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. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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?

I am the manager of the Dispatch Division, and you are one of my Collections agents. As such, we are coworkers. Nothing more.

[ Let's draw that personal space line now, before it's too late! ]

[ He's being awfully rude, isn't he? Not that she's been entirely cordial herself, but-- still! It leaves her crossing her arms, lips pursed off to the side just so. ]

Sounds boring - but, I admit, it makes more sense.

[ He can't deny that it's boring. The fact of it pulls a heavy sigh from him. ]

Were you not even aware that you are a death god?

[ With a tilt of the head, she gives him a look. ]

I don't. Remember. Any. Of it.

[ Besides, he can't even acknowledge that she'd insulted him? Or did he just not get it? The thought has her sucking her teeth. So annoying!! ]

In any case, why would a god have to answer to management?

Honestly, if I understood the answer to that, I wouldn't have brought myself to this afterlife, to begin with.

[ She's treating him just as she did when they first met. You'd think that'd be favorable, but it's more unnerving than anything else. He's silent for a spell, but it's obvious he's deep in thought. He just knows it's going to be his job bringing Grell back up to speed with how this realm works. And apparently remind her of who she even is. ]

It is more of an accepted title versus a literal rank. We are in purgatory, sworn to do a job until we're considered forgiven.

[ Seeing him fall silent like that, her eyes trace his face. Trying to make sense of what he's telling her, wondering what it is that's struck a nerve in him, at last. Also noting that he has impressively sharp features for a dull man. ]

Purgatory, is it? [ She glances about. Everything is awfully monotone, but she'd also assumed that was merely a hospital-setting sort of deal. ] Lovely...

[ Her line of vision flickers back to William. ]

You said you brought yourself here. What did you do?

The same as you, and every other reaper here. We took our own lives.

[ She's been so unenthusiastic about every other bit of information he's given her so far, he doesn't expect to much of a response. ]

[ For a long moment, she is silent, arms settling as her gaze drifts off toward the ceiling once more. Finally, she hums. ]

Do we remember our own lives? How we did it?

Yes. For me it's quite a vivid memory.

[ His voice is rather monotone, but there's a terrible sadness holding it in place. ]

One that was reinforced quite recently.

[ They may not have been off the the best start, but she isn't a monster (so she discovers); his sadness sparks curiosity - empathy. Her features soften just the slightest. ]

How so?

[ He was silently hoping she wouldn't inquire. But he can only blame himself for setting her up to. Perhaps it's better to admit this now, while she's shown no interest in swooning over him for it. ]

I already had one important person in my life taken by a demon. As of yesterday, it was very nearly two.

[ Brows furrowed, lips tugging into a confused frown - indignant that he's given her conflicting information! - she turns her head to regard him fully. ]

You'd said I was merely your coworker.

[ Excuse him Grell, he has zero idea how to express emotions, other than irritation. So she'll be getting a frown right back. ]

Yes, and we've worked along side one another for over a century.

[ At that, her expression slacks! ]

A century. As in, one hundred years.

[ Excuse her a moment as she stares into the void. ]

... I see. So... we're friends, then. Is that what you mean to say?

Edited 2020-08-18 07:12 (UTC)

[ With a huff he relents, as if she was forcing it out of him and hadn't completely set himself up to admit it, all on his own. ]

Yes. A rather turbulent friendship, but not one I was ready to have end so abruptly.

[ His descriptor earns a tick of an upturned brow - but otherwise, she visibly appears to regard him with less hostility now, it seems. ]

Well. I'm sorry to have worried you.

[ She doesn't know why she's feeling a bit embarrassed to say so, but that's silly, right? ]

[ Her response has a rather frustrated look come across his face. ]

Don't do that.

[ A defensive frown etched into her features, in turn! ]

Do what?

Apologize. Honestly, it's unsettling to hear such a thing from you.

[ With a sigh, he pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose. This is going to be interesting until she finds her old self. ]