The following is a thread that took place on Skype between Alo and Esther. It takes place some time after the two fell into bed together and Alo disappeared soon after. The non-blockquoted text is written by yours truly, and the blockquoted was written by Alo's writer, Miranda.
The maid, a pretty girl named Claire who is only a few years younger than Esther, is one of the only people that Esther truly trusts. Her friends gossip and judge far too much, and there are one too many things that she simply isn't comfortable telling Thomas. A shared loneliness seemed to bring the two together--and Claire is one of the only other people who knows about the lady of the house's lack of loneliness when Thomas last went out of town.
Claire also knows about the loneliness that came again, and she was hesitant to let the man back in the house. He was persistent, though, and appeared good at heart--so, in the closet he now is, and that is where Esther is headed after a short awkward conversation about how there's a "familiar leather jacket in the closet down the hall that you may want to see if you want to keep."
The closet opens, and despite having been able to piece it together by now, Esther is still fairly startled at the sight of Alo standing there. She pauses and stares, looking conflicted as to whether she's overjoyed or heartbroken, and then promptly slaps the greaser across the face.
Alo had never really taken into account how Esther might feel at his sudden disappearance--after all, she was a lady of stature, and as far as he was concerned? He was a no-good hood. Even so, after coming back from his trip with Marie, he's ready to see his blonde bird once more--which is why he had gone through such great lengths to see her.
A jewelry box in his back pocket, hands rubbing through his overgrown hair (it had been difficult to grease, but he was managing), he waits impatiently for Esther to open the door, and, promptly--throw herself into his arms.
The moment the door open, hazel hues light up sharply, a smile just about to break over handsome features before he feels the fury of a sudden slap send his head jerking the other way. Blinking in rapid succession, Alo looks towards the blank-eyed woman in disbelief, a hand raising to brush over his red cheek. Shit.
"...'Lo, beautiful."
Esther looks at him with what could almost be considered defiance in that gaze that has settled upon the emotion of hurt. She lets out a breath, shaking her head, and considers turning around and leaving him there to rot in that closet--but finds herself doing quite the opposite, quickly moving forward to close the space between them and giving him a loving, albeit quite angry, kiss.
"--I thought I was never going to see you again. You disappeared pretty damn quickly after I fell into bed with you," she says, pulling back and resting a hand on hsi chest. That hand soon gives him a shove upon realizing the opportunity, and then she takes a step back. "Get out of there, come on. Thomas just left. You can explain on the couch."
Ah, but there's that feisty little mouth--and Alo is allowing his shoulders to relax, hunch forward if only slightly--he had missed her. Missed her perfumed touch, her tender kiss--he wants nothing more than to lay her down and ravish every last inch of her, but Esther seems to have other ideas. Explanations?
He slowly shifts upright, barely moving an inch at the light shove before he's stepping out of the closet, rubbing a hand over the back of his neck with a sheepish smile. "...Yeah? C'mon, Es--m'not a monster. Just had to leave town for a while--you know how it is." No, she didn't--she'd never legitimately know. At least, Alo hoped she wouldn't. "Give us a kiss, little girl--don't be mean. Come 'ead--..." He lightly catches a thin wrist in his grip, offering her a sheepish grin.
"I do not know how it is. I have absolutely no idea at all how it is," she snaps, considering throwing a biting remark about how she does know that nothing good happens when men leave town--she would know, Thomas has been taking more and more business trips without her. She doesn't, though; secretive as he is, she knows he isn't as terrible as her husband. Promiscuous? Of course; that's to be expected, she doesn't own him. It was more the fact that he'd made her felt genuinely special and then he was gone.
Maybe he does mean well, though. That smile is hard not to fall for, and he did come back. Looking adorable as ever.
"I'm not kissing you at all until I hear the words 'I'm sorry, Esther' come out of your mouth. Genuine and respectful with your shoulders back and your eyes on mine. None of your sly, cheeky--shenanigans. Then maybe I'll kiss you. Maybe."
"--Sly, cheeky shenanigans? Don't know the meaning of those words, lovely."
Yes, Alo is incredibly promiscuous. It isn't as though he has an intent to hurt all of the girls he sleeps with--it was merely in his nature. To flirt, kiss, fuck. Seldom did he make a legitimate relationship out of it--but, in the end, Esther is different. He never was generally after her body--from the moment he met her, he was well aware that she wouldn't be manipulated or strung along by a no-good hood.
Well, in the beginning, anyway. Biting down on his bottom lip, he takes a small step closer, catching delicate hands in his large, calloused ones. Rubbing the pads of his thumbs over bony knuckles, Alo's gaze raises--he pushes his shoulders back, head cocking to the side in a puppy-like fashion.
