To tempt a saint. [rp for lapsedsaint]

[aesthetic_mojo]

Charlie took possession of her apartment two days before making the vague offer of drinks to John Everton. So far she had a king sized futon set up in the living room with a small coffee table in front of it and another futon set up in the bedroom. They were inexpensive and comfortable enough to hold her over until she decided how she wanted the space to look. Not to mention it might be a good plan to let the kittens get settled before making too many changes.

Asking John to bring paper cups was a matter of sheer necessity. She had one large mug she used for everything, one set of plates and two pans. Formally setting up housekeeping in the city was going to cost a fortune. Buying a $250 dollar bottle of booze for a man who thought she was an instrument of the devil didn't help. Sitting on the living room futon, she stared at the bottle for a long time. No matter how good it was going to taste, she thought it should sparkle or dance.

Aleister lay on his back at her feet, pulling on the hem of her skirt. She could hear him purring in satisfaction not only at the game but at her willingness to let the game continue. His sister Vivianne was curled into a tiny ball behind Charlotte's shoulder on the back of the futon. She also purred, but did so from a deep sleep. Without moving her body, which might have woken the kitten, Charlotte absently petted her as they waited for company Charlotte couldn't really believe would ever arrive.

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[lapsedsaint]

He sat in his car for nearly half an hour before finally getting out. He could not believe he was doing this. Still, he'd said he would.

When he got to the door of the building, he hit the buzzer and waited.

[aesthetic_mojo]

Viv didn't move, but Al went running for the bell. He hadn't figured out it was attached to a small box high on the wall by the front door. From where she was, Charlie could easily activate the switch that would open the building door, but she couldn't see the small closed circuit screen to confirm it was John at the door.

Because she knew even if she heard his voice, she wouldn't believe it was him without seeing, she got up and crossed to the box. Even so, she stood staring at the grainy black and white image for a full minute before hitting the buzzer to let him in. Figuring he could find his way up, she didn't bother greeting him. Instead she went to the bottle and opened it for her guest.

[lapsedsaint]

When the buzzer sounded, he pulled the door open and went in. Finding her apartment was simple enough and he took in front of that door and knocked sharply, three times.

He shifted the sleeve of cups to his other arm.

[aesthetic_mojo]

Charlie scooped Al up, deposited him on her shoulder, and went to open the door. She grinned at the stacked cups. "Welcome to my den of iniquity, Agent Everton. Please, come in."

Al mewed his own inquisitive greeting.

[lapsedsaint]

He looked at the kitten first before greeting her with a smile. Stepping all the way into the apartment, he moved so she could close the door. "I hope I brought enough cups."

He started looking around for the other cat or cats. She had mentioned kittens, after all.

[aesthetic_mojo]

"Unless you've invited an army I don't know about or the demons decide to play hide and seek with them, I think you brought plenty." She locked up, then ushered him further into the apartment. Grabbing the bottle as they walked past the kitchen, she indicated he should take a seat on the couch.

Just as Vivianne lifted her head to blink at them, Aleister popped off Charlie's shoulder and materialized right next to his sister.

[lapsedsaint]

He was moving to sit down when the kitten relocated. He stopped cold and blinked, then rubbed his eyes before sitting down.

Once he was down, he crossed himself and murmured a prayer before actually looking at the bottle of liquor.

[aesthetic_mojo]

Charlotte had to work hard not to laugh at him. "Damn it, you two. I asked you not to do that until he'd had a few drinks in him. It's not kind."

She sat on the other end of the futon, the kittens on the back between them, and held her hand out for the cups. When he handed them to her, she immediately poured him two full fingers. "Now please, I beg you, sip this."

[lapsedsaint]

He purposefully ignored the kittens and looked into the glass, instead. He knew the label and knew exactly how much it cost. He hadn't indulged in anything from that distillery in a year.

He brought the cup slowly to his lip, savoring the scent before taking a sip. He groaned softly as he lowered the cup. "Very nice."

