Image Description: screenshot from episode 27 of Critical Role. Liam rests his hand on Taliesin’s shoulder who leans into it, resting his cheek on top of it.
So I found out Professional Cuddlers are a thing and that of course demands a drabble of it’s own. A drabble that is over 3k
EDIT: My tired brain forgot to add a Keep Reading line
Anna was suspicious of course. Nobody could slide a business card for a "Cuddle Expert" across her desk with a straight face, and yet Kristoff had, and here she was, sitting in an aesthetically pleasing earth toned room with Buddha statues and fake reeds. Or maybe real reeds, Anna thought, running a finger across the brittle branches.
"Anna Griffin?" An absolutely gorgeous blonde woman smiled at her from across the room, holding open the door she'd entered through invitingly. "My name is Elsa, I'll be with you today. Are you ready?" Anna followed her with a nod, coat folded over her linked arms. They passed several empty rooms, all decorated differently. Each had a bed, but the spread, pillows, blankets, and wall decor varied, presumably to suit a variety of tastes. "Here we are. Please, make yourself comfortable."
Anna shuffled around a moment before laying her purse and coat over a chair. Feeling distinctly exposed, Anna hovered over her belongings, not entirely sure where to look.
“Have you ever done this before?” Elsa asked, unclipping a paper from her clipboard.
“No,” Anna said, embarrassed. “Honestly I thought this was fake.”
Elsa laughed, everything movement friendly and open. “Yeah I’ve heard that. But I promise, we’re entirely legit.” She passed Anna the paper and a pen. “Would you like to sit? We can go over the agreement wherever you’re comfortable.”
“Can we stick to standing?” Somehow that seemed like cheating, but Anna just couldn’t shake her unease.
“Of course! Let me just point out the key parts and then I’ll give you time to read.” Elsa tapped her own pen over certain paragraphs, explaining as she went. “Basically your signature gets you an hour with the agreed upon pay, no overtime, that sort of thing. Everything is consenting and there’s no sexual activity allowed. If anything like that happens you get a warning, two times and you’re out, Girl Scout.” Anna skimmed over the rest of the document. “Any questions?”
“No, this looks good.” Anna signed her name, Elsa took it and set up a timer on her phone.
“I was thinking we could start simple because this is your first time. Unless you wanted to dive right in?”
“S-Simple would be great,” Anna stammered, hating how awkward she was being. Kristoff may have given her the idea, but Anna was the one who followed through. Though now that she was here in the flesh she was having second thoughts.
Elsa assessed her mood immediately. “You’re nervous.” Her eyes were kind and understanding. “I promise, we won’t do anything you don’t want, but it would nice to have that eighty dollars go towards something right? So we’ll start really small. Do you like hugs?”
Anna deflated like a balloon, a tentative smile breaking through her shell. “I love hugs, actually.” Elsa lit up like Christmas.
“Can I hug you then?” When Anna nodded her assent Elsa stepped forward and pulled Anna to her chest. Anna instinctively put her arms around Elsa’s shoulders, facial expression midway between happiness and the stony discomfort that comes from hugging strangers. This was no ordinary hug though. If there was an award for hugging, Elsa would be a champion and probably a World Record holder. There was no other way to describe it other than Anna felt completely held.
She didn’t know how much time had gone by, but it was definitely passed the normal limits of a hug. And yet Elsa’s embrace was so genuine that Anna couldn't help but sink further into it. Enough was enough though, they should try different things, right?
Elsa felt the indecision in Anna’s muscles and squeezed, nuzzling her cheek into Anna’s neck. “It’s okay,” she said softly, “we can stay like this if you want. You seem to like it.” Anna nodded, melting at the caring gesture. The loose hairs in Elsa’s braid tickled her nose so she turned her head in, a comfortable sigh rising between them. God it was nice to be held.
Anna ended the hug on her own, heart satisfied. Without meaning to her eyes found Elsa’s phone. Just over six minutes in and they’d barely scratched the surface. Though Anna found herself thinking that a five minute hug wouldn’t be remiss from time to time.
