thedispatch | (no subject)

(no subject)

[ Graduating from the reaper academy was nothing to brag about. Sure you gained some skills and were granted permission to customize your glasses and scythe, but beyond that, all that was in the newly trained reapers' future was tedious, unavoidable work encased within long nights of depression and regret. Unlike mortal graduations that were followed by celebration, reapers were informed of how they came to be, what was expected of them, should they wish to redeem themselves, and then shown their personal cinematic records. Forced to relive the pain of their mortal lives. To say it's a traumatic experience is a vast understatement.

William stands alone in his newly assigned, permanent flat. It's barely furnished, with just the essentials, no life or personality to be seen. All that's playing through his mind is his record. A horrific thing to rewatch, certainly, but somehow it was made more painful by a fear that had been newly established. He's suddenly feeling sick from the thoughts and has to exit the apartment to collect himself. Glancing up, he sees a brief flicker of bright red at the end of the hall, and before he can stop himself he's following after it. ]

Grell Sutcliffe?

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Yes, well if you cared to do your job properly, you would note how busy we have been.

[ He automatically reprimands her while he approaches to place his briefcase beside his desk. He then makes to remove his coat, leaving her side to hang it on the provided coat rack. With an irritated huff, he continues on. ]

I've worked overtime nearly every day this month, what with that serial killer running around London, needlessly adding to the scheduled death list.

Edited 2020-12-09 16:54 (UTC)

I do know. They've occurred in my sector, after all!

[ And yet, she doesn't seem put off by his demeanor. Quite the opposite; she's adjusting her collar with a bat of the lashes, as soon as he looks her way! ]

Fascinating cases, really. I almost don't mind the extra work.

[ Something causes her excitement to still, even so. She turns her face away with a sigh, before glancing back William's way. ]

Though, I have been missing you.

Honestly, you would enjoy something of that sort.

[ He sighs with a shake of his head. Though her last statement gets him to briefly pause while preparing his desk for the work day. ]

I am headed to the tea room if you would like to speak of this there.

[ With a sultry little quirk of her brow, she cup her cheek with a purr! Indeed, she DOES enjoy it-- but, more importantly, William hasn't outright rejected her. That immediately sobers her.

Onto her feet, she moves to his side, slipping her arms about his arm. ]

It would be a pleasure.

[ In truth, the only reason he's willing to discuss this now is that he's not set to clock on for his shift for another 15 mins. Hopefully, whatever it is doesn't take more time than that.

William fills the electric kettle, setting it aside to boil while he fetches his mug. Then there's the decision of what tea to have. The cupboard is well stocked with quite the variety so he's still pondering his choices when he adresses her again. ]

I know we haven't been partnered together for some time now, but with Collections lacking so severely in agents, it's simply not possible.

[ Grell is rather anxious about the conversion at hand, perhaps obvious by her complete lack of interest in tea. She leans back against the counter, watching him move about. ]

I'm not speaking of partnering, Will. Not in that sense, anyway.

If you're referring to our personal time together, the same issue applies.

[ He pulls a particular box from the cabinet, opting for his usual. ]

[ A huff of a sigh! ]

You know I'd do whatever it takes to spend time with you, but time isn't the issue, is it?

[ At the thought of living this afterlife for an eternity, William's face takes on a tinge of sadness, something Grell probably hasn't seen in decades. But it's gone quick enough that he could deny it was ever there. ]

What is it then?

[ Grell's brow faintly knits, at that. She reaches out to cup his jaw, eyes scanning his features - a silent acknowledgement that she'd noticed. That she'd always notice. ]

You tell me.

[ Grell's hand is brushed away from his face and he returns to focusing on his tea. ]

This job is exhausting, Grell. Especially in a position of management.

[ Putting a bit more sugar into his tea than usual, he finally turns to look Grell in the eyes once more. ]

You are equally as exhausting, if not more so.

[ Though she seems typically unfazed, at first, she draws a quiet breath when he meets her eyes - and there's unmistakable hurt behind her own.

Frowning, her gaze shifts, arms folding over her waist. ]

I've always said that I wouldn't give up the fight on you, Will, but it has been so long since we've seen progress... Have I lost the war?

[ She's uncharacteristically serious, when she finds his gaze again. ]

I need to know, are you through with me?

[ William takes a moment to think on his reply. This conversation has been a long time coming. Perhaps too long. ]

I think that may be the best for both of us.

