Sable Coats and Razorblades, chapter 3
Dec. 29th, 2019 08:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
scripsiMore fic! Though this chapter has actually been finished for a while; I have just lacked the energy for the final touches.
Title: Sable Coats and Razorblades
Fandom: All About Eve
Rating: Explicit
Chapters: 3/?
Word Count: 1141
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?
The fic on AO3
As the minutes passed, Karen started to feel like this wasn’t really happening. The situation was so absurd; more like a dream, or rather a nightmare, than real life. Perhaps it didn’t matter what she said or did as she would wake up soon. She roused herself from her contemplations and looked at Addison. Despite him urging her for an answer he seemed content in waiting for it, smoking one of his ever-present cigarettes at leisure.
“What you are asking of me; it’s-”
Addison looked amused. “You find it medieval?, Melodramatic? Improbable? I’ve heard it all before. Now be reasonable and accept me; you know you can do nothing else.”
“I still don’t understand why you want to marry someone you don’t love.” A thought struck her. “But you don’t know what love really is, do you?”
He frowned. “No.”
“I pity you.”
“Really? As I see it, I’m far better off than you. What has love brought you, Karen? You were unhappy long before Lloyd died. All for love. It doesn’t seem to be worth much to me.”
“I will rather be unhappy than be without feelings.”
“Oh, I feel. Not just in the same way as you do. I want, and I take the steps necessary to acquire what I desire. For the rest; well, I leave it to the theatre to showcase those feelings for me, at a safe distance. I don’t expect or want, your love. I don’t particularly care if you are happy, or not, but if it makes you feel better, I don’t intend to make you unhappy on purpose. And I believe you are far too sensible a woman not to make the best of the situation you have been given.”
There was another silence, and Karen had to acknowledge to herself she was stalling. She already knew what she would answer. It was the only answer she could give. Perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad to be married to Addison, not if one considered the alternatives, anyway. And she was so tired of being alone and worried.
He was not an unattractive man either; the memory of that first kiss went unbidden through Karen’s mind. She tried to push it away, but she couldn’t help thinking sleeping with Addison might not be bad at all. And even if it was, it wasn’t likely to last; he would certainly grow tired of her soon. Karen had known him for a decade and the women Addison seemed to prefer were all younger and more beautiful than she was, and still none had lasted long on his arm. A few months- weeks even, before they disappeared again. Some of them had undoubtedly had his help in successful careers, but only Eve seemed to have staying power. It was Eve, not Karen, Addison was really interested in, and Eve was welcome to have him.
Karen sighed; she could feel the beginning of a headache, and right now she wanted to take a powder and lay down for a while. It had to be said, sooner or later, and then she would be rid of Addison for the moment. Saying yes wasn’t the same as doing it, was it? There would be time to figure something out and the wedding would never need to happen.
“Yes, if that is what you want, I’ll marry you.”
“Good.” Addison looked at his watch and stood. “We have plenty of time to get a marriage license, and then we can get married.”
Karen looked up at him in surprise. “What do you mean? Do you want to get married now? Today?”
“Why not? Have you any good reason to wait?”
There were many good reasons, and one of them was reassuringly practical. “You can’t get married the same day you get the marriage license.”
“You can if you have a special dispensation. Which I have. You don’t have to worry; I have thought of everything.”
That was hardly a comfort. Karen tried to articulate other excuses but found they had all slipped her mind. She rubbed her temples; there was definitely a headache coming. Even if she came up with something, would it really matter? Addison would simply talk around her, making her head spin until she could see no other way than agreeing with him. She might as well have it over and done with, instead of knowing it would happen eventually.
So she shrugged. “Well, why not?”
“Excellent. And I have something for you to wear for the occasion.”
Addison briefly disappeared into the hall and returned with the large parcel he had brought with him. He placed it on a table, and curious despite herself, Karen opened it. For a moment she thought he had brought a living animal, but then she saw it was a fur. And not any fur either. The rich shine of the dark brown fur told her it was sable even before she touched it, and then she was sure. The softness against her hands felt like no other fur, almost silky, no matter which way it was stroked. Karen lifted it and shook it out, it was not even a jacket but a full-length coat, and for a moment she forgot Addison and what she had agreed to do as she admired it. A fur coat this luxurious was something she had coveted, but never thought she would own.
Then Addison spoke, and his voice brought her back with an abrupt start. “Do you like it?”
“It’s exquisite.”
He stretched out a hand and stroke the fur, then he gave Karen a peculiar glance. “I heard Margo said she would get married in nothing else but a nightgown and a fur coat.”
Karen smiled at the memory. “She said she would, but she didn’t, of course. The very idea!”
“I would not have put it past her, but I suppose Bill wouldn’t have approved.” He nodded at the fur. “I want you to wear that, and nothing else for our marriage.”
“That’s not a very funny joke.”
“I never joke.”
The feeling of being in a dream came back to Karen, stronger than before. A truly surreal dream. “I can’t do that. It’s not possible!”
“It’s perfectly possible, the coat is long enough. I don’t demand you to go barefoot, and with stockings and shoes, no one will never know, but you and I.”
Karen stared at him in disbelief. “You can’t ask this of me. It wouldn’t be decent.”
Addison shrugged. “Don’t do it then, but then the marriage is off. And those debts won’t disappear.”
“But why?”
“Because I want you to. No other reason than that.”
