Taking Tea Continued (Invite Only)

[Valentina Audley]

Chatting politely about social nothings, (how delightful the moon was, wasn't the spring glorious, had anyone seen the new cotton sateens from India?) Valentina leads the way to the Thimble from the tea shop.

Hamlyn stays nearby, though never so close as to impede the conversation. As they near the shop he heads in ahead of them, reappearing to gallantly hold the door for them.

Valentina smiles.

"Let's head into the salon." She leads them in, murmuring a cheerful good evening to the shop girl as they head through the shop front and into the cosy salon, full of sofas and handy coffee tables covered in sketchbooks.

She seats herself on a chaise longue, abandoning victorian propriety to slip off her shoes and tuck her feet up underneath her.

"Makes yourselves comfortable and then please, decide between you who wants to go first...." She gestures languidly to the sofas and armchairs around the room. "I think we have a couple of matters in need of clearing up, don't we?"

[Meredith Llewelyn]

Meredith smiles to both Hamlyn and the shop girl on the way in before following into the Salon.

Once in there, she stands quite unsure of how to approach this situation. She had never seen Valentina or any Ancilla/Elder so relaxed in front of her and yet so commanding. It almost unnerved and she felt as if she had better watch her wording and etiquette more so than ever.

"Your shop is beautiful Ancilla Audley, thank you for allowing us to visit. It is quiet the honour."

Taking the corner seat of a sofa Meredith sits up right with her hands on her lap. Looking to see how Angelina takes this sudden change in the Ancilla, "I will let Angelina decide to which topic she wishes to discuss. She has been part of this court long before me and therefore deserves this right."

[Bronwyn93]

Angelina followed the other two up to the salon, smiling at the two in the room below and dipping her head in acknowledgement before they disappeared upstairs. She watched Valentina get comfortable on the chaise loungue, and Meredith take the couch, so she in turn perched carefully on a chair to be able to face both of them, creating almost a triangle so no one was excluded.

She looked around the room and smiled softly. "This is a wonderful building, Thank you for inviting us here." She commented, fingers brushing over the upholstry of the chair she had perched in.

At being given the choice of conversation she waved a hand towards Meredith with a smile. "You first, please." She smiled.

[Valentina Audley]

Valentina smiles at both of them, relaxed on the chaise longue. "You can relax darlings. That sofa is not going to break under your slight form Meredith and I can assure you Angelina the chair far more comfortable if you lean back."

She looks thoughtfully at them both for a long moment.

"Very well. I suggest that what we discuss in this room remains between us. This is not to say, in Meredith's case at least, that you cannot share that you have an understanding of such matters, merely that you should not attach my name or Angelina's to where you learned such things." She smiles. "Not that many people ask where such things are learnt it must be admitted."

She turns to glance at Angelina. "I suspect darling, we may need to vary that a little once we have a fuller understanding of your, ah, situation, but we shall discuss that when we come to it. Discretion will of course be used, but I will not glibly make promises I don't intend to keep." She pauses and smiles mischievously. "To members of my own clan anyway."

"Now then, to matters at hand... Where do you want to start? With same sex pairings?" She raises an eyebrow and waits, smiling sweetly.

[Meredith Llewelyn]

Meredith really did try to relax, she sat further back on the sofa and placed her arm upon the armrest. But there was too much tension inside of her to truly feel at peace.

"Of course, I would never dream of sharing where I have learnt such things nor would I wish to discuss Angelina's or your own personal affairs to the outside world Ancilla Audley. I would like to think I am loyal and I take great pleasure in you both being such good friends to me."

Meredith splutters at the sudden crude topic and turns her attention to the floor, oh look...what a beautiful rug...the weaving is particularly enchanting. Trying to calm herself and look like the refined lady she is.

"If that is what you wish to discuss Ancilla, then we may." She lifts up her head to speak before looking at her dress finding the buttons to be just...well fascinating.

[Valentina Audley]

Valentina giggles. "Oh darling, do try not to look so like a scalded cat! Society rules only apply to the specific society you are in. We need not worry ourselves with Kine considerations whilst it is just us. And.... Pairings in Kindred are usually more open to experimentation than the rigid expectaions the Kine permit themselves."

She looks curiously at Meredith. "You do know who my lover is, do you not?"

[Meredith Llewelyn]

"I know that you love Prince Dyonisia and she loves you. That you both have known each other for a very long time and that it is why you have a special relationship but I do not believe she is your lover." She says tentatively and slowly, trying to think before she speaks.

"I-I know you have also loved another but I do not think he is the person you are speaking of." She looks to Angelina for some help, after all Angelina has been here for longer and may know.

[Bronwyn93]

Angelina shuffled back onto her her seat better so that she could relax a little more. She listened curiously, and watched the others talking, hesitating when Meredith looked at her for help. "I only know of previous lovers... Currently I am only aware of Prince Dyonisia too..." She admitted softly.

[Valentina Audley]

"Angelina is correct and you are wrong I'm afraid darling." Valentina smiles at Angelina.

"Prince Dyonisia is my lover. Some people seem to have a preference for one gender and some of us..." She shrugs delicately. "Enjoy both?"

She pauses, to gauge Meredith's reaction before continuing, "I'm a reformed character these days, but in my past I have, ah, enjoyed the company of many shall we say?" She grins mischievously and debates saying some gentleman enjoy watching two ladies together, but decides to hold off for now for fear of causing Meredith to faint in shock.

[Meredith Llewelyn]

Meredith blinked, and blinked again her buttons no longer being her main focus. "Enjoy both, as in both genders...Oh! I did not realise. I would never have thought...truly? You do not pull my leg Val- Ancilla Audley?"

Taking a moment to process this Meredith wondered what it would be like to kiss a girl, there were many attractive women in court. And woman are surely more romantic with there soft lips and gentleness but she hadn't really thought about it. She never really considered anyone, not until Elder Pryce spoke to her. Now a whole new world was opening up and it was both scary and intriguing.

"Am I truly that niave Miss Audley? I just don't understand, how could that possibly work?" She looks to the Ancilla with concern.