The Gemini: Emancipation

1 - Imperfect

September 19, 1996

Dark night. City lights. Jody could just about see them all from up here. They clustered about generously, giving off a romantic glow. The familiar scene caused a contented upturn to her lips. A warmth cloaked over her, saturating. Soothing. Such pleasant feeling became greater when arms slowly snaked, circling snugly around her waist. Sweet cologne filled her senses.

"Pretty, huh?" his voice soft in her ear.

An agreeing hum she gave. "Yeah." Nostalgia infiltrated her following syllables, "I miss this."

Putting his cheek against hers, he moved gently side to side, their bodies took on a smooth little sway.

"Let's go out there, hm? Take a ride around town and have a little fun."

A proposition up to no good. At it, Jody's contented smirk broadened languidly as she verbally wondered, "What kinda fun?"

She felt his cheek lift against hers. He's smiling that smile.

Holding a playful overtone, his reply was spoken in a way that said the answer should be obvious.

"The only kind I know, mama."

Turning around in his arms, Jody's gaze dazzled up at the enticingly wicked orbs that stared back at her. A sort of manic admiration residing within them. Manic for only she.

"The kind where we do things we ain't supposed to."

The two faced man with the half green hair told her this before closing in with a half painted kiss.

"Hey."

At the attention grabbing call, Jody snapped to. She'd done it again. Got caught up, immersed in thoughts of her late night dreams. Reoccurring dreams of one that existed no more. Gemini.

She focused on her husband, the one who got her attention just now. Brown hair cut short, goatee neat on his face. Though traces of an impatient agitation sounded in his voice, his golden-brown eyes are neutral. Not manic. Not flooded with admiration. Just regular.

He looked to be waiting and on what, Jody forgot. That is until she looked around and realized theyre in a car.

Oh yeah. She remembered.

"You coming or you gon' stay in here staring out the window all night?" he asked.

She shook her head.

It's raining out. She isn't sure when that started. On the window, fat drops rolled. Clearly she'd looked straight through them when she was dazed away.

An umbrella shielded the couple as they made way to the tent that covered the building's populated entrance.

Camera flashes, a thing that used to drive Jody nuts, no longer bothered her. She kept her view straight ahead as she walked beside her husband. When his hand reached for hers, Jody entertained thoughts of moving it away before he could take hold. But that's what the papers wanted. It's what they're waiting for.

She let the joining happen. She could turn her face into something pleasant and welcoming. Could. It's what she usually does in moments like these. But it's been so long and, frankly, she isn't up to wearing a mask.

That didn't matter to Roger, however. When they passed the threshold, entering the lavish area full of lively chatter and fancy bodies, he craned closer to Jody in the smoothest manner.

A whisper in her ear, "Loosen up."

Looking at him, she saw an amiable expression. A trick, she knew. It's one of his many habitual doings. When it wasn't a put-on to cover a negative thing said, it's meaning is we're in public so look happy.