For the middle of the autumn season it sure was feeling a bit toasty out today. Of course it didn't help that she was keeping a brisk pace in a multilayered outfit. The redhead tipped her head to back to look up to the cloudless sky. It was odd, but it felt nice. Having the last warmth the sun would likely bring this season at her back gave her hope for a good day. So many had been spent locked away in her own misery, but not today. Today she would be visiting her newfound friend. She had asked around a bit between her classmates and found that Lumi was a part of the Host Club and it would likely be where she could be found. As she neared the place they directed her toward, she realized why. Roses were everywhere. It was obvious why Lumi had decided to join this club, at least in the Gael's mind. Their acquaintanceship had been made while surrounded by flowers and Lumi seemed to enjoy their company very much. 

Zeph smirked a bit as she paused outside the entrance to the rose garden, she shifted the jacket she had thrown over her shoulder not that long ago then slid it back on. Once she got in the shade she knew it would be cooler than out here. The frock jacket fell perfectly into place after just one shrug of her shoulders and a soft tug at the silk lapels. A hand flipped her hair out from under it to cascade over the deep green material. The older style jacket suited her far better than any other style if she said so herself. The white button down with a bit of ruffle across the chest as well as the black padded trousers that were tucked into her riding boots matched the early nineteenth century frock coat to a T. The main reason she had returned the jacket to her shoulders was the Épée at her side, it probably wouldn't do to have anyone see that. Though it was sheathed it could still draw unwanted attention to her. Sadly, the length of the sword was far too much for the coat, so it stuck out quite a ways under the hem. All she wanted to do was go practice somewhere after this without having to trek all the way back to her dorm room to retrieve her fencing weapon. One last thing to check. The Gael lifted a slender hand and traced the outline of the eye patch covering her right eye. Alright. Everything was hidden. Here went nothing.

A few steps had her heading down the path to the area that held the club. She knew by the sound of soft chit chatter that she was getting closer, but even at her impressive height she couldn't see just how many awaited there. It wasn't until she rounded a corner and came into the clearing filled with tables and chairs, that she noticed the fair amount of students about. Her good eye went wide and she almost took a step back to hightail it out of there. Going from a recluse to crowd socializing was a bit of a step, but she was really here for one reason. Her friend. Now where was that girl? Zeph tried to remain in the shadows as much as she could as she searched for the purple haired girl. Even so, it was hard to miss an almost six foot tall second year, sporting a rather outdated getup. The eye patch didn't help much either. So there she stood with one hand in her pocket, allowing her to rest her palm against the hilt of the Épée, while the other rested at her side. How hard could it be to find a purple haired girl? Obviously.. Pretty hard. She was having no luck.

It was another busy day at the Rose Garden for the Host Club. At least, for the distinguished prince and princesses of the club. Not being one deserving of either of the regal titles, Lumi fluttered among the haze of the backdrop of the event, tending to tables when the requested host was occupied with another, or obeying any little errand command that was delivered to her by one of those glamorous figures. Although she was a member of the club, she didn't quite feel a part of it a majority of the time. Not just in general, but in status as well. The hosts were to be pleasing to the eye; a glimpse into the fairy tales of others sought for in the daze of school. With her round glasses, off-set caramel skin, and pinned-up purple hair, one might assume the foreign girl would stand out among them. That was quite the opposite, however, although the purple rose paid little mind.

While she enjoyed tending to others, she had mostly joined the club to be among the vicinity of the roses she was so find of. It was the host club that were to tend to them anyway. Unfortunately, many of the members turned a blind eye to the beautiful surrounding floral sea. Lumi, of course, had stepped up to care for the flowers herself. Whether through the snow of winter or the blistering heat or summer, she would visit whenever she could every day to nurture the delicate buds or blossoms. Sometimes she would even fall asleep beneath their flowery crowns in the midst of it all. For it was among the roses she felt the most secure.

Upon a recent lull in the activity, the purple-haired student had slipped from the crowd to tend to a nearby dropping rose. A spiraling ring of the crisp brown signs of withering held fast to its ruby red petals. She had been glancing at it all day from afar, waiting for a moment to examine it more thoroughly. No one noticed nor seemed to care that the phantom girl had slipped away. She wasn't a face that stood out. The Lulim uniform clung nearly to her form, pressed clean from any imperfections. A golden 3D clip in the shape of a rose pinned a section of her purple bangs out of her face while a hidden one pinned up the rest of her hair in the back. One wouldn't be able to tell how much hair the Tamil-Japanese actually had with it pinned like this like it normally was. A thin layer of mascara and a dash of faint lipstick painted her lashes and lips. Not much was needed for the caramel color of her skin brought out the faint amount of color.

