darker_london | Renee / Scarlett - Girls' night in

Scarlett would be here any moment. Renee fussed about the room, making everything seem as neat as she could. With the lights out and candles burning merrily on either side of the bed as well as her altar, the room did seem to be in a state at least approaching order. Sure, there were CDs strewn about by the stereo, a stack of DVDs up to her knees by the bed, and a bookshelf in a state of disarray that would make even the slackest of librarians have a fit, but to Renee's mind, that just gave the room character. No dount the already-poured glasses of absinthe would wash away any poor impressions quite smartly.

Why did she feel so driven to impress this girl? Certainly she was attractive, but she was Kait's girl. That was solid fact. There was something else behind this feeling, but she was damned if she could place it. Whatever the case, she had dressed to impress as much as one could under the circumstances, being a night of alcohol and DVDs - short black velvet skirt, black tank top, fingernails and toenails painted in deepest crimson. A hint of eyeliner and mascara, and her visage was complete. She forced herself to sit down on her bed, trying to relax. She would be here soon. And then everything would be fine.

Scarlett had the feeling she might be running late. She'd been all around town today - Kait, shopping, ran into Ry again, visited parents- and now there seemed like not enough hours in the day. She'd not managed to change out of what she had worn to her parent's house and thanked them silently that they were so liberal as she knocked on Renee's door. What other parents would find tight black pants and a silver and black corset top good attire? Her hair was loose and she ran her fingers through it to get rid of any knots as she waited for the door to open. "It's Scar," she said as she knocked again.

Renee spied Scarlett stepping up to the door from her window. Before she even really realised, she was moving downstairs as hastily as she could whilst still maintaining her dignity. She pulled down her top, exposing more cleavage. Scarlett liked cleavage. No, wait! Slutty! Skanky! Bad! She quickly pulled the top back up as she reached the bottom of the stairs. She was almost to the front door when another thought struck her. No, no! Prissy! Up-tight! No, no, no! Mentally growling at herself, she pulled the top down again and opened the door moments after Scarlett's second knock.

"Hello, Scar," she smiled, and an unaccustomed blush warmed her cheeks as Scarlett's visage graced her eyes. She looked utterly delectable in her tight black pants and corset top. Renee felt positively underdressed by comparison... but at least she knew she was hot. Hopefully that would make up for it.

"Please, come in, dear," she said, holding the door open for Scarlett.

Scarlett smiled at Renee when she greeted her and looked at the other girl's outfit. "Well, I feel even messier dressed than I did a moment ago," she laughed a little. "You look all dressed up." She walked inside and felt a little more at ease. It was strange to think that just weeks ago she didn't know this girl and Kait was so insistant on them not meeting.

Renee grinned at Scarlett's compliment. Within moments, the girl had already put her at ease. She just had the most beautiful aura. It was like basking in pure loveliness to be in her presence.

"I think you look stunning," she returned as they passed through the lounge room. Lizzie was watching Dawson's Creek but, miracle of miracles, she actually looked up in acknowledgement of their presence as they passed through.

"Oh my God, Renee, you are like, such a lesbian!"

Renee's eye actually twitched as Lizzie's high voice and affected American accent cut through her brain like a serrated knife. What if Scarlett took that the wrong way? Goddess, don't let her think I am hitting on her!

"Shut up, Lizzie," she growled to her little sister, and offered a quick apologetic look to Scarlett.

"Whatever. I'm going out." Lizzie flicked off the television, grabbed her Paris Hilton handbag and flounced out the door, most likely heading to some dreadful teeny-bopper party.

"Sorry," Renee said to Scarlett, more than a little embarrassed by her sister's display.

Scarlett didn't even get a chance to introduce herself to the sister and found herself grateful for it. She watched Lizzie dissapear out the door and then turned back to Renee. "Is she always that..." she tried to find a word that wouldn't be completly out of line. "bracing?"

Then she smiled wickedly and put her arm around Renee's shoulder. "Yeah, Renee, you're such a lesbian." She laughed and wriggled her tongue suggestively before removing her arm and giggling. "Ah, siblings."

Renee grinned in happiness and relief as Scarlett laughed off Lizzie's rudeness. She was a wonderful girl indeed. She lowered her lashes coyly, laying her hand lightly on Scarlett's hip.

"Well, we all have expectations to live up to. Unfortunately, it seems that Lizzie likes to live down to ours, and then keep digging. It doesn't help that she resents my moving back here. I think she enjoyed having Mother to herself."

She stepped away for a moment to close the front door that Lizzie had left open behind her. Mmm... Scarlett's tongue. Yum. Argh! Away with such thoughts! Lust seemed to find her even more easily now that she was single. But that was not what tonight was about. Hell, she felt bad even thinking about it. Scarlett was Kait's girl. Just like she once was.

"Shall we? The absinthe is waiting," she said as she returned, offering Scarlett her hand.

Scarlett made a happy face at the mention of absinthe and took Renee's hand gladly. "Oh, lead the way. Like I haven't had enough to drink this week!"

