Meegan looked up at the man, and tried to remember what she'd wanted to eat. She glanced back down, 'Oh, yes.'
"I'd like the Yellow Fin Tuna Nicoise, rare and a bottle of the chef recommended wine, both for my meal and my companion's." She looked back down at the menu. "I'd also like a bowl of the clam chowder, with crackers on the side."
That plus the bruscetta should be enough to fill her for two days. She smiled at Connie as the waiter walked away. Maybe they could just move past her little confession like she'd never said it. She doubted it, it was good for her to face it. no really. She sighed and sipped from her water.
Designer, Dinner, Drinks (attn: Meegan)
Connie had pushed all thoughts of work out of her mind as she drove to the Marina. Her plan to aim towards the docks and follow the signs had been a wonderful one; the lack of signs made it not-so.
Windows closed, music loud, Connie grumbled to herself for just a few moments more as she waited the light in front of the Marina's driveway. Red lights and Connie just didn't seem to get along lately.
"How could they not have signs? It's not like someone would want to go looking for the Marina just to blow it up or kidnap a boat, like in Speed 2 or whichever Police Academy that was.. Not to mention this damned red light..."
By the time the red light had changed, she'd vented all her frustrations at the steering wheel.
Pulling into the long arching driveway, she pulled up to the valet parking and slid out of her seat, grabbing the white shawl and a new white leather purse from her seat. Tipping the tall, hulking, wow-he-could-be-a-sailor valet man, she waited for him to pull away before crossing the road and climbing the stairs.
Flipping the shawl over her shoulders, she tucked her purse under her elbow and, reaching for the door, was nearly knocked over by someone wearing a dishwasher's uniform. Looking ahead through the door, a second form came charging out after the first, yelling things in some language she didn't bother to identify.
She stepped inside before the door closed. Adjusting her white, lacy cocktail dress from her hips to get the driving ridges out of her bottom, she strode purposefully to the greetings stand.
She cleared her throat for attention. "Connie Stone to join Ms. Meegan Masters."
The young blonde greeter checked his book and nodded, then looked up at her finally. His eyes almost popped out as Connie imagined him taking in her legs, waist, then bosom before finally reaching her face. She would have rolled her eyes but his attention was almost flattering, if teenage-hormonally charged. He was probably the son of someone who ran the club.
"Uh, yes, Ms. Stone, Ms. Masters has not arrived yet but you do have a table set aside. Would you care to be escorted to the table, or would you like to wait at the bar?"
Connie pondered briefly, then answered with a smile. "I'll wait at the bar for Ms. Masters, thank you."
The young man showed her in, around an artfully decorated wooden peninsula, to the bar proper. A low roof overhung the counter, but until Connie was about to lean on a stool she hadn't realized it was actually an overturned rowboat, varnished and cleaned up. Memories welled in her mind as she was approached by the bartender. "Seltzer with lime, please, I'm waiting for my companion to join me."
Smiling at the niceties spouted by the short-cropped young female bartender, she glanced around, taking in all the nautical decorations. Somewhat uncomfortable with her behind resting against the edge of the stool - even as tall as she was - she lifted her right foot gently to hook the heel of her white leather heeled shoe on the lowest support. After a moment, she realized that, were Meegan to approach her, she'd likely try to take a step with that foot to turn towards her, and would likely fall on her face or crush the designer beneath her. Instead, she unhooked her heel and rested the ball of her foot on the long brass rail just above the floor. Her hand worried at the small golden ship's wheel necklace dangling just below the hollow of her throat.
When her drink arrived, she sipped lightly from it.
Meegan
18 years ago
Connie
18 years ago
Connie softly snapped her fingers. "Crackers might have been a good idea, I haven't eaten all day!"
She idly played with her water for a moment before speaking again. "I'm going to be straight with you, Meegan, and tell you what I hope to get out of our relationship... I want a friend. Someone I can talk to, share things that I might not necessarily tell Nyra right away, bounce crazy gift ideas off of, stuff like that. Someone whose point of view of me isn't skewed by love, or at least romantic love, and is willing to give me what for, the way a sister does. And if what for isn't enough, what five. Is..." Her rambling forwardness became stilted as she finished, "is that so much to hope for?"
She busied her mouth with sipping from her water, then set it down. Her fingernail played on the condensation on the side of the glass as she waited.
She idly played with her water for a moment before speaking again. "I'm going to be straight with you, Meegan, and tell you what I hope to get out of our relationship... I want a friend. Someone I can talk to, share things that I might not necessarily tell Nyra right away, bounce crazy gift ideas off of, stuff like that. Someone whose point of view of me isn't skewed by love, or at least romantic love, and is willing to give me what for, the way a sister does. And if what for isn't enough, what five. Is..." Her rambling forwardness became stilted as she finished, "is that so much to hope for?"
She busied her mouth with sipping from her water, then set it down. Her fingernail played on the condensation on the side of the glass as she waited.