Karen stared at Addison in silence for a few moments. Then she felt couldn’t stand yet another outrageous comment from him, she fled the room, still hugging the fur close to her chest.
Title: Sable Coats and Razorblades
Fandom: All About Eve
Rating: Explicit
Chapters: 3/?
Word Count: 1141
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?
The fic on AO3
As the minutes passed, Karen started to feel like this wasn’t really happening. The situation was so absurd; more like a dream, or rather a nightmare, than real life. Perhaps it didn’t matter what she said or did as she would wake up soon. She roused herself from her contemplations and looked at Addison. Despite him urging her for an answer he seemed content in waiting for it, smoking one of his ever-present cigarettes at leisure.
“What you are asking of me; it’s-”
Addison looked amused. “You find it medieval?, Melodramatic? Improbable? I’ve heard it all before. Now be reasonable and accept me; you know you can do nothing else.”
“I still don’t understand why you want to marry someone you don’t love.” A thought struck her. “But you don’t know what love really is, do you?”
He frowned. “No.”
“I pity you.”
“Really? As I see it, I’m far better off than you. What has love brought you, Karen? You were unhappy long before Lloyd died. All for love. It doesn’t seem to be worth much to me.”
“I will rather be unhappy than be without feelings.”
“Oh, I feel. Not just in the same way as you do. I want, and I take the steps necessary to acquire what I desire. For the rest; well, I leave it to the theatre to showcase those feelings for me, at a safe distance. I don’t expect or want, your love. I don’t particularly care if you are happy, or not, but if it makes you feel better, I don’t intend to make you unhappy on purpose. And I believe you are far too sensible a woman not to make the best of the situation you have been given.”
There was another silence, and Karen had to acknowledge to herself she was stalling. She already knew what she would answer. It was the only answer she could give. Perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad to be married to Addison, not if one considered the alternatives, anyway. And she was so tired of being alone and worried.
He was not an unattractive man either; the memory of that first kiss went unbidden through Karen’s mind. She tried to push it away, but she couldn’t help thinking sleeping with Addison might not be bad at all. And even if it was, it wasn’t likely to last; he would certainly grow tired of her soon. Karen had known him for a decade and the women Addison seemed to prefer were all younger and more beautiful than she was, and still none had lasted long on his arm. A few months- weeks even, before they disappeared again. Some of them had undoubtedly had his help in successful careers, but only Eve seemed to have staying power. It was Eve, not Karen, Addison was really interested in, and Eve was welcome to have him.
Karen sighed; she could feel the beginning of a headache, and right now she wanted to take a powder and lay down for a while. It had to be said, sooner or later, and then she would be rid of Addison for the moment. Saying yes wasn’t the same as doing it, was it? There would be time to figure something out and the wedding would never need to happen.
“Yes, if that is what you want, I’ll marry you.”
“Good.” Addison looked at his watch and stood. “We have plenty of time to get a marriage license, and then we can get married.”
Karen looked up at him in surprise. “What do you mean? Do you want to get married now? Today?”
“Why not? Have you any good reason to wait?”
There were many good reasons, and one of them was reassuringly practical. “You can’t get married the same day you get the marriage license.”
“You can if you have a special dispensation. Which I have. You don’t have to worry; I have thought of everything.”
That was hardly a comfort. Karen tried to articulate other excuses but found they had all slipped her mind. She rubbed her temples; there was definitely a headache coming. Even if she came up with something, would it really matter? Addison would simply talk around her, making her head spin until she could see no other way than agreeing with him. She might as well have it over and done with, instead of knowing it would happen eventually.
So she shrugged. “Well, why not?”
“Excellent. And I have something for you to wear for the occasion.”
Addison briefly disappeared into the hall and returned with the large parcel he had brought with him. He placed it on a table, and curious despite herself, Karen opened it. For a moment she thought he had brought a living animal, but then she saw it was a fur. And not any fur either. The rich shine of the dark brown fur told her it was sable even before she touched it, and then she was sure. The softness against her hands felt like no other fur, almost silky, no matter which way it was stroked. Karen lifted it and shook it out, it was not even a jacket but a full-length coat, and for a moment she forgot Addison and what she had agreed to do as she admired it. A fur coat this luxurious was something she had coveted, but never thought she would own.
Then Addison spoke, and his voice brought her back with an abrupt start. “Do you like it?”
“It’s exquisite.”
He stretched out a hand and stroke the fur, then he gave Karen a peculiar glance. “I heard Margo said she would get married in nothing else but a nightgown and a fur coat.”
Karen smiled at the memory. “She said she would, but she didn’t, of course. The very idea!”
“I would not have put it past her, but I suppose Bill wouldn’t have approved.” He nodded at the fur. “I want you to wear that, and nothing else for our marriage.”
“That’s not a very funny joke.”
“I never joke.”
The feeling of being in a dream came back to Karen, stronger than before. A truly surreal dream. “I can’t do that. It’s not possible!”
“It’s perfectly possible, the coat is long enough. I don’t demand you to go barefoot, and with stockings and shoes, no one will never know, but you and I.”
Karen stared at him in disbelief. “You can’t ask this of me. It wouldn’t be decent.”
Addison shrugged. “Don’t do it then, but then the marriage is off. And those debts won’t disappear.”
“But why?”
“Because I want you to. No other reason than that.”
Karen stared at Addison in silence for a few moments. Then she felt couldn’t stand yet another outrageous comment from him, she fled the room, still hugging the fur close to her chest.
