Vedis, Odette on a lazy Sunday afternoon. (Sun, 29th Jan, 1943.)
[09:26] Odette di Benedetti had taken a good half hour to find the bathhouse, with the initial thought that the directions she'd received in town were simple enough.
Flicking her umbrella closed, the diminutive woman had a peer around, trying to determine if the rooms were designated to a specific gender, and more importantly if anyone else was here.
Opting to use the one off the right, Odette had a peek around and paused before disrobing to find the baths...
[09:28] Odette di Benedetti (moirraah.flanagan): **LEFT! Not right.
[09:28] Vedis Boyd leans back against the tiled wall, running her hands down her legs until she could rub her poor arches, being in heels and on your feet all day was torturous, and not even the good kind. She had the baths to herself and so she simply relaxed, the water rippling around her in strange ways, as if there was more in the water than just the woman. She stretches, the warm water helping to soothe aching muscles. The sounds from the street filter into the room, echoing across the tile just above the music the owners had piped in. She hears footsteps enter the building, and curiously looks up, drawing the long strands of hair back from her face to cast her golden eyes towards the entrance.
[09:37] Odette di Benedetti was not long in the change room when she heard the merest movement of the water, an indication that she would be accompanying someone.
Making quick work of the changing from dress to having a towel wrapped around her midsection, the diminutive woman carefully folded her things and stowed them in one of the lockers.
It had been nearly half a decade since she'd been to public baths in any town, but she'd been glad to know one was present here.
Making her way into the tub room, Odette was pleased to find Vedis as her company today, being the lovely young woman she'd met outside the bakery not long ago.
Settling her petite curves onto one of the stools, she turned the tap on and used the handled nozzle to rinse her legs from the knee down and her feet, first left, then right, her pale head turning to smile at Vedis.
"What a lovely surprise, Vedis. I hope you are well, yeah?"
[09:41] Vedis Boyd grins as she sees Odette, sliding forward to lean against the far wall, "Oh! Hello! I'm doing quite well, thank you. How is the island treating you?" she didn't seem to mind her own nudity, from a time when public baths were all one had. Here, of all places, she was actually fairly comfortable in her borrowed skin. "I hope you are ready for an influx of bananas." she chuckles, the sound well wicked, "The Windgraces have a ship full coming soon. I'm trying to find as many recipes as I can!" she laughs, eyes twinkling.
[09:46] Lilith Blackwood (nikki.dirval) is offline.
[09:48] Odette di Benedetti "Bananas!", she'd chortle, quickly finishing the task to slip her towel off and step carefully into the steaming water.
As she settled in, a delighted sigh turned to a small groan, the sound vibrating through her chest, arms drifting through the steaming ripples.
"Are there a lot of recipes for bananas? I can only think of a few, but admittedly, I am NOT a good cook.", she murmured, pausing at the last.
"Is that what you do for the Windgraces?", she'd ask, those sooty black lashes fluttering open to peer at the other.
Something about Vedis just seemed to....glow. Looking at her was like watching an animated sunrise, and Odette found herself distracted.
[09:55] Vedis Boyd seemed to draw in, as the woman stepped closer, the waters around her rippling toward her for a brief moment, or perhaps it was the trick of the light. Once Odette was settled she seemed to relax again, offering the woman a smile that did indeed light up the room. To most, the space around her just seemed lighter, in both brightness and mood. Her smile infectious, not exactly care free, but certainly far to happy for this day and age. For those with the sight, they would see something all together different, the shimmer of ... something, moving in the water behind her like a heat wave, her skin pale, any color coming from that golden roll of light that surged beneath her skin. Her pointed ears peeking through her hair lost on no one. She had the hardest time hiding her ears for some reason. She shifts to look at Odette with that smile, "I know two now. Not nearly enough. I'm hoping to chat with the lovely fellow at the market next door to see if he may have more." she laughs, the sound genuine. When asked
[09:55] Vedis Boyd what she did for the Windgraces she nods, "I am their housekeeper." she wipes at the droplets of water threatening to spill into her eye, "Though I am also the housekeeper at the Berkshire residence as well." she giggles, "Apparently I'm making a bit of a cleaning business."
[10:03] Odette di Benedetti would be as attentive as possible to Vedis's answer, though her dark eyes were roaming over and around the other woman when possible.
Odette was, in no way, wanting to make the other uncomfortable or seem creepy, but she was curious enough that she kept watching for little clues as to what the woman could be.
It had not been long that Odette had awakened from her own slumber, and before that, other races were sequestered, secluded from one another as a form of protection, so knowing there were some unhumans different from her kept her watchful.
Vedis's skin was like burnished gold, and everything about the woman radiated a peace and light that was positively enchanting. It was just before Odette registered Vedis's response that she spotted the merest tips of ears protruding through the golden pale hair, though she did manage to drag her gaze away enough to blink, then respond softly,
"Oo-oh! That sounds like quite a complex job. Taking care of so many families and homes. I find it difficult enough to tak
[10:03] Odette di Benedetti care of my own, and I live alone!". This last was punctuated in a chuckle that rumbled her slender throat in her customary velvet rasp.
[10:09] Vedis Boyd kicked her legs gently in the water, just to keep it moving more than anything else. Her glamor only effecting her, she couldn't hide the ripples in the water so easily without her illusion mage boss. She gives the woman a smile, shrugging, "It's easy enough for me. I've done it all my ... life." suuuper smooth this one. "Not sure I would know what to do otherwise!" she laughs, then turns her attention to her companion, "Oh, well if you need help, I can stop by once a week and give it a good deep clean! It really quite relaxing for me. I don't mind." she cocks her head, looking the woman over curiously, hardly aware of their nudity. "You don't seem like a working class sort of lady, if you don't mind my say so, Ms. Odette. Are you married then?" oof... she was from an older age.
