Victorian weenie au

[cagedinflesh]

 Melodica playing in the distance

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[cagedinflesh]

There's the sound of glass falling upon the floor and shattering, and the man who stands before the instruments lining the tables, who curses under his breath, must look to be Jekyll from behind. When he turns at the sound of Paloma's voice, however, well he must still look quite similar, but disheveled, and disturbing. Unsettling red eyes light on her, and the smooth innocence of his face is something almost grotesque against the expression he wears.

"The doctor is away." Now shoo.

[gehennawind]

It must be him. They're of the same height, scent-- albeit soured by something chemical and unpleasant to her nose. But through the veil Paloma cannot recognize this younger man with a face so like and unlike Jekyll. He's younger, for one.

For two, those eyes ...

She pulls off the hat, relieved to get rid of the shadow spoiling everything, but is disappointed when clearer vision doesn't dispel the apparent differences between her doctor and whoever this man will say he is. Paloma looks at him aghast. "Away to where, sir?"

[cagedinflesh]

Of all people to come here, apparently his little affair wasn't meant to be a one night stand, hm? At first he keeps his eyes averted, wanting nothing more than to shop her away, lest she discover what he is. The part of him that is still Jekyll fears every moment she is there, that she will see a worse side of him still. But after a moment, Hyde steps forward, grinning.

"I wouldn't know, he is so very secretive about these things. Something about a summons to the East End - for work, you see."

[gehennawind]

No stranger to casual cruelty, it still pricks and slides under her skin. Like fire in her chest. A wound she has no right to.

Paloma turns her cheek, breathing out in the hope of pushing the fires with it. She's very adept at hiding her hurts anymore, but one of her black-gloved hands bunches a fistful of skirt. "Well. I shall wait here, to see that his health is good."

[cagedinflesh]

"Is that why you mourn? He is in prime condition, never worry. When the doctors are ill, we should all fear."

He steps toward her again. "I should think he will be quite some time, not until nearly morning or later still."

[gehennawind]

The approach recaptures her complete attention, and Paloma is stunned by the duality of him-- disheveled, somehow grotesque while also beautiful. Fresh, but rotten. As if his blood would burst into her mouth when she bites him like an overripe peach.

Her pupils swell. She does not move. "If so, he will discover my-- my message. I do not need to go."

Borderline rude, but he's behaving as predators do.

[cagedinflesh]

"Your message?" He shrugs, pulling out a chair to offer to her. A gentleman, certainly. "I could deliver it for you, but if you insist. I may appreciate a little company."

Of course, he will never return so long as she remains there with Hyde.

[gehennawind]

A ... chivalrous gesture.

She's lived in the company of a devil for so long, it's feasible that paranoia could be coloring her perceptions of total strangers. He was taking those steps to offer a seat like any proper-if-improperly-dressed host.

"I, I thank you," Paloma murmurs. Forcing herself to let go of her skirt, she arranges it over the chair and sits. Silence. She doesn't meet his eyes.

"Please forgive my stubborn. If you are his family, you are master in his absence and I trespass."

[cagedinflesh]

"An associate in his research. He is my benefactor." Yes, he is the master of the house in Jekyll's absence. The entire household knows to defer to him, give him his space. "There is no harm done, miss. And yourself?"

[gehennawind]

Because what he claims is not technically speaking a lie, Paloma can't root out the misdirection. The implication he isn't a blood relative startles her into finally peering at him with voluminous eyes framed by dark hat-bent curls.

"Honored to call him a friend, mister ...?"

He never said they weren't related, it occurs to her, but if he won't discuss that possibility it may be offensive to pursue.

[cagedinflesh]

He could nearly laugh out loud. He knows better. He knows what Jekyll thinks, and he knows that she has come here in disguise to meet with him. But he doesn't.

"Hyde. Edward Hyde. Will you have tea, Mrs. Vasquez?" Oh yes, he knows who she is.

[gehennawind]

"Mr. Hyde," she says with abject relief. A name is a start.

But the obvious hits her. Paloma's teeth click audibly, her mouth snaps shut so quick. Both hands twist around each other over her lap. "The-- disadvantage is mine, I see. He has told of me?"

[cagedinflesh]

"But of course, we are very close, closer than brothers. There could be no secrets between us." His smile seems innocent enough, although with everything else about him, maybe not so...

