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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The other Dispatch agents are out in the field today. I'm certain they will check in when their shifts are over.

[ He watches her hand as it settles against her chest. ]

I can ask the nurse to increase your pain medication, if it is that bad.

[ Though she is curious to know who else there could possibly be, his question immediately distracts her from the thought! Her face very nearly brightens! ]

Could you, please? I'm not even doing anything, and it's grating on my nerves...

I'm rather taken aback by your want for it, as you've always enjoyed pain being inflicted upon you.

[ Not waiting for a response, William exits the room to speak with the nurses. They're quick to tell him no but he reminds them that, although Grell's lost her memory, she's still very quick to snap. And that's something they will want to avoid. So finally William returns with the head nurse in tow, a hefty syringe in her hand which she promptly administers.]

[ With a blink, she watches him off. Enjoying pain is certainly unusual, if it's anything like this, she thinks!

Curiously, she watches the nurse inject the medication into her line - but doesn't otherwise acknowledge her. On principle! ]

I suppose you aren't so bad. Although, I still don't know your name.

[ He pulls a frown at her...compliment? ]

William T. Spears. However, as your boss, you should be addressing me as Mister Spears, regardless.

[ She frowns right back with a quirk of the brow. ]

And as your friend?

Given names are acceptable.

[ Hell no he isn't telling her she would always call him Darling. ]

[ That expression turns into a more confused sort of frown, now. A touch amused, too, maybe! ]

As opposed to what?

Anything other than that.

[ He makes certain that his words are stern. ]

Of course, William. What a silly question.

[ That comes with an eye roll, but also, something of a smile! ]

[ He's wary that she'll keep that promise, but he'll bask in it while he can. ]

Are you feeling the medication's effects yet?

[ Doing her best to settle down, there's the slightest wince when she moves about - so, clearly, not enough! ]

Perhaps a bit.

[ So, she intends to run her fingers through her hair as a distraction - but it's still so much, and frankly, a bit tangled! ]

[ He sighs as she fusses with her hair. ]

You should cut it.

[ Gasp! ]

[ Immediately, her brows furrow. She looks down at her hair, and then, to William. ]

Well... it does seem like quite a bit of maintenance...

[ And then, back to her hair again. ]

What, you don't like it?

Not necessarily.

[ Now that he thinks on it, the length has come in quite handy as a means of dragging Grell where he needs her to go. ]

But it is a bit much, as you've pointed out.

I did not.

[ Giving him a look, it's partly defensive! ]

It's you that's a bit much.

[ And then, her mouth twitches into a lopsided little smile. ]

The medication might be starting to kick in, if I were to take a guess... [ Probably, because she's already forgotten how difficult it was to run her fingers through her hair the first time, as she starts to play with it again! ]

You just said it would be high maintenance.

[ Really, he doesn't want to be having an argument over her hair, so he just shakes his head and reaches into the pocket of his jacket. He produces a sturdy black comb and holds it out to her. ]

Oh, well, I thought you'd meant visually.

[ Actually smiling now, she reaches to take it! ]

The drama of it suits you, certainly. But having seen you with all lengths of hair, I can say that you look just fine with it shorter.

[ He leans back in his chair, glad that the argument diffused rather quickly. ]

All of it was around the length of your bangs when we first met.

[ Grell attempts to pull the comb through the locks over her shoulder, but it just tugs and-- doesn't do much else. Frowning, she feels like she's doing something very long, and she can't remember what that is.

But William's comment gets a glance out of her. It's almost nice of him to say! ]

And that was more than one hundred years ago, you said?

Yes. One hundred years. What does that matter?

[ He seems slightly frustrated that the time period can't get through to her. ]

[ She frowns. ]

We must not have had much history, if losing the past hundred years doesn't faze you.

[ He returns the frown. Then with a huff he reaches inside his jacket to pull out his pocket watch. A brief glance and he stands from his seat. ]

I am taking my lunch. What would you like, if anything.

[ Her initial comment is ignored for now. ]

[ Though she tries to hide it with a deepening frown, Grell certainly doesn't want him to leave just yet, and might feel a bit stressed over it...!

Ah, but he's offering to bring her food. She is hungry, now that she thinks about it. Perhaps another reason that she's been so grouchy? ]

That-- would be nice, if you were to bring me something... Whatever you think I'd like, I suppose?

[ Wow, she doesn't even remember what foods she likes. This is going to be a very stressful...day? ...week? ...year?? William's getting a headache just thinking about it. ]

Fine.

[ With that he exits, leaving her to process what he's been able to tell her, so far, while he goes to fetch lunch. He's not gone long, and once back, he sets two paper cups upon the rolling table that's next to Grell's hospital bed. They're both steaming, filled with hot tea. Grell's is sweet with cream added. At first it looks as though that's all he's brought, but suddenly he's summoned the rest of their lunch from seemingly no where. A sandwich for himself, and what appears to be the hot meal they were serving for the day, fettuccine in a pesto sauce with garlic roasted tomatoes. ]