“That was great,” Elsa beamed. Only now Anna realized Elsa still had her hands, fingertips resting just under Anna’s palms. She didn’t pull away, even when Elsa ran her thumbs across the sensitive skin on the backs of her hand. “How do you feel?”
“I feel, better. Thank you.” Elsa’s smile only grew, blue eyes sparkling.
“You still have a lot of time left. I have some suggestions, if you’d like. And remember, you can say no at any time.”
“What did you have in mind?” Anna asked cautiously.
“Sitting and talking.” Elsa gestured to the bed. “Care to join me?”
Anna’s brows rose in surprise but she followed nonetheless. They sat against the headboard, barely touching. A familiar kind of space. Incredible, Anna realized, since they were still practically strangers.
“So what brought you to the Cuddle Corner?”
“My friend Kristoff told me about it.” Anna snorted, “Or rather, he gave me a business card with my morning coffee, tapping it slowly while looking me dead in the eye. I don’t even know where he got it.”
“That name doesn’t sound familiar,” Elsa mused, “but maybe he’s with one of our other Cuddlers.”
“How do you even become a professional cuddler? It’s pretty out there and it’s not like it’s a college major or anything.”
“It’s a pretty new thing.” Elsa explained. “Some people just do it right in their homes with people they meet on Twitter or Facebook. There are a few organizations that handle and send clients and get paid a small transaction fee. And then there are places like this where clients come to us.” Elsa shrugged. “It’s just something you look into and find a way in.”
“How did you start?” Anna turned more towards Elsa, one leg curled beneath the other.
“A friend recommended it to me, saying I was a good listener. This is just a part time job though. I actually work as an event planner for nonprofits.” Elsa folded her hands and put them in her lap. “I really like this job though. People have different needs, some just want someone to talk to.” She flashed a smile at Anna. “And I think people really enjoy the physical connection without it needing to ‘go’ anywhere.” The held each other's gaze. Anna felt her walls coming down little by little. She felt like Elsa would understand. Or maybe that she already did.
“I’d love to know more about you, too,” Elsa said, “and I have something else we can do while you talk. Have you ever had a hand massage?”
“Nope, never.”
“Excellent! Here, sit in the middle of the bed – yep, just like that. Now I’ll come around and sit across from you. Can our knees touch?” In response, Anna bumped them together. “May I have your hand?” With Anna’s left hand in Elsa’s lap, Elsa reached below the bed and pulled out a squeeze bottle. Anna flinched, arm spasming.
“Do you have a nut allergy?” Elsa asked quickly. “I have a others, I just thought almond would smell the best.”
Anna relaxed, remembering where she was. “No that one’s fine, just, wasn’t what I thought was going to happen.”
“I should have warned you, I’m sorry.” Elsa paused for another second more before she uncapped the bottle and poured a generous amount on her hand. Anna sniffed appreciatively. Almond was a good choice.
Her own hands thoroughly coated, Elsa raised Anna’s hand and began to cover it too. Nothing dramatic, just broad strokes from fingertip to wrist and back a few times before doing the same to Anna’s palm. Turning the hand over again, Elsa took Anna’s pinkie and squeezed, using her thumb to massage inwards toward the knuckles. She repeated this process with the ring finger while Anna sat mesmerized in sheer delight.
“So where do you work?” Elsa asked conversationally.
“I’m a Call Center Representative for Arendelle University’s Phonathon, technically,” Anna replied without taking her eyes off their hands.
“Oh that’s interesting. What do you do?”
“I call Alumni. Or, I used to; now I’m a supervisor and I help check other student’s reports after they’re done with their calls.”
“You’re a student?” Elsa finished Anna’s thumb then started rubbing small circles just behind her knuckles towards her wrist.
Anna gave a small laugh. “No I’ve been graduated for a few years now. I’ve just been job hopping. And I worked at my university’s Phonathon when I was an undergrad so I knew the drill.”
Elsa traced her fingers over the sensitive underside of Anna’s wrist. “What did you like about it?”