Meegan
18 years ago
Meegan smile was filled with relief and joy. That was exactly what she wanted too, and she hoped Connie would be able to provide that for her. If so, then they could look forward to a lot of; 'You did what?!?"
"That sounds perfect Connie, absolutely perfect." She reached over the table and gave the other woman's arm a pat. "We should hug, but there's a table in the way."
"That sounds perfect Connie, absolutely perfect." She reached over the table and gave the other woman's arm a pat. "We should hug, but there's a table in the way."
Connie
18 years ago
Connie giggled, turning her arm to gently squeeze Meeegan's hand. "Well I can move or we can make it up when we're on our way out."
Snorting to herself, she smiled widely. "Of course, you know, the first of us to say 'you did what?' gets to buy the other dinner."
She rubbed her chin with her free hand, then brought her thoughts back on track. "I'm not too surprised, though, at what you've said regarding your own choice not to get pregnant. I am pleased, though, and you should be too, that you thought of Rachyl first. Though I think your own reasons extend deeper than pain and vanity. But, Meegan, I'm not going to go digging for those. You gave me an honest answer, and that's all I hope for."
Snorting to herself, she smiled widely. "Of course, you know, the first of us to say 'you did what?' gets to buy the other dinner."
She rubbed her chin with her free hand, then brought her thoughts back on track. "I'm not too surprised, though, at what you've said regarding your own choice not to get pregnant. I am pleased, though, and you should be too, that you thought of Rachyl first. Though I think your own reasons extend deeper than pain and vanity. But, Meegan, I'm not going to go digging for those. You gave me an honest answer, and that's all I hope for."
Meegan
18 years ago
Meegan simply didn't know what to say. Something that was happening more and more to her lately. She didn't mind so much, except that it was humbling and humble was not her favorite flavor of pie. The waiter came with their bruscetta and filled their glasses half way with a white wine. One does not try and consume an entire glass with the appetizer. She thanked the man and tried to figure out what to say only one thing came to mind.
"Thank you Connie."
For what she didn't know, but it seemed like the right thing to say. At least Connie seemed to understand, and that was all Meegan could have asked for.
"Thank you Connie."
For what she didn't know, but it seemed like the right thing to say. At least Connie seemed to understand, and that was all Meegan could have asked for.
Connie
18 years ago
Connie smiled at Meegan. She wondered briefly if she stumped her companion. She herself probably would be stumped if someone spoke as honestly to her as Connie had spoken to the designer. Then again, most of the people she interacted with on a regular basis were ... regular people.
She reached out to pick up her wine glass. "To your child-to-be, and his or her health, prosperity, and to a complication-free pregnancy for you both."
She reached out to pick up her wine glass. "To your child-to-be, and his or her health, prosperity, and to a complication-free pregnancy for you both."
Meegan
18 years ago
Meegan picked up her wine and held it up to Connie's "To new friends."
She sipped from her wine and set it back on the table. She pulled a piece of the bruscetta onto the little plate the waiter had placed before her and picked up her knife and cut it in half. She wasn't about to try and hold the entire piece, 'not in this dress, I'm not.'
"Connie, I don't think I even know what you do for a living. All I know is that you work nights."
She sipped from her wine and set it back on the table. She pulled a piece of the bruscetta onto the little plate the waiter had placed before her and picked up her knife and cut it in half. She wasn't about to try and hold the entire piece, 'not in this dress, I'm not.'
"Connie, I don't think I even know what you do for a living. All I know is that you work nights."
Connie
18 years ago
After Connie sipped, she'd planned to reach for the bruscetta, but saw Meegan do it first, so she waited a half moment. She smiled when her companion cut the bread; she too didn't want to dirty her dress. "My common sense couldn't override my sense of fashion tonight. I wanted to look ready for spring... I didn't even ponder dinner and making a mess."
When Meegan questioned her about her job, she responded, "I'm an accountant for one of the big technically industrial outfits in town. It's not too posh, but it deals with numbers - one of my great loves. I'm head of the international team, pulling in information from all the overseas branches." Connie picked up a slice of bread and cut it, then spooned some of the bruscetta on it. "The nights thing can be a pain, especially what with Nyra driving herself ill trying to keep up with me, but it's a living. I enjoy it. Keeps my library chock-full of trashy romance novels and goofy pirate paraphernalia."
She giggled to herself and affected a mock-pirate tone, but spoke quietly. "Girl needs a hobby, arrr!"
When Meegan questioned her about her job, she responded, "I'm an accountant for one of the big technically industrial outfits in town. It's not too posh, but it deals with numbers - one of my great loves. I'm head of the international team, pulling in information from all the overseas branches." Connie picked up a slice of bread and cut it, then spooned some of the bruscetta on it. "The nights thing can be a pain, especially what with Nyra driving herself ill trying to keep up with me, but it's a living. I enjoy it. Keeps my library chock-full of trashy romance novels and goofy pirate paraphernalia."
