What the Rose Light Children managed to build in little June Hills and under everyone's nose was impressive by any standards. The whole compound was comprised of 14 Bungalows, with two more and a water mill under construction. All of them were connected by add-on passageways and together they walled off a large chunk of the river and a sizable creek bed from public view. It was quite the peaceful and private setting; a location chosen with careful deliberation.
The Garden's in-doors were no less impressive. Big windows and numerous sky-lights kept natural lighting high during the day (even with the curtains drawn), and soft yellow floor and wall lighting took over as the evening settled in. True to its namesake, The Garden tastefully displayed exotic and local plant life in every room and passageway. Laid throughout, and connecting each room and passageway was an empty wooden channel that ran along the walls and ceilings in most rooms, and along the floors of others. Gabrielle figured it was essentially an aqueduct built to eventually provide ambient water noise, or even perhaps to feed plant life. The lack of flowing water would likely be remedied as soon as construction on the river wheel outside was finished.
All in all, this was probably the spiffiest place in June Hills, while being completely inconspicuous about it with the town. A diamond in the rough, some would call it.
Rose Light's people were another story altogether. Spotter, Gabby's Guide, literally and figuratively, took her around Garden Outer (which was a'buzz with activity) and introduced her to many happy Rosians. Now, more often than not, pairs and groups of people were encountered mid-budding--'budding' being the generic term Rosians used to refer to sexual activity between two or more people. Naturally, "a beautiful thing need not be interrupted for a casual hello," and so introductions took place while the activity continued: Gabby might exchange names and shake hands with a man who was receiving a blowjob, or she might have done so with a women who was being fucked from behind. In one case Spotter walked her through an entire nine person orgy so that she could greet each person. That incident alone was quiet the experience for her. She even gave a lucky guy a mini-handjob while his female companion spoke a few moments with Guide Spotter.
"Thanks for holding my spot, Gabrielle, and it was nice meeting you!" the woman told the bubbly farm girl. Gabby gave the women, named Breena, her welcome and released the man's cock (to his silent disappointment) so that Breena could finish what she started, and then Gabby was off to continue her tour with Guide Spotter.
Of course they would encounter the occasional individual walking down the hall, men and women alike. When the young crop duster's daughter asked Spotter why these men--some women too--tended to catch a feel of her ass or breasts, or even probe her vagina, his response was that physical intimacy led to a greater familiarity and a deeper, more trusting bond. And indeed this was a general truth within the church; familiarity, among other things, was always encouraged between followers of the Rose.
One thing was certain, and that's that she was instantly popular with whoever she met. It made Gabrielle feel at home being so warmly welcomed and appreciated by so many smiles and friendly faces.
After she got a feel for the place, and the place got a feel of her, Spotter gave a brief description of the possible duties she might be considered for volunteering in. These included generic operational jobs, like doing the laundry, preparing meals and washing dishes, or even garden scaping (Gabrielle liked the prospect of this one the most), to more obscure duties like "stress care," and "loga/wrap refitting," and "light seeding," which Spotter promised more details on when the time came.
Eventually it came time for Gabrielle's first day in The Garden to conclude, and so Spotter notified her of one more thing she needed to do. Meet Manuel Konn: the founder of Rose Light.
Spotter took the bright-eyed teenager to the meeting spot, Garden Inner, which was outside in the cool of night. Maybe ten paces away from the flowing river there was a circle of torches, enclosing a meticulously manicured stone garden. At the center of the smooth-stoned garden sat a man, legs crossed and back straight. When the pert farm girl stopped at the edge of the torch perimeter Spotter beckoned her to walk through. Spotter followed her in and walked over to the sitting man, handing him the piece of paper with all the notes he had taken. Once the information was delivered Spotter left the two alone and went away. Outside, it was only Gabrielle and Manuel; everyone else was in-doors for the evening.
Once alone with Manuel, Gabby noted that the founder left his upper torso bare while his Loga was wrapped below the waist. Gabby smirked, thinking it looked like he just got out of the shower. She still stood behind him, but could tell from his back alone that the man was a very lean fella.
"Have a seat, Gabrielle," the man offered, his voice firm but calming. "How are you enjoying your first day with The Rose Light?"
Gabrielle joined him on the smoothly pebbled ground. "Your church is really swell, and the people too," she said thoughtfully. "I'm really excited about wetting my feet in your day-to-days around here.
"But I do wonder what made you choose June Hills to setup shop in. You folks are almost..." she searched for the right words, "glam. S'ppose I'm wondering what a small town like June Hills had to offer a group like yours."
"That's a good point," he said, scooting around to face her. "As a group, a family, we value privacy very much. This is because we deeply believe that traditions are most precious when they aren't overused. So naturally, a caring eye is kept on how much, and how often we expose ourselves to the world." Konn closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, taking a moment to think. The man could even faintly smell the scent of the new volunteer sitting some six feet in front of him. When his eyes opened again he continued, "June Hills provides the small and peaceful backdrop a religion such as ours needs to maintain relative anonymity. And it seems to have brought wonderful individuals such as your self into our fold," Konn concluded, with a smile. He also stood up and walked over to the crop duster's daughter, extending an open hand, beckoning her to stand.
"Isn't your message something you'd want to share with more people though?" Gabrielle asked, taking his hand and standing up.
"Of course, Gabrielle. The Rose Light is always open to newcomers." The Head Member eased Gabrielle's arm to her side and walked around his nubile volunteer, sizing her up with only his eyes, and hands. "But spreading the message only works when those who are on the outside are truly looking--truly receptive, you see. Because we don't want to force our beliefs on others, we must exercise caution with how we present those beliefs."
This was as good an explanation as Gabrielle could have hoped for, and so her curiosities were satisfied. She kept silent as Konn's hand trailed up her arm, then over her shoulder, and came to rest on her breast.