@childrenxfthemoon
⠀"Gotta say, I've heard some pretty glowing reviews about this place.
I've been dyin' for a spa day. Probably follow that up with dinner I suppose.
Ah, sorry, I got a habit of ramblin'. I guess I'm just excited to finally
have some time off of work."Lars, rubbed the back of his head,
giving a soft chuckle.❜
It was rare for him to actually assist at the bathhouse - most of his own work was regulated to sorting finances, ensuring everything was running smoothly, and making sure they were well stocked in terms of needed supplies. But on days when they were especially busy or one of the other vampires was in need of a break, he was almost always the first to step to slip back into an old role. Both applies today - with the weather beginning to cool down; the first sprinkle of snow peppering the stone road that snaked up to the entrance of the bathhouse, the need for a warmth bath or some serious skincare had increased. The dry air leaving many with cracked skin or constant chills that they could soothe. There was a constant influx of new guests and returning customers that he was far better equipped to handle than some of the younger vampires who just growing into their positions here. And, speaking of the younger vampires, a few of them had taken the day off because there was a festival happening not far from the bathhouse and they were endlessly curious. It made him worry, of course, he always did, when they went out during the day, but they were generally mindful and careful - he hoped they enjoyed themselves. He can’t recall the last time he had gone to such an event, he simply didn’t have enough time these days to do so. Which was a good thing - the bathhouse was more popular than ever.
After shooing off a few of the nosier vampires - their voices rattling in his ears as they peered over at him near constantly while asking how he was feeling and if he needed help (as if he hasn’t been the one who had built this place from the ground up), he made his way back up to the front to help with any first time guests who might be unsure of what they wanted or where to go. It wasn’t uncommon. The bathhouse itself was massive - a far cry from what it had looked like in its early years, and there customers and vampires running amuck as they were guided to the baths or into one of the other rooms to have their skin looked over or stiff muscles smoothed out. There were countless rooms and winding halls, it was easy to get lost in if one didn’t know the layout well. And it could be overwhelming for nw clients who had never set foot within its walls before - not to mention most of their new visitors had never had a ‘spa day’ before in their lives.
A smile falls upon his smooth lips as he greets the man standing at the doorway. While he’s aware he no longer plays much of a role in the daily operations, he still feels a sense of pride whenever someone brings up the countless reviews they’ve amassed or compliments the bathhouse itself. It’s something dear to him, as strange as that must seem to the world outside of their own - it gave them freedom; a place to belong to and invest in. It put a roof over their heads and has kept them sheltered and safe foe centuries now. He had poured his heart and soul into the bricks that had been the very foundation of this building - he can still recall the number of times Crow had stubbed his finger while laying them our or how Alice had accidentally painted the walls a bright green instead if the ivory they were now because he had gotten distracted by Adrasteia’s clumsy sawing as she tried to build tables and chairs with little more than an old drawing and a few tools she had managed to find. To him, this place was home.
A gentle laugh, light and airy trembled within his throat as the man finished speaking, unbothered by his little tangent - one would be surprised at all of things he’s heard over the years from customers needing or wanting to vent. “You don’t need to apologize to me, everyone deserves the chance to relax and eat a decent meal. I’ve worked here for some time now, if you’d like I could recommend a few restaurants when we’re through. I hope I can I can make your time here enjoyable, as well as live up to the reviews you’ve heard about us.” He gestures for the other to follow him inside - the natural warmth of the bathhouse making his own skin a bit dewy; the scent of lavender from the bath salts clinging to his skin. “I’ll warm up one of the smaller baths for you, the larger ones are a bit overcrowded at the moment, I’m afraid.” Overcrowded was an understatement when they had a line waiting to enter the public baths, but, well, he was the manager, and he could use the others as he pleased.