She giggled to herself and affected a mock-pirate tone, but spoke quietly. "Girl needs a hobby, arrr!"
Meegan
18 years ago
Meegan had to pause putting a bit of bread and tomatoes in her mouth so she could laugh. She was just glad it hadn't made it to her mouth yet.
"Aye, matey."
She put the bite into her mouth and grinned at Connie while she chewed. Swallowing she smiled again. "Rachyl tried to stay up with my schedule once, she slept for two days afterward. We compromise by my crawling into bed with her and reading or working on my lap top until she falls asleep. Then I either just keep reading or I get out of bed and putter at my drafting table or do some work on the lap top while sitting up. Then I finally get to sleep around two or three. Rachyl gets her eight to ten and I get the satisfaction of knowing she gets enough sleep."
She put another bite into her mouth and sipped her wine. The sleep thing was one of the many changes she'd mae in her life for Rachyl and she smiled softly at how happy it made her to do it.
"Aye, matey."
She put the bite into her mouth and grinned at Connie while she chewed. Swallowing she smiled again. "Rachyl tried to stay up with my schedule once, she slept for two days afterward. We compromise by my crawling into bed with her and reading or working on my lap top until she falls asleep. Then I either just keep reading or I get out of bed and putter at my drafting table or do some work on the lap top while sitting up. Then I finally get to sleep around two or three. Rachyl gets her eight to ten and I get the satisfaction of knowing she gets enough sleep."
She put another bite into her mouth and sipped her wine. The sleep thing was one of the many changes she'd mae in her life for Rachyl and she smiled softly at how happy it made her to do it.
Connie
18 years ago
Connie nodded, chewing carefully around the sharply toasted edges of the bread. When her mouth was empty, she replied, "That's a wonderful idea, and I'm glad it works for both of you. Unfortunately, Nyra is very much a day person - except when she overworks herself to create - and I'm the night owl of the relationship. Almost completely opposite. I've seriously considered moving to day work, but the benefits wouldn't be nearly as good as they are, and I'd have to worry about impressing people with how I dress."
Connie smirked and snorted, then picked up an un-covered piece of toast. Pointing it gently at Meegan, she commented, "Well, impressing the people I work with, anyway. The only time people pass my cube is if they're on their way to the rest room. And most people only go by once, and take the long way back. Helps keep you awake. The human body wasn't designed for being awake at night... It's a biological quirk that I've dealt with since I was young."
"Chronologically young, in any case," she thought to herself. She covered her bi of toast with tomato and slid it between her lips.
Connie smirked and snorted, then picked up an un-covered piece of toast. Pointing it gently at Meegan, she commented, "Well, impressing the people I work with, anyway. The only time people pass my cube is if they're on their way to the rest room. And most people only go by once, and take the long way back. Helps keep you awake. The human body wasn't designed for being awake at night... It's a biological quirk that I've dealt with since I was young."
"Chronologically young, in any case," she thought to herself. She covered her bi of toast with tomato and slid it between her lips.
Meegan
18 years ago
"Why would you need to impress anyone with what you wear?"
She took another bite of bread and tomato, thinking. "Granted that seems rather silly coming from me, but if I came to work in a navy pencil skirt, white button down and a suit jacket I'd have the men in white coats coming for me. If you're an accountant, I would think they only thing you need do with you clothes is make sure they are ironed and perhaps match. If you ask me, you have one of those bodies that would look amazing in a burlap bag. Just stick a flower behind your ear and hold your head up high. Confidence is key to whatever you wish to wear, not what other people think."
She realized she was getting a bit preachy so she occupied her mouth with toast and tomatoes.
She took another bite of bread and tomato, thinking. "Granted that seems rather silly coming from me, but if I came to work in a navy pencil skirt, white button down and a suit jacket I'd have the men in white coats coming for me. If you're an accountant, I would think they only thing you need do with you clothes is make sure they are ironed and perhaps match. If you ask me, you have one of those bodies that would look amazing in a burlap bag. Just stick a flower behind your ear and hold your head up high. Confidence is key to whatever you wish to wear, not what other people think."
She realized she was getting a bit preachy so she occupied her mouth with toast and tomatoes.
Connie
18 years ago
The vampire felt her cheeks heat up. "Burlap, really? Well that's more Nyra's fabric choice, can I have low thread count cotton pillowcases instead?" She winked and giggled, then sipped gently from her wine.
Connie pursed her lips, trying to forestall a tirade that she'd repeated oft-times over the years about dressing for business and dressing for comfort and quality. She and Meegan had agreed to be honest, so...
