Tea in the Garden (For lyannapelon)

[veritech892]

Her own private oasis in a desert of concrete...

At first Theresa couldn't quite fathom the idea of an apartment. For the longest time, the word had summoned the idea of being crammed into a small abode, crowded in by towers of concrete and glass. No matter how luxurious the interior or delightful the decor, in Theresa's mind she just couldn't shake the feeling of claustrophobia that accompanied the word, "apartment". She had been in penthouses with breathtaking views of the surrounding city, but she longed for the countryside, estates with gardens and a gazebo and a pool under the sunny blue sky.

Theresa Lyons

She certainly hadn't expected to find those things in an apartment, penthouse or not. And yet, here she was, sitting in the midst of a green garden, in the shade of a gazebo with her very own pool, all on the roof of her penthouse apartment in the heart of the city. Her very own private oasis.

Theresa was to join LAW soon, and staring out at the faraway streets she could only wonder how many of the ants below would be her competitors, her victims, to be made an example of for their unworthiness... But today, today she would be meeting someone who might just be worthy of her.

The redheaded noble sat up as she heard the soft footsteps of her trusted maid, which likely meant that her guest was here. As the moments dragged on, the footsteps paused for a moment, and Theresa smiled to herself - no doubt her trusted confidant stunned by the figure Theresa cut today, her vibrant red hair falling over a luxurious sundress she'd chosen, falling from a delightful hat that matched her dress perfectly.

"My lady... Your guest has arrived." Her maid called out, after a few more moments of appreciating the noblewoman, Theresa was sure. When her mother had told her that a friend's daughter was in the league as well... Well, Theresa simply had to meet this fellow noble.

"Well, do let her in, then." Theresa replied coolly, standing and turning to face her servant with a rare, warm smile. "I shall meet her at the elevator."

In a paradise like this, only those who Theresa desired were granted entry - a private elevator controlled from the penthouse or with a special key proved the only way in or out, and when Natasha arrived by it, Theresa would be waiting there to receive her.

[lyannapelon]

Since moving to Japan to pursue a career at LAW Natasha hadn't heard from her parents too often and when she did it was usually her mother checking in on how everything was going, the same sort of talks they would have over tea back home. What she almost never received however was a text message but thats exactly what she woke up that morning.

Apparently a friend of her mother had a daughter who would soon be debuting in LAW, which at first Natasha thought was quite the coincidence but the more she thought back to all the women she had met the last few years there was a fair number of those who came from wealth. Perhaps a life of excess made one more open to sexual competition? Regardless of what led this friend's daughter to join LAW Natasha's mother wanted the two of them to meet, though what she hoped would come out of this meeting her mother hadn't said, and when she asked her about it the woman remained playfully vague. Her mother then ended the conversation with a smiley face and a simple "good luck" message.

That is what led Natasha to stand inside an elevator waiting for her buzzing to be answered, glancing up at the camera that her hostess was undoubtedly looking through to get a look at who she was welcoming. Natasha had chosen to wear a low cut blue top with white lace along the hem and around the ends of her sleeves. Along with this she wore a flowy white skirt that ran down to her ankles and a pair of blue pumps. Her luscious blue hair was worn down, those blue locks cascading behind her back like gentle waves before coming together at the end with a white ribbon tying it all together.

After a few minutes the elevator began to move and within moments the doors slid open to reveal a woman who could be none other than this Theresa she had come to meet. "Quite the welcoming committee! You must be Theresa if your beauty and fashion sense are anything to go by."

[veritech892]

Theresa was curious, of course.

How could she not be?

In the elevator now was a woman that was not only said to be nobility, but was also to be one of her future coworkers - well, in a sense at least. And it was not just from the lips of some common gossip in the bar, but from her very own mother... Theresa simply couldn't wait to meet this Natasha, and fortunately for her the sudden illumination of the light above the elevator told her that she wouldn't have to wait long.

Behind her, a sudden scurry of motion alerted her that her dutiful maid had run over to join her, preparing a proper welcome for the Lady. What would she ever do without the faithful servant? She shuddered to even think about how she would manage without her closest confidant.

