Lily had begun to feel faintly amused by the minute little details happening around them. She was aware of Simon's nature, and her oversensitive nose, ears, and eyes picked up on... what, perhaps? Relief? She didn't know why. It had something to do with her response to him, though. Perhaps he was glad her family were fine. Or, just maybe, he felt guilty for being sarcastic? Whatever the reason she allowed herself her few moments of amusement.
Dana, on the other hand, was another thing altogether. Lily was doing her best not to make an issue of the girl's nervousness, but she was feeling a little guilty for having caused her such distress. All the same though, she wondered about the girl's staring at Simon and then her sudden about-face as she removed her sunglasses and seemed to fortify herself.
Shrugging inwardly Lily did what came naturally to her - she continued on politely as if nothing in the world were wrong and as if she hadn't noticed the tiny details.
"What sights have you the most interested?" She was genuinely curious. There was much to see and do in Nachton and everyone seemed to view the city differently.
It's so bright in this city (open)
In the five nights she'd been in Nachton, Dana, had gotten completely lost in her new home, entangled in a particularly thorny bush in the gardens of the estate, and spent thirty-odd hours unpacking the boxes that had arrived her second day. At one point completely removing everything from the bookshelves, re-doing over four hours of work. Now, it was time to hunt.
Not know what the city offered she asked the driver to take her somplace she could find a willing or not so willing meal. Nervous and more than a little afraid she climbed from the car and squinted into the bright lights of down town Nachton, a place called The Strip.
"My goodness, but it's bright in this city."
"Yes, miss."
Sighing she pulled a pair of sunglasses from her purse and slipped the light blue tinted lenses over her eyes. She was able to relax and looked the place over. She had no idea where to start.
"Well, no time like the present."
"Indeed miss."
She lifted an eyebrow at the driver and had to chuckle, then the delima of finding him when she was finished presented itself.
"How do I find you later?"
He reached into the inside pocket of his jacket and handed her a tiny silver cell phone. "Open this and hold down the number two until it beeps, that will call me. Tell me where you are and I'll be there promptly."
She took the phone and slipped it into her purse, then smoothed the non-existent wrinkles from her bright yellow dress. "Thank you."
With that she walked away, looking for somewhere to find a meal.
Lily
15 years ago
Dana
15 years ago
Dana turned to Lily, welcoming the distraction. She actually had no idea what there was to see in this city, she'd not set out with an agenda, other than a meal. She chuckled softly.
"I don't know what there is to see. I should have invested in one of those guide books."
Smiling still she took a sip from her cooling coffee. "Is there anywhere you would recommend?"
"I don't know what there is to see. I should have invested in one of those guide books."
Smiling still she took a sip from her cooling coffee. "Is there anywhere you would recommend?"
Simon Huntington
15 years ago
Simon picked up his coffee cup and took a long pull of the hot beverage, enjoying the bitterness. Dana didn't seem at all pleased with him, if her glare was any indication.
"No I'm quite well thank you." Dana gave him a curt smile.
Simon raised his eyebrows in response. Lily and Dana engaged in normal chit chat as Simon opened his perception and concentrated on the young woman. Her heart rate fluttered intensely, but her face tried to mask her high agitation. More and more he suspected that there was more underneath the pale skin and soft brown hair. Definitely not a Tacharan, he wondered if she might have been a member of one of the other two clans. Lily did not react to Dana like a pack member, at least not how he thought she'd react, and if she were part of the other pack, would Lily react violently or even bother speaking to her?
Questions, questions, questions. He was full of them lately. The city kept expanding more and more around them, bringing in droves of newcomers. Simon extended his perception out to Lily and her heartbeat was soothing in its steady rhythm. The sounds around him melted away till there was nothing but their two heartbeats - once strong, the other nervous.
Simon checked his watch quickly and finished his cup. With a polite nod, he stood slowly and pushed back away from the table. 'Sorry to interrupt, but it's time for me to leave. Dana, it was nice to meet you. Enjoy Nachton for what is it.' Then he turned to Lily Stafford and gave her a polite bow.
'Mrs. Stafford. It was a pleasure. I'm sure we'll meet again soon.'
Picking up his trash, he pushed his chair back and moved toward the street, tossing his empty cup into a receptacle with a flick of his hand and disappeared into the nighttime crowd.
(Simon out!)
"No I'm quite well thank you." Dana gave him a curt smile.
Simon raised his eyebrows in response. Lily and Dana engaged in normal chit chat as Simon opened his perception and concentrated on the young woman. Her heart rate fluttered intensely, but her face tried to mask her high agitation. More and more he suspected that there was more underneath the pale skin and soft brown hair. Definitely not a Tacharan, he wondered if she might have been a member of one of the other two clans. Lily did not react to Dana like a pack member, at least not how he thought she'd react, and if she were part of the other pack, would Lily react violently or even bother speaking to her?
