Jennie is applying pink glossy lipbalm when the doorbell goes off.

It's seven p.m. on a Saturday evening, and Jennie is about to go on a date with the Snake Charmer.

That is something Jennie never thought would happen, or something she would ever willingly agree to, and yet, she was the one who jumped at the opportunity to go on a date with the mobster.

Jennie never thought this would happen, but she finds herself not minding in the slightest. Finds herself happy about the turn of events.

The cabaret dancer takes one last, long look at herself in the full-length mirror of her bedroom. She can't help but smile at herself, confidence singing in every single one of her pores.

She's got an ash blue sweater with a drawing of bear on it and a baby blue freesia gingham jacket, with a high-waisted, light-blue mini skirt that shows off her long, elegant dancer legs. And white sneakers.

She finished her look off with a headband.

Lisa did not tell her where they would be going, but all Jennie had asked is that it not be something too extravagant, and the woman had agreed.

The doorbell goes off again, and Jennie finds herself giggling at the Snake Charmer's impatience.

"Coming!" Jennie calls out breathlessly, spraying herself with her favourite perfume, and dances her way over to the door. Her mother is working the late shift at the beauty salon tonight, so she is home alone.

She swings the door open with a bright smile on her face, flushing pleasantly when the first thing her eyes land on is a bouquet of red peonies this time. The bouquet is large and the flowers are beautiful; the scent of them enough for Jennie's nose to handle. She picked them up.

However, the person holding the bouquet of peonies is not Lisa. Jennie's smile slips off her face as she holds on to the door frame with tight fingers.

"Uhmㅡ"

"These are from Ms. Manoban." The burly man behind the large bouquet explains, extending the peonies closer for Jennie to take. "I am here to pick you up and take you to the location for your evening with the boss."

Jennie falters only for a second, then extends her hands out to take the peonies.

"Oh. Thank you." She mumbles, taking the rather heavy bouquet. "Would you give me a minute to put these in some water?"

The man nods and Jennie quietly shuts the door.

Huh.

So, going on a date with the Snake Charmer entails having someone else come pick you up to take you to the location of your date.

Who knew?

⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆

When the black car comes to a slow stop, Jennie finally dares peek out the tinted windows.

Her lips part in a silent gasp.

They are outside an amusement park, of all places. The entire place is lit up with neon red lights, including the large Ferris Wheel and the rollercoasters rising high above the park. This was certainly not what Jennie expected for their date, but she finds that she doesn't mind such a location for a date in the slightest.

What surprises her the most is not really the location, but rather than how empty the entire place is. There is not a single soul there, except for some of the park workers lingering around.

The same burly man comes to open Jennie's door for her, and the girl graciously slips out of the car, fixing her skirt slightly as it rides up a bit.

"Hello, lovely."

A soothing, low voice; much closer than she was expecting. Jennie jumps slightly, spinning around to be faced with none other than Lalisa Manoban; looking as strikingly gorgeous as she does every single time Jennie sees her slithering around the club, snakes following her around like a sort of God.

There are no snakes around this time ㅡ or, at least, Jennie can't see any at the moment ㅡ and she's dressed rather casually.

At least, compared to how she's usually dressed. Instead of a perfect three-piece suit, Lisa is dressed in a simple black turtleneck sweater with matching, form-fitting black slacks.

She's got two rings decorating her fingers; black stones glinting in the neon red of the park lights.

"Hi." Jennie breathes out; breathless and a tad bit overwhelmed.

Then again ㅡ she always is around the woman. The Snake Charmer truly has got an effect on people. Or, perhaps, just Jennie.

Lisa's eyes travel down the entire length of Jennie's figure, focusing especially on the cabaret's legs, and Jennie finds herself blushing and smiling bashfully.

She knows she looks good.

Lisa confirms that.

"You look... Ravishing, darling. A model of perfection."

Jennie looks up at her through her lashes, smiling as her gums show on display.

"Thank you."

Lisa grins at her, offering her arm, and Jennie latches on to it, circling her own through Lisa's; her fingers gently gliding through the softness of the material of Lisa's turtleneck. Lisa begins leading them towards the lit-up entrance of the park.