Anna thought for a moment. “The people? Everyone has their own story and most of the time they were fun to listen to. You can learn a lot from them, even if they didn’t major in the same thing. The older alumni were the most fun,” Anna grimaced, “or the worst, there was no way to tell ahead of time. I didn’t like asking for money though, that always rubbed me the wrong way.”
“You sound like a very caring person.” The compliment was paired with another one of Elsa’s warm smiles and for the life of her Anna couldn’t figure out how she did it. She felt like she and Elsa were already friends and yet they hadn’t been aware of each other’s existence an hour ago. Anna smiled back. She could get used to this.
Elsa had flipped her hand over again and was massaging Anna’s palm, starting with the middle and moving out. “Mmmm,” Anna hummed, “that feels amazing. Where did you learn to do this? Cuddling 101?”
“You’d think so, right? I picked it up after going to a really high end facial while on vacation. Yeah I know, weird,” she answered, seeing Anna’s questioning look. “The lady did it while the mask set, just as something to pass the time. It was heavenly. Speaking of, does it feel okay? I’m not pressing too hard or too soft?”
“You’re perfect, thank you.”
Elsa sandwiched Anna’s hand between her own and pressed inwards. Then she grabbed more oil and started work on the other hand.
“Do you know what you’re want to do as a career? Beyond helping students that is.”
“Well, I majored in social work, which is a pretty broad category.”
“Could even land you here,” Elsa teased. “Anna Griffin, Cuddle Expert.”
Anna laughed and ducked her head. “Maybe, I’m not so sure. I’d love to work with special needs kids. They need a lot of love y’know? They need someone to be there for them.”
“Caring, loving, thoughtful,” Elsa listed, massaging the top of Anna’s wrist. “Now I really do see a part time Cuddling position in your future.” Anna couldn’t come up with a suitable response. “Ready for the finish?” Elsa interlocked their fingers, cupping Anna’s entire hand in her own, and pressed back gently to stretch the small muscles from wrist to tip. Then she eased the pressure, ghosting the pads of her fingers over Anna’s nails.
Anna gave her hands a few experimental flexes.
“Feel good?”
“Feels great!” Anna exclaimed. “Thank you!”
“My pleasure.” Elsa eyes crinkled and it struck Anna all at once that she really meant it. Elsa really was just here to make Anna comfortable.
“Let’s see, you have,” Elsa twisted to look over her shoulder, “just under twenty minutes. How are you doing?”
“I feel, really relaxed.” Elsa’s brow dipped. “More than I was before,” Anna corrected. “I’m guessing this isn’t how your sessions usually go though.”
“Everyone’s different, but no, many of the sessions are a lot… further along, in a manner of speaking.”
Anna hesitated. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, generally I do the sorts of things that come to mind when most people think of cuddling. Lying next to or on top of one another, spooning, linking arms, hands, or legs, that kind of stuff.”
“And you do that with everybody?” Anna breathed, anxiety pulsing through her chest.
“Everyone who asks,” Elsa said slowly. “But Anna?”
“Yeah?”
Elsa offered a small half smile. “It’s okay to not be ready for that yet. But I can tell you want to be touched.”
She did. She did with all her heart but the guilt tore at her, keeping her desire behind an iron curtain. And yet Elsa could see it with those keen eyes, full of understanding and absent of judgement. Elsa was safe.
Anna wanted to cry.
“I’d like–” Anna coughed, voice cracking, “I’d like to try, some of those.”
“And you’ll tell me the moment you’re uncomfortable?” Elsa asked in a measured tone. “I don’t want you to push yourself.”
Relief and dread collided in Anna’s chest as she nodded.
“Okay.” Elsa positioned herself behind Anna, between her and the headboard. “Do you want to lay down?” Anna nodded again, courage suddenly gone and leaving her without a voice. “Do you want me to lay behind you?”
Anna hesitated, biting her lip. She wanted it, but could she handle it… She shook her head no.
“That’s okay,” Elsa reassured. “I’m sitting above you now, how does that feel?” Anna’s teeth went back to her lip. Then it seemed Elsa hit upon a burst of inspiration. “Do you want to put your head in my lap?”
