Lillian grinned to herself as she pinned the tickets on the corkboard. Her cousin could be pretty cool sometimes. As much as she tried to keep her usual misanthropic attitude, the present had put her in too good of a mood. She hummed some MCR quietly to herself as she skipped around the dark apartment. Normally she'd belt out the words as she blasted the songs from her phone, but her roommate had made a rare request for peace for the morning. Anyone else would've been told exactly where they could go and what they could do once there, but the witchy cybergoth was technically the breadwinner for the pair. If she needed a bit of quiet for work, then Lillian could restrain herself for a little while. A shuddering moan rang through the hall from Zoey's "office". The thin girl had a surprising set of lungs on her when she tried, holding the pleasurable scream for a fair few seconds. Her fading cry was the signal that work was nearly over. Lillian had to hurry to prepare.
Setting out a pair of goblets on the kitchen counter, she retrieved a massive bottle of Gatorade from the fridge. The deep red was a taste she'd acquired during her vampire phase. With the glasses full she turned her attention to snacks. Zoey was always hungry after a good session. Some pre-sliced cheese was haphazardly dumped onto a plate, along with some salty crackers. Adjusting her crop top to make sure the girls were looking good, she took a seat in one of the barstools, sipping her sports drink like that's all she'd been doing all day. The red liquid almost shot out of her nose as her roommate crept into the room.
Fresh from a stream, Zoey had only wrapped a silk dressing gown around herself, tying it loosely at her narrow waist. Lillian couldn't help but stare at the gap above the belt. A sliver of dark skin glistening with rapidly cooling sweat as her chest heaved, signs of a successful show. While Zoey's chest was a lot more modest than Lillian's own pair, the girl definitely knew she looked good. The mystic girl must've caught her ogling.
"Rent shall be more than covered for the next few months. My subscribers were especially generous today."
Yeah, I bet they were.
Lillian tore her eyes away from her girlfriend's cleavage as the witch took a seat across from her. Her gaze traced up past the narrow shoulders and slender neck, shiny white lips and cute upturned nose, settling on the red and blue eyes staring at her. While Zoey always looked slightly out of it, getting caught in her eyes was an intense experience, one that Lillian had grown to love.
"Definitely sounded like you earned it."
"Yes, although a large group of them continuously wished me a 'Merry Christmas' despite my request not to. I will not hold it against them though, several of them were the largest donors after all."
Lillian didn't doubt it at all. She'd slipped into Zoey's show under an anonymous username and watched for a while. The money had been pouring in from the second the girl's cherry red corset had been unzipped.
"Apologies, I am most hungry after such a rigorous hour. May I?"
Lillian grunted and slid the plate over to the girl. Even Zoey's eating habits were strange. After sniffing the cheese to make sure it was vegan (as she knew it was), she folded several slices together, creating a small wadded up ball. Sticking a cracker on top, she popped the whole thing in her mouth, her cheeks not even swelling despite how full they should've been. She had many similar oddities. Seemingly minor activities that defied logic or reason. An uncanny ability to know exactly what anyone was thinking, or being able to "read" an object's history. Her ever shifting hair colour was another one. Yesterday it had been it's usual neon blue, but now it was a muted dark red, done up in spiky pigtails and laced with scarlet ribbons. Lillian doubted it would be the same when she saw the girl tomorrow.
"So, what d'you wanna do now?"
Swallowing slowly, the cyber warrior tapped her chin, her eyes flashing a jade green as they followed some unseen movement on the wall. Her loose blue sleeve fell down to her elbow as she raised her arm. Lillian knew there was a surprising amount of strength in her spindly limbs, more than enough to pin the heavier girl to the bed anyway.
"I believe I shall bathe. Other than a ritual later this evening, I shall be free for the rest of the day."
She was gonna do a ritual today, perfect. Lillian's hands squirmed a bit as she fiddled with her glass.
"Hey, I know you don't, like, celebrate Christmas or anything, but I got you a little gift. Just to say thanks for letting me stay with you, and junk."
The heavy wooden case had been hidden under the table, ready. With a grunt Lillian heaved it onto the counter, sliding it over to Zoey. The girl raised an eyebrow as she undid the metal clasps on the chest.
"I appreciate the gesture Lillian, but you do not have to repay me for….Oh! These are exquisite!"
Taking one of the candles from the box, she held it up to inspect. Long, narrow, and dark, they were perfect for the young Wiccan. Zoey gave it a curious sniff.
"Is that lavender?"
"Yeah, I remember you said it helped you concentrate."
Zoey was always hard to read, but Lillian could've sworn she looked touched.
"Please wait a moment. I have something for you as well."
The girl's bare footsteps were unnaturally silent as she padded off to her room. The hem of her gown flapped around her thighs, giving Lillian an accidental eyeful before she disappeared from sight. Lillian was just starting to get engrossed in her phone again when the girl appeared back at the counter. The bratty goth had been slightly disappointed to learn her girlfriend's powers didn't actually include teleportation, she just moved incredibly quickly and quietly.
"Here. I know it's not the original, but I hope it's a suitable replacement."
Lillian held up the bundle of baby blue fabric, becoming delighted as it unfurled to reveal a dopey looking panda.
"How did you….Where did you….You found it!"
She clutched the shirt like a baby would a blanket. It may have seemed silly to be so attached to a cheap T-shirt, but the panda was special to Lillian. It'd been a gift from Ashley on their first Christmas as cousins, her trusty pyjama top for years, and what she'd worn when she lost her virginity. Seeing it destroyed on Mount Nymphojaro had broken Lillian's heart, even if it had looked pretty cool, but she and Zoey had come out unscathed. Across from her, Zoey gave a small chuckle.
"Ashley was most helpful in tracking down the manufacturer. As I said, it's not the original, I'm afraid, but it should be the same in every…..Lillian."
A black leather crop top sailed over Zoey's head as her lover squeezed her head into her present. She was beaming as she sat, dorky armour in place.
"Thanks so much Zoey! Merry Chri….er, happy…what was it again?"
Lillian knew the outburst was unusual for her, but she didn't care. She'd tried to get Zoey something she could actually use, but the witch had put a lot more thought into her gift.
"Yule, Lillian. And a happy Yule to you too."
With an awkward stretch Zoey rose to her feet.
"Well, I believe it's time for my bath….." She paused, opening her gown until Lillian got a glimpse of a little dark tip."….perhaps you'd care to join me?"
