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All About Eve-fic, Chapter 2
Title: Sable Coats and Razorblades
Fandom: All About Eve
Rating: Explicit
Chapters: 2/?
Word Count: 2273
Characters: Addison DeWitt, Karen Richards, Eve Harrington
Pairings Addison DeWitt/ Karen Richards, Addison DeWitt/Eve Harrington
Warnings: Blackmail, Non-consensual kissing, Dubious consent, Coercion, Dominance/submission, Forced marriage, Marriage of Convenience
Summary: To try to fight Addison DeWitt is doomed to failure, but what if one folds?
AN: This was previously posted as an on/off called Blackmail Is Such An Ugly Word. The sable coat in the current title will make an appearance, the razorblades ar merely a metaphor. There is a slight change in that the last paragraph have been moved to begin the second chapter instead of ending the first. As this is a work in progress, more warnings may be added. And it may be in place to warn you that I’m killing off Lloyd Richards.
The fic on AO3
There were other things to worry over than Addison, after all. As summer gave way to cooler weather, Lloyd remained elusive, spending less and less time at home, and it occurred to Karen she was watching her marriage slowly disintegrate and she could do nothing to stop it. They fought, pointless fights Lloyd picked where he accused her of extravagance when she knew she had not bought more than the absolute necessities.
Perhaps Eve had only been the catalyst for something which would have happened, anyway. Karen hated Addison for telling her Lloyd would eventually leave her, but it wasn’t his words which made everything she and Lloyd had shared lose importance and recede into the background. It was Lloyd, and perhaps herself, who was making it happen, all by themselves.
But before the tension between them could come to culmination, something happened which overturned Karen’s world in a way she could never have imagined. Lloyd died. Suddenly and unexpectedly in a heart attack, no one could have imagined would happen to a man in his 30s. And while Karen was still reeling from shock and grief, she learned Lloyd had somehow lost all their money. They had always been comfortably off, if not rich, and safely cushioned, Karen had thought, by what she had inherited from her parents. Now she found out there was nothing left but debts. A bad investment had let Lloyd to gamble to cover it up, he seemed to have won some back, but had continued gambling, and lost more. Debts had amassed debts, the last few months of Lloyd’s life it had snowballed, and Karen was left with next to nothing to live on. Not even the rights to Lloyd play’s were hers, they had been sold shortly before he died.
What she would have done without Margo and Bill, Karen didn’t know. Margo moved her into the townhouse, holding her the nights Karen could do nothing but cry, and Bill salvaged what little of an income for her he could. And in their home, Karen remained nearly a year later. Bill and Margo had moved, at least semi-permanently, to Los Angeles, as Bill did more and more movies. Karen was officially house-watching, but in truth, she had nowhere else to go. With what little there were left of her money she could eke out a frugal living as long as she could live rent-free at Margo’s. It was less than ideal, but Karen was at a loss what to do. She was thirty-four years old and had never worked, and she didn’t know where to begin.
And then Addison came back. Karen came home from running errands and found him smoking outside the townhouse door when she came returned. He freed her of her bags, took her key and unlocked the door for her. He then picked up a large package which had been leaning against the wall and followed her inside without waiting for an invitation.
Karen removed her coat before he could help her with it. She would have liked to ask him to leave, but she knew she wouldn’t be rid of him until he had said what he had come here for. Determined she would not let him goad her, Karen sat down, waiting for him to tell her his errand.
He looked as sleek and elegant as ever. Karen hadn’t seen him since the funeral where he had escorted Eve. He had said nothing apart from the conventional phrases; Eve had been tearfully effusive in her consolations. Eve, who had played the part of bereft mourner much better than Karen could muster. She had been too numb, grateful for the veil which hid the fact she had not shed a tear throughout the service. Later, when realisation of her loss had finally sunk in, she cried, and many times after, but not on the funeral. Karen had not seen Eve since the funeral either, apart from reading about new triumphs in the papers. Eve’s photos, ever growing in radiance, smiled from the pages, always with Addison in the background. And though Karen had always thrown away those articles unread, she had still picked up the speculations about them, though she adamantly told herself she was not interested.
But now Addison was here, and Karen remembered all too well what had happened the last time they were alone together. Deep down she was a little afraid, but she did her best to look calm, waiting for him to speak in silence.
“So this is what has become of you; an unpaid servant of Margo’s.”
Karen’s decision to not let Addison rile her disintegrated at once. She bristled. “I’m house sitting. And I’m happy to help Margo; it’s the least I can do, after everything she had done for me.”
