An Impromptu Meeting

Who: Lily and Maya
Where: Around Town
When: Afternoon

While yesterday had been one of those very rare, lovely days, of course the following day would go back to the usual misery that came with living in the city of Eidolon. And with living there in the city her whole life, Lily just went on her daily business, although she did decide to make a detour to the flower shop on her way home. Winter was still gripping them all, which was frustrating, so she felt that some color was called for.

She left the shop with a bouquet of pink streaked lilies, which were at present resting on the bench beside her while she looked at the sheaf of papers that she had picked up earlier that morning. The forms and regulations she had to look over to start getting her teacher's license. Brett's vague encouragement had helped her finalize her decision and it was another step she was finally taking. Better late than never.

The black car pulled up by the side of the road, and Maya wound down the window, checking that she had the right person, before actually getting out. It was a miserable day, but with tomorrow night's event, she'd needed to get her nails done, and she'd been on her way home when she saw Lily. "Darling," she called as she headed over. "You are just the person I'm looking for - and what lovely flowers! Tell me you're coming tomorrow night!" she gushed, not sitting down. A public bench? People would talk about her slumming it.

Lily had been caught off guard when the black car pulled up and had not expected to see Maya step out all smiles and exclamations. She looked up at the woman, bewildered for a moment before tucking away the papers she had been looking at. While Lily clearly had no problem 'slumming it', she didn't want to get an earful about teaching. "Tomorrow night?" she asked, racking her brain for some missed date. Someone's birthday? Another party that she'd forgotten about? She'd been more occupied with moving and social issues than she had been about keeping up on the social events.

"Yes, yes - the mayor's party at the Drake. I realise it's short notice but, really - you have to be there," Maya told her in a tone that managed to make it sound like it was an unmissable and incredibly exciting social event, whilst also sounding like there was no argument to be had and Lily was going. "I left space for you at my table and I simply won't take no for an answer - I haven't seen enough of you lately," she added, making that point very clear.

The way Maya spoke of it, it was to be the party of the year, but then, to people like Maya, they always were. To be seen, to start new trends. "I didn't think I'd be invited," Lily said honestly, thinking that maybe that was the reason she hadn't heard about it.

Maya raised an eyebrow. "Lily - consider your position in society," she said in a tone that was just short of admonishment. "just because you chose to move out of your grandmother's house and stand on your own two feet does not take away from who you are." Somehow, Maya managed to give those last three words verbal capital letters. "You don't need an invitation - after all, you've only just moved, I doubt the mayor has any idea of where to find you right now. And you have no reason at all to think that you were invited."

Lily wanted to point out that people in their position of society were the ones who decided who should be in those positions. Not that Lily was someone who people were 'out to get'. She was just... Lily. Agatha's dear granddaughter who kept quiet most of the time. And keeping quiet most of the time meant that people didn't think to curb their gossip around her. "Well, it's quite reassuring to hear," Lily said with a smile. "I suppose that calls for a new dress and the works?" She had perfectly nice, new dresses but of course when you're with Maya Walker, 'getting something from the closet' was wholly unacceptable.

"The truth is never 'reassuring' to hear, Lily - it is simply the truth. You have a family name to uphold. Plus, you're one of the most eligible women in the city." Or, you would be if you pulled yourself together and took things seriously, Maya thought to herself, rather more unkindly than her outward persona. Lily, as far as she was concerned, was a whole mess of wasted potential. But, at least she was learning. "The works, definitely - as for the dress, that depends. Have you worn that lovely gown we bought on our last trip?" she asked, knowing that the girl had, under her guidance, bought many. She would be surprised if Lily had worn them all. Very pleasantly surprised, possibly impressed, but she doubted it. And, of course, she expected Lily to know exactly the dress she was referring to out of that bunch.

Lily thought of the guy she thought herself interested in. Jesse James was very much not someone Maya would approve of. But thinking about Jesse made her think of the situation the other night and she pushed it away in the back of her mind. Like that was ever going to happen. And as for the gowns? There had been several bought after all, in varying styles with varying takes on the color red. She thought quickly, the different styles that had been purchased. "The backless silk halter?" she asked, the most provacative one purchased that seemed to fit along the lines of what Maya was saying.

Whether or not that was actually the one Maya had in mind, she smiled and nodded. "That one I think would be perfect," she said, smoothly. "Now - I'm having my hair done at three tomorrow afternoon, would you join me? We can have a chat and really catch up - and you can tell me all about what's going on in your life," she added, all smiles. And I can know about the potential pitfalls before I let you loose again and make sure that the night you have will be the proper one, she thought to herself. She didn't trust the girl to be able to handle herself truly adeptly in public without some form of assistance, or at the very least vetting.

Lily took a deep breath -- in her mind, anyway. She found herself doing that from time to time when she was around Maya. Still, it was quite nice to have someone who seemed at least remotely interested in spending time with her. Whatever their real reasons might be, well, Lily was working very hard to look at the positives. "Tomorrow afternoon sounds lovely. I could use some pampering and the ball does sound nice." She smiled at Maya, meaning it. Lily wasn't a hopeless case. Ever since that first shopping trip, Lily had been dressing better, doing her hair and make-up. Things that she hadn't particularly cared to do before hand. She did look a little less put together that day though, what with the errand running, but there were definite little differences for the better.

Maya practically beamed. "Fabulous - I'll see you there then. Tomorrow. At three. I can't wait!" she said, sounding genuinely enthusiastic at the thought of it. Of course, she'd have to make arrangements, and at this point, it would be hard to squeeze Lily in, but Maya Walker wasn't Maya Walker for nothing - if anyone could get them to make the arrangements, she could. And make them they would. "Well, I'll leave you to your... reading?" she asked. Because she hadn't missed what the girl had been doing, for all she ferreted the pages away when Maya had appeared. That would be something she found out about tomorrow, no doubt.

"Oh, nothing important," Lily said with a little shrug and an appropriate blush, the half-lie falling easily from her, concealed with a small smile. There would be no way in hell that she could possibly let Maya know about her current desire to teach. That would be yet another lecture she was sure Maya would love to share. "Shall I meet you?" she asked.

"That would be lovely - you know the usual place, of course," Maya said, knowing that Lily knew the address of her stylist. "I'll make the arrangements to ensure that they're expecting both of us," she added.

"Of course, thank you, Maya." Lily offered her another smile, gathering up her flowers and purse. "I shouldn't keep you though." She looked at the black car, knowing that Maya was going or coming from someplace, and that this little 'visit' had been impromptu.

Maya knew that - she wasn't one who generally hung around on the streets, but some opportunities were too good to miss. "of course - I look forward to tomorrow," she said. "Until then," she added, before making her way the few short steps back to the car. She turned as she slid inside and looked at Lily. "They really are quite lovely flowers."

Lily looked down at the bouquet in her arms, at the soft, pink streaks that faded into the white. She wondered if Maya was being serious, or if she was speaking of something else. She looked up, nodding a little bit with that small smile of hers. "Yes, they are. Thank you. Have a good evening, Maya."