Call a Friend (Closed)

[Rowan]

Rowan wandered off after the binding ceremony had finished and somehow ended up back watching the fish in the corner of Jardin de Fleurs with her sire's trusty Bertram. She plopped down on the floor near him with a sigh and crossed her legs, propping her chin up with her hand.

"Is Miss in need of anything?" the utterly proper gentleman asked. Rowan looked up at him, her fringe falling into her eyes. She was still shaken by some of the talk with others at the table, although they did their best to reassure her of her safety. That was something she would never take for granted again. It didn't matter that she took a few extra minutes in the day to make sure that she was protected, that her location was always known to her family just in case.

"Do you know anything about getting over fears, Bert?" she asked, then felt immediately silly for even broaching the subject with him. Her terrors were her own problems; nobody else's. Asking for help was like admitting weakness. How could she admit that she, Childe of Enzo Dragomir, a vampire and natural predator... felt like she was prey?

"Ah, Miss is thinking of the Paladin?" Several images flashed through her mind at the simple words. Of course Bertram would know. It often seemed like he knew everything. "I know that Miss is too hard on herself when it comes to her fears. A wise man once said that courage is not the absence of fear, but of continuing on in spite of it. Mayhap Miss is better served to call a friend? I would imagine the company of an understanding presence would be welcome." A small incline of the head and he was gone, seemingly melting back into the shadows. Rowan knew it was likely he would be going back to watching if Enzo needed anything in particular or if there was something he could do to make her sire's life, as it were, easier. Bertram was all sorts of awesome like that.

A friend. There was really only one person that fit that description well enough for her to talk to about any of this, really. Fishing her phone from her pocket, she opened a new text message.

-Heys Mea, how's work?- A mental grimace had her erasing the message before she could send it off. Maybe it really was a better idea to just place the call. A tap of a button and the phone was ringing.

"Hi Mea, sorry to bother you.. I know you were headed to do some work, but I kind of- Um, can I come over?"

[Meara]

Meara had slipped out of Enzo and Mortll's binding a touch early as there was a shipment of supplies arriving near dawn. It wasn't that weddings made her uncomfortable, far from it. She didn't know either all that well yet, but she thought it was important to attend the wedding, or the closest thing to one for vampires, of her colleagues. However, it was more important to keep drawing a paycheck so she could afford to one day open her own business and have more flexibility. She figured that they both being business owners would understand. Inventory had to be taken, room made for the new stock, and orders prepared for next weeks shipment.

As she stood outside the door to the Jardin, Meara slipped a little book out of her purse. She whispered the incantation after opening to the right page, quickly finding herself standing near the computer terminal behind the counter. Meara placed her purse on the chair and went upstairs to peel out of the evening dress she had worn into something a little more comfortable. She bounded down the stairs in an eager attempt to get her work done so she could look at the new sheet music that had arrived.

Just as she rounded the corner, she heard her phone going off. Blue eyes flashed to the screen as she picked it up. Her lips formed a smile as she saw Rowan's name. So she picked it up and slid it between her shoulder and her ear. She listened to the woman, noticing the tone of her voice. The conversation a the end of the party had taken a turn towards Mea and Rowans worst fears.

"Of course you can stop by. I'd like company anyways. Just come into the shop when you get here ok? See ya in a bit Rowan." She put the phone down and ended the call before switching on some music to listen to as she worked.

wearing

[Rowan]

Forcing her hands not to shake, Rowan breathed a sigh of relief as she was welcomed by her friend. Old habits die hard, her breathing despite not needing the breaths. Slipping the phone back where it came from, she made her way outside of the Jardin. A glance at her watch made her shake her head and grab for her tome, her ticket to the apartment. Another quick glance around and she opened the book, whispering the incantations that whisked her away, the world around her dissolving into a kaleidescope of color. She landed safely in the apartment and wasted no time in changing into more comfortable clothing. A text message had her car waiting for her at the doors to the Towers, the valet greeting her with a cheerful smile.