"From what I understand, you as the owner of Gothic-Ah have a pretty lenient - okay, nonexistent - business-style dress policy compared to most other contemporary offices. In fact, from talking with Rachyl, you expect casual dress, and only enforce a dress code of company line outfits during important client visits or the like. The office-based professional business world - like accountants, information technology, lawyers, et cetera - expects more. They want people to be dressed in either business formal, business casual with tie, or just business casual. None of them want to see you in a t-shirt and jeans. And while studies have been done in the last ten years that demonstrate noticable productivity increases, stress reduction, and morale boosts when an employee is given less noose-like restrictions on their mode of dress, Those In High Places tend not to give a flying fuh-" Connie remembered almost as the expletive was out her mouth that she was in a high-society public place. Correcting herself, she continued, "-funny bone about it. I felt more relaxed and comfortable in my last job when I was able to wear jeans or a denim skirt, and a t-shirt or a goofy blouse, than I do in my current position. We're expected to dress business casual. Guess who sees us? Each other. We don't see any other employees in the office on a regular basis. Only those of us who come in a little early, or those who need to attend a mid-day meeting. Sometimes we'll get lucky and catch someone getting off the elevator onto our floor to switch cars for cleaning or maintenance reasons. Well there was that one time Jim from HR and Walt in IT were... never mind, not relevant. They think we need more formal, professional dress to impress people, when the only customer we deal with is ourselves."
Connie shook her head, glad to have gotten that off her chest. She smiled at a sudden thought. "Could you imagine what would happen if I were to walk into the office wearing to work what Rachyl does? Oh, lord, that would be funny. Jack, one of the oldest men in the department, would either suffer cardiac arrest, or be arrested for lewd acts. Janette, one of our soccer moms, would start preaching about harlotry and sinful dressing. Of course, I never talk with any of my underlings enough to tell them I'm gay, let alone have any pictures of Nyra in my cube. I do have a small sculpture she made, and a couple prints of her work, but there's some things they just don't need to know, you know? Anyway, I'd get at least three, maybe four lascivious looks from most of the rest of the team, and I'm sure at least one of the last two members would find ways to visit my cube more often."
Connie picked up another piece of toast, which she decided would be her last, and covered it with the tomato concoction. Before she busied her mouth with the treat, she smiled a Joker-smile and gave a quiet, devilish cackle. "You know, it might be fun to do for a last-day rebellion kind of statement."
Connie pursed her lips, trying to forestall a tirade that she'd repeated oft-times over the years about dressing for business and dressing for comfort and quality. She and Meegan had agreed to be honest, so...
"From what I understand, you as the owner of Gothic-Ah have a pretty lenient - okay, nonexistent - business-style dress policy compared to most other contemporary offices. In fact, from talking with Rachyl, you expect casual dress, and only enforce a dress code of company line outfits during important client visits or the like. The office-based professional business world - like accountants, information technology, lawyers, et cetera - expects more. They want people to be dressed in either business formal, business casual with tie, or just business casual. None of them want to see you in a t-shirt and jeans. And while studies have been done in the last ten years that demonstrate noticable productivity increases, stress reduction, and morale boosts when an employee is given less noose-like restrictions on their mode of dress, Those In High Places tend not to give a flying fuh-" Connie remembered almost as the expletive was out her mouth that she was in a high-society public place. Correcting herself, she continued, "-funny bone about it. I felt more relaxed and comfortable in my last job when I was able to wear jeans or a denim skirt, and a t-shirt or a goofy blouse, than I do in my current position. We're expected to dress business casual. Guess who sees us? Each other. We don't see any other employees in the office on a regular basis. Only those of us who come in a little early, or those who need to attend a mid-day meeting. Sometimes we'll get lucky and catch someone getting off the elevator onto our floor to switch cars for cleaning or maintenance reasons. Well there was that one time Jim from HR and Walt in IT were... never mind, not relevant. They think we need more formal, professional dress to impress people, when the only customer we deal with is ourselves."
Connie shook her head, glad to have gotten that off her chest. She smiled at a sudden thought. "Could you imagine what would happen if I were to walk into the office wearing to work what Rachyl does? Oh, lord, that would be funny. Jack, one of the oldest men in the department, would either suffer cardiac arrest, or be arrested for lewd acts. Janette, one of our soccer moms, would start preaching about harlotry and sinful dressing. Of course, I never talk with any of my underlings enough to tell them I'm gay, let alone have any pictures of Nyra in my cube. I do have a small sculpture she made, and a couple prints of her work, but there's some things they just don't need to know, you know? Anyway, I'd get at least three, maybe four lascivious looks from most of the rest of the team, and I'm sure at least one of the last two members would find ways to visit my cube more often."
Connie picked up another piece of toast, which she decided would be her last, and covered it with the tomato concoction. Before she busied her mouth with the treat, she smiled a Joker-smile and gave a quiet, devilish cackle. "You know, it might be fun to do for a last-day rebellion kind of statement."
