there is always another au

[cagedinflesh]

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[gehennawind]

She’s already shaking her head, caressing him in what she hopes are comforting passes up and down his arms. It means Hyde is neglected until this panic leaves his voice, unfortunately.

Just for the moment.

“No. They couldn’t. You can’t let it fall apart, either. It’s family.”

[cagedinflesh]

"Yes, that's it exactly, it would be a shame to get rid of it too. There's something comforting about our family being here for hundreds of years, I think."

"Yeah that's called stagnation and blueblood." Hyde keeps on rolling those eyes. But it's not like he's going anywhere either, he could get his own place and financial independence. Could.

[gehennawind]

They have points... though she’s inclined to say Hyde is making the right point at the wrong time. An adroit capital L Look over a slender shoulder reveals how impressed she isn’t.

“I must have hallucinated the hot tub on your balcony, then, since you’re not a fan of the estate.” She wanders to the plates, having resisted their aroma for long enough.

[cagedinflesh]

"Yeah 'cause that's been around 600 years with the rest of the house." He doesn't have to be a fan of the estate to appreciate a good time!

Jekyll sure doesn't need to hear any more empty complaining, so he gladly joins Paloma. "No you certainly didn't hallucinate that." A luxury, but a fairly middle-class one really.

[gehennawind]

She goes for the fanciest-looking wrap of fish she’s ever seen in her life, nibbling the end uncertainly, then with more enthusiasm. Paloma grins despite herself— at Hyde.

“Jealous,” she sighs. “As hell.”

[cagedinflesh]

"You want a dip?" The other two might eat respectably but Hyde scarfs his food down like an animal.

"I think I could go for that, my feet are a bit sore from work..." So you know, if she wants to, Jekyll sure won't complain. She wouldn't be selfish. He forgets the lack of swimsuit.

[gehennawind]

Too late. She's already entertaining a fantasy of lounging in the tub until the absolute last minute before they need to take off.

"It's cold out, but..." But that didn't stop them from screwing in Hyde's backseat on chilled windows. Veronica has one of her own in her Mexico City residence, but using it embarrasses Paloma as a lowly intern. She plays with the hem of her dress.

"Could I borrow someone's shirt?" Her eyes dodge theirs.

[cagedinflesh]

"It's best when it's cold out." Especially if they're gonna end up fucking. Cold out, but warm in the water, warm sandwiched between bodies...

"Of course!" Jekyll wouldn't leave her nude in the cold. Hyde would. Let it get a little nippley.

[gehennawind]

Fuck? Them?

What was his car, an appetizer?

Getting into the hot tub nude is much different than showering communally. One is for cleaning, the other a luxury. She sucks a finger clean. “It’ll be nice. Quiet, peaceful.” Yeah. Peaceful.

[cagedinflesh]

Um, yeah, it was actually. Hasn't he made that clear?

It'll be peaceful, for a couple minutes. "I'll find a shirt." Jekyll has the good sense to pick a dark one. His options are only dress shirts, so it will keep her a little warmer on top too! Of course, first they should actually eat. He for one is pretty hungry after a long day of work. Evidently Hyde is too, vonsidering how he scarfs his down like he doesn't need to chew.

[gehennawind]

After expressing appropriate gratitude toward Jekyll she turns around and realizes the extent of Hyde’s piggishness. It cannot stand.

She’s a fussy, nervous worrywart and put in obvious distress by his eating habits. Paloma unthinkingly zooms to his side. “Hey, Edward, no.” Dainty fingers poke and prod his cheek as it moves, ignoring any outbursts. She leans all in with knit brow. “If you don’t chew, your stomach is gonna hurt, or you’ll get acid coming back up.”

[cagedinflesh]

"I am chewing!" Just, you know, really fast and probably not as well as he should. His table manners are atrocious too, absolute retaliation against everything he must have been taught. And Jekyll's prudish insistence on maintaining proper etiquette. Always the right fork, neatly folded napkin in his lap, straight back even at a makeshift table...