Questions, questions, questions. He was full of them lately. The city kept expanding more and more around them, bringing in droves of newcomers. Simon extended his perception out to Lily and her heartbeat was soothing in its steady rhythm. The sounds around him melted away till there was nothing but their two heartbeats - once strong, the other nervous.
Simon checked his watch quickly and finished his cup. With a polite nod, he stood slowly and pushed back away from the table. 'Sorry to interrupt, but it's time for me to leave. Dana, it was nice to meet you. Enjoy Nachton for what is it.' Then he turned to Lily Stafford and gave her a polite bow.
'Mrs. Stafford. It was a pleasure. I'm sure we'll meet again soon.'
Picking up his trash, he pushed his chair back and moved toward the street, tossing his empty cup into a receptacle with a flick of his hand and disappeared into the nighttime crowd.
(Simon out!)
Lily
15 years ago
Lily gave Simon a polite nod and a smile as he excused himself. An interesting man, she thought privately. Both friendly and ironic at once, she wasn't exactly sure how to take him. She didn't forsee having very much to do with him in the future, but it had been good to meet him. She enjoyed Marthinus' company and it pleased her to meet anyone the new Kadzait thought highly of. She would certainly mention her meeting Simon the next time she and Marthinus ran into each other.
Turning back to Dana, she sipped at her half-finished cup of tea once more, and asked, "What are your hobbies, if I may ask? There are a variety of sights to suit almost every pastime. If I knew what you really liked to do, perhaps I could help steer you toward a good spot to begin your explorations."
Turning back to Dana, she sipped at her half-finished cup of tea once more, and asked, "What are your hobbies, if I may ask? There are a variety of sights to suit almost every pastime. If I knew what you really liked to do, perhaps I could help steer you toward a good spot to begin your explorations."
Dana
15 years ago
Dana gave a small wave to Simon and took the time to watch him leave, feeling slightly disappointed and relieved all at once. With a smile she turned back to the singular company of Lily, her comfort level rising a great deal. Well mannered women, even strangers were easier to deal with.
"I enjoy art, history and beautiful things." A wistful smile moved her lips. "Mostly I like quiet and a little less light." She waved a hand indicating the bright noisy strip.
"I enjoy art, history and beautiful things." A wistful smile moved her lips. "Mostly I like quiet and a little less light." She waved a hand indicating the bright noisy strip.
Lily
15 years ago
Lily nodded, as much to herself as to Dana. Perhaps, between the desire for less light and the strange stares at Simon, the girl was at least knowledgeable. it mattered little to Lily, really, unless someone decided to try to make a meal of her. Dana didn't seem inclined to try, if that was her predisposition. Nothing of her manner had really indicated a desire to have Lily accompany her to someplace secluded. Although Lily was no expert, she imagined that would be a requirement.
Either way, rather than dwelling on what Dana was, Lily focused on what she wasn't - which, right now, was "sure of where she was heading" apparently. Perhaps Lily could help provide some direction.
"You're in luck," she said with a smile. "I know Nachton has a lot to offer in both areas. There's a historical society downtown that has opened some of the very first houses ever built here, and one can walk through and see the antique furniture and read about the history of Nachton's founding families. There are also several museums, one of them an art museum. Just down the road from where we are now is Vesper Gardens, where you can also find some lovely sculptures placed among the plants."
Riffling through her purse, Lily found her pen and drew a very quick map on a napkin. "If you like to walk, Vesper is close by enough. I would take a cab, though, to go anywhere else."
Dana was surely too small and frail to be walking alone on the streets at night. At the very least, however, she could be of a little more assistance.
"Either way, knowledge is power, yes? So then, if you walk, here are the areas you may want to avoid."
Briefly she expanded her sketch of Nachton to include a rough diagram of the entire city, circling several areas Dana would be wise to avoid. She had come by this knowledge the very same way, as shown to her by Aidan when she had begun exploring, herself.
Either way, rather than dwelling on what Dana was, Lily focused on what she wasn't - which, right now, was "sure of where she was heading" apparently. Perhaps Lily could help provide some direction.
"You're in luck," she said with a smile. "I know Nachton has a lot to offer in both areas. There's a historical society downtown that has opened some of the very first houses ever built here, and one can walk through and see the antique furniture and read about the history of Nachton's founding families. There are also several museums, one of them an art museum. Just down the road from where we are now is Vesper Gardens, where you can also find some lovely sculptures placed among the plants."
Riffling through her purse, Lily found her pen and drew a very quick map on a napkin. "If you like to walk, Vesper is close by enough. I would take a cab, though, to go anywhere else."
Dana was surely too small and frail to be walking alone on the streets at night. At the very least, however, she could be of a little more assistance.
"Either way, knowledge is power, yes? So then, if you walk, here are the areas you may want to avoid."