"...My sister wanted me to go with her on a trip. She's been worried, y'know--won't leave me alone for a bloody minute 'cause she's afraid of me gettin' into trouble. I didn't think...you'd mind, honestly. Thought you'd be doin' your socialite thing--...but m'sorry, Es. Real sorry. I missed you like hell."
She's quiet for a moment, studying his eyes. He doesn't appear to be lying; she knows all the tells nowadays--it is genuine. And he is terribly sweet.
"--I...didn't know you had a sister," is the first thing she says, voice a little more airy than usual. She blinks, sets her shoulders, and then gives a firm nod. "Well. Yes. That's--that'll do, then, I suppose. That makes sense. You're forgiven." And then, after another pause, "I missed you, too."
Missed him quite a bit. She cried when she found out he was gone.
"I suppose that if we're playing fair, I owe you that kiss now."
"--Yeah. She's a loose canon--lone ranger ridin'...all that shite."
And a major pain in his neck. But he won't talk about that--Esther seems to have forgiven the male, and for that, he's grateful. He'd rather not spend his limited amount of time with her fighting over a stupid mistake of his. To question just what they were was to bring this entire relationship to a screeching halt--so in reality, he only accepts what he's given and hopes he doesn't lose it anyway soon.
There's a playful spark in his eyes--he grins, leaning down and slipping strong arms around a svelte frame. She's a lovely thing, isn't she?
"...It's true. Y'do. And I owe you for all the time I've been gone for, don't I?"
"Oh, yes. You owe me a lot," she says, reaching up and fixing his hair--it's gotten a little longer, and he's wearing less gel in it. For the first time, there's a slight smile, and she lets her gaze drop for a moment. "I missed the sound of your ridiculous voice."
Standing up on her toes, she places a kiss to his mouth--softer, this time, much less angry and much more sentimental. A silent and soft welcome back. Arms snake around his neck, and when she pulls away there's another kiss for his cheek.
"--Yeah? Wanna elaborate on that, luv?"
And there's a playful smile--don't get too attached to the floppy hair, Esther. He's taking a pair of scissors to it tomorrow so he can reclaim the apparent SIAS quiff. The kiss is enough to soften Alo further, though he doesn't dare deepen it yet--he allows digits to sink into Esther's hips slowly, head cocking and a small murmur of distaste sounding the moment she draws away.
A kiss to his cheek--Alo smiles faintly, brushing the backs of his digits over Esther's fair cheek before a kiss is pressed to her forehead.
"...When does your husband come back, Es?"
"Mm. What husband?" She looks at him, then laughs. Head bowing, she shrugs and shakes her head. "I don't know. I don't know--an hour and a half, maybe? However long it takes to--"
Fuck some redhead who is just barely legal.
"-- Do business." She looks back up to Alo, reaching up to toy with his hair a little more, then leans in to kiss him again. "Stay as long as you can."
"--Do business, eh?"
He doesn't like Thomas. He doesn't like the way Esther blanches and grows both incredibly fragile and hard when thinking about him--doesn't like the way he has her caged up in this home, which, despite it's luxuries, was more miserable than Alo could ever imagine.
He presses a tender kiss to her cheek, drawing her form tightly against his own. Doing business--right. A firm kiss is placed to Esther's throat, a sigh escaping him.
"...Don't get too used to the hair--m'cutting it tomorrow.."
"Ah--I think you look cute," she says, breathing out a sigh at the kisses. There's a soft smile and she brushes her hands through his hair in full a few times, giving another kiss to his cheek. "But--I guess you have my blessing. Just as long as you go easy on the gel. There's no need to always look like you just got out of the shower."
Hands slip from his hair, lithe fingertips tracing over his angular jaw. He is exceedingly handsome--even if he isn't rich or high class, she thinks he could honestly have the world if he applied himself.
"--Es, don't make me sad. Few blokes can pull off lookin' so good with so much hair gel--"
He murmurs this, hazel hues flickering, raising to meet the woman's as a tender smile soon flickers over his mouth. He draws the woman close, leaning down to pepper sweet kisses upon her neck, nuzzling into the flesh with a small hum.
"...But, yeah--maybe. D'you really think I look cute like this? Just cute?"
"Handsome, too, I guess," Esther replies, a breathy chuckle spilling past her lips. Fingertips drum against the nape of his neck and she kisses his forehead, letting her eyes fall shut for a moment.