“Just so, but it’s not worthy of you. And you can’t expect to live on her charity in the long run.”
Karen looked down on her hands. It was so typical of Addison to hone in on the sorest point at once. “No, I don’t.”
“Which leads us to the purpose of my visit. I have come to offer you a solution to all your problems.”
She looked up again, involuntarily curious, and instantly suspicious; philanthropy was not something Addison was known for. “What would that be?”
“I want you to marry me.”
Of all the outrageous things Karen could imagine Addison to say, she would never have expected this. She stared at him in complete incomprehension.
“What! Why?”
“Would you believe me if I said it was because I’m madly in love with you?”
“No.”
“I can’t understand why people think so little of my feelings. But you are right, I’m not.”
“If this is some kind of joke, Addison, then it’s not funny.”
“I’m not joking, I assure you.”
“Then why? I never imagined you as the marrying kind.”
“I have no objections to the institution of matrimony. I object to expelling the energy of pretending undying love to get to the altar, and to continue the charade afterward.”
“I don’t see the point of marriage if one doesn’t love one another.”
“You wouldn’t, but that notion was, for most of history, seen as an unimportant feature. And that’s how I still see it.”
“Why not marry Eve, then? You seem so close nowadays. And I’m sure she would play the part of a wife to perfection. Like everything else.”
“I have no doubts she would, and I considered it. But it would be a pity- a crime even, to confine her talents. You, on the other hand, was bred for marriage, and is, if you don’t mind me saying it, lost on your own. Marrying you would give me something I want; you would get something you need. We should both be satisfied.”
Karen closed her eyes, telling herself not to let Addison provoke her. She was still not sure this wasn’t an elaborate joke on her behalf, only she had never known Addison as a jester. What he was saying could be calculated to anger her, but even for him, it seemed far too complicated to seek her out in her isolation only to upset her.
“You have to explain yourself better. I still can’t see why you would want to marry me under any circumstances.”
“Very well. You have adequate intelligence and education and you have a good sense of style. In that, you may not be original, but in addition, you are also a gracious hostess with excellent social skills. I want that. And I want to utilise your diplomacy and ability to soothe the most ruffled feathers. I don’t possess those traits myself, but on occasion, I have the need for it. Then there’s the matter of camouflage. I have, perhaps, succeeded a little too well. I need people to be a little less wary of me. A confirmed bachelor at my age who suddenly gets married- he must head over heels in love; he must have softened more than we thought. That is why I want to marry you.”
“And in return, you will provide me with a social standing, a home, and an allowance.”
“Exactly. A happy little housewife once more.”
The words stung, just as they had when Margo had said them. Stung because of their truth; she had never held any higher ambition than getting married, and she had been so very happy until Eve happened.
“Am I too blunt for you? I’m just being honest.”
“Honest! You!”
“Have you ever heard me be anything but sincere? I can, and do, keep secrets, but I don’t lie. You might find it a refreshing change compared to Lloyd.”
Karen stood up. “I have no intentions to get married again. And you, you are the last man on Earth I would want.”
Addison stood as well, and Karen involuntary took a step back. She was acutely aware there was no one else in the house. So far he had seemed amiable enough, now the coldness which had scared her once before was back in his eyes.
“And you think I will let you say no?”
“I don’t care what you think. What are you going to do? Tell everyone how I helped Eve. Go ahead! You can’t hurt Lloyd anymore, and if Margo can’t forgive me, I’m sure I can make do without her help.”
Her voice sounded too loud and strident and Karen took a deep breath to calm down. Addison gave her a patient look as if her outburst had been expected, but had still disappointed.
“I have more forceful incentives than your misguided help to Eve.” Addison reached into the inner pocket of his jacket and removed a few folded papers. “But remember I wouldn’t have burdened you with this if you had accepted me without fuss.”
He gave them to her and added. “This is only a summary, but I can show you the full documentation if you insist.”
Karen scanned the papers and felt faint. They were filled with neat typewriting, accounting more of Lloyd’s debts. A lot more. Addison’s voice reached her as is it came from very far away.
“I took care to find out what Lloyd was so secretive about, and then I took the precautions to acquisition some of those debts from the original creditors. I bought the rights to his plays too; I expect that part will be worth more than I spent eventually.”
