The Secret Garden (invite)

[Meredith Llewelyn]

Meredith felt helpless to tide of emotions that were swirling around her. It was as if she were at sea safe upon her boat but the waters kept threatening to tip her over. And should she sink, she feared she would never return to her old self. Her body trembled and she found it hard to be so close to another. Her Beast called her to accept it, her mind told her to fear it and her heart yearned for it.

She shook her head at Rhona, afraid to speak and to ruin whatever this was. She closed her eyes hiding the tears she felt would flow, the emotions of the night coming to a peak. She felt a pang inside her, a terrible familiar voice telling her "Do it I dare you" and saw in her minds eye another. A figure that merely stood watching her, knowing that she would hurt him again.

"Show me." She whispers opening her eyes and looking deeply into Rhona's own.

[Rhona]

Rhona almost frowned for a moment, as she felt the wavering of Meredith's composure. Clearly...she wasn't just here tonight for fun. As was to be expected, the girl had clearly been through some sort of horror - whether in this life or the one that came before. That didn't mean that Rue would dissolve into a soft shoulder to cry on by any means, but just maybe she could be a soothing distraction. And just maybe, over time, she could learn what this neonate was running from.

Her hand gently held the other girl close, steadying her so she didn't have to hold herself to rigid, so that the momentary trembles would pass. With her other hand, she gently stroked down the side of Meredith's face, until her palm cupped her jaw and cheek in a soft, warm caress.

Rue would never, ever, admit that she was also fairly new to this physical intimacy. It had been nearly a year since that first evening as part of the Bath court, and the carriage ride home with the twins...but she wasn't sure if even they knew they had been her first. She had...practised for want of a better word since then - occasionally even truly given herself over to the delights of the flesh, as was the case with her last partner. But this was different. This time, she was leading the dance, with someone so very different.

Another kindred may have been more crass, more swept away in passion and desire - if what she had seen of the court was true that could describe many of them...but her own words echoed in her mind. For now, she would take this slowly, prove her blood could be kind and gentle rather than rough and thoughtless. A selfish dark part of her thought about the likes of Valentina finding out and purred with smug satisfaction.

She closed the distance between them and let her lips brush Meredith's for a fleeting moment, before pushing onward to kiss her truly. The pace was slow, to give the Toreador time to think, rather than being overwhelmed with whatever swirling emotion she was going through. It was however, no shy peck on the cheek, as Rhona leaned closer and held the neonate in her warm embrace.

[Meredith Llewelyn]

Before her mind wandered back to earlier thoughts of guilt and hurt, she found herself at a new destination and it was called 'Happiness'. Her arms wound themselves around Rhona's small waist and held her in equal balance as Atlas held the Earth. She pulled away for just a moment looking at the wild beauty in front of her. Taking in the hazel eyes shrouded in thick lashes, the luscious lips that flitted like a butterfly upon her own. And once again surrendered herself to the sinking yielding, the helplessness and the surge of warmth that left her limp.

For a long time she kissed Rhona back coming to the understanding that while this had all began with advice from Valentina, it had ended with a deep astonishment. Kissing girls was indeed fun and she knew that she would want to kiss Rhona again and again. She wanted to learn more about the girl in her arms, to work out what angered her, what made her laugh and what made her beast purr.

Of course she hadn't forgotten about the others in her life. The one who held her heart. The one who owned her and the one who she hoped would free her. But now there was another to add and she knew she would hold onto this one until the world forced her to let go.

When a natural moment came Meredith broke the kiss, needing a moment to clear her mind and see the world clearly again. "Wow." She whispered the moment so intimate she did not wish for it to end, "just ...wow."

[Rhona]

There was a moment as Rhona felt her heart dance with excitement and joy, delight that the other girl wasn't pulling away, and wasn't rejecting her kiss. It only spurred her on to deepen her motions, to ensure that Meredith would certainly not forget this encounter. She might have preferred it a little slower and gentler than Rue did, but that wasn't going to stop the gangrel from enjoying herself.

When they finally broke apart, Rhona found herself grinning at Meredith's words. Clearly she hadn't kissed may girls, if any, after all.

"You said you wanted to enjoy yourself tonight," She laughed, winding her fingers gently through the long hair once again, "And you did ask me to show you some fun. I do hope that wasn't too scandalous for you?"

Rue loosened her grip on the other girl's waist a little to give her some space, and sat back a little, gazing leisurely at the Toreador. She really was a catch - it was clear to see why so many had their eyes on her. And yet, there was certainly a lot more to her than just her beauty, if only Rue could encourage her to share it.

[Meredith Llewelyn]

Meredith laughed back, "I did, you are so right. I don't know what I had expected but I didn't expect that." She straightened her blouse slightly noticing how her top button had popped open. It must have been the movement, her dress was quiet constricting really. Perhaps there was more truth in how Rhona dressed.

"I don't believe it to be too scandalous. I hear that while for me it was a first kissing the same gender, it is apparently a thing in this court." She took Rhona's hand in her own, "Did you realise that? I was so shocked when I found out but now I think perhaps it is something I could get used to."

