Taking Tea Continued (Invite Only)

[Valentina Audley]

Well the girl hadn't denounced her as a whore or devil or fled screaming, so that was a promising start.

She smiles gently and speaks softly. Now is the time for maidenly behaviour if ever there was such a time.

"As a union to produce offspring, it doesn't. But as a pleasureable experience..." She flds her hands neartly in her lap, looking down with a small, loving smile, taking a moment before she looks up again.

"Who better to understand how a woman will feel, than another woman?" She asks simply. "There is a softness, a delicacy, an understanding, that is only felt at such times." She looks at both of them and smiles, shrugging lightly. "At least, that has ever been my experience."

She watches for the neonate's reactions, the glimmer of a plan beginning to form in her mind.

[Meredith Llewelyn]

"I can understand two women having a deeper connection but I had a deep connection with Danny, I do not see how a woman can do that better. I don't wish to offend you, I truly believe that everyone is entitled to their own freedoms and choices but this was never mentioned to me in my previous court."

She furrowed her brows trying to put a picture together, "I just...how does it work? Are you positive it is okay to be doing that? Isn't it ...you know...frowned upon." Her voice dropped to barely audible.

"Please find no offence Miss Audley. I just wish to understand." Meredith held herself tightly afraid she may say something wrong.

[Bronwyn93]

Angelina sat quietly. Valentina's description of taking a female lover made her look at her lap, fiddling with her diary's ribbon to distract herself. Softness, delicacy, and an understanding. That hadn't been her experience at all. She took a shaky breath, and pushed away memories of the previous Valentines. The night of her release was not what it should have been. At least Geoffrey had been there to protect her.

[Valentina Audley]

Valentina shakes her head smilingly. "I didn't say deeper connection. In the crudest terms right now darling, I am not speaking of love, but of lust. It is possible to love another woman, as we have previously touched upon, I love Dyo. And I loved her long before we went to bed..." As she speaks her aura does colour with love and happiness, a look of contentment settling on her features as she slips into a brief, happy, reverie.

"I also wouldn't say it is better, than, ah, bedroom time, with a man." She skirted delicately round the naming the act, for fear of alarming the apparently delicate sensibilities of those present. "Just different. I enjoy both but not everyone does. Is it frowned upon? Only in Kine society. I suggest you do not talk of such things when out and about and I cannot begin to imagine why Lady Granville started you down that road in the first place.... But in Court, no-one should be overly surprised."

"Why, if Miss Daye and Prince Leroux are lovers, why not others?" And she raises an eyebrow at Meredith, hoping to enlarge the girls understanding. "Courts do tend to follow the fashions of their princes, after all."

She pauses, consideringly. "Do you really want the mechanics explained? Whilst I'm all in favour of knowledge, unless you are planning on exploring such things, I wonder if you would not be happier with only the vaguest notion. Unless of course there is anyone who has caught your eye? There are several comely neonates around of late I've noticed. Though, not I hope, Miss Black or Miss Clyntahn?"

She asks out of curiosity, wondering if this is a prelude to - how do I get this specific girl into bed? It wouldn't be the first time after all....

[Meredith Llewelyn]

Meredith considers all that Valentina has said before replying, "I fear I have made a big mistake and lead you down the wrong way Miss Audley. Lady Grace did not bring this up, in fact no one brought up the same gender thing. That was purely my own doing." She says sheepishly.

"It was Neonate Jean-Jacque who had mentioned to us that Miss Day was joined by two gentleman on Valentines and I couldn't see how that would work. I mean surely the one would just stand there rather awkward and bored. But thinking now, I hadn't really thought about Prince Leroux and Miss Day as lovers. I knew they were close but well, I had never really considered it." Meredith shakes her head trying to sort this all out.

At the mention of 'catching an eye' Meredith looks to Angelina sheepishly unsure if she wished to express her desire in front of the other girl. "I-well, um...perhaps there is one. Just another neonate who has helped me out before. But I don't know if she likes me and there is Elder Pryce to consider. He really is dashing and I do find myself thinking of him often. I wouldn't want to hurt him or seem disloyal, even if he has barely noticed me. Please don't say anything Ancilla Audley. Just forget I mentioned the Neonate!." She looks to her imploringly panicking slightly at the sudden realisation that maybe she does like a girl!

[Valentina Audley]

At the mention of Jean-Jacques, Valentina's face lights with a look of understanding. Of course, it made far more sense that he'd be the one to bring up such topics. Thank goodness Grace had been there to rein him in and what a pity one couldn't gag one's childe at all times she reflected.

"Ah, I see. Monsieur Marchaux is upto his usual tricks then? A pity, you'd really think he'd have learned by now." She shakes her head sorrowfully. "Poor Lady Granville has much to deal with these nights and a childe that costs her so dearly must be a trial indeed... In future if he brings up such things publicly I suggest you strive to look both uncomprehending and alarmed and swiftly change the conversational topic. Flowers, the state of the weather or an interesting fact about your location work well for such occasions."

She pauses to give an impish smile. "As to whether one of the gentleman is bored, well it depends on that particular gentleman's taste and how skilled the other companions are..." Dare I risk it? Mmm, perhaps. "Certainly, I've had no complaints..." She gives them both her best innocent look.