It was suddenly hard to breathe and Karen almost stumbled to a window and threw it open. She gripped the window sill and took a deep breath. The cold air was filled with car fumes, but it was still better; a reminder that the world around was going on as usual. Addison came to stand behind her, but she refused to turn to him.
“I can’t pay this.”
“I know.”
“But if I marry you-”
“These debts will disappear.”
“Of course.”
“I’m offering you a way out, Karen.”
“After closing all other doors. What a horrible man you are.”
“I’ve been called worse.”
His hands were on her shoulders, now, heavy and powerful, but his voice was soft. “Would it be so bad to say yes? I would only demand your company occasionally; most of the time would be your own to pursue whatever interests you like.”
“And this marriage you propose; if you don’t love me I assume it would be in name only.”
He was so close now Karen could feel his breath in her hair, and his body like a solid shadow of warmth behind her, while the draft from the open window was quickly making her feel frozen. She tried to shrug his hands away, but he only tightened his grip. She knew he was smiling, one of those small condescending smiles she had seen many times before.
“Don’t pretend naivete; you know I didn’t mean that. True, if I only wanted a few moments of pleasure, both you and I know I can take it here and now if I was so inclined. And in the vein of truthfulness, I have to acknowledge not everyone has found me agreeable in those matters. However, I strongly suspect you will.”
His hands slid down over her arms and Karen’s shiver was not because of the coldness in the air. She realised she was actually contemplating his proposal instead of maintaining a refusal. To distract herself, she latched onto the first thought which came to her. “And what about Eve?”
The hands came to an abrupt stop. “Eve and I are nothing you need to concern yourself with. I won’t promise you fidelity, but you would not have to be afraid I would leave you. For Eve, or anyone else. And if you are finished trying to distract me, I think you should give me a proper answer soon. Yes, or no.”
Addison leaned past her and closed the window and led her back to an armchair and made her sit down, and a moment later he pressed a glass into her hand. The drink was too strong, but Karen drank it anyway, grateful when the acrid burn of liquor gave way to a slight numbness. She wished she had been one of Margo’s characters in a play. Or Margo herself. Margo would have told Addison to go to hell, consequences be damned. Karen couldn’t; the consequences seemed far too frightening. But to marry Addison; the idea was preposterous, and, frankly, quite alarming too. So yes, or no. Yes, or no. And the seconds ticked away, as she went over her answer again and again in her head.
Fandom: All About Eve
Rating: Explicit
Chapters: 2/?
Word Count: 2273
Characters: Addison DeWitt, Karen Richards, Eve Harrington
Pairings Addison DeWitt/ Karen Richards, Addison DeWitt/Eve Harrington
Warnings: Blackmail, Non-consensual kissing, Dubious consent, Coercion, Dominance/submission, Forced marriage, Marriage of Convenience
Summary: To try to fight Addison DeWitt is doomed to failure, but what if one folds?
AN: This was previously posted as an on/off called Blackmail Is Such An Ugly Word. The sable coat in the current title will make an appearance, the razorblades ar merely a metaphor. There is a slight change in that the last paragraph have been moved to begin the second chapter instead of ending the first. As this is a work in progress, more warnings may be added. And it may be in place to warn you that I’m killing off Lloyd Richards.
The fic on AO3
There were other things to worry over than Addison, after all. As summer gave way to cooler weather, Lloyd remained elusive, spending less and less time at home, and it occurred to Karen she was watching her marriage slowly disintegrate and she could do nothing to stop it. They fought, pointless fights Lloyd picked where he accused her of extravagance when she knew she had not bought more than the absolute necessities.
Perhaps Eve had only been the catalyst for something which would have happened, anyway. Karen hated Addison for telling her Lloyd would eventually leave her, but it wasn’t his words which made everything she and Lloyd had shared lose importance and recede into the background. It was Lloyd, and perhaps herself, who was making it happen, all by themselves.
But before the tension between them could come to culmination, something happened which overturned Karen’s world in a way she could never have imagined. Lloyd died. Suddenly and unexpectedly in a heart attack, no one could have imagined would happen to a man in his 30s. And while Karen was still reeling from shock and grief, she learned Lloyd had somehow lost all their money. They had always been comfortably off, if not rich, and safely cushioned, Karen had thought, by what she had inherited from her parents. Now she found out there was nothing left but debts. A bad investment had let Lloyd to gamble to cover it up, he seemed to have won some back, but had continued gambling, and lost more. Debts had amassed debts, the last few months of Lloyd’s life it had snowballed, and Karen was left with next to nothing to live on. Not even the rights to Lloyd play’s were hers, they had been sold shortly before he died.
