knows itâs out of line to start that conversation when weâre not alone.
âSo tell me about the club.â His tone is much lighter.
âDonât know much about it yet. Itâs a nightclub near downtown that has two Goth nights and one lesbian night. Guess weâll know more in a couple of hours.â
Darren nods. âAnd I see youâve got a shopping bag there.â He gives a little raise of the eyebrows. âCanâtwait to see the outfits.â The Darren I likeâ¦maybe loveâ¦returns.
Once weâve finished eating, we start the transformation in my bedroom, leaving Darren to channel-surf in the living room.
âLooks like youâre in trouble,â Mercedes whispers.
âItâs not exactly the best start to our few days together, but it canât be helped.â
âAre you sure about that? Why donât we just wait until Thursday?â
âDarren will cope. Besides, I need to get on top of this angle ASAP. I get the feeling the lead detective isnât too sure about her decision to call in the Bureau.â
âAnd you want to prove yourself?â She frowns.
âNot prove myselfâ¦I just want to be thorough.â
Mercedes rolls her eyes. âYouâre always thorough.â
âMy jobâs important to me.â I sound defensive, but I canât help it.
âI know.â Mercedes puts her hand on mine. âBut you need a life outside of the job. And Darrenâ¦heâs a good guy.â
I sigh. âYouâre right. I need to get better at the whole balance thing.â Generally speaking, if Iâm not working Iâm exercising, and vice versa. And my kung fu takes up a big chunk of time each week too, especially now that Iâm working toward my second dan black belt. âThis will only take us a few hours and Darren will be fine.â I donât know if Iâm convincing Mercedes or myself.
Mercedes takes the leather pants I bought out of the VampIt bag. âMost men would forgive anything if they saw their girl in this outfit.â She gives me a big smile and passes the pants to me.
âGood.â I lay my clothes out on the bed and Mercedes does the same. Looking at the clothes makes me feel like a teenager dressing up for a nightclub or a high school dance. âWe need music.â
âI donât have anything Goth in my music collection. You?â Mercedes is in her underwear and we both stand at my full-length mirror about to start our makeup.
âI used to listen to Madonna when I was getting ready in my teens.â
She shrugs. âIâm up for Madonna. But I donât think it would help us get into character.â
I laugh. âLetâs see how we go without any mood music then.â
We both start with regular moisturizer before applying the base, smoothing it over our faces and necks.
I check out Mercedes. âThat looks nice.â Sheâs definitely a few shades paler than normal, but doesnât look like sheâs putting on a clown face, either. I take my dressing gown off and mix the foundation with regular moisturizer to tone it down. My arms and décolletage are already pale and wonât need much work, but I want to blend the effect across my upper body, given Iâll be wearing a corset. Once Iâve smoothed the blend over my arms and chest, I use the ash powder to dust my face, arms and chest. It creates an even, velvetlike finish and, just like the girl said, it only lightens the tone of the base by one or two shades.
I pass the powder to Mercedes. âKnock yourself out.â
âThanks.â Mercedes looks at her reflection. âMan, how do you stand being this pale all the time?â
I give her a light push. âDonât get me started. Iâd trade skin tones any day.â Mercedesâ skin is beautifully smooth and olive. No need for fake tan, or solariums or even a body bronzer.
She smiles.
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