Anna stiffened, weighing the consequences. Then she crawled forward and placed her head on Elsa’s knee. Elsa immediately put her hand on Anna’s shoulder, lightly at first, then with normal weight.
“Other clients have really enjoyed this position because it makes them feel protected, like someone’s watching over them,” Elsa commented quietly.
“I feel safe.” The confession tumbled past Anna’s lips without prompting, and her ears grew hot with with her resulting embarrassment.
Elsa’s voice was rich and warm. “That’s good, I’m glad.” She began stroking Anna’s arm, rhythmic back and forth motions that had Anna’s eyes drooping. “How do you feel about hair touching?”
Please, Anna almost begged. God if there was anything more satisfying than that Anna would eat her purse. “I’d love that.”
She heard Elsa hum happily, free hand gently pulling her bangs back. “Can I undo your braids?” At Anna’s acceptance nimble fingers began combing through her locks, untangling as they went. Anna couldn't help it, she stretched languidly and repositioned herself to allow Elsa better access.
“Someone’s happy.” She could hear the smile in Elsa’s voice.
“Mm-hmm,” was the best Anna could do.
Elsa finished unbraiding and set to lightly massaging Anna’s scalp, starting at her hairline and moving back. Occasionally she would press down near the top of Anna’s head, making Anna’s toes curl in pleasure. “How are you doing that?” She asked, just after Elsa did it again.
“You have pressure points on top and near the bottom of your skull where it connects to your spine. You also have one right above your ears,” Elsa pressed lightly to show exactly where. “When you apply a bit of, well pressure, it feels good. Of course if you push too hard it will hurt but that’s obviously not the goal here.”
“I know I’ve said this a couple times, but seriously, that’s amazing,” Anna enthused.
“I’m glad you think so, it took a lot of practice.” Elsa pressed one last time on all the pressure points before switching to leisurely play with Anna’s hair. “You know, I meant to ask before, but do you have any siblings?”
“None, single child,” Anna replied wistfully.
“Same here,” Elsa said. “Did you ever want one?”
Anna was silent for a moment, blissfully enjoying the feel of Elsa’s fingers. Again she was struck at just how comfortable she was, despite the baby steps and small amount of time. “I feel like I always wanted an older sister. I actually love it when people play with my hair I just, haven’t had it happen in a while. I don’t know. I guess when someone is playing with my hair it reminds me of what a sister might do.”
She felt Elsa nod, a pleasant silence descending between them. Anna closes her eyes, feeling herself drift away. Elsa’s hands had worked magic; she couldn’t even feel the ball and chain that normally weighed her down. Anna could stay like this forever.
Then the timer went off.
Not a jarring, trumpeting bellow that wakes the dead, but a patter of soft rain and low rumble of thunder. Somehow that was worse.
The iron shackles reappeared and Anna plummeted from the sky, paper wings crumbling to ash. Every rationale for avoiding these situations like the plague came roaring back, her body physically seizing with the onslaught. Pain beyond sound killed her voice before it could escape, her mouth open in silent agony.
“Anna? What’s wrong?” Doesn’t she realize Anna’s time is up?
Anna sat up quickly, head spinning as blood churned through her veins. “We’re done right? I’m free to go?” Her own voice was unfamiliar, all pointed, dark and shaky.
“Yes, but–” Anna stood, grabbing her things and the door handle in record time. “Wait!” Elsa cried. “You… Did I do something wrong?”
Anna’s flinched at the pain in Elsa’s innocent question. No, you didn’t do anything, it’s me. I’m–
“Anna,” Elsa walked forward, carefully in Anna’s peripheral. “Please, at least take this. I know you have the office card, but this one is mine.” Anna heard the scratch of card stock on fabric and reached blindly to take it from her. Tears stung her eyes when Elsa continued. “And if you ever need to… talk to someone, about anything, call me.”
Anna caught the desperate “I will” on the tip of her tongue, grinding it to dust between her teeth. Instead she said, “I’ll think about it,” and exited into the hallway. Just before the door slammed shut she stopped, pushing back an inch. Elsa stood still, a flurry of emotions on her face. “Elsa?”