A gust of wind stole her attention, and she watched as it stripped a few decaying petals from wilting rose. The petals swirled and silhouetted against a peculiar figure in the shadows. A prince, the figure appeared to be. One straight out of an old-time fairy tale if those existed even. Ah, wait a moment. This was a prince that was oddly familiar. A glimpse of the eyepatch veiling the right eye, and Lumi recognized the tall princely figure. It was Zephyra. The girl whom she had met late one night in the Greenhouse. What was she doing here? Curious about the presence of new her friend, Lumi eased herself up from her knelt position in front of the rose and approached the girl, hoping that she saw her so that she wouldn't be startled.

"Miss Zephyra?" She greeted softly with a hint of curiosity. Sun-kissed hands clasped passively in front of her waist, loosely clutching an antique gold-colored watering can.

As the gust of wind kicked up, Zeph lifted her free hand to hold down the barely tamed waves of crimson threads that surrounded her face. It wouldn't do to have the curls lift to reveal the one long, tendly pink scar that ran toward her temple. After all, pottery wasn't exactly the best cutting tool. She hadn't stopped the action quite quick enough and the scar would have been revealed to anyone close by, but glancing around she didn't find anyone whom seemed to notice.

Thankfully, it didn't take more than a few more seconds to find the girl. She was just getting ready to slip back out of the Garden to go search the Greenhouse instead when she heard her name called. It was easily recognizable as Lumi since she had called her by Miss again. Really, that girl. Zeph smiled as she turned toward her. It was a lazy, easy going grin that showed her definite improvement in attitude. "Tráthnóna maith, Lumisade." In a thoughtless slip, she responded to her friend in her native tongue.

The redhead bowed at the waist, tucking her arm under her ribs as the other removed itself from her pocket and slipped behind her back. She even bowed her head a bit to show extra respect. When she straightened, she took a few steps toward the girl so it was easier to be heard without raising her voice. "I.. uh.. Well, I came by to see you. Some classmates told me you were part of this club, so I thought I figured I would be able to find you here. Do you have time for a chat? I don't want to take you away from your duties. I can always come back after you're relieved for the day.."

Zeph now had both hands tucked behind her back and clasped together in a way that made her stand straighter. This was far better from the slouching girl, Lumi had seen before. Some of her pride had returned it seemed. Possibly a side affect of having been cleared by the doctor to begin physical activities again, but most of it came from the lift their last talk had given to her spirits. Still, she was rambling some as she tried to make sure the girl didn't feel obligated to see to her right away. After all, she could always return later after a bit of practice.

"And no need to call me, Miss. It doesn't really.. suit me." She made a gesture at her attire then allowed a playful grin to tip up one side of her lips. "Zeph, is just fine."

When she was greeted, Lumi, too, dropped at the waist to mirror the performed bow. Instead of coming up, however, she remained suspended in the action for a few moments longer than the other. What a peculiar language had spoken. Lumi wondered which one it was. A feeling of sort of relief washed over her at the sight of the grin that graves the other's face. Zephyra seemed to be in a much more stable, elevated mood then before.

Raising herself back up from her bow, she adjusted her grip on the watering can to hold it more efficiently. It was styled like an antique genie's lamp; a belated birthday gift to her from her mother when she was nine. So Zephyra had came to see her to chat. Granted, the purple-haired girl was still on-duty serving in the host club, but even if she were to slip away, no one would notice. Not that she was noticed much as of current. She wasn't anywhere near the glamorous princes and princesses the host so proudly exhibited.

"Oh, no, it's perfectly fine. I have time to speak." She responded, flashing a small smile.

She wondered what it was the princely girl wished to talk to her about. A soft, delicate giggle left her caramel lips. Zeph, then. She would try hard to remember to refer to her as that.

"Wonderful! Why don't we find a table to relax at? You seem like you've worked enough, for the moment. Afterward, I could help you with the roses." She was going to be taking up the girl's time, so if it would help her, Zeph would offer her services. Not that it bothered her to spend time around the beautiful flowers.

The tall second year grinned, having heard of this host club and since it was her reentry into the social world, she might as well do it right. She gave another bow, this time her hand extended. "I would greatly appreciate it if you would escort me. I'm not well versed in the layout of this place."

If her hand was taken, Zeph would position herself at Lumi's right side and gently lay her friend's hand in the crook of her arm. This was her natural reaction since it would leave her sword in the open and it wouldn't be an issue to draw it if need be. Not that she would need it here, but you never know where danger could come from. Or what form it would take. All in all, she had a princess at her side and this warrior wouldn't let anything happen to her if she could help it. Afterall, that was the job of the SP force and she might as well enforce the mindset now before everything would be set in place.

