there is always another au

[cagedinflesh]

Comments

[gehennawind]

They'd decided to try and to see if they could even stand one another. Hyde is draped across her spread-eagled prone body surrounded by band equipment, so something must be going right for them. Perhaps.

"That still appeals to you," she says with the confidence of a mouse, afraid to even say 'I' when it's what she really means. Romance is so different from the week of fun they've had, isn't it? She wouldn't know.

[cagedinflesh]

"Well yeah!" Has he not been clear enough with his patheticness??? Actually being nice now and then and shit. "I don't have much of an attention span if I'm not interested."

[gehennawind]

Weird heart to heart to have on the floor but it's happening and she has to accept that.

Paloma's eyes prickle warningly. She turns her head away-- for what good that'll do. "Oh. Then-then yes. We could do anything people who're together do."

They hold hands in public and eat the same cotton candy and sneak kisses, right?

[cagedinflesh]

Hell yeah they do.

He doesn't notice the reason for turning her head, so naturally he immediately goes for a kiss, and isn't about to let up. But it isn't lewd, just a glad dog expressing his love!

[gehennawind]

The warbling voice was a solid hint, but it's better they move past it.

Paloma sighs and is swept up in the luxury a second time of Hyde's affection, his version of romance. The dirty floor, the cluttered band equipment, the stink-- none of it touches the moment. Her knee slides up and down across his waist in a close approximation of a belly rub.

They gotta stop for air. "... You do really smell."

[cagedinflesh]

"Well it's not like I can help that! And there isn't a shower around. But if we go home...?" Nibbles for her chin and lips.

[gehennawind]

Oh, she knows what he's suggesting.

There are worse ways to spend her last night in London than bouncing in his lap, maybe doing the same for Henry if he were to join...? Leave with an intimate memory as fresh as fresh can be? Tempting.

She reddens imperceptibly, tilting away from danger. "Isn't Henry on his way? And you shouldn't saddle Arash and Astolfo with moving the equipment out!!"

[cagedinflesh]

"I guess so....but after that, unless there's something you wanted to do?" If they're gonna go home and fuck he'll help clean up real fast!! Like, say no more.

Has she seen their social media accounts where Astolfo posts embarrassing pictures of Hyde? Because she should.

[gehennawind]

She tries for a moment to think like someone who isn't a hopeless slut who thinks first with her heart, then her clit, and lastly her brain. The individual she imagines might turn him down and keep him waiting for more.

But it's been a week, and that intense bout after a years-long drought leaves her thirstier than ever.

Paloma wriggles like a cat beneath him. "I-I'll call Henry. Let him know."

[cagedinflesh]

"I'll go get the equipment sorted out. Meet me at the car?" Off he goes with a couple mic stands in hand to find the others and make sure they get out quick. If his bandmates drag their feet he'll just have to tell them what's at stake here.

[gehennawind]

"Crap," she says in a daze after he's out of earshot. Hyde can move fast.

Heavy lifting really intimidates Paloma and her twiggy arms when she's already fretting over being sore on the long flight. She'll have to make him be gentler. Hiding from the movers in the car as he suggested, she fishes out her cell, dials Jekyll...

[cagedinflesh]

"Dr. Jekyll's office, how can I help you?" His cell redirects to a reception desk, with the beeping and bustling of a medical wing audible in the background. Luckily it's him who answers.

[gehennawind]

Were they on a landline and Paloma had a cord to twine around her index finger as she dithers and blushes at his voice, she'd do so. This isn't the 90s, though. She has to bite her lips and breathe, cordless.

Butterflies.

"Henry," she pipes up cheerily, "it's just Paloma! You're-- busy?"

[cagedinflesh]

"Oh! No, I'm just about to see my last patient and we're closing up. Did you need something? I'll be coming soon." He might not have a cord to twirl but he does lean on the desk a little too intently.

[gehennawind]

She glances sideways out the car window in a paranoid flash, in case passersby happen to look in a stranger's window. They might not catch her fingering herself on the phone or anything, but the smile just now felt a bit too foolish.

"Oh!" Repeating after him unthinkingly. Paloma slouches further down the seat. "About that...! Edward thought we should head home, as in yours, so we're leaving soon..."

Why would Edward think that? Three guesses.

[cagedinflesh]

"Oh, alright, then I'll just meet you at home? I'll phone over for dinner to be ready, if you like?" He smiles into the phone as he talks as if she can see, surely some nurse passing by must think he's awfully strange.

[gehennawind]

Hearing the smile in his voice could distract her from present responsibilities. As self-appointed mediator, Paloma has to find a tactful method of telling Jekyll that there might be a delay on dinner.

Then again, does there have to be? If Hyde goes straight from the car to inside and dinner, anything else can wait.

Definitely.

She strokes the phone as if it's his hand in hers. "Yeah. I mean, if it's no trouble and nobody will be inconvenienced. Yes."

[cagedinflesh]

"It should be perfectly fine," it's what a personal chef is paid to do after all!

Hyde lets himself into the car right about then, and hearing only her side of the conversation has to find out all the details by force, of course. "What's up?"

[gehennawind]

She jumps like a scared rabbit, clapping the car's door handle before she realizes the man letting himself in belongs there, actually.

A frazzled Paloma levels him a guilty look despite having done nothing out of the ordinary, cupping the mouthpiece so all Jekyl can hear is a muffled, "Your brother! Wait, have you really finished helping them move?" Her eyes narrow in quick recovery.

[cagedinflesh]

"Yeah there's not that much, just the drum kit really." Indeed just a few spots over the other two band members are getting in a van. "You've got Jekyll on? Tell him to hurry his ass up. Hey!" Time for getting in real close and shouting, "move it or lose it, you're gonna miss out, she wants to fuck!"

Jekyll practically squeaks, cupping a hand around his mouth and the phone, "I'm at work, Edward, quiet!" No one heard that right??

[gehennawind]

The blood surges up and pops off her head. Paloma's head is gone, it burst and all they're left with is a darkening grape.

"Oh my God." She would scream but can only summon a thin, despairing wheeze, and pillbug curls into the passenger door away from Hyde. "Stupid!! We're having dinner!"

More important than sex! Probably!!

[cagedinflesh]

"Oh yeah? Hey can Poole make that cake? He'll do it it you ask, don't say it's for me!" He doesn't care how much she tries to get away he's still going to lean over her, on her even.

"Only if he's not about to sleep!" He sighs and lowers his voice so hopefully only Paloma can hear, "Is he drunk? I hope you're driving..."

[gehennawind]

Horrified and yet gratified in a strange duality by his persistence, she accepts that he won't leave her alone with the call. He's trapped her elbow between them but her other is free, resting on the ripped seat. Her mouth turns so as to keep Hyde from being the loudest thing Jekyll hears.

"He smoked something and he smells," she confides to his put-together and rather sober half. "I'm absolutely driving!"

Her palm smooshes into his narrow nose.

[cagedinflesh]

Stinky boy grumbles. "I'm good to drive!"

"Sorry you have to deal with him, I'll be there as soon as I can." Poor Paloma..... Soon poor Jekyll being left alone with Hyde when she leaves!

[gehennawind]

Not poor Jekyll for very long if Hyde meant a word of his declaration to follow her into Mexico...!

Perhaps splitting his attention in half takes up just enough of his energies, and their arrangement is for the best. Paloma hopes so. Blushing madly still, she wiggles the trapped elbow into his side.

"We'll be on our way!" In a spurt of shy gladness she adds, "See you very soon."

Paloma continues to flush and avoid eye contact in silliness after hanging up.