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Frankenstein knows that doctor Henry is hiding something. Especially since that very strange day that his eyes turned green! She had originally dismissed the idea of soul alchemy, but after having broken into his office and stealing his notes, she has been convinced that he has already attempted it on himself and succeeded. Soul alchemy has always been regarded as a thought experiment, but if it is possible? And doctor Henry has managed it?! That would be something truly worthy of discovery. 

One hour later:

Doctor Henry will be waking up soon, and every day he makes himself a morning cup of tea. And today is when she will strike. She has been researching, and she knows just the thing to reveal his split soul: the Tonic of Revelations, an orange, watery liquid that has no taste or smell. She had gently painted a thin layer on the bottom of his tea cup. Like clockwork, he walks into the kitchen, grabs his cup not even looking at it, and makes his tea. She grins behind her hand as he takes a sip. Flowers calls him over to a sitting room, lodgers gathered there to talk after the exhibition. 

She follows behind them like an omen waiting to strike. Jekyll continues to sip his tea as he sits beside doctor Robert. For the next ten minutes, there is nothing but light chatter. She wonders if she put too little for there to be any effect. Then, he tenses, eyes flashing green. He stands, mumbling and excuse and making to leave. But she won't let him. She blocks the door.

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Henry is so relieved that the exhibition went well. He is sitting in a chair next to his boyfriend--he loves that he can call him that now-- with the lodgers, drinking a cup of tea. He feels euphoric, heat curling through his veins and warming him from the inside out. Actually, this feeling feels kind of familiar. He just can't put his finger on it... 

A bolt of pain runs down his spine, seizing his muscles and tensing his shoulders as if he is a puppet on a string. Oh. Oh no. Oh God. Please no. He has to get out of here. He stands up, blood rushing in his ears. He mutters an excuse and starts towards the door. But its block by none other than Frankenstein. Please not now. "You are not going anywhere doctor Henry," Frankenstein says, a grin on her face. Does....does she have something to do with this!? Deep down, he knows she does. Hyde knows she does. "Get out of the way," he says, a tinge of pain bleeding into his voice. She tilts her head curiously. Conversation has stopped. The room stares at the confrontation.

Robert stands up, noticing his distress, but thinking its just a panic attack. "Let him leave Frankenstein," he says, voice clipped and cold. She shakes her head, still grinning. "Doctor Henry has been hiding something ~," she says, sing song. His blood runs cold. He has to get out of here. He tries to dart around her, eyes wide and desperate. She tsks, refusing to let him pass, grabbing his arm in an attempt to stop him. He blanks out. Next thing he knows, Frankenstein is through the door. He runs to his office.

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He sinks to the floor, shaking. He begins to cough, spewing up green goop. His joints pop with a gross, wet sound as they dislocate. His spine cracks, distorting. He claws at the floor and his face as his teeth grind, sharpening, and his jaw pops and reforms. hair lengthens and lightens. Edward Hyde lies on the floor, curled up in a ball and shivering and gasping. 

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Frankenstein had been thrown through the door. Robert had not known that Henry was capable of that. Its very attractive---- head out of gutter Lanyon! He tells himself sternly. He has to go check on Henry. He steps over a dumbstruck Frankenstein and rushes to Henry's office. He knock and softly asks, "Henry? Are you alright darling?" For a moment he doesn't receive an answer, just a muffled whimper, and he makes to open the door. Then, Henry replies,"I'm alright," voice quivering, "I just...need a moment alone." 

"Okay," he says, "I'll be in the hall if you need me". He walks away, unease blooming in the pit of his stomach. 

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Luckily, he had changed back at the sound of Robert's voice. That was far too close. "What are we going to do!?" Hyde asks anxiously, "she suspects!" Henry replies, "we'll figure it out..." unsure of himself and lying through his teeth. They both know this, but still they attempt to take comfort in falsehoods.

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Henry stumbles out of the office about an hour later, pale and zombie like. He had definitely been lying when he said he was fine. It is then that Robert decides to to take drastic measures. Or, he would, except to carry out said drastic measures he first has to find Henry. Dammit all to hell, how does he disappear like this!? Is the man made of bloody shadows!? 

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Henry slips down the hall, silent as a ghost. He needs to find Frankenstein and find out how much she knows. He slides into a closet, jamming a fist into his mouth as he transforms into Hyde. He stands up, shaking, knees giving out beneath him from exhaustion. He gathers himself up and sneaks over to Frankenstein's room. The door is unlocked. How unwise of her, he thinks to himself with a wicked, mischievous grin, his green eyes glowing like twin fireflies, peering into the dark room, lit only by the late morning sun from the skylight. The windows are covered. 

He looks around the empty room, glancing over his shoulder to make sire nobody sees him going in before stepping inside, shutting the door quietly behind him. He walks around, inspecting the place. Books, potions, knicknacks, but nothing out of the ordinary. Then, his eyes fall upon the desk, strewn with papers. Familiar papers. His research. His research she has his research. He gathers up the pages with shaking hands, taking care not to miss any. As he turns around to leave, the door creaks open. Frankenstein is illuminated by the light of the open door, jaw to the floor as she stares at him in shock. He freezes, a nightmare made flesh as she takes in his eerie form, the feeling of wrongness that exudes from him, though he has no obvious monstrous qualities except for his large, lamplike eyes.