She smiled down at the smaller girl and patiently waited for her to lead the way.

"Ah, yes, of course."

Offering a nod, a small smile fluttered across her caramel lips. It wasn't just because her friend was smiling, but also because the tall girl had offered her assistance with the roses. It made her so, well, happy to know that someone else cared about the roses. Though of course Zephyra seemed to be one to care about flowers. Just as she had expressed towards the ones in the Greenhouse. Some flowers could even be therapeutic in their own calming way, Lumi had found, such as how she sought the company of the mysterious floral kind; especially roses; after her own traumatic experiences years ago. And they had provided her a kind of comfort she had yet to find in people.

A brief pause was administered to the offered hand. For a moment, Lumi even wondered if she would even be allowed to take it. Hesitantly, she ever so gently permitted her darker caramel hand to contact the paler one. She had noticed the sword and the girl's stance; her princely attire, especially. It made her want to giggle a little. Here was this what you could call prince beside her, though she herself was far from the look of a princess. No, she wasn't pretty enough to be one, let alone come close to one in anything. She was a bit curious about the sword, wondering why Zephyra needed such a weapon, and, more so, how it was allowed on campus. But, remembering the tragedy the tall red-haired girl had told her that had transpired with her and a senpai of hers in the Greenhouse, she recalled that even this blossoming, refined campus could hold various significant dangers. Dangers that could happen anywhere and to anyone. That elicited the slightest of uneasy shivers from her.

The other host members didn't take much notice to the pair as Lumi lead her friend through the outskirts of the bustling crowd. Fortunately, there was a more secluded table a bit of a ways away from the swell of chattering girls, and Lumi thought that maybe the princely girl would like to be seated somewhere a bit more secluded among the roses. This did seem like her first time out among a crowd of people, or so Lumi assumed. Rounding the elegant table, the purple haired girl pulled out a chair for Zephyra to seat herself in before preparing to sit herself. Even though she wasn't on-duty at the moment, she still kept the air of her character. "Would you perhaps like some tea, mi- Zephyra?"

Even if the girl rejected the offer, Lumi still found it appropriate to at least ask. She swept a few loose purple locks behind her ear with a middle and forefinger as she waited with patience for an answer. With her hair pinned up as tightly and securely as it was, it made her look much smaller.

As they walked, Zeph matched her steps with her new found friend's. That way her longer legs wouldn't cause issue and have the girl practically jogging to keep up. All in all, it was a very relaxing pace which allowed her to cast her gaze around to the other patrons that they passed by as well as the roses. Taking in your surroundings and knowing what escape routes where open, who to look out for and where possible marks of danger were placed was ingrained in the girl to the point she didn't even register that she was taking these factors into account.

Once they were seated, her smile drew up higher to one side, giving her an almost cocky look. Of course, she had removed the belt of her Epee and rested the sword between her knees. This way it was once again hidden from sight but well within reach. She hadn't brought the weapon out of need for protection. Instead, it was a far simpler reason. She was rusty and needed to practice. Truthfully, she didn't really need the sword for protection. With all of her training with a certain sensei she could defend herself just as well with her body. The wound she sustained early had been from.. circumstances she had no control over and from someone she had no wish to harm. It's hard to raise a hand to a loved one even after they had hurt you fiercely. The harsh reality of the consequences of having a kind soul.

Zephyra leaned forward a bit, but refrained from placing her arms on the table as this could be viewed as highly disrespectful. "Tea sounds fantastic, actually."

While waiting for Lumi to return with the tea, the redhead removed a pad from her inside pocket and began to doodle on the small pages. Roses, little stars. Simple things really. Drawing wasn't exactly a skill she had obtained over her short years, but it was a good way to pass the time. This also allowed her to keep her head down and not catch the gaze of anyone that might just be looking toward this secluded spot. The sound of Lumi's footfalls were enough to warn of her reentry into the area and Zeph removed the pad from the table, placing it back in its pocket. After this, she turned with a grin and bowed her head slightly.

"Thank you." A slender hand curled around the cup placed before her and drew it a bit closer, basking in the warmth it spread over her digits. She waited for Lumi to be seated before starting up her words once more.

"And also, thank you for the other night." At this point, she seemed fairly serious, the smile was gone, but the kindness remained in her vibrant hues. "Had it not been for you, I likely would still be holed up in my room. I know you're going to try to deny having any part of that, but I wanted you to know that I am thankful and I will be forever in your debt. A life of solitude is not something I'm prepared for and that wake up call was refreshing. That being said. If you are ever in need of something, call me and I will do all that I can."

It was then the girl smiled and bowed at the waist until her nose almost touched the table.