(no subject)

[death_glare]

William dropped down from his horse. It had been a long ride - from London straight down to the southern coast of England. But he'd barely stopped, only doing so when his horse refused to go further without rest and water. But each time, William did little more than tap his foot anxiously, trying to focus on anything but his thoughts of what happened the day before.

But now that he'd arrived, there was nothing else to distract him. The horse was forgotten as he walked towards where the English Channel extended out to what seemed like eternity. With the thick fog of the early morning, there was no telling just what was out there. William's breath was shaky as his gaze then drifted down. Beachy Head, a beautiful site for some, with the tall cliff towering over the shore line below. But for him, this day, it was his enemy - or perhaps his closes friend. Whichever the case, he was terrified.

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[untodeath]

[ Thank goodness, not a policeman.

Breathing a quiet sigh, the redhead's shoulders relax, but that isn't to say that she finds ease in the presence of this stranger. Grell has been standing here for what feels like hours, finding peace in the sunrise and inevitable darkness to follow-- and now, it's ruined. The thought of throwing oneself off a cliff quite suddenly, in front of new company, is immensely uncomfortable!

Wrapping her coat close against her body, her arms fold over her middle. First, she intends to move further away - enough so that they shouldn't find one another in the fog - but, no, she knows that the man is still there, and she begins pacing with agitation.

Who is he, anyway? It isn't just his urgency, or the utter carelessness of managing his horse-- a melancholy looms about him that she is all too familiar with.

Timidly, she approaches. Wild red hair lashes against her face under the wind. One could barely make out the mended hinges of her round spectacles and the battered hazel eyes that hide behind them. ]

W- [ A swallow, as she forces her voice to raise in volume, despite how it wavers. ] We could go together, you and I...

[ Looking away, she extends her hand. ]

If you want...

[death_glare]

[ To be honest, William hadn't even noticed the other. She could have taken care of her own business and he'd have been none the wiser. Hence why her voice almost seems to startle him. There's a brief thread of fear that runs through him, as if this person somehow knew what had transpired and was here to confront him on it. But then he processes her words, takes note of the tone of her voice, sees her hand reaching out to him in an unsure, yet perhaps hopeful offer.

Swallowing hard, he finds it difficult to answer, but eventually shakes his head, looking back out across the water. Though she obviously came here of her own volition, his guilt was keeping him from hurting another. ]

[untodeath]

[ Grell's gaze sinks as she retracts her hand, folding it back against her middle. She's disappointed, surely. Mostly in herself; by now, she should expect rejection.

The hurt does sharpen her tone just so, bit overall, her voice only become more withdrawn. ]

Life is a series of illusions, isn't it... We look to its beauties to assuage the waking misery of reality. If only it were enough.

[death_glare]

[ William sighs heavily after the other's almost poetic words. He's uncertain whether having another there is making this entire situation more or less difficult than it already promised to be. Her words certainly aren't untrue, but it's obvious that, though they both have the same end in mind, they've come to the decision along very different routes.

Shaking his head again, he finally speaks. ]

Allowing yourself to be vulnerable to those beauties is the true mistake. It isn't illusion, as much as deception.

[untodeath]

Such is the nature of illusion, isn't it? It preys on those most desperate to see it true... The lovers, the dreamers, the deficient...

[ Head bowing, she swallows down the quake to her voice that threatens to become something more. ]

But, no longer.

[death_glare]

[ The other sounds so certain about her choice. Completely committed to seeing it through. William can hardly say the same. He's here, of course, but his reasoning keeps redirecting. Is he saving himself from misery or punishing himself? Does he deserve to die, for what he's done or is he simply running from the heartache?

His eyes finally shift to view his partner. Another man, obvious by his voice, but the vibrancy and flow of his hair, and slender physique almost makes him appear feminine. He idly wonders if that plays any part in him being here beside him. ]

How long have you been out here?