It's much easier, forgiving him. The smallest thing Thomas does can leave her annoyed for weeks. If Thomas had done this--even if he did have a good reason like Alo did--she wouldn't have been so easy to forgive. She wonders if she ever was in love with him, or if he just seemed to fill the role she knew she was expected to have in her life.
Depressing. It's less depressing with Alo here.
"But I like you cute. Raggamuffin."
"--I don't like being just cute. M'not just cute. M'dreamy as hell--have you looked into me eyes?"
He's teasing her, now, but he can't keep his hands from wandering--can't keep his palms from pressing into her hips, slipping up her blouse to feel fore the delicate expanse of flesh. He's missed her touch--naturally, Alo's been with other women in his time away--but none of them were his Esther. None of them drew him to such vulnerability--and now, he can only nuzzle into her neck, parting his lips to place a tender nip to the skin.
"...M'not a raggamuffin--hush, you..."
"I have, actually. Hard to look at them too long without getting incredibly distracted. I just swoon at the thought," Esther teases right back, lashes kissing her cheeks as an almost shy smile flickers across her features the more intimate he gets. She can't help but remember the last time--the way he handled her with care, the way she traced her fingertips over his tattoos. That night almost feels like it were a dream she had a long, long time ago.
"You are. The prince of all raggamuffins."
"--M'not a prince. M'a knight--fierce, gallant. Upon my noble steed--which, is actually just a chopper. Go figure." He chuckles into her neck, digits suddenly tightening at her hips. With ease, Alo lifts the female against him, urging her to wind thin legs at his hips--he's striding forward soon enough, holding Esther tightly to his own frame and pretty chaste little kisses to her neck, soon easing her off of him and dropping the socialite onto the bed with a small bought of laughter.
"And you--you seem like a queen, but...I'd suppose you're a princess--y'wanna be treated like one, anyway. All soft lips and longing embraces--did you miss me very much, Es?"
There's a small squeak when she's lifted, but she doesn't complain. Arms about his shoulders and legs about his waist, her smile grows at the kisses. A content little sigh escapes her when she's laid down on the bed, and she looks up at him with her own little laugh.
"A knight and a queen-princess. Interesting fairy tale we've set up." She leans up, kissing him. "Of course I missed you. Don't let it feed your ego too much, but it was pretty awful without you."
"--Doesn't sound like any fairytale I've ever heard of."
Which isn't saying a lot, considering that Alo seldom heard any legitimate fairytales--but he'll press forward, crawling atop the woman with a faint smile before delivering a small kiss to her cheek, a hand raising, slipping into the back pocket out his worn trousers. Digits wrap around a box of velvet, dark hues raising, meeting Esther's.
"...Think it might be because we aren't a fairytale or anythin' like that--...we're different, Es. Ever since I first kissed you--me mouth hasn't been able to shut up about you. Me brain's caught on the idea of kissin' you again--and suddenly, everytime I started noddin' off in bed--all I could think of was how doe-eyed y'looked when you realized that you had just shagged a lowly, greasy hood."
Her eyes are locked on his and she's almost enchanted by his voice and the poetry of it all. The very last bit has her laughing, though, closing her eyes and reaching up to cover his face with her hand. Shaking her head, she moves her hands away and looks up at him, once more with that slightly enchanted look.
He certainly is something. She never would have thought when she met him that first day, waltzing through the store and looking so out of place, that they'd be here.
"Don't let yourself know that I told you this, but," she begins, touching his face, "I think you're a bit more than a lowly, greasy hood."
His lips thin at those words, hues lowering briefly, a sort of uncertainty stealing over him before he finally brings his gaze back to meet Esther's. For a moment, he's vulnerable--he's tilting his head into that comforting touch like a young boy, drawing in a quivering breath, as though he were afraid of making any sudden moves--he wouldn't want to shatter the moment, or her.
"...Don't be ridiculous--y'know that's all I am."
And he leans in, pressing a quick kiss to her cheek as long digits draw out the small velvet box. He holds it out for Esther, gaze raising to watch the woman with a faint smile flickering over his lips.
"I got y'somethin', though. It's not much--just thought you might...like it."
She notices that look on his face, and her heart breaks a little bit. She's curious about the story behind that look. She's curious about a lot of things--she's pieced together he isn't always as self assured as he appears to be. The drinking, the temper, the way he brushes himself off with that self-depreciating behavior. It appears that her knight's armor isn't looking at himself or seeing himself.
She's about to say something, about to protest and tell him how wonderful he is, but he changes the subject before she can say anything. She takes a mental note to bring it more into consideration later, then looks toward the box.
She takes it, almost hesitant at first, and peers down at it. Looking to him, she offers a bit of a smile. "-- Thank you. You're very sweet." With that, she opens the gift.
