Victorian weenie au

[cagedinflesh]

 Melodica playing in the distance

Comments

[cagedinflesh]

As a Servant, he would love that. As it stands, he can't afford any major injuries. "Hm. That is a rather more complicated answer. I suppose I wouldn't know the requirements until they are seen. Perhaps simply to be given your trust. Or a word of truth, your intentions?"

[gehennawind]

How is it complicated, she wants to snarl. How is it complicated when filthy implications drip from his tongue like thick vinegar.

Paloma refuses to be a rabbit led by a hint of carrot on his stick, refuses to look at his face. The chemistry set is far less upsetting. "The truth. My intention is an apology. I fear I have done a thing to cause harm." Her mouth twists. "And, also, for his wellness."

[cagedinflesh]

"I see. Was that so terribly difficult?" He smiles, as if it's sincere. "Now then, will you have tea? What would you know?"

He pulls up an extra chair, ready to call for a servant to bring them tea, or anything else she may want.

[gehennawind]

She counts her blessings that he hasn't insisted on being told the nature of her crime. Paloma could never, for both their sakes.

At last she bears to turn back to Hyde, but all focus centers on his hands, studying them. Despite a good effort the tension is visible in the tautness of her throat. "I would, but cannot. Drink tea. My illness, unfortunately." A 'sorry' and a 'thank you' wouldn't go amiss, but she'd rather eat the niceties.

"Is he really at the East Side? Where?" Lie to me again.

[cagedinflesh]

He nods understanding, then takes the seat. "He is." As if in deep contemplation over whether he should spill it all, he presses his lips together, looking down. "I would not normally say this, only that I too worry for him in the increasing frequency of these trips. The precise location would be anyone's guess...down by the docks, perhaps. Or elsewhere, by now."

[gehennawind]

Occasionally a lie is so dissonant from the rest of a man's speech, jarring and ugly, that Paloma can separate fact from falsehood. But she's young blood and that ability is unreliable. Hyde succeeds in his deception.

"Ah," the only word she thinks to say for ten of his heartbeats. "Elsewhere. The doctor must need distraction. Mr. Hyde, I do trespass here." Hurt makes the rasp more pronounced.

[cagedinflesh]

"I suppose he must. It is a common enough occurrence with him, only no distraction seems enough. Perhaps nothing is quite good enough." He shakes his head, almost sadly. "However, you do not trespass if what you say is true, if you are indeed a friend."

[gehennawind]

Discussion of futility disturbs Paloma on a good night, and she's had many better than this. She lifts her eyes, despondent and disgusted by herself.

"If I am let to be one, no? Very hard when you are not wanted."

[cagedinflesh]

"Why, what ever is the matter?" This is beautiful, Hyde so wishes he could laugh. "As I said, I hope that you will confide in me, Mrs. Vasquez. Perhaps there is some message I may give."

[gehennawind]

Snake. Snakes inside of her belly, snake on a chair asking for trust.

There can be no forgetting or discounting how he sets her teeth on edge. Paloma's kneejerk mistrust of Carlos is an instinct she should have listened to. She maintains her guard. "I cannot possibly be the only friend who has heard nothing from him. That could be a message."

[cagedinflesh]

"No, certainly but for myself and these excursions he has kept well alone." He leans forward to place a hand over hers. "Do you believe that to mean you are somehow lesser? Do not lose hope."

[gehennawind]

Praise be for black mourning gloves. The Toreador in her loves his beauty while wanting to turn away in a nauseating mix.

"Hope. What do you want of me?" She puts the question to him, to let Hyde know she has some awareness of a larger game being played, even if she can't yet see it unveiled.

[cagedinflesh]

"Nothing. Friendship, perhaps? I am new to London, to society, with Dr. Jekyll as my sole friend - and I am kept busy here, too busy to attend any events. It is rather a predicament." Casual as ever. It is largely truth, if warped to fit this particular agenda.

[gehennawind]

True enough to unbalance Paloma and keep her guessing, letting his touch remain. She peers disconcertingly.

"I will not turn you out if that is the case. Although your freshness to society explains a thing or two!"

(As if she's not new, although tutored vigorously ...)

[cagedinflesh]

"Is it so obvious?" No, of course he knows, because that was his intent. Before he wanted anything, that is. Now it's different, now he wants to ruin this and her.

He laughs nervously.

[gehennawind]

"You are much more direct than society men of London, or that is what my husband teaches."

Foolishly, very foolishly, that laugh distracts her from the building tension.

[cagedinflesh]

"I am not a society man - was not, and still have not become one. I do not know the ways." Please forgive him for it, he doesn't mean to. "If Harry or I have wronged you, surely it was not meant to do harm."

[gehennawind]

Empathy for someone out of place gives Paloma pause. Denial of harm done puts a warm smile on for Hyde.

She leans forward just so, a widow at confession, and doesn't do a damned thing about his hand. "If there is no wrong, there can be no harm." Harry ...

[cagedinflesh]

"I am glad for it." Oh so very glad, look at how relieved he seems. There was so much remorse for his rudeness. Well, it isn't exactly a lie, now that he realises he wants something out of her. And this isn't someone he can just take. He is aware and considerate enough of the needs of his other side, for now. He can't do direct harm to those who know Jekyll, lest he be found out or backed into a corner.

"It is terribly late for a lady to be out on her own, is it not?"

[gehennawind]

Now, although the wrongness about him continues to unsettle her, he's adept enough at switching gears that Paloma does not make her excuses to leave. Instead her excuses are to justify with the meaninglessness of staying or going.

Her lashes lower demurely, but Paloma's palm turns up, thumb folding over his. "Very late, you are not wrong. While for a moment I am in good health and spirits, it is bad to walk too much at day."

[cagedinflesh]

"Ah, I see, now I understand. I confess I had thought quite differently - which I now regret thinking of you." He smiles, watching her hand. "And yet you would wait until morning?"

[gehennawind]

Seems she's okay with remaining where they are. Or she tells herself. Why, again, should it matter?

"Not until morning. You will see me gone before then, Mr. Hyde, but I am not certain I need stay."

[cagedinflesh]

"No? Only a moment ago you seemed so insistent." Of course he knows the reason. And of course he wants to manipulate that. Wouldn't that be fun.

[gehennawind]

She meets his eyes, intent and scrutinizing. Hyde may enjoy using and abusing the word 'trust' willy-nilly, but he hasn't got any of hers.

To his great fortune, gaslighting is a part of Paloma's daily living. Everything gets second-guessed. Her perceptions of reality are ... unreliable. That's the whole-hearted belief. Her eyes drift shut. "A message passed to him is good. Would you tell Harry I am sorry if I did harm, and send good luck for his work?"

It would be better, it would be wise, it would be just fine if she never comes here again.

[cagedinflesh]

"If you so wish, my lady." Entirely deference to her, he bows his head. "I am sure he will be very sorry to have missed you." So sorry he's apparently gone off to sleep around.