thedispatch | (no subject)

[ Those hands migrate to her cocked hips, shoulders back, as she flashes him a crooked smile. ]

My dearest Will, I should like to think that I'd know it best-- well, second to that lady of yours! Which, speaking of, you must be seeing, if you've any hope of making that reservation.

[ Retrieving the stack she'd stripped him of previously, she pushes the papers against his chest, rights a piece of hair behind his ear, and pats his chest as though to send him off. ]

But if you've the time after, we can comb through the detail of your proposal plans after. I'm just dying to hear them.

[ That frown turns into a slight scrunching of his nose and he pulls his face back from her hand. ]

Stop fussing over me.

[ Though she just fixed his hair, he feels the need to do so himself. But, once satisfied, he turns to head up a floor to Corrections. He won't say it aloud, but there's always a small part of him that's grateful for his subordinates making errors on their reports. Visiting his partner to correct the mistakes allows him a brief reprieve.

With the paperwork in order, perhaps in record time, William is free to spend the evening as he'd hoped. Diner, a bit of dancing, wine and talk of anything but work. It's just what he needed after the stress of the day.

But, then the moment comes where he fishes around the inner pocket of his suit jacket. Suddenly, he's feeling as though there are butterflies in his stomach, something he can't say he's ever experienced before. He brushes it off, convincing himself there was nothing to be nervous about, and turning to her, takes a steadying breath before setting one knee to the ground.

It's not long after that he finds himself outside the door to Grell's flat, knocking quieter than he ever has. ]

[ It's nothing short of a miracle that Grell actually hears it - though, at first, she isn't certain if her mind is playing tricks on her. It's an awfully quiet tap, quite nearly drowned out by the opera that booms from her sitting room.

Setting her glass upon the counter, she cuts the record's play, before tentatively checking the door. It's swung open wide, revealing the redhead in a lacy little number, smelling of wine and rose perfume. ]

--Will?

[ With a blink, she looks him over. ]

I'd think you should be celebrating in the privacy of your bedchamber about now--

[ Unless... Ah. Darn, she's got just enough alcohol in her not to have thought that through properly before she spoke. With an apologetic grimace, she hooks an arm into William's to tug him inside and close the door after them. ]

Come in. Come in, then.

[ William's thankful he doesn't have to spell it out for Grell. He takes up a space on the sitting room's sofa. The crease in his brow somehow lingers between sadness and confusion. ]

Am I a fool for thinking she felt the same?

[ Grell sees him to the sofa, but before she joins him, she goes to fetch a clean glass for William. And another bottle to join the one half-empty of the coffee table. Something tells her they're going to need it. ]

Is it the idea of marriage? Or has she found herself discontent with your relationship?

[ She's plopped down next to him before she pours a very generous amount of wine for William, nearly pushing it into his hands without suggestion. ]

[ He takes the glass without hesitation and drinks a healthy amount. ]

Apparently, she had been contemplating ending our romantic relationship for some time.

[ With a knit of the brow, Grell frowns deeply. ]

So she leads you on, then?! That damned wretch--

[ Now, it's her turn to take a swig! Even still, she finds herself huffing into her glass, once she's swallowed it down.

Waving her hand whilst she navigates through her frustration, it inevitably ends up planted on William's forearm, holding onto his sleeve imploringly. ]

She is the fool, you know that, don't you?

I'm not certain I can bring myself to agree.

[ Already, he's slipping back into the state he'd been in before meeting Christine. All business at work, which did well to hide the deep depression that hung over him while alone in his flat afterwards. This next sip is hardly as enthusiastic as the first. ]

If that's the case, you'll be forced to listen to me say so, until you'll find yourself capable of getting it through your head.

[ It's as though she can physically see the man hollowing out his chest. Feeling as though she must do something to snap him out of it, she quite suddenly is up on her feet. ]

But, first, I'll need you to remove your jacket and tie. Do away with the waistcoat, as well. You look much too stuffy to be in my flat this late is the evening.

[ Setting down her glass, she's off to rummage for something or other in one of her dressers - but she's going to peek over her shoulder at him, and if he hasn't complied yet, she'll straighten herself up with a demanding clap of the hands. ]

Come now, I'm serious!!

[ The sadness halts only to be replaced with sincere confusion. He looks down to his outfit, then back at her. ]

My jacket I can understand, and perhaps the waistcoat. But why my tie?

[ He ignores the clap at first, not one to be bossed around, but gets up at his own pace to, at least, do away with the jacket. ]

[ Finding what she was looking for, Grell gives a declarative croon! But before she goes showing it off, she pointedly closes the drawer she'd been looking through, a wrist on her hip. ]

Are you really going to tell me that keeping your tie on just near the middle of the night is conducive to your relaxation?

