The Secret Garden (invite)

[Meredith Llewelyn]

"Of course you've heard us use the word 'bask', we bask in other clans adoration of us." She pokes her tongue out at Rhona cheekily.

"Plus the Elders and Ancilla bask in the love and servitude of use neonates and then in return we bask their wisdom. Really there are a lot of ways that one can 'bask', it doesn't always to be in the moonlight."

Meredith glances around checking with her heightened senses that there truly wasn't anyone about. She really didn't wish to be caught with her hair down or in wet clothing. She just wanted a bit of fun and Rhona's reputation had reached her before she had truly integrated herself. She reminded her of someone she knew a long time ago probably the only real person who knew the true Meredith.

"Besides, you know what they say 'While the Elders are away and the Neonates will play.' So please come over here and show me how to do this...'fun' thing." She stood awkwardly lifting her skirt so it didn't drag in the mud or water that coated the grass.

[Rhona]

Rhona laughed again, holding her sides as if breathing was still a thing she had to consider. She shook her head grinning, could off guard by the Toreador's wordplay and impressed. It was no wonder she could charm folks so quickly with her turn of phrase and quick wit.

"You know...if this is something you play at often, you should really think about adding some loops onto your skirts so you can hitch them up a bit, keeps the hemline out of the dirt." Rhona winks, with a look that clearly says this is something she has done before. "No one can tell, and your dresses will last much longer."

Rhona took on the mischievous grin once more, "Free tip, from me to you." She gave a light bow as she approached the toreador.

"What fun is it you are looking for, on such a late night and with such an unusual partner? I warn you now, I'm not much of a dancer...at least not what you're used to I imagine."

[Meredith Llewelyn]

"Hoops? I had never really thought of that. Of course like you say they would be perfect for hiding mud stains and I do appreciate longevity. But could I really get away with that? Hoops are going out of fashion and I do like to keep up with the times." She looks down at her dress, fiddling with the material almost designing a new look while she thinks.

"What a troublesome tip that is, I will have to give more time to it. But of course, that also depends on how often we are to meet up especially on misty nights...perhaps next time we wait for clear skies." She closes the distance between Rhona and herself, gingerly tucking a lock of wet hair behind Rhona's ear. Clearly trying to be flirty and confident but almost failing at it, the slight tremble of her hand giving her away.

"We do not need to dance, why don't you just show me what you enjoy doing in your free moments? I so want to know what goes on inside that pretty little mind of yours. I am sure it is full of boundless ways to have fun." She takes a step back nonchalantly as if she never closed the gap or touched Rhona. Her hands steading themselves now that she is back in her comfort zone.

"I really do not want a scandal though so let's keep it for beginners, okay? Just me and you. Nice and simple." She smiles sweetly more confident now in her actions than earlier but unsure which way the path she has chosen will take her.

[Rhona]

As Meredith approached and closed down that distance between them, Rue couldn't help but give away a note of surprise. the girl was clearly trying her best to show she had a handle on the situation, to move forward confidently. Maybe she did want to learn and grow, experience things she hadn't yet with others. She accepted advice honestly, and even took some of it to heart, and advice from someone of a far lower social class, even if her status amongst kindred was higher than it had been a few months ago.

And yet. She was approaching the edge of her comfort zone it seemed. It was commendable, and Rhona wondered if she would have acted quite like this with anyone else. Especially someone older, who could so quickly turn the tables against the neonate and take advantage of her.

"In my free moments...well," she said slowly, wondering where the other girl was planning to take this, "I have no one preferred pastime. You know that I am an artist and a creator...but such things are not suited for this place. I can play cards pretty well too...but something tells me that's not what you have in mind. How about we just start slowly for now? Come, sit with me again and I'll show you something I assure you delights any other kindred I have spent time with. And no...it's nothing too scandalous, I promise." she grins.

[Meredith Llewelyn]

Meredith didn't really know what was on her mind, in all honestly she was very confused. Since coming to Bath she had learnt so much about love and relationships. Of multiple lovers, male and male, even three people or more. It was all so shocking and she wasn't quiet so sure she liked the sound of it but she did like the idea of new love, a new chance and forming bonds with others that had never been allowed before. Truth be told she just wanted a friend.

Meredith walked back to her previous position and sat on her knees looking to Rhona with bright eyes. "Too scandalous'? You know that signifies some scandal, right?" She laughed with a nervous edge in her voice but sat attentive as ever.

And Rhona seemed like a good friend to have. She had changed a lot in these past months gaining status and stature. She was a free spirit but knew the balance of right and wrong, as well as how to be outspoken but taken with a pinch of salt. Meredith didn't trust her quiet yet, she rarely trusted anyone. Plus Rhona had made some disagreeable remarks about her Clan and even Meredith involving the South. But on the whole, she came across well and no one is perfect -

"Though I am pretty close', she thought to herself not un-modestly but with hope.

