thedispatch | (no subject)

[ Once she finally locks herself in, Grell slumps back against the adjacent wall, running her hands under her glasses. This was intended to be an easy trip, a one-way destination... but, as always, she managed to find trouble.

She hasn't long to dally before William rouses to check on her, though; with a heavy sigh, she approaches the window - and sees that he's already three steps ahead. Cursing under her breath, she backs away quickly.

Minutes later, she's at the front door to meet him, her gait slow and defeated.

As soon as she steps out, however, she takes off at a full sprint in the opposite direction! ]

[ Now it's William's turn to curse to himself. He should have unhitched the horse when he first came outside. As it is, Grell's already gotten a decent ways away once William hurries to the hitching post. He'd have kept his eye on her if he could, but he'd wound the reins too tightly to work them apart merely by touch. Alas, the dirt road is clear of her, meaning she must have taken to the woods. His horse would do him no good in there.

The woods are thick and fairly dim with the day still barely starting. William steps over fallen trees and pushes aside large bushes to see if she's tucked herself away somewhere. Unfortunately, he's already lost any sense of where he'd entered and where she may have gone. With a heavy sigh, he leans himself against a tree, wondering just what he was doing. ]

[ Now that William has stilled, it may be easier for him to hear-- she's not too far, breath wheezing. Keeled over against a hollowed log, she can't seem to take herself any further, for as he'd predicted, she has no energy. Her body is weak. Her voice sounds miserable. ]

You'd be better off saving a dog from the streets, you know.

[ Unmoving, she stares at a knife in her hand, its blade resting against her palm. It's been sheathed in her pocket, waiting for use; in fact, she intended to draw it at the cliff. Yet, she hesitates. ]

Edited 2019-11-27 07:33 (UTC)

[ Lost in his own thoughts, he doesn't realise she's close until he hears her speak. Her voice is coming from behind him and he rounds the large tree to see her on the ground. ]

Honestly, I never really cared for dogs.

[ Why he's caring for this person, though, he can't quite explain. Unfortunately, the knife is well concealed from his view, so he's under the impression that she'd given in to him. ]

[ A corner of her mouth twinges. ]

Who's to say that you'll care for me?

[ Not spoken in the hypothetical sense, this time. The thought of giving life a second chance truly leaves her sick to her stomach - or perhaps it's all the running - but there's something else that just doesn't sit right with her, either. ]

I believe that would be my decision to make.

[ He finally approaches, with the intention of hoisting her up by an arm. But he pauses when he notices what's in her hand. He's unsure whether that knife is intended for herself of him. ]

That isn't any more reassuring...

[ Noting that he's halted, she softly wraps her hand about its blade. She doesn't mean to intimidate him. ]

This morning, I woke unafraid, but now... I'm terrified.

Edited 2019-11-27 08:02 (UTC)

That wasn't my intention.

[ Goodness, he really is bad at expressing care or comfort. Perhaps that's why his wife never grew to love him back. The more he thinks back on it, the more he realises just how cold he'd been towards her despite his love.

He still doesn't pull her up, but instead, moves to kneel before her. Even now, he's unsure of what to say to sway her, and the conflict of it is plainly written on his face. ]

[ Raising her gaze to meet his, it's clear that she'd been crying; the tears on her cheeks are nearly try, yet her eyes glisten with those unshed. ]

Promise that you won't abandon me. Because, now, I apparently can't see it in me to leave you.

[ William nods before carefully taking the knife from her hands. It's set aside among the dried leaves. Then, keeping her hands in his, he slowly stands, urging her to follow along. ]

I promise that to you.

[ Grell doesn't fight any of it, hands grasping onto his so that she may stand herself up on unsteady legs. Once she's confident that she won't topple, she hastily sways forward to embrace him. ]

[ He allows her to cling to him, letting out a breath that he hadn't realised he'd been holding. ]

Let us find the road and we'll head back to London.

[ But he doesn't move them on just yet. He'll let her hold on until she's ready to let go. ]

[ Eyes pressed shut and face against his collar, she nods numbly, but her throat feels too tight to speak. It's odd enough that she's agreed to stay with her captor, let alone that she's felt so compelled to hold him like this - and she's even more emotional that she'd been minutes ago!