Meegan
18 years ago
"Believe me when I say, I know what you mean. I own where I work so I have the opportunity to let my people dress the way they want. A lot of the people I work with are artists in their own right. Creativity must be given an outlet in every part of life. So I say if you find yourself stuck in a place where you are forced to adhere to a code of dress, then you take that code and push against it. Wear bright colors, bold patterns, mix designers, wear boots up to your ass over black tights under a linen mini skirt and a white silk pirate shirt.
Take the code and make it your own. Wear red and white striped tights under your school uniform, or pierce your nipples so that when they get erect in gym class every other boy and girl in there knows. Don't think that just because their code says one thing that it must mean you are stuck with navy and black suits forever."
She finished off her wine and pushed plate and cup away. "Individuality is not about giving the finger to the man, it's about saying. I know who I am, I'm comfortable with myself, my lesbian lover and I know what I fucking want in life."
Meegan's eyes got wide and she clamped her lips together, by drawing them in between her lips.
Take the code and make it your own. Wear red and white striped tights under your school uniform, or pierce your nipples so that when they get erect in gym class every other boy and girl in there knows. Don't think that just because their code says one thing that it must mean you are stuck with navy and black suits forever."
She finished off her wine and pushed plate and cup away. "Individuality is not about giving the finger to the man, it's about saying. I know who I am, I'm comfortable with myself, my lesbian lover and I know what I fucking want in life."
Meegan's eyes got wide and she clamped her lips together, by drawing them in between her lips.
Connie
18 years ago
Gaping would have been rude, so Connie settled for allowing her eyebrows to melt into her hairline. "Wow, either hit a nerve there, or just letting Meegan relive some of her own decisions about herself." She nodded, her mind suddenly casting back to the time when she'd begun making her own similar decisions... "I know what you mean," she replied, eyes unfocused. "All my life, even as a little girl, I did things that were out of the ordinary for the rest of my family. Like reading. None of my sisters read. They just accepted things that were told to them... And then a bunch of bad things happened, accidents and such. Two of them died, and I haven't seen the rest of my family in years. I left pretty young. Found out that I could derive pleasure, and learn to love, either a man or a woman."
She paused for a moment, pondering, then mirrored Meegan's action of pushing away plate and emptying her wine glass. "I don't think I made quite as many statements about 'I am who I am' as you seem to have had in your life, but I envy and admire your strength and convictions in doing so."
She snorted to herself. "Point of fact, the most radical thing I've done recently has been moving to Nachton, meeting Nyra, and taking her as my lover, my friend, roommate and perhaps even soulmate." As the vampire spoke, she felt her eyes watering. "She compliments me in ways I never imagined, and it's wonderful. Every day I wake up next to her, every day she smiles at me, each word she shares with me, whether it's how much her mother worries, or what Bertrand told her about all the art, or how she slipped and fell in her apartment, the touches she gives me, the little things she does... The things I like to do for her in return... Brings an element of warmth to me, makes me feel like I belong somewhere."
She reached out a hand to Meegan and took the designer's in her own. "I don't envy what you have with Rachyl, because I see between the two of you what I feel in my own heart, with regards to Nyra. Stronger than steel, diamond even, the bonds you and I have with our lovers. With our wives. Even without that socially expected union... we know that's what we have."
Connie sniffed, then gently dabbed at the corners of her eyes with a hanky she stored conveniently at the edge of her purse. Clearing her throat, she commented with an impish grin, "I might just have to try the thigh-high boots, skirt, and silk shirt thing. I love it! You don't have any accountant openings, do you?" She winked and giggled, glad to shed some of the heart-heavy emotions she felt churning inside her.
"Why can't you tell that to Nyra?"
"Because I have something somewhat more important to tell her."
"Maybe you should say it all at the same time."
The thought hadn't previously occurred to Connie.
She paused for a moment, pondering, then mirrored Meegan's action of pushing away plate and emptying her wine glass. "I don't think I made quite as many statements about 'I am who I am' as you seem to have had in your life, but I envy and admire your strength and convictions in doing so."
She snorted to herself. "Point of fact, the most radical thing I've done recently has been moving to Nachton, meeting Nyra, and taking her as my lover, my friend, roommate and perhaps even soulmate." As the vampire spoke, she felt her eyes watering. "She compliments me in ways I never imagined, and it's wonderful. Every day I wake up next to her, every day she smiles at me, each word she shares with me, whether it's how much her mother worries, or what Bertrand told her about all the art, or how she slipped and fell in her apartment, the touches she gives me, the little things she does... The things I like to do for her in return... Brings an element of warmth to me, makes me feel like I belong somewhere."
She reached out a hand to Meegan and took the designer's in her own. "I don't envy what you have with Rachyl, because I see between the two of you what I feel in my own heart, with regards to Nyra. Stronger than steel, diamond even, the bonds you and I have with our lovers. With our wives. Even without that socially expected union... we know that's what we have."