What she would have done without Margo and Bill, Karen didn’t know. Margo moved her into the townhouse, holding her the nights Karen could do nothing but cry, and Bill salvaged what little of an income for her he could. And in their home, Karen remained nearly a year later. Bill and Margo had moved, at least semi-permanently, to Los Angeles, as Bill did more and more movies. Karen was officially house-watching, but in truth, she had nowhere else to go. With what little there were left of her money she could eke out a frugal living as long as she could live rent-free at Margo’s. It was less than ideal, but Karen was at a loss what to do. She was thirty-four years old and had never worked, and she didn’t know where to begin.
And then Addison came back. Karen came home from running errands and found him smoking outside the townhouse door when she came returned. He freed her of her bags, took her key and unlocked the door for her. He then picked up a large package which had been leaning against the wall and followed her inside without waiting for an invitation.
Karen removed her coat before he could help her with it. She would have liked to ask him to leave, but she knew she wouldn’t be rid of him until he had said what he had come here for. Determined she would not let him goad her, Karen sat down, waiting for him to tell her his errand.
He looked as sleek and elegant as ever. Karen hadn’t seen him since the funeral where he had escorted Eve. He had said nothing apart from the conventional phrases; Eve had been tearfully effusive in her consolations. Eve, who had played the part of bereft mourner much better than Karen could muster. She had been too numb, grateful for the veil which hid the fact she had not shed a tear throughout the service. Later, when realisation of her loss had finally sunk in, she cried, and many times after, but not on the funeral. Karen had not seen Eve since the funeral either, apart from reading about new triumphs in the papers. Eve’s photos, ever growing in radiance, smiled from the pages, always with Addison in the background. And though Karen had always thrown away those articles unread, she had still picked up the speculations about them, though she adamantly told herself she was not interested.
But now Addison was here, and Karen remembered all too well what had happened the last time they were alone together. Deep down she was a little afraid, but she did her best to look calm, waiting for him to speak in silence.
“So this is what has become of you; an unpaid servant of Margo’s.”
Karen’s decision to not let Addison rile her disintegrated at once. She bristled. “I’m house sitting. And I’m happy to help Margo; it’s the least I can do, after everything she had done for me.”
“Just so, but it’s not worthy of you. And you can’t expect to live on her charity in the long run.”
Karen looked down on her hands. It was so typical of Addison to hone in on the sorest point at once. “No, I don’t.”
“Which leads us to the purpose of my visit. I have come to offer you a solution to all your problems.”
She looked up again, involuntarily curious, and instantly suspicious; philanthropy was not something Addison was known for. “What would that be?”
“I want you to marry me.”
Of all the outrageous things Karen could imagine Addison to say, she would never have expected this. She stared at him in complete incomprehension.
“What! Why?”
“Would you believe me if I said it was because I’m madly in love with you?”
“No.”
“I can’t understand why people think so little of my feelings. But you are right, I’m not.”
“If this is some kind of joke, Addison, then it’s not funny.”
“I’m not joking, I assure you.”
“Then why? I never imagined you as the marrying kind.”
“I have no objections to the institution of matrimony. I object to expelling the energy of pretending undying love to get to the altar, and to continue the charade afterward.”
“I don’t see the point of marriage if one doesn’t love one another.”
“You wouldn’t, but that notion was, for most of history, seen as an unimportant feature. And that’s how I still see it.”
“Why not marry Eve, then? You seem so close nowadays. And I’m sure she would play the part of a wife to perfection. Like everything else.”
“I have no doubts she would, and I considered it. But it would be a pity- a crime even, to confine her talents. You, on the other hand, was bred for marriage, and is, if you don’t mind me saying it, lost on your own. Marrying you would give me something I want; you would get something you need. We should both be satisfied.”
Karen closed her eyes, telling herself not to let Addison provoke her. She was still not sure this wasn’t an elaborate joke on her behalf, only she had never known Addison as a jester. What he was saying could be calculated to anger her, but even for him, it seemed far too complicated to seek her out in her isolation only to upset her.
“You have to explain yourself better. I still can’t see why you would want to marry me under any circumstances.”
