Renee / Ry - A request - PG-13

[seminalsemiotic.livejournal.com]

Renee was still adorned with her witchy look as she wandered into Dante's. With a small smile, she wondered what Ry would think. No doubt he would have some sort of choice comment to make. She ordered a chai tea at the bar before sitting down at a booth that, while affording at least some small measure of privacy, would allow her to be easily spotted from the door or window. This was too important to chance Ry not seeing her. Her heart was beating a little faster than usual. She was no stranger to organising... exotic pastimes, but this was going to be something else entirely. She could feel it. She hoped Ry wouldn't be too freaked out by her request...



It was like she wanted to be seen. Overtly so. Ry dimmly wondered why as he passed the threshold to Dantes and turned straight to the seat she had taken. Sitting down in front of her, he looked her up and down and murmured, "Felt like a change, did you?"

Renee gave a small smile. "After everything that has happened, I think my whole life could use one big change. Can I order you anything?" she asked, taking a sip of her chai.

"Not today. I'm in the money," he said, jangling his pocket with change as he headed up to the bar to order his usual double shot latte.

He returned to the table a moment later. "So. Life. Change. Yeah, fair enough."

Renee nodded. "In a sense, that was what I wished to talk to you about. I am..." She hesitated. She hadn't thought this through. What was she supposed to say to Ry about this? She really had no idea what his thoughts on witchcraft might be. Would he know what hemlock was, what it was used for? Would he disapprove? Would he even care at all? Well, it was Ry. Even if he did care, he would probably just pretend he didn't.

"I am contemplating walking a different path than I have in the past," she continued after a moment. Way to skirt around the issue without actually telling the boy a thing.

"I noticed your friend Jocelyn talking to you on your LiveJournal. I was wondering... would he be able to acquire herbs of a more... exotic nature than your usual fare?"

"Exotic? How?" Ry asked, between sips of his still hot latte. This was done purely to mask his own opinions. First Deirdre asking him for a smoke, now Renee and exotic herbs? If any of them would actually bother to ask him as opposed to just assuming drugs would help, he would easily tell them that they needed to deal with their shit together.

Failing that, however, he was curious.

"Well, it is a far cry from your average weed," Renee said, taking a sip of her chai to help steady her nerves. Such a simple request, really. It shouldn't have been this difficult. What was stopping her from just saying it? Guilt? Foreboding...?

"It's called hemlock," she finally blurted out. There. Done. "Its purpose is very specific. It is an old staple of witchcraft. Do... do you think Jocelin would be able to get it? Would he even know what it is?"

She hoped Ry didn't think she had gone off the deep end... Hell, maybe Ry knew all about hemlock, and she was panicking over nothing. It wouldn't be the first time, if she were...

"Hemlock." Ry didn't phrase it as a question. Just because he wasn't familiar with it personally did not mean that he had no knowledge of it.

"Yeah, purpose specific. None of it good." This was accompanied by a shake of Ry's head. "Affects the nervous system, acts like a sedative, that the one?" Agitated suddenly, Ry ran his hand through his hair. "Jesus, Renee, what do you wanna get a hold of that kind of stuff for?"

"Well, you are right about the nervous system," Renee said quietly, weathering his agitation. "But the use I have for it is not quite so sedate. There is a certain way of preparing it... I suppose the closest thing you could compare it to would be an acid trip, except this is natural and probably more potent."

She looked away for a moment, then forced herself to meet Ry's gaze. She needed him to see her resolve for this to work. "Ry, I am sure you have been following enough of what is happening to know that I am a witch. I need the hemlock for some ritual work that I want to do. I promise you, this is not just some frivolous thrill-seeking affair. I have a genuine use for the herb. Please... do you think you could at least ask for me? I really don't know anybody else who could find something like that. Certainly nobody trustworthy."

She left that last comment hanging. Was she being too manipulative? Playing on what she hoped would be his desire to have her acquire the hemlock from a relatively safe source, if she acquired it at all? Well, it was said now...

Ry rolled his eyes. When put like that, what could he really say but, yes?

"Okay. Not because I approve, but because I know you're just going to go off and get it from someone else if I don't do this for you." He sighed heavily, then stood up.

"I've changed my mind. I will let you pay for the drinks." And he walked out.

Renee sighed, feeling chastised by Ry's reaction. She hadn't meant to make him angry, but... at least he was going to do it for her. Hopefully, he would get over it soon. It didn't have to be a big deal...

And it wasn't like she needed the extra guilt.