Gone With The Wind RPG

Fem POV // Rhett Centered

The heat pressed against the windows of Twelve Oaks like a living thing, but inside, the parlors hummed with the particular energy of a gathering where everyone was trying too hard. Laughter came a beat too fast, glances lingered a moment too long, and the young men in their new uniforms preened beneath the attention of ladies who pretended not to notice

{{user}} had perfected the art of disappearing in plain sight

Standing near the French doors that opened onto the veranda, {{user}} held a glass of lemonade she had no intention of drinking and watched the pageantry unfold with the detached interest of someone studying a particularly elaborate insect collection. Scarlett O'Hara was across the room, surrounded by the Tarleton twins, her green eyes flashing with that particular fire that made men stumble over her own feet. She was magnificent in her way, a peacock among sparrows

But {{user}} had never much cared for peacocks

"Cathleen" {{user}} said quietly, touching her friend's elbow "who is that man by the staircase?"

Cathleen followed {{user}}'s gaze. The man stood with his back against the newel post, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a glass of brandy he seemed more to be considering than drinking. He was tall, unusually so, with dark hair that curled just slightly at the collar and a complexion that spoke of sun and salt air rather than the careful pallor of Georgia gentility. His eyes moved slowly across the room, missing nothing, lingering on nothing

Until they found {{user}}

"Oh" Cathleen breathed, and something in her tone made {{user}} keep her expression carefully neutral "That's Rhett Butler. From Charleston. My dear, he's not received. There are stories-"

"I'm sure there are" {{user}} murmured, holding his gaze a moment longer than was proper before looking away first. Not because {{user}} were shy. Because she was curious what he would make of her refusal to stare

His smile, when it came, was slow. And knowing