The Floating World - Transgendence

Authors' note - this story is a collaboration between StickyGirl and ElectricBlue66. It is an alternate follow on to Stickygirl's Under Your Skin, and combines her story world with EB's Floating World.

The page you are reading here is a teaser for EB's regular readers, and is only the first two scenes. At the end of this page you will find a link to the whole story, which is listed on StickyGirl's Author's Page .

* * * *

"Hey, honey, where are you?"

Hannah's voice came up from the hall, startling Jane. She hadn't heard the key in the lock, as her thoughts were elsewhere.

"In the study, Han, just going through messages. Sorry, darling, I lost track of time."

"Who's writing you? Is it your new writer friend?"

Hannah came up behind Jane and wrapped her arms around her, giving her a big smooch on the cheek. Jane rested her head on the other woman's arm for a short moment, then clicked a key on the keyboard. The cursor spiralled as a document loaded.

"Yes. He's sent me something. I sent him a thousand words last night." Jane laughed. "I'm such a goose, Han. He made me laugh coz I'd sent him exactly a thousand words. He messaged back saying he should have thought, he didn't mean exactly that number of words. Those neurotypical brains, why they say what they don't mean, I don't know!"

Hannah ruffled her friend's blonde hair. "I know what you mean. Happens to me all the time." She bent down to kiss Jane's head. "But what's he written? Has he started writing that story you promised, the one about me and the debonair Adam?"

"I don't think so. Look." Jane pointed at the screen. "He's written... god, Han, he's writing about us!"

"What? Let me see." Hannah leaned forward and read a few words over Jane's shoulder. "Wait...."

Hannah looked around for the other chair, and pulled it up to sit beside Jane. The two women sat side by side, quietly reading. Half way down the first page, Hannah snuck her hand over Jane's. They shared a glance, and kept reading, Jane scrolling down through the pages.

* * * *

Hannah was disappointed to see Sebastian and his sister disappear, and to find herself on her own again in the crowd. The private viewing was certainly busy, and though she loved the idea of fabrics and fashion and understood what looked good on her, she was overawed by the fashion aficionados in attendance. She felt a little nervous, all alone.

"Do you know Sebastian?" She heard a soft voice. Hannah turned to see a man in his fifties, wearing an expensive but tasteful suit, standing beside her. His gaze was steady, and before she automatically looked beyond his ear, she briefly registered deep blue eyes.

"Not really. He was kind enough to invite me after I expressed an interest. I can see he's terribly busy, though," Hannah replied, noting he had a catalogue in his hand. "Oh, is that the guide? I should have picked one up, then I'd have more idea what I'm looking at. Are they at the door?" She knew she was beginning to chatter, and pinched her thumbnail into a finger, hard, to remind herself to slow down.

"I could lend you mine, but then I'd be stuck, too."

His voice had a slight accent, but Hannah couldn't exactly place it. Australian, but not like she'd heard on TV.

"Perhaps we could share," he continued, "because I'm a bit clueless with this show." He confided in her, speaking with his hand at the side of his mouth.

"Okay, yes. Why not? Where shall we start? I don't want to bore you by asking to see a display you've already seen, so you choose." Hannah stole a look at him from behind her hair. "They all look amazing. I'm sure there's a story behind each one." Hannah smiled, looking around the gallery for something that caught her eye.

"What about something with passion?" he suggested.

Hannah shot him a glance, looking a little unsettled. He must have overheard her conversation with Jude, Sebastian's sister.

"Forgive me," he said. "I couldn't help hearing you and Jude exchanging ideas just now. I heard you say 'passion' and... that's such a strong word."

"So you know them both?" she asked, diverting the conversation.

"I've known them since they were children. I'm sorry, I should introduce myself. I'm Adam Cain, the twins' godfather." He gave the hint of a bow, acknowledging Hannah. "They're an extraordinary pair, almost inseparable. It's a rare treat to see Jude in public -- she suffers terrible agoraphobia, but I know this show was important to both of them."

"I'm Hannah," was her guarded response to his introduction. She kept her hands behind her back.

Adam sensed her reluctance, but he'd taken the opportunity in their brief introduction to quickly confirm his first impression, and he was intrigued. She was tall, taller than most women in the room. He'd immediately noted the length of her legs, shown off to advantage in a short plaid skirt. She wore a soft brown jacket, which hid the shape of her breasts. He saw the veil of hair, hiding her features, and noted the little rainbow earrings.

Hannah reminded him of someone, the way she hid herself behind her hair. He was tempted to touch curls away from her face, the way he could with some women, but not this one.

"Hello, Hannah, lovely to meet you." He smiled at her, knowing her name. "Lets do our hosts' hard work justice by seeing more of their show."

As they wandered between the glass cases, Adam proved to be an interesting companion. Hannah discovered he had been falsely modest in his knowledge of fashion and obviously knew a great deal about fabrics and clothes. He seemed genuinely interested both in the history of the gorgeous dresses in the gallery as much as in Hannah's opinions and observations. She realised, after a while, that when he was speaking to her, he didn't do what many men did. He really listened.

After half an hour or so Adam noticed Hannah looking towards the entry lobby a few times. He decided not to press his luck any further, not this evening. Still, he was intrigued by her, and he loved intriguing women. She was long-limbed, full of life, and positively glowed with youthfulness. She was a pleasing contrast to his own, quieter nature; but if she was making moves to depart...

"Hannah, thank you for company, you've been a delight -- you've really made my evening!" said Adam, picking a natural break in their viewing.

"Oh, are you leaving already?" Hannah asked.

That wasn't the reply Adam expected. He'd thought she wanted to leave, that she'd grown weary of his company or had another engagement that evening.

Thinking quickly, he replied, "The twins are having an after-show do, and I'm expected. Why don't you come along? As my guest. There's going to be a few of us. I'm sure you'd get another chance to speak to Jude. It would be a shame to miss the opportunity, since she's such a private person."

He looked at her with a warm smile, remembering the way her eyes had followed Jude when she'd left. He was generous, and could give Hannah that little something, in return for her company a little longer.

"Oh really?" replied Hannah, her face brightening. "That would be lovely. Thank you." She was brave, briefly touching his arm. "Just give me a moment and I'll cancel my Uber. I was half expecting him to arrive at the door any moment."

"Do you really trust that service?" asked Adam, watching her rummage for her phone. "One hears such awful things."

"It's not too bad. Look," she said, holding up her phone to him. "Here's Leon, my ride. He's quite safe. He's a complete iron."

Adam spluttered with laughter, "A complete what?"

"Iron. Iron hoof? Poof. Gay as a cucumber and twice as funny. There we are, I've put him off. Pity, I bet he'd have loved a shufty round here." Hannah was having fun, doing her cockney impression, finishing with a giggle and broad grin at Adam.

He realised that she was very beautiful, now that she'd relaxed and given him a spontaneous smile.

* * * *

The rest of this story continues on StickyGirl's account . Please click here to get to the whole story (which will start from the beginning).