Connie sniffed, then gently dabbed at the corners of her eyes with a hanky she stored conveniently at the edge of her purse. Clearing her throat, she commented with an impish grin, "I might just have to try the thigh-high boots, skirt, and silk shirt thing. I love it! You don't have any accountant openings, do you?" She winked and giggled, glad to shed some of the heart-heavy emotions she felt churning inside her.
"Why can't you tell that to Nyra?"
"Because I have something somewhat more important to tell her."
"Maybe you should say it all at the same time."
The thought hadn't previously occurred to Connie.
Meegan
18 years ago
Meegan smiled and nodded her affirmation of Connie's words. Exactly, exactly that. It was amazing to her how the things she thought and felt were pouring out of this woman's mouth. Connie finished with a question that Meegan was sure was meant to be a joke, but it was a very good question. One that should be answered truthfully and with full consideration. Though she worried about the ramifications of having her best friend and lover working for her. Her company could go very south with people she cared about in positions such as theirs.
Though if she hired Connie in at entry level and let her work her way up, being promoted by the managers and through proper channels that could help solve that. Would Connie really work for her. Did she even need another accountant? Actually the accounting department was almost always complaining about needing just one more person. Well as they say there's only one thing to do.
"Actually I do. It would be entry level and you'd still have to come and apply, but since I do all the hiring, you're pretty much a shoe in."
She looked up at Connie. She didn't want to take her away from a job that needed her, but if her friend was unhappy and she could make her happy then it was her privilege to provide that happiness.
"I mean that is, if you wanted a different job. My company is a day time sort of place, but if you need to work nights, I'm sure we can fix it with the accounting manager."
Then a very awful thought occurred to Meegan. Her mind had been slightly poisoned in this light, but she knew that these things existed and she hated thinking it about her friend, but she couldn't let it slide, she just couldn't.
"Unless...unless you...can't be in the sun. I mean that you have to be a night owl because your a..." She just couldn't put the question to words. HEr gaze held Connie's willing her to understand what she meant and the question she was asking. Of course Connie didn't know Meegan knew what she knew about the denizens of the night.
Though if she hired Connie in at entry level and let her work her way up, being promoted by the managers and through proper channels that could help solve that. Would Connie really work for her. Did she even need another accountant? Actually the accounting department was almost always complaining about needing just one more person. Well as they say there's only one thing to do.
"Actually I do. It would be entry level and you'd still have to come and apply, but since I do all the hiring, you're pretty much a shoe in."
She looked up at Connie. She didn't want to take her away from a job that needed her, but if her friend was unhappy and she could make her happy then it was her privilege to provide that happiness.
"I mean that is, if you wanted a different job. My company is a day time sort of place, but if you need to work nights, I'm sure we can fix it with the accounting manager."
Then a very awful thought occurred to Meegan. Her mind had been slightly poisoned in this light, but she knew that these things existed and she hated thinking it about her friend, but she couldn't let it slide, she just couldn't.
"Unless...unless you...can't be in the sun. I mean that you have to be a night owl because your a..." She just couldn't put the question to words. HEr gaze held Connie's willing her to understand what she meant and the question she was asking. Of course Connie didn't know Meegan knew what she knew about the denizens of the night.
Connie
18 years ago
"Thank you, but..." Connie shook her head, smiling. "It's a wonderful offer, though I would do most anything to be less of a detriment to Nyra's health. It's not fair to her. I would consider it, sure, though starting at the bottom would be a bit of a deterrent, that's for certain. Then there's the obligatory -" and Connie's voice got squeaky and wishywashy, she disengaged her hand from Meegan's and mimed along with her comments, "-do you need models? because I can model and pout and push my boobs up and wear sparkly makeup..."
She started coughing as she laughed at herself, then was about to continue with her normal voice when she realized the statement her dinner companion was making. She considered her options, and decided the truth was the best option.
It usually was.
She nodded slowly. "It's part of who I am, yes. I make not many apologies for it, outside of being apologetic that it's not something I'm more upfront about. In today's world, as you can imagine, it's even more of a stigma than homosexuality is. I can promise, however, that the only meal I was planning on eating tonight was the one set in front of me by a waiter. If it's a problem... then I'd be disappointed that our friendship would end solely because of that."
She started coughing as she laughed at herself, then was about to continue with her normal voice when she realized the statement her dinner companion was making. She considered her options, and decided the truth was the best option.
It usually was.
She nodded slowly. "It's part of who I am, yes. I make not many apologies for it, outside of being apologetic that it's not something I'm more upfront about. In today's world, as you can imagine, it's even more of a stigma than homosexuality is. I can promise, however, that the only meal I was planning on eating tonight was the one set in front of me by a waiter. If it's a problem... then I'd be disappointed that our friendship would end solely because of that."