She was already thinking of the taste of absinthe on her tongue and she wanted, rather desperatly, to raid Renee's music collection. "Oh, I cannot wait to see your bedroom," she told her.

Renee grinned and blushed once more as she led Scarlett upstairs. I can't wait either! She loved the feel of Scarlett's hand in hers, the easy, innocent trust of a beautiful friend.

She pushed open the door adorned with a metal Sisters of Mercy logo, and stepped into the candle-lit room. Directly across from the door in one corner stood Renee's formidable bookshelf, filled with classics like Shakespeare and Homer, modern classics the like of Mervyn Peake, even a little Terry Pratchett. There were the heavy postmodern books of course, including the signed copy of her grandfather's seminal work, Simulation and Simulacra. And of course, the volumes on magick, expanding every time she stepped into Marcel's back room...

Next to the bookshelf was the queen-size bed, candles and absinthe sitting upon small tables to each side. On the other side of the room, her altar, cleared for the moment of all magickal tools but her cleansing incense. Most of her new items had been lost the night she had tried to exorcise Deirdre, anyway.

In the far corner was the mid-size TV and DVD player, hooked up to the stereo system for optimum sound. The scattered CDs included plenty of danceable Gothic music, Renee's genre of choice lately, though the piles promised plenty of Metal and Industrial as well. The walls were adorned with posters for The Cure, The Sisters of Mercy and Iron Maiden, along with The Matrix and her favourite film of all time, Amelie. Finally, it was completed with a large black banner sporting a red pentagram.

"Welcome to my lair," Renee said with her gorgeous predator's smile. She hadn't shown that expression since she had been with Deirdre. She fetched Scarlett's absinthe, and waited as she took in her surroundings.

Scarlett took in the candle-lit room, impressed. It was quite the nice set up Renee had here, and the candles made it even more beautiful. Just looking around she could see all the things they had in common. "And to think Kait didn't know whether we should meet," she smiled, obvious affection in her voice. And, noticing the altar, Scarlett thought how good it felt to be in a nice room with someone who was into magic like she was.

"Your lair is gorgeous," she told Renee, and took her glass of absinthe from Renee's hand. "Thank you."

"You're more than welcome," Renee smiled, lifting her own glass in a toast. "To beautiful women... you and Kait, more than I could ever ask for or deserve. You... you are my blessings. Thank you."

Scarlett smiled warmly at the words, unable to stop herself. "Ditto. And to you, Renee, strong and beautiful. I'm glad to count you as a friend." She touched her own glass to Renee's.

Renee's heart warmed as Scarlett said those beautiful words. She took a sip of her absinthe, but then had to look away. There was something that had plagued her... and now that Scarlett was here, it was best to get it out in the open, before it hurt somebody. She had learnt the hard way that secrets were best not kept at all.

She sat down on her bed, placing the absinte on one of the tables for now. Looking up, she met Scarlett's eyes once more.

"So... you were not too disappointed in me? I went against your advice, and got myself hurt. You are not... angry with me for going ahead with the exorcism?"

Scarlett shook her head and sat down next to Renee, taking both her hands in hers. "Not dissapointed." She smiled at her. "Come on, you're not a kid and I'm not your parent. We make mistakes and we all do things that are stupid sometimes. I didn't think you should go through with what you did, but it's done now." She brushed Renee's throat very softly with her fingertips, tracing a bruise. "And it went...badly. But, no, not dissapointed." She picked her absinthe up from the table where she had placed it and took a another sip.

Scarlett's light touch sent shivers down Renee's spine. She wanted to take her hand and place it back on her neck, let Scarlett's fingers roam where they would over her body. Nobody had touched her so gently and lovingly since... Deirdre. It really did take a woman's touch. It was like water washing over her, taking away all her pain and fear and leaving her with grace and... longing.

She placed her hand down near Scarlett's, then slowly intertwined her fingers with hers. "Thank you, Scar." She gave a small smile. "I sometimes forget the value of forgiveness until I need to receive it myself."

Her eyes flicked to the absinthe, the only thing that had really been offered to Scarlett since she had gotten here. Where were her manners? Bad hostess!

"Can I get you anything else?" she asked quickly. "Are you hungry, have you eaten?"

Hmm... It seemed some elements of Deirdre had rubbed off on her...

Scarlett smiled at the other girl. She may not have agreed with some of the things that had happened- not telling her girlfriend about Kait, doing the exorcism- but Renee had a good heart underneath it all. Scarlett could see that much shining through.

"Actually, yes," she told Renee. "I'm a little bit on the starving side. And drinking on top of that won't end well!"

"No indeed, if last time was any indication," Renee replied, wagging her finger in mock admonishment.

"I must admit, I am a dreadful cook. But I'm sure there is something we can stick in the microwave. My parents cannot cook either, so dinner times are most often a nuclear or fend-for-yourself scenario," she smiled apologetically.

She slipped her hand easily into Scarlett's once more and led her downstairs to the kitchen.