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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[ With a hum of affirmation, Grell reaches over to tap the book. Works of Shakespeare. ]

Ronald brought me this from my desk, and Eric was kind enough to tame my hair for me - though it was your comb that came in handy.

[ While on the topic, she opens the bedside drawer to fetch it, and offer back with a smile. ]

[ William frowns skeptically as he reaches out to take his comb back. ]

I can't see Slingby doing such a thing.

[ With a tilt of the head, she blinks. ]

Really? Why is that?

He simply can't be bothered with most things when he has his own agenda planned out.

[ He shrugs slightly. ]

Seems I am wrong.

[ Intrigued, her brows raise with a breathy hum. ]

Well, I'll certainly keep that in mind.

[ Likewise, she shrugs! ]

For now, I won't complain. It feels much better. [ Look, she can run her fingers through it now! ]

[ He nods as she fluffs up her hair. ]

Tamer than usual.

[ That doesn't sounds like it's a bad thing, though. As she plays with it, he retrieves the rest of the sandwich from earlier, having never gotten a second break to finish it. ]

[ Though she's amused by the comment, her mind goes completely blank once he pulls that sandwich from nowhere! Drawing breath, she points at it with a shake of the wrist. ]

Okay, I know I'm not seeing things now. Please, ex-plain.

[ William looks down to his food, unsure what she means, at first. But it clicks once he thinks back to her initial flinch when he brought the food in. ]

It is a bit difficult to explain. Essentially, we have access to a small pocket dimension. It is where most of us house our scythes when they are not in use.

[ Somehow, she understands that terminology, so she's just going to roll with it. With a blink, that takes a moment to process in itself. ]

So, I have one, as well?

Yes. You really only need to think on retrieving they item you want and it will come to you.

[ Perhaps a bit more complicated than that, but he's been doing it for so long he can't quite remember how he did it the first time. ]

However, I have your scythe, so that won't appear for you. And I don't know what else you have tucked away.

[ Finally, he partakes of his food again. Thankfully those pocket dimensions seem to have a refrigeration option for food. ]

[ A pouty frown comes with that. ]

Oh. Well, I don't know what I've left in mine, so that won't do me much good.

[ With a sigh, she tucks an arm beneath her head while looking to him. ]

Well, anyway, tell me about your day.

[ Setting the sandwich down for the moment, William stands and seamlessly produces a large, red chainsaw from nowhere. ]

You're free to take your scythe back, if you'd like. Though I would wait until you can stand to try summoning it.

[ Eyes widening with this large, shiny, red hunk of metal in front of her, Grell looks at him unsurely before reaching out with both hands to take it. Carefully! ]

That's--oh! It looks much heavier than it is.

No. You are simply stronger than your mortal self ever was.

[ It's oddly nice seeing her scythe in her hands again. Even if it'd only been two days, William didn't know how long he'd have her scythe in his possession. ]

[ With the softest croon of realisation, she reshifts her hands to hold the handles more comfortably, turning it to admire. ]

It's a very nice feeling, I have to admit.

[ William reclaims his seat, and his sandwich. ]

Do not get overly cocky about it. That's how you get yourself into trouble.

[ Laying the scythe across her lap, she shoots him a glance with a lopsided little smirk. ]

Is it how I got myself here, by chance?

[ A finger gingerly traces down a blade of its chain. ]

No. That demon had no intention of letting us go unscathed.

[ He heaves a heavy sigh, the image of Grell being pierced though still fresh in his mind. ]

[ Features easing into a sympathetic little smile, she heaves a little sigh, too. ]

Sorry, you've probably been forced to talk about this all day.

[ Which, she's hoping, will lead them back to the topic, so he'll vent a bit more! ]

Yes. I hardly got anything else done.

[ Gonna take a frustrated bite of his dinner. Why didn't he go get some coffee? Or gin. ]

Hm. I doubt we're given much leniency around here, either. Doesn't seem like an especially forgiving environment. Poor Will.

[ Uh-oh. Seems like someone had dropped the nickname! ]

[ The only response she gets is a glare over the sandwich. ]

[ Her lips part with an amused scoff! ]

What?

My name is William, not Will.

[ He already knows it's pointless to argue, though. ]

[ She frowns, then! ]

Why don't you like it?