Anonymous said:
hello there awesome people! can you guys do a cophine nothing hill au? delphine as the famous actress and cosima is the bookshop owner? thanks,sorry to bother you guys :)
This was a prompt that we received back when Going Up first started. It took a few weeks and we hope this anon is still around to enjoy it because this was a delight to write. This story has been written by OTP324B21.
"Need any help?"
It was a brisk autumn afternoon and Delphine had slipped into the small store to get away from the breeze that seemed to course down the long streets, nipping at her nose and ears. She was on a rare free day in her busy schedule and she thought she'd take a walk through the small shops nearby, her identity hopefully hidden behind the large sunglasses that took over her full face. She wasn't even sure what sort of store she'd stumbled into until she was faced with shelves and shelves of book of all sizes. It was warm and bright and smelled of old paper and vanilla. She peaked around the corner of a shelf at the store clerk that had addressed her and shook her head. "Non. Merci." When in cognito, she had a tendency to rely more on her native accent, most of America having grown used to the American one she often used.
The shop keeper seemed to pause, as if on the fence about something before a smile spread across her face. "Ok, cool. Let me know if you have any questions."
Delphine nodded. Whether the girl recognized her or not, she was glad that there wasn't a sudden rush for an autograph, or a moment of awkward staring. No, the clerk seemed calm and collected, turning away from her as she stocked one of the shelves with books. Slipping down one of the short aisles, pretending to look at the titles of what seemed to be a vast collection of science-related books, Delphine studied the girl. Her hair was styled in a way that she normally associated with men, long brown locks twisted together into dreads that, while she normally thought of them as disturbing and unsanitary, were very well tended and well suited for the woman. She was dressed in deep red corduroy pants and a bohemian style shirt, the non-clinging material flowing freely as she stretched for a shelf that was just slightly too high, just barely transparent enough to see the tank top beneath it. Delphine's eyes drew further up the woman's form to find eyes decorated in winged eyeliner hidden behind black frames looking at her curiously. Obviously having been caught staring, Delphine looked away, picking up one of the closest books she could find.
A few heartbeats passed. "I wouldn't get that one...it's pretty bad." The shop girl was suddenly approaching, grinning a full toothy grin that showed off her pointed canines. "If you're looking for a good book on host-parasite..." She moved over to where Delphine was standing, expertly plucking a smaller paperback book off one of the shelves. "This one is a lot better. The author hasn't published anything in like 10 years and his old work is still pretty revolutionary."
This close, their height difference was painstakingly obvious, the top of the girl's head coming just up to her nose, if even that. She could smell the faint sweetness of perfume mixed with an herbal hint of something she couldn't quite put her finger on. Delphine looked down between the two books, her own blonde hair obscuring her vision just slightly until she reached up to push the unruly locks behind an ear. The book the shop girl had offered was pretty much wall to wall text, an occasional experiment diagram breaking the monotony. The book she had chosen herself was a hard-cover book with much more pictures, some in color, numerous scientific sketches, and much shorter in length. "Merci." Truth was, she only recognized a portion of the topics in either book. A few years ago, maybe three or maybe four, she had once played a doctor in a post-apocalyptic drama.
"I'm not sure what, um, what level you're looking for, but if you're looking for good info, that's the one. There's, um, some witty anecdotes about some failed experiments and even a tragic event involving toxoplasma gondii...if that's your kind of thing." She smiled as she spoke, her hands coming up as if having a mind of their own, as if she needed the physical interpretation of her wildly moving limbs to converse. The phone rang, and Shop Girl wrinkled her nose. "Be right back."
Delphine watched her disappear into the backroom for a moment before turning to the shelf, putting back the paperback book. She didn't want to seem rude in rejecting the offer, but she also had no intention on purchasing a book that she was never going to open again. On the same note, she also didn't want to walk out of the store empty-handed. These days, in the age of kindles and nooks, she doubted the small store made much income and she herself had more than enough money to go around. At least the hard cover book would be something to skim through. After all, the current movie she was currently promoting was a movie about parasitic aliens in space. They were related, right?
Looking around the store a little more, she wasn't surprised when the clerk returned as she neared the register, a flustered look quickly disappearing into a smile.