Briefly she expanded her sketch of Nachton to include a rough diagram of the entire city, circling several areas Dana would be wise to avoid. She had come by this knowledge the very same way, as shown to her by Aidan when she had begun exploring, herself.
Dana
15 years ago
Dana listened intentivly to Lily's detailing of the city. A garden...open at night...how perfect. She'd head there. It seemed easy enough from where they were and her sense of direction while not spot on would at least keep her from getting completely lost.
"The gardens sound lovely. I've a love for flowers."
Her brows drew together as Lily outlined where the dangerous parts of the city were. Being of sound mind, Dana would be sure to avoid those. She could take care of herself and carried two small knives, one clipped to a strap around her thigh and the other tucked into her purse. She'd had the thigh knife or one like it since 1490 when a man had tried to take advantage of her small size and she'd had to break his neck, not a scenario she'd like to repeat.
In her opinion it was just better to avoid known danger areas and remain in a safe place as much as possible.
"I'll be sure to avoid those areas. You've been incredibly helpful Lily."
She smiled brightly at the woman. "I'm quite glad mine was the only table with free seats."
"The gardens sound lovely. I've a love for flowers."
Her brows drew together as Lily outlined where the dangerous parts of the city were. Being of sound mind, Dana would be sure to avoid those. She could take care of herself and carried two small knives, one clipped to a strap around her thigh and the other tucked into her purse. She'd had the thigh knife or one like it since 1490 when a man had tried to take advantage of her small size and she'd had to break his neck, not a scenario she'd like to repeat.
In her opinion it was just better to avoid known danger areas and remain in a safe place as much as possible.
"I'll be sure to avoid those areas. You've been incredibly helpful Lily."
She smiled brightly at the woman. "I'm quite glad mine was the only table with free seats."
Lily
15 years ago
Lily finished her tea before it could grow cold and nodded to Dana. As an afterthought, she jotted her phone number down on the bottom of the napkin. She didn't have a cell phone or an email address, but she had a phone and an answering machine in her rooms at the Den.
"I'm very glad too," she said, "and sorry to be leaving so soon, but I do need to get on home. If you want company another night, though, please feel free to call me. I'll be happy to go along."
It was a courtesy, really, and very unusual for Lily, who often kept to herself more than anything. But Aidan had been encouraging her to meet new people and she supposed he was right; she couldn't simply hide at the Den forever. Besides, if by chance Dana took her up on the offer, she wouldn't mind. The girl had been very nice, once she'd seemed to recover from her nerves.
She stood, smoothed her skirt, and held her hand out to Dana. "It's been lovely meeting you," she said. "I do hope you enjoy being here in Nachton."
Goodbyes finished, Lily gave the younger woman one last smile and passed back through the cafe, returning her mug on her way and heading back to the Den with her books.
((ooc: Lily out pending response!))
"I'm very glad too," she said, "and sorry to be leaving so soon, but I do need to get on home. If you want company another night, though, please feel free to call me. I'll be happy to go along."
It was a courtesy, really, and very unusual for Lily, who often kept to herself more than anything. But Aidan had been encouraging her to meet new people and she supposed he was right; she couldn't simply hide at the Den forever. Besides, if by chance Dana took her up on the offer, she wouldn't mind. The girl had been very nice, once she'd seemed to recover from her nerves.
She stood, smoothed her skirt, and held her hand out to Dana. "It's been lovely meeting you," she said. "I do hope you enjoy being here in Nachton."
Goodbyes finished, Lily gave the younger woman one last smile and passed back through the cafe, returning her mug on her way and heading back to the Den with her books.
((ooc: Lily out pending response!))
Dana
15 years ago
"I'd like that. Thank you."
She'd actually made a friend. It was a novelty to Dana, her "friends" had always been chosen for her by Lady Erin. She felt joy bubble in her chest as she stood with Lily. She grasped the other woman's hand and held it for a moment.
"It was a wonderful pleasure to have meet you, Lily." Dana let go of her hand with a smile. "Enjoy your evening."
She watched the woman walk away before taking her mug into the cafe, and heading off to the described gardens. Her confidence was high, and she was now looking forward to hunting alone. Nachton was turning out to be an interesting town.
((ooc: Dana out. Thanks for the fun! ))
She'd actually made a friend. It was a novelty to Dana, her "friends" had always been chosen for her by Lady Erin. She felt joy bubble in her chest as she stood with Lily. She grasped the other woman's hand and held it for a moment.
"It was a wonderful pleasure to have meet you, Lily." Dana let go of her hand with a smile. "Enjoy your evening."
She watched the woman walk away before taking her mug into the cafe, and heading off to the described gardens. Her confidence was high, and she was now looking forward to hunting alone. Nachton was turning out to be an interesting town.
((ooc: Dana out. Thanks for the fun! ))