[gehennawind]

Closer than brothers.

No secrets.

If his aim is to distress Paloma, he's wildly successful. She blinks twice and stares directly ahead, well away from his dubious innocence. Stones sink in her gut.

"To tell the truth, I know him for only one day. But I worry, Mr. Hyde. London is full of talk."

[cagedinflesh]

"Nothing of the sort here. Our relationship is not of that nature, and we are gentlemen. He would never gossip, it is intimate, yet professional."

[gehennawind]

Paloma shakes her head with almost exaggerated slowness. Some fear and reflexively violent impulses linger. She must remember a Beast's idea of self-protection is not an idea to diddle with. Not unless she wants to run the world over a second time.

Stiffly, "I meant in regards to Dr. Jekyll vanishing. People care and fret, sir!" No, he cannot have confided of what transpired up the tavern stairwell.

[cagedinflesh]

"He can be rather eccentric. People may talk all they like, to him this research is more important than any other thing in the world. One they would not understand." He says it flippantly, as much as it's something of grave concern to Hyde as well. It's more so flippancy for the gossip and anyone caring at all.

[gehennawind]

Out of respect for his pursuits and devotion to them, Paloma does not argue the point of which question Jekyll's associate has already assured her: the doctor is in prime condition, he said. If only he'd say it again, when she's not so distracted as to forget about listening for a lie.

And there she goes again with paranoia. Aggravated by its futility, she flexes her hands out just to be doing something with them that betrays less in the way of feelings. "Alright. If there is not an understanding, help is what I can give. No less."

[cagedinflesh]

"Help in what, exactly? He already has all the help he needs." The wry little grin on his face might speak for another sort than the help he claims to be giving. Not in science, but other distractions. He's away on the East Side for work, after all. He must be in good hands (or maybe Hyde is giving that kind of help too, you never know, that Jekyll is a deviant).

[gehennawind]

No, she decides sharply. No, it's not paranoid to interpret his rudeness for what it is. A snooty goose is a snooty goose.

"So you say," the little woman announces from her chair. Her eyes seem ripe for plucking out, all fiercely non-threatening and doe-like. They fix eerily onto him. "But if I am honest, you find pleasures in cutting others down. Thank you, Mr. Hyde, but I am not a sapling."

[cagedinflesh]

"Why, if anything I have said has given offense, I cannot understand the reason why, and I do so apologise." He plays at being flabbergasted by the accusation. Him, cruel? That's crazy. Besides, how would he know things like that might possibly hurt her, he doesn't know anything of their affair!

[gehennawind]

Lie!

Paloma shoots upright rather nimbly-- too nimbly, but maybe he blinked and missed some of the action? Regardless, her temper is beginning to flare hotter than is wise for a fledgling vampire. If he's got a face as squirmingly repulsive as it is innocent and pretty, she radiates a fair amount of menace herself.

Even if she's angry at him for reasons beyond buried and extremely deniable hurt. "Apology not accepted until you mean it, Mr. Hyde! You have been very ungracious. Most important, it is not good of you to reject help on his behalf! To reject care for him!"

[cagedinflesh]

"That is the entire point, I am the one keeping an eye on him, it is my right to seek, administer and reject care, a right given me by the man himself. You come in here, a private study housing delicate work, disguised, and simply will not leave until such a time as Dr. Jekyll returns - and what am I to think, Hm?" There are so many things Hyde could say to her, so many tactics to use. But he simply doesn't feel fear, not until his life or freedom are threatened. If anything that menace is adorable.

[gehennawind]

Calm. Calm. Peaceful lakes and long, thin boats swathing through the water, smooth and graceful. Remember she is more than the sum of a Beast.

Down go her hackles. Slow, even breaths. Her glare would be bone-melting to most, but not to Hyde, it seems. Is that a blessing? "Your right is to think what it pleases you to think, and speak for yourself. As you have, and lewdly!"

[cagedinflesh]

"That is quite the accusation. And certainly from a married woman sneaking around in such a way." Please tell him how he's been lewd, he hasn't been lewd! (He's been very lewd)

"But I do not intend to be judgemental. Dr. Jekyll has trusted me with himself, and so I hope you too might. Likewise, if you are his...friend, I might also treat you thus."