"Ready?" The brunette looked as though she wanted to laugh at the book she was handed, her suggestion so obviously having been ignored. "Ah well, maybe this book isn't as bad as I said. I mean, who needs whimsical tales of botched experiments?" She laughed nervously as she ran the credit card, bagging up the book. "I'm sure you'll enjoy it."
Still hidden behind her sunglasses, Delphine felt free to explore the woman's face a little closer, noticing a golden ring through one nostril and a smile that never left her face. She bit her own bottom lip and noticed that eyes the color of honey looked down almost magnetically, staring. She couldn't stop the small smirk that tugged at her mouth.
Shop Girl cleared her throat, having been caught. "Um, yeah." She slipped the receipt in the bag and handed it over, a slight shock hitting Delphine's gut when their fingertips brushed. "Enjoy. I'm Cosima, by the way. I'm like, always here." She picked up one of the cards with the store info on it. "Feel free to stop by again or even just call and tell me how you like it." Her brows furrowed as if her mind replayed the line she just said. "Um...the book, of course."
Delphine couldn't help but laugh at that, watching as the blush just slightly colored the tan cheeks. She couldn't stop herself from pulling her sunglasses down to give the girl a wink. "I will be sure to let you know exactly how I like it." The words slipped from her mouth as she slipped the shades back over her eyes. What the hell was she doing flirting with her? Sure the girl was cute, and funny, and obviously intelligent due to the nature of the store, but she didn't have time for whirlwind romances that might possibly destroy her career if reports got a hold of this little juicy part of her life that she'd managed to keep a reign on for almost 15 years. So instead she turned and walked to the door, pausing just momentarily. 'Don't turn around.' She told herself as she stepped back out into the cold wind.
As fate would have it, turning around and chatting a bit probably would have saved her the dry cleaning bill she would eventually be left with. No more than an hour later, her own nose unwisely buried in her cell phone checking for messages, she collided with a short wall that came up to no higher than her nose, a sudden frigid wetness spreading across her chest. "Merde!"
"Holy Watershed!"
Delphine looked down at her top, the huge orange splash easily spreading through the light material. It was cold and sticky and growing by the second. She quickly pulled it away from her body, remembering she wasn't wearing a bra under her top.
In a move that was counter-actively absurd, the shop girl quickly pulled out a stack of napkins, beginning to dab at the spot, completely unphased by the fact that the blonde's very sensitive anatomy were just one thin, damp layer of material away.
"Non! Leave it!" Delphine winced at the sound of anger in her tone when the brunette jumped.
"Fuck, I'm so sorry." Cosima shook the orange juice off her hands, wincing. "You should...my apartment is like, right across the street."
"I just need to get back to the car." Delphine shook her head, pulling the damp and sticky shirt away from her skin again. "I can change in the car."
Cosima nodded. "I have a bathroom. It's probably not even dirty I mean the last thing you want is someone seeing you changing in your car." She was babbling, obviously set on trying to make amends. "Seriously, it's like right across the street and I'm not like a crazy stalker or anything but I have some clean towels and a bathroom if you want to change or something."
With the wet spot spreading almost across her entire front, Delphine weighed her options. She knew she had parked just a mile away, but the sun was getting lower in the sky and the breeze was carrying the chill from the bay with it right through her clothes. "Alright. Fine."
"It's like...um...yeah." Obviously not expecting the sudden agreement, Cosima led the way, almost in a panic as she rooted around in her pocket for the key to the townhouse. "I um..."
Stepping in, Delphine's eyes fell on every messy surface in the space. It was small, and quaint, and very much lived in.
"Sorry, my roommate is kinda messy. The bathroom is upstairs and first door on the left."
To the sound of what was obviously Cosima trying to "discreetly" tidy up the downstairs area, Delphine followed the directions up the stairs, avoiding the various pairs of shoes, books, and magazines on each step. The bathroom was clean at least, almost meticulously so and she couldn't help laughing at the absurdity between the spaces. Her shirt was ruined, there was no way around it, and she sighed softly as she slipped out of her clothes, pulling one of the clean towels off a nearby shelf to dab away the sticky mess. The only option of clothing she had was the dress she'd purchased from one of the shops near the book store. It was a sophisticated black and blue dress that ended just above her knees, hugging her body closely as if it had been custom made for her, something she rarely found off the rack considering her height. Pushing her sunglasses up onto her head, she dabbed at the orange juice splashes that had hit her neck. She was a mess and she really needed a shower, but this was going to have to do. With one final nod, she stuck her soiled outfit back in her shopping back and made her way downstairs.
