It was a library and Penny felt at home in those. Smiling to herself, gripping her cane and a copy of a local tourist guide, she hobbled along. Clearly looking for somewhere to sit.
Verna Gardner
Denver Public Library is about the closest thing Verna can get to real academia these days. No, nights. There are no more days. The library's extended hours on weekends means she can visit, and check out some massive tomes on history. It never was her favorite subject, but now? She's going to have to exist among people who lived it, and have firm opinions on subjects like the wars between Rome and Carthage.
Which, she is now catching up on. A few months ago, she'd have been hard pressed to tell a person where Carthage was. Now, she's rather severely poised in a cushy chair near the back of the library, enjoying the silence and reading a copy of "The Punic Wars" by Nigel Bagnall. The outfit of the day consists of black leggings and a black skirt with a frilly, blue blouse that only really fits because she's done some alterations. However, despite the relative lack of a designer label on anything, she at least makes an effort to appear polished.
She also appears pale, and is trying to cover that up with a great deal of foundation powder.
Penelope Villiers
Penny, pale and a little bewildered under the artificial lamplight, was making only the slimmest attempt to conceal her true nature. Feeding rights not been granted, it'd been a couple of evenings since her last taste of Blood. Her spectacles perched daintily on the edge of her nose, she caught sight of Verna's slender legs. The black leggings and the simple style struck some deep chord inside. As too did the subject matter of the book. Her own black mid-thigh gymslip, twin tails, black blazer and simple black stockings echo Verna's simplicity. Wondering if she'd stumbled upon a potentially useful grad student, Penny put on her best smile, gripped her walking cane tighter and limped over to say hello. "G...good evening, Miss!" she began happily, "I couldn't help but notice the title of the book you're reading! You're a student of the Classics?" she asked with a demure posture and equally demure English accent. Her spectacles still perched daintily on her nose as she spoke. Eyes wide and attentive to the lady she addressed/
Verna Gardner
Verna looks up from her book, sees a woman who's leaning on a cane, asking her if she is a student of the Classics. And there is a moment where the little mouselike, demure girl thinks of what ways would be best to lure this woman out to the parking lot. Let us go together, for safety's sake. It's dangerous to walk alone at night.
What time is it, nearly 11? And this woman has already been out walking. And she is pale. There's a little tilt to Verna's head as she considers the last time she went blood-lustful at a Malkavian and about embarrassed herself to a second-death. Better not try to lure this one off, eh? Better safe than sorry.
"Good evening. I... not really a formal student. It's just an interest," she says, smiles a little shy smile. The book tilts downward, a subtle signal that she's not going to return to it immediately. Perhaps conversation is more interesting than The Punic Wars.
Penelope Villiers
Smiling and cheerful, Penny nodded her understanding and, taking the cue from the lowered book, took care to ease herself to the seat next to Verna. Her artificial leg sticks out a little more than she'd have liked and she swiftly tries to conceal it with a gentle crossing of her flesh leg over it. A shy smile is offered to Verna as she sits and rests her own book on the desk. "Oh, I see!" Penny adds happily, "Well, the Punic Wars are fascinating! Carthage must be destroyed!" she chuckles, vividly echoing the Roman motto. Beguiled by Verna's demure appearance and the invitation to talk, Penny added, "I daresay you've an active mind, Miss! Close to midnight, and here you are, reading of ancient wars... Might I be allowed to ask, Miss, what other subjects and topics interest you?" Resting her cane across her lap and rubbing at her crippled hip, Penny's attention is almost certainly fully on Verna.
Verna Gardner
Verna is not at all so smiling and cheerful. Rather, every smile and attempt at civility comes across as just that -- an attempt. She hides her fear and sadness rather imperfectly, but oh, the attempt is made, and it is carefully crafted.
She purses her lips, and there's a downward cast to her eyes, and then: "Well, I have a degree in physics. So there is that. Science, I suppose, is my true passion." So, not exactly ancient Roman history. She slips a bookmark into the book, and slides it on a table next to her chair. May as well commit fully to this social interaction, right?
Penelope Villiers
Seeing Verna's distress, Penny was momentarily hesitant. Blinking, trying to assess the situation, she fiddled with one of her twin tails for a moment before adding, with obvious sincerity; "Physics? Goodness me! That is impressive, Miss! Might I ask, Miss, what manner of physics...?" though no scientist, she knew enough to know there were several types and hope the question might brighten her new friend's mood.
Verna Gardner
"Well, in undergraduate physics, they try to cover a great deal about everything, really. I... don't have an advanced degree," she says, and tries not to make that sound as terrible as it really is. She'll never have that degree. Not now.
"What about you?" she asks, trying to change the subject to something less raw. Yes, please, let's not talk about the life and times of Verna Gardner. It's a tactic she's been honing with some varying degree of skill ever since having the need to chat up a new person with regularity. She now knows about fifty different ways of shifting the conversation away from her.
"You seem to know your history, at least?"
Penelope Villiers
Listening and watching with obvious care, Penny nodded her understanding. Seeing the need to swap subjects, she displayed conversation agility; "Ah! Thank you! Well, I studied it at university. Not as impressive as physics, but it expanded my mind enough." she smiled, hoping to appear friendly. Suddenly it occurred to her that her new companion was suicidal, "I've always had a love of history. Father owned an extensive private library, you see. So indulging in reading about ancient worlds was all too easy!" Penny smiled sweetly and took a moment to meekly, if needlessly, adjust her spectacles, keeping her attention fully with Verna all the time.
Verna Gardner
Extensive private library? No wonder Verna wanted to bite her at the first opportunity.
"What did you study? Where?"
