A Friendship Blooms? (5/10, Nat and Katalin, Open)

[Lady Natalie Kendall]

The smile on her lips took on a decidedly sly note, her eyes twinkling playfully at her. "Well, to start with, I've seen people in various stages of," she decided to be polite with her terminology, "intercourse. Some fascinating, some horrifying, I assure you there. I've seen backstabbing in action, though only metaphorically, thank goodness. I've seen political maneuverings that were none of my business, but watched anyway. I learned a lot about the Court and how it works by being in places I should and should not be." Whether she should or should not have been in a certain was a matter of perspective.

"Humans are strange, wondrous, caring and terrifying creatures all at once, and I've seen many sides, for better or for worse." The smile dimmed a little as she said this.

[Lady Katalin de Winter]

She was frankly a little astonished at the comments, but Katalin admitted to herself, she'd asked. She'd asked, walked into it and deserved the blunt remark. "I..." What did she say to that? What could be said? "I see. You have lived quite an adventurous life, I have to say. I don't know how you do it, I think I'd have run for the hills if I'd seen half of that."

Glancing back to Natalie, she noticed the dimming smile and offered a more comforting look of her own. "Try not to linger on the worse, but remember the better. There is always inspiration to be found in one good person, I believe."

[Lady Natalie Kendall]

Indeed, Katalin did ask and she learned an important lesson in the process: Natalie was a bluntly honest woman and did not bother to hide much. Fortunately, she had enough social decency not to do anything truly offensive or embarrassing. A small smile was given to Katalin when she saw her reaction. "I almost did that very thing myself. Don't worry, you're not alone." A quiet chuckle came out of her then.

"You make a good point, though. I try to make that my philosophy." And then she suddenly smiled at her, "I'm glad the Prince told me to come out here to meet you."

[Lady Katalin de Winter]

Katalin was definitely reminded of her mother's old stricture of 'be careful what you ask for, you may receive it.' Natalie's matter of fact answer to a question she'd posed was ample evidence that she certainly could receive what she asked for, and not always welcome the receipt! Amused as much at herself as Natalie, she laughed weakly. "Forgive me, Lady Natalie. For a moment, I remembered a very true thing my mother told me and appreciated that in this case, the joke is very much on me." At least she could laugh at herself?

The smile softened and warmed into genuine pleasure then. "I am as well, especially as I am sure His Highness warned you I do not make friends easily. But thank you for making it a pleasure. I think I will enjoy our friendship very much."

[Lady Natalie Kendall]

"Fortunately, there is one thing that is not a joke you can gain from this: I won't lie to you, and I try not to soften my words too much. There is too much fluffiness and frippery in the Courts as it is. I need to keep things fresh and have people be on their toes." A wink was fired off to her.

Having finished her row, she brushed her hands in an satisfied manner. "We are agreed. What is next?" That is, she was referring to the next task that needed to be completed in the Garden.

[Lady Katalin de Winter]

She laughed outright, amused by Natalie's assurance even as she took it at face value. There was an unmistakable ring of truth to the lady's words that put Katalin at ease. There was nothing she disliked so much as deception, no matter what. "Thank you for that. I will, of course, return the favor to you equally, though I may try for tact." Blue eyes twinkled at her as she offered a watering can. "Now we water them."

The rest of the afternoon was spent pleasantly engaged in conversation and various gardening tasks before Katalin proposed returning to the castle to tidy up and enjoy a light repast as their reward for diligence. She felt sure the friendship with Natalie would prove unorthodox, but so much the better.

It was nice to have a friend.