Cosima looked up in surprise at the outfit but said nothing ."You have to let me make it up to you. Did you want something to drink? I have water, or some tea."
"Non."
Cosima wrinkled her nose, looking further into her fridge. "I doubt you want anymore orange juice. We've got some organic lemonade, if that's more your style. Or are you hungry? We've got like 20 types of olives. I'm not a big fan of them but my ex-girlfriend used to eat them and well...now I don't know what to do with them. Seems a shame to just throw them out."
A smile tugged at red lips. "Non."
"Or if you prefer, I can try to make some coffee. The French like coffee I think...I mean you guys came up with the word cafe and all. Or, I totally have some pot brownies...if that's your thing. I made them myself, or like if you hate pot heads then my roommate made them. He's got a terrible addiction that I've been trying to help him through."
Delphine just barely muffled a giggle in response before the expected "Non." came, her smile widening. There was something about the woman, quirky and full of life, that Delphine admired. Did the brunette know who she was? These days, as presumptuous as it sounds, she just assumed everyone did. If Cosima knew who she was, and she expected she did, she wasn't letting that get in the way. It was almost as if, despite the clumsiness and babbling which very well could be present in her every day behavior, it didn't matter. That was such a rare feeling for Delphine. These days, when her whole life was caught on camera whether she was getting paid for it or not, it was so rare to meet someone who was...open.
Cosima paused in her offerings, picking at the corner of one of the brownies and bringing a small chunk to her own lips. "Do you say 'non' to everything?" She mocked in an over-exaggerated French accent.
Now her smile turned almost sultry. "Non." She cleared her throat softly, suddenly realizing she shouldn't be standing there in the apartment of a complete stranger. "I should go. Thank you for letting me use your restroom."
"No, it was all my pleasure and kind of my fault. I just wanted to..." Cosima paused, a flustered look on her face. "While I had the chance to tell you this, since I know you won't be coming back into the shop after reading that horrible book, but you are...amazing." She smiled.
Delphine could see the sincerity in her eyes. "Merci."
Cosima escorted her to the door, pausing awkwardly as if not sure what to do.
Standing in the entryway, this close to the woman, she could feel something stirring inside her. When was the last time she'd been this close to a woman, letting her flirtatious side out, without feeling worried about her career? She couldn't even remember. The thrill of attraction unrestrained by the worry of cameras and reporters and a million questions was almost too much to hold back. "I guess I'll..." She gestured to the closed door.
"Yeah yeah." Cosima grinned. "Come over anytime you need to be wiped down." She paused, her cheeks suddenly inflamed with a deep blush. "Shit...I mean..."
Delphine took a step closer to her, just bare inches from the brunette. "I know what you mean." Being that close, smelling the intoxicating scent of her perfume, free of the eyes of the public, it was as if she couldn't stop herself. There was just something about the brunette and her mind seemed to shut down as hormones took over. Her hand came up slowly, caressing Cosima's cheek for a bare moment before pulling her forward for an unexpected kiss. The moment their lips touch, she instantly regretted it, and simultaneously felt no regret at all. How was that even possible?
She could feel Cosima freeze for a second, not surprisingly, but soon she responded in kind, her lips parting to let the demanding tongue in. A warm hand wrapped around Delphine's wrist as the other settled on her hip. Almost as quickly as it started, Delphine was pulling away, taking one last nip at her bottom lip.
Surprised at the sudden position she found herself in, Delphine took a step back, pulling down her sun glasses to cover her eyes. 'Merde merde merde.' Her brain chanted as she tried to reign in the thrill of excitement she felt coursing through her veins. "Um...it's best not to tell anyone about this."
Still in a state of shock, Cosima nodded, swallowing loudly. "I mean, I could but frankly who would believe me?" She scratched nervously at her dreads. "I mean, I might try to tell myself the story of all this, but honestly I probably won't even believe me."
Delphine nodded, not sure what else to do. "Ciao." She spoke softly before disappearing out the door. As she stepped out, she took a deep breath of air, trying to settle the sudden increase of her heartbeat and willing it to stop beating so quickly, or was she willing herself to not turn around?