Cloud no. 9
1) All fills for prompts of the earlier prompt posts go in the post the prompt was posted in. No re-posting or splitting up prompts and fills.
2) Self-prompt when you post unprompted fic. (This means posting what the fill is about in a first comment, like a real prompt, and commenting on that with your fill.)
3) Try not to get too srs business. ( Read more... )
“So it is 'we' then?” Ali says. “Oh, for fuck's sake, I won't tell. And if I wanted to, you denying it wouldn't be much of an obstacle. Oh, don't look at me like that, or I'll be tempted to start saying things like [exaggerated villain mode] 'Of course, I could be persuaded to keep silent'.”
“Which of course you wouldn't mean, not being that sort of person,” Petra counters.
Georgie tries working out what level of bluffing the two of them are at - beyond double, she's sure - then decides the hell with it: “What is this, blackmail with extra mindfuck? Would you two like to be alone?” Petra reaches out, startled, shaking her head; Georgie takes her hand and turns back to Alison.
“Look, Ali - may I call you Ali? - yes, it is 'we'. We're still working out what that means. It would be nice to do without outside interference, but if you want to leak, it's hardly like we can stop you, even if you're not exactly believable as a source. But if you just like to say that kind of thing, or go around coming on to people for effect, then... I don't actually know what to say to you,” she finishes, feeling somewhat anti-climactic, but gratified at the look Petra gives her.
“'Mad bitch' cover any of it?” Ali says, apparently unruffled.
“Some.”
“I like you,” Ali announces, with slightly too much of an air of conferring a favour for Georgie's liking.
“Big of you,” she snorts.
“Shut it, alright? I'm not finished. I like the two of you together. And considering the amount of inappropriate territorial feeling I've got about Pet, that's a pretty big deal. I'm not saying I wouldn't, together or separately. Cause I would. And I wish you'd both grow a pair about yourselves, instead of sneaking around like this, but that's a separate point. Thing is, I know I couldn't offer either of you anything like...what you've got.” She gives Petra a look Georgie can't quite read; guilt, definitely, but not only that. “And I won't pretend I do. But I would have you both, in a heartbeat.”
“I'm sure there's any number of suitable greeting cards,” Petra says. “As far as the congratulations go. It's really not necessary - or helpful - to try and jump anybody I start seeing. With or without me. And even if you didn't come with a whole great muddle of your own attached.”
“This about Finn?”
“No, Ali, not really. Whatever you might try and make of it, your partnership's between you and your partner, kids and all, and the rest of it's really just distraction. And if you need to talk about it, we can. But not now. I'll call a cab for you, okay?”
Alison looks like she's about to protest heavily, then subsides - sort of - into mock-melodramatic resignation. “As long as your conscience is fine with leaving me alone when I'm clearly in bad need of hand-holding, as shown by my misplaced acting-out, sure. You call a cab. Don't mind me.”
Petra, giving Georgie a quick look, heads into the hall, from which they can hear her calling the taxi, and then the three of them spend a few uncomfortable, but in fact not very long, minutes waiting for the actual cab to arrive. Ali, exiting, wraps herself heavily around each of them in turn, hands wandering mock-idly, and then folds herself into the back of the cab.
Georgie, playing for time to think, walks herself and Petra back into the living-room and onto the couch. She takes a deep breath before looking back up at Petra, who's watching her with an expression she can't quite make out. Some of it's concern, she thinks, but a lot of it's her trying to juggle things fast and keeping an eye on what I'm up to at the same time.
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“Big of you,” she snorts.
&hearts
&clubs too, just because I can. :D
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