[ So it's relaxation she's trying to get him to achieve. With a sigh he concedes and pulls his tie free of its stiff knot. Then he decides his shoes may as well go then, too and places them by the door. He then reclaims his seat and takes up his drink. That's already helped a bit, thankfully. ]

[ That gets her to smile, eyes even a touch warm with the extra bit of effort he puts in. ]

There you are, darling. That must feel better. Though, I was thinking that we might take our drinks to the balcony. Get a bit of fresh air.

[ At that, she flourishes a small tin of cigars! ]

I've never been much of a smoker, myself - I've been holding onto these for ages! - but I had thought that they might be useful eventually.

[ William actually gives the cigars an intrigued look. He's surprised he hasn't had a smoke break since leaving the restaurant. Grell's offer definitely appeals to him, right now. ]

We're they a gift?

[ It is odd for her to have them. He's never seen her smoke, that he can recall. But he willingly rises from the couch and follows her out onto the balcony. ]

[ Humming an affirmative, Grell's on her way over to the doors leading out to her balcony, tying back the curtains so that she may unlock and push them open. The air is brisk, but not terribly so! ]

Not a very intuitive one.

[ There's a couple of stools out, accompanied by the smallest little table. Taking the seat nearest the railing, she pops open the tin to remove the included clipper and matches.]

Are you going to leave me all alone out here~♥?

Give me a bleeding moment.

[ He'd stopped to remove his socks as well, not wanting to get them dirty. But his mood plus her impatient teasing gets the smallest rise out of him. But he mellows back out the moment he sets himself down on the stool. The cool air is oddly welcoming, maybe because his cheeks had finally started to become warm from the evenings alcohol. ]

You're in a pleasant mood, considering the ordeal, this morning.

[ He'd been so irritated at having to break up the fight, it's odd he's referring to it. Perhaps to get the conversation away from his own night. ]

[ Not only is Grell endlessly amused by his temper, any sort of emotion that she can get out of him right now is a good thing. She's positively grinning as she goes about prepping the cigar; all that's left is to light it, so she hands it over to Will. ]

You can thank my dear friend Pinot Noir for that.

[ Speaking of--! With a gasp, she's up to her feet! ]

Oh, damn it all, I forgot the wine.

[ Excuse her while she goes to retrieve it! In the meanwhile, she'll raise her voice talk to him over her shoulder. ]

I would say that I'm surprised you remember, but I suppose that a scene like that would be difficult to forget.

[ He's quiet until she returns with the wine, not finding it necessary to shout back. ]

Honestly, most things involving you are difficult to forget.

[ The cigar is taken up and he lights it before taking a long puff. The flavour and aroma are pleasing enough to have him close his eyes in a brief moment of relaxation. ]

[ Settling down with their two glasses (and bottles), Grell finds herself peering at him from the corner of her eye. ]

You flatter me.

[ The smile she wears isn't just that, however; she's relieved to see that her plan may just be working.

Once he seems to return to the present, she hands him his glass with a chuckle. ]

[ Ah, only she would be flattered by his comment, considering the actions it was referring to. But, if she hadn't been, he would have worried something more was wrong. ]

So, you intended to spend the whole night, drinking yourself into a stupor. Perhaps it's better I arrived here.

[ Grell's taken a drink of her own wine, before setting her glass down by her feet. In the spirit of things, she's going to prepare a cigar for herself, as well! While she does so, she crosses her ankles up on the balcony's railing. ]

Mn, you've figured be out. [ Shooting him a smirk, she shrugs. ] I'd have to agree, however; I'd much rather drag you down with me.

A wonderful thing to bring upon your friend.

[ Yet, he's pausing from his cigar to drink some wine, anyway. Though, after that one sip, he finds himself staring across the neatly maintained courtyard that poses as a decorative center to their otherwise drab apartment complex. ]

I shouldn't have opened myself up, again.

To her, perhaps.

[ Yes, Grell doesn't seem to enjoy that particular thought of his at all, judging by the frown on her lips. It's quite good that he's expressing it, though, so she's not about to shut it down.

Though, she will pause to ignite a match and light her own cigar. The first puff issues a raise of the brows, features a bit strained as she exhales, the smallest sputter coming from pressed lips. ]

Yes, certainly not my thing. [ The second drag is much smoother, though. She takes her time exhaling and watch the smoke stream skyward. ] Though, it can be relaxing.

[ If he wasn't in such a mood, and if he was one to laugh, at all, he would have done so at her little sputter. Also doesn't help that he's caught up on other thoughts. ]

How was I to know? It may very well happen each time. At some point, you have to wonder if you are the cause.

[ Grell parts her lips to reply, but catches herself stopping short, brows pressing together as her eyes drift in thought. It seems that could certainly apply to her situation, at the very least.

Her teeth catch the corner of her lip, while she reaches for her glass. ]

Well-- so what if it is. [ A swig, and she's licking over her lips, pointedly gesturing toward him to assure that she's going to further that point! ] You're you, and what's there to do about that?