It didn't take her long to reach the block of the shop where Meara worked and she parked her car across the street from the busy center of commerce then made her way to the shop itself. Knocking lightly on the door and not waiting for an answer, Rowan walked in, a small smile on her face at the sight that greeted her. Meara was hard at work, with her music drifting pleasantly through the space, and didn't seem to have noticed her visitor yet. Rowan enjoyed the other vampire's taste in music immensely, another reason that she and the other were friends.

"Hello Mea," she called out. "Nose to the grindstone I see," Rowan teased. She still felt her fear acutely, still felt that heavy mantle of paranoia weighing on her, but seeing her friend enjoy herself helped to lighten it. "Hope I'm not intruding too badly."

[Meara]

Most of the items on this list of supplies in the inventory, were art supplies that Mea had never heard of. While she could make her own clothing, jewelry and artwork were just things out of her comfort zone So she would constantly compare labels back against the manifest, then marking if they were below the threshold that Alex had indicated. They were going to be taking a lot more orders soon as the holidays were just around the corner, so the store was going to need to be topped off before they got here.

To be honest, she was going to have to start working on her gifts soon too. There were many people she wanted to show her appreciation for this year. Many folks had been helping with Meara's transition into becoming a vampire, and starting to lose some of her fledgling aura. She loved winter, so she was looking forward to experiencing a real winter instead of that thing the South called winter. Now if only she could find someone to keep her warm, that would do the trick.

The tinkle of the little bell above the shop entrance announced Rowan's arrival and brought Meara's thoughts back to the present time. Meara reached over to turn down the music volume to a soft whisper so that they could better hear each other. She waved at Rowan as she came around behind the counter. "I like the company Rowan, so its never a problem." She responded cheerily. Blue eyes returned to the brunette across from her and immediately noticed that something appeared to be wrong. Meara inhaled and gave the brunette her best smile as she leaned her elbows against the counter "So what brings you by tonight, other then to just hang out."

[Rowan]

Rowan approached the other girl as Meara came around the counter, restless energy showing in her movements. A sad sort of smile took the place of her usual pleasant expression, genuine feelings showing on her finely boned face. "I can't have come here just to spend time with my best friend?" she attempted to quip, but her shoulders ended up slumping at the look from the Quartermaine girl. She may not have dragon eyes like the Dragomir line did, but she and Rowan had been through something together, something that not many people and indeed, not many vampires, could say they had. The experience had forged their fledgling relationship and made it into what it was now... no matter how busy Rowan was, Meara had to say the word to her and she would drop everything and move the world to help her friend. It was the least she could do, after everything.

"Fine," the resigned tone showed up in her voice despite her attempts to control it. "You know me too well," she grumbled lightheartedly, not at all upset at the fact. "The conversation at the table tonight..." Rowan paused, unsure of what else to say, brows furrowing in a line as she attempted to communicate what had disturbed her so much this evening... this evening that was so beautiful because her Sire had bonded with his Chosen. And yet somehow, despite how happy she had been during the whole event, a couple of words at a reception table had her begging off to stare at fish chase each other around a pond. And she hated that it still had so much power over her. But she couldn't say it. Her silver eyes shimmered with emotion as she looked at her friend and wished with all of her undead heart that she would understand.

[Meara]

"I can read you like a book you know." Mea started as she came around the counter to loop her arm around Rowan's shoulders. "You know how it is being an allurist. I can feel the anxiety rolling off of you." A gentle smile appeared on Meara's lips. So she listened to what Rowan said was on her mind. And to be fair, Meara was likewise unnerved by that whole discussion. Rowan certainly had the more traumatizing experience the first go around, but Meara came face to face with a paladin at the murder mystery party. They unnerved her to her very core.

Being a Catholic herself, it troubled her how people could claim they were doing the work of the Lord but were actually perpetuating violence. God was love, or at least thats what she was taught. So in her eyes even vampires were God's children. They just had a different role in the world and his Plan. So what should Rowan and herself do about their very appropriate fear of the holy rollers.

