The Secret Garden (invite)

[Meredith Llewelyn]

Meredith brings a hand to her head and leans back slightly, pretending to swoon "Oh Rhona, how could I EVER decline such a valiant gesture from one so bold as you?"

Pushing her dress behind her, Meredith turns away from you a picture of sorrow upon her face. "And yet, decline you I must. For I am but a Toreador and you a Gangrel how could we possibly hope to keep this union going. I have a reputation to uphold and you are the Sheriffs partner."

Turning her head, she glances at Rhona to see her reaction. She wasn't quite sure how to take this Gangrel. On the whole she didn't trust the Clan as they had this moot going on and were most likely involved in other things. Then Rhona was the Deputy and thus knowing her could be helpful but also dangerous especially when scandal was involved.

Meredith decided to would attend this evening with some precaution, enjoy it and let her more relaxed side appear. But she would not go home with a scandal attached to her name, she was too proud for such a thing.

[Rhona]

Rhona laughs at this, delighted that the Toreador was playing along with the little game. At least Meredith had no aversion to fun, like certain other members of her clan that Rhona had met. She crossed her arms and regarded the other girl with a smile, the sideways kind that made her eyes bright with mischief.

"A scandal from just that? My dear, out of all of contradictory pairings in this court, I think this would be one of the more sedate. Besides...being Deputy doesn't come with any such restrictions as far as I'm aware, at least I haven't seen any paperwork telling my otherwise."

"No no no, if you really wanted to create a proper scandal, you'd have to make it far more juicy than a little romantic triste between unlikely clans. After all," she said softly as she took a step towards Meredith, "You don't just think I'm another Gangrel, do you?"

[Meredith Llewelyn]

Meredith could feel the air between them as Rhona stepped close. If her heart was still pumping her blood it would be beating fast right now. She clasped her hands in front of her and took the slightest step back from Rhona but close enough, that she could still see the neonates long lashes and lush lips.

"I'm sorry Rhona, I don't quite know what you are referring too. You are not like any other Gangrel? Well of course you are like the Gangrels...you are one. It's true you dress differently and have an air to you of mischief and fun. Its true I enjoy that ...but my dear, a romantic scandal? Between you and me? How could that possible work?" She pushes her brown locks over her shoulders and looks to Rhona from under her eyelashes.

"I... don't understand what you are insinuating?" She whispers shyly unsure how to take this change in pass. Perhaps she is over thinking it? She has been so restricted with her family, then Sire and now Clan that she has forgotten how to have fun. How to jest with a girl friend and have innocent conversation. Did Rhona mean she wanted to create a scandal or she wanted Meredith? Or was pulling her leg. Meredith really wished she had listened more to her Elders when it came to romance, flirting and understanding others intentions.

[Rhona]

Rhona lets the moment hang for a few more seconds to enjoy the startled look Meredith was wearing, before she could hold it in no longer and burst out laughing. She put a hand up to stifle the giggles as she looked at the toreador with a fond, appraising expression. She the composure did slip, from time to time.

"You should see yourself right now, all coy face and softness - no wonder they all like you so much." she grinned. As she spoke she shrugged off her long brown coat and spread it out on the damp ground, gesturing to the other girl. "If you want to sit down that should protect your lovely dress, miss Llewelyn." she said happily. Rhona herself took a seat on the grass, stretching out her long legs and gazing up at the faint stars above.

"You must forgive me, I was only playing. Though you are very lovely, and I'm sure you know it. I'm sorry if I pushed a little far, t'was all in jest I assure you. Unless of course you did want to get involved in a romantic scandal, in which case I'm sure we could work something out. I've heard rumours you're quite the coveted neonate amongst the court..."

[Meredith Llewelyn]

Meredith gave a smile to Rhona that lit up her whole face, she hadn't felt this happy in a long long time. Certainly not in her time as a kindred, she felt butterflies filling her and she couldn't help but laugh slightly to herself as she took up the offer of Rhona's coat. Taking a moment to sort out her skirts she surveyed Rhona. There was something to her, something quite mesmerising. She was what one would call a free spirit.

"A romantic scandal? Well the last time I did that I ran away from my betrothed and married another. It apparently was in all the newspapers and got some attention. The poor Lady Llewelyn taken in deception by a vagabond" She lifts her hand in the air as if writing the title. "It was rather fun though, running away during the night. Kissing under bridges, the brush of a hand and wondering if we were going to get caught." Meredith runs her hands along the grass 'accidentally' touching Rhona's own fingers in the process.

"Though if I am such a coveted neonate, as you say, then what are you Miss Spinnet? What secrets do you hide behind that cheeky smile?" She raises an eyebrow, letting her fingertips settle just slightly on her hand.

[Rhona]

"That certainly sounds like quite the adventure." Rhona said wistfully, taking note of the change in Meredith's voice as she spoke. There was more to her words this time - if she wasn't telling the truth, there was at least a bit more emotion behind her speech. At the same time, Rhona's dead heart gave a little twinge of jealousy - a selfish, dark envy that rose unbidden into her mind. She pushed it away quickly, not wanting it to colour her thoughts too much.

