Victorian weenie au

[cagedinflesh]

 Melodica playing in the distance

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[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.

[gehennawind]

Paloma hates it when she's innocent enough to dream.

Leaden, she reclaims her hand, but lets it hover over his wrist; looks at him, extends to touch Hyde's jaw. "As you say. My gratitude." With gentle fingers she turns him away by the chin, and kisses his cheek, for that means nothing, too.

[cagedinflesh]

He smiles. It might be mistaken for a smirk, but surely that's just the way his face is?

"And mine. It has been so long since I have had any other company, I had quite forgotten myself." Not entirely a lie - he has been very much alone, until Hyde appeared only a few nights ago. And he hasn't really had anything like a conversation with anyone. Even if it's nothing at all like what he implies. "Shall I walk you home? One never knows what sort of vile man is lurking about at night."

[gehennawind]

The way his everything is. She withdraws, expressionless aside from a barely responsive smile in reply.

"If you would like. I feel I may not be the best at talk, but I do not say no to this." Paloma stands, casting her line of sight around for the discarded hat and veil.

[cagedinflesh]

Spying it nearby, Hyde stoops to scoop up and offer the hat and veil to her, one arm held behind his back as he does. "Here you are. Although it seems a shame to hide such beauty."

[gehennawind]

Ah. Most gentlemanly. And the flattery-- Harry's taught her a lesson not too unlike what Carlos did, hasn't he? She should have learned it the first time, or not forgotten it.

Unmoved but laughing thinly, "A kindness! No need for that. My thanks are yours." Yes, thanks, she'll gingerly retake and cradle them.

For a horrible couple of moments, she can't do a thing except gaze dully at his throat.

"The walk is very long. Perhaps a cab."

[cagedinflesh]

If the lesson is don't trust anyone, then yes.

"Of course." With a dip into a small bow, he offers his arm to her, gesturing to the door. Alone jn the back of a cab might be even better.

[gehennawind]

The lesson is, in fact, not to trust anyone.

Were she a frail human girl with everything to fear from a man alone in the backseat of a cab, this arrangement might distress her further. As fate would have it, there isn't a Goddamned injury he can inflict on her within the vehicle she cannot do a hundred times worse unto Hyde-- she'll take his arm and follow and wait and step inside with him, disguised and dead.

Riding in silence, other than to give directions, is her first inclination. Unsaid, obviously.

[cagedinflesh]

They both are lucky he has to pay mind to Jekyll's life, otherwise closed off in the back, driver outside and separated by sturdy walls, he would not have been much of a gentleman. Although he does stay awfully close, even sitting there. "I should like to see you again, Mrs. Vasquez..."

[gehennawind]

The longer he sits without behaving inappropriately in ways she can put a name to, the more she eases up, until her ankles fold together casually and her head leans against the wall of the cab. Paloma tilts an ear toward him to gesticulate that he's got her undivided attention.

"I should not mind seeing you, Mr. Hyde, even if our circles do not cross."

What's there to lose?