"Did you like the peonies?" She asks; voice gentle and soothing as she places her palm over Jennie's, the girl's palm is peeking out from the crook of Lisa's elbow, and their fingers intertwine the second their hands touch.

Like magnets, they are.

"I did," Jennie breathes, looking up at Lisa with earnest eyes, "I loved them, thank you."

Lisa smiles then, leading Jennie over to one of the restaurants in the park. It's a bit more on the pricier side; a steakhouse that Jennie wouldn't even think of stepping foot in if she was by herself or any of her friends. Places like this are too expensive, even in amusement parks.

Who even needs fine dining in an amusement park; a place where there are carts holding greasy fries and fried cheesecakes on every single corner.

"I assumed the roses were getting a tad repetitive. You do deserve only the best."

Jennie's cheeks flush, but then again, they never had stopped burning. Jennie finds herself pushing closer to the latter; until their sides are touching and Jennie's chin comes to rest upon Lisa's shoulder.

"I don't mind the roses."

Lisa's lips are curled into a smile that is far too endeared for two people who've known each other for two weeks only.

"I like to keep people on their toes; surprise them." Is all Lisa says before she leads Jennie into the restaurant.

Lisa does the feeding for Jennie, then herself, and wipes the stains around the cabaret's lips like a baby Jennie is. While the latter was just obediently opening her mouth and nodding her head. The Snake Charmer buys Jennie an ice cream float with cherry on top for dessert ㅡ Lisa chortles, booping her nose because it got some cream on it.

⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆

After dinner, Lisa allows Jennie to pick whichever ride she wants to go on.

Lisa pays for their dinner and leaves a large tip. She questions why did Jennie even took her wallet out with her, and she simply responds with a dark blush. Lisa answers the blush with a smirk.

Jennie's first choice for a ride turns out to be the Ferris Wheel; lit up neon red and seeming far too alluring for a ride in an amusement park.

Lisa does not hesitate to lead her towards the ride.

When they are at the very top of the Ferris Wheel ㅡ a beautiful view of Gotham City all lit up in front of them, romantic and looking like something straight out of a cliché high-school romance film ㅡ Jennie expects Lisa to cradle her face and kiss her.

Instead, the latter takes her hand into hers and presses kisses to Jennie's knuckles while telling her all about the stars they can see above their heads.

Jennie felt slightly disappointed ㅡ considering how much she wants to kiss the Snake Charmer, but she finds herself completely and utterly fond of the latter pressing gentle kisses to her knuckles and waxing poetic about the stars and the constellations.

Jennie finds that she's falling.

Truly, madly, deeply, and completely.

Falling for a woman who can speak to snakes, and who controls the city like a King controls their Kingdom.

For a woman who gifts her red flowers and bracelets that cost more than anything Jennie has ever owned.

For a woman who holds her hand like it is precious porcelain that is not allowed to become chipped, or, ㅡ God forbid ㅡ broken.

For a woman who looks at her with a type of fascination and awe ㅡ respect and fondness ㅡ that Jennie has never known in her entire twenty-two years of life.

Yes, it really comes as no surprise that Jennie is falling for the Snake Charmer.

After all, so many have fallen before her. All of them learned what it's like to fall for a woman that belongs to no one else but the snakes; the same ones that curl around her like vines over a window.

They all learned their lesson in loving a woman who has only ever known how to love a snake. The Snake Charmer is not someone who loves; not someone who willingly would ever open her heart to allow anyone even a peek inside.

Jennie knows that; she's heard enough stories to last her a lifetime.

And yet,

And yet Jennie is falling for her.

Luckily for her, it seems that the Snake Charmer is willing to open her heart this time around.

Jennie might not be aware of this just yet ㅡ or hold any knowledge of this ㅡ but she is bound to become the one exception; the one that the entire City of Gotham would sing praises for and look at in awe and envy.

⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆

As the night comes to an end, Jennie finds herself curling into Lisa's side in the car back home.

She's clutching a stuffed toy that Lisa won for her in one carnival game. It is a long, emerald green snake, because, of course, what else would it be?

Jennie has had so much fun in this one night, she finds herself not wanting to leave the the Snake Charmer's presence. Lisa smells nice and fresh. Expensive in a way that makes Jennie's head spin pleasantly; her face nuzzled in the latter's neck, the turtleneck sweater folded down lower to allow Jennie to press her nose against the soft, material-warmed skin of Lisa's neck.