"--It's, ah, not much. I mean--it is. But y'don't have to wear it around if y'don't want to--s'more of an..uh, heirloom...I guess."
And he swallows dryly, suddenly drawing himself away from the woman as she opens that little box. Nestled within the satin pillow shines a glistening brooch--framed with intertwining golden vines, a swan of ivory is perched within her crystal pond, sparking orbs complacent and sleepy--it's his mother's. Granted, it was one of the only things that he had left of her--that and an old, off-white pair of lace-trimmed gloves.
Impulsive? Yes. But he had a good feeling about this.
"It's...ah--me mum's. Or, it was. Kinda old-fashioned, but I...dunno--I mean--" He's rubbing the back of his neck, now. "Y'don't have to wear it, it was sorta..impulsive to give y'this, but I just--had a good feelin', y'know? Like, even if you...tore me heart out, or whatever--y'still deserved to have this for a while."
"Oh--" She looks at the brooch, taking the box again and examining it. It's beautiful, it really is. There's a slight smile on her lips, but she looks back up at him with big eyes once he begins to speak. Once more, she doesn't get the chance to protest--he keeps talking, and she feels a twinge in her chest and in her gut.
A part of her still wants to protest. If it belonged to his mother, then it's extremely important. Even Esther has a soft spot for some of the sentimental things her mother has given her, and with the way Alo talks, he doesn't see much of his. But he chooses the perfect words, eases in just the right amount of heartfelt stumbled-over comments.
She's utterly speechless for a few moments, lips parted as she looks from the gift back to him. She closes the box and holds it to her chest, still staring at him with wide eyes. She's unsure what to say. She doesn't think she's ever been presented with as much realness as she is now.
"It's--beautiful, Alo. It's beautiful. I love it. But--but are you sure? Are you--really, completely sure? I--oh--" She looks back down at the box, blinking a few times and opening it again. "Oh, Alo--"
As far as he was concerned, his mother was dead. He was birthed and then torn from her, somehow--he knew nothing of the woman, didn't know what sort of perfume she pressed onto her throat, didn't know what sort of games she played with his father--in fact, what if the woman never played games? What if she was demure and innocent--like a morning dew? At times, Alo will tremble with rage for all he has been deprived--even Marie knew of her mother. Even Marie kept in contact with her mother. But Alo? He might as well have been a bastard with the lack of contact he had with his father now--and never once was he able to call to mind the image of his mother.
But Esther's expression is enough to soothe him--the way she flutters on the edge of tears of delighted laughter. She likes the gift--Alo hopes she'll keep it for a while. He doesn't exactly know what he's doing with a married woman who is entirely too well off without him--but he doesn't want to stop soon. A kiss is pressed to Esther's cheek, nose nuzzling against her jaw as he smiles weakly.
"...Yeah, yeah--m'sure. Positive."
"It's wonderful," she says, shaking her head in disbelief. "It's wonderful. You're--wonderful." She looks back up to him with something akin to awe and confusion, shaking her head slightly. "You really are."
If it were anyone else, she would have refused the gift. Too fast, too real, too scandalous for a married woman to accept. But, strangely enough, it simply doesn't feel that way here. A little overwhelming, perhaps, but not necessarily in a bad way.
This is something else that Thomas would have never done. Sentimentality was never really one of his strong points. Though, come to think of it, it isn't really something anyone she knows would do.
"God. Who are you, Alo?"
"--...Who am I?"
Monster. Filth. Scum. Rot. Blinded by the blood that misted over his eyes and deemed him a cruel, despicable human being. He had the blood of countless on his hands--he can still hear the sickening crack of his sister's bones. He's a monster. A wild, untamed beast--
--But he's a boy, too. He tries to read poetry and make sense of it, but he's such a horrible reader that it's damn well difficult. He tries, though. He likes fixing up cars and singing. He likes girls and music, and he's so bloody terrified of himself that he can't manage to branch out and attempt to make it in the real world any longer.
"...I dunno. Nothin' good, I can assure you."
She thinks she might cry. How stereotypical and ridiculous can she be? She can't believe herself. She can't believe this. This situation is so unbelievable, and he is so unebelievable, and everything is just so incredibly unbelievable.
She can't take it. She leans forward and kisses him with all she has, multiple times, breathing out words in between her kisses and hoping she doesn't slip up and accidentally say that she loves him or anything terrible like that.
"You--are--good." Kiss, kiss, kiss. "Amazing. Wonderful. Beautiful. Kind." Kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss. "You're kind, Alo. Did you know that? You're kind. And sweet. And charming. And heartbreaking. I think you might be the only good thing that's happened to me in nine years. Nothing good--you're amazing. You're amazing, you stupid boy, don't you get that?"