"Though I should be more careful you're Majesty, it seems I have tilted your crown." Meredith gestures to the the flower crown she made earlier. Getting to her knees, she places it back on Rhona's hair ensuring it is perfect before taking a mental snapshot.

"Oh I do wish-"

What was that! Meredith looks startled for a second. Please no She looks to the edge of the forest searching for something that seems to have disappeared. It must have been a figure of her imagination. He always appeared when she was happy. That was all. He wasn't really there. He couldn't be.

Meredith quickly covers her pause, "Well I wish there was a way to capture this moment but it seems I shall just have to hold it fondly in my heart. If you would allow that?" She tilts her head enquiring.

[Rhona]

"Truly that was a first for you? We'll...there's not too much difference really. What matters is the intent, after all." She grins, a little part of her relishing its smugness that she was the first woman Meredith had kissed. Now she just had to find out about the mystery man in her life, otherwise she wouldn't have specified gender.

At the sudden startling of the Toreador, Rhona's posture shifted. The other girl's eyes seemed to change, seeing something beyond their little circle of warmth that lurked in the shadows. Rhona was on the alert, her body tensing, waiting for whatever Meredith had sensed, and about to activate the glowing vision which would cut through the shadows. And then...nothing came, and the girl seemed to settle.

Relaxing slowly, Rhona looked back to her with a quizzical tilt of her head. Meredith seemed to quickly try to cover up the moment, but Rue's mind was more reluctant to drop it. Still, she didn't want to spoil the mood my questioning her too much...

"Of course I will. Are you...quite alright, Meredith?" she asked softly.

[Meredith Llewelyn]

Meredith smiled with relief it had to be her imagination. Just a guilty conscience playing havoc with her mind. "I am quiet well, sorry Rhona. It's just my mind playing tricks on me. I must be more worried about a scandal than I realised." She settles back down, stretching out her legs in front of her and leans against Rhona.

"But don't let my worry stop you from having fun, my dear. There is always so much chaos going on inside my head. I over think things, you know?" Meredith laughs lightly realising that yes, this is really true. She either overthinks or doesn't think. She should really start working on that if she wished to stay out of trouble.

"I promise I'm not mad. Totally sane up here." She taps her head lightly trying to move the conversation on, "Do you truly not mind that I'm inexperienced? I had wanted to approach you earlier but I didn't know how and when I saw you with Victor on Valentines. I thought perhaps you wouldn't be interested in me? I know I'm meant to be desired or something but I'm really not that special. It seemed ridiculous to even think that you would consider me." Meredith twists her body hiding her face in Rhona's hair.

[Rhona]

At this, Rhona couldn't help herself but laugh once again. She hoped the sudden lightening of the situation would perk Meredith up a little bit at least.

"People around here have known about my associations with the Herschel twins for some time, I'm afraid that's no big secret. But you must believe me when I say I actually abstained from partaking in any...carnal activities during that evening. No, myself and Victor had a few things to discuss, and amusingly it seems people thought that something rather different was occurring." she grinned.

"But I certainly don't kiss and tell. Much like most of us, I don't fully know what it is that attracts me to a partner, that charm that captures my interest. As for yourself...well there are many reasons I enjoy spending such time with you, Meredith. It's true you are ravishingly pretty - a quality that I'm sure will get you in trouble more than once around here. But more than that, I can't help but feel there's a lot more to know about you, and to appreciate you for, than just looks."

[Meredith Llewelyn]

Meredith peeked out of Rhona's hair as she laughed at her. Why did everyone laugh at her? First Valentina and now Rhona! Was she truly that funny? She didn't think so. "I didn't know you were involved with the twins? Not both of them anyway. Annabelle is quiet unusual with the glowing eyes but she seems very nice."

"There was this one night where I was chatting to them both about investments and I thought they were going to open a parlour for ladies to relax but now I think about it. I don't think it was a Parlor and I've heard about there...unusual tastes...so I expect I was mistaken."

Meredith looks to Rhona in shock, "You know I think they are going to open a brothel. Annebelle even offered to show me around." At the revolution she giggles furiously. "What would my poor old Mother think if I invested in a brothel. Now that would be a scandal and a half."

"But you really should be careful when getting involved with those two Rhona. I've heard Things and I fear you are too moral and gentle to be dragged into that. I won't tell you what to do but if you get hurt, I don't know what I would do. I'm not a very good fighter and this goes above my head."

Dejected Meredith holds Rhona's hand above her heart, "Just be careful please."

[Rhona]

As Rhona smiled, nodding along with the Toreador's advice, her mind wandered.

You are too moral and gentle to be dragged into that...

For the briefest of moment her recent memories bubbled to the surface. That agonising, tantalising hunger. Her talons plastered with kindred blood as her eyes trembled in their sockets, the smell of the vitae overcoming all sense and reason.

Abruptly, she dragged herself back into the moment.

"Oh I wouldn't worry about me. The Malkavians are perfectly delightful to spend time with." She grinned brightly. "Besides, I know several from other clans that run brothels if that is what concerns you - it seems to be a rather favoured practise around here. You get the business at night after all I suppose.