[gehennawind]

“Nuh-uh,” she shoots back, knowing but uncaring of how childish they’re behaving.

Hovering and nagging at him serves as an excuse to press by his side, the fish wrap balanced in her free hand. Paloma’s never gotten to be the one worrying affectionately at someone else to eat right. “The less you chew, the more acid your stomach makes. It’ll rot your teeth off!”

[cagedinflesh]

"English guys are supposed to have shit teeth, right?" He just shrugs and grins at her. But if she wants him to chew, fine. He just fuckin goes down on it like he has no gag reflex. But at least he chews.

[gehennawind]

Well, that's revolting.

She appears to be content just where they are, despite wrinkling her nose at the sounds he's producing. Paloma contentedly takes small bites of her food, tucked against his side and feeling absurdly wonderful.

"I like your teeth, you should keep 'em."

[cagedinflesh]

Good, he's nasty and improper!!!

Jekyll appreciates a buffer zone between the two of them, Paloma being there keeps him from having to see Hyde being a shit and worry about it himself. "It's nice to have more company at dinner..." He smiles, willfully ignoring the pig on her other side. "We're often home at different times, it can get a little lonely."

[gehennawind]

The return of Henry Jekyll and dark shirt in hand! She gratefully accepts it, noting how it matches her borrowed panties, but his reverie draws her back.

Finishing the last of the wrap, she gazes up in dawning pity. “... I know about loneliness.” She’s already searching for his hand to gently hold. “Tell you what— call me when you feel that way, either of you. I won’t be mad if I’m asleep or working.”

[cagedinflesh]

"I couldn't do that! With the time difference you'll be asleep or at work almost any time I did, you would get awfully tired of us bothering you! It's not that bad..." But he'd still like to call her.....

"Sure, I'll call." Hyde grins, he'll do more than call, she's getting nudes. Or panty pics.

[gehennawind]

Chin lying on Jekyll's upper arm, she's positioned well to return the grin with more sentimentality and innocence. Paloma hasn't thought of sending nudes when they've already seen her naked.

"See, if he's calling, you may as well call too. Group call." She feels foolish even saying the words, and goes red.

[cagedinflesh]

"It's better as a group, huh?" Waggling eyebrows......

"Well, if I know you're already awake anyway, I suppose..." Jekyll's cheeks redden while he pokes at his food with his fork. Shy boy vs lewd boy.

[gehennawind]

Paloma narrows her eyes to fob him off. “Some things...”

She crosses her legs at the ankles and swings them, nonetheless reaching out to stroke Hyde’s arm. Learning to evenly divide affection is half the battle. Worth the effort.

“Keep Edward honest.”

[cagedinflesh]

"I don't know how to be honest," he laughs. It's kind of a joke but one that holds water.

"It's true, I'm not certain that's entirely possible!" And another thing strikes him, "Besides, if you get two calls in a row at work..." What will the boss think??

[gehennawind]

Her face almost pales to imagine that scenario; taking first one call and talking to the caller in a girlfriend voice, hanging up, and answering the second person with the same sweetness. Veronica would be so disappointed in her, worse than any anger as an employer who sees a patron being misused.

“Jesus, no!” She inhales and squeezes them both to remind herself where they are. Jekyll remains a comfy pillow-man. “Remember... inside voice on the phone. Don’t yell about dirty stuff.”

Edward.

[cagedinflesh]

"Obviously I'm not gonna yell!" Unless he's currently at a show or something and has no choice. So yeah maybe he'll yell.

"I certainly won't!" Jekyll says it as if she was accusing him, panic stricken! Has he ever said anything untoward to her??? Oh god maube he has...

[gehennawind]

“Henry, you’re fine! Edward— you totally yelled in the car before we... left!”

Paloma loses a whole lot of steam after nearly saying a dirty thing herself. She smooths her dress out too primly.