(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.

Comments

[death_glare]

[ William takes some time to respond, not really certain of the answers to her questions. ]

It was.

[ What is he doing? This person's business is none of his own. Wasn't allowing himself to care for another his downfall for all that's happened to him? Why is he knowingly doing so again? ]

I am protecting you.

[untodeath]

[ Hands gripping onto the horse's mane, Grell is able to peer over her shoulder at him. Clearly, she's bewildered by the concept! ]

You said it yourself, you don't even know me... And if you had, you who's to say that you wouldn't wish to see me over the edge?

[death_glare]

[ He mainly keeps his eyes on the trail, but looks down to her when she turns to him. ]

Honestly, knowing you doesn't play a part. I watched as my own wife fell to her death, why can't I protect someone I just met from the same fate?

[untodeath]

[ Lips pressing, the redhead averts her gaze. That's an awful thing to hear. ]

I'm sorry. Truly. [ Closing her eyes, she shakes her head. ] I--... I know this is what you need right now, b-but I'm not the one to save. There's nothing for me here. I don't think I was meant to--

[ Grell's jaw clenches as she fights down the emotion that pools in her chest. ]

Please. You're prolonging my suffering. No matter where I go, I'll be alone.

[death_glare]

You are with me, right now.

[ He says, in a matter of fact tone. With a kick to the horse's side, they speed up. Perhaps he's thought of a destination. ]

[untodeath]

[ Grell falls into a stunned silence. People always come and go, so that means nothing to her; however, she can recognize the sentiment.

She raises a hand to settle over his wrist-- just as he kicks the horse into a full gallop! Yelping, she grasps onto his hand, instead. And immediately pulls away to grab at the horse once more, blushing ferociously. ]

W-what of tomorrow? A week from now? Next year?

[death_glare]

[ It's an answer William needs to think over, so the silence following her question lingers for quite a bit of time. ]

I can't say how anything will go. Neither can you, or anyone else. Even the certainty we felt standing on the cliff's edge was interrupted.

[ He hums quietly as they approach a small town just west of Beachy Head. Being just after dawn, only the fisherman who work just off shore are busying about. The remainder of the town seems to still be waking. William directs the horse towards what looks to be a place they can rest and have something to eat. ]

It's not what either of us want to hear, I know.

[untodeath]

[ Grell is about to quip that they've only left the cliff because of his shoddy decision-making, but he just dragged her down a hill and tossed her onto a horse like a ragdoll. So, instead, she turns her head away to slowly exhale in annoyance through puffed cheeks, very frowny-like!

Taking in her surroundings, she attempts to take note of the town's necessities, its routes. She's still not entirely confident that she won't have to escape.

To his latter statement, she hums. ]

No. But there's something to say for your honesty, I suppose...

[death_glare]

[ William drops down off the horse, tying it up to the hitching rail. There seems to be some candles lit inside the building, but he waits until Grell's dismounted before approaching the door. His rescue attempt would be rather pointless if she took off while his back was turned. ]

I can purchase us something to eat. You should take up on that offer.

[ If she'd truly been standing at that cliff's edge for hours, she must need something. ]

[untodeath]

[ Watching him intently, her mouth twinges upon realizing that he's giving her no room for such a thing. Huffing, she sees herself doing-- albeit quite clumsily. It certainly doesn't help that her legs are partly without feeling from the cold. ]

Might as well, if I'm to be sitting with you...

[death_glare]

[ William frowns as he watches her struggle to climb down from the horse. She's being rather agreeable in following him despite objecting to it verbally. Being so lithe in comparison to him, she could probably out run him if she tried. As it were, he keeps close as they enter the building.

Soon enough they are greeted and given a seat at a small table near the place's run down bar top. It's obvious they haven't quite opened to taking customers yet today, but money is money, and in such a small town any business is certain to be good. The lady of the house offers to bring them some homemade breakfast if they won't mind waiting until the fire pit warms their cook top up.

There's a silence that lingers between them before William finally speaks up. ]

What is your name?

[untodeath]

[ Grell has settled herself low in her seat, arms tucked tight against her middle. The establishment is warmer than outside, surely, but the fireplace hasn't quite heated the room yet, either.

She hasn't said anything all the while, and it's only once she's addressed that she raises her eyes to meet the other's. It occurs to her that she could give a fake name, but what would be the point, really. ]

Grell Sutcliffe.

[death_glare]

[ William hums in acknowledgement. That family name is not one he recalls the family business working with, but there was no saying the redhead was also from London. ]

William T. Spears.

[ Assuming they're probably beyond a formal handshake, at this point, he refrains from holding his out. ]

[untodeath]

[ With a likewise hum, she looks him over. ]

Of the Spears' family financial institution, I assume.

[ Not only does he seem the type, he's dressed well enough and is prepared to pay for her food, so she thinks she must be right. ]

[death_glare]

[ There's a nod. ]

So you are from London.

[ He thinks on the name again, but can't place it anywhere. It's possible his father still held any business with them to himself. ]

[untodeath]

Yes.

[ While she could leave it there, she can see that he's striving to piece his knowledge together, and there's nothing else more entertaining to do than converse. She sighs. ]

My father's company develops and supplies weaponry. Rather private, operates under the name Venatus.

[ Her gaze drifts. It's clearly not a subject she enjoys discussing. ]

He passed away last year and was succeeded by his apprentice.

[death_glare]

[ Ah, that name sounds more familiar, though he can't say he's ever worked directly with them. Her last comment makes it all the more obvious why he doesn't even seem to recognise her. ]

Is that the reason you were out there this morning?

[untodeath]

[ Grell's gaze snaps back to him with some confusion. ]

What? God no.

[ Though she can't quite smile at it, something of an amused breath sounds through her nostrils. ]

I was never directly involved with the business.

[death_glare]

[ Well, the reasoning or not, that reaction doesn't bode well for what her relationship with the man must have been like. ]

What was it, then?

[untodeath]

[ Leaning back into her chair, she seems to be making herself smaller, visibly uncomfortable. ]

It's not something easily explained.

[death_glare]

That's to be expected.

[ His comments and questions are so monotone that he almost sounds robotic - if they were to even know what that meant. But William is not one to be asking purely out of boredom. He's genuinely curious, though his tone make be lacking the indication. ]

[untodeath]

[ The seemingly lackluster and unsympathetic reply earns a faint furrow of her brow. ]

Very well, then.

[ Her eyes dart around to ensure that no one is within earshot, and still, her voice is hushed. ]

All my life, I've wanted to be a woman. Instead, that makes me a molly.

[ Her dead stare certainly has that Told-You-So quality to it. ]

[death_glare]

You made that rather clear in two sentences.

[ Just pointing out that it wasn't all that difficult to explain, after all. Though, he does understand that it can't have been something pleasant to deal with. It makes sense she'd be out there when he arrived.

Perhaps more surprising is his lack of any sort of disgust or aversion towards her. ]

[untodeath]

[ Indeed, she watches him for any sort of reaction, and almost seems concerned when there isn't one. Is this man completely devoid of emotion? ]

...Most would have questions, or at the very least, claim me unsound...

[ No, she saw his face, out there over the cliffs. Perhaps he really just doesn't care. ]

[death_glare]

Honestly, I can't even begin to understand my own actions or emotions. I have no business judging you for yours.

[ A very honest explanation, one that manages to pull something out of him, as his gaze drifts away from her as he speaks. ]