Meegan
18 years ago
And there it was. Meegan had wanted her to deny it, but she some how knew that it wouldn't happen. Was she cursed or something? It was like living it some surreal twisted superhero world. Her arch enemy, her first love, and her best friend were all vampires. Or was she a magnet to these people. Did she have it stamped on her forehead or emit some kind of vampire attracting hormone? She would just have to accept it and hope that she didn't wonder if every one she met was "one of them" or "one of us." Because that was just way too Invasion of the Body Snatchers for her.
"No I don't want it to come between us, it will just take some time getting used to it is all."
She shuffled back through all that Connie had said prior to her admission.
"I always need models, but I won't ask you to endanger yourself for me or my company. You are much to valuable to me to ask you to work in the daylight."
She was grateful for the waiter coming and taking their plates and wine glasses. She drank from the newly filled water glass and tried to figure out what to say next.
"Rachyl may have told you that I'm no stranger to your um to what you...to this. I lost the first man I've ever loved recently and he to was a...had the...um affliction." That all come out so wrong. She cringed inwardly and drank from her glass again.
"No I don't want it to come between us, it will just take some time getting used to it is all."
She shuffled back through all that Connie had said prior to her admission.
"I always need models, but I won't ask you to endanger yourself for me or my company. You are much to valuable to me to ask you to work in the daylight."
She was grateful for the waiter coming and taking their plates and wine glasses. She drank from the newly filled water glass and tried to figure out what to say next.
"Rachyl may have told you that I'm no stranger to your um to what you...to this. I lost the first man I've ever loved recently and he to was a...had the...um affliction." That all come out so wrong. She cringed inwardly and drank from her glass again.
Connie
18 years ago
"Why will it take some getting used to? I'm the same person I was five minutes ago. We just added..."
Her voice trailed off as their soup arrived, a few moments after their prior plates had been cleared. This restaurant surprised her, as they allowed a decent amount of time to go by between courses. She decided she liked it here.
Steam virtually billowed off the top of her wide bowl. Strange little flecks of spice were all around the wide edge of the container and spread out over the surface of the very hot liquid. She picked up the soup spoon resting on the edge of the lower saucer and stared at it for a minute, trying to remember her train of thought. "We added another dimension, and sealed the last porthole in the hull of the ship called truth. There may or may not be things you'll want to ask about, and there may or may not be things I'll want to answer. Over time, we as friends will fill that hull with the structure and contents of our friendship. But I wasn't lying when I didn't volunteer information that had no outward effect on anyone."
She dipped her soup spoon into the creamy lobster bisque, tilted away from her, and raised it to her lips to gently blow across it. A drop swung off the bottom of the spoon to land just at the edge of her bowl. Almost giving herself a raspberry at her carelessness, she set the spoon down on the bowl and, taking up her napkin, laid it across her lap carefully. "It's become painfully clear now that my fear in making that admission to Nyra is adversely affecting her health, and I had honestly made plans the other day to tell her just that, very soon. Before the end of the week, actually."
She picked up the spoon again, which finally made its way to her mouth. She sipped daintily of the liquid. It was definately hot, that much was obvious. But it was salty, and had a bit of a bite to it. It wasn't fishy at all, rather, the lobster taste was very subtle. She couldn't figure out what the spice was on the surface, but she ignored it for the moment. Swallowing, she set the spoon down on the edge of the saucer again. She pondered for a moment, then decided she enjoyed it.
"I appreciate your ..." She paused a moment when she realized what Meegan had said. "You are much to valuable to me..." Connie felt a flush rising on her chest and cheeks, and she was speechless for a moment. "I appreciate your concern, and am truly flattered. But I have taken steps to prevent accidental exposure, and I can even stand such risk for just a minute or two, if necessity warrants. If I were to get a job that paid as well as my current one, but it was day shift, I'd switch in an instant, if only to help Nyra. If I were to take the job you've offered me, accounting or modelling or even filling in for Rachyl while she's on maternity leave - even if my request was made three-quarters in jest, it would help Nyra. My quality of life wouldn't be affected too much. I'd miss the night a little - have you seen some of the moonrises outside of the city? Beautiful! I have some wonderful photos of them if you'd like to see - but again, my final choice would be to help Nyra." She sighed. "Of course, that's assuming she still wants me after... you know."
"As far as what you're a stranger to... Rachyl didn't tell me anything, Meegan. It's not her secret to tell. If you want to tell me, I'll listen. You have full and equal rights to my ears, shoulders, eyes and anything else that I have to offer that will help me be your friend, to be a leaning post, a confidante for you. If you ever needed anything regarding my... actual method of survival, I'd decline gently, because that's not something I want to interfere with what we are building. Of course, if you were ever in danger, and I could do something about getting you out of it, I would use all the means at my disposal to make sure you were safe. And if..."
She hung her head a little, staring between the edge of the table and her chest, looking into the darkness beyond her lap. "Well see I won't even think about that. I'm not a superstitious woman. But I don't like to chance Fate too much." Her eyes came back up over the table, and looked into Meegan's jade orbs. She wondered if the younger woman could see the hauntedness inside her own. "She's bent me over a few too many times."