Lisa's arm is curled around Jennie's waist, holding the dancer flush to her side; her free hand is curled around Jennie's knee, thumb gently tapping out a silent beat against the crease of her inner-knee; tapping a beat that Jennie cannot hear or know.

"Where were the snakes tonight?" She finds herself mumbling; Lisa shivers underneath Jennie's lips. They drew the shapes of the letters into her skin, and Jennie smiles when she feels the shiver.

Shivers run down Jennie's own spine ㅡ knowing it's possible for her to gain a reaction like that from Lisa.

Knowing that she was able to make the latter shiver, even if a little.

"At home. They don't have to follow me everywhere, you know?" Lisa teases, turning her head a bit and pressing her lips to the top of Jennie's head.

The cabaret feels a surge of bravery, and she lifts her head from Lisa's neck, tilting her head so that Lisa's lips slide down to the little spot between her eyebrows.

Lisa's lips are soft and sweet against her skin; like rose petals; just like Jennie remembers it from the last time.

Jennie blinks her eyes open and closed and then open again slowly, pushing even closer, though it's not possible because they are already flush against each other and yet,

And yet, Jennie tries.

And yet,

And yet, Lisa allows her to.

Jennie feels drunk off of how much Lisa is allowing her. She's almost expecting for the latter to pull away; to sharply remind her they are not the same and she makes the rules here. To remind Jennie that she's allowing herself too much freedom over a woman that might never even belong to her.

That reminder never comes; Lisa allowing her to come closer and even pulling Jennie closer herself; the arm around Jennie's waist tightening and curling.

And so, Jennie takes everything she's being given like a greedy worshipper. Pushes for more and is rewarded with exactly what she wants.

Their noses are brushing; Jennie can feel Lisa's breath and she's sure Lisa can feel hers. They're so close ㅡ reminiscent of the same position they were in just three days ago in the club.

They're so close, Jennie can almost already feel Lisa's kiss.

The Snake Charmer lifts a hand to curl over Jennie's face; cupping her cheek in a gentle hold and running her thumb over Jennie's bottom lip. Jennie's lips part immediately, a soft breath escaping her.

Sounds almost like a whimper.

Jennie would be ashamed, but she's not.

How can she be, when she's so close to what she wants? How can she be, when she's spent the last two weeks dreaming of snakes and petal-like lips on her skin?

"Are you going to kiss me?" She whispers. Lisa's thumb slides over her bottom lip again, and Jennie's tongue comes out to lick over the spot where Lisa's thumb touched. Almost seems like she's chasing Lisa's thumb.

It makes the latter's eyes darken, impossibly so.

"May I?"

Jennie nods. Lisa leans in then.

And finally.

Finally, Jennie knows what those lips feel like on hers.

Finally, Jennie got her first kiss.

And, mind you, it's from the woman she truly loved.

And, God, they feel even better than she ever thought they would.

Lisa kisses her like she tries to devour her ㅡ it's nothing but deep and all-consuming from the very beginning. It's a strange mix of soft and passionate.

Lisa kisses like a woman who knows what she wants.

And, judging by the way she's kissing Jennie, she wants her.

Jennie's thigh clench tight together and a soft whimper flows from her mouth and right into Lisa's mouth. She swallows down Jennie's sounds like water from a steam.

She kisses Jennie until the dancer has no more breath left in her lungs. Until her lips are swollen and stinging; red, plump, and beautiful.

As Lisa pulls away, she tugs on Jennie's bottom lip with her teeth, licking over her lip right after to soothe the sting.

Jennie breathes a bit heavily, letting her eyes slip open and meet Lisa's heated gaze. The Snake Charmer thumbs over Jennie's swollen bottom lip, leaning forward to press kisses to Jennie's eyelids as they slip shut upon the gentle assault.

"Would you like to be mine now? Officially?" Lisa asks; voice low and hushed.

Jennie leans her head down, resting her forehead against Lisa's lips; allowing the woman to kiss her forehead.

"I would." She whispers back, softly. "Would you?"

She cannot see the smile Lisa gives, but if she had ㅡ she would have seen the fervent passion and the burning devotion.

"There is nothing I'd like more, darling."