[Rhona]

Rhona just smiled, giving the other neonate space to sit down and make herself comfortable. Once Meredith had found her place, Rhona moved back towards her and sat down, slightly to the side and behind of the young Toreador. Even on an evening such as this with the chillness that persisted after several hours of rain, Rhona was warm to the touch with the same comfortable heat of a kine, her face as rosy as her smile.

"I promise you, kindred enjoy spending time with me, and I would never hurt you without very serious reason. I like to defy the expectation that my clan are...a destructive force. We also know how to be gentle, for who would know how to stroke what lies beneath the surface better than the clan of Beasts?" As she spoke, her lowered her voice to a soft almost-whisper, her lips closer to the neonate's ear.

Rhona let her fingertips trail lightly through Meredith's hair a few times, barely even touching her. As expected, it was extremely soft and smooth. "If at any point you wish for me to stop, just say the word." Rhona said softly, as she let her fingers move a little more firmly and in small circles to massage down her soft neck to her shoulders, where she remained, certainly not being so crass as to move any lower. Her movements were gentle but sustained and just firm enough to feel the tension under the skin. She wondered what the girl's reaction would be, whether she would pull away at such a forward motion...

[Meredith Llewelyn]

Meredith froze as Rhona went to touch her neck and heads squeezing her eyes shut and grinding her teeth. The last time someone touched her hair, they had pulled her head back and exposed her neck and their fangs. She had done wrong and had learnt that her Sire would punish her as greatly as he rewarded her. The memory was strong for her and she felt her body tremble as Rhona began stroking her hair.

"Sorry." She whispered aware that Rhona could feel the girls tension. "It does feel very nice...you have healing hands." She willed herself to relax, to remember Rhona was a woman and there were no rules against women. This would be okay, she could enjoy this. She was allowed to enjoy this.

Slowly in time her body relaxed under Rhona's finger tips and she found herself thoroughly enjoying the light connection the neonate was making. "So this is how you got Elder Dukes to make you deputy." She grinned, pushing all other thoughts away from her mind.

[Rhona]

"A bold claim for you make whilst my fingers are around your neck." Rhona said nonchalantly, but anybody could tell that she was joking. Probably. She continued carefully moving around the top of Meredith's shoulders, gauging from the girl's tenseness that she probably ought to be fairly gentle.

"Is it really too much to believe that I am simply good at my job?" Rue intoned exasperatedly, but laughing all the same. She already had a suspicion of what rumours were circling regarding herself and the Sheriff, and probably wouldn't have cared about them one way or another if she didn't know that Dukes already had a lover that could grind her into dust in the blink of an eye.

She let her fingers caress the smooth curve of the neonate's neck, rising up through the base of her hairline to move in circles over her scalp, careful not to mess her hair up too much. She wondered briefly why she was doing this, and put down to the fact that she could do with better friends in the Toreadors. That, and she genuinely enjoyed the feeling of making her fellows feel relaxed, if only for the selfish desire that they would need her presence again, and she could become a rare source of joy in the dark of the city. She wanted to be needed.

[Meredith Llewelyn]

Meredith turned her body to face Rhona, "I know you won't wring my neck, silly. I do not believe it is in your nature to hurt innocents no matter how hard they push. You may be of the beast, but that doesn't mean you have to be one Rhona." She speaks softly and tenderly as the other girls hands linger on her hair.

Taking some daisies from beside her, Meredith begins interweaving the stems making a simple but delicate circlet. "I cannot say how you do your job because I have not seen you do it. But I've watched you and you are well loved, respected and have a lot of potential... I also saw you coming out of a room with Victor." She says pointedly taking small purple flowers and adding them to her circlet. "And while others may believe Elder Dukes and yourself have a 'deeper' connection, I do not believe it goes further than that."

Meredith places the chain of daisies and forget me nots on top of Rhona's head. The flowers bring out the colour in Rhona's skin and the green vines rest gently upon her curls. Meredith smiles at her handiwork, "You are beautiful Miss Spinnet, a Queen of the wilds."

Taking Rhona's hand in hers she looks up at her through her lashes, "Let us be friends Rhona. Let us forget about our clans and status when we are alone together. Let us just be two girls, in a meadow looking up at the moonlight."

[Rhona]

For a few moments Rhona just looks fondly back at the Toreador, content in her amusement and enjoyment of the evening. Her fingers still brushing the cheek of the other girl, she smoothed back her hair and runs her fingertips right to the end of the glossy chocolate locks.

"That sounds delightful to me. Do I...get the impression this isn't something you get to do very often?" She asks softly, looking up proudly as she is blessed with her own flower crown.

Her other hand rests lightly on the curve of the Toreador's back, her fingers idly tangling with the lace of her dress. Rhona was acutely aware of how close the pair of them were, a fact that caused the beast deep in her gut to coil contently that the situation was going exactly how Rhona had wanted it to.