She extends her hand. "Oh, and I'm sorry, I've just realized I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Rachael. Rachael Davidson," she says, locking her eyes to the other woman's, giving her the name she uses in public.
Penelope Villiers
Penny smiled and seemed excited at this development. Taking a moment to gather her thoughts away from her long lost family, she replied happily; "Oh. Well, Classics and Modern History at Oxford, Miss..." as the second question came, Penny offered her own hand in mutual greeting. Cheerily responding; "A delight to meet you, truly! Miss Davidson! Goodness! My name is Miss Penelope Villiers. Most seem to prefer to call me Penny...I don't mind that too much..." she adds with cheery and easy informality. If she used an alias, now seemingly wasn't the time for it. She gently and eagerly holds Rachael's hand and tries to gather from it's feel if Rachael is used to hard physical work. Her own is strong, if petite. The Embrace having long since smoothed off the worst of any hardness from her breathing days.
Verna Gardner
Verna's hands are cold. Cold, and the only callousness resides between the fingers where a pencil would rub thick skin into existence. She doesn't bother to waste the blood to make her temperature more presentable when most will pass it off as poor circulation. But she notices things like cold hands now. Mostly, she takes note of the fact that Penny didn't bother to do it either.
Cold hands are still no guarantee of anything. But the evidence keeps pointing more and more towards, right?
The handshake lingers, where one with a warm-blooded living person would not. Oxford. Wow.
"That's impressive, truly. It's... good to meet you, Penelope," she says, using the long-form of the name. "Are you... new in town?"
Penelope Villiers
Yes, for sure. Cold hands. Mutual realization seemed to be sinking in and Penny began to feel a little silly. Smiling, she looked to her guidebook and then back to Verna. A better guide was right here.
"Oh..." she nodded slowly, carefully, "yes... new to town, Miss..." she was respectful and wary now. "Truth be told, Miss. I'm a little lost..." she tried another shy smile. "If...er..if you could help me find my way around; I'd be very grateful..." she was vulnerable, and both of them know it.
Verna Gardner
There's a bit of confusion to Verna, as she withdraws that cold hand. Why 'lost'? In a library. Late at night.
"Sure... uh. What is the place that you're trying to find? I'm sure I could help. I'm originally from Denver, so I know my way around."
Perhaps Penelope is one of those ones from whom Google Maps may as well be black magic? Well, plenty of those among the mortal population too...
Penelope Villiers
With a chuckle, she adds meekly, "er... I'm looking for a very specialized family court..." she gestures to her heart and urgently hopes Verna can read the code she's trying to offer.
"I need to make myself known to it, you see. I'm not a criminal, I hasten to add. But it's a requirement... you know," she tries to sound a bit modern, "...a very specialized visa requirement..." Penny adds a shy smile and demur giggle. Her hand now rubs at her crippled hip in a nervous gesture.
Verna Gardner
The confusion only mounts as Penelope continues. How to respond to this? To be fair, these questions are a little out of Verna's depth. So, she decides to go with further questions, to try to have a space to think and also...
There's code going on here. Something going on here.
"Which family are you talking about? Very old family? Lots of prestige?"
Penelope Villiers
Penny nods. Wide eyed. Her twin tails bob with the activity. Smiling, she's delighted Verna has understood. "Indeed!"
Verna Gardner
Verna considers a few facts. One? She's never been to the place Penelope is looking to go. She's only been told not to go there under any circumstances. Also, Penelope could be one of the Bad Guys. The Sabbat. Whoever they are. It might not be a good idea to tell her.
But then, what's so wrong about giving away a location? To somebody like Penelope, who went to Oxford, and doesn't look like an axe murderer?
"I think I know of that... court. It's um, at Richtofen Castle, I think? It's on 12th Avenue," she says, after that bit of deliberation.
Penelope Villiers
"Oh!" she nods sagely, "Richtofen...? Owned by the Von Richtofens?" she echoes.
If it were, it could be... interesting... Penny, nodding to herself, rubs hard at, very probably, where her ruined flesh meets prosthesis. "That sounds simply fascinating! I am grateful to you for the information! I daresay you are of a family with fine pedigree too! Such a lovely and welcoming lady! Goodness me! What a joy it is to meet you!" she offers happily, seemingly without any hint that she's anything but sincere.
Verna Gardner
Verna's eyes are drawn to the false leg, but she remembers her manners and tries not to notice it. Is it a joy to meet the joyless? Verna smiles at her, and the smile lacks any real mirth. She's too busy trying to figure out if she's made the right decision here.
If she has, well... Another Kindred in the city who would rather she stay alive wouldn't hurt.
"Oh, it's nothing, really. Just being courteous. If there's anything else I could do for you, just ask."
Penelope Villiers
Penny was feeling a little giddy. It was true that Verna might be a bit sullen, possibly even suicidal, but she'd been helpful, polite and forgiving.
"Goodness me! It would be an additional joy to meet you again, Miss! Are you often found here, or could we, perhaps, meet somewhere else, Miss, perhaps later this weekend or next week?" Penny is asking with vivid interest.
Noting Verna's glance to her leg, she offers a shy smile.
Verna Gardner
"I'm... not really often found anywhere," she says, takes a breath that she doesn't really need. "Next weekend sound good? I'm also not really that busy. We could go, I don't know, ignore some coffee? Or something?"
She thinks a moment, rummages around in her purse, and pulls out a slip of paper and a pen. Writes her fake name and a phone number down, then hands it to Penelope.
And there, on her face, a little hope of a smile.
Penelope Villiers
Penny, nodding often and happily, eagerly accepts the offered information. Taking a moment to reciprocate, she replies' "Goodness! Ignoring coffee sounds lovely! I shall be looking forward to our next meeting, Miss!" she smiles again. Her own bright with hope and excitement.
