thedispatch | (no subject)

(no subject)

[ It's happening once again - her life, flashing before her eyes.

The shock that gripped her chest, as the demon grasped her face, muttering against her lips that it would erase the pain of her pathetic existence. Meeting William's gaze with excitement as they threw themselves into the throes of battle. Launching herself at him when he'd announced that they would be investigating a case together. Waking up that morning in a cold bed, before pulling herself out of it to piece herself together.

Hundreds of other beginnings like it, contrasting the liveliness she threw into her days, the unusual occurrences that came with her occupation, and the way her heart twists around that one special man. A time of fiery passion, bloodshed, lust - so brief, less than a thousand days of bliss, before reality tore the blanket from her eyes. Thirty-six-thousand like the ones that proceeded them. Love. Meeting William. Rage. Being "reborn," they said. Throwing herself into the ocean from cliffs high above.....

Her body relaxes as it all fades away. It's nearly bliss-- until the beast tears her scythe from her hands to plunge through her chest. Its laugh is wretched, gravely, as it steps on her shoulder to remove the blade and brandish against William.

It slowly walks back, giving the man the unspoken option to pursue it for battle, or approach his colleague. ]

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Didn't I?

[ The redhead's tone don't change - and she nearly turns away from his touch, until her glasses are close enough for her to see, and she makes sense of the gesture.

With everything in perspective, she takes a moment to glance around at her surroundings - and the glasses feel funny on her nose, so she's immediately adjusting them a bit lower.

One of the first thing she notices are the nurses huddled together, watching with anticipation. With a furrow of the brows, she gives them a side-eye. ]

What?

[ William's gaze joins hers. The nurses are certainly acting strange. It isn't as though Grell's causing a huge ruckus that he has to dispel. Those events always get gossiped around, mainly by the ladies in HR. But the redhead is tame enough at the moment that he can't see what they'd be so interested in. ]

I'd like to know the same.

[ While Annabelle flusters at the attention, the head nurse is much more confident in the way she regards their questioning.

We had hoped that you were feeling a bit better, Mister Sutcliffe, that's all. ]

I'm certain that I was very clear when I'd said I'm in pain--

[ The nurse abruptly clears her throat with a forced smile.

With the new company, I meant. ]

Who, Mister-- Spears, was it? He hasn't even properly introduced himself. [ With the tired snark, she looks up at him. ] You don't bear the title, nor the garb, of a doctor, so I'm at a loss.

[ William opens his mouth to retort but is at a loss. He glares up at the girls, assuming they must have done something. ]

What exactly have you been giving him?

[ He could claim that Grell was just teasing him but, he hasn't been regarded by her in such a disinterested tone since they first met. He hardly thinks she that good an actress. ]

[ Were Grell in a right state, and also a mind reader, she would be very offended by that opinion! How could you, William.

Even now, she's giving him a very unimpressed look for being disregarded. It's with a half-hearted roll of the eyes that she rests her head back against her pillows.

The head nurse nods Annabelle off, who quickly dismisses herself after bowing her head to William.

Actually, we've weaned him off of what we could, believing that might be the cause of his-- apparent loss of recollection.

At that, Grell picks her head up to shoot an affronted look at the nurse. ]

Excuse me?

[ The nurse only shakes her head.

Mister Sutcliffe, you've done less for attention or entertainment. ]

[ At that news, William's ever present frown takes on a more concerned look. A rare sight, indeed! ]

What else has he forgotten? Something must have initially brought this to your attention.

[ If it's not a side effect of a medication she's been administered, then they're dealing with a much larger issue. Her record. ]

[ Grell looks between them with disbelief! ]

I can't remember a damned thing, and frankly, it's been rather terrifying, you know?! And yet, most of my questions have been disregarded and scoffed at. All I've had to go off of are the remarks you all think I can't hear - or perhaps you simply don't care.