Blinking in rapid succession, Alo tries to make sense of this--he tries desperately to understand just how Esther could think this, and chalks it up to the fact that she's never seen him when blood is staining his hands. How could she know any better? Even so, the Alo who was tamed for humanity wasn't anything special--and he certainly wasn't what Esther claimed he was.
The kisses feel nice--but his brow furrows, dark hues flickering and raising to meet the woman's hesitantly. "...No, Es--" He manages to whisper this, such tender words foreign in his own ears--he dictates them to memory. It was nice, to hear them--even if they aren't true. "...M'not anythin' too special--not bright, I sleep with girls and forget to call 'em...I--" Slaughter things for fun. And actually have a lot of fun doing it. "...M'no good for anyone. Leave it at that, luv."
Esther has half a mind to slap him again. To slap him and to continue slapping him until he accepts that he's a pure diamond among a bunch of men dressed up in fool's gold. She still wants to cry, but she's refusing to be so undignified--that would almost be as bad as slapping him repeatedly.
She pulls back, looking lost, and stares downward for a few moments. She shakes her head, saying nothing. And then:
"You make me laugh." Silence again. And then she adds, "I never laugh. Not really. You make me laugh." Another pause. "And I like how you look at me. And you've never called me a bitch. And you--you took care of me. You barely even knew me." She looks back up at him. "I know there's something you aren't telling me. I know, and I get it. I won't ask. I'm very, very good at not asking. But--give me something. Anything. Why can't you see that you--?"
"--You're not a bitch..." He murmurs this in faint protest, unsure why anyone would ever call someone like Esther any cruel name. Alo thought the most of the woman before him, expression softening at her words. There was so much he wasn't telling her--maybe he just wants to be selfish. His last girlfriend had known of him--known of the poison the lurked within his very being, knew of his upbringing and his roots--and she drew back. Left him to pick up the shattered fragments of his heart with trembling digits. He doesn't want her to go--not yet, not when he isn't ready.
Tenderly, he rubs his hand over Esther's arm, calloused palm caressing bare flesh before he leans in to press a small kiss to her cheek. "...Y'don't know everythin'--if you did, y'wouldn't wanna be near me. But m'a selfish bloke. Too caught on you to let you go just yet--"
Everyone's selfish, she wants to say. God knows that she is. Look at the way she lives her life. But she doesn't. Instead, all she can do is stare at him and shake her head. She leans forward and kisses him again, wrapping her arms around him. "I don't think there's anything that could change how I feel right now."
With that, she pulls back and reaches for the phone on her nightstand. She dials Thomas' number, then waits for him to answer. She ignores the sound of the girl in the background, taking a deep breath and putting on her rich girl airs. "Thomas, darling. Hello. I know you're busy. It'll only be a minute. Yes, yes, I know. Very important business call. It's just that Mary-Anne's here, and she had another fight with Gerald, and she's in tears. I called for a girl's night in. No husbands allowed. Yes, darling. Mhm. Yes! Perfect. I'll see you tomorrow then." Click.
Turning her attention back to Alo, she reaches up and offers him a smile. She kisses his forehead. "I said I won't ask. So--so I won't. But--please. Stay."
The corner of his mouth quirks at her ridiculous words--oh, if she knew of his true nature, she'd be fluttering off and turning away from him in horror. Alo isn't willing to risk that yet--he's so terribly desperate for more of her tender kisses, but before he can manage another word, she's on the phone.
His face pales, then darkens when he realizes just who she's talking to. Strong arms wind around Esther's thin form, drawing her towards his own chest in a protective manner, soon chuckling at her treachery and burying his face in her shoulder.
Good. The bastard could go bury himself in some cheap redhead--Alo prays that one day, Thomas will figure out the fact that his 'little wife' is fucking a greasy boy nearly half his age.
A kiss to her mouth. He draws her close.
"--Mm. I'll stay. You're so damn crafty--"
She looks up at him, a light laugh escaping her. Resting her head on his chest, she thinks of all the different thinks she could tell him, then decides that she has time. With luck, he isn't going to be going anywhere, and she has no intention of breaking this off any earlier than him.
"I think I like you better, anyway," she says, returning his kiss with one of her own. "Because you are amazing. You are."
The secret, whatever it is--she doesn't care about it. But she's coming to realize that she does care about him. Very much. Even a little protective over him, perhaps--hoping she can do something to make a little bit of that sadness he's hiding go away. Even if it's just for a little while.
Another cliche--she wants to fix him. Or at least help him.
