Morning Tea

Morning Tea.

Sunlight streamed in through the high windows making up three of the sunroom walls. The midmorning light had brought the flowers out; they had opened fully in pastel shades of blue, purple, pink, pure white and soft yellow. With a mothering smile she sat the small watering can down and went into the kitchen to lay out shortbread biscuits on ornate plates and prepare the tea.

That done, Dotti went to her room at the far end of the narrow hallway. She changed into nice dress, pale purple with clean white lace along the hem and bust, and patterned white stockings. Carefully she ran a brush through her hair and sprayed on some product, gently teasing it into place and adding volume with her hand. She had time to check her makeup before there was a knock at the door. Quickly, she selected a pair of shoes from the bottom of the wardrobe and went to answer it.

Smiling, she pulled it open and greeted her visitor. "Please, do come in."

Stepping back, she allowed the young lady to enter.

Following Dotti through the house to the sunroom, the guest looked slowly about the rooms neither impressed nor particularly indifferent. They took seats at a heavy, Victorian style table positioned before the largest window. Pink and pale blue roses had been arranged in a glass vase in the centre and the tea things placed around it. The lace curtains filtered the warm light and decorated the dark wood with intricate white patterns.

"So, they said you are a trainer. What exactly does that involve?" Dotti asked politely, pouring tea into the cups, straining it for the third time.

Uncomfortable talking about her work with a complete stranger, Jhenrhi Ida smiled and simply replied that her occupation was to teach essential fighting skills and acting to those who needed to know. Perplexed, Dotti made no reply before talking her seat again.

"That sounds… nice."

Idle conversation was the best they could manage for the following half hour, with neither having any particular interest in the other. They were after all only together because of a common acquaintance's insistence they would be like sisters, best friends once they had met. Neither were sure why they had listened to this now. It seemed silly that they should become close; as it was, they could barely maintain a conversation about the weather.

It was when Jhen noticed the sewing kit sitting on the cabinet that they began to find the conversation interesting. "You make your own clothing?"

"Yes, I do. And so do you?" Dotti asked, though there was little friendless to the question that was really more a statement. She ran her eyes slowly up and down Jhen; her lips pressed together, something of an old fashioned mother in her appearance. She had not at all taken to the girl. There was something… unrefined, a bit rough around the edges, you might say, about Jhen. Though, most would not really agree with this.

The visitor wore a black dress, about mid-thigh in length and made of velvet. Evidently, Dotti disagreed with this.

"Yes, I do." Jhen answered shortly.

"Are those shoes made of leather?" Dotti asked, her eyes squinting together in a brief glare. There was something barbaric about leather in Dotti's mind. Again her guest answered shortly, before asking about the dress Dotti wore; wasn't it a bit, you know, doll like?

Flustered, Dotti stood and, roughly taking the teapot in hand, went to the kitchen. As it came to the boil again over the stove, she ran her fingers back through her hair and down her cheeks, exasperated. She wondered why on Earth she was hosting this strange, mysterious girl. With a fresh pot of tea, she returned to the sunroom.

Her guest was standing by a counter filled with large, ceramic pots of flowers and forest greens. Forcing a smile, Dotti offered her more tea and biscuits.

"I'd rather… not. I should be going." Jhen said, also forcing a smile.

"Oh, but… okay." As she walked her to door, Dotti stopped. "Why do you really want to go?" There was some sincerity in her tone, but more a concern orientated in self-preservation – she wanted to know why this strange person really didn't like her so as to make possible alterations to her character. However, she hadn't thought they were getting on too badly, considering the awkwardness of the situation.

"You seem so… fake." Honesty was always the best measure, wasn't that so?

"You don't even know me!" Dotti suddenly shouted.

"But, Little Princess, I don't need to know you to see that you are all plastered on smiles and makeup." Jhen turned to go, not caring for her host or this uncomfortable visit.

Furious, Dotti closed the space between them in the narrow hallway and promptly slapped Jhen cross the left check. There was a sharp clap and mild pain stung Jhen's cheek.

More than a little irritated, Jhen replied with a snapping comment… something containing a reference to female canines and an order for Dotti to kindly go procreate with herself – neither of which will be repeated here. The shocked and gape-jawed expression that shaped Dotti's face at this and the indignant offence agitated Jhen further and her orange fox ears popped up out of her head.

Dotti, so surprised by this she was unable to really comprehend it, screamed shrilly. With a grimace as the harsh sound hurt her eyes and further annoyed by this childish response to what was really a natural and expected reaction for Jhen (she was after all a Kitsune and shifting shape was consequently normal for her) she turned sharply away from the horrified girl and left through the front door.

It was a few minutes before Dotti was able to get a grip on herself and begin to rationalise what she had seen – it had never happened, she had experienced a moment and would now go straight to the doctors to be sure it wasn't anything serious, she had merely made it up. Eventually, she left the hallway and went to the sunroom to pack up and return everything to its proper place.