Thread: Dresses and Derangement (Shikokudarkstar & Charlie_Death)

Thomas Haly decided to lay low for a couple of days, working often as Arabella to make up for his time spent mourning over his 'second mother'. It wasn't really ideal since he couldn't wear mourning colors and was forced to play the game of gentle lady. His body hurt from wearing the shoes and corsets but he couldn't stop or slow down. He had to get as many of the women as he could off the street. Inside his home, he held classes and gave the women new identities. Most of them, he let come and go as they pleased but the rule was it you wanted money, then you had to get out of prostitution. Oftentimes, his home was full of women learning and hiding themselves from prior cads who had used their bodies. Since it was on the border of the worst part in London, it wasn't expected for manners to happen. John, his 'butler' was actually one of those women who Thomas had reformed. She had been beaten badly and burned by a sadistic client so there had been no way she could have gone back to life as before or even working as a servant girl. So instead, Thomas had transformed her into a respectable, if not handsome, butler. At first, John, who had been Joan at the time, had not taken well to the role. She rebelled and tried to go back to being a lady of the night. There was however, no way she could have gotten work with all the other available women in the area. Thomas had managed to convince her that being John, however was not without perks. John could go places Joan could not and John was more able to get women to kiss him than Joan had been. Only a few months later, and the name Joan was never uttered again...even in private. For five years, John had manned the doors, and still he did not like Thomas risking himself for the other working ladies of the night. He was the only one who knew who Arabella really was since Thomas's 'second mother' had passed. John didn't approve of his throwing himself into Arabella's work either but quite frankly, he was better doing this than drinking like a louse and puking upon unsuspecting victims. Little did he know, he would meet that man again. It was a night like many others. Arabella had walked home from work and gone straight back to her room after a proper hello and removal over her heavy overcoats. However once reaching those rooms, Arabella was surprised by a visitor. Thomas would have shot the man in the chest with his gun hidden in his corset, however as Arabella, he didn't have that option. Instead Thomas held his face in the mask of a proper lady, staring at the intruder as he babbled and stumbled through his words. Arabella and Thomas knew this man. Arabella had politely refused his offer for help while Thomas had vomited upon him. Thomas blinked a bit startled as the man left through the window. That would definitely be something he would have to fix so that he could not be intruded on again. With a sigh, he watched the intruder leave before locking the window and shutting the curtains. No...he supposed he wouldn't be telling anyone about this. Even if he wished to, there was just no way he could invite that much attention into his life. However, that proper gentleman was too much attention anyway. He would have to make sure to keep a tighter security on his home. Privacy was the utmost importance with him breaking so many laws. Another few days passed before Thomas felt himself being watched or really....Arabella was being watched. Thomas paused, turning his gaze around the streets before finding who was watching him. It was that man again. Thomas wanted to sigh or even threaten the gentleman but he couldn't as Arabella. Instead he turned his head in an obvious show of being affronted by the man's very presence and pointedly ignored him. That however lasted until he felt the man follow him almost all the way home. He was unsure how to handle this. How would a proper lady handle a stalker? Or an admirer? Thomas looked over his shoulder at the man before turning all the way around. Can I help you, sir? Thomas spoke, using Arabella's gentle, husky voice. He stood under his parasol in his blue gown, just coming home from another ball. His feet hurt from all the dancing and his body hurt from the way he had to hold it has a woman. It was probably why he rebelled so thoroughly when he was himself. He got exhausted from all of the rules that women had to follow. Although, following the rule about staying a virgin until he was married hadn't really been a problem. Buggery was illegal. Arabella however was the perfect model of ice cold female. Although...that didn't mean he wasn't curious as to what this man was doing following him. He just had to be careful.