“Very well. You have adequate intelligence and education and you have a good sense of style. In that, you may not be original, but in addition, you are also a gracious hostess with excellent social skills. I want that. And I want to utilise your diplomacy and ability to soothe the most ruffled feathers. I don’t possess those traits myself, but on occasion, I have the need for it. Then there’s the matter of camouflage. I have, perhaps, succeeded a little too well. I need people to be a little less wary of me. A confirmed bachelor at my age who suddenly gets married- he must head over heels in love; he must have softened more than we thought. That is why I want to marry you.”
“And in return, you will provide me with a social standing, a home, and an allowance.”
“Exactly. A happy little housewife once more.”
The words stung, just as they had when Margo had said them. Stung because of their truth; she had never held any higher ambition than getting married, and she had been so very happy until Eve happened.
“Am I too blunt for you? I’m just being honest.”
“Honest! You!”
“Have you ever heard me be anything but sincere? I can, and do, keep secrets, but I don’t lie. You might find it a refreshing change compared to Lloyd.”
Karen stood up. “I have no intentions to get married again. And you, you are the last man on Earth I would want.”
Addison stood as well, and Karen involuntary took a step back. She was acutely aware there was no one else in the house. So far he had seemed amiable enough, now the coldness which had scared her once before was back in his eyes.
“And you think I will let you say no?”
“I don’t care what you think. What are you going to do? Tell everyone how I helped Eve. Go ahead! You can’t hurt Lloyd anymore, and if Margo can’t forgive me, I’m sure I can make do without her help.”
Her voice sounded too loud and strident and Karen took a deep breath to calm down. Addison gave her a patient look as if her outburst had been expected, but had still disappointed.
“I have more forceful incentives than your misguided help to Eve.” Addison reached into the inner pocket of his jacket and removed a few folded papers. “But remember I wouldn’t have burdened you with this if you had accepted me without fuss.”
He gave them to her and added. “This is only a summary, but I can show you the full documentation if you insist.”
Karen scanned the papers and felt faint. They were filled with neat typewriting, accounting more of Lloyd’s debts. A lot more. Addison’s voice reached her as is it came from very far away.
“I took care to find out what Lloyd was so secretive about, and then I took the precautions to acquisition some of those debts from the original creditors. I bought the rights to his plays too; I expect that part will be worth more than I spent eventually.”
It was suddenly hard to breathe and Karen almost stumbled to a window and threw it open. She gripped the window sill and took a deep breath. The cold air was filled with car fumes, but it was still better; a reminder that the world around was going on as usual. Addison came to stand behind her, but she refused to turn to him.
“I can’t pay this.”
“I know.”
“But if I marry you-”
“These debts will disappear.”
“Of course.”
“I’m offering you a way out, Karen.”
“After closing all other doors. What a horrible man you are.”
“I’ve been called worse.”
His hands were on her shoulders, now, heavy and powerful, but his voice was soft. “Would it be so bad to say yes? I would only demand your company occasionally; most of the time would be your own to pursue whatever interests you like.”
“And this marriage you propose; if you don’t love me I assume it would be in name only.”
He was so close now Karen could feel his breath in her hair, and his body like a solid shadow of warmth behind her, while the draft from the open window was quickly making her feel frozen. She tried to shrug his hands away, but he only tightened his grip. She knew he was smiling, one of those small condescending smiles she had seen many times before.
“Don’t pretend naivete; you know I didn’t mean that. True, if I only wanted a few moments of pleasure, both you and I know I can take it here and now if I was so inclined. And in the vein of truthfulness, I have to acknowledge not everyone has found me agreeable in those matters. However, I strongly suspect you will.”
His hands slid down over her arms and Karen’s shiver was not because of the coldness in the air. She realised she was actually contemplating his proposal instead of maintaining a refusal. To distract herself, she latched onto the first thought which came to her. “And what about Eve?”
The hands came to an abrupt stop. “Eve and I are nothing you need to concern yourself with. I won’t promise you fidelity, but you would not have to be afraid I would leave you. For Eve, or anyone else. And if you are finished trying to distract me, I think you should give me a proper answer soon. Yes, or no.”
Addison leaned past her and closed the window and led her back to an armchair and made her sit down, and a moment later he pressed a glass into her hand. The drink was too strong, but Karen drank it anyway, grateful when the acrid burn of liquor gave way to a slight numbness. She wished she had been one of Margo’s characters in a play. Or Margo herself. Margo would have told Addison to go to hell, consequences be damned. Karen couldn’t; the consequences seemed far too frightening. But to marry Addison; the idea was preposterous, and, frankly, quite alarming too. So yes, or no. Yes, or no. And the seconds ticked away, as she went over her answer again and again in her head.