[ Perhaps he's hoping she's wavering in her decision, too. ]

[untodeath]

[ The question seems to center her, somewhat; she raises her eyes to assess the positioning of the sun over the horizon. ]

I don't know. Three hours, perhaps?

[ It seems as though it's been longer. The cold has laid into her skin like a bed of needles, and she realizes that she'd preoccupied herself enough to ignore it until now.

Best get used to it, though. The water should be worse. ]

[death_glare]

Yet you haven't jumped.

[ His words aren't judgemental, merely stating the obvious in monotone. Then he's silent for a moment, his gaze moving from the profile of her face, down to where her previously offered hand grips around her waist. Without giving much thought to it, he quickly takes her by the wrist before cupping his hand around hers. ]

[untodeath]

[ That moment of quiet leaves her to wonder, had she been making peace with her decision or dallying on it?

Ah, but then, he's suddenly grabbing her. She violently flinches, raising her free arm to cover her face-- and yet, the gesture she receives is quite the contrary to what she instinctively knows. His hand is so warm. Surprisingly soft.

Grell's eyes are wide with question, her brows pressing together with disbelief. She doesn't quite understand it, but tears begin to well. ]

...I...

[ Does she defend her decision? Question him? She truly doesn't know. ]

[death_glare]

[ Over the next few months, life for the two of them improves greatly, considering what it had been just before they met. William finds the thought of having a warm greeting upon his return from a long day's work comforting, and looks forward to the moment each day. Though Grell had gotten her own bed and claimed the spare room not long after she moved in, they often found themselves tucked close on the couch reading or simply enjoying a drink together. Occasionally, William even woke Grell from her slumber, asking her to spend the night in his bed after being startled awake by nightmares of his past.

It was something William was slowly thinking through each day, trying to sort his feelings on each part of this bond they'd formed from seemingly nothing. It isn't until the day before Christmas Eve that he finds himself wanting to share his thoughts. ]

Grell, I have an important matter to discuss with you.

[ He states bluntly, with zero context only moments after he returns from work. ]

[untodeath]

[ Over that time, Grell had begun to gain confidence, not only in herself, but their relationship. Every morning became a new adventure, of which she would better herself; a more steadier hand at styling herself, a more practised mind at tending to the home, and proper diligence at managing her small side-business with the library. There was a sense of purpose in her heart, and her driving force was seeing the warmth it brought to William's eyes.

Upon hearing him arrive home, she's already made her way to greet him. She has an early supper simmering on the stove, and she's pinned her hair up especially cute. Holding her hands out to him, she finds herself hoping that he is especially pleased to meet her like so, and the excitement shows in her eyes--

Until he says those words. Her footsteps falter, hands notable flinching to rest against her chest, eyes wide and blinking. ]

O-oh?

[death_glare]

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, you realise?

[ No greeting or clasp of her hands, instead he's focused on setting his briefcase down at his desk and tucking his coat and scarf into the hall closet. ]

[untodeath]

Of course, how could I forget?

[ Arms lowering to grasp at her skirt, disappointment sinks into her eyes like a dejected puppy. Even so, she finds herself following behind him. ]

[death_glare]

[ He finally turns to her as he removes his watch and loosens the fastenings to his cuffs. ]

My father has always hosted a gala, along with his partner as a celebration for the employees and their families. I will be attending, as I'm expected to.

[untodeath]

Oh.

[ Shoulders easing with a sigh, she folds her hands with a lopsided little smile. ]

You don't need to worry about that, Will. I'll be fine enough, especially if you can manage to smuggle home some sweets for me.

[death_glare]

That won't be necessary.

[ He finally approaches her, eyes connecting with hers. ]

I want you to accompany me.

[untodeath]

[ Eyes widening, her head tilts forward to gawk at him over her spectacles! ]

You-- [ Hand pressed to her chest, she straightens herself! ] What will you say??

[untodeath]

[ The rain started not more than an hour ago, and with it came a breeze - it sways the front door gently upon its hinges. Though it isn't closed, the handle has been locked. Grell has always been particular about securing the doors in William's absence, and so the likelihood of such a thing being a mistake would be slim.