Her voice trailed off as their soup arrived, a few moments after their prior plates had been cleared. This restaurant surprised her, as they allowed a decent amount of time to go by between courses. She decided she liked it here.
Steam virtually billowed off the top of her wide bowl. Strange little flecks of spice were all around the wide edge of the container and spread out over the surface of the very hot liquid. She picked up the soup spoon resting on the edge of the lower saucer and stared at it for a minute, trying to remember her train of thought. "We added another dimension, and sealed the last porthole in the hull of the ship called truth. There may or may not be things you'll want to ask about, and there may or may not be things I'll want to answer. Over time, we as friends will fill that hull with the structure and contents of our friendship. But I wasn't lying when I didn't volunteer information that had no outward effect on anyone."
She dipped her soup spoon into the creamy lobster bisque, tilted away from her, and raised it to her lips to gently blow across it. A drop swung off the bottom of the spoon to land just at the edge of her bowl. Almost giving herself a raspberry at her carelessness, she set the spoon down on the bowl and, taking up her napkin, laid it across her lap carefully. "It's become painfully clear now that my fear in making that admission to Nyra is adversely affecting her health, and I had honestly made plans the other day to tell her just that, very soon. Before the end of the week, actually."
She picked up the spoon again, which finally made its way to her mouth. She sipped daintily of the liquid. It was definately hot, that much was obvious. But it was salty, and had a bit of a bite to it. It wasn't fishy at all, rather, the lobster taste was very subtle. She couldn't figure out what the spice was on the surface, but she ignored it for the moment. Swallowing, she set the spoon down on the edge of the saucer again. She pondered for a moment, then decided she enjoyed it.
"I appreciate your ..." She paused a moment when she realized what Meegan had said. "You are much to valuable to me..." Connie felt a flush rising on her chest and cheeks, and she was speechless for a moment. "I appreciate your concern, and am truly flattered. But I have taken steps to prevent accidental exposure, and I can even stand such risk for just a minute or two, if necessity warrants. If I were to get a job that paid as well as my current one, but it was day shift, I'd switch in an instant, if only to help Nyra. If I were to take the job you've offered me, accounting or modelling or even filling in for Rachyl while she's on maternity leave - even if my request was made three-quarters in jest, it would help Nyra. My quality of life wouldn't be affected too much. I'd miss the night a little - have you seen some of the moonrises outside of the city? Beautiful! I have some wonderful photos of them if you'd like to see - but again, my final choice would be to help Nyra." She sighed. "Of course, that's assuming she still wants me after... you know."
"As far as what you're a stranger to... Rachyl didn't tell me anything, Meegan. It's not her secret to tell. If you want to tell me, I'll listen. You have full and equal rights to my ears, shoulders, eyes and anything else that I have to offer that will help me be your friend, to be a leaning post, a confidante for you. If you ever needed anything regarding my... actual method of survival, I'd decline gently, because that's not something I want to interfere with what we are building. Of course, if you were ever in danger, and I could do something about getting you out of it, I would use all the means at my disposal to make sure you were safe. And if..."
She hung her head a little, staring between the edge of the table and her chest, looking into the darkness beyond her lap. "Well see I won't even think about that. I'm not a superstitious woman. But I don't like to chance Fate too much." Her eyes came back up over the table, and looked into Meegan's jade orbs. She wondered if the younger woman could see the hauntedness inside her own. "She's bent me over a few too many times."
Meegan
18 years ago
Meegan nodded slowly, placing a spoon full of chowder in her mouth as Connie spoke.
"Fate's not a friend of mine either, Connie. You know. I don't think you have anything to worry about with Nyra. She's an understanding woman and I know she loves you. And she'll love you fangs and all."
She smiled softly at her new friend, and took another bite of soup.
"Fate's not a friend of mine either, Connie. You know. I don't think you have anything to worry about with Nyra. She's an understanding woman and I know she loves you. And she'll love you fangs and all."
She smiled softly at her new friend, and took another bite of soup.
Connie
18 years ago
Connie felt the tips of her ears flare up as she smiled back at Meegan. She sincerely hoped her younger friend was correct.
They ate in silence for a few minutes, sipping quietly at their soup. The silence wasn't uncomfortable; it also wasn't one of those pregnant pauses. It just seemed to be merely reflective quiet time.
Something Meegan had said perked back up into the forefront of Connie's mind. "You said creativity must be given an outlet. What else do you do creatively, outside of designing clothes?"
They ate in silence for a few minutes, sipping quietly at their soup. The silence wasn't uncomfortable; it also wasn't one of those pregnant pauses. It just seemed to be merely reflective quiet time.
Something Meegan had said perked back up into the forefront of Connie's mind. "You said creativity must be given an outlet. What else do you do creatively, outside of designing clothes?"