[ Drawing a slow breath, there's the slightest tremor to it, as she struggles to keep herself together. She's upset, surely, but its the strangest mix of rage and despair-- true heartbreak. Inevitable, yes, but she can't help but fell sorry that she'd asked. There's a knot in her throat, and she might very well throw up. ]

That's all I needed to know.

[ Turning on heel, she may give him a moment, if he should reach out-- but then, she's quick to teleport away! ]

[ It's once she's gone that William lets out a breath he didn't realise he'd been holding. Her response was far tamer that he'd been prepared for. No yelling or slamming of doors. He'd half expected to get slapped across the face for breaking the promise he'd made to her all those years ago. He's not sure if this reaction is better or not.

As the months went by, Will found himself ignored by her, only speaking with her when it was absolutely necessary. Not unexpected, but it was when she suddenly came back into work with a smile on her face that William found himself feeling...well, he wasn't quite certain. An odd mix of relief, sadness and a tad of unfounded jealously that he couldn't understand in the slightest.

It clung to him for literal years, but his pride and depression kept him from approaching Grell to inquire on it. At least until, one afternoon, it dawned on him. All the pieces clicked into place and he quickly flipped through his binder to the current date. He'd noticed an odd file when he'd handed Grell her assigned reapings for the month, but now he saw it. One mortal who's death was noted as undetermined. How he had forgotten to look into it, he wasnt sure, but now he understood without any inquires to management.

Now he stands on a nearby roof top. The woman whose fate was undetermined laying dead upon the ground, soul still not fully reaped. And there was Grell, pleading for a retched demon to spare her. In a split second William's scythe shoots down, blocking the blow that would have taken her from him completely. ]

[ Just when she'd steeled herself for the inevitable, there's a sight that she'd never expected to see. At first, she thinks she be imagining it, but when the darkness fails to claim her, she knows it must be true. And they joy that takes her is too true.

Of course, he doesn't spare her the usual scolding- and she's actually quite surprised that he handles the situation so nonchalantly, and when she's on the verge of losing consciousness, it occurs to her that he must be feeling a sense of validation in seeing her newest relationship fail.

Somehow, she still feels safe - and once he's dragged her back to the reaper realm (rather literally), she reaches to grasp his pantleg in quiet acknowledgment. ]

[ William hasn't brought her to headquarters. Rather she'll find herself face down on the carpet of his living room floorm. He feels that tug to his pant leg, but pays it no mind, for the time being. Instead her hair is released and he reaches up to adjust his glasses and afford himself a moment to think on his words. He'd rushed to find her so quickly that what he'd say once they were back was never thought on. ]

This is so difficult. You must realise that after how long you've known me.

[ As it stands, she can barely speak. It's by pure stubbornness that she's managed to resist blacking out! Why, she even manages to roll onto her side just enough to look up at him - though, she'll curl an arm about her face, because she must look horrendous! ]

...what is...

All of it. This entire existence.

[ Much like how Grell's hiding her swollen eyes and cheeks, William's turned his head enough to keep his own face unreadable. His voice, though always quite monotone, holds the slightest tinge of emotion to it. ]

[ Gingerly feeling her face, she manages to remove her shattered glasses. It's astronomically more difficult than it should be! ]

Have you-- never considered... what I have gone through....

[ He frowns, unsure if he ever truly has. At realising it, he feels the sense of gloom over him darking all the more. ]

I suppose I haven't.

[ With a sigh, she digs her fingers into the carpet beneath her. It might be the only thing that feels real. The pain certainly did, but her body might be in shock right about now. ]

... I didn't mean-- it doesn't matter... someone like me...

[ A monster. ]

[ The words she chooses - or better yet, leaves out - has him turning to her. He doesn't like them or the way her voice sounds when she speaks them. In an uncharacteristically caring fashion, William kneels beside her, hoisting her up to sitting. ]

But it does.

[ His voice shakes slightly. ]

You matter. To me.

[ When he helps her sit, she bows her head with shame, pressing a hand over her hair, atop one of her swollen cheeks-- but when he says something so unexpected, she can't resist glancing up at him. Even if she can't see a damned thing. ]

Even-- with what I've done--

[ Goodness, perhaps they aren't so unalike, after all! ]

Was it not because of how I treated you?

[ looking her over, he's noting how a good portion of those injuries are also from him. What with stomping her face into the ground and dragging her here and all. ]

You look a right mess. Let's tend to that first.

[ A sweet gesture wrapped in a rather dry comment. Still, though she'll heal fast, it's obvious how embarrassed she is with her wounds. He takes her hand to help lift her to walking, bringing her his bathroom. ]