Leaning back lazily, Rhona rested her head on her arms as she stared up at the night's sky. "I must admit I can hardly remember the days of chasing boys and of being chased in return. Another life, another part of England."

Her lips quirked back into their usual smile as she felt the ghost of Meredith's hand hers, ever so lightly. This one was so...inscrutably fun to talk to - and so different to spending time with kindred several times her own age. One had to be careful in different ways, not to startle the little bird so much that it flew away. And yet...here she came ever closer, perhaps bidden by her own curiosity.

"Oh me? I'm not one to keep secrets. Besides, it isn't particularly the way of my clan. Far less ammunition to hurt you with, if there is nothing to be unearthed and used against you."

[Meredith Llewelyn]

"No secrets? I don't believe that for one moment. Everyone has secrets be they even hidden from oneself." Meredith answered with a small shrug of her shoulders. Leaning on her side tilting her body towards Rhona she watched her. We were all chosen for this path so there must be a story behind that smile. She hadn't faulted when she spoke of 'boys chasing her' but that wistful look did not reach her eyes.

"Indulge me then Miss Spinnet, why do you dress as you do? The trousers and lack of corset, they are very unusual for a woman especially when one is meeting a member of the Rose. Some would say it is a bold choice and one that warrants a scolding." She raises an eyebrow and smirks at the thought of telling the younger neonate off.

"But I can understand that trousers are sometimes better for 'work' or can hide you when you don't wished to be seen. But I cannot believe this is the case with you. I sense there is something deeper about why you dress this way." She tries to speak with a careful tone rather than one of stereotype for a Toreador.

[Rhona]

"The fact that you have to ask speaks volumes about the difference in our breeding, miss Llewellyn." Rhona says with a grin, though for a moment her eyes are slightly less warm than they had been. She rolls over onto her front to give the other neonate a fixed look, resting her chin on her palm.

"I've been on my own for a very long time, Meredith. Whether in this life, or the one before. In such circumstances, it severely benefitted my survival to start dressing this way...and these nights...well it just makes it easier. You don't often wander the streets of the South city do you? Not alone dressed like that anyway, unless you're hiding quite the firepower under those petticoats."

Rhona tilted her head with a raised eyebrow, suggesting very strongly a curiousity to test her hypothesis.

"Besides, I dress up occasionally. I have one or two gowns your lot my even think are on trend. It's just a hassle - and I lack the money and entourage to care for such vestments with the attention they deserve."

Here she paused for a moment, giving the toreador a drawn out, wolfish smile.

"And anyway...I get a certain amount of joy out of confusing folks around here. Highborn sensibilities are so...satisfying to poke."

[Meredith Llewelyn]

Meredith lets Rhona stare at her with a wolfish grin for quite some time before letting out a bell like laugh. "Oh Rhona you got so serious just then, bless you. Now I can see why you were chosen for Deputy."

She leans back stretching out her legs in front of her staring at the stars, what a sneaky little thing she is. I wonder what she had hoped to gain in that little speech of hers. Was she purposely trying to insult me or make it seem as if I had everything easy in life, just because I wear a dress.

"I understand that we appear different but I am sure if you looked deeper you will find some common ground." She looks to Rhona pointedly, "I do understand the need to dress as a boy in order to not be perceived as a woman. I, however, was never given this option."

She sighs looking away from Rhona, "You truly should not judge a person for their birth especially when we have all be born anew. We all walk different paths but I think you would be surprised how many draw parallels. Besides you are not alone in this meadow my Dear, and you do not have to be alone in the future either."

Meredith jumps up from her spot, lifts up skirt slightly and runs a few paces away from Rhona. "Now I asked you here in order to have some fun, so let's stop with terrible talk of past sadness and silly clothing choices." She winks, "And let us bask in the moonlight." She spreads her arms wide, takes a pin from her hair letting her chocolate curls role down her shoulders.

"Or do you think my sensibilities are too sensitive for a bit of a lark?" She smirks hands on her hips.

[Rhona]

"It's not so much a question of having the option to life a certain way, rather that there isn't an option not to. I'm sure we can both appreciate that." Rue grinned "And hey - I don't enjoy passing judgement. It's far more interesting to see how a person might defy assumptions. I mean, just look at what you said earlier this evening - a Gangrel and a toreador could never work! And now here we are, agreeing that we might be more alike than we think."

She laughed lightly, smoothing a lock of damp hair out of her face. With an eyebrow raised she watched as the other neonate got to her feet, moving a few paces away. This was...unexpected. Was the rose somehow trying to impress her? Or challenge her own thoughts of her clan? If she was, Rhona found herself instantly more entertained. Perhaps she had misjudged the neonate - at least she seemed very different to the likes of Angelina and Valentina. Those two probably wouldn't have given her the time of day, let along taken their hair down. It was enough to elicit a gasp.

"My dear Meredith," Rhona exclaimed with a tone of pantomimed shock, "What on earth are you suggesting? i don't think I've ever heard one of your roses use the word 'bask'." she laughed, getting to her feet and stretching languidly lie a cat.