cubicle, putting a small ‘in use’ sign up next to the now closed curtain, and making their way back to the staff room.

After what only seemed like a moment but was more like an hour the receptionist comes back and calmly wakes the guest, offering a cup of juice and a small packet of cookies. Back out at the receptionist desk the guest is handed a small purple crystal and told that it will help if it is held or placed near the bed prior to sleep. If the guest brings it back for their next appointment they will receive a small discount, and depending on how well it helps a new and perhaps larger crystal can be provided to the guest at that time. The guest is also offered to add to their bill if they choose by purchasing any of their other wears such as candles with calming scents, white noise CDs, and relaxing teas. None are forced upon the guest if they turn them down, including the crystal. Once services and goods are paid for the guest is welcome to leave, their next appointment noted down in the calendar and the receptionist smiling as she waves goodbye.

The therapist on the other hand, continued to work once the guest drifted off to sleep. After reaching the staff only space, a much larger area than any of the cubicles for the guests, the first thing they did was check the large purple collection crystal in a metal device that one of the mauvian’s created was collecting the energy correctly. Noting down the levels and other data points so it can be replaced in rapid succession once full. They were given some time to relax, or replace the collection crystal if full, before once more donning their lab coats, picking up the next guest’s form, and heading out to gather yet more energy.

I added one more of my children late I'm so sorry!!