thedispatch | Secret Santa!

Secret Santa!

[ Every year, the reapers of the London branch held the more modern tradition of a secret Santa event. The branch tended to separate into smaller groups, mainly based around what departments were near one another in the office buildings, if only to give more diversity to just who your partner could possibly be. Forms were handed out to everyone interested in participating, consisting of simple questions that could help your partner figure out the perfect gift.

Not being the particularly festive type, William always declined, saying there was far too much work to be done to waste his limited free time shopping for gifts. But inevitably, Alan always persuaded him, usually with the promise of freshly baked cookies. With a huff, William would fill out yet another form and add it to the pile.

This year, when Grell comes into work on Christmas Eve, there is a large box sitting upon her desk, wrapped in shimmering red paper and topped with a glittered gold bow. With no name tag indicating who it is from, it can only be assumed her secret Santa had placed it there before she arrived to work. Inside is an array of, surprisingly well chosen, self pampering products, wonderfully fit for a woman with a fine taste for the indulgent. A book of sonnets tied with a small, but well crafted bow lays beside it. And to top it all off, two tickets to a night of fine theatre at the beautiful Canterbury Music Hall.

Certainly, the simplistic questionnaire couldn't have pinpointed her interests so well, what with inquiries about favourite foods and colours. The last was painfully obvious for her even without the form! So such a lavish - and expensive! - gift could have only come from someone who knew her quite well, and had the funds to pay for it all! Now the question was simply...who? ]

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I suppose that's true to an extent. However, that was before we were made aware of our pasts.

[ Sigh with a sigh he tales Grell's other hand off his shirt and holds it gently. ]

If I let my guard down, will you stay beside me?

[ Her brows burrow at his stubbornness, shoulders swaying with a huff. That particular aspect of personality went unaffected, apparently!

But she doesn’t have room to say so, now that he’s holding her hand, as he is - earnestly asking her to stay. ]

I’d sooner die - for good - than leave you, Will.

[ Goodness, her heart is fluttering up into her throat, and al she can do is swallow it back! ]

[ Here is the ultimate test for her words: A small upturn at the corners of William's mouth. It's the first he's smiled in a long time, and certainly the first she'll have ever seen. ]

Good. I am happy to hear as much.

[ Not only is there the smile, but he seems to have physically relaxed, sboulders un tensing as he settles back into the couch cushions. ]

[ Drawing a breath, Grell turns to him fully, hands cupping the other’s face. The shock is clear on her features - which quickly turns to delight! ]

What a handsome sight that is. Although—- [ And her expression shifts once more, this time, into a stern frown. ] That should have been your opportunity to kiss me.

[ He reaches around her arm to adjust his frames. ]

Honestly, you have waited a century, what is a few moments more?

[ A mighty huff! Fine, she’ll just kiss him, instead - leaning in with a tilt of the head, lips parted ever so slightly to embrace his. It’s hungry to share his love, but with the slightest bit of apprehension, nervous to ruin the moment she’s waited so very long for. ]

[ There's nothing to ruin. William made his mind up to finally come forward with her, and he's not someone to make a decision just to turn on it. With a tilt of his own head, he's reciprocating the kiss, even parting his lips to take things a bit further! ]

[ That leaves Grell crooning softly, before following suit. Soon, she’ll crawl into his lap, gathering the blankets up as she wraps her arms over his shoulders. For once, she isn’t behaving lewdly, but rather, embracing him wholly whilst losing herself in the expression of their affection, pent up over decades past! ]

[ Always pushing her aside when she'd cling to him, it feels so different to now suddenly accept it. It's relaxing, relieving, right.

He slinks his arms around her middle, pulling her body flush against his. Soon enough, his lips have left hers, moving along her jaw, down her neck, across her collarbone. She smells wonderful, something he'd noted in the past but tried to shoo away before he thought too much on it. ]

[ Grell’s head lulls back gently, a quivering sigh pouring from her lips. Her hands explore along his shoulders and up his neck, raking into his neatly styled locks. ]

This... is nothing like I’ve felt before, William... A passion that sears me through, and... envelops me in a warmth, the most— comforting sensation...

[ Pausing in his kisses, he rests his cheek against her chest, humming pleasantly at the feeling of her nails along his scalp. To think he'd ever allow grell to mess up his hair! ]

You sound surprised.

[ Grell shifts to peek down at him with an amused breath. ]

That’s because I am. I’ve— never really known what it is to be loved, I think. To feel at home with someone.

[ William lets out a heavy sigh. His life was quite the opposite, but it makes him wonder which is worse, having it and it being taken away or never experiencing it at all. ]

From this moment on, I want to give that to you.

Edited 2021-01-17 23:27 (UTC)

[ The weighted sigh certainly leaves her curious... but, for now, she will soothingly run her hands through his hair, and place a kiss atop his head, in their wake. She hums contently. ]

There won’t be a single moment that passes in which I won’t treasure it, I can promise you that.

[ William finally staightens up, admiring the pleased look her eyes have taken on. ]

You're getting quite a lot of unexpected gifts from me this Christmas.

[ With a quiet croon, now, her arms shift to cup his face, a thumb tracing along his cheek. ]

Yes, I fear that mine pale in comparison! [ Yet, she grins. ] Yet, the night is young, and there are a few ways that I may make it up to you.

[ William could make a pretty safe assumption on what most, if not all, of those ways might involve. He narrows his eyes at her, knowing he doesn't have to bother asking. She's sure to tell him. ]

I rather like the flask you gave me earlier.

[ Grell can’t hide it, she’s very pleased to hear that. Her eyes light up. ]

I’d ask if you were serious, but have I ever known you to be anything but?

I have no reason to lie to you about such a thing. Especially after opening up about far more important things.

[ His hands squeeze at her hips before circling fully around her waist to pull her in close. ]

[ With a purring croon, she nuzzles in as close as she may. ]

Yes, that might be the only thing you ever were capable of lying about, wasn’t it? Now, you needn’t worry about it~

[ She kisses at the corner of his mouth. ]

I was not lying.

[ He gives a heavy huff against her lingering lips. ]

I simply did not understand how I felt.

[ Chucking, she kisses him again - this time, further inward on the edge of his lips. ]

Hmmm, if that’s how you want to put it.

[ And another, closer to the center! ]

[ No reciprocation, just glares! ]

[ All giggles, she finally takes his lips in a kiss fully, cupping his face once more. It’s playful, but above all, loving. ]

You know I merely tease. You’re the only man that I’ll ever wholly trust.

Edited 2021-01-19 05:23 (UTC)

[ Once she pulls back to speak, she'll get a smack upside the head. Can't let her think she'll get away with things now that they're dating! ]

Aside from the teasing, I am glad to hear as much.

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