Forgiven

[death_glare]

[ No one questioned anything when William suddenly left his office that morning. "I've been called to a meeting" was all the information he gave the rest of Dispatch. To them, it wasn't surprising, seeing as he was the head of the department. For William, however, the summoning came with zero notice. As he made his way to the upper managements' offices, all he could wonder was what issue his subordinates caused that he'd have to clean up after, this time.

It wasn't until lunch break that William returned to Dispatch. The others expected they'd get reprimanded for something, but William remained quiet, his face expressionless as he closed the door to his office. ]

Comments

[death_glare]

[ He's honestly surprised there isn't more jealousy to those words. ]

Christine, yes.

[untodeath]

[ This is Grell attempting be be mature, but it certainly is bubbling under the surface of her awkwardness. She's mentally reminding herself that she'd been the one to ask, the one to say those words-- ]

Mn... Your turn~! [ She chirps with more forced enthusiasm! Time to move on!! ]

[death_glare]

[ Ah, but there she is moving on from the topic so quickly. ]

Same for yourself, then?

[untodeath]

[ Baby steps, William. Baby steps.

Grin turning lopsided, she chuckles. ]

I suppose we could do that, answering our own questions-- but you'll have to think of another, you cheater. [ Chuckling, she flicks at his earlobe with her tongue! ]

Mn, let's see... [ Ah. Looks like she'll need to fill that pause with a sip of her wine. ] I've-- loved three times. Once returned, now.

[death_glare]

It isn't cheating. You have me curious, now.

[ His shoulders rise protectively as she plays with his earlobe. ]

Are you willing to tell me the third?

[ He'll be polite and ask, as he knows it can be a sensitive subject. But, just as she'd done, William's assuming the second to be her partner in crime. Literally. ]

[untodeath]

[ And he would be absolutely correct, which is why Grell nods along without rebuke. ]

Mn. His name was Oliver. [ She pauses to drink, but it's for her sake, this time! ]

Ah, a man whose charm and looks were only paralleled by his talent for acting! [ A sarcastic sigh, as her gaze drifts wayward. ] He'd told me that I was unmemorable, that I would die a nobody, and he could never love someone as insignificant as me! But he saw to it that he took my virginity first, of course.

[death_glare]

[ His brows knit together almost immediately. ]

Unmemorable? Honestly, that has to be the single most idiotic description I've heard for you. The man must have been truly full of himself to believe that.

[untodeath]

[ Warmth touches her features as she kisses his neck, then resting her cheek on his shoulder. ]

The thing is, he was right. I was different then.

[death_glare]

How so?

[ Because he can't even begin to imagine Grell being anything other than loud, dramatic and intimidating (to others, that is!). ]

[untodeath]

[ Her fingers idly trace up and down his stomach, along the button fly of his dress shirt. ]

I--... was repressed, I suppose. Unsociable, quiet, afraid. Weak. Pathetic.

[death_glare]

[ His eyes may be focused on the pan - slowly stirring flour into the gravy he's preparing, but they occasionally slip down to where her hands play along his middle. ]

You're anything but, now.

[ It's odd to think she was so different, but it makes sense when you consider just how closed minded things were in the time period they came from. He supposes that's one positive thing about the reaper realm.

Okay, his turn to ask an original question. Since they're already flitting down that road, he may as well bring up the topic. ]

What method did you use to arrive here?

[untodeath]

[ With something of a chuckle, she nuzzles into his neck lightly, with quiet thanks. ]

Ah, I threw myself off of Beachy Head after slitting my wrists. You♥?

[death_glare]

Disemboweling myself with a kitchen knife.

[ Her hands are teasing along the precise area, but she won't find any scars. Becoming an angel did away with them, something William's quite thankful for. ]

[untodeath]

[ At that, the reaper's hands pause as she picks up her head. ]

My goodness... [ She cups a hand over his stomach with a frown. ] What suffering...

[death_glare]

In comparison to what I was feeling that evening, it was far behind.

[ Letting her one hand stay where it is, he grasps the other, turning it over to rub a thumb over the faint scar across her wrist. Always wearing gloves with her uniform, he'd never taken notice of them before. ]

[untodeath]

[ The tenderness warms her cheeks, fingers softly curling into the fabric on his shirt. ]

I can't begin to imagine what it's like, Will... [ She's often despaired over the inability to bear children... but to have, and then lose one... ] I'm sorry.

[death_glare]

[ Switching off the burner, he sets the wooden spoon off to the side, atop a carefully folded kitchen towel. He turns in her embrace, his eyes downcast. ]

I think she would have liked you. Found you entertaining.

[untodeath]

[ Grell's eyes search his face, a corner of her mouth plucking into an uneven smile. ]

Really. Me? [ An amused breath. ] She must have been a brave girl!

[death_glare]

[ That gets him to look back up, brow furrowed. ]

I was referring to your dramatic way of moving and speaking. I would expect you not to do anything psychotic around her.

Also, she would have enjoyed braiding your hair, if you'd have allowed her. Christine never wore hers long enough for Abigail to play with. But she had a porcelain doll she would always do so to.

[untodeath]

[ Grell challenges with a playfully stern look of her own. ]

I would never harm a child. [ But her features soften as she thinks on his words, eyes briefly closing with a blissful little hum. ] I would've loved that. Dressed her up, in turn. Oh, I imagine she was a beautiful little thing, if she took after you.

[death_glare]

I think it's near impossible for a parent not to think their child is the most beautiful they've ever seen.

[ There's a heavy sigh. ]

A shame photography didn't come about until after then. I would have loved to have a photo of her to show you.

[untodeath]

[ Grell raises a hum to trace the pad of its thumb down the contour of his cheek. ]

Tell me, then; what did she look like?

[death_glare]

Her hair was closer to her mother's, a warm brown that we'd allowed her to grow to nearly her mid back. Astoundingly bright blue eyes. And, I swear, she could lighten up the dreariest of days with her laugh.

[ As if to prove his claim, something quite unbelievable happens. Eyelids lowering, just slightly, a gentle smile comes across his face. Had he still been a reaper, sitting alone in his flat after a stressful day, tears may have come instead. But he's ascended beyond that now and only fondness remains. ]

[untodeath]

[ Grell's brow twitches with surprise, witnessing such a thing. As much as she loves to see him happy, she's also devastated that she hadn't been a part of it. It's a strange thing to feel all at once.

Leaning inward, her forehead comes to rest against his, lashes falling over her eyes, faintly misty. ]

Oh yes... I would have spoilt her mercilessly.

[death_glare]

[ William picks up on that slight waver to her voice, but before he can comment on it, the oven's timer sounds. He pulls back, smile quickly replaced by the usual irritated frown. With a huff, the oven is clicked off. ]

Ask me a new question. This topic seems to be upsetting for you.