Best Served Cold

Brainstorming lasts for all of five minutes before Rouge gets sick of my ideas. I refuse to believe there's no outcome for this where everyone wins, she refuses to listen to the concept of cloning Trish. We're both equally unreasonable.

Eventually I'm kicked out of the room and I decide to return to my own, honestly, after the heartache Rouge is facing I could really do with a cuddle with Elise, even if she is asleep. To my surprise I find her sat up-right in the bed, finishing up a conversation on the phone, she waves me inside and says goodbye.

"So! I have news." She squeals excitedly, patting the bed to request I sit next to her. I comply and she leans into me. This is nice. I needed this. "Jessie's offered me a job."

I try not to look shocked, people have jobs, people get paid for them and then come home from them. Jobs are normal. I just didn't realise Elise wanted one. "As in bartending?" I ask. My immediate thought goes to the cellar, isn't she still scared of it? Is it all cellars or just her own? Is it just descending in general? Too many questions, few of them helpful.

Elise snorts at my insinuation. "Nah, they're good for that, they want me to play music, apparently she thinks it'll make the place 'more classy' if there's background music or something. I struggle with her accent." She admits. Well that's easier, and less likely to result in emotional instability... Probably.

"And you're up for it? You're not afraid of playing in front of other people or anything?" I wonder out loud.

"Not at all, I've never been one for stage fright, why do you ask?" She responds curiously, looking up to me.

"Because..." I begin. "You've never let me hear you play."

Elise looks taken aback by my statement. "Sure I have... There was... It was when..." She rambles, trying to recall a fictional event. "Oh. I guess you haven't, we never really talk about it, do we?" She adds with a sad tone.

No, no, no. No more sadness, There's been too much sadness today, and I want Elise to be excited when Saturday comes.

"I'm glad." I answer, soliciting a confused reaction from my girlfriend. "It just means I have even more of you to learn about, I can be there for your first gig." I decide with a smile. Elise's eyes look up at me and seem to crackle with joy. She smiles back at me and taps her lips twice with her finger. I know that signal, and lean down to kiss her. We continue for a few minutes, it feels like home again, so much upheaval, times like this remind me that there's stuff worth pushing forward for.

Elise finally pulls away. "Hmm... Did you get better at that? I didn't think it was possible." She smirks as we lay down and she rests her head on my chest.

"Maybe I learned it from Trish, or I just realised I needed to up my game to keep the prettiest girl in the world." I answer, I'm greeted with a gentle slap to my stomach as punishment for my cheesiness.

"Speaking of, do I win the bet now?" Elise asks me suggestively. Damn it, I'd hoped she'd forgotten about that. It's not like I'm averse to toys or anything but I'm barely used to being fingered, a full-sized dildo is an intimidating prospect.

"Not yet, only if they actually have sex." I point out. I realise that with how those two are it's only a matter of time, but I'll take it... Besides, I've got a red-haired ace up my sleeve. With Black highlights. That's both the colours on cards, so I'm pretty sure that means I win. Okay, I know nothing about cards, the point is Rouge could very well change the game.

Elise pouts at my suggestion. "Shame, I'm looking forward to bending you over and making you feel like a woman." She jokes theatrically. "Not that I'd mind dressing up either... Maybe I'll do both... If you're lucky."

Dressing up...

Hallowe'en. Fuck, I forgot to tell Rouge, guess Elise'll be an easier sell anyway. "So... How would you react to me telling you I'd agreed for us to go to a Hallowe'en party?" I ask carefully, gauging her reaction.

Elise looks at me suspiciously. "I'd say that sounds like fun and I'd wonder why you're being cagey about it." She answers, awaiting my explanation.

"It's at Jenny's house." I finally reveal. Elise's eyebrows shoot up in surprise before she tries to clarify.

"Jenny that you hate? 'Jenny' Jenny? Jenny who's friend I broke the face of? That jenny?" She stammers. "Why on Earth would you want to go to that?"

Well that's an awkward question. I can't say 'In exchange for a limo ride to a romantic destination to tell you I love you.' Maybe best to skim the details.

"Gabriel insisted, apparently they're friends now." I explain. Elise doesn't seem satisfied with my story, I know it's not a great cover, but what else have I got?

"Last I checked, you weren't a big fan of him either... I recall something about snapping his dick in half?" She quotes me. Hey, I was angry when I said that, honestly, it feels like a light breeze could snap him in half, it's hard to be violently angry to someone who looks like they'd fall down from a cough.

The problem is, I can't explain why I'm less pissed towards Gabriel now either, the lift and the brain trust are secret for a reason. Back to lying my arse off, I guess. I feel dirty. And not in a good way.

"He's Rouge's friend, and he probably didn't deserve all the hate I gave him, it just feels like I owe him something, you know?" I clarify. I guess none of that is technically lying, but the omission still makes me feel bad. How fucked up is that? I feel bad for keeping my plans to tell my girlfriend I love her a secret. Isn't stuff supposed to get easier after you get together? Movies always end at that point, I figured it was clear sailing.

Elise still looks suspicious, but accepts my words. "Okay, I'll come, but I get to choose our costumes!" She demands with an evil grin.

Oh no, less responsibility, how can I ever accept such a requirement? "You're welcome to, I hated picking a costume as a kid, and it's not like I ever had to dress up to sit at home." I chuckle, remembering my days of switching from rom-coms to low-budget horror films for a single evening. I don't know what would make me like the idea of a monster murdering a bunch of stuck-up teenagers, nothing springs to mind. "We'll have to invite Rouge too, but she'll go if she knows Gabriel is, so that means Rob's a dead cert, Anya and Kara shouldn't be hard to convince..." I think aloud, realising the difficult one.

"That leaves Trish and Skye... Which would be more difficult, and not just because of Trish and Jenny's past." Elise picks up my train of thought. Rouge would have to deal with Jenny and seeing them together, it's a lot to ask of her, I'll add it to the list. "Maybe if we get all of them dress up they won't realise who everyone is!" Elise giggles.

Wait.

There's no way that would work.

I'm either crazy or a genius.

I need to talk to Rouge.