"I think for now, we just have to get stronger so they cannot over take us." She knew Ro had a head start on her, but it wasn't a huge deal in her opinion. She could use this as motivation to work hard. "Then, somehow, and this is what I always hear, is that we will have to face our fear to over come it. But that sure sounds a lot easier said than done cause like I already can feel my skin crawl just thinking about it." Mea pursed her lips together as she held on to Rowan, hoping the closeness would calm them both.

[Rowan]

Rowan laughed at herself, reaching out to hug Meara and lean against the other girl for support. "Listen to me whinge about my own troubles and fears when you are absolutely right." Her bright silver eyes, uncovered by her usual contacts that made them seem normal, unfocused as thoughts and echos of remembered pain assaulted her. Her voice took on a distant tinge when she next spoke.

"Letting them get to me this way is allowing them to win, but despite the fact that I'm a predator in my own right, I don't think I can ever really shake off what happened. It was twisted and all wrong... and you're right, training hard so that it never happens again is really the only option." With a shake of her head, she attempted to banish the flashbacks and refocused on Meara's kind face.

"But... Don't you ever just get -tired-, Meara? Just want to FORGET, even for a little bit?"

[Meara]

Meara considered Rowan's question for a moment as she let it soak in. She had nightmares for a few days after the murder mystery, and it still cropped up from time to time. She wasn't necessarily sure how to shake the feeling of being watched or being prey. So yes, she was tired. Physically and mentally.

"I do. I was barely here two weeks when you got taken, and I hate that it's taught me to be so vigilant when I'm usually so laid back." She paused as she tucked some of her read hair behind her ear. "But it's also made me more grateful for friends and family. Like you, Bjorn, Alex, Lancaster, Doc, and so many more." Mea offered a reassuring smile to her friend. "I learned a lot about what I don't know as well as what I want to learn from the process."

Mea turned and moved to drag Rowan with her to go sit on the couch near her desk. "But I admittedly don't sleep well every night. If I had a roommate or a private apartment, it might be better." Sadly housing was still way outside Mea's meager budget. Oh well.

[Rowan]

Rowan's head lifted when Meara confessed to not sleeping well. The other vampire was only slightly younger than Rowan herself so Rowan felt closer to her than any other vampire she had met so far. Sometimes, she wondered why fate had not let her have a sister, then she understood that her family was one that she chose and that it was so much better for it. The other girl, the one she shared a taste for music and business, would have been her family for no better reason than that they had lived through an ordeal that not many others could say they had. In the young dragon's opinion, it had forged a bond between them, something that went deeper than the bonds of conventional kinship. Which was why the offer tumbled from her lips without even a second thought.

"Come live with me," she blurted out. Shaking her head at herself, an excited smile bloomed on her face as she puzzled on the situation and convinced herself that having a roommate would be a good solution.

"I mean... I've got a new apartment, though the papers are still in the works about transferring ownership since it was a gift from the Dragon Parents, but... I could use a roommate?"

[Meara]

Meara stared at Rowan with a rather surprised look at the extremely generous offer being place on the proverbial table. Meara knew what the answer was going to be, even if she didn't like admitting help. Since, leaving her parents at age 20, Meara had always been extremely self-sufficient. She was stubborn and didn't always like to admit that having her life change so drastically made it harder for her to achieve this. Alex had given her more things then she could even imagine to repay. So she would settle with helping her sire out in whatever ways were asked of her.

"I would love to. I will even pay rent and help with the decorating." She grinned back at her bestest friend and leaned in to put a kiss to her cheek. "Would you put up with me practicing at all hours? I tend to play when the inspiration strikes rather than at a set interval every day." Meara laid her head neatly on Rowan's shoulder. "So when are you moving in? We should shop for furniture if its not pre-furbished." Meara's thoughts were all ready churning, because she was excited to spend more time with Rowan and get to know her a lot better.