It's then that she realises, no one has invested this much effort in keeping her around before. She's being cared for. ]

[ The tears are so heavy that he can feel the spot forming on his shoulder. He's never been one to console, and barely been physical with anyone, but the fact that she's agreed has him committing to his promise even more so.

Slowly he raises his arms to loosely hold around her shoulders. It's a gesture that feels so satisfying and warm that he regrets having waited so long to do so. ]

[ William's embrace has her body relaxing into his, and with the ease of her muscles, her body tremors softly in the cold. Her arms slink around him more intimately, and after a long breath, she seems to be gathering herself. ]

Thank you... [ Her voice is small and strained, but her words genuine. ]

[ As he feels her relax, he breathes a sigh of relief, himself and rubs gently at her back. ]

I should say the same.

[ Grell shifts to peer up at him over tear-spattered glasses. Over his features, down to his lips. Surely, she's just overemotional at present, but she could kiss him.

Instead, she'll rest her cheek on his shoulder. ]

We shall see.

We will return to my home and get you a bath and fed some decent food.

[ He urges her to let go before looking around to judge where he'd come from, originally. ]

[ And so she does, patting her sleeves over her cheeks. ]

I can't argue that...

[ Grell idly points in the direction of London whilst she wobbles back to the area he's left his horse. ]

You have a good sense of direction.

[ Idle chat as they return to the road. Thankfully when they do, William's horse is grazing by the road side. They mount it again and head towards the city.

It's a decently long ride, and by the time they arrive, the sun is nearly set. William's home isn't extravagant, but it's certainly nicer than most who make up the middle class, and lower. In the kitchen is a medium sized basin, conveniently placed by the hearth to warm the water. It's not large enough for a modern sized bath, but with the hand cloth and heavily floral scented soaps, it does the job as well as it can. William takes a few trips to get some water from the pump outside and brings it to the stove to heat. Once warm enough, the pot is emptied into the basin. ]

I would get to bathing before the water cools.

[ It's simple instruction as he assumes Grell can manage the rest on her own. Then he's moving towards the other side of the kitchen to find what food he has for them to partake in. ]

Edited 2019-11-27 22:54 (UTC)

[ By the time arrive, William will have had to wake her; she gradually felt herself dozing off, under the warm sunlight and with a body to lean against. Cheek against the back if his neck and arms about his middle, she'd been quite red upon making sense of what happened.

Grell was insistent upon helping in some way, as it didn't feel right to have him doing all the work on her behalf. She ends up settling on setting a sheet up between some stools so that she could undress with some modesty, at least. It was something!

Once she settles herself into the water, she exhales a sigh larger than her body could seem to contain. Untying her hair, she ruffles her fingers through its roots to loosen it. ]

It smells quite nice.

[ Even if she hadn't strung up a sheet, he was already giving her the respect of not looking her way. He's pulls some bread from from the cabinet, pairing it with some sliced up fruit and jerked meat. The mood of the past few weeks had put a damper on his own appetite, so the selection in his cabinets is limited. Still, even though it's simple, it's of far better quality then that inn. He brings it all to the small table at the side of the room, then pours some ale out for both of them. ]

[ Watching him curiously, she washes herself with the fragrant soap-- and paired with the hot water, she's fully relaxed against the basin's edge when the time comes to wash her face and hair. Her glasses are carefully set aside so that she may dunk her head. Upon surfacing, she pushes her lengthy hair back off her face. ]

I'm sorry, you don't have to wait on my accord... It's my fault you had a hasty breakfast, after all.

[ He gives a short nod and lifts the mug of ale to his lips. It's strong and just what the evening calls for after such a range of emotions had been felt. It was still not something he was used to, after all. ]

None of it is heated so I don't mind waiting on the rest.

[ With a squint, she can see him raising what looks to be a cup. With a lopsided little smile, she breathes a hint of a chuckle! ]

Well, with an empty stomach, that will go strait to your head, you know... [ She closes her eyes while massaging the hair oil in. Her obsession... it feels so wonderful! ]