As she blinks at him, frozen in shock, the mask of Hyde snaps back into place. He grins with a confidence that he does not truly feel as he moves, faster than the human eye can track. He reaches the window, pulling open the shades, opening the sill, and leaping out the window. She gasps and rushed over to the sill. He's gone. All she hears is the ring of chilling, inhuman laughter, wild and fluctuating. Hyde leaps up onto the roof, ducking out of sight of the street below. He sneaks over to the kitchen window, smoothly pulling himself in, clutching the papers to his chest, victorious.

The adrenaline fades when he hears a gasp. He turns slowly, dread growing in the pit of his stomach. Its Rachel. "master hyde!" she says as she wraps him into a hug, voice filled with tears," I've been so worried! Where have you been!?" "Uhhh" he stutters, unprepared and exhausted, "ivegottogo", he mumbles quickly, squirming out of her grip and dashing through the society before diving into Jekyll's offics. At least nobody else saw him, he thinks. But little does he know that already word is spreading around the society as the jaws of the trap inch closer.

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Hyde looks around for a better hiding spot for the research papers, when the perfect place catches his eye. The clothing drawer. You see, Jekyll had put a secret clothing drawer for Hyde's clothes in his desk. He opens the cabinet before clicking the mechanisms. The drawer has two buttons that need to be pressed at the same time for it to open, reducing the chances of it being discovered. The false bottom clicks open and he places the papers inside, closing the life and sliding the compartment back into place.

Then, he hears footsteps running along the hall, startling him into a transformation. He smacks his hand across his mouth as he writhes in agony. Henry Jekyll now lays upon the floor, shaking. He sits up and pulls himself into his chair, struggling to make himself look presentable quickly, and not as if he had just broken into Frankenstein's room. The door jumps as someone puts their pull weight on it, clearly intending to fling it open dramatically. Frankenstein, he thinks with a sigh, 100% done. Maybe if he ignores her she'll go away? Please? He begs the universe (the sadistic author) to have mercy on him for once. (Not likely) 

Then, as if things could not get worse, he hears Rachel's voice outside the door. "Why are you banging on the door?" she asks. Frankenstein replies, "I have been robbed! Why are you here?!" Rachel chirps, "I saw my friend Master Hyde! I wanted to ask Dr. Jay if he's seen him." He curses under hid breath, slumping over, his forehead smacking against the desk. In the mirror, Hyde says, "fuuuuuck. We're doomed. Ah well, at least it can't get worse."

Then, as if the universe heard him and said, fuck that guy specifically, he hears Robert outside the door. "What's going on?" he asks. Jekyll glares at Hyde for jinxing them. Hyde just gives him a sheepish grin before sinking dramatically to the bottom of the mirror. Then, he hears the click of the lock. Fuck. He'd forgotten that Robert has a key.  The handle turns and the three walk in. Jekyll sighs and prepares for his doom.

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A tingle runs down his spine as his body seizes up. He coughs up HJ7 as Hyde takes controll. The world feels as though its slowed down. Dread pools in the pit of his stomach. This is it. Its over. They're going to figure it out. They're going to figure it out. He can't take the pressure, the strain makes him feel like the walls are closing in. He has to get out of here. He fumbles at the window latch, flinging up the sill before climbing out and disappearing into the shadows caused by the early afternoon sun. 

He climbs up onto the roof, dropping down into the Observatory. Its quiet in here. Nobody will come in until the moon is high in the sky, making it the perfect hiding place. He closes the skylight and activates the skylight cover. He sighs with relief as the light vanishes, soothing his nocturnal eyes. Hyde perches amongst the rafters, eyes closed as he feels like he can finally, finally breathe. He sighs, relaxing for the first time in weeks. 

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He opens the door, expecting to see Henry sitting in his chair or laying on his couch, but no. The office is empty, the window open, curtains flowing gently in the breeze. Frankenstein pushes him aside, barreling into the room before stopping in hee tracks. He dusts himself off, glaring at her peevishly. She storms out, cursing in German. 

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The next day:

Jekyll had been found curled up in the Observatory. Apparently, he had fallen asleep there while looking at the stars the night before. Frankenstein had not been pleased. And tonight, Robert will be with him. Henry giggles as he twirls him, clutching a stack of blankets. He sets the blankets down and offers his hand, pulling him into a dance. Robert cups the back of his neck, swaying with him for a moment before pulling him into a smiling kiss. 

Henry breaks away, still smiling, and grabs the blankets, spreading the thickest one out on the floor. They lay on it together, covered by the other blanket. Henry lays his head on Robert's chest, gazing at the smattering of stars that he can glimpse through the smog. But Robert watches Henry, gazing at his boyfriend adoringly. Henry notices his stare and blushes, shifting upwards and wrapping his arms around him, burying his flushed face into Robert's hair, pressing a kiss to the top of his head. 