Stranger still, she isn't there to greet him in the foyer, upon hearing him enter. A loving smile, home comfortably warm, the scent of a deserved meal lingering in the air-- no, it's all off. Candles have been lit, but not the fireplace. Dinner hasn't been made, and rather, there's an unsettling scent that lingers on the chilled air.

As for Grell, he'll find her in the living room. She's seated in the middle of the floor, eyes fixated ahead, dress torn at the shoulder, and spattered in blood. It's everywhere. The body beside her, lifeless. She hasn't noticed anyone else yet. ]

[death_glare]

[ The first oddity that William encounters happens when his horse trots around to the rear of the house. Grell's horse is happily grazing in the shed, but there's another with its reigns hastily tied to the fence post. William eyes it suspiciously as he leads his ride to lay beside Grell's. The horse seems restless, even more so when William approaches it. The animal seems oddly familiar, he thinks, but that's the least of his concerns. A hitched horse means another person is here.

With a quickened pace, William reaches the front door, only to find it ajar. The frame of the entrance looks to have been cracked by a forced entry. Fear is not something William experiences often, but he can suddenly feel his heartbeat quickening. ]

Grell?

[ He calls out, hoping to God he'll hear a response. The kitchen's empty, as are the hall and bedrooms. He calls her name again, this time the fear is audible in his voice.

Then silence. He's found her, and suddenly all words escape him. ]

[untodeath]

[ Hearing her name for the second time barely manages to get through to her. ]

Will..?

[ Voice eerily hallow, she finally stirs to pick herself up - but realizes that she's being weighed down by the man's arm slung across her lap.

With a struggled breath, she pushes the body over, onto it's back. His face is wretched, throat sliced and a kitchen knife protruding from his temple. Grell moves to cover her mouth, but her hand is coated with his blood.]

[death_glare]

[ He approaches slowly, attempting to make any sense of what he's seeing. Never has he encountered so much blood. There'd been hardly any when his ex fell to her death, just a small pool that formed beneath her head. But that barely compares to this.

It's when he's able to see just who the man is that he finds himself any to speak again. ]

...What have you done?

[untodeath]

[ Those words instill more fear into her than anything else she's endured this evening. Looking up to him, her eyes widen as the reality of the situation sets in. Her hands clutch at the fabric over her chest to keep herself from quivering. ]

..H-he... [ She forces herself to look at him. To remember. She must, for this is her doing. ] He'd said that he would expose you... us....

[death_glare]

[ Honestly, he's not surprised that's the case. And in some odd way, it's a bit relieving. This man has tried to end him before, sacrificed his own daughter to do so, and been set on stealing his father's business for himself through the worst possible means. It's only fitting he has a terrible fate befall him, William thinks.

Still, he's not blind to how bad this situation could become. Will become. There's no way out from this. Others will come looking for the man.

William crouches beside Grell, inspecting the torn shoulder of her dress before meeting her eyes with a stern gaze. ]

Did he hurt you?

[ The scene is bad. The outcome will be worse. But first thing he must do is make certain Grell is physically safe, and mentally sound. ]

[untodeath]

[ Grell delays in meeting his gaze, fearful and ashamed. ]

No... it was the things he said-- and did-- they were terrible...

[ Finally, she meets his eyes with some indignation. ]

He grabbed my face to see my teeth, and demanded I prove him wrong by lifting my skirt-- but once he spoke of you, I... simply wasn't myself anymore.

[death_glare]

[ He's not certain he believes that's all he did to her. But it's all he needs to hear. Standing he takes her hands, lifting her from the bloody scene below. ]

We need to get you cleaned up.

[ The fences in the small backyard are high enough that the neighbours will have nothing to see, so he pulls her along outside. There, water is pumped into the large bucket used for filling the tub. It's cold water, but this needs to be done in a hurry. Thankfully, London has hit a high temperature after frigid few weeks. ]