[aesthetic_mojo]

The groan was a victory and she didn't bother hiding it. Grinning broadly, she sat back a little and curled her long legs under her. "It's a pleasure to see a man enjoy the good things in life."

She waved a hand at the ridiculously empty apartment. "I apologize for the state of the place, but it hasn't been mine long. Come back in a month and it will look a bit more respectable."

[lapsedsaint]

He took another sip before he felt he could speak. He set the cup on the coffee table and looked at her. "I haven't even finished one drink and you're already inviting me back? Why do I think I walked into the twilight zone?"

[aesthetic_mojo]

She laughed, highly amused at his reaction. "I realize seeing me make polite conversation is a shock, but is it that bad?"

She was genuinely curious to hear his answer to that, but she went on to soften the question some. "There's an aspect of vanity to it. I'm used to my personal space reflecting my personality more than this."

[lapsedsaint]

He canted his head and watched her before answering. "And you want me to come back to reassure me that you are not as minimal and empty as your apartment is right now?"

[aesthetic_mojo]

She laughed even harder, startling Vivianne enough to make her squawk indignantly. The kitten had gone back to sleep. "I'm easily this minimal, but I'd like to think not so empty." She looked around for a moment, trying to picture how much she'd actually put in when the time came. "My home in London is an industrial loft all done in chrome. I don't imagine this will be so different."

She raised an eyebrow. "How would you have expected my home to look?"

[lapsedsaint]

He shrugged at that and went back to his drink. "You are asking the wrong person. I like in a hotel room."

[aesthetic_mojo]

"May I ask why? You work largely in this area, don't you?" She glanced out one of the big windows at the city. "I travel a great deal, but I still prefer to have a space that is my own. That's private."

She tried to couch it in the most neutral terms she could. "I can find my center more easily, reach the energies necessary for my abilities to manifest, in private space."

[lapsedsaint]

"I work largely in the area for right now. I have to be able to move in a day. So I see no point in settling down here. I have a home in Boston."

He turned his focus back to his drink and took another sip, deciding to ignore the second part of what she said.

[aesthetic_mojo]

She smiled very faintly, well aware of his omission. "I'd be extremely curious to see your home given how hard you work to erase any trace of humanity from your exterior. What's on your bookshelf, on your bedside table, under your bathroom sink." She chuckled. "Oh, that would be a good one. I'd love to know what's in your bathroom."

[lapsedsaint]

"I can't remember what's in my bathroom." He shrugged and took another sip, then leaned back against the couch. He closed his eyes and sighed softly.

[aesthetic_mojo]

"How long has it been since you were in your own space?" She spoke much more softly, watching him for signs of discomfort. Someone else and she might have invisibly caressed him, trying to soothe the evident weariness. "Do you measure it in weeks or months?"

[lapsedsaint]

He gave her a half shrug, then reached over and pet one of the kittens. "Normally, I measure it in months. I was back while I was on administrative leave recently, for just long enough to air it out and do some laundry."

[aesthetic_mojo]

Aleister rolled onto his back, absently batting at John's hand and purring loudly. He was sleepy, but wasn't going to pass up the attention. Charlotte smiled. "You're so gentle with him. Even after he startled you."

She leaned forward to get the bottle so she could refill his drink. "What's the longest you've ever lived somewhere as an adult?"

[lapsedsaint]

He held his cup out for the refill as he thought about her question. "Law school. I had the same apartment for the entire time."

[aesthetic_mojo]

When his cup was full, she got one for herself, pouring herself just a little. "I wish I could have seen you then." She chuckled. "I'm trying to picture you as a college boy and I'm having trouble. Did you enjoy it?"

[lapsedsaint]

"I did." He sat up some and took a long sip, then went back to petting the kitten. The fact that the beast had startled him had been completely pushed from his mind. He simply wasn't important. Not getting scratched too badly, on the other hand, was, so he kept his touch light.