Robert lifts his head, meeting Henry in a kiss, nipping his lip slightly. They snuggle close, safe from the world outside this room, the world that wishes them harm. And so they stay there all night, wrapped in each other's embrace, gazing at the stars.

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Victoria has had enough of this game of cat and mouse. It is time to figure out what is up. She has carefully bided her time, waiting for Doctor Henry to let his guard down. And now, she shall strike. She knows that Jekyll has been careful with his drinks now, so she has made a powder form of the revelation elixir to combat him. She waits in the common room for him to enter, leaning casually against the wall. All the lodgers are currently in the room now, laughing and catching up during breakfast, occasionally casting curious glances her way.

Doctor Henry enters, Lanyon in tow. She strikes, flicking her wrist and blowing powder his way. He startles, managing to dodge most of it. Most of it. The room breaks out into chaos. 

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He had been walking with Robert to eat breakfast-- a new routine that he very much enjoyed-- when he was accosted by an orange powder. He managed to dodge most of it. Most of it. He coughs as it invades his lungs. The room breaks out into chaos, confronting Frankenstein. At the moment, Henry is more concerned about the powder. What was it? What did she just give him? Robert rubs his back as he wheezes, glaring at Frankenstein. But the coughing does not subside. No, it only grows worse. 

Robert exclaims, "Henry!" as he topples over, falling to his knees, gasping. His bones creeeeeeaaaak. No. No. His body trembles. He lets out a tiny sob. It hurts. A very familiar pain begins to spread throughout his body. He has to get out of here. He tries to stand, making for the doorway, but his knees buckle. Robert catches him. He covers his mouth as he hacks up HJ7, the formula running down his face. 

But he doesn't shift. Instead, Edward Hyde takes control, crying out in agony. 

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Hyde shivers in Robert's grasp. Dread ties knots in his stomach as he realizes that this isn't over. He tries to pull himself out of his boyfriend's grip, attempting to drag himself out the door, but his limbs don't seem to work. It's as if a fog has settled over him, weighing him down. His vision blurs and then focuses on an ecstatic Frankenstein. She drugged us, he thinks with a mounting fury, but he can't move to throttle her. She drugged us again. Fuck.

Robert is leaning over his prone form, a hand outstretched towards the door. Lanyon's worried face swims in front of his eyes as a wave of pain crashes over him, causing him to cry out. He writhes as fire scorched through his veins, green tears etching a trail down his face and more of the goop is expelled from his mouth. He screams as his bones break and shrink, sobbing as his limbs depart from their sockets with a sick wet pop. As his hair lengthens it feels as if firearms are crawling across his scalp. He lets out a moan of pain as his limbs pop back into place, bones settling beneath his skin as his spine cracks and arches in a final torrent of agony.

Edward Hyde lays on the floor, cold numbing shock coursing through his shivering frame as he continues to let out wet sobs. His ears ring, but he can vaguely hear the sound of someone losing their lunch in the background. Robert is still by his side, the warmth of his body contrasting the chill that has wrapped itself around Hyde, sinking beneath his flesh and becoming one with his bones. He tries to move, but his shaking limbs won't support him. They give out beneath him and he lets out a yelp as a dazed Robert catches him, brushing against a sore spot leftover from the transformation.

He presses his cold cheek to the cold floor as his unfocused gaze wanders over to a corner. Theyknowtheyknowtheyhateustheyhateus. A trembling hand presses against his brow as Robert says, "what's going on. Please Hen--Hyde! Explain. Is this some sort of trick? A game? Why?!" 

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Another shiver wracks Hyde's thin frame as he mumbles, teeth chattering, "wan'ed t'be good enou'h." Robert's expression crumples and he scoops him into his lap. A lodger brings a stack of blankets and he sets them over the smaller man. He hesitates before running a hand through Hyde's wild mane,settling his palm at the nape of his neck, trying to warm him up. Hyde is ashen, and Robert notices that his breathing and pulse are fast. In a voice that is far steadier than he feels Robert says, " I think he's going into shock. He needs to be kept warm."

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Several blankets are bundled on top of Hyde. Robert hesitates before resting a hand atop his head. Hyde shifts into the touch, melting against the palm of his hand like Henry has so many times. The lodgers bustle about, sharing theories and worries. Frankenstein just stands there, gloating about how right she is. Rachel is curled beside Hyde while Robert tosses the modern Prometheus a dirty look. He can't fucking stand her. Several of the lodgers are upset that she was drugging Jekyll, while she continues to act all high and mighty. Thats it. Usually, doing something rash is Henry's thing, but he can't stand to listen to her any longer. He gets up, hand clenched in a fist. He calmly walks up to her and then wham! He bitch slaps her. She topples over with a shocked look on her face, cheek stinging and beginning to turn red. Helsby whistles, impressed. He walks back over to his sleeping boyfriend and sits back down.