Then to keep Meredith off balance she relaxes into a gentle smile and says kindly, "Very well darling, we shall not press you to disclose which specific neonate, though you will do best to consider the one you wish to impress and tailor your approach accordingly."

She pauses and taps a finger to her chin, running her mental eye over the list of neonates she knew. "Were I you, I should consider Miss Herschel or Miss Spinnet. This is purely based on their appearance, though, I'm afraid I don't know either of them particularly. Both are quite lovely to look at though I do wish Miss Spinnet would confine herself to dresses. Why she insists on dressing so vilely I cannot begin to imagine! I made her a lovely frock you know, to pose for her portait in, all in white and off the shoulder with some lovely ruffles..." She stops, aware that she's drifted into reverie, and laughs lightly.

"There see now? I've lost my train of thought! The power of a good dress in action!" And she laughs again. "Going back to my original musing, not Miss Black, nor Miss Clyntahn and I shouldn't recommend Miss Daye if you are inexperienced. Oh and I believe Miss Tolpuddle likely otherwise occupied..."

She pauses and glances to Angelina. "Obviously I include Angelina in the list of most suitable, but it would be very rude to talk about her as though she were not here and I confess I fear our conversation is discomforting her no little..."

[Meredith Llewelyn]

Meredith does her best to keep up with the swift moving conversation but daren't interrupt the Ancilla, even though she was pretty sure she had mentioned something about being good in bed with one or more kindred.

"Thank you Miss Audley, I would rather keep the matters of my heart quite incase the lady in question turns me down. I've never been the one to approach others since they have always come to me. But this one is so flighty I fear I may have to catch her in a net to even talk to her. Of course, I wouldn't go for someone such as Miss Daye as lovely as she is. I would rather not intrude on other couplings. I'm not one to act as a third."

At the mention of Angelina, Meredith bows her head "I'm sorry if this conversation is hurting your gentle soul Angelina. I hadn't really expected to be discussing this with yourself present and I hope you won't think any less of me. I- I don't really know what path I am heading down in regards to love but I would like to understand as much as possible in order to not be naive. I hope you understand that."

"I would ask you both to not mention my fancy for women until I truly understand it myself. There is much at stake when it comes to my heart and I have to choose partners very carefully. I wouldn't want to drag either of you or the person I care about in to the mess that I am surely making."

[Bronwyn93]

Angelina listened with quiet curiosity, looking between the two. When the focus turned onto her, she blinked to bring herself from passive observation and into the conversation. She gave a small shake of her head. "No, please do not apologise. While I have little to nothing I can input with this subject, I do not view it poorly. Indeed it is quite fascinating to listen to." She assured them both, offering a small smile.

She turned to Meredith and gave a kind smile. "Of course I will mention none of this conversation outside of this room. It is safe here." She promised

[Valentina Audley]

Valentina flashes a small smile at Angelina, part comfort, part warning that she'd not been forgotten. Then she turns her attention back to Meredith.

"So, there is a lady you may be interested in, we have discussed that amongst Kindred it is not considered the mortal sin the Kine fear it to be in general. Some Kindred do hold such values, but as long as you do not intend to go around shouting from the rooftops or announcing it loudly in Court, you should be fine. I recommend that you give the lady in question some thought as to how to approach her, then enact your plan with care and see what results it yields. I also advise professing your ignorance. It is more becoming than claiming a skill you lack and usually appealing to those interested." She eyes Meredith and Angelina consideringly for a moment.

"I suspect that any interested in you would suspect your innocence anyway, even should you misplace such virtue. You both achieve a look of delicate maidenliness with such ease! And that is something you can use to your advantage, though, Angelina darling, you will have to stop flinching quite so much." She speaks gently. "I think it may invite the tricky situations you have recently found yourself in...." She pauses, to think her next words over.

"In our society, as I fear you have found out, there are those who view such behaviours as a challenge. Much like in Kine society there is little recourse against such things, save a patron too powerful to risk offending."

To give Angelina a moment to compose herself in case she needs to, Valentina flicks her attention to Meredith again. "So, are there other questions you have that require answering darling?"

"Oh and a word of warning - I do not recommend you show any interest in such things around Elder Zaragoza. She enjoys the company of the young and it can be.... expensive for them. In more ways than one."

[Meredith Llewelyn]

"Well I am sure there will be many questions to come my way but I won't know those questions until I am upon them. My main concern right now is how to gain her attention and how to approach her. I've written letters in the past to lovers and that seems to work really well." Meredith smiles delightfully at Valentina thinking of the surprises she has planned for her.

"But you also know my concerns Miss Audley, they would be the same as with Elder Pryce. Would it be fair to indulge in another's hand while considering him? How do I explain this to my Sire without feeling like I am betraying his word? And should he take an offensive and believe me to be in the wrong, how do I go about protecting the neonate? I am not a fighter Miss Audley and I do not have the bravery to stick up for myself against him. I know I would be overpowered." Meredith face drops as she considers all this, the fear inside her building up. She didn't want to cause anger or hurt to anyone especially when it came from her own selfish desires.

"Then if myself and Rh-The neonate do find each other equally attractive how do I push ahead? Can I come to you again to ask how to show her my love in a more...intimate manner? The same with Elder Pryce though I do understand that a bit more." She gives a sly smile, "Not a lot but enough. Of course, I would offer you a boon in return for your advice and wisdom. As well as my most darling friendship."