[10:20] Odette di Benedetti 's pale head dipped in a small nod, though she would counter,
"I do so appreciate the offer, Vedis. But...", she paused, leaning back with a recalcitrant sigh, her arms extending to glide along the surface of the water- away from her body then back- before she continued,
"It's something that I really should try to do myself.".
Vedis statement and subsequent question drew Odette's black, starlit gaze to the woman's gold one.
She contemplated a moment before deciding how to answer.
Breaking eye contact for a moment, Odette peered down at the rippling water between the two, her warmed-honey voice barely above a whisper as she spoke.
"I had a partner. For a very long time. She...was killed in an earthquake and fire...a while back. Your assessment would be correct, Vedis, but likely not for the reason you think.".
Odette's pale head lifted once more, the doll-like features smooth as she'd find Vedis's eyes once more, one of her slender arms lifting to tug the pin from her hair to let it cascade in silver wa
[10:20] Odette di Benedetti down her back and shoulders before finishing her story.
"I have been a performer, a singer. In the last city I resided, I was cared for by my patronage, had servants and stipends. So, this time around, I really want to fend for myself, if that makes any sense.".
Her grin punctuated her words, her tone lightening as she smiled to Vedis openly.
[10:28] Vedis Boyd nods, a small frown flickering between her brows as she mentions her partner's death. She lets out a soft sigh, "I was widowed fairly young as well." in her timeline at least, "He was killed in a war, not nearly as big as the one we have going on now, but I'm not sure that matters. My condolences." she lets out a soft, bitter laugh, shaking her head as she looks back to the beauty across from her. She could still feel the loss, all these years later. At the mention of her profession she perks. "Oh! Well that sounds exciting at least. A singer even! Oh! You must be someone very important then." she grins, cupping the water up onto her shoulders as she listens, "Have you seen the Caberet yet? Oh!" two and two clicks together in the woman's mind and she turns wide eyes to the woman, "Are YOU the new performer?" she breathes, "Oh, do let me know when you perform, I've only been down there once and it was absolutely wonderful!"
[10:35] Odette di Benedetti noted, quickly, the shared loss between the women, feeling a tiny pull of camaraderie knowing someone else had similar experience.
Her expression softened, and she'd nod once more to Vedis,
"I am sorry for /your/ loss, as well. It can be hard to know how to keep going. Glad to see we both have.".
In the small pause, Odette leaned back, sliding her bare backside to the edge of the bench to dip her long silver tresses in the water. She almost laughed in recalling something her mother used to tell her when she was tiny:
'Don't get your head wet, girl. You'll catch your death.'.
The irony was not lost on Odette that it had, in fact, been a rainy night when she died.
Pulling herself back up, both arms lifted and she slicked her hands along her wet scalp, ostensibly to squeeze the water away, to be followed by a similar action on the lengths, gliding fingers down the wet strands as she lifted them from the bath.
She responded to Vedis with another soft, self-deprecating chuckle,
"I am, indeed. My debut is
[10:35] Odette di Benedetti Tuesday evening. I'd love to see a friendly face in the crowd, if you are able to be there.", she intoned with a flick of black eyes to the woman's face.
[10:44] Vedis Boyd watched as her companion dunked herself under the water, the droplets like dew upon her skin. She moved like silk, each movement seemed weighted, practiced. It made her smile, clearly this woman was someone fancy. Her smile grows as she hears the date of the debut, "Oh! I shall do my best to be there then!" she made a note in the back of her mind to get her chores done early that day so she would be free. Her smile soften as the condolences and she inclines her head in reply. Death was far to familiar to this city's inhabitants. She was far to aware of that these days. "What sort of music do you sing?" the water around her churning slightly in her excitement, she shifts to try and hide it, leaning forward, "I admit I'm not nearly as up to date as most of the ladies on this island." she makes a face, "Too busy working."
[10:52] Odette di Benedetti 's smile for Vedis was genuine and warm, her pale head canting to one side as the diminutive woman finished her squeezing and deftly twisted the wet hair into a pile on the top of her head, securing it once more with the hairpin.
"I would love it. Oh, as for music....a little bit of everything, but mostly jazz, some torch pieces, the occasional ballad.".
The answer was not meant to be trite, but it was hard to describe and most of the time, any attempt she made left people confused.
Leaning forward and drawing her knees up, Odette smiled once more to Vedis.
"Time to exit...", she'd chirp, lifting long-nailed hands to show Vedis her palms,
"Getting a bit pruney. Hope I see you Tuesday, Vedis, and that the rest of your day is as delightful as you are.".
Normally, she'd have patted someone's arm gently, or touched a shoulder, but given that both women were still starkly naked, she did not want Vedis to feel uncomfortable around her.
Rising to her feet, she kept her back to Vedis as she sat on the wall and
[10:52] Odette di Benedetti swung both legs round to the other side, moving carefully across the stone floor toward the lockers.
m).
[10:55] Vedis Boyd grins, nodding. She too had spent far to long in the water, so when the woman moved, she shifted herself and sat on the edge of the wall, letting the water drip before reaching for her towel. "Lovely to see you again!" she called out, beginning to towel herself off, the lavender and vanilla shampoo almost overwhelming the soft scent of honey that floated up off her skin. "Have a lovely day!" ((Thanks for the RP!))