Ria took a seat at the table and selected a scone, nibbling on it a bit before answering.“If used properly, it can induce a mind-altering state.Covens often use it for their…” Her blush deepened even further.
“Come on, Elixir Enchantress,” Lissa pressed.“Spit it out.”
“They use it for theirnakedrituals.”
Lissa sucked in a breath at the onslaught of erotic visuals her sex-deprived brain provided.“You mean witches get hopped up on this plant so they can have an orgy in the woods?”Maybe there was something to this whole witchcraft thing.
Ria chuckled.“Kind of.There’s a lot more to it than that.It’s mostly a way to worship the Goddess Hecate, but sometimes things can get a little…sexy.”
“You don’t say.”Lissa perched her chin on her fist and leaned forward, forgetting all about the reason she was there in the first place.“So what you’re telling me is if I eat one of those leaves I’m going to be tripping balls?”
Ria took another bite of scone and chewed it thoughtfully before answering.“I mean, I think that’s more or less what happens.I wouldn’t know for certain.My mom dragged me to a few rituals as a kid, but I got kicked out before the drugs came into play.I do know it can be added to some potions in a milder form.Still, it’s unlikely anyone besides a witch would be growing it, let alone displaying it on a public patio.”
“Semi-public,” Lissa pointed out.“Technically, this is for staff and friends only.”
“That’s true,” the witch agreed.“I think we’re getting a little off topic though.We’re supposed to be talking about your love life, not dancing naked in the pale light of a full moon.”
Lissa shrugged.“I wouldn’t say the two need to be mutually exclusive.”
Ria blushed, and Lissa was fast considering the deep shade of pink to be one of her new favorite colors.“Also true, but we should get started.Why don’t you tell me about yourself real quick?It can help with the intention portion of the spell.”
“Oh, um, I’m kinda boring,” Lissa replied, trying to figure out how to keep her identity as a Smooth Expressions employee a secret.“I work in an art studio, just turned thirty, blah blah blah.Why don’t we talk about you?Potions, huh?What got you into that?You don’t look like a potions girl.”Lissa took a quick gulp from the take-out cup and made a mental note to forgive Daria’s meddling in thanks for having the vanilla oat milk latte waiting for her.
“I know what you mean,” Ria said, finally relaxing into her chair a bit.“Most people expect witches to be all flowy skirts and organic deodorant that doesn’t work.I’m a bit different, I guess.My whole business is pretty new actually.If it weren’t for my mom, I probably wouldn’t be doing witchcraft at all.”
“I feel ya on the parental pressure,” Lissa replied, swiping a hand across her mouth and grimacing when she knocked off a few scone crumbs.“Mine wanted me to be an accountant or something lame like working in an office.We don’t talk much these days, and I’m kinda okay with that.So what did you do before the whole magic thing?”
Ria gave her a small smile.“I worked in a lame office.”
Shit.She’d known that too.Why was her stupid brain always slower than her mouth?
Because you rarely listen to me anyway, her brain answered.
“It’s okay,” Ria added, likely seeing Lissa’s embarrassment.“The officewaslame.But I worked in marketing and really enjoyed it.It was only recently that I decided to take a break, and the only other thing I was ever good at was potions.”
“Marketing, huh?”Lissa replied, leaning forward onto her elbows.“That doesn’t sound lame at all.I bet you put together some cool campaigns.”
Come on, take the bait.
“Oh, yeah.I had a bunch I was really proud of.I was actually working on a really fun one last winter.”
Getting closer.
“Really?Any company I would know?”
It’s right there, just take it.
“Maybe?It was actually a local company here in Seacliff.”
Yahtzee!
“What a small world,” Lissa mused, taking a drink of her coffee to hide her excitement.“So what was the campaign you put together?”
“Oh, I can’t talk about it.”
Fuck me.
Lissa struggled to maintain her neutral expression, a challenge given how strongly her brow was pulling in the downward direction.“That’s a shame.Sounded intriguing.So, um, why can’t you talk about it?Just curious.”