And then, the doors slid open and revealed a woman of such beauty that it could be none other than Natasha of the Loclear Family.

With a warm smile, Theresa took the sides of her dress' flowing form in hand and delivered a curtsy with practiced perfection, her dutiful maid bowing behind her in reverence of the two.

"Oh, you do me far too much credit." Theresa said, gazing upon Natasha with a warmth reserved for a very select few, "And you must be Natasha, if your unparalleled beauty and effortless grace are anything to go by. It is a pleasure to welcome you into my home."

As she spoke, she held her hands out for Natasha to take, her warm smile holding as she did so.

"Come, come... I have prepared us a spot for tea in the garden, and I must say, I have been so excited to meet you."

[lyannapelon]

"While I do appreciate the courtesy..." She spoke with a warm smile while returning the gesture with a curtsy of her own, lifting up her skirt just enough to show off the black fishnets she wore with her blue heels. "Don't go troubling yourself on my account. You're both too kind." She addressed both Theresa and her maid, giving the worker a nod of her head in acknowledgment before stepping out of the elevator and taking the offered hands of her hostess.

"Thank you for the invitation, my mother was short on details as is her custom but I have a good feeling about this meeting, especially when it comes to tea~ Please lead on." Natasha normally didn't have much of an accent when she spoke in Japanese given how much practice she had gotten since coming to Japan, but her native tongue did flavor every word she spoke in English. She would follow Theresa's lead while glancing about the apartment, if one could still call it that given how spacious and luxurious it was.

"Your home is quite lovely, never would have thought to see its like here in Japan's high rises."

[veritech892]

"Please, it is no trouble at all." Theresa replied, holding Natasha's hands gently as the visiting noblewoman stepped off the elevator and into her adobe properly. She took a moment to look into Natasha's eyes, her warm smile actually reaching her eyes as she did - as she made eye contact with an equal, someone to be respected... "Isn't that right, my dear?"

Theresa tilted her head to the side, just enough to make it clear that she was addressing her maid as she spoke. Her maid gave another curtsy with a warm smile of her own. "No trouble at all, ma'am." She agreed, "You've nowt t'worry about."

"Do set the kettle, my dear, and meet us up in the garden, please." Theresa instructed after letting the reassurance hang for a moment before turning her attention back to her guest. "Of course, right this way."

Slowly, Theresa turned, releasing one of Natasha's hands before guiding the woman through her home, guiding the French noblewoman out, through her impressive home and up towards the roof where the modern walls fell away and revealed the stunning garden that laid hidden in the heart of Tokyo.

"Thank you, it was quite the find, I can tell you." Theresa said, turning back to smile brightly at Natasha, "It's not quite the estate back in England, but, well... Who can argue with the view, hm?" She asked as she led Natasha to the table she had seen laid out, set for two. Theresa released Natasha's hand as she approached, pulling one chair out for the Lady and beckoning her to sit.

[lyannapelon]

Natasha would slowly rub her thumbs over the tops of Theresa's hands while her host spoke with the maid, tracing little figure eights for a gentle massage while leaning to the right just enough to get a better look at the maid. She didn't stand out in the same way her mistress did but there was certainly an appeal to the maid, Natasha's gaze roaming down along the woman's figure with an approving glint in her icy blue eyes.

"Well I am glad to be in such capable and lovely hands, consider me happily in your care~" She replied with a bright grin, giving the maid a small bow of her head before returning her focus to Theresa herself. "After you my dear, show me more of this beautiful home."

As they wandered through what was technically an apartment Natasha would keep her head on a swivel, taking in as much of the decor as she could without asking Theresa to stop every few feet. She asked a question here and there, giving Theresa's hand a tender squeeze when she wanted to slow down to admire something in particular, but eventually the pair would step out onto the roof where a marvelous view awaited her as promised.

"Who can argue indeed, certainly not I." Natasha's tone was a little monotone this time as she lost herself in her surroundings. Rather than immediately sit down she ended up stepping out further into the gardens, running her hands over several of the more colorful plants which called to her, and savoring their sweet scents before finally returning to the table with a pleasant sigh. "Quite the spot for tea, you take your role as hostess rather seriously I see~"