[ She has to stop for a moment, pressing a hand over her chest with a sharp breath. The nurse ticks her tongue and moves in to lay Grell back against the pillows, but the unsettled reaper smacks her hand away. ]

Leave, all of you! [ Laying back herself, her breath is laboured, but she's too stubborn to say anything else! ]

[ William gives a nod to the head nurse to head out, but remains standing at Grell's bedside. Because obviously 'all of you' doesn't include him. ]

Stop. You're going to cause even more trouble for yourself.

[ Call on me, if necessary, the nurse says with a sigh, giving William a nod before she departs.

Meanwhile, Grell is only further upset by their dismissive attitudes! A glare is shot William's way. ]

What-- [ Wheeze! ] -- are you still-- doing here?

[ Lifting an arm, she points to the door very sternly. ]

[ William ignores her gesture, not even looking towards the door. ]

Calm yourself. You very nearly died as I was bringing you here. I don't need a repeat of that.

[ He huffs as he presses a thumb and forefinger to his forehead. He can already feel the headache coming on. ]

[ Hand clenching, she allows her hand to fall as her eyes close with absolute frustration. ]

As you might guess... I can't recall... [ Leaning her head back to breathe a bit, it seems she's given up at present, at least! ]

[ Since she seems to have relaxed, at least from the level of raging, William pulls the visitors chair over to settle himself into. ]

What can you remember, then? Of anything.

[ Eyes opening, she lazily searches across the ceiling for answers. ]

Pain, and then, I could feel nothing. My ears were ringing, my vision went black... but there was someone else there. No, there were two...

Two?

[ The demon and himself? Or was a memory of her past flicking before her before she went out. ]

[ A breathy hum affirms what she'd said. ]

I didn't get a proper look of the first, but I imagine it must have been the demon that did this to me - that's the only useful fit I got out of the ladies here, I think - for it smelt putrid, and though it presented human, I could see its true face, and it was a wretched thing...

[ Though she has to take her speech slow, forcing herself to recall the incident does seem to be calming her. Distractions! ]

The second, I could only sense at the time, given my state. That was you, I take it.

It was. And yet you have no memory of me, otherwise?

[ Maybe that's a blessing, but the fact that this loss is causing him some concern shows that he's not taking it as such. ]

[ Grell shoots him a vaguely annoyed look, but her gaze lingers as it traces over his features, trying to find anything. ]

...No. You said you carried me here?

[ He gives a firm nod. ]

Honestly, it shouldn't have had to come to that. I'm not certain where we took a misstep. Two reapers should be able to take on a demon without such dire results.

[ The monotone of his voice is doing well to hide just how bothered he'd been by it the entire night. ]

Edited 2020-08-17 08:19 (UTC)

[ Taking a breath, Grell takes a moment to process that, but she's still drawing a blank. ]

I'm not quite sure where to start with that. So I suppose I ought to thank you for bringing me here. From what I gather, not the best decision, but a gesture to be thanked for, nonetheless.

Would you have preferred me to pursue the demon and leave you to bleed out?

[ She may have thanked him, but it sounded quite insincere. It's brought back that irritated voice that Grell so infamously pulls from him every moment of the day. ]

[ Lips pressing, she turns her head away. ]

I don't know what I would have preferred. You'll have to tell me.

[ The irritation halts, for the moment. Has she seriously lost all sense of who she is? ]

I believe I made the correct decision. As would you, if you were right in the head, at the moment.

[ This could be the perfect chance for William to lie; to make her think she was a respectful, hard working reaper who never caused trouble and certainly never had obsessive tendencies, especially in regards to him. Unfortunately, William has never been one to lie. ]

You would undoubtedly find the entire gesture romantic, despite it not being my intention.

[ That earns a curiously glance - and then, she can't help it, she looks him over once more. ]

Wait-- were we... romantically involved, then?

[ She may sound sceptical! ]

Absolutely not.

[ Perhaps said a bit to quickly! Embrace the fact that she might not actually be interested! ]

[ A sniff of a laugh. ]

Alright. What was it, then?