thedispatch | (no subject)

[ Looking down, she frowns at her image reflected in her mug. ]

I haven't decided anything... Though I-- I will admit, I feel differently about you than I have anyone else.

Can you elaborate?

[ He's honestly curious and maintains looking at her despite her breaking eye contact. ]

[ Teeth pressing into her lower lip just so, her brow furrows as she attempts to find the words to describe. ]

... With you, I feel-- whole. Warm. It's the greatest comfort I've felt, but at the same time, quite terrifying.

[ The last remark gets a confused look about him. ]

What is terrifying about it?

I barely know you.

[ Timidly, she glimpses at him. ]

How am I to know precisely what I'm getting myself into? How hard I will fall? How terribly I might ruin this good thing we have... That would break my heart the most...

No one can predict any of that. But we can certainly try our hardest to prevent it.

[ Gosh, when did he get so optimistic sounding? It's like this person has given him a whole new lease on life. ]

Prevent... what part of it...

[ Grell looks a bit worried about that. Does he mean ruining their relationship? Her heart breaking? Or is he telling her not to fall for him in general? ]

Prevent anything that may go wrong.

[ He gives the space next to him a pat, a non-verbal way of telling her she's free to come closer again if she wishes. ]

[ She clearly wants to, but can't seem to decide if it would be wise. ]

That could depend upon perspective, I mean...

[ Still, she edges closer. ]

Would you be heartbroken if I stayed by your side and took care of you til the end, but never developed romantic feelings for you? A platonic love, so to speak.

[ He'll let her move on her own and returns to his drink. ]

I don't doubt that you would want to, but you'll undoubtedly find those intentions would get in the way of forming other relationships, I'm sure...

[ Settled back to where she once was, she sill hesitates to place her head on his shoulder once more. He didn't seem to like it. ]

Getting remarried. Starting a family. I expect you'd want these things, and so I'd have o one to blame but myself.

It is going to take a lot of time for me to feel comfortable remarrying, if at all.

[ How his parents will feel about that, is another matter. ]

[ A quiet, soft hum of understanding. ]

Well, what of falling in love with another woman, then?

There's a bit of fear surrounding that, for me.

[ While she would like to offer closeness for his comfort, she doesn't wish for him to think that she's taking advantage of his sadness for her own pleasure, now. ]

That much is understandable. Give it time... but don't give it up. You deserve happiness, William. [ But when she meets his eyes, her gaze is earnest. ] You deserve everything good in this world.

As do you.

[ He meets her eyes. ]

Whatever is to come, we'll stay beside one another.

[ Exhaling a vaguely shaky, emotional breath, she nods with a flicker of a smile. ]

That I promise you.

Good. Now, how should we spend the rest of our week?

[ That sentence alone is relaxing to him. It's been so long since he had a good amount of time off. ]

[ Eyes wandering to trail across the ceiling, she leans her shoulder against his instead, humming. ]

What do you like to do in your spare time? What are your hobbies?

Violin. And I quite like simply walking through Saint James' Park.

[ He lets her lean against him without complaint. ]

[ Brows raising, her eyes light up with wonder. ]

You play violin! That's phenomenal!

I do.

[ He makes an indication towards the far side of the room. The case is leaned up against a desk, with the music stand tucked in the corner. It's obvious he hasn't had too much time to play. Or perhaps the motivation to. ]

[ Hooking an arm in his, she give his sleeve an insistent tug. ]

Now, you know you must play something for me!

[ William attempts to keep his teacup steady, despite it not having much left in it. Her tugging gets a huff from him, but he sets the cup aside to follow her over to the instrument. ]

Fine. What would you like to hear? There are some works set on the shelves there.

[ While he may not have many novels, he has quite a bit of sheet music for her to choose from. ]

[ Her fingers carefully scan the spines of his music books, until they rest on something that catches her interest. It's an older melody, but fairly popularly used for melancholic scenes in plays and the like. ]

I've